An incredible number of Australians are now considered gamers, with new research highlighting 81 per cent of Aussies play video games, up 21 per cent since 2021. 

It's all according to the latest Australia Plays 2023 report by IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) and Bond University. 

On average, Australian gamers are playing 90 minutes each and every day across console, PC and mobile gaming. 

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Since the last report in 2021, the amount of households with gaming devices has increased to 94 per cent.

The average age of video gamers is slightly up at 35, an increase of just three months.

"There is no denying the significance of video games in the lives of everyday Aussies," Dr Jeffrey Brand, professor and researcher at Bond University, said.

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"Ninety-one per cent of parents are using video games to connect with their children, supporting cognitive growth and providing important family bonding time."

"Additionally, we saw more women playing games than ever before with 48 per cent of Australian gamers being female, up 2 per cent on the previous report, with women over 65 more likely to play video games than elderly men," he said.

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Gamers also love to play together, with the data showing that 75 per cent of Australians play video games with others, and 91 per cent of parents play with their children to connect as a family. 

The full Australia Plays 2023 report is available on the IGEA website.

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NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham has said a graphic tweet about Alex Greenwich that was widely condemned had improved rather than harmed the MP's reputation.

Latham is being sued for defamation in the Federal Court over the tweet sent on March 22 which described explicit sexual acts he claimed were engaged in by Greenwich.

The tweet targeted the independent politician as an openly gay politician and was in response to statements calling Latham a "disgusting human being" after LGBTQI+ protesters were attacked outside a Sydney church hall where he made a speech before the NSW election.

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In a defence filed Monday, Latham denied the tweet caused serious harm to Greenwich's reputation.

Figures such as federal One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Sky News host Erin Molan, NSW Labor Minister Penny Sharpe and NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns had all condemned Latham for the statement and supported Greenwich.

These responses "enhanced the reputation of Greenwich" and were proof that the tweet and Latham's later comments to a News journalist "had enhanced and not damaged" his reputation.

Latham swiftly deleted the tweet – the graphic contents of which we have chosen not to detail here – but made comments afterwards to journalist Linda Silmalis which were published in The Daily Telegraph.

"When he calls someone a disgusting human being for attending a meeting in a church hall, maybe attention will turn to some of his habits," he told her.

Greenwich alleges the tweet and statements to The Daily Telegraph were defamatory because they implied he engaged in "disgusting sexual acts" and was not a fit and proper person to be a member of NSW parliament because of this.

He claims he has been exposed to hatred, contempt and ridicule as a result of the comments, and his personal and professional reputation has been "gravely injured".

In his defence, Latham denies the tweet conveyed these imputations but says that even if they did, he cannot be hit with damages for defamation.

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Claiming qualified privilege, Latham said he had a right to comment after being attacked repeatedly by Greenwich and others about the clash between LGBTQI+ protesters and Christian "activists".

"The primary tweet and the Latham attacks resulted in significant public media coverage directed towards the fitness of Latham, as a re-elected MLC to serve in public life," he wrote.

He has also argued his comments were in the public interest, concerning the fitness and conduct of a member of NSW parliament, and that they were his "honest opinion" at the time.

He has denied that Greenwich is entitled to any sort of damages over the comments.

However, if the court did rule in favour of the independent MP, any damages paid would be reduced due to comments he made after the "homophobic attacks," Latham said.

The matter will next come before the Federal Court on September 25.

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The federal government claims a proposed wind farm the size of greater London off the coast of NSW will benefit jobs and energy resources but locals are concerned it'll wipe out a prime industry in the region.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen told 2GB's Chris O'Keefe the offshore wind farm with turbines the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to be built near the state's Hunter coast, will create lots of jobs and renewable energy.

But some in the Port Stephens community aren't impressed with the 1800-square-kilometre wind farm, which will be about 20 kilometres off the coast.

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https://omny.fm/shows/the-drive-program/chris-bowen-defends-govt-s-controversial-wind-turb/embed?style=cover

Residents fear the wind farm will impact the thriving fishing community in the region as it is plonked on top of a renowned spot known as the "car park".

"It's virtually wiping out the area we go marlin fishing. That's one third of my business that's going to be taken," a local said.

"We want to see it moved away from our area."

