PM

There's unprecedented levels of protest in the US against President Donald Trump. And closer to home, some are starting to question whether Australia can continue to rely on the US alliance with such an unpredictable President in the White House. But two of Australia's most respected military and security minds have told the National Press Club in Canberra that Australia has no choice other than to work with the Administration, regardless of who's sitting in the Oval Office. They say ending the alliance would mean doubling military spending, and argue that Australian politicians need to remind the public of the enormous cost of moving away from the US.

One of America's top female entrepreneurs has warned of volatile times ahead for the world given Donald Trump's erratic style and manner. Kay Koplovitz has personally dealt with the US president and describes him as 'a game show host' who has shown disdain for the US constitution and the separation of powers. Ms Koplovitz is also worried that Mr Trump policies and attitudes have the potential to set back rights for women.

In a bid to deliver reliability and affordable power to South Australia, Energy Australia, backed by federal funding, will investigate pumped hydro in the state. The energy retailer and its partners briefed the Prime Minister and cabinet members today, on its project which could help stabilise the state's embattled power network.

The child sexual abuse Royal Commission has heard the Catholic Church is determined to regain its credibility through its new professional standards body Catholic Professional Standards. But the Royal Commission is already querying the transparency of the new body.

The Prime Minister has confirmed he's considering using taxpayers' money to invest in so-called clean coal technology. It's part of the Government's attempts to keep energy security on the political agenda. While Malcolm Turnbull hasn't yet given the go-ahead for the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to invest in carbon capture and storage, he says it's a technology that should be investigated. But those in the sector, including the head of the CEFC, says that clean coal is a risky investment, and would be an irresponsible use of the taxpayers' money.

The coal industry spent millions in the lead-up to the federal election on TV advertising and phone polling promoting so-called 'clean coal'. The ABC can now reveal that the campaign was funded by money deducted from state mining royalty payments. Coal producers were allowed to write off an industry lobby meant to fund clean coal research against royalties. But a share of that money was later diverted to 'coal promotion'.

Indonesian officials still haven't been granted consular access to one of their citizens who's been detained over the alleged assassination of Kim Jong Nam. The woman in her mid-20s has been in Malaysian police custody since last Thursday. Her family in Indonesia insist she thought she was appearing on a prank television show. Her brother says an agent paid her up to $300. Police in Malaysia have linked 11 people to the plot, including six north Korean nationals.

Water companies in Victoria are to become part of the front line against domestic violence. From July this year, the people who process water bill payments will be part of the State's attempts to prevent abuse. The policy's been praised for its leadership, but the companies are being warned to know their limits when it comes to helping vulnerable women.

Cambodia's authoritarian government has changed the political laws, in what some commentators are calling the 'final triumph of dictatorship'. Australia played a key role in helping Cambodia emerge from the Khmer Rouge years, but Human Rights Watch calls today the final consolidation of absolute power in the hands of Hun Sen, who's ruled the nation for more than 30 years.

Workers at the Australian Taxation Office have one of the shortest full time working weeks in the country. Today, it was revealed they successfully fought off a nine minute increase to their daily hours. ATO Management was seeking the change as a productivity boost. But leading Labor market experts argue productivity isn't the same things as time spent in the office.