By RNZ The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has apologised for deleting an online post, sparking a backlash from survivors.The commission of inquiry this week posted on Facebook asking for survivors with mental health…

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has fumed about being left out of the loop when the government was negotiating the AUKUS agreement.

Earlier today, Nine Newspapers reported the Biden Administration expected the Australian opposition to be kept abreast throughout the negotiations.

But Albanese today said he was only told of the deal the day before it was announced.

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"It is extraordinary that the prime minister broke that faith and trust with our most important ally by not briefing Australian Labor on these issues," he said.

"The fact that the United States had made a request to Australia that was ignored for four and a half months shows that this is a prime minister who always plays short-term politics, (and) is not interested in the national interest."

Albanese said the Biden Administration understood the alliance deal would have implications beyond who was in government at the time.

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"The Biden Administration reached out to Republicans and to people on the other side of their political system, to ensure that it would have that support within the United States," he said.

"And the Biden Administration sought reassurance from the Australian government that Australian Labor had been consulted on these issues."

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The AUKUS deal between Australia, the UK and the US will allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

At the time it was announced, Australia had a $90 billion deal to buy submarines from France, which was cancelled without notice.

A woman who disappeared in a beach community on New York's Long Island more than a decade ago, sparking an investigation into a possible serial killer, said “there's somebody after me" in a newly released 911 tape.

But Suffolk County police said Friday they still believe Shannan Gilbert's death near Gilgo Beach was a "tragic accident" unconnected to the slayings of multiple other women whose remains were found in the same area in 2010 and 2011.

“Based on the evidence, the facts, and the totality of the circumstances, the prevailing opinion in Shannan’s death, while tragic, was not a murder and was most likely noncriminal,” Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.

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Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, vanished on May 1, 2010 after dialing 911 from the Oak Beach home of a client. She fled the house, banged on the door of a neighbour and was last seen by witnesses running down the street in the remote community.

Her disappearance prompted a search that turned up remains from 10 other people, buried along a nearby roadway, leading to suspicion that a serial killer was involved.

Gilbert’s remains were found in December 2011 in marsh about 800 metres from where she was last seen. Officials at the time said evidence suggested she got lost in the tall reeds and accidentally drowned.

On the 911 recording released Friday, Gilbert sounds severely disoriented and is barely able to communicate with police dispatchers.

She says several times that someone is after her, but can't say where she is calling from. When the driver who brought her to the client's home tries to coax her back into his car, she says, “You are a part of this all along.” Later she's heard screaming.

Dispatchers struggled for more than 20 minutes to get her to respond to questions or give clues as to her whereabouts. Gilbert can be heard panting and running.

Suffolk County police also released recordings of two 911 calls made by residents who saw Gilbert after she ran from the house.

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The two men who were with Gilbert that night told largely the same story to investigators: Gilbert had arrived at the client's home, but then refused to leave. She appeared to be in the grip of a paranoid episode, hid behind a couch, and then bolted into the early morning darkness.

Her driver said he tried following her, but lost her in the darkness and eventually gave up and drove home. Both men have cooperated with investigators and police have said neither is a suspect.

Gilbert's family has been skeptical of the police account. An independent autopsy performed for Gilbert’s family in 2016 concluded her death was “consistent with homicidal strangulation,” family lawyer John Ray said.

Harrison vowed transparency as investigators seek to solve the enduring Gilgo Beach mystery.

Suffolk County police previously refused to release recordings of 911 calls, arguing that doing so would impede their investigation.

“We have determined that the release of the audio will not hinder the investigation in any way,” Harrison said at a news conference where officials played portions of the recordings.

Harrison, sworn in as Suffolk's police commissioner in January, has reversed that policy and pledged to make the Gilgo Beach case a priority.

Four of the other sets of remains that were found in the area after Gilbert's disappearance also were the bodies of sex workers who disappeared. But other remains have yet to be identified.

Floodwaters are continuing to rise in some south-east Queensland communities in the second devastating weather event for the state this year.

Residents in Gympie are preparing for the worst of the flooding event today while Laidley and Warwick are beginning to clean up after water swept through the towns yesterday.

Multiple warnings remain in place this morning for Cressbrook Creek, the Scenic Rim and Gympie.

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The dam at Cressbrook Creek in the Somerset region is one-and-a-half metres above the spillway and there may be an increase in the levels in the coming hours.

Residents in the region are warned they may need to evacuate in the coming hours.

Major flood warnings are in place for the Condamine River, Logan River, Warrill Creek and the Bremer River.

Laidley River and the Mary River are also expected to reach the major flood level.

