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There are increased calls to introduce radical new measures that would implement age restrictions on social media use.

In May's budget, the federal government announced a $6.5 million trial of age verification technology to crack down on child safety online.

The scheme would aim to reduce children's exposure to age-inappropriate material.

READ MORE: The DIY house which can be built in six months for $150k

But parents are pushing for a ban on social media use for children aged under 16, while the South Australian government has proposed a law requiring children aged 14 and 15 years old to have parental consent to have social media access.

Neuroscientist Professor Selena Bartlett from Mount Buller in Victoria, told Today significant impact on adolescent brain development occurs between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.

"Parents are really struggling in silence. They don't think it's happening to their children," she said.

"But what we know for sure is that many, many people are struggling silently in their homes.

"The idea is that we need to start protecting childhood, and kids can't do that. Only we can."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again addressed the proposed measure at a press conference today. 

He said the mental health impact of social media had devastating consequences for young people.

READ MORE: Expert warning about Aussie teens becoming radicalised

"Any impediments that are put in place that restrict young people from having access to social media will work, are effective," he told reporters.

"Parents are worried sick about what their kids may have access to online, it is a major social issue in this country.

"We want to respond positively to the requests from parents that we do something about this."

Albanese said the trial would examine how effective age verification would be and look at whether it could be circumvented.

"Every parent is concerned about the impact of social media," Albanese said.

"I think it's the no. 1 topic on the sidelines of football, netball and school sports that'll be conducted on any weekend in any part of Australia."

He cut himself twice – once with a screwdriver, again breaking a car window.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the government is working to bring home Australians stranded in New Caledonia after a week of violent unrest in the region.

At least six people died in riots sweeping the archipelago, whose indigenous population has long sought independence.

In a statement today, Wong warned Australians not to travel to the French Pacific territory.

READ MORE: Expert warning about Aussie teens becoming radicalised

She said the government was working to support those stranded after riots grounded all inbound and outbound flights.

"The Australian Defence Force is ready to fly, pending commercial flights resuming," she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"French authorities advise the situation on the ground is preventing flights. We continue to pursue approvals.

"We will keep working with partners, so that those who wish to leave can do so."

The sixth person to die was killed in an exchange of fire at one of the many impromptu barricades blocking roads on the island, said a security official speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to discuss the situation publicly.

Two other people were seriously injured in the clash, the official said, confirming French media reports. The official said the firefight erupted at a blockade in the north of the main island, at Kaala-Gomen.

Le Monde and other French news outlets said the person killed was a man and that his son was among the injured.

This week's violence erupted on Monday following protests over voting reforms opposed by pro-independence supporters who have long pushed to break free from France.

Armed clashes, looting, arson and other mayhem have turned parts of the capital, Noumea, into no-go zones and left a vast trail of destruction.

Charred hulks of burned-out cars litter roads, businesses and shops have been ransacked and buildings turned into smoking ruins, with fires sending billowing clouds of smoke into the South Pacific skies.

READ MORE: Cruise lines to avoid New Caledonia due to civil unrest

Despite a state of emergency imposed on the archipelago by the government in Paris and hundreds of reinforcements for security services that lost control of some neighbourhoods, residents say violence continues to make venturing out perilous. Protesters have blockaded roads with barricades, as have residents banding together to protect their homes, neighbourhoods and livelihoods.

Noumea's mayor, Sonia Lagarde, said Saturday that while overnight violence has eased somewhat, with a 6pm to 6am curfew in effect, "we are far from a return to normal".

"The damage is incredible," she said, speaking to broadcaster BFM-TV.

"It's a spectacle of desolation."

"The situation is not improving — quite the contrary — despite all the appeals for calm," she said, describing Noumea as "under siege".

The state of emergency gives authorities greater powers to tackle violent protesters, including the possibility of house detention for people deemed a threat to public order and expanded powers to conduct searches, seize weapons and restrict movements, with possible jail time for violators.

The last time France imposed such measures on one of its overseas territories was in 1985, also in New Caledonia, the Interior Ministry said.

There have been decades of tensions on the archipelago between Indigenous Kanaks seeking independence and descendants of colonisers who want to remain part of France.

The unrest erupted as the French legislature in Paris debated amending the French constitution to make changes to voter lists in New Caledonia.

The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a bill that will, among other changes, allow residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to cast ballots in provincial elections.

Opponents say the measure will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalise indigenous Kanak people.

They once suffered from strict segregation policies and widespread discrimination.

