Key Points
- GPs support 24/7 after-hours telehealth service
- Hamas would consider deal for five-year truce with Israel
- Women's A-League Final postponed over weather
TRANSCRIPT
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it welcomes the Labor government's announcement of a new 24/7 GP health line.
Labor has announced that, if re-elected, it will launch a new nation-wide service called 1-800 Medicare, in which nurses will be available to provide after hour health advice over the phone.
The GP group says it supports the announcement, calling it a positive step forward that will both ease the burden on hospitals and help patients access the care they need.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says voting for Labor is voting for Medicare.
"You will be able to call any time to get expert health advice that can't wait for your regular GP, you'll be connected to a free GP telehealth consultation. Life isn't nine to five, we all know that. With 1800 Medicare, neither is health care."
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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has told his supporters not to listen to media outlets like the ABC and the Guardian when it comes to the coalition's standing in the polls.
Despite singling out the ABC and the Guardian as what he describes as 'hate media', Labor's lead in the polls has been widely reported by most mainstream Australian media.
Speaking at a rally in Melbourne, Mr Dutton says the latest polling does not accurately reflect all Australian voters.
"Forget about what you've been told by the ABC and the Guardian and other hate media. Forget about that. Listen to what you hear on the doors. Listen to what people say on the pre-polling. Know in your hearts that we are a better future for our country. Know we stand up for the values that are important more than ever for families and small businesses. If we stay true to our values and have a strength of leadership, if we have the ability to be truthful with the Australian public."
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Pope Francis' funeral doubled as a diplomatic stage, with world leaders meeting over plans to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
United States President Donald Trump spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Vatican Basilica, in a private meeting reported to have lasted just 15 minutes.
The Ukrainian leader described the talks as productive, when asked by reporters in Rome.
“We had a really productive meeting. I don’t want to go into a lot of details if it is possible. Because the question is very sensitive. Questions on, of course, totally it's about how to bring peace closer and how resultative, positive Paris and London (meetings were) and we want to continue such meetings to bring peace to Ukraine.”
Mr Zelenskyy used his visit to Rome as an opportunity to also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Mr Starmer's office says both leaders agreed to work hard to maintain momentum in peace talks to end the war with Russia.
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Australian Catholics have gathered across the country to commemorate the life of Pope Francis, in the first local services since his funeral in Rome.
Churches across Australia are holding special masses in honour of Pope Francis, after some 250,000 people attended his funeral in the Vatican.
At Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen held a solemn mass.
As a former refugee who arrived in Australia from Vietnam by boat in 1981, Bishop Long reflected on Pope Francis' concern for the marginalised.
"Whether it was the homeless, Indigenous peoples, prisoners, refugees, asylum seekers, gender diverse, divorced and remarried people, Pope Francis has personified the closeness and the pathos of God, for the people on the margins."
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Hamas says it is open to an agreement with Israel that would see all Israeli hostages released and secure a five-year truce.
A Hamas delegation visited Cairo for discussions with Egyptian mediators, as Palestinian officials reported the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 35 people.
Israel demands the return of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas, which the group has rejected as a "red line".
Hamas has consistently demanded a truce deal must lead to the end of Israel's bombardment, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a surge in humanitarian aid.
In Tel Aviv, protesters like Amit Kalderon says most Israelis are now against what Israel is doing in Gaza.
"70 per cent want to end this war, want to sign a deal with Hamas, to return the hostages and to end the war, because we understand this war, at this point doesn't bring us any security anymore. We're losing soldiers, we're losing the security of our hostages. We're killing innocent people in Gaza without harming Hamas. And at this point, it has no strategic meaning at all."
The Israel Defence Forces said its latest strikes struck a "command-and-control centre" for Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Jabalia, that was being used to plan attacks.
Israel has insisted it is acting in accordance with international law.
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To the soccer now, the Central Coast's home game A-League Women’s elimination final against Canberra United has been postponed, after torrential rain left the pitch in Gosford waterlogged.
The fourth-placed Mariners were due to host Canberra at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
But the pitch has been deemed unplayable, forcing the game's postponement until Monday evening - provided the playing surface is up to scratch by then.
