TRANSCRIPT
- The Coalition says it will commit an additional $90 million to address family and domestic violence across Australia
- Papua New Guinea's first cardinal heads to the Vatican to elect a new pope
- Nick Daicos set to captain Collingwood at just 22
The Coalition says it will commit an additional $90 million to address family and domestic violence across Australia if it wins government.
This would include increased police powers to access and share information, as well as new domestic violence offences relating to the coercive use of technology.
The opposition also says it would expand payments and services for women and children escaping violence, and behavioural interventions aimed at men.
Coalition spokesperson for women Sussan Ley says Labor lacked urgency on these issue but the LNP will be more effective.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Labor will launch a strategy soon to support men's health as part of its pitch to voters ahead of the 3rd of May election.
Labor has previously outlined some policies on women's health, with new medicines listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
These include contraceptive pills, menopause hormone therapies, endometriosis and IVF drugs.
Mr Albanese was asked whether Labor has any plans to address issues specific to men.
"On the issue of men's health, we're going to have more to say in coming days about our men's health strategy that we will be announcing, as I said, in coming days, and we'll have more to say on that then."
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Coalition leader Peter Dutton has vowed to reassess the security clearance of Palestinians who have been granted visitor visas after fleeing from Gaza.
He also pledged to insert questions on antisemitism into Australia's citizenship test and recognise West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network has criticised the policies saying they would suppress valid critique of Israel.
Committing to these policies on the campaign trail in Perth, Mr Dutton said the Coalition won't compromise on border security.
"Our nation is the greatest in the world, and we welcome migrants coming to our country. We have the most successful migration program, but we're not going to compromise on those settings which provide screening on people coming in from a war zone." REPORTER: "Those people from Gaza though were vetted when they exited the Rafah border crossing by Israel, and then Home Affairs as well, so do you not trust our security agencies or our allies?" DUTTON: "Well, we'll take and advice and but we'll conduct proper security checks."
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With the body of Pope Francis now lying in state at St Peter's Basilica, ahead of his funeral on Saturday, cardinals from all over the world are making their way to the Vatican.
They will elect his successor through a secretive process called a conclave - and once that process begins, they'll be completely shut off from the world until a new pope is named.
Many cardinals coming from the global south were appointed by Pope Francis himself, including John Ribat, who became Papua New Guinea's first and only cardinal in 2016.
The 68-year-old Archbishop of Port Moresby says it's a momentous milestone for his country, which was visited by Pope Francis last year.
"The important thing is that, you know, Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing because it represents this, it is the first time, this is the first time, I will be in the conclave and it is important because the first time that Papua New Guinea, a small church, participates in voting a new pope that will replace Pope Francis. So, it's really important that as a small church (is) recognised."
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Gaza's health ministry says an Israeli blockade has forced the suspension of a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign meant to target more than 600,000 children.
A spokesperson says 60,000 children are showing signs of malnutrition.
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Philippe Lazzarini says the blockade on humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war.
Israel says the blockade is necessary to force Hamas to release hostages.
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India has announced a raft of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan.
The move comes a day after suspected militants killed 26 men at a tourist destination in Kashmir.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says India would suspend with immediate effect a crucial river water treaty that allows for sharing the waters of the Indus river system between the two countries.
The main border crossing checkpost between the two countries will be closed with immediate effect and Pakistani citizens will not be allowed to travel to India under special visas.
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A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck Türkiye.
President Recep Erdoğan says survey teams are assessing the situation but are reporting no major damage.
"Our search and surveying efforts are continuing with sensitivity and we are following the process very closely. Before coming here, I received the most recent information from Turkey's Directorate of Disaster Management chief and our Istanbul governor, as well as from our minister friends. It doesn't seem to be a problematic situation for now, thank God."
The tremor, one of the strongest to hit the city in recent years, caused buildings to be evacuated across Istanbul.
While no major damage was reported, aftershocks kept many residents outdoors, with some gathering in parks or waiting outside their homes.
Several shops on the European side temporarily shut their doors.
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Nick Daicos will become Collingwood's youngest captain in 57 years when he steps up in place of Darcy Moore for the Anzac Day blockbuster.
Moore will miss the Friday's match against Essendon as he battles vertigo symptoms related to issues with his inner ear.
After being elevated to the vice-captaincy ahead of this season, Daicos was selected as stand-in skipper on Wednesday.
At just 22 years and 122 days, Daicos will become the Magpies' fourth-youngest skipper.
