The World Today

The Greens say the Government could raise billions of dollars for the public health system by forcing all Australians earning over $90,000, or $180,000 as a family, to pay the Medicare levy surcharge. Currently people are exempt if they take out private health insurance, but the Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the system is not taking pressure off the public health system as intended, and the money could be better spent.

The man in charge of the Catholic Church's response to the child sexual abuse Royal Commission is urging Australian Catholics to push the church for more transparency and integrity. Francis Sullivan is alarmed by signs the Pope's stance on paedophile priests is weakening and says worshippers must hold church leaders to account.

As the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson prepares for his first visit to Asia this week, political and military tensions are rising on the Korean peninsula. Can Donald Trump's top diplomat manage the nuclear charged politics, and how much power does he have within the Trump administration anyway? In what Ashley Townshend from the United States Studies Centre says is a sign of weakness, he is already breaking precedent by barring the media from travelling with him.

Brewing company Coopers is facing a consumer boycott over its involvement in a gay marriage debate between conservative MPs. The debate is the product of a partnership between Coopers and the Bible Society. The Coopers Facebook page has been flooded with criticism.

The Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly has blamed budget cuts as a factor for ongoing staff shortages at the South East Regional Hospital.

A country town in New South Wales is mounting a push for a national freight hub, which it’s hoped will play a vital role in making Australia more competitive. But there are concerns the Brisbane to Melbourne Inland Rail project, which would give the freight hub momentum, is not moving quickly enough.

Scientists from around the world are meeting in Hobart to discuss new ways they can use an existing global ocean monitoring system. Almost 4,000 robotic Argo floats are collecting data in the world's oceans that is used to inform scientists and weather forecasters about climate in the water and on land.

The Federal Government is considering setting up a new affordable housing finance corporation to help people on low incomes find rental properties. The so-called 'bond aggregator' scheme is used in the UK to boost investment in community housing. It's an idea that'll be considered by a taskforce appointed by Treasurer Scott Morrison today.

Another leading finance industry voice has spoken out against some of the incentives used to lure investors into the property market. Chris Cuffe is the chairman of the $55 billion superannuation fund, Unisuper. He's told The World Today the capital gains tax discount as it stands is 'no longer appropriate'. Mr Cuffe says he particularly objects to those who already own a home, taking advantage of the tax system and going on to purchase multiple investment properties.

The West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has received a death threat on the eve of the state election. Mr Barnett says it was sent to his home in the form of a letter. Several other Liberal ministers and MPs received identical letters, which threaten women and children. Police are investigating and Mr Barnett says it's left some of his MPs incredibly frightened.