PM

New research shows that where you live could mean that you pay up to five times more than others to see a medical specialist. A study in the Medical Journal of Australia found that the cost to patients can vary widely even within the same medical discipline. It found that some patients are paying up to 400 per cent more in out of pocket costs more for the same treatment as other patients.

There was some relief today for policy makers when official data showed retail sales rebounded in January. There were some anxious business owners earlier this year when the monthly sales data showed shoppers actually pulling back on their spending. But despite the lift in January, there are fears the increased sales won't last, and that it will actually get worse for department stores and shopping centres later this year.

Dr Carol Pollock is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. She's a trained specialist in renal medicine and currently doing research into predicting the future risk of chronic kidney disease in the offspring of obese mothers with and without type 2 diabetes. She says a Deakin University study has shown that 63 per cent of Australians are now classified as being overweight or obese, which is concerning to health practitioners, as obesity is closely linked with the development chronic of kidney disease.

A coalition of 24 health, school, academic and sporting organisations is calling for a national plan to tackle physical inactivity. They argue all previous efforts have been piecemeal, with only 20 per cent of children doing enough exercise. Economic modelling released today shows the proposed strategy would pay for itself, with better health saving the economy half a billion dollars a year.

Procedures at Darwin's private and public hospitals are under scrutiny, after a woman was left for 36 hours with a post-surgery complication. The woman died from multiple organ failure in May 2015. Nurses involved have told the coroner they didn't have specific training for work in the private hospital's high dependency unit.

The Pharmacy Guild has labelled a report, which claims Australians are paying too much for prescription drugs, as unbalanced and misleading. The Grattan Institute report says Australian drug prices are more than twice those in the UK and more than three times higher than in New Zealand. It argues taxpayers and patients would pay a lot less if the federal government made changes to the way prices are set under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Three members of the far right United Patriots Front have faced court charged with serious religious vilification for a mock beheading stunt at an anti-mosque protest in Bendigo in 2015. It's believed to be the first high-profile criminal case prosecuted under Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. The men say they have a right to freedom of speech and protest and that they will fight the charges.

Duncan Meerding designs lights and his work is being recognised by an invitation to the International Light trade show Euroluce in Milan, Italy. Mr Meerding says his inspiration comes from nature, the wood that he handcrafts and his disability. The designer is legally blind, losing most of his vision when he was 18.

'Are you living in the real world?' That was just one of a barrage of questions the chief executive of the National Australia Bank faced today as he fronted a parliamentary economic committee. It was revealed that the manager responsible for NAB's wealth division was given a bonus, even though that division has had to pay out millions of dollars in compensation to customers whose superannuation accounts were overcharged. Also exposed was an advisor who was sacked for giving poor advice, was also given a large payout to leave the bank.

The Prime Minister says the Australian Defence Force has been given the power to 'kill and destroy' any Australians fighting for groups like Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Mr Turnbull adopted the aggressive language as he unveiled Australia's first two joint strike fighters at the Avalon air show. ASIO says one of the greatest terrorist threats to Australia is in South East Asia, because of the rising influence of ISIL, and the number of Australians who live or visit there.