A couple and their dog have been forced to swim to safety after their yacht struck trouble north of Perth.

They were on a 6.7-metre yacht near Little Island at Hillary's about 10pm yesterday when they struck a reef and got caught on rocks. 

The shallow waters posed a challenge for rescuers, who were told the conditions were "shallow and a bit gnarly".

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"We couldn't get in close enough at that stage to be able to get them off so they unfortunately had to abandon ship," Marine Rescue Whitfords' Neil Harrison said.

The trio was encouraged to activate their EPIRB and wear their life jackets before jumping into the water and making the terrifying swim.

The couple and their dog swam 250 metres in the dark to the marine rescue boat with the help of the police air wing watching from above.

"So they were pretty tired when got to the side of our boat," Harrison said.

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The pair and their dog were uninjured but shaken from the ordeal.

Emergency services said the couple was prepared for the situation, which helped them get to safety.

"They actually did have all the equipment," Harrison said.

"And when they got into the water, they knew exactly what they were doing.

"And to have a dog with a lifejacket was a bit unusual but I'm pretty sure that would have saved the dog's life."

The couple was meant to be pulling into Hillary's for the night on their way down to Rockingham but lost their bearings in the dark.

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Their challenge now is retrieving the boat from the shallow water. 

"There's probably about 500 or 600 metres of reef which is six inches underwater which you don't generally see," Harrison said.

The couple's daughters have praised the work of emergency services to help them get to safety.

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After managing to toss a $150,000 defamation judgment in favour of Erin Molan, the Daily Mail has reached a walk-away settlement with the television presenter.

At a Federal Court mediation on Thursday, Molan and the Daily Mail mutually agreed to discontinue the proceedings with each side paying their own legal costs.

"Daily Mail Australia alleged that Ms Molan had engaged in racist behaviour, with Ms Molan having denied that she had engaged in any such conduct," the publisher said in a statement.

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"Both parties are happy with the resolution of the proceedings, which involved each party paying their own costs, but did not involve Daily Mail Australia paying any damages to Ms Molan."

Molan first sued the Daily Mail over a June 2020 article and two related Tweets which she claimed defamed her by portraying her as racist for saying "hooka looka mooka hooka fooka" on 2GB in May 2020.

In August 2022, the Federal Court ordered the Daily Mail to pay $150,000 for the article, with Justice Robert Bromwich saying the publisher had shown a lack of responsibility and basic professionalism.

However, these findings were overturned on a successful appeal. In March this year, both parties agreed that Justice Bromwich had not seen all of the required evidence.

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The Full Court sent the matter back to be re-heard before the judge.

However, the settlement means this hearing will no longer take place.

AAP has contacted Molan for comment.

Jo Haylen has promised to tackle New South Wales' "broken" transport system as her first act as the state's transport minister.

Haylen told 9News she has inherited a plethora of issues, including issues with buses, ferries and the controversial Korean-built train fleet which sent transport workers on strike.

The minister is also trying to tackle the causes of major recent delay recently on Sydney's train network and blamed the last government for maintenance issues.

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"Passengers have faced significant cancellations and delays, under the Liberal government, many of them were left stranded," she told 9News.

"People just want to be able to get to work on time.

"That's what public transport is all about and we want to see that system work better, I'm here to talk to the people who can make that system work."

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland has denied any maintenance shortfalls despite Haylen's claims of "abandonment" by the previous Liberal government.

"What we're doing at the moment is reviewing what are the priority investments that will make the most difference," Longland said.

"Particularly to the day-to-day delays we're seeing across the network.

"We want to return to a reliable network that customers can count on."

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The Koren-built intercity train fleet is still awaiting multi-billion dollar modifications before it can be safely used on the train network, a task that could take months to complete.

The bus network has also caused travellers grief, with it becoming a significant election issue particularly on Sydney's northern beaches.

Labor has promised to form a bus task force to help improve the service for Sydneysiders and has also committed to building future transport vehicles in the state rather than overseas.

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A record pay rise may be on the cards for Australia's lowest paid workers as the Fair Trade Commission weighs up a new minimum wage. 

Unions are pushing for a $57 a week wage increase, but business groups warn that could see stores close.

"We want to see wages moving again in this country in responsible, sustainable, meaningful wages," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said today.

