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Four out of five Australians wishing to enter the property market now think owning a house in their lifetime is unachievable as prices skyrocket far above wages.

New research from the Property Council of Australia shows almost 70 per cent of voters fear younger people will never be able to buy a home.

The data, taken from a nationwide survey of more than 1100 people, revealed almost 90 per cent of people attempting to enter the property market cited affordability as the biggest barrier.

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Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison said housing affordability was a "wicked and complex" issue that required government intervention.

"This data paints a pretty sad state of affairs. Australians deserve better and the campaign we are launching today aims to send a message that we need action from all our political leaders to work with industry to deal with the situation," Mr Morrison said.

"Our research shows four out of every five aspiring homeowners actually believe the dream of home ownership is unachievable, which you'd have to say is incredibly disheartening.

"It's no wonder more than half of 18–34-year olds say it will be an important issue for them in deciding their vote, while another quarter felt it was one of the most important issues coming into the election."

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Mr Morrison said there was no easy solution to easing housing affordability, but something needed to be done before an entire generation was priced out of the market.

"As a country, we need to get better at bringing on the new housing that our growing communities need. There is no single silver bullet and every level of government has a role to play here," Mr Morrison said.

"With the right policy settings, we can deliver greater housing choice – including options for older Australians to live where their kids are now growing up, teachers and nurses who deserve to live close to work, and couples who want to find a home to raise their young families.

"Housing affordability isn't a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. Although people feel the dream is fading, we can actually turn it around. With the right decisions, we can in fact keep that dream alive for all Australians."

Yesterday, Domain's annual First-Home Buyers Report showed that on average it takes eight years for the average couple to save the deposit for their first home.

Over the past decade, house prices across Australia's combined capitals increased by 101 per cent, while unit prices increased by 52 per cent.

Domain's Chief of Research and Economics, Dr Nicola Powell, said the barriers to entry for young people were growing by the day.

"First home buyers are facing a growing financial hurdle when it comes to saving a deposit, and this is becoming more daunting in the context of rising living costs, low wage growth, weak saving rates and the rapid rise in property prices," Dr Powell wrote.

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New Zealand is set to take in 150 refugees a year currently in Australia's detention system, however advocacy groups are concerned some people will be left behind.

In a joint statement from Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, and New Zealand's Minister of Immigration, Kris Faafoi, the two governments agreed on the resettlement plan, which will last for three years.

The Refugee Council of Australia chief executive officer Paul Power acknowledged this would change the lives of 450 refugees but said hundreds will still be stranded in Australia's detention system.

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"As generous as the New Zealand offer is, more than 500 people affected by the offshore processing policy – most of them with refugee status – will be left with nowhere to go even if the current resettlement options to the United States and Canada and the offer of 450 places in New Zealand are fully utilised," Mr Power said.

"Of the 3127 people sent to detention in Nauru and Manus Island in 2013 and 2014 under Australia's offshore processing policy, around 1384 people remain in Nauru, PNG and Australia.

"There are around 270 refugees with applications for the United States and 159 current applications for sponsorship to Canada.

"If all of these places are filled and 450 refugees are resettled to New Zealand, 505 people in Nauru, PNG and Australia will be left with no solution."

Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Scott Cosgriff echoed the Refugee Council of Australia's statements and claimed hundreds detained on Manus Island and in Papua New Guinea would also be left behind.

"This agreement will transform the lives of hundreds of refugees who fled persecution only to lose the best part of a decade of their lives to this cruel policy. But the announcement also leaves hundreds behind," he said.

Ms Andrews made it clear the deal only applies to refugees currently in Australia's detention system, not to any future asylum seekers, reinforcing the nation's hard-line stance on refugees.

"This arrangement does not apply to anyone who attempts an illegal maritime journey to Australia in the future," Ms Andrews said.

"Australia remains firm – illegal maritime arrivals will not settle here permanently.

"Anyone who attempts to breach our borders will be turned back or sent to Nauru."

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https://twitter.com/ElizaEdNews/status/1506814298252709889

The resettlement agreement will initially be applied to refugees currently stuck in the offshore detention centre in Nauru or are temporarily in Australia "under regional processing arrangements".

Refugees must meet New Zealand's refugee quota programme requirements, be referred to New Zealand by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and cannot be part of other third-country resettlement plans.

Mr Faafoi expressed he was pleased the deal had been finalised.

"We are pleased to be able to provide resettlement outcomes for refugees who would otherwise have continued to face uncertain futures," he said.

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https://twitter.com/andrewmacfnz/status/1506814447536418816

All applications from refugees to resettle in New Zealand will undergo "comprehensive screening", the statement said.

This includes checks on credibility, security, risk and biometrics, and a health assessment.

The offer from New Zealand has been on the table since 2013 and has been subject to multiple rounds of negotiations.

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NSW MP Gareth Ward has been suspended from parliament with pay after he was charged over the alleged historical sexual abuse of a man and a teenage boy.

The NSW Government moved to suspend the Member for Kiama after Mr Ward refused to resign.

"It is, therefore, appropriate the member be suspended until criminal proceedings have been finalised," Acting Premier Paul Toole said today.

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The motion passed the lower house without any opposition.

Mr Ward has been charged with three counts of assault with an act of indecency and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.

Police will allege in court Mr Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013 and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015.

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Mr Ward said he was "extremely disappointed" with the decision to suspend him.

"The Legislative Assembly of the Parliament has today taken the step of suspending me as a member based on allegations that I completely deny and that have yet to be tested in a court of law," Mr Ward said in the statement.

Mr Ward will defend the charges.

He will face Port Kembla Local Court in May.

Two people have died and another two are injured after a multi-vehicle crash in the NSW Hunter region this afternoon.

Police say a ute collided with a motorcycle and a station wagon which were travelling in the opposite direction.

The male motorcycle rider and the female wagon driver died at the scene and are yet to be formally identified.

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The male driver of the ute has been taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway are closed, with a contraflow in place in one of the two southbound lanes.

The northbound lanes are expected to be closed for a significant period of time.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Skye Gordon said the scene was "horrific".

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"This was an horrific scene for all involved with a number of people injured, unfortunately there was nothing we could do for two of the patients," she said.

"Thank you to the off duty paramedic who witnessed this shocking accident and didn't hesitate to rush and treat the patients before we arrived on scene.

"This is a reminder to the public about how dangerous the roads can be, especially when travelling in these wet weather conditions."

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.