The promise of ‘soon’ is ‘not good enough for people who are dying’, a patient says.

Tradies are being urged to take precautions to protect their equipment after $33 million worth of hand and power tools were stolen in Victoria last year.

That marked an increase of 37 per cent on the previous year.

That figure represents an incredible 18,626 power tools and 14,911 hand tools that thieves snagged in 2023 – 12 per cent more than in 2022 – according to the Crime Statistics Agency.

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Trade tools are especially vulnerable to theft, as they are high value items and portable.

Given the sharp spike in the number of items taken, Victorian insurance company RACV is urging tradies to take steps to protect their tools.

When storing your tools in a vehicle, they should be stored in a robust truck bed or a lockable toolbox, anchored to the vehicle with a strong security chain, recommends RACV Home General Manager Bill Bloodworth.

"Marking your tools with your identification details, such as your name and driver's license number, makes them difficult for thieves to sell, easier for you to report as missing, and increases the likelihood of recovery by police," he said.

RACV also suggests the use of small GPS trackers on high-value items, allowing owners to monitor the exact whereabouts of their tools through a smartphone app.

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"To reduce the chance of theft, always ensure your tools are not left visible in your vehicle. This recommendation extends to equipment stored on the roof, such as ladders, which should ideally be kept inside your home or garage at night," Bloodworth said.

"Thieves typically look for easy targets, so visibly securing and locking away your tools can deter them from attempting a theft."

It's also best to park your ute or truck securely, ideally inside a locked garage.

Tradespeople also may want to consider the appropriate insurance coverage to minimise the hassle and financial impact of tool theft.

Business insurance covers for the loss, damage and theft of any insured tools or other equipment, while some insurers also offer business interruption coverage, which may cover business expenses during tool replacement.

"To facilitate the recovery of stolen items by police and the insurance claims process, maintain a detailed inventory of your tools, including make, model and serial numbers, and accurately declare their value. Photographs of your tools can also aid in their recovery," Bloodworth said.

Sydney Harbour has had a glimpse at the nation's most important vessel for ocean research, as it stops in the city before embarking on a voyage to map deep-sea canons.

CSIRO's flagship Research Vessel Investigator usually takes off from Hobart, but on Friday it will leave Sydney's White Bay for a 60-day trip to perform an extensive survey of deep-sea canyons and ocean currents off the NSW continental shelf.

RV Investigator will also perform a secondary mission to investigate an unidentified shipwreck off the state's coast for Heritage NSW, Ship Management Program Director Sam Hinton said.

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"We've only mapped around 25 per cent of the ocean around Australia. There's still a huge amount to map," Hinton said.

"We are constantly mapping the seafloor as well as obtaining our science goals around the coast of Australia up to the equator and down to the ice edge."

The boat runs with a crew of 40 and has a range of 10,000 nautical miles, which is about 60 days at a speed of 11 knots.

Scientists have found new marine life, studied the Antarctic blue whale and mapped up to 25 per cent of the sea floor surrounding Australia on the RVi.

The boat's facilities allow scientists to map as deep as 11.5 kilometres, which is the same depth as the deepest known point in the ocean ever discovered – the Mariana Trench.

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Chief Scientist Dr Bernadette Sloyan says the boat is "vital" to ocean research and is the place to be for marine scientists.

"It is the only marine research vessel that has the capabilities we need to do work on the shelf (and) off the shelf."

"If you want to get time on the ship as a chief scientist, you have to put in a proposal two to three years in advance… that gets nationally and internationally reviewed.

"It's very competitive."

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The voyage that leaves on Friday will help scientists understand the relationship between underwater canyons and the East Australia Current to understand the changing ocean currents that surround the nation.

The advert claimed “tens of thousands” of people had been harmed by the vaccine.

India started counting votes from its staggered, six-week election that was seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decade in power and was expected to give him a third term in office.

Exit polls by major television channels have projected a comfortable win for the Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies over a broad opposition alliance led by the Congress party and its main campaign leader, Rahul Gandhi.

