Coalition MPs and Senators will meet today to decide whether to back a referendum to recognize local councils in the constitution. A growing number of coalition members have been speaking out against the proposal. The Opposition's local government spokesman Barnaby Joyce backs the move, but others are threatening to cross the floor.

 

Shocking new research has revealed the extent of sexual violence in Victoria's psychiatric hospitals. The report by the Victorian mental illness awareness foundation has found nearly half of the female patients surveyed had been sexually assaulted inside psychiatric wards.

 

Fire has gutted one house and severely damaged another at Taringa in Brisbane's west. The blaze broke out just before 11:30 last night, it quickly spread to the adjacent house, all ten occupants managed to escape unharmed. On the Gold Coast fire has severely damaged a Waterside home still being built, and Water police have rescued two men who abandoned their fishing trawler when it caught fire just off  Mermaid Beach.

 

Police investigating a shooting at Mother's Day parade in New Orleans have released security camera video of a possible suspect. Nineteen people including two children were injured in the attack, police are searching for three suspects seen fleeing the area.