Key Points
- PNG defence deal not yet signed as country marks independence anniversary
- Queensland police investigate deaths after three charged
- Jessica Hull says she is in better form for 1500 metre event than at Paris last year
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is confident that a landmark defence deal with Papua New Guinea will be signed soon, despite delays.
Mr Albanese was expected to sign the treaty with his counterpart James Marape in Port Moresby today, to coincide with celebrations for P-N-G's 50th anniversary of independence.
The agreement commits both countries to defend each other from attack and allows citizens to serve in each other's defence forces.
It will also see an increased effort from Australia to develop P-N-G's military capabilities.
But signing has been delayed.
Mr Albanese says that's because members of P-N-G's parliament are busy celebrating the independence anniversary across the country - but both nations remain committed to the pact.
"We agree with the agreement, we're ready to sign off. Prime Minister is talking to his cabinet which is in different parts of P-N-G and we respect that process."
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The Greens are calling for stronger action to protect children, as the government prepares to introduce a ban on under-16-year-olds holding social media accounts.
Communications Minister Anika Wells and e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant have [[Tuesday]] published guidelines explaining how media companies will be expected to enforce the ban, due to come into effect on the 10th of December.
The rules do not require companies to verify the age of all users, in an effort to allay concerns about privacy.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has labelled the new rules a "mess" that fails to protect children.
She says the government needs to impose tougher measures on social media platforms.
"We need a duty of care, and we need to hit them where it hurts, stop them from being able to advertise directly to young people. There should be a ban on social media advertising to minors. That is the only reason the social media companies want young people on their platforms so they can sell them things. Protect kids by stopping these companies being able to collect and sell the data and to target them with dangerous algorithms."
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Three people have been charged over the death of a 43-year-old man on Queensland's Gold Coast, which police allege was an assisted suicide.
Police allege a 53-year-old man supplied the victim with a drug for the purpose of ending his life.
He has been charged with two counts of aiding suicide and charges relating to the possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs.
Detective Inspector Mooney says the alleged offender deliberately targeted vulnerable people, and investigators are now examining additional deaths dating back to 2021.
An 81-year-old woman is also facing one charge of aiding suicide, and drugs charges.
And an 80-year-old man has been charged with trafficking and possessing dangerous drugs.
Toxicology results confirmed the man died from acute pento-barbitone toxicity, a veterinary euthanasia drug.
And if this story has raised issues for you or someone you know, 24-hour help can be found at Lifeline on 131114, or, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636]
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Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan has launched the state's China strategy overnight,saying education is her first, second and third priority, during a five-day trade mission to the nation.
She is pushing more Chinese students to enrol in Victorian institutions, signallying her intention to lobby the Federal Government to raise the international student cap again.
The China strategy that will guide Victoria for the next five years identifies another six sectors, including agribusiness, agtech and health and life sciences.
Ms Allan said the science sector in Victoria is of huge importance to the economy.
"Pharma is the focus, but we have a secret weapon in beauty, wellness and personal care. I want Victorians to get used to those words because they are going to create a lot of jobs. We already dominate Australian exports and my China strategy says we are going to take that even further."
The premier also listed creative industries and sport, tourism and investment in transport and clean energy.
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And in Athletics, Australian runner Jessica Hull says she is in better form now than when she won silver at the Olympic games in Paris last year.
Hull will compete in the 1500 metre final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this evening.
Her main rival will be four-time 1500 metre world champion, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon.
But Hull is confident of an upset, saying she has improved on every level since last year, and become faster, stronger, and more experienced.
Speaking of upsets, men's 1500 metre Olympic champion, American Cole Hocker has been disqualified from the event overnight after he barged his way through a crowd on the home straight of his semi-final to earn a qualifying slot.
“Yeah, it was tight. I was looking for any kind of gap I could find and try my best to just get through there as cleanly as possible, but I knew everyone was going to be coming from behind really, really fast, so, I was just trying to get to the line.”