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"It's just common sense to begin with the lowest paid Australians."

On July 1 the new minimum wage rate will kick in for nearly 200,000 Australians. 

If the union's proposed seven per cent is accepted, that rate will grow from $21.38 an hour, or $812.60 per week, to $22.88 an hour and $869.44 per week.

"We're asking for this because it is a survival cost of living pay increase," ACTU President Sally McManus said.

The government will back the rise for minimum wage workers but may look at a different increase for the millions of Australians on awards.

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"I think businesses recognise if they want to hold onto the best people at a time of skills and labour shortages, then they need to pay for them," Chalmers said.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews agreed, saying: "that is a focus of everyday Australians.

"They do need more money because the cost of living is out of control in this country," she added.

Business groups are also proposing a pay rise but at half the rate.

"It's responsible, it's fair, it's good for the economy. If we push too far the risk is we'll do damage," Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKeller said. 

For small businesses the challenge is to meet rising interest and supply payments while also meeting rising wages, with the result likely meaning price hikes for consumers.

Controversy has erupted after a popular New South Wales surf life saving club implemented a no nudity policy in its change rooms.

Central Coast Surf Life Saving Club says visitors must now shower in their swimming costumes and change with a towel around them.

The club said if anyone was caught breaching the rule they "will be called before the club's disciplinary committee".

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One member said she's been forced to leave the club after using the change room and breaching the policy.

Local Nada Pantle enjoys her morning dip at Terrigal Beach. She said it's part of her routine, along with a post-swim shower at the surf club's change rooms.

"I then received a letter, saying I have breached the nudity policy, I don't know what I did, it doesn't explain it in the letter," Pantle told 9News.

The letter stated: "The Terrigal Surf Club has received a report advising that you have breached the no nudity clause that can be found in the Child Safe Policy … and should you continue to ignore the procedures/rules, you will be subject to disciplinary action, and/or including termination of your membership."

Pantle immediately took action of her own.

"I was so anxious I handed my resignation in … that's what the change rooms are for, they're for getting changed," she said.

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Surf Life Saving Central Coast said it's all come about to reinforce child safety under a nationwide policy.

"Here at Terrigal there's been numerous times that things have been raised from young people saying they're uncomfortable around nudity in the change rooms," Surf Life Saving Central Coast CEO Jon Harkness said.

Those concerns prompted signs to be put up in the club's change rooms.

Fellow club member Wendy Farley said she feels body shamed.

"I think it's appalling, I think it's a backwards step and I think it's bad for young women," Farley said.

The Surf Life Saving branch is encouraging all 15 Central Coast clubs to roll out the no nudity signage in their change rooms.

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Locals have mixed reviews on the policy.

"I think it's PC gone crazy," one woman said.

"It's a fair policy, my word it is, couldn't agree more," a man said.

Another man said: "I think it's overkill, as long as the sexes are separated."

Pantle and Farley said they hope the club can come up with another solution.

"I know that some surf clubs have a separate section for nippers, and they're larger change rooms. If our club can come up with a solution like that, I'm all for it," Farley said.

Surf Life Saving Central Coast said the club has plans to renovate and expand, subject to development approval.

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Queensland Police have been handed stronger search powers under new legislation known as Jack's Law to fight knife crime.

Jack's Law is named after Jack Beasley who was 17 years old when he was stabbed to death in 2019.

The legislation was put to parliament today and passed.

It will allow police to search for weapons in nightlife precincts and on public transport for at least the next two years.

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https://twitter.com/JessMillward9/status/1641347212344176640

The state's governor has also ensured the law will come into effect on Sunday, which would have been Jack's 21st birthday.

"It's not too often out of something tragic like the loss of someone's life that something positive can occur," Police Minister Mark Ryan said.

Ryan cast a warning to anyone partying next week that police will be out in force using these new powers.

"If you're going to be in the Valley next week, police will have wanding powers and wands ready to go," he said.

"There are people carrying knives in public, if they're in a safe night precinct or on public transport they should be prepared to be wanded and detected with the knife and they will face criminal charges."

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Jack's parents Brett and Belinda were overwhelmed by the law passed in honour of their son.

"To have this law named after our son is unbelievable," Brett said.

