New Zealand's Prime Minister says she's not offended by Malcolm Turnbull's suggestion that her country should "step up" its commitment to the Pacific. The two leaders met in Sydney this morning.

The Australian steel industry is waiting to find out if it'll be exempted from a 25 per cent tariff on importing steel into the United States. There are fears America's major trading partners could retaliate, sparking a trade war.

One of Australia's most eminent strategic thinkers has lashed the Foreign and Defence ministers and the Prime Minister for complacency in the face of the threats posed by Russia and China. Paul Dibb is Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University and he discusses the current threats to Australia with PM's Linda Mottram.

In a climate of general disaffection, Italy goes to the polls on Sunday and the ruling centre left government is set to lose power. It's a fragmented contest with about 20 parties and no-one forecast to get a majority. How will it all play out? Italian born economics Professor Luigi Zingales joins PM.

It's a show about disability, chronic illness, ableism and accessibility. 'Have you tried Yoga?' is an exploration of what it means to be disabled when surrounded by echoing platitudes, empty gestures and wannabe heroes.

Health care providers are hoping the latest pregnancy care guidelines will lead to more conversations about healthy weight among expectant mothers. In Australia, an increasing number of mothers are obese or overweight.

On tonight's program: Allegations of "sweatshop" like conditions for workers getting flowers to your local supermarket; Also the consumer watchdog's now being accused of unnecessary recalls of some car airbags; And why your mortgage interest rates could soon go up.

The political contest in Canberra has become increasingly nasty, with claims of bullying and Nazi references added to an already rancorous week. The Coalition is standing by the Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who is under fire for threatening to detail rumours about the Opposition Leader's female staff.

Former employees of the largest flower supplier in the southern hemisphere say they were bullied, verbally abused and subjected to "sweatshop" conditions for years at the company's Australian warehouses.

The Northern Territory Government says it supports either in full or in principle all 227 of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Youth Detention and Child Protection. But it hasn't yet announced what funding will be committed to make the necessary sweeping systemic reforms.