Cyclone Narelle upgraded to a category five system .
Australia's consumer watchdog launches an investigation into the country's major fuel suppliers
The Matildas to face Japan in Saturday’s Women’s Asian Cup final...
Cyclone Narelle has been upgraded to a maximum category five system, as it moves toward the far north Queensland coast.
Residents are preparing for significant impact, with the storm currently producing wind gusts of up to 285 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is expected to remain a category five overnight, before making landfall on Friday morning near Coen, north of Cairns.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli is urging residents to take the situation seriously and plan ahead.
"Category five systems don't cross the coast that frequently, four times in half a century in Queensland in what is a state that's no stranger to disasters. So it's a serious event. But I assure you we can get through it if communities take it seriously, if they look out for each other, if they prepare well now, if they heed advice, we'll get through it."
One of the Northern Territory's largest land councils says Indigenous people housed in evacuation centres after record flooding are not being provided adequate care.
The Northern Land Council has written to the Federal and Territory Governments asking them to meet community leaders about their concerns.
NLC Chairperson Matthew Ryan says ongoing displacement is causing distress and trauma.
Speaking with SBS, he says some residents have spent more than a month sleeping on camping stretchers at makeshift facilities in Darwin.
"The money could have been well spent in the community, developing better facilities for the community. And the traditional owners and the leaders should be at the talking table, rather than being disregarded. You got the collaboration of people, you should be talking to them directly."
Australia's consumer watchdog has launched an investigation into the country's major fuel suppliers over allegations of anti-competitive conduct.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will scrutinise the conduct of Ampol, BP Australia and Mobil, among others, investigating reports relating to diesel supply for distributors servicing regional and rural communities.
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb says the matter is being dealt with urgently, and the watchdog will not hesitate to act swiftly to enforce competition and consumer laws, if it finds there is any wrong doing.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor welcomes the investigation, but says the government should be doing more to protect those bearing the brunt of the fuel shortage in regional areas.
"We should be taking it very seriously. We're hearing about businesses, farmers and truckies farmers have got to get their plants off and plants in. Um, and that's happening right now. Short windows. You can't miss those windows. And meanwhile, truck is deeply concerned about whether they can move things around. These these businesses are the engine room of our economy. They're deeply concerned about shortages. We have seen shortages. The government's not on top of it. Now it's asking the A-CCC to fix the situation."
Australia's unemployment rate jumped to 4.3 per cent in February, despite almost 50,000 more Australians finding a job.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force figures reveal the number of unemployed people grew by 35,000 last month.
The data shows higher than expected unemployment, with the consensus of market economists tipping the jobless rate to hold steady at 4.1 per cent.
However, the 48,900 new jobs added to the economy was stronger than consensus expectations, which predicted a 20,000 increase.
The Matildas will face Japan in Saturday’s Women’s Asian Cup final, after Japan defeated Korea 4–1.
Despite strong support for Korea among the more than 17,000 spectators, Japan delivered a solid performance, scoring twice in each half.
Head coach Nils Nielsen says both the home crowd and the Matildas’ star-studded line-up make them a formidable opponent.
Former Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney is now an assistant coach with Japan and says she is looking forward to the clash.
"Look, I'm really excited, for our next match. it's going to be a great showcase of football in Asia. A match between, the Matildas and Japan. What a terrific occasion. I think we're all looking forward to it. "
