Key Points
- Legal case against ADF alleges systemic sexual discrimination against female personnel
- The US President cuts Canada off from trade negotiations over Regan advertisement
- New York City icon the Rockefeller Centre to host international fans for FIFA World Cup
A landmark class action has been filed over allegations of widespread sexual abuse, discrimination and victimisation of women in the Australian Defence Force.
Four applicants are listed in the filing, with claims by one woman that she was shown pornography while another alleges she was grabbed and kissed by a colleague who forcibly resisted her attempts to separate herself.
The class action has been filed by Australian law firm JGA Saddler, with lawyer Josh Aylward saying GA Saddler lawyer Josh Aylward saying the legal case is a demand for action, accountability and real change.
A Defence spokesperson has said in a statement that the ADF is developing a comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy, and says the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide which relate to sexual violence are being implemented as a priority.
Federal Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley, says all workplaces should have measures to protect their employees.
I'm concerned about the safety of women in every workplace. Wherever I meet women, wherever I work into a workplace. And that's a starting place. Every workplace should dedicate resources, effort and a system of reporting that allows women to confidently express circumstances where they do not feel safe."
If you or anyone you know is impacted by these issues, support is available at 1 800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
For crisis support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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United States President Donald Trump has immediately terminated all trade negotiations with Canada after becoming upset over a television advertisement opposing U-S tariffs.
The ad was created by the government of Ontario using a 1987 clip of President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs, which the Trump administration has now imposed on Canadian imports at a rate of 35 per cent.
"When someone says let's impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while it works, but only for a short time. Over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker."
Mr Trump has argued in a social media post that the ad misstates the facts, describing it as "egregious behavior" aimed at influencing US court decisions.
President Trump's post follows an announcement from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that he aims to double his country's exports to countries outside the U-S because of the threat posed by tariffs.
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A new task force has been assembled to lead the search for fugitive accused police killer Dezi Freeman, as authorities consolidate resources.
Victoria Police say Taskforce Summit will be led by a detective from the Crime Command State Anti-Gangs division, based in the Great Alpine area.
Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien says the investigation remains an active one, and that Victoria Police remains committed to using every available resource and the necessary capabilities to find the wanted man.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, has been on the run since allegedly shooting dead police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart while they served a warrant at his home in Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
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TRANSCRIPT
Nationals leader, David Littleproud, says renewable energy is losing favour in rural Australia due to manufacturing facilities being built in prime agricultural areas.
Back in August, an interim report was released by a parliamentary inquiry into the impacts of new so-called Renewable Energy Zones on New South Wales communities.
They found there has been inadequate consultation between the state government, renewable energy developers and the Central-West Orana community and the mental health impacts were eroding their social cohesion.
Mr Littleproud has told Sky News the Albanese government's green energy transition has come at a cost.
"Renewables are losing their social license. We've seen from rainforest reserve, there's 250 million solar panels and then an extra 30,000 wind turbines. That's going to cost prime agricultural land. That's taking away your food security, pushing up your food prices. There's a better way than what the Albanese government is undertaking on this reckless race to an all-renewables approach."
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Animal conservationists are marking World Kangaroo Day with the theme, 'our Sacred Totem, National Icon'.
It is the fifth year the day has been held to raise awareness of the native Australian marsupial.
Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate of any country, with 10 per cent of native species becoming extinct over the past 200 years.
Co-founder of Kangaroos Alive, Mick McIntyre, says he started the day of awareness to highlight the challenges facing the animal - including habitat loss and commercial harvesting.
"A lot of the narrative around kangaroos is that they're a problem that needs to be managed. We just thought it was time that kangaroos got the positive recognition and positive press that we thought a national icon deserved. So the day is about inviting communities to do something in celebration of kangaroos. And it does really bring home how significant the kangaroo is to Australia."
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup fan village has been officially launched in the iconic Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan.
The site will play host to international visitors and become an official 'watch party' destination for fans, with live broadcasts of games.
It's been 30 years since the United States has hosted a World Cup, and the country is expecting it will bring $4.6 billion to the local economy.
Chief executive of the FIFA World Cup 2026 host committee, Alex Lasry, says the US has an immense responsibility as host of the global event.
"Football is the world's sport. And if you actually think about the last World Cup final - was viewed by the same amount of people as the last 13 Super Bowls combined. So, when you put that into perspective, the eyes of the world are going to be on us when we're hosting this fan village. And for us to be able to do it right here in such an iconic space, one that I think really speaks to welcoming the world to this region."
