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Farming businesses have accused former federal agriculture minister, Joe Ludwig, of hiding his role in the 2011 live cattle ban to avoid litigation. A class action against the Federal Government claims Mr Ludwig used private email addresses and text messages to communicate with staff at the time of the ban. Today, the companies involved won an application to the Federal Court to demand access to communications between Mr Ludwig, his staff and the formerpprime minister, Julia Gillard.

There have been an overwhelming number of applications for compensation in South Australia for members of the Stolen Generations. Around than 350 people have applied for a share of the $6 million State Reparations Scheme, which closes today. Along with Tasmania, the state is only the second in Australia, with a fund for Aboriginal people removed from their homes and families when they were children. But many say money won't compensate the level of trauma experienced and much more needs to be done in addressing intergenerational issues caused as a result.

A concern about wild fisheries that supply salmon fish feed and environmental issues in Tasmania has prompted Australian Ethical Investments to sell it's $10 million share of Australia's largest salmon company Tassal. The company's shop in Hobart was the site of a protest today, with Tasmanian's who are upset about the impact salmon farming is having at Macquarie Harbour and those who oppose Tassal's plans to build new salmon farms on the state's east coast.

The former New South Wales Labor minister Ian MacDonald has been found guilty of misconduct in a public office, over a mining license issued in 2008. He could join fellow disgraced former Labor minister Eddie Obeid behind bars.

Queensland's south-east corner is now enduring the latest blows from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie as it makes its way south. The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered that all south-east Queensland schools will remain closed tomorrow, as buffeting winds and flash flooding continue to lash the area. Up to 500 millimetres is predicted to fall in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterland before midnight tonight. Emergency services are rescuing people trapped in floodwaters from Bundaberg south to Brisbane. It's hoped the system will move out to sea tonight, leaving full dams and flash flooding in its wake.

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Farmers along the Whitsunday coast say their crops and properties have been devastated by Cyclone Debbie. This region's known for its sugar farming, but it's also considered one of north Australia's food bowls. And farmers say it could be weeks to months before they're able to grow again.

The Government's submission to the Fair Work Commission's minimum case has dominated another raucous Question Time. The Opposition challenged the Government on its submission that minimum wage recipients often live in high income households, but the Government has pointed out that Labor made similar submissions when it was in Government. Labor has also had a symbolic victory with the Senate passing a bill to protect the take home pay of penalty rate recipients, but the bill is unlikely to survive in the lower house, where the Government holds a majority.

Young Australians will have greater protection from online predators, with new laws introduced to federal parliament. Dubbed 'Carly's Law', the changes will give police powers to intervene before online predators have the chance to harm a child, and targets those who misrepresent their age. It follows years of campaigning by Sonya Ryan, whose teenage daughter was murdered a decade ago by an online predator. And while cyber safety experts have welcomed the laws, they say only education will stop young people becoming victims and at the moment that's severely lacking.

The Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein is refusing to hand over confidential cabinet documents to a parliamentary committee. The committee has responded by referring the matter to both houses of the state parliament to see if the Treasurer is in contempt.

It's been found that young defence veterans have a higher rate of suicide than the community average. The findings are contained in a major review into suicide and self-harm for veterans and members of the Defence Forces, released today by the Federal Government. The report shows that while members are serving, they have a much lower rate of suicide than the average, but that changes dramatically once they leave the services.