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National cabinet has agreed to a $4.7bn plan over the next five years to address the “national crisis” of family and gender-based violence. The funding includes $3.9bn from the commonwealth for frontline legal assistance services for families escaping violence, which will begin flowing from 1 July 2025.
Another $351m from the federal government will go towards a five-year partnership for supporting specialist women’s and children’s services, as well as men’s behaviour change programs. This investment will be matched by the states, amounting to $752m.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the meeting with premiers and chief ministers focused on four areas: “Supporting the critical work of frontline services, turning our eyes on perpetrators to stop violence from escalating, providing more support for children and young people who have experienced violence and tackling the impacts of alcohol on violence.”
Top news
Unseasonable warmth and weather warnings | New South Wales, Victoria, south-west Queensland and parts of central Australia experienced temperatures between 6C and 12C above average on Friday, with elevated fire danger and damaging wind forecast for parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
Toowoomba religious sect trial | Members of the Saints sect on trial over the death of eight-year-old diabetic Elizabeth Struhs told a court in closing arguments that they still believe she will come back from the dead.
Independent targeting western Sydney seat says he ‘supports Palestine resistance’ after Facebook controversy | Dr Ziad Basyouny, the candidate targeting Tony Burke’s seat, has said a social media post shared after the 7 October Hamas attacks wasn’t about celebrating the attacks but recognising “the inherent right of Palestinians to take back and defend their land”.
Handgun heist in the Blue Mountains | Three men have been charged over the theft of more than two dozen antique handguns, including one from the 1700s and a pistol gifted by the Sultan of Oman, from a regional museum.
Lehrmann given extra time to appeal | Bruce Lehrmann has been given extra time to refile the grounds of his appeal against his defamation trial loss to Network Ten and presenter Lisa Wilkinson, after missing court-set deadlines. The former Liberal staffer’s lawyer told the court he should be exempt from $117,000 in court costs “because he was on Centrelink”.
‘I couldn’t say no’ | Parents and campaigners in Japan have called on education and health authorities to end the practice of requiring children as young as five – and as old as 18 – to strip to the waist during health examinations.
US father charged with second-degree murder | The father of the 14-year-old suspected of fatally shooting two students and two teachers with an assault-style rifle at a Georgia high school has been arrested on charges “directly connected with the actions of his son”, investigators said.
Day seven on the Paralympics in Paris | Long-jumper Vanessa Low (pictured) has set her sights on cracking the six-metre mark after claiming a third-straight Paralympic gold medal, one of three new Australian gold medals.
Analysis: the price is wrong | Despite the supermarket giants drawing intense criticism from all sides of politics over their pricing practices, most shoppers have not seen any price relief in their shopping basket. Jonathan Barrett explores whether the brand damage and political crackdowns will ever force the sector to give up some of its profits.
In pictures
Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing seek to end 11-year Australian drought at WSL finals
The Australian pair finished in the top five in the World Surf League rankings to book their ticket to the winner-takes-all, one-day showdown in California, while hopes will also rest with their compatriot Molly Picklum in the women’s final.
What they said …
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“If I can take care of myself I will be completely, absolutely fine. I feel very, very lucky.”
The Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew revealed live on air that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Bartholomew was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in July and said this can be treated with a daily tablet.
In numbers
San Marino have beaten Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations League’s fourth tier, securing their first-ever competitive victory after 34 years of trying. Ranked last in Fifa’s world rankings, the tiny country’s only previous win – also over Liechtenstein – came in a 2004 friendly and they have had five draws.
Before bed read
‘I am falling for an amazing woman who is a flat-earther. Can I reconcile my diminishing respect?’
Disagreements about our beliefs are one thing, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, but our beliefs are also bound up with what we value.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ERAS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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