TRANSCRIPT:
- A tragic discovery on the New South Wales far north coast;
- Banks under fire for failing to help customers as mortgage stress reaches a new high;
- Deliberations continue over a mooted Papua New Guinea team in the N-R-L.
An investigation is underway after the discovery of two bodies on the New South Wales far north coast.
Police say they're of a 38 year old man and a two year old child.
Officers carrying out a welfare check found the bodies after forcing entry to the unit in East Lismore.
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The government has defended the Department of Foreign Affairs' response to the unfolding situation in New Caledonia, where hundreds of Australians remain trapped.
Australians have reported having to ration food, with some critical of the support provided by DFAT and Australian airline carrier Qantas.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that while he is "deeply concerned" by reports from New Caledonia, he believes the Department's response has been "equal to anywhere else in the world".
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says Australian Defence Force jets are on standby to assist with the evacuations of around 300 Australians stranded in the territory.
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Unions are looking to lock in the right to disconnect from work by having that included in minimum workplace conditions.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has made a submission to the Fair Work Commission, asking the right be enshrined in modern awards in addition to the legislation just passed in Parliament.
The move follows Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply speech, where he promised to revert back to coalition-era workplace laws.
Businesses have also argued that a strictly enforced right to disconnect impacts the flexibility that comes with modern working conditions - but Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the rules are fair.
"So what we have proposed, and what we are implementing, is a common sense approach to recognising there are legitimate ways for your employer to contact you out of hours - to sort shifts, for example, or in other instances. But we don't want people to be constantly on call and only being paid for a sliver of that."
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The New South Wales government will investigate what power it has to impose an age limit on social media users in the state.
Labor is preparing to hold a summit to discuss the harms associated with social media, amid concern that its widespread use is directly impacting on youth mental health.
South Australia is also looking at a potential ban for users under the age of 14, while the federal government is due to pilot age-verification technology to address harmful content.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says they're all aware that something needs to be done.
"2008 to 2022 in Australia, the rates of self harm for people aged between the ages of 15 and 19 doubled, and the rates of self harm for children girls in particular under the age of 14 tripled. In 2011, just 18% of 15 to 24 year olds felt psychological distress, that number rose to 42% last year. Now this almost happens, or is directly correlated, with the birth and widespread use of social media in Australia and around the world."
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A new report has concluded many people have found it hard to get help from their bank if they fall into hardship.
Mortgage stress is at its highest level since the global financial crisis.
But a scathing report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ((ASIC)) says some home lenders have made applying for financial assistance too difficult.
They say one-in-three home owners struggling with mortgage stress give up trying to get support.
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The High Court in London will rule today on the extradition of WikiLeak's founder Julian Assange to the United States.
US authorities allege Assange was reckless, damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents through his Wikileaks activities.
His global supporters argue the prosecution is an assault on journalism and free speech, and revenge for causing embarrassment.
Julian Assange's wife Stella says his case has been going on for far too long.
"I think it's important to have that in mind, that this has gone on for over five years. Julian has been in the UK's most notorious prison for this entire time and seven years preceding that in the Ecuadorian embassy and one and a half years under house arrest. In fact, every day since the seventh of December 2010 he has been in one form of detention or another. The seventh of December 2010 is seven days after WikiLeaks started publishing the diplomatic cables."
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The Australian government says it's prepared to invest $600 million over 10 years to get a national Rugby League team in Papua New Guinea.
Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy has met with N-R-L executives to discuss the possibility of granting the 18th competition license to Australia's closest neighbour.
A team in the NRL-crazy nation is seen as a way to strengthen Australia's ties in the Pacific.
But Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys says the deal is far from done, with Perth, New Zealand and Brisbane the three other candidates to provide a team.
