PM

The Government says it expects the Senate will send its bank levy legislation to an inquiry, but it still insists the measure will be in place from the start of July. The Treasurer, Scott Morrison has dismissed criticism from the former head of his department, Ken Henry, who is now the Chairman of the National Australia Bank. The NXT and Greens will support an inquiry. The Greens spokesman, Peter Whish-Wilson says it can be completed in time for July, but the Government should also speed up the introduction of measures to help customers switch banks.

A hike in university fees and cuts to higher education funding announced in last week's budget are facing growing opposition. University Vice Chancellors resolved today to fight the cuts in their entirety after a meeting of Universities Australia, giving the senate cross bench political backing to vote against them when legislation comes to a vote. Monash University Vice Chancellor Margaret Gardner is the chairperson of the group, and she says the cuts don't chime with the government's pro-jobs message.

Comparing his forced appearance in court to Nazi Germany style tactics, an ailing Clive Palmer managed to stagger to the witness box in the Federal Court again, to face questions relating to the collapse of his Townsville-based nickel refinery business. The former MP says he's still taking the powerful painkillers that affect his memory and therefore his evidence.

NSW Police are investigating allegations of ballot fraud in next week's RSL NSW elections. Yesterday the New South Wales Government announced a tough new public enquiry into allegations of financial fraud and mismanagement at the top of the organisation. The Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott described it as the 'darkest day' in the 100-year history of the RSL. The state branch of the League is already the subject of multiple investigations, including by the NSW Police Fraud Squad and the charities regulator, the ACNC. Now, there's a fresh investigation into claims ballots for the upcoming RSL NSW elections were falsified.

RSL New South Wales will come under a fresh round of intense scrutiny as part of a tough new inquiry that's been announced by the State Government. The New South Wales Government has intervened in the financial scandal that's engulfed the state branch of the RSL. But ballots have already been cast, meaning there's a good chance that those being investigated will be re-elected to run the organisation.

The traditional view that the ABC is king in regional areas has been disputed in a new report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). A majority of people living in regional Australia prefer to get their local news from commercial television and print, according to the communications watchdog. The results of ACMA's research shows that the news on ABC local radio is preferred less than the other sources. Meanwhile, social media is growing as a news source, but it's not trusted.

Australia's top Cyber Security Adviser says it's fanciful to suggest international conventions be created to control cyber warfare. About five Australian companies have now been hit by the same malicious software attack that's infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, and shut down government departments in Europe. The 'malware', as it is known, was developed from software vulnerabilities stolen from the US National Security Agency. But calls for governments to regulate their own computer hacking have been dismissed.

The big banks have told the Government the $6.2 billion levy proposed in this year's budget should expire when the budget returns to surplus. The Government says the tax will help to pay down the budget deficit, but most of the five banks to be affected have publicised their submissions to the government, again criticising the measure. They say it should apply to foreign banks operating in Australia, and Commonwealth and NAB have again warned that the cost of the tax will be borne by shareholders and customers.

China's plans to blast shallow parts of the Mekong River to allow heavy shipping will destroy breeding grounds for the endangered Mekong giant catfish, and could have devastating impacts for downstream countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. Fishing, agriculture and even national boundaries are likely to be affected. But despite protests, the Thai Government has approved a survey phase, and Chinese engineers are on the river even before the environmental impacts are clear.

The Kurdish-led military force, the Syrian Democratic Forces, is making headway in breaking so-called Islamic Sate's stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria. Most recently, the militia group took Tabqa dam nearby and rescued civilians. Recapturing Raqqa from IS has been the SDF's aim since November, with backing from the US-led coalition.