The Mary River is expected to peak at 15 metres, with the majority of impacted rivers peaking or expected to do so in the next 24 hours.

While catchments have been seen rapidly rising, levels are expected to fall quickly and dwindle over the few days as heavy rain begins to ease.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service coordinator James Haig said the state has seen less rain this morning but warnings remain to stay "vigilant and alert".

He said there were 14 flood rescues overnight.

"We had over 120 calls for assistance to the SES from sort of Brisbane north, largely, but across the whole of the south-east really," he said. 

"So, still very busy."

More than 500 roads across the state are closed.

https://twitter.com/QldPolice/status/1525296339411578881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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The weather event is now moving north with the Sunshine Coast next in the firing line.

The Bureau of Meteorology said communities in the Sunshine Coast hinterland should be prepared for intense rainfall as two "atmospheric rivers" above dump heavy rain.

The state's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said yesterday the intense rainfall the state is currently experiencing is not as heavy as the previous flooding event in February, which caused multiple deaths and the destruction of homes.

"This rainfall is actually more sporadic, and not as heavy," Palaszczuk said.

"But we are still seeing some cases of flooding, and the river rising in particular areas.

"We are asking people where possible, if you don't need to be out on the roads, please don't travel unless you absolutely must."

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Dangerous and damaging surf conditions are developing off the south-east Queensland coast with severe weather warnings in place.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1525270033030594561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

All flood warnings can be viewed here.

Residents are urged to follow the advice and emergency alerts of their local councils and keep up to date with BoM updates.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon was stuck inside a building for nearly an hour this morning after protesters blocked the exit from a community meeting in Palmerston North.The Herald understands Luxon and a staff member were…

Anthony Albanese has pledged nearly $1 billion in new Medicare funding if the Labor party wins the federal election.

The Labor leader, who is currently campaigning in the Northern Territory, said today's announcement is about strengthening universal healthcare.

The pledge includes $750 million over three years through a new Strengthening Medicare Fund, along with $220 million in grants of between $25,000 to $50,000 for GPs to train staff, supply new equipment, improve ventilation and upgrade telehealth services.

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"We know is that GP practices are really struggling in many areas," Albanese said.

"In many areas, it is getting harder to see a doctor, not easier, and what we need to do is to make sure that people can get that care when they need it.

"We need to make sure that we value GP services and that we value our health sector."

A taskforce will also be established to identify the areas to strengthen Medicare.

"A taskforce will report by the end of this year to make sure that we get those priorities right and we deliver the change that patients and medical groups need," Mark Butler MP said.

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'I'm looking forward to changing gears'

In addition to the funding announcements, leadership vows are being made.

Scott Morrison claimed he will change his 'bulldozer' approach to leadership just a week out from the federal election. However, when asked how he will specifically change, the Prime Minister reiterated what he has done for Australia over the past three years.

"What you have seen from me, especially over the last few years, is what Australians have needed," he said.

"I'm looking forward to changing gears of our government to secure those opportunities that I had of us, and that means being able to engage more with local communities."

In response, Albanese referenced Australia's 2019 bushfire crisis.

"This Prime Minister won't change, which is why we need to change the Government," he said.

Morrison was in Melbourne today announcing a $20 million program to expand a spot program for high school students.

China's Foreign Ministry has responded to Peter Dutton after he described the presence of a Chinese surveillance ship off the coast of Western Australia as an "act of aggression".

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian was quizzed about the remarks at a press conference overnight.

"I would like to state that China always follows international law and common practice," Zhao said.

READ MORE: Chinese spy ship spotted off WA coast

"The Australian politician concerned should view the situation with objectivity and calm, instead of making sensational comments aimed at fear-mongering."

Yesterday Dutton said the "warship with intelligence-gathering capacity" was spotted close to a secretive naval base in Western Australia.

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"It is obviously very strange that it has come this far south and it is hugging the coastline as it goes north, and its intention will be to collect as much electronic intelligence as it can," he said.

"It is strange timing and without precedent."

He described it as an "act of aggression".

But earlier today Prime Minister Scott Morrison struck a more moderate tone.

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"Freedom of navigation is permitted all around the world," he said. 

"And nobody has made any suggestions that any rules were breached in relation to the international law of the sea."

Speaking in Darwin this morning, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was asked if he would reach out to speak to Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.

"I am not getting ahead of myself," he said.

"The relationship with China will remain complex and will remain challenging, regardless of who wins the election."

He told reporters he had not been briefed by the government about the presence of the Chinese surveillance vessel.

The ship has been identified by the Department of Defence as a PLA-N, Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing.

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Haiwangxing entered Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone on the morning of May 6.