The vast archipelago of about 270,000 people east of Australia is 10 time zones ahead of Paris.

At the beginning of last year, Tasmanian architect Jiri Lev was a novice builder, with no hands-on experience in construction.

Yet, in the space of six months, he was able to build his own home for the modest price of $150,000, about a third of the cost of a standard new home.

Lev is on a mission to prove that housing can still be accessible and affordable in Australia. 

READ MORE: Why 'shouses' are surging in popularity

He designed the plans for his northern Tasmanian home himself, with simplicity and ease of construction in front of mind. 

Now, he's made the plans free and accessible to all as open source documents, with the hope others will share in his vision.

Lev's 120-square metre home was built with simple materials – about 90 percent of which were sourced from within the state – including hardwood for the floors, pine wood and Australian BluScope steel.

"You will save money and lead time if you use local," Lev said.

Building the home with no experience was "surprisingly easy," Lev said, adding it had nothing to do with him being an architect.

"Obviously, it's an advantage to be an architect in terms of knowing the design side of things, and the regulations, but I didn't know anything about building," Lev said.

"I had to learn everything just as anyone else would."

READ MORE: The Aussies buying abandoned houses in Japan

While the thought of building their own home could seem terrifyingly complex to a lot of people, most people should be able to follow his design, Lev said.

The traditional structure of Lev's "Tasmanian Homestead" avoids some design methods used in modern construction, such as roof trusses, which require a crane and multiple people, Lev said.

Instead, Lev's design favours the same building techniques which would have been used by our forefathers to build their own home.

"I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel," Lev said.

"It's mainly about reminding people what the wheel is. I'm using design principles that we've had in Australia for a couple of hundred years.

"It's designed so it can be built step-by-step, and an average able-bodied person can put everything together.

"That's just how houses were traditionally built by our forefathers – brick-by-brick or stick-by-stick." 

Lev said he used online resources such as YouTube to research how each step of the building process was done.  

"Taking it one step at a time, it was surprisingly easy, that's why I am so keen on dragging people down this path," he said.

Lev did get help from tradies to do the plumbing and electrical work, but, even so, the cost of building the home remained relatively low, he said.

"I had a plumber and an electrician, those trades you have to have," Lev said. 

"They were included in the budget as well as the septic (system) – so all up it was $150,000, plus my time."

The Tasmania Homestead design minimises the use of chemicals and the wood on the walls is left untreated. Natural oils are used to prevent staining on the hardwood floors. 

Sustainable features are also included, such as a unique "convection door" designed by Lev, with a top panel which can be opened to allow free flow of heat during winter.

Lev said the open plan design of the home meant it would be more suitable for rural, rather than suburban settings. 

"It's really designed for a more rural setting where you don't have so many privacy constraints," Lev said.

"It's suitable for people who might have bought a cheap block of land because they can't afford to live in town."

Lev said he was passionate about traditional, beautifully-proportioned homes, and it was an easy decision to make his plans accessible and open source.

"Not everyone can afford to build a house these days. So if I can cut $15,000 – $20,000 off their expenses by providing something for free, why wouldn't I? It doesn't cost me anything," Lev said. 

However, anyone accessing his plans would need to employ a local draftsman to make sure the design met local requirements, such as shading, Lev said. 

Lev said his homestead would be well-suited to eco villages or government social housing schemes, and could even help renters enter the market.

"Housing doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter type thing, all it requires is a pinch of imagination," Lev said. 

"We have so many able-bodied men, kind of demotivated, maybe sitting in social housing with families. I think many of them are definitely keen to work, but maybe there are obstacles in them finding work.

"Imagine if these people could build their own homes for their families. While doing that they could learn the trade and it could start their career as well."

Lev said he hoped his work would inspire others to see what was possible.

"Even in today's world it's actually quite simple and accessible to build your own home. 

"It's not only something that was done in the 50s – it's just as relevant today, and it can look good."

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at em********@******om.au

A parent and animal rights activist wants a local football club to ditch meat sausages in favour of vegan options at the traditional post-game BBQ. 

Sheena Chhabra, whose son attends South Melbourne Districts' Auskick, has asked the footy club to cull its post-match meat offerings.

"I've requested that if sausages must be served, which I believe is not essential at a morning event, we swap out the regular sausages for vegan ones," she said in a statement.

READ MORE: Business groups demand smaller wage increases for workers

The South Melbourne club remained silent on the sausage question but the mum's question has sparked a wide debate.

Some footy clubs are happy to accommodate all modern tastes but most clubs will just serve up whatever the fans want. 

