TRANSCRIPT
- Australia Post welcomes a decision bringing an end to five-day letter deliveries.
- Israel says its forces are operating "in the heart" of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
- Eyes on the rising talent at the annual Prime Minister's XI cricket match.
Australia Post's CEO has welcomed an announcement by the federal government to modernise the self-funded and publicly owned business, including the end of a requirement for five-day letter deliveries.
Australia Post says the loss from its letter delivery service is growing, rising 24 per cent in the past three financial years to $255 million last financial year.
That is despite investing $1 billion to respond to changing customer needs in areas such as parcels and packages via e-commerce.
Australia Post C-E-O Paul Graham says allowing the business to deliver letters less frequently will allow it to have the flexibility to factor in the true cost of mail delivery.
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Israel says its forces are in the heart of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, in what it has called the most intense fighting in five weeks of ground operations against Hamas.
Hospitals in southern Gaza are reportedly struggling to cope with Hamas' Health Ministry announcing the death toll in the territory since October 7 has surpassed 15,890 people — 70% of them women and children — with more than 42,000 wounded.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli troops intensified its bombardment in and around Gaza's second-largest city, sending ambulances and private cars racing into local hospitals carrying people wounded in a new phase of the war.
Under US pressure to prevent further mass casualties in the conflict with Hamas, Israel claims it is being more precise as it widens its offensive into southern Gaza after obliterating much of the north.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has said that his country has moved to the "third phase" of the ground operations in Gaza.
"We are deploying our ground forces into combat with powerful and precise support of fire and intelligence with a high level of accuracy. Our forces engage with many terrorists, target them effectively, in an impressive manner."
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Laws allowing courts to send detainees released from immigration detention back to jail have passed through the Senate.
The emergency legislation was rushed through after three detainees, released after a High Court decision that indefinite detention is illegal, were charged with fresh offences.
One Afghan man is facing two counts of indecent assault, while a registered sex offender has been apprehended in Victoria for breaching his visa conditions.
Under the changes, the immigration minister would be able to apply for a community safety order for the detention or supervision of adults released as a result of the High Court ruling.
Government minister Murray Watt says the new legislation also includes safeguards.
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At least 22 people have died following a volcanic eruption in Indonesia, after rescuers found a further nine bodies.
The search for 10 missing hikers continues after rescue efforts were previously paused due to safety concerns.
Five eruptions were reportedly recorded on Tuesday alone as Mt Marapi remains an active volcanic site.
Twelve hikers are in hospital and being treated for their injuries.
"We are modelling this regime on the existing high-risk terrorist offenders regime. So we have some confidence on its ability to work, given its ability to work, given it's based on a regime that exists. One of the amendments we've tabled requires the immigration minister to deliver an annual report about the operation of this regime. So that is intended to give a measure of transparency going forward."
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New research is showing rising cost of living is severely affecting the mental health of Australians.
In a new community survey of 1,000 people, commissioned by mental health support service Beyond Blue, 83 per cent of people reported the rising cost of living to have a negative impact on their mental health.
The research reveals one in five people say this impact is extreme.
Beyond Blue's Clinical Spokesperson, Dr Grant Blashki, says the research comes at a time when there is likely to be increased demand for support, with the holiday season compounding financial stress for many.
"Last December, we saw a 41% increase in contacts to Beyond Blue. And so we're all on hands on deck (everyone is helping) and we can handle that increase. But what happens with a lot of people is the stress has built up over the year and then they sort of overflow as we get to the end of the year."
Listeners seeking mental health support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or 13YARN on 13 92 76.
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In cricket, interest is growing on who could potentially succeed David Warner in the Australian Test cricket team ahead of the annual Prime Minister's XI match.
From Wednesday, a four-day clash gets underway between the Prime Minister’s XI [[Eleven]] and Pakistan.
Australia's batting order includes Western Australian Cameron Bancroft, Victorian Marcus Harris, Queenslander Matthew Renshaw and all-rounder Cameron Green.
The match will be Pakistan’s sole outing ahead of the first Test beginning next Wednesday in Perth.
