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A nine year old boy has died after becoming trapped between rocks at a popular holiday spot on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Police and other emergency services say they tried to free the boy from the site at South West Rocks, but he died at the scene.
Meanwhile, rescue crews in NSW and Victoria have resumed their search for two men missing since Friday.
New South Wales Deputy Premier Prue Car says it's crucial that people follow the advice of lifesavers.
"It's really important to make sure that the people of New South Wales understand that while the weather is beautiful and yes, you want to get down to the beach with your kids during the break and the school holidays, please take the advice at all times of surf life saving. Make sure you stay away from dangerous swells you are putting your life in danger as well as those that we will have to send to save you."
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Australians will start casting their ballots in the federal election on Tuesday as early voting centres open across the country.
Millions of people are expected to vote this way, with data showing more than 5.6 million voters pre-polled at the last election.
Postal ballots will also be making their way to voters soon, as we head into the final fortnight of campaigning.
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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to introduce a pilot national sex offenders disclosure scheme if the Coalition wins government in May.
Mr Dutton says the pilot would allow parents or carers to apply for information from police about whether someone interacting with their child is a convicted sex offender.
Opposition spokesperson Michaelia Cash says the details would be worked through with states and territories.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says while his party is open to good ideas - there is already an information sharing register in place.
"There is a national child offenders system in place right now. My government will respond positively to any request from police or security agencies, as we have done. My government is the first government to set up national firearms register. (It) didn't exist before."
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A flood of fake social media profiles has been detected that are inundating political discussion online.
Disinformation detection company Cyabra says that one in five accounts involved in discussing the election that they analysed on X, formerly Twitter, were fake.
The company says the accounts used AI-generated images and emotionally manipulative language.
It says the primary narrative promoted by the bots was attacking the Labor Party to discredit Anthony Albanese.
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The Victorian opposition says it has obtained documents under freedom of information laws that show Melbourne's first COVID lockdowns were a political call and not based on health advice.
Opposition spokesman David Davis says the email exchange between former chief health officer Brett Sutton and public health commander Dr Finn Romanes indicates they did not propose the lockdown measures.
The Victorian government has released a statement saying they did what was necessary to protect Victorians.
But Mr Davis says premier Jacinta Allan has more explaining to do.
"In this case, it was not a health-based scientific decision. It was a whim of one man."
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has condemned an incident from the weekend that saw a cardboard clapper thrown at defender Aliir Aliir in his side's win over Sydney on Sunday.
The fan was removed from the stadium and interviewed by police after the incident.
Mr Hinkley says fans ought to have respect for the footballers they've come to see, and enjoy the game.
His Sydney counterpart Dean Cox has echoed those sentiments.
"Anything (abusive) from fans, members, supporters to players or anyone involved in footy - we don't condone. That's one thing that I stand firm on and so do the club... Come and enjoy the footy. Support, cheer - but leave it at that."
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Pope Francis has appealed for peace in the world during his annual Easter speech.
The address was delivered by Vatican master of liturgical ceremonies Archbishop Diego Ravelli.
"In the face of the cruelty of conflicts that involve defenceless civilians and attack schools, hospitals and humanitarian workers, we cannot allow ourselves to forget that it is not targets that are struck, but persons, each possessed of a soul and human dignity."
