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Commodity prices are high and there's been a reprieve from years of drought. But it's not that simple because many farmers are affected by rural crime costing rural economies millions of dollars in lost revenue-and-labour every year. Police in New South Wales say the problem is compounded because farmers are often reluctant to report thefts.

Industry groups and farm bodies are demanding a national approach to managing the backpacker workforce on farms. Leading the campaign for greater oversight of labour hire companies, farmers and hostels is Rosie Ayliffe. She's the mother of murdered backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who was attacked in a backpacker hostel in Queensland in 2016.

Women in Alice Springs, and the town camps of the Central Desert have taken their fight against domestic to the streets, demanding change. Their protest coincided with an announcement by the Northern Territory's chief minister, that more police will be trained to take on-the-spot video statements from victims of domestic violence.

Drone technology. It seems there's nothing it can't transform. At least that's what's being touted at the first-ever World of Drones Congress in Brisbane this week where experts talk about the opportunities and the challenges of drone technology.

There's a new appeal to update the 'outer space treaty', was created in 1967, during the Cold War, and designed to stop space warfare between the US and the then Soviet Union. A researcher in South Australia is the latest voice to call for a major upgrade to the treaty, but building on the existing principles. A group of young space professionals has set about developing some new rules. The trick will be getting nations to agree to them.

Business PM catches you up on the most important news in business and finance.

The Iraqi Ambassador says his Prime Minister is preparing to make a formal declaration that Mosul has been retaken from Islamic State. Ambassador Hussein Al Ameri has been detailing his government's plan to restore civilian control. He says Iraq's government wants Australia to dig deep - again - with aid, cheap finance and construction expertise, putting an estimate on the rebuilding of his country at $100 billion.

A raid by Australian soldiers which led to the deaths of five children and a man was one of the most infamous events of Australia's war in Afghanistan. Two commandos were charged with manslaughter for their role in the incident, but the case was dropped before it reached trial. According to a highly decorated Afghanistan veteran, the treatment of those soldiers changed attitudes within an influential minority on the ground. The soldier's account comes as a secretive defence inquiry into special forces looks at allegations that Australian soldiers covered up the killing of an Afghan boy in 2012.

Authorities on Manus Island are telling asylum seekers they'll shut off power and water to certain accommodation compounds, to force people to leave the detention centre and move to transit accommodation in the island's town. The roughly 800 men still inside the centre don't want to leave, because they think Australia will stop providing services for them and that local people on Manus Island will attack them.

International election observers say there are widespread problems with Papua New Guinea's electoral roll after thousands of people were prevented from voting. In its interim statement, the Commonwealth Observer Group has called for an urgent review to improve the accuracy of the roll. But despite issues with the roll, and other problems, it says the election results 'should reflect the wishes of the people who participated'.