By May 8 it was 70 nautical miles away from the Harold E Holt Communication Station (HEHCS), north of Exmouth.

It turned north, and by May 11 it was 50 nautical miles from HEHCS. It then steamed north and by May 13 had been tracked off the port of Broome, thought to be heading towards Darwin.

A bump back in support for the Act Party in a new poll has put National and Act in a position to form a government for the first time in a major poll since early 2020, while Labour’s support continues to slump. The latest Taxpayers…

There are 7068 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, and 18 people have died.There are 398 people in hospital, eight of whom are in intensive care.The seven-day rolling average of new Covid cases is 7595. A week…

North Korea has announced an "explosive" COVID-19 outbreak that has likely killed six people and infected more than 350,000, according to state media, prompting fears of an impending and deadly crisis in the isolated and impoverished nation.

The announcement comes a day after the country reported its first ever coronavirus case, calling the situation a "major national emergency".

On Thursday, North Korea reported 18,000 new "fever cases" and six deaths, one of which tested positive for the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

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North Korea has not confirmed that all "fever" cases and deaths are COVID-19, likely due to its limited testing capability.

"A fever whose cause couldn't be identified explosively spread nationwide since late April," the newspaper said. "As of now up to 187,800 people are being isolated."

An outbreak of COVID-19 could prove disastrous for North Korea. The country's dilapidated health care infrastructure is unlikely to be up to the task of treating a large number of patients with a highly infectious disease and the nation is not known to have imported any coronavirus vaccines.

North Korea had not previously acknowledged any coronavirus cases, though few believe that a country of around 25 million people has been spared by a virus that has infected millions worldwide.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters on Thursday and acknowledged the spreading outbreak meant there was a "vulnerable point" in the country's epidemic prevention system, according to KCNA.

In images of the meeting published by state media, Kim is seen wearing a surgical mask as he enters and leaves the meeting room. Officials accompanying him are also shown wearing masks throughout.

"It is the most important challenge and supreme tasks facing our party to reverse the immediate public health crisis situation," Kim said, according to KCNA.

Following a meeting of the country's powerful politburo on Thursday, North Korea placed all cities into lockdown and ordered "people with fever or abnormal symptoms" into quarantine, KCNA said.

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A reporter for Chinese state media CGTN released a rare video from Pyongyang on Friday, recounting his experience on the ground.

"As far as we know, not many people in Pyongyang have been vaccinated, and the medical and epidemic prevention facilities are in short supply," reporter Zang Qing said in a Weibo post.

"Because the capital is in lockdown, the food I have at home is only enough for a week. We are still awaiting what policy the government will announce next."

Global assistance

On Thursday, China said it's ready to provide support to North Korea in its fight against COVID-19.

North Korea's borders have been sealed since January 2020 to keep the virus at bay, despite the knock-on effects on trade with Beijing, an economic lifeline the impoverished country needs to keep its people from going hungry.

"As comrades, neighbours and friends, China stands ready to provide full support to the DPRK in its fight against the epidemic," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a briefing.

As China battles its own outbreak, the Chinese National Immigration Administration urged Jilin Province – which borders North Korea – to strengthen health inspections at its customs after North Korea reported its first COVID-19 case.

South Korea and the United States also agreed to continue discussions on ways to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea with the international community, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke on a call on Friday and shared concerns over the COVID-19 situation in North Korea, the ministry said. Both countries are open to dialogue with the north, they said.

Zero vaccines could spell disaster

North Korea is not believed to have received any COVID vaccinations, despite being eligible for the global COVID-19 vaccine sharing program, Covax.

Assuming most of North Korea's population is unvaccinated, an outbreak in North Korea – which has limited testing capabilities, inadequate medical infrastructure and which has isolated itself from the outside world – could quickly become deadly.

Calls are mounting on the country's leadership to provide access to vaccines.

"There is no evidence to show that North Korea has access to enough vaccines to protect its population from COVID-19. Yet, it has rejected millions of doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines offered by the WHO-led COVAX program," said Amnesty International's East Asia researcher Boram Jang, in a statement.

"With the first official news of a COVID-19 outbreak in the country, continuing on this path could cost many lives and would be an unconscionable dereliction of upholding the right to health."

In February, Covax reportedly scaled back the number of doses allocated to North Korea because the country failed to arrange for any shipments, according to Reuters.

A spokesperson for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said Covax has moved to "needs-based vaccine allocations" and "has currently not committed any volume" for North Korea.

"In case the country decides to start a COVID-19 immunisation program, vaccines could be made available based on criteria of Covax objectives and technical considerations to enable the country to catch up with international immunisation targets," the spokesperson said.