"If they want to put on vegan sausages we'll put on vegan sausages," Richard, who was on the tongs at one club told 9News.

"But it doesn't have to be all vegan sausage."

READ MORE: Expert's warning about Aussie teens

Sheena, who has her own vegan YouTube channel, believes modern butchery methods are cruel.

"I believe that if children knew these realities, they would be asking for vegan sausages," she wrote.

"Beef sausages and bacon are classified as Group 1 carcinogens."

Business groups have demanded the government cap any increase to the minimum wage at two per cent, in a bid to bring down inflation and avoid worsening unemployment.

Smaller companies struggling to stay afloat say they've been left 'short-changed' in the federal government's third budget. 

"Small business at the moment is being strangled by rising red tape and increased input costs," Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.

READ MORE: Support for Broncos star's father arrested over alleged drug plot

"They can't afford to be paying over the odds in terms of wages," he said.

Sweet Pea & Poppy Chocolate, an artisan treat shop in Murrumbateman, north of Canberra, is one of many small businesses feeling the pinch.

"Cost pressures are front and centre of everybody's mind at the moment," business owner Yasmin Coe said.

They claimed their costs increased by 30 per cent this year thanks to rising energy and transport bills, coupled with global cocoa supply chain issues.

"This has stifled supply but also forced up prices so that's become an extra challenge for us to navigate," Coe said.

READ MORE: Australian tourist reportedly injured in overseas shooting

This year's budget includes $640 million to support small businesses including power bill rebates and an extension to the instant asset write-off.

"Small businesses weren't left out in the cold entirely, but they certainly weren't front and centre in this budget," Luke Achterstraat, the chief executive of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia said.

Michele O'Neil, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions criticised any suggestion of capping the minimum wage.

"How greedy are these big business lobby groups?" she said.

"It's unfair and it's insulting to low paid workers in Australia."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the budget's contribution to small businesses while speaking in Queensland today.

"We know people are doing it tough and that's why so much of what we handed down on Tuesday night is about supporting small businesses and people doing it tough," he said.

"The cost of living relief in the budget is on top of, not instead of decent pay for working people."

Penrith Panthers player Taylan May has been charged over an alleged domestic violence incident.

NSW Police allege May, 22, assaulted a woman known to him during an argument at a home in Werrington on April 8 about 9pm.

"It is alleged he punched her in the face and leg," NSW Police said in a statement.

TO SUB: Several products recalled from same baby brand over serious safety concerns

"The man was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), and two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (DV)."

Police said he was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Penrith Local Court this month.

May was named to play in the centres for the Panthers' Magic Round clash against the Warriors tomorrow.

READ MORE: Man charged with multiple child abuse offences in regional NSW

The Penrith Panthers said it was aware of the alleged incident involving May.

"Panthers has informed the NRL Integrity Unit and will cooperate throughout the process," the club said in a statement.

"As this is a legal matter, the club will make no further comment at this stage."

The winger made his NRL debut in 2021 and was named Rookie of the Year in 2022 after finishing the season as the club's leading try scorer.

The owner of a kebab shop has spoken after he gave refuge to a mother and her baby who were abducted at knifepoint last week in Melbourne's south-east.

The victim was forced to drive around for more than two hours, with the kidnapper in the car next to her baby, before running into the kebab shop for help on May 10.

"I knew I just had to help another human", the shop's owner Mohamed said.

READ MORE: Mum describes knifepoint abduction with baby in the car

The man gave her a phone to call for help.

"She was crying, she was scared," he said.

"I just wanted to talk to my husband and tell him we were okay, that my daughter was okay," Kieran, who did not want her surname used, said.

Police soon arrived on the scene, with Kieren's husband rushing to support his wife and daughter.

She was first approached by the man at the Stud Park Shopping Centre supermarket car park in Rowville around 6pm.

Detectives said the man threatened her with a knife, forcing her into the driver's seat of her silver Suzuki S-Cross.

READ MORE: Six people released from hospital after bus and truck collide

The man sat in the back seat with her daughter, before forcing her to drive to electrical stores on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne and Frankston-Dandenong Road in Dandenong.

He demanded her to purchase Apple MacBooks at several stores, while he remained in the car with her baby.

The man told Kieren that he had a gambling debt that he needed to repay.

The man was dropped at Robert Booth Reserve and vanished through the park.

Investigators say they've already received numerous tips since they went public with the footage of the suspect.

He has been described as Asian in appearance.