PM

Wombats in northern Tasmania are being killed both by a skin disease called mange, and by being shot by farmers who have permits to kill the animals when they destroy fences and dig burrows in paddocks. But so many wombats have been dying from the skin disease called mange that the Government has revoked culling licences from farmers in Tasmania's north.

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

The Energy Market Operator has warned that South Australia and Victoria are at risk of blackouts during extreme conditions this summer. In a new report into future energy supplies, AEMO says the nation's energy system is still fragile, despite new measures being introduced and fresh generation that will gradually come online. It has also updated its gas forecasts, saying it now expects lower exports and more production than previously predicted.

On Business PM: Tapping into the continued political discussion about 'clean coal', an industry insider dishes the dirt on the attempts to master it, explaining how and why it's not a serious or viable option for Australia; And while members of the Liberal Party fight about whether to adopt Finkel's recommendation for a clean energy target, it may no longer be needed, joining Business PM is Carnegie Clean Energy's chief executive Dr Ottaviano.

Lawyers believe potential contempt of court proceedings against three Federal Government ministers could be unprecedented in Australian law. The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered Greg Hunt, Alan Tudge and Michael Sukkar to defend criticisms they made of the state's judiciary in a newspaper earlier this week. The Solicitor-General is expected to represent all three ministers at the court tomorrow morning.

The Coalition broke some employment records today. Official data show the unemployment rate fell to a four year low of 5.5 per cent. But one leading Australian economist has told PM that Government Ministers should think twice before spruiking this latest employment report card.

It's been revealed construction work on plans for a controversial mosque in regional Victoria are starting next month. A new report into debate about the Bendigo mosque has revealed the extent of the friction it created in the city. It's hoped the findings of the study can teach other regional Australian cities how to better treat Muslim communities.

Proposed new citizenship laws might have sparked heated debate in Canberra, but for some in the refugee community it's a blow to their confidence in becoming Australians. Refugees applying for citizenship are concerned about passing the stricter English language test and believe it should be phased in over several years. Some immigration legal experts agree and also question the true motives behind the proposed legislation.

The battle to liberate Raqqa from ISIS is raging in Northern Syria with US forces giving arms and support to the Syrian Democratic Forces who've laid siege to the city. Jesper Soder is a Swedish teacher who left his job in 2015 to join Kurdish fighters who make up part of the SDF. Ever since he's been flying in and out of the war-torn nation and now finds himself at the frontline of the battle to retake Raqqa.

Counter-terrorism police have arrested a man at Sydney airport they believe was preparing to travel to Syria to fight for Islamic State. The 22-year-old from Panania in Sydney's south-west was allegedly radicalised online. Police say they've been watching him for months but they believe he was acting alone.