TRANSCRIPT:
- The nation's top soldier in the spotlight as debate continues over Labor's response to a war crimes report;
- Donald Trump rules out another debate against Kamala Harris;
- Adelaide United through to the Australia Cup semi-finals.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has defended his decision to strip up to nine soldiers of their honours from Afghanistan.
Veterans and politicians have claimed frontline soldiers are being "thrown under the bus" over Afghanistan war crime allegations, while the officers in charge emerge unscathed.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is the latest to question why the general who went on to become the chief of the Defence Force - Angus Campbell - kept his honours while lower-level officers lost theirs.
But Mr Marles says he made the tough call that the Opposition leader wouldn't.
"The point I would make in terms of the leader of the Opposition is that when he was the Defence Minister, he actively suspended making a decision in relation to command accountability. Now that's not a point that we particularly wanted to make this week, but that is actually what he did when he was the Defence Minister. He suspended the decision making in relation to command accountability. Difficult decisions require leadership. That's what I've done as the Minister for Defence."
.
Twelve current and former public servants have been found to be in breach of conduct rules over their involvement with the Robodebt program.
The Australian Public Service Commission task force report says they lost their way in their "dogged pursuit" of delivering a government priority.
The report has found the officials breached the code of conduct 97 times when they designed and delivered the unlawful welfare debt recovery scheme.
Four people still working in the public service have been slapped with sanctions ranging from fines and demotions - but there is no framework for punishing a former employee, and it is unclear how the others - who have retired or resigned - would be treated.
.
Pictures have emerged of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting factories involved in the country's nuclear program - which is banned by the U.N.
The photos published by state media show Kim walking between long rows of metal centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium.
The reports say Kim has urged workers to produce more materials for tactical nuclear weapons, saying the country's nuclear arsenal is vital for confronting threats from the United States and its allies.
.
Republican nominee Donald Trump says he won't take part in another presidential debate against Kamala Harris ahead of the US election, after several polls showed his Democratic rival won their debate earlier this week.
The Harris campaign had called for a third debate, with the vice-president saying they owed it to the voters to discuss important issues at length.
But at a rally in Arizona, Mr Trump has declared himself the winner of his matchup with Harris, saying there is no reason for another debate.
"As everyone saw two nights ago, we had a monumental victory over comrade Kamala Harris."
.
Australia has unveiled a joint development deal with Germany for hydrogen projects worth an estimated $660 million.
Hydrogen is expected to be the foundation of new clean energy industries in Australia and rival net-zero economies, and as a feedstock to make green iron and steel, ammonia, fertilisers and fuels.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the joint funding, available over the next 10 years, will support new commercial supply and access to the European market.
"Today, Anja (Hajduk) and I have signed Australia's participation in the H2Global initiative. H2Global initiative is Germany investing in Australian hydrogen. And that's by the Australian government. $660 million Australian joint partnership which will see projects being able to bid in for support from the Australian and German governments. Now, these projects will develop green hydrogen and green hydrogen-related projects."
.
Melbourne Airport is set to receive a third runway worth $3 billion in an effort to reduce flight delays and give a boost to Victoria's tourism.
Transport Minister Catherine King says the funding will flow now a number of conditions for its approval, such as minimising noise for local communities, have been met.
The Minister says the third runway is essential.
"We only have one and a half runway and it's a cross system. So in Melbourne, with weather, we have significant on-time performance challenges and delays, and we're also reaching capacity during the peak periods. So to meet that forecast demand we really need that parallel runway system to come in line with Brisbane and Sydney. We're one of the largest airports in the world that doesn't have a parallel system today."
.
Briefly in other news,
- The man appointed to clean up the Victorian branch of the C-F-M-E-U has resigned suddenly, just weeks after taking on the role.
No reason for the departure of Graeme McCulloch has been given.
- And two men will face court after being accused of rigging games at a Sydney casino and winning more than $25,000.
One of the men is a casino employee.
.
In football,
Adelaide United have advanced to the Australia Cup semi-finals, following their 2-1 win in extra time over the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Australia Cup quarterfinals are set to wrap up tomorrow, with the Oakleigh Cannons hosting Macarthur and Melbourne Victory taking on Moreton City.
