The World Today

An expert in international refugee law says Donald Trump's executive order could have a detrimental impact on people who are fleeing persecution around the world. Professor Geoff Gilbert from the University of Essex is a visiting fellow at the University of New South Wales.

The chairman of Australia's Future Fund Peter Costello has warned of risk on the global horizon fuelled in part by Donald Trump's election as US President. The former Howard government treasurer has questioned whether the 'Trump bump' from big spending promises will be sustained. Mr Costello has also spoken about the Federal Government's decision to partly raid Future Fund coffers in 2020 to boost the budget bottom line.

The Victorian Government has begun using capsicum spray to defuse sometimes volatile youth detention centres. Some youth advocates are critical of the decision to deploy it.

The Tasmanian Children's Commissioner is calling for Tasmania to have independent standards and accountability of out of home care. He has also called for regular visits by child protection workers, something a former youth worker says isn't always happening. The state government has promised to implement the recommendations in the Children Commissioner's report.

One of the flagship agriculture projects in the Federal Government's White Paper on Developing Northern Australia has been put on the back-burner. The Northern Territory Government says it won't be actively pursuing expansion of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme into the Territory. The company developing the land wanted the expansion to grow sugar, which it says won't be viable without the extra land. But the Federal Government says it's still funding a feasibility study into the plan and it would be disappointing if the Territory Government didn't share its passion for economic development.

A prominent lawyer representing victims of child sexual abuse wants the royal commission to continue its work, saying large institutions with responsibility for caring for and educating children will be able to escape public scrutiny and legal liability without the constant glare of the national inquiry. The final public hearing will be held next week, focusing on the Catholic Church, and consultations will begin on the Commonwealth's national redress scheme next month. Jason Parkinson from Porters Lawyers also says he has grave reservations about the direction of the redress scheme and whether child abuse victims will lose their common law rights.

In Melbourne, where the memorial to the victims of the Bourke Street attack is being removed from the steps of the old post office. The number of people killed in the car rampage ten days ago rose to six overnight with a 33 year old woman dying in hospital. Thousands of mourners have left flowers and toys at the site to express their sympathy and solidarity.

President Trump's executive order is already affecting some people within Australia's immigrant communities. They're expressing dismay that the Australian Government hasn't taken a tougher stand.

Business is still gauging the impact of Donald Trump's travel ban and how it could effect staff entering or leaving the United States. Almost all are reluctant to comment on any impact given the swift nature of President Trump's executive order.

Labor has described the US government's temporary ban on citizens from seven countries as 'flat-out discrimination' and it's calling on the Prime Minister to say whether he supports it or not. The Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says the Government is working with US officials to ensure Australians can still access the United States. But other countries have sought and received assurances that their dual nationals won't be affected by the ban.