Nearly 970 million people – more than 10 per cent of the world’s population – were eligible to vote and turnout averaged 66 per cent, according to official data. The tallying at counting centers in 543 constituencies could stretch well into the evening before final results are announced, though substantial leads are likely to emerge earlier.

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Workers take heat precautions as votes are counted in temperatures expected to reach 41C

Temperatures in the Indian capital were down Tuesday from highs in the past week of 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), but election officials and political parties were nonetheless taking precautions as votes were being counted.

Workers carried cases of water into one air-conditioned counting station in New Delhi early in the morning in preparation, while tents outside for security personnel and others were outfitted with industrial evaporative coolers.

Temperatures in the morning hovered around 37C in New Delhi and were expected to rise to 41C by the end of the day.

At the headquarters of the opposition Congress party, a tent was set up outside, equipped with evaporative coolers, for waiting media.

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Women are a key voting bloc in India's 2024 election

Indian women are a key voting bloc with more of them voting in recent elections than ever before. Most poll experts expect women voters to play a decisive role in determining the 2024 election results.

Political parties have been wooing them with monthly cash handouts, subsidized cooking gas cylinders and low-interest loans. Many such programs have particularly helped Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party widen its support among them, especially in rural areas.

The opposition alliance also tried to gain women’s votes by unveiling programs that promised financial aid of $1,200 per year to poor women, and promised to reserve 50 per cent of government jobs for women if voted into power.

Women make up nearly 49 per cent of India’s total electorate. Turnout has grown in each recent major election – of women who were eligible to vote, 53 per cent voted in 2004; 56 per cent in 2009; 65.5 per cent in 2014; and 67 per cent in 2019. Data for 2024 was not yet available but was estimated to resemble 2019’s female voter turnout.

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As vote are tallied, Indian markets open lower after surging the day before 

Indian markets opened lower Tuesday after closing the night before at all-time highs as exit polling projected a comfortable win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

Modi’s business-friendly policies have won him widespread support among India’s corporations and industry. After a decade in power, Modi was widely expected to win a third five-year term.

In early morning trading India’s benchmark stock indices – the NIFTY 50 and the BSE Sensex – were both down by more than 3 per cent as India’s marathon election entered its final phase with the counting of some 642 million ballots.

The Indian market’s opening dip followed a broader trend in Asian markets, which retreated after a report showed US manufacturing contracted in May in the latest sign the economy is slowing.

Counting starts with postal ballots then moves to electronic ones

The counting of some 642 million votes cast in India’s election is being done at various locations around the country by government employees. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said they were starting with postal ballots and then move on to combining the votes from India’s electronic voting machines.

The process is expected to be completed by the end of the day Tuesday.

India has close to 970 million eligible voters, and votes were cast at more than a million polling stations staggered over the last six weeks.

That brought the final phase into India’s hottest season, with temperatures higher than 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country, and Kumar said the election officials learned a valuable lesson.

“We should have completed the election at least one month before,” he said ahead of the start of the counting. “We shouldn’t have let it continue into so much heat.”

The June long weekend is almost here, but not for everyone.

Better known as the King's Birthday, the public holiday marking King Charles' official birthday is still celebrated on different days from state-to-state, which can cause some confusion.

Here's a quick state-by-state guide for who gets to sleep in on Monday, June 10.

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Do I get a public holiday on June 10?

New South Wales

Yes.

All residents of NSW who are eligible for public holidays will be given Monday, June 10 as a public holiday.

Queensland

No.

In Queensland, the King's Birthday public holiday has been held on the first Monday of October since 2016.

This year that day will be Monday, October 7.

Victoria

Yes.

In Victoria, the King's Birthday falls on Monday, June 10 so it will be celebrated as a public holiday.

South Australia

Yes.

Most people in South Australia will enjoy a public holiday on June 10 and therefore a long weekend, however, it depends on your terms of employment.

Western Australia

No – Western Australia does not celebrate the King's Birthday on June 10.

