Key Points
- Ukraine and Russia to engage in peace talks in Turkey
- Federal Government makes bid to boost minimum wage
- Cameron Davis has success at first round of PGA Championships
TRANSCRIPT
Ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are expected to proceed In Istanbul later today, for the first time in three years.
Leaders from both countries will not attend, neither will US President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in the Turkish capital Ankara, questioning the commitment of the Russian parties.
He says unfortunately they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously.
It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkiye.
Vladimir Medinsky is the Head of the Russian delegation.
"The delegation is in a constructive mindset, looking for possible solutions and points of contact. The task of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is to sooner or later establish long-term peace by eliminating the basic root causes of the conflict."
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Former Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto has been ordered to pay over $2.3 million dollars in costs, after losing a defamation case brought by Liberal colleague Moira Deeming.
Federal Court senior judicial registrar Alison Legge handed down the decision earlier today .
If Mr Pesutto be unable to pay his bills, he faces the prospect of declaring bankruptcy, which would trigger a by-election in his electorate of Hawthorn.
He could also choose to appeal the decision.
Mr Pesutto lost the defamation case in December but held on to the leadership, only to lose it in a leadership spill weeks later.
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The federal government has fulfilled its election commitment to push for a lift in the award wage for workers.
In its formal submission to the Fair Work Commission's annual review of minimum and award wages, Labor has called for an economically sustainable real wage increase for the three million Australians on an award wage.
The government did not nominate a specific figure, in keeping with past practice.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says its one part of addressing cost of living pressures.
"Now we know there's more work to do because people are under pressure, and that's why this submission today seeks a real wage increase for millions of Australians. We have made a lot of progress together, and we seek with this submission today to build on that progress so that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn."
The Fair Work Commission will announce its annual wage review decision next month.
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A proposal to improve access to abortions is set to become law in New South Wales, after draft legislation passed both houses of parliament.
Abortion was decriminalised in the state in 2019 – but it is still inaccessible for many people, particularly in regional Australia.
The bill includes a provision that will enable nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives to prescribe drugs for medical abortions - which has to be in line with guidelines from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Greens MP Amanda Cohn introduced the private member's bill.
She says it is an important step forward in improving access to healthcare for women.
"I acknowledge that this bill while necessary is not a silver bullet. Cultural change within an organisation as a big as a local health district takes time. Training, educating, and supporting health workers takes time and resourcing. And it is not something that can be solved simply with a stroke of a pen."
The legislation was ultimately passed in the lower house 65 votes to 20.
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Traditional Owners have raised concerns about amendments to the Northern Territory government's Sacred Sites Act.
The legislative changes have now passed parliament and introduces an enforceable undertakings regime to remediate damages to sacred sites, rather than prosecution through a court process.
The NT government says the changes provide a more streamlined approval processes, while ensuring the protection of sacred sites remains paramount.
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, which is responsible for protecting Aboriginal sacred sites under the Act, says it has concerns about the lack of consultation on the legislation.
Chairperson of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, Bobby Nunggumajbarr spoke to NITV about this.
"There's never been any consultation whatsoever has been done with these changes of the bill. And that's the reason we are hurt today and we are really, really disappointed. We are on the risk and Traditional Owners of the sacred sites are in a very difficult position."
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Aussie golfer Cameron Davis is off to a strong start, after the first round of the PGA championship in North Carolina.
Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas used a late birdie to score his first career leader in a major tournament, while golf's big names struggled on the course.
The world's top three ranked players didn't have their best day.
Scott Scheffler was the only one to go subpar, while Rory McIlory ended the day three over.
Defending champion and world number three Xander Schauffele went round in one over - but is still expected to win the Championship.
It’s the first time in at least 30 years that no top ten player is amongst the top ten scores posted in the opening round of a major tournament.
For Australian player, Cameron Davis, it was a better turnout.
He fired 7 birdies in his opening round.
"I haven't been having the best results on course lately over the last few months and been working really hard to turn that around, and to see the first real sign that it's turning around happen in the first round of a major, it's very encouraging. But yeah, rolled a lot of putts that went in and kept the momentum going, and I feel like for a major, when you're playing a difficult golf course, if you can do that, you can keep things moving forward."
