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The Prime Minister has announced a national day of reflection to remember the victims of the Bondi mass shooting.
"Today, I confirm that the federal and New South Wales governments have declared Sunday, twenty first of December, a day of reflection, to honour the victims of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Further my government and the New South Wales Government and other premiers as well will work closely with the Jewish community on arrangements for a national day of mourning to be held in the new year."
Anthony Albanese has also announced a national gun buyback scheme, as the states and territories work on measures to tighten up firearms laws.
It will be the largest buyback scheme since the Howard government initiated one in 1996, after the Port Arthur massacre.
"We know that one of these terrorists held a firearm license and had six guns, in spite of living in the middle of Sydney's suburbs there at Bonnyrigg. There's no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns."
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Meanwhile, thousands of people have come together in Bondi for an early-morning tribute to the victims of the terror attack.
Hundreds of people on boards have observed a minute of silence out on the water, one of many tributes organised by local community members this week to honour those impacted by the shootings.
People have also been busy donating, with GoFundMe saying more than $5 million has been donated across various fundraisers online.
More than 25,000 blood donations have also been made since an appeal for help from Lifeblood.
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The husband of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has lost his driver's licence for a drink driving offence.
The Premier has confirmed her husband Yorick Piper was on his way to the supermarket in Bendigo when he was pulled over and breath tested.
He blew point zero five.
She says that meant on the spot fine and the loss of his licence for three months.
"On the evening before, on Wednesday evening, we had celebrated our son's birthday with family at a local pub before we headed home around 8pm. My husband is also currently taking medication for a health issue, and as a result of the medication mixing with the alcohol from the night before he simply shouldn't have been driving the following morning. He understands that, I understand that, and for this we are both truly sorry."
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An Australian man has been jailed for 12 years in Bali for smuggling cocaine to the tourist island.
The 43 year old from Cairns was arrested in May when police raided his rented house near Kuta beach.
They seized 1.7 kilograms of cocaine in 206 clip plastic bags in that raid.
His arrest had come about after an investigation conducted by Bali police anti-drug surveillance teams.
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The UN Human Rights Office says more than 1000 civilians were killed when a Sudanese paramilitary group took over a displacement camp in April.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, says their report shows about a third of those who died were summarily executed.
The camp has been identified as the Zamzam camp in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
The R-S-F has not responded to the reports, and has previously denied harming civilians.
But Mr Turk says the atrocities are consistent with what his office has repeatedly documented.
"There must be an impartial, thorough and effective investigation into the attack on the camp, and those responsible for serious violations of international law must be punished.”
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The Trump administration has moved to cut off gender affirming care for under 18s who are transgender.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban puberty blockers and surgery for minors.
More than half of US states already ban or restrict gender-affirming care.
But the Department's announcement puts at risk access in nearly two dozen states where drug treatments and surgical procedures are funded by Medicaid.
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Back home and the Bureau of Meteorology has released its Christmas Day forecast.
Senior Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury says Australians in south-eastern states can expect cool to mild conditions, while the north and west of the country is set for a hot day.
She says it will be a varied slate for New South Wales.
"On Christmas Day we'll have a few coastal showers moving through, but there won't be too much rainfall in them. Generally, less than five millimetres or so and most parts remaining fairly patchy."
