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The alleged head of several illicit tobacco arson attacks is among more than a dozen people arrested in a cross-border crime bust.
The 29-year-old was one of nine people charged with proceeds of crime offences when $10 million worth of illegal tobacco was seized.
Western Australia Police teamed up with Victorian counterparts to investigate its tobacco networks following a series of arsons in April.
Police say these arson attacks were allegedly linked to an organised crime group in Perth.
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Australian Community Media has warned that regional journalism will suffer because of Facebook's decision to leave the Australian news market.
Meta, which owns Facebook, announced it would not renew commercial deals with Australian publishers which will cost the industry an estimated $70 million.
National and regional news outlets have given evidence to the government's Social Media and Australian Society inquiry.
They warn local news coverage will shrink unless the government intervenes.
Managing Director of Australian Community Media, Anthony Kendall, says some papers may be shutdown.
"Meta, as we know, has now abandoned the commitment to publishers because it holds a view that fact based news doesn't have a place in its users lives. As a result, ACM will be forced to make hard decisions on the future of many of our mastheads and the jobs they support. Make no mistake; Meta's this decision will mean ACM and many other publishers will be forced to close titles"
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A parliamentary inquiry has recommended Labor's live sheep export legislation be passed.
Labor has introduced legislation that would ban live sheep exports from Australia in 2028, with a plan to help farmers and industry adapt to the change in the years leading up to the ban.
The report follows a three-week inquiry into the legislation, which heard from farmers, industry, and animal welfare groups.
Nationals leader David Littleproud says the bill should have received greater scrutiny.
"This is just a box ticking exercise that shows complete contempt with only a couple of weeks of ability to be able to not only give submissions, but to be able to have that committee hear the concerns of so many submissions. I mean, they've got till 2028. What's the rush?"
Environment ministers from across Australia have agreed to work together to divert lithium-ion batteries from landfill.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek met with state and territory counterparts to discuss better ways to dispose of lithium-ion batteries, which have caused a thousand fires in the past year.
A fire caused by a lithium-ion battery destroyed the ACT's only recycling facility in 2022.
This has forced all recycling to be diverted to interstate processing centres until at least 2025.
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To sport,
U-S golfer Lexi Thompson has taken the first round lead during the Women's PGA Championship in Washington.
The 29-year-old showcased her talent to make six birdies for a one-shot lead over world number one Nelly Korda.
Korda started on the back nine and made four birdies in her first five holes.
World number five and 2019 PGA champion Hannah Green is the leading Australian.
Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom says conditions are ideal.
"There's no left or right here, like it's fairway or nothing and even if you're in the fairway sometimes it's not great so I think it actually eases it up in a bit, that you know you have to hit good golf shots and then it's more about pulling them off."
