Prime Minister calls for more collaboration in Australia-China medical research...
Three men accused of attempting to import more than $500 million worth of drugs,
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Nick Champion de Crespigny [[deh crep-nee]] ready to make a big impression on his test debut.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is finishing his tour of China with calls for more joint endeavours between Chinese and Australian medical technology researchers.
He has attended a Medical Technology lunch in Chengdu promoting bilateral business deals in the space, including the manufacture of Australian-owned Cochlear hearing devices in western China.
He says some of Australia and China's top minds have been working together to improve the lives of millions around the world.
"Australian and Chinese researchers, hospitals and universities are driving remarkable progress in every field of medical technology. From the development of new vaccines, to prevention and early-detection technology, to the work that Cochlear are doing with the delivery of bionic ears, people in their millions are benefitting from Australia and China working together and learning from each other."
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has attributed a surprising uptick in Australia's unemployment to global market uncertainty.
The jobless rate has risen to 4.3 per cent, surpassing market expectations that the rate would remain steady at 4.1 per cent.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says there was a 34,000 increase in people without work, while full-time employment fell by 38,000.
Minister Rishworth says the Australian economy remains resilient despite this.
"There is significant global uncertainty across the world and of course that has an impact here in Australia. I would say that the uptick in unemployment is broadly in line with Treasury's forecast which was outlined in March and is within market expectations."
The Reserve Bank of Australia will factor this employment data into their next monetary policy meeting in August with the market expecting this could result in a cut to interest rates.
New South Wales Housing Minister, Rose Jackson, has called independent state M-P Mark Latham a pig after allegations he took covert photographs of female colleagues in the upper house and shared them.
The messages, reportedly sent to his former partner Nathalie Matthews, have been published in the Daily Telegraph, allegedly included disparaging comments about the appearance of a number of female politicians.
The report follows allegations made by Ms Matthews that she sustained a pattern of abuse and manipulation by Mr Latham, which the former Labor leader and prime ministerial candidate has described as ridiculous.
He has acknowledged sexting his former partner from the Parliamentary chamber however, something Premier Chris Minns reportedly called inappropriate.
Housing Minister Jackson says it must be made clear that Mr Latham's parliamentary behaviour is unacceptable.
"Mark Latham's a pig, this is not new to me. This man has attacked Rosie Batty, told her to grieve in private. This man is well-known on the record, multiple times, as a bigot. He's one of the biggest bigots in this state. Obviously it's extremely confronting for me to think that in a workplace there's someone who thinks it's acceptable to take photos of you, to share them with derogatory comments. In any other workplace you'd be shown the door."
One of three men accused of attempting to import more than $500 million worth of drugs into Australia inside rolls of fabric has been denied bail.
24-year-old Martin Nguyen appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court after being charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.
Brendan Ky and Tony Nguyen were also arrested and charged on Monday after the Australian Border Force intercepted sea cargo from Thailand earlier this month.
Subsequent testing allegedly found almost 600 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at $555 million wrapped inside 200 rolls of fabric.
In rugby,
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says the absence of Rob Valetini for the first British & Irish Lions clash this Saturday is a loss but he's confident flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny will make a big impression on his test debut at Lang Park.
The flanker, one of just two uncapped players in the 36-strong squad, has surged into calculations after an injury to pivotal backrower Rob Valetini and the in-form Langi Gleeson.
Schmidt says Nick is ready to prove himself.
"It's a great opportunity for Nick Champion de Crespigny who's trained well, had a good Super Rugby season and is really excited about the opportunity he has. Big shoes to fill. The good thing with Nick is that he's a good line-out option. I thought he was very good in the force line-out. He's probably a bit more of a roving scavenger than Bobby V who's been a big ball carrier in the past."
Schmidt has also left out lock Will Skelton, who missed the Fiji Test with a calf niggle.
