Thousands of Indian students and skilled workers have been entering Australia on dodgy travel and work documents. Briefing papers from the Immigration Department obtained by the ABC's fact-checking unit under freedom of information show large scale fraud of the visa system. The department says documents date back several years and the situation has now improved.

 

Labor's National President Jenny McAllister says she expects a special caucus meeting in Sydney this morning will endorse Kevin Rudd's leadership reforms. The prime minister wants to give party members an equal say in deciding on the leader. MPs will also be briefed on preparations for the forthcoming federal election.

 

Japan's Prime Minister Shizo Abe is on track to gain control of both houses of parliament for the first time in 6 years. Exit polls show his Liberal Democratic Party and his junior partner have won majority in upper house elections. Mr Abe says the expected result is an endorsement of his economic reforms.

 

And a strong earthquake has rocked New Zealand's capital Wellington. The 6.5 magnitude quake struck about 40km off the coast. Windows were smashed. Stock was knocked off supermarket shelves. And there was minor damage to Wellington's parliament house.