That's because the state holds Western Australia Day on the first Monday of June.

The state spreads out its public holidays and this year the King's Birthday public holiday will fall on Monday, September 23.

Australian Capital Territory

Yes.

All residents of the ACT who are eligible for public holidays will be given Monday, June 10 as a public holiday.

Northern Territory

Yes, like all the states and territories except WA and Queensland, the Northern Territory celebrates the King's Birthday long weekend on Monday, June 10.

Tasmania

Yes.

All residents of Tasmania who are eligible for public holidays will be given Monday, June 10 as a public holiday.

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Why is the King's birthday in June?

King George II was the first English king to celebrate the King's Birthday holiday in 1748.

Edward VII, who later reigned from 1901-1910, moved the date to June in the hopes of enjoying the celebrations in better weather in the UK.

Since his actual birthday in October, was likely to see damp, cold conditions that could hamper outdoor events, he introduced a summer celebration instead.

Australia celebrated the official birthday on the same day as the monarch's actual birthday from 1788 until 1936.

After that, the government decided to follow the UK to a mid-year date to space out public holidays more evenly.

What will be open?

Unlike Christmas and Good Friday, most shops are open on the King's Birthday public holiday but may operate under altered hours.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to stay open on the public holiday however some smaller venues may choose to close.

Public transport is also expected to be running as usual however may operate on a different timetable.

It's recommended to check your state or territory's public transport website to check for any changes.

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When is King Charles' real birthday?

King Charles was born on November 14, 1948.

However, throughout the UK and Commonwealth – which includes Australia, New Zealand and Canada – a different date was chosen to be the King's official birthday.

This official birthday was first celebrated during the reign of King George II in 1748.

Since then, the birthday has been celebrated on different days in different countries who acknowledge it.

Why do Australian states celebrate King's birthday on different days?

New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory all mark the King's Birthday on the same day.

WA and Queensland are the only states which celebrate the King's Birthday on a different day.

Those states spread out their public holidays so the decision was made to celebrate the monarch's birthday later in the year.

WA celebrates holds Western Australia Day on the first Monday of June.

In Queensland, the King's Birthday public holiday has been held on the first Monday of October since 2016.

A total of 755 roles are proposed to be slashed.

Luxon was treated to a stunning flyover of the island before landing.

My recent stage debut at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre in Club Vegas the Spectacle revealed there is so much more to a theatre production than what audiences ultimately see on stage.

When people go to the theatre they are transported into another world but behind the scenes there IS another world of busy cast and crew making sure everything is right on the night!

As a veteran reporter for 9News, I have covered Melbourne's vibrant theatre scene for decades, so I jumped at the chance when I was asked by production house Dion and Randall International if I'd sing and dance as myself in a Vegas-style variety show.

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Not only was I keen to strut my stuff but I was also incredibly curious to learn how such a show comes together.

It all started with a meeting in a hotel foyer where I was asked what types of songs I'd be comfortable singing. As an example, I suggested the opening theme song to the long-running TV series The Love Boat.

At the next hotel foyer meeting, the producers presented me with a playlist of curated songs, along with a sample track of the five-song medley I was ultimately to perform on stage. I also met with the choreographer at that meeting.

It was then over to me to go home and sing to the sample track to determine what key was most comfortable. Ultimately, it was decided the music was to come-down a couple of "semitones" so it was within my vocal range.

From there, the music track was digitally built in Sweden with the backing vocals done in France.

Those files were sent to the producers in Melbourne.

I then had to go into a recording studio in Melbourne to sing the medley so the base tracks could be finalised.

From there, the tracks were emailed to Queensland. The producer and I were at our separate homes in Melbourne and had a lengthy Zoom session with the Queensland-based engineer to build-in all the finishing touches including sound effects like whistles.

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I then had to practice the tracks at home, which I did at every possible occasion.

A couple of weeks out from the show, it was time to start choreography which I was looking forward to, as I used to dance a lot in my younger years.

