PM

And there's just as much uncertainty in the Latrobe Valley, where up to a thousand power workers are wondering how to transition into different jobs. Today the Victorian Government announced $266 million for workers, infrastructure and investment and discussions have already begun on how those funds should be used.

The liquidator of Bob Day's failed construction company Home Australia group, says it will scrutinise money the company paid to his Family First party. Creditors at a meeting in Adelaide today were told they were unlikely to get back any of the money owed to them, with Home Australia Group in a 'dire financial position', a result left many small businesses and homebuyers devastated.

Australia looks set to enjoy yet another year of economic growth. There are, however, obvious risks on the horizon. To ensure the economy remains strong, policy makers and economists are counting consumers and businesses to increase their spending and investment. At present though there's no real indication that will come to fruition. Interest rates are also set to remain at record lows for the foreseeable future.

A coronial inquest has found that sledging and short-pitched bowling didn't contribute to the death of cricketer Phillip Hughes. Twenty-five-year-old Hughes died after being struck by a delivery while batting for South Australia against New South Wales in November 2014. His family believes the bowlers were intimidating Hughes with threatening comments and aggressive bowling and this played a role in the fatal accident. The Coroner found it hard to believe no sledging took place that day but says Hughes was in control of his game and appeared unaffected by it.

The Law Council of Australia's new policy aims to boost the proportion of women barristers taking on high profile legal cases by almost a third, to keep them in the profession. But some gender equity experts say targets are not strong enough to create substantial change and mandatory quotas should be employed instead.

Ships entering Australia's harbours could soon face tougher restrictions on fuel quality in an effort to reduce air pollution. The International Maritime Organisation has approved plans to force shipping lines to drastically cut sulphur content in their fuel by 2020. But critics say while it will reduce the smog in the sky it won't impact levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Professor Efraim Inbar is the director of the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies. PM spoke to him about the worrying conflict in Syria, Russia's involvement, and the implications for the region. Mark Colvin started by asking him about the Syrian war's impact on Israel.

Europeans living in the UK say they're being treated like scum despite spending decades helping the country become what it is. Several groups have joined forces to lobby MPs for a new law giving permanent residency to anyone living in Britain at the time of the Brexit vote. Many Europeans living in the UK remain fearful of what the future will hold despite reassurances from the May government that people wouldn't be summarily sent packing.

Latin American is one of the most dangerous regions in the world to be an activist. The international organisation Global Witness estimates that at least 122 human rights defenders were murdered in the region last year, accounting for 65 per cent of activist killings worldwide. The so-called Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have become particularly deadly hotspots. A new Oxfam report cites entrenched economic inequality, a patriarchal culture and the co-opting of government by corporate interests as key reasons for the violence. Oxfam has called on governments, corporations and civil society to address the situation, which it says is the worst in Latin America's history.

A leaked report on violence at Sydney's Star casino has thrown a new spotlight on the behaviour of the casino's security guards. At least three incident reports in the report documented guards allegedly assaulting patrons. The New South Wales police force, which regulates guards, says it can't comment on the cases.