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Electoral disclosures show gambling companies donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Labor party, before the government shelved legislation on sports betting reform.
The most recent Australian Electoral Commission disclosures shows over $140 million has been donated to major political parties ahead of the upcoming federal election.
Sportsbet donated $88,000, making a donation to Labor weeks before it was revealed the government was rejecting the recommended blanket advertising ban.
Mining company Hancock Prospecting, owned by billionaire Gina Rinehart, donated $325,000 to the Liberal National Party of Queensland.
Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters says there need to be stronger rules around political donations.
"The Labor government have dropped their plans to reform gambling ads, and maybe it's because they keep getting these donations from the gambling companies, from the pokies and from the hotels associations. This is exactly why we need to stop donations from fossil fuel companies, from gambling companies, from booze industries, from defense, from weapons, those folk just should not be able to pay to get the policy outcomes to suit them, especially when the community and the planet are the ones that are suffering. "
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Hundreds of people are fleeing to evacuation centres as record breaking floods continue to hit far north Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning heavy rain and flooding will continue in coming days.
Continued rainfall has swollen local waterways, with major flood warnings in place for the Herbert River, the Ross and Bohle Rivers, the Horton River and the Upper Burdekin River.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says the government is currently focused on keeping people safe.
"Our response at the moment has many elements. Obviously, there's people's homes, there's also electricity, water, roads and obviously the rescue response, and we will continue to make sure we provide information as it comes to hand, so that residents know that they are in our thoughts, and that we will continue to respond to what the challenges that lie ahead. "
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Authorities in Victoria say they believe at least two properties have been destroyed in bushfires burning across the state.
Thunderstorms overnight saw thousands of lightning strikes, heavy rain and damaging winds, with power cut to at least 38,000 homes.
Fewer than 10,000 homes were still off the grid on Monday.
Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan says residents in fire-affected areas should stay up to date with warnings as the heatwave continues.
"Huge resources, ground resources are being deployed right now to get on top of this fire. I want to thank again our fire and emergency services worker and volunteers who have been going flat out keeping us safe and getting on top of these fires. These fires are obviously in forested areas, so please, there's a number of emergency alerts and warnings that are out right now, so please follow this advice. "
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Berlin police say around 160,000 demonstrators have gathered to protest against proposals made to limit immigration in Germany.
The plans are being proposed by the conservative opposition and are supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany.
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz [[freed-rick mare-z]], who is expected to become Germany's next chancellor, broke a taboo by cooperating with the far-right party in sponsoring the draft immigration bill.
The far-right party in Germany is under surveillance by Germany's security services, which label the group as extremist.
Protester Tilman Günther says he fears Germany is going in the wrong direction.
“I came here today because I have the feeling that something is beginning to unravel and I think it's a good thing that we stand up now and don't leave it to our parliamentarians to stand up for our democracy.”
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U-S media outlets are reporting the Federal Bureau of Investigation may be preparing to fire agents who investigated Donald Trump's role in the January 6 assault of the Capitol.
Reports say FBI employees are being ordered to answer a detailed list of questions about any work they may have done on criminal cases related to the attack, stoking fear among staff that they will lose their jobs.
Reuters says it has seen questions on the list in which employees are being asked to describe any role they played in the January 6 investigations.
Since the president came to office last month, eight senior FBI officials from the agency's headquarters have been dismissed.
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To the AFL now, Essendon star Jade Gresham has added his voice to calls for the AFL Indigenous All Stars exhibition match to become an annual fixture on the competition's calendar.
The All Stars will take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium on February 15, marking the team's first appearance in a decade.
On Monday, Gresham was named in a star-studded squad that features 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from 16 clubs.
The team includes seven All-Australians, 10 premiership players, seven top-20 national draft picks, and three mark-of-the-year winners.
