The World Today

Crucial talks across the country are revealing what Aboriginal people think about a potential referendum to recognise them in the constitution. Hundreds of people have told the government-appointed Referendum Council that simple recognition won't be enough - they want reform.

Housing affordability is set to be a feature of the Federal Budget in a fortnight. But a leading investment bank says the situation for first home buyers, and especially renters, is likely to improve next year, regardless of what the Government does. UBS is calling the top of the market, in a 33-page report that predicts the apartment building boom will peak this year, while house price growth will slow to almost nothing next year.

The national park that spans almost all of Queensland's Fraser Island has been re-named K'gari, recognising the name used by the traditional owners of the land. The name means 'paradise' and it will soon appear on signs seen by thousands of people who visit the heritage-listed island every year.

'May contain traces of nuts'. It's a familiar warning on many products stocked on supermarket shelves but health experts warn it's one that is now so overused, it's almost meaningless for consumers on the look-out for foods that could trigger an allergic response. Food manufacturers are being urged to put clearer labels on products, alerting shoppers to whether the contents of the packet have been assessed as safe, or not.

Aged care experts say there's a desperate need for an overhaul of the accreditation system for the aged care sector. It follows a damning report by South Australia's chief psychiatrist that found widespread abuse within the state-run Oakden mental health facility. The home had its accreditation continually renewed, despite allegations of mistreatment dating back more than a decade. Now there are calls for an independent investigation, as calls grow for the resignation of the Minister at the centre of the scandal.

Victoria's local government watchdog has suggested police and property checks to stamp up dummy council candidates. An integrity report into last year's council elections has found more than 400 complaints were sent to the state's inspectorate. The peak body supporting councils is worried about a rise in social media use during last year's election campaigning.

Islamic State has admitted it carried out the gun attack, that left one police officer dead and two injured, on the most famous boulevard in the French capital, Paris. The group identified the gunman as an ISIS guerrilla fighter from Belgium, shortly after he was shot dead trying to escape. The Champs Elysees remains under a security lockdown, and a major security operation is underway across the capital, to capture others suspected of being involved.

The fatal shooting on the Champs-Elysees follows an alarming trend seen in recent French terror attacks on uniformed police officers. The timing of the attack is significant as it comes just three days before the French election, leaving questions about the broader impact of the attack on an already unpredictable election outcome.

Michael S. Smith is a US counter-terrorism analyst monitoring ISIS communications, and he spoke with The World Today about how Islamic State propaganda had telegraphed its intentions to carry out attacks on French soil for more than a year.

The global energy giant Chevron has lost a high-stakes transfer pricing case against the Australian Tax Office. The landmark victory for the ATO means Chevron now has to repay hundreds of millions of dollars in back taxes. Chevron's failed appeal against an earlier Federal Court ruling could have global implications, as other companies and governments try to claw back taxes.