PM

In the Northern Territory, the youth detention royal commission has heard there were clear warnings issued about a major incident at Don Dale, a year before the tear-gassing of several detainees. The former head of NT corrections has given evidence at public hearings today. The inquiry was told her concerns were pushed aside by the former corrections commissioner.

An American child abuse expert has told the royal commission that memories of their assaults stay with victims for the rest of their lives and can be easily triggered unless the survivor gets therapy. Dr Bruce Perry gave evidence that if a victim's report of their abuse isn't believed the effects on their physical and mental health are likely to be more severe than if they're helped.

Britain has become the first country to formally begin the process of leaving the European Union. A six-page letter signed by Britain's prime minister was sent to Brussels, triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty and kickstarting a two-year negotiation over the terms of leaving the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May described it as 'a historic moment' and the point at which Britain took back control, and began making its own decisions and own laws. But already, there's disagreement between Britain and some of Europe's most powerful leaders over how the talks should proceed.

The clean-up from the wild weather in Queensland has begun as emergency crews work to remove fallen trees, clear roads and restore power. Up to 18,000 residents in Mackay are waiting for electricity to be restored while canegrowers say the weather has potentially impacted around nine million tonnes of cane.

There's a mixture of devastation and delight in the town of Bowen, as residents return to their homes. Most appear to have escaped major damage, but some buildings were overpowered by the cyclone - ripping off roofing and tearing walls apart.

The $5 billion fund the Federal Government set up to back investment in northern Australia is under fire. Labor MP Wayne Swan has branded the governance of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility as 'worse than Lehman Brothers', the company that triggered the global financial crisis. And the Labor party today issued a demand in the Senate that the minister for northern Australia, Matt Canavan, release key documents relating to the fund.

The new head of the union movement, Sally McManus has backed in her comments that it's acceptable to break industrial laws if they're unjust. She's used a press club address to call for a $45 per week increase in the minimum wage. In parliament, the fight over penalty rates has continued, with question time dominated by personal and bitter attacks by the Government and Opposition.

It's impossible to determine how much longer the rivers of gold from the mining industry have to run. That's what independent experts have told PM after a report commissioned by the Minerals Council suggested the resources boom has another 30 years left in it. While the mining sector remains an important part of the Australian economy, experts warn too many reports, commissioned by industry insiders, exaggerate the importance of different sectors in order to grab the attention of policy makers.

The United Kingdom is embarking on one of its biggest political shake-ups since the Second World War, and formally filing for divorce from the European Union. The country's Prime Minister, Theresa May, has signed the letter that'll begin Brexit, and now there's simply no turning back. The historic day is being both celebrated and commiserated in London.

The Northern Territory youth detention royal commission has been told children were held on rolling 72 hour isolation placements because there was nowhere else to put them. The Don Dale youth detention centre's former general manager has given evidence today. Russell Caldwell told the inquiry laws about prolonged isolation didn't account for the reality on the ground.