Bowen defended the construction of the wind farm, claiming there is plenty of opportunity for community consultation and environmental approvals to protect marine life and current jobs in the area.

He said there are three stages to the construction of the wind farm, expected to be completed by 2030.

"It is quite a strict and laborious process," he told O'Keefe on the Nine radio station.

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The first was community consultation where Bowen offered the community 65 days to provide feedback on the project.

He said the windfarm zone was originally planned to be more than 2800 square kilometres but the community feedback led to the government reducing the size by a third.

Bowen also made changes to protect some reefs and wildlife in the area as a result of the consultations.

There were almost 2000 submissions from the community.

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The second stage is expressions of interest from wind farm companies who can bid on the project but they'll have to provide the government details on how much energy they'll create, how many local jobs, how they'll deal with whale migration and the existing fishing industry.

"We'll consider those bids and pick the best one for Australia," he said.

Bowen added the wind farm companies will also be footing the bill for the construction with no government subsidy to the project.

Finally, the chosen company will have to undergo environmental approvals.

"They'll have to meet all the standards of the various environmental acts to show what they're doing to manage the environment," he said.

Bowen said the government is getting the balance right between community concerns and requirements for the project.

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Two Russell Island residents say they're taking it "step by step" after escaping a deadly blaze that burned down their home and killed a father and five young boys next door, as the state's premier visited the community.

Wayne Godinet and his five children – Zac, 11, Harry, 10, four-year-old twins Kyza and Koah, and Nicky, three – died early on Sunday morning.

The fire spread to two other houses on Todman Street on the island, which is just off the mainland south-east of Brisbane.

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One of those was the home of Lucia Teague and Sei Sinclaire, who fled the blaze on Sunday morning.

Teague told Today she had been woken by her uncle and looked down the hall to see a "big wall of flames".

"Then we all just tried to, at first, put out the fire that was catching on to our balcony," she said.

"When we realised that was useless, we grabbed everything we could – the animals, ourselves, anything in reach, and basically tried just to get out of the house."

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Sinclaire said he had seen the house behind theirs, where Godinet and the children had died, "completely engulfed in flame".

"The heat, even from the other end of the house, you could feel it on your face, and it was just terrible," he said.

Neighbours rushed to help them as they fled the burning home.

"One man even jumped our fence with his hose to try to help fight back the flames," Teague said.

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She was injured falling down the stairs during the escape. The house, meanwhile, was gutted.

"We honestly have no clue what we're going to do," Teague said.

"I was in denial the first day because from the front end of our house, everything looks normal, it's only that you look at the back that you realise the house has pretty much been destroyed.

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"I just remember thinking the entire time I was in hospital, like, I just want to go home. And then realising I can't."

Meanwhile, the memorial outside the local school is growing, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk adding her name to the condolence book today.

"From the moment we arrived at the jetty as well you could see how much the community is hurting," Palaszczuk said.

"It's going to take a while to get over because it's a small school and everyone knows everyone. I mean you only have to read the messages there, they all know each other."

Police continue to investigate the fire, with the disaster victim identification squad moving in.

They have not yet determined if the fire is suspicious, but said some aspects of the incident require closer scrutiny.

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Motorists can expect more pain at the pump as prices once again start to trend upwards.

An overly "exuberant" monkey has found itself in a prickly situation after swinging out of its enclosure at Perth Zoo.

A spokesperson said a Javan gibbon was having too much fun while swinging in its enclosure and found himself "in a tree outside of his habitat" on Tuesday afternoon.

"The zoo's expert primate and veterinary teams acted quickly and have safely sedated him, and he has now been moved to an area behind-the-scenes for monitoring," the spokesperson said.

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The zoo said that at no point were any visitors in danger.

"But as a precaution, the public were escorted out of the area," the spokesperson said.

As for the gibbon, it is being looked after by staff after its adventure.

"Our animal carers are now closely monitoring him and the rest of the Javan gibbons, and they appear settled and well," the spokesperson said.

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A couple claiming to be exempt from paying rent knew their obligations, tribunal rules.

A huge convoy is expected this afternoon for the former Auckland chapter head.

Ngahuka is Vision NZ’s candidate for the Tukituki electorate in Hawke’s Bay.

Two are in critical condition after taking drug they thought was MDMA.