It was at this point I got to meet and see the incredible talent of 10 young dancers in the show, which consisted of eight females and two males.

They'd been busily rehearsing themselves for a while before I was thrown into the mix.

I was in awe of their skills when I learnt they had to learn something in the order of 22 individual dances and in the show had to have something like 17 changes into elaborate costumes.

The dancers are the engine room of any show.

My choreography sessions were videoed so I could practise the steps at home by myself, which I studiously did.

While all this was going on, so was my everyday life and the lives of the other cast which included stage and screen star Sydney-based Rachael Beck who despite her years in the business had the extra challenges flying to and from Melbourne for choreography and costume fittings.

As one of my songs was The Love Boat, my costume was naval-based but exquisitely bejewelled with crystals, chains and brooches to really make it pop on stage and be able to compete with the flashy Vegas ensembles the females on stage were wearing.

While practising the songs and dances I was engaged to help publicise the show – which I loved because after all media is my profession.

There were a series of photo shoots, as well fun radio and TV interviews which included jumping on a 6am flight from Melbourne and Sydney to speak with my friends David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys on Today Extra, as well as chatting with my 9News Melbourne colleague Tony Jones.

Then two days before the opening curtain, the show "bumped in" to the theatre – costumes, props and technical equipment like giant digital screens were delivered and installed.

The day before "curtain-up" was set aside for technical rehearsals – dancers getting a feel for the stage having practised at home or in dance studios mocked up to mimic the stage.

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Sound was also tested and bedded down as was the lighting and the giant screens at the back of the stage which projected brilliant moving graphics throughout each act.

It was on this day all the cast and crew finally got to meet up in the one place to become an instant team!

The following day was the first full dress rehearsal ahead of the first preview show that night.

It was discovered during the day there were some issues with the screens that needed fixing – that chewed-into rehearsal time which meant the first and only full dress rehearsal finished a couple of hours before the curtain was set to rise.

The technical Gods were smiling on us as the screens were right on the night!

Thursday, May 30 was "media-call" day and the official red-carpet opening night.

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An overnight power outage messed with the digital stage screens which sadly meant they didn't function correctly when the media came along to record portions of various acts but again the Gods smiled on the show – the screens performed perfectly as the curtain rose to rapturous applause and the delight of the star-studded opening night crowd.

The following day the reviews came out which thankfully were favourable!

All up there were six shows in five days and while audiences were being dazzled by what was on stage, behind the scenes there was an army to help make the Vegas fantasy a reality.

Each performance I waited in the wings trying not to get my eyes poked out by the voluminous plumes of feathers on the colourful and crystal-encrusted costumes but once on stage it felt like a giant party akin to what you might experience in Ibiza or Mykonos.

I loved every minute working with Club Vegas the Spectacle which the Producers now plan to tour around Australia.

Sadly, it's an unfortunate reality that despite all the work and time put into the big stage shows, they seem to finish before they begin and you're suddenly thrust-back into your everyday life.

But I guess as they say – "That's Showbiz!"

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Rangers have captured the moment a sinkhole opened up near a popular camping spot in south-east Queensland.

A near-shore landslide, also known as a sinkhole, formed yesterday morning at Inskip Point, south of K'gari, the Department for Environment and Science said.

The sinkhole is eating into the sandy shoreline, which was seen slowly crumbling into the ocean. 

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"A near-shore landslip or landslide is a natural coastal event that cannot be predicted," the department said.

"They occur when a large body of sand moves quickly, forming an underwater scarp (or small cliff) that moves rapidly inshore as the sand debris moves out to sea."

There is a buffer zone around the area where no camping or vehicles are allowed and boundaries are in place.

A section of the beach remains open to pedestrians and day activities.

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Inskip Point – a body of land built by wind and waves – is sandy and rocky in nature and known for its common sinkholes.

As quickly as it loses sand in the phenomenon, it also constantly being replenished.

This is because ocean currents move sand and debris from where cliffs collapse along the nearby Cooloola coast to Inskip Point and K'gari.