"It's very humbling, it's a law for a lot of other kids who have lost their lives to knife crime," Belinda added.

"It's so our kids can come home safe after a night out or going on public transport – it is really important."

Brett acknowledged Jack's birthday on Sunday will be a tough reminder but to have a new law in place to prevent what happened to their son from happening to anyone else will be positive.

"We are proud and happy that these guys have done it for us now and get it through before Jack's birthday," Brett said.

It also hasn't been easy for the pair to become spokespeople for change after their son's death.

"We haven't had a choice, this is what we've been dealt, it's hard and we try and get through every day," Belinda said.

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But the fight isn't over yet: Brett and Belinda plan to champion change in all states and territories to enhance police powers and prevent knife crime.

"We'll just annoy everybody, make some phone calls, and with the help of the minister and these guys we'll see what we can do," Brett said.

"Every state and territory needs to have the same laws."

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has condemned a "disgusting" and homophobic comment made by her party's NSW leader Mark Latham in a post on Twitter this morning.

Latham posted the graphic, homophobic tweet on Thursday morning, which was aimed at the NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich, who is gay. 9News.com.au has decided against publishing the contents of Latham's tweet.

In a video released on Thursday evening, Hanson condemned the comment and said she had told Latham to apologise.

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"I want you to know that I don't condone them [the views] and neither do my members of parliament or party associates," Hanson said.

"I think they are disgusting.

"I've actually tried to ring Mark a couple of times, to no avail, and I have clearly sent a text message to him telling him my views and also I've asked him to give the people an apology.

"I will leave it at that. It is now over to Mark to answer the people."

Latham's comments were made in response to an article in which Greenwich called him a "disgusting human being" after LGBTQ+ protesters were targeted outside an event last week at a Sydney church where Latham was speaking.

"Disgusting?" Latham replied, before making the graphic homophobic attack.

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Latham was quickly criticised, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the former Labor leader for his "hateful speech".

"I am concerned that with social media we seem to have a circumstance whereby people would say things through various applications they'd never say to someone face to face and we know that can be very hurtful and it can have drastic consequences," he told 10 News.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the comments made her feel sick.

"I was physically sickened by that tweet," she said.

"Homophobia is always unacceptable and there is never an excuse. Mr Latham should apologise to Alex Greenwich immediately."

Greens MP Jenny Leong said the comments showed "why no political party or independent representative should engage with him".

"Being an elected representative doesn't give anyone a free pass to incite hatred," she said.

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Greenwich said he didn't plan on engaging with the matter further.

"My focus in the next parliament will be working with the majority of members who support the LGBTQ community to progress important reforms, remove discrimination, and make it clear these views belong in the past," he said.

Latham deleted the tweet about three hours after it was posted has not apologised.

As One Nation's lead upper house candidate, he will be reelected to the Legislative Council following last weekend's NSW state election.

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Lifewise boss Haehaetu Barrett spoke at National Māori Housing Conference.

A trainee pilot who crashed a helicopter into a Melbourne home last year did not immediately identify an engine power loss, a report has found.

The pilot from Mt Martha was on his second solo flight returning to Moorabbin Airport when his approach became unstable, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report.

The three-seat light helicopter collided with the roofs of two houses in Mentone on November 30, the pilot receiving serious injuries.

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"As the helicopter climbed to about 650 ft above ground level, the engine lost power," ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said.

"While the pilot identified a reduction in performance at this time, they did not immediately recognise the engine had lost power."

The report found the pilot passed two suitable sites for a forced landing when they were troubleshooting the reduction in engine performance.

"When the pilot recognised a forced landing was required, they then did not identify a nearby football oval as the closest suitable area, possibly due to it being obscured by the airframe or instrument panel," Macleod said.

"Instead, they identified a school ground, and attempted a landing there, but collided with rooftops short of this intended location as the helicopter had insufficient height."

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Macleod acknowledged the challenges pilots face when confronted with a loss of engine power at low level, and with few suitable landing areas available.

"Pilots can best mitigate the effects of a power loss by forward planning, which reduces your mental workload under stress," he said.

"The engine power loss occurred at low height over a densely populated area presenting a challenging scenario for the inexperienced student pilot.

"While in this case, the selected landing location was unable to be reached, importantly, the pilot maintained control of the helicopter to maximise survivability."

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