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The Liberal and National parties have struck a deal to reunite, just a week after their coalition split.
Last Tuesday, the Nationals ended its long standing partnership with the Liberals in the aftermath of a landslide election loss to Labor.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said his party needed guarantees from the Liberals over four policies, including nuclear power, a regional investment fund, powers to break up big supermarkets and telecommunications coverage to reform a coalition.
The parties have come to an agreement on those issues.
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David McBride has lost his appeal against his sentence for disseminating classified defence information.
The ACT Court of Appeal took less than a minute to hand down the judgment, with the reasons for the decision to be revealed later.
The ruling means 61-year-old McBride will remain in jail until at least August 2026, though his lawyers have previously indicated they will appeal to the High Court.
McBride shared 235 documents with journalists - 207 of which were classified as secret - which led to a series of reports and an inquiry that uncovered allegations of 23 potential war crimes by special forces soldiers.
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The federal government is pledging more financial assistance for flood victims in New South Wales.
About 9,000 people are still stranded by the flooding, despite floodwaters receding.
Federal Emergency Services Minister Kirsty McBain has told the ABC more funding will be available because of the elevation of the government's disaster declaration for the flooding.
The government is working to get so-called Category C assistance available.
Category C assistance is only available when a disaster is categorised as severe.
It has to be approved by the Prime Minister.
Ms McBain is pledging the government will be in it for the long haul helping victims of these floods, in which five people of have died.
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Victorians are now unable to buy machetes in shops, with a sale ban coming into effect as of midday.
Police have now arrested and charged all seven people allegedly involved in the violent brawl between machete-wielding youths at a shopping centre that prompted the ban.
The final arrest is that of an 18 year old man who has been charged with affray over the melee at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north.
The federal government is backing the decision of its state counterpart, with Minister for Industry and Science Tim Ayres telling Channel Seven's Sunrise program that the government is at least doing something about the problem.
"I understand that people could still purchase these items on the internet or bring them in from other states, but cutting down on the availability of these weapons for young people is an important step and I'm glad that the Victorian government has taken it and will keep watching closely. As I said, there is no reason for a young people to have a bladed weapon."
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Police are searching for a 25-year-old man believed to be armed in the regional Queensland town of Kingaroy.
It comes after authorities received reports of gunshots from a property on Arthur Street, just before 4am today.
Queensland Police say a number of people were able to leave the property safely prior to police arrival but the man remains outstanding.
But it is understood that a school and business have been locked down since, and access to Kingaroy Hospital has been restricted.
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Detectives in the U-K are still working to piece together how a car managed to navigate past roadblocks to ram a parade crowd on a narrow Liverpool street, sending around 50 people to hospital.
Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Jenny Sims says a road management plan had been put in place in the months ahead of the parade, which was being held to celebrate Liverpool's English Premier League title.
She says it will be alleged the driver of the car responsible for the carnage made a deliberate decision to get around those plans.
"It is believed the driver of the Ford Galaxy car involved in this incident was able to follow an ambulance onto Water Street after the road block was temporarily lifted so that the ambulance crew could attend to a member of the public who was having a suspected heart attack."
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Advocates have called for Australians to check their heart health, amid concern that some could have an issue and not realise it.
An estimated half a million Australians are living with an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, which can put those with the condition at a higher risk of stroke and dementia.
But an estimated 30 percent of people with the condition don't even know it, while others might experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue and not realise that it potentially stems from a cardiac issue.
Tanya Hall is the founder and CEO of an advocacy group in Perth known as hearts4heart, and says it's best not wait to talk to your GP about your concerns.
"Be heart smart. If there’s a family history of heart disease, if you’re having any symptoms, or you’re over the age of 50, then please go and get your heart checked."
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In tennis, Novak Djokovic is through to the second round of the French Open, after a straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory over American Mackenzie McDonald.
The roof on centre court was closed during the match after Djokovic complained that rain was starting to dampen the court, a situation he says stopped him from being at his best.
"It was quite challenging conditions I think at the beginning of the match with the wind and rain and everything that was happening. So, you know, it took me some time to really find the rhythm on the court with striking the ball and moving. It can always be better, but I must be content and satisfied with the first round."
The second round of the tournament begins tonight, with two Australians in action.
Ajla Tomljanovicfaces a tough match in the women's singles against the fourth seed, italian Jasmine Paolini, whilst in the men's, 25th seed Alexei Popyrin will take on Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
