The World Today

The crisis gripping Victoria's youth justice system has deepened with a report showing the number of inmate lockdowns doubled shortly after riots last year. The Commissioner for Children and Young People's inquiry into isolation and lockdowns has been tabled in state parliament today.

The Government is scrambling to close the deal on its childcare package on the final sitting day for the week. Last night the Coalition, with the support of the Senate crossbench, passed its welfare savings bill, and some of the savings will be provided to fund the childcare program. The Opposition, the Greens and the Childcare sector, however, are holding out for amendments they're hoping to force into the Bill. But there's a lot more than childcare on the Government's agenda today, with discussions over same sex marriage and changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, as well as the Government's proposed corporate tax cuts.

The corporate regulator's investigation into allegations of unethical practices at the Commonwealth Bank's insurance arm, CommInsure has found that the insurance giant did not break the law. But a review by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has found that CommInsure's use of outdated medical definitions in assessing claims was out of step with community expectations.

Police in the West Australian mining town of Port Hedland are pushing for tough restrictions on the sale of takeaway alcohol. They say alcohol fuelled violence threatens the safety of the town's children on a daily basis and must be curbed. The push has divided the community and the alcohol industry wants other measures like welfare restrictions looked at first.

There is no doubt that science and technology will play key roles in Australia's fiscal future, but how ready are we to meet that challenge? A new report has found that Australia is hurtling towards an economy that it's rapidly unprepared for because of a drastic shortage of students taking up the hard sciences. And the science community is warning that if we don't start addressing the issue now, Australia will soon be left behind.

A medication which was hoped to offer sufferers of sciatica with relief has been found to be ineffective in treating the condition. The painful nerve condition is thought to affect between 200,000 and 400,000 Australians, and there's little medical help available. Findings, released in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest the drug 'pregabalin' is not effective in the treatment of sciatica, though it is used successfully for other nerve conditions. Researchers say the drug also carries side effects, and patients and doctors should take note of the findings.

Ukraine has barred Russia's Eurovision contestant from entering the country over a 2015 visit to the Russian-annexed Crimea. The move increases tensions between the two nations, and further complicates an event which strives to be apolitical.

The Federal Government has set aside its omnibus bill of welfare savings, childcare, and paid parental leave as it grows increasingly confident that it will have enough support on the Senate crossbench to pass its overhaul of childcare subsidies. The Senate has begun debate on a small package of welfare cuts, and it will also consider the Government's original childcare bill before Friday. Labor and the Greens say the Government and crossbench are abusing the processes of the Senate.

The Federal Government is staying strong on yesterday's commitment to change racial vilification laws despite insufficient support to get the amendment through the senate in its current form. One former leader of the Liberals says the proposed change is a niche issue and a distraction, that most ordinary Australians don't care about.

The inaugural former head of the nation's sports anti-doping authority has questioned why inquiries about West Coast's drug consumption weren't passed on. The details of the football club's drug taking have been unveiled this week and one former player says further work is needed to tackle the issue.