TRANSCRIPT:
- New funding for frontline legal services as Australia confronts domestic violence;
- US authorities charge the father of a Georgia high school shooter;
- Michael Palfrey sacked by Swimming Australia after a Paris Olympics controversy.
National Cabinet has agreed to new funding for front line domestic and family violence services to the tune of $4.7 billion.
The money will go towards legal support, to extend services that were on the brink of closing, and hire additional frontline staff.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says they are focused on "practical measures" as they work to end violence against women and children.
"We know that a nationally coordinated approach is required to address this national crisis. We must act to ensure women are safe. These horrific and disturbing deaths and vile violence must be prevented."
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In the United States, authorities have arrested the father of a teenager who fatally shot four people at a Georgia high school this week.
The 54 year old has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
It's believed that the charges stem from the father allowing the suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, to possess a weapon.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey says the teenager will also face court.
"Additionally, Colt Gray that was arrested yesterday for this incident, has now been charged with four counts of felony murder. And again, we will continue to work tirelessly to finish - complete this investigation as we move forward."
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Meanwhile police in Germany have shot and killed a man in an exchange of gunfire in Munich.
Bavaria's top security official, state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, has said the suspect shot at police and they returned fire.
Munich police spokesman Andreas Franken says officers had been alerted to the person carrying a 'long gun' in an area that houses both the Israeli consulate and a museum on the city's Nazi-era history.
But Andreas says there is no immediate information on the suspect's identity or on any motive.
"We currently only know that the person, this suspect, acted at this location and was stopped very quickly by the emergency services. We have no indication that there were any other perpetrators or that there was any danger to the public."
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Queensland says "significant resources" are already hitting the ground as it prepares for a worse than usual bushfire season in the coming months.
Queensland has contracted an aerial fleet of 13 aircraft with a total waterbombing capacity of more than 32,000 litres.
Some of the state's aerial fleet has arrived in Bundaberg just days into spring, including a 10,000-litre Large Air Tanker.
It will be deployed over spring and summer to coastal and inland areas.
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The RBA says young people and low-income earners will be the ones to suffer more if their efforts to bring down inflation aren't successful.
Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock says the central bank - along with state and federal governments - are focused on inflation because of the impact it's having on the economy.
She says it's already hitting the most vulnerable, and delays in controlling it will have unequal effects.
"Ultimately, we'd need to slow the economy down by more which would result in a larger rise in unemployment and a higher risk of recession. The cost of job loss is very high to individual workers, and it leads to persistent earnings losses. This experience is consistent across groups of workers, but job losses tend to be disproportionately borne by some members of our community. The young, those that are less educated, and people on lower incomes."
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Pharmacies in New South Wales may soon be able to treat more health conditions under a state government plan to relieve pressure on GPs.
Health Minister Ryan Park says Labor is looking at an expanded scope of practice for local chemists which could come into force by 2026, following an evaluation of a trial program.
Under the flagged changes, the state's pharmacists would be able to treat middle ear infections, minor wounds, nausea and vomiting and some gastro-oesophageal problems.
The move is aimed at helping to deal with a shortage of GPs in New South Wales, part of a national forecasted shortfall of 1,900 GPs across Australia by 2028.
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In swimming news,
Coach Michael Palfrey has been sacked by Swimming Australia in the wake of a Paris Olympics controversy where he publicly supported South Korea.
Palfrey had previously worked with Korean swimmers but was on Australia's pool deck in Paris as an assistant coach.
The governing body says the coach has been axed for breaching his employment agreement.
