The World Today

Members of the Federal Government's independent advisory council on redress are urging the states to sign up to the Commonwealth Redress Scheme. They say abuse survivors have been let down by governments for decades and that it's time to make amends.

Peter Feaver served in President George W Bush's National Security Council between 2005 and 2007. He's now a Professor of political science at Duke University in the United States. He says the questions around Russia's interference in the US election will not end until there is an independent commission investigating what happened, and that for Russia, the meddling was a 'tactical success, but a long term strategic blunder'.

A Nepalese asylum-seeker who was 'involuntarily removed' from Australia's offshore detention centre on Manus Island three weeks ago and flown back to Nepal, says he's in hiding and fears for his life. His deportation has reportedly sparked a rise in the number of unsuccessful asylum-seekers who are accepting cash incentives to return to their countries of origin.

The South-East Regional Hospital in the New South Wales town of Bega opened barely a year ago and has been the subject of rumblings about understaffing and complaints about management. In the past week the issues have spilled out into the open in spectacular fashion over the head of orthopaedic surgery, whose contract has not been renewed. Fellow surgeons have cancelled their surgery lists in support of their colleague.

As property prices in Australia cities continue to soar to new, eye-watering heights, a move by the Victorian Government to make regional houses more affordable has given first home-buyers some hope. The State Government is doubling the first home owners' grant for newly built homes in regional areas so that young people have a better chance of getting their foot in the property market door. But the Real Estate Institute of Victoria says the incentives don't go far enough and there is the risk of further fuelling property prices.

The consumer watchdog has raised concerns that some hearing aid retailers may be exploiting vulnerable Australians and selling them expensive products they don't need. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is particularly concerned about companies working on commission and being given incentives to sell certain products.

The family of Albert Namatjira, one of Australia's greatest artists, is launching a campaign to gain control of the copyright of his paintings. The rights were sold by the Northern Territory public trustee in 1983, reportedly without consultation with the Namatjira family. It's a deal perceived by many as a serious cultural injustice, which has also deprived the artist's descendants of millions of dollars. Launched today, the Namatjira Legacy Trust aims to set up a lasting legacy for the family and help a new generation of Aboriginal artists.

An animal rights organisation has embarked on the holy grail of PR campaigns. People for the Ethical Treatment Animals has written to the iconic Australian band, Hunters and Collectors, calling for it to change its name. PETA says the group's name glorifies hunting and has suggested some alternatives, like Hunters and Collectors of Antiques.

The problem of homelessness in Melbourne has returned to the spotlight today following the deaths of three people in a fire in a disused factory. The city has been grappling with how to handle the issue after a council vote last month on by laws to clean up homeless camps in the CBD. Now residents from the western suburbs have spoken out about the number of squatters in Footscray where police are investigating the fatal fire.

As Malcolm Turnbull deals with the political fallout of the FWC decision to lower penalty rates for Sunday workers, one of his backbenchers is urging action to help blunt the hardship low paid workers facing lower wages will feel. Meanwhile the Immigration Minister's moved to tighten rules on foreign workers employed in the fast food industry, saying more Australians need to be given a chance for work.