MDMA and psilocybin have been approved to treat some mental health conditions by Australia's health regulatory body.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the prescription of MDMA for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) for treatment-resistant depression from July 1.

"These are the only conditions where there is currently sufficient evidence for potential benefits in certain patients," the TGA said.

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to assault of former partner

Only psychiatrists will be able to prescribe the substances to patients.

"The decision acknowledges the current lack of options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental illnesses," the TGA said.

"It means that psilocybin and MDMA can be used therapeutically in a controlled medical setting."

Psilocybin and MDMA are now listed as schedule 8 controlled drugs but for any use outside PTSD or treatment-resistant depression, they remain a prohibited substance.

There are currently no approved products containing psilocybin or MDMA but the TGA said psychiatrists will be able to access and legally supply "unapproved" medicine containing the drugs.

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Associate Professor Petra Skeffington at Murdoch University said this is an important step but health providers need to proceed with caution.

"With the potential for increased access to MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapies, it is now critically important that high-quality therapist training be made available to promote safe therapeutic conditions when working with these medications," she said.

Mike Musker who is researching mental health and suicide prevention at the University of South Australia said it is a long-awaited change.

"They (the drugs) do however offer hope to thousands of people across Australia where traditional medications have not helped their condition," he said.

"With the advent of the threshold for these two drugs being reduced to 'controlled drugs' we can now start new research trials for their effectiveness in treatment."

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Ten headstones have been desecrated with spray-painted Nazi symbols inside a heritage-listed Jewish Cemetery in New South Wales.

Police believe it was an anti-Semitic hate crime.

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The Maitland Jewish Cemetery, which is 33 kilometres from Newcastle cemetery dates back to 1846 and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.

A roof has been ripped off an apartment building and a hospital has been damaged during a freak storm at Port Macquarie in NSW.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews are responding to a series of emergencies and the State Emergency Service (SES) were called to 60 incidents in the space of 30 minutes, including flooding and trees that have fallen on houses, cars and trucks, after wild winds and heavy rain struck the town just after 3pm.

The SES is advising people in Port Macquarie to stay indoors and move their cars away from trees amid the severe thunderstorm.

READ MORE: Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro's assault charges dismissed

Powerful gusts of wind have ripped the roof off an apartment block in Hastings River Drive, forcing residents to run to neighbours' homes for shelter.

A tree fell onto a house in Hay Street, tearing off its roof, while firefighters went to the the scene of a damaged private hospital in Lake Road.

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Two large gum trees were knocked over by the wind in Murray Street, and hit a truck and a car.

Firefighters also went to the scene of a large tree which had falled down in Hayward Street, where powerlines were taken down.

Nick Kyrgios has had an assault charge dismissed by a magistrate after he pleaded guilty to shoving over his ex-girlfriend in 2021.

The tennis star fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday where a bid to have the assault charge thrown out on mental health grounds was rejected.

But magistrate Beth Campbell threw out the charge, accepting the seriousness of the matter was "low-level" and indicating Kyrgios was not a risk of reoffending.

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios to face Canberra court on common assault charge

The world No.20 was charged with a late-night incident from January 10, 2021 where he pushed over his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari following an argument outside her apartment in inner-city Canberra suburb Kingston.

The court heard Passari was standing in the door of an Uber preventing Kyrgios from leaving when he pushed her over.

He stood over her and remarked "seriously" while she lay on the ground.

Passari reported shoulder pain along with grazing on her knee.

Kyrgios had told Passari to "leave me the f*** alone" and to "just f***ing piss off" while she asked him to get out of the car and to calm down.

Passari didn't report the incident until 10 months later, when the couple split after getting back together following the incident.

In a statement, Kyrgios apologised 'for the hurt he had cause'.

"I respect today's ruling and am grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction. I was not in a good place when this took place and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret," he said.

"I know it wasn't OK and I'm sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.

"Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I've found that getting help and working on myself has helped me to feel better and to be better."

"I can never thank Costeen [Hatzi, his current partner], my family and friends enough for helping me through this process. I now plan to focus on recovering from injury and moving forward in the best way possible."

Common assault carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

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A Sydney teen has recounted the uncomfortable face-off he had with a burglar when he was naked in his home.

Seventeen-year-old Jack was in his home in Allambie Heights when he came face-to-face with an intruder about midday on Tuesday.

Awkwardly for Jack, he was trying to get some relief from the heat by not wearing any clothes.

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https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/naked-man-tells-how-he-shocked-home-invaders/embed

When he heard somebody moving around the home, he initially feared it would be his mother seeing him naked.

But after hearing some profanities from another room, Jack went out and locked eyes with the intruder.

"I would have chased after him, but I had to get dressed," Jack told Ben Fordham on 2GB.

"By the time that happened, he was gone."

At first Jack didn't register the man was a burglar.

"I called my Mum: 'Is there meant to be someone outside our house?'"

When she said no, he called the police.

"It was a weird sensation dialling triple-zero," Jack said.

"They came speeding around the corner. I got some clothes on at that point."

The intruder remains at large.

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National cabinet has agreed to an Australia-wide firearms register to counter crimes such as the murders of two police officers in the Queensland village of Wieambilla last year.

Law enforcement agencies are currently relying largely on state-level gun registers, which in some instances are considered out-of-date or incomplete.

But at a meeting of premiers and the prime minister, the leaders agreed a nationwide register would be implemented.

READ MORE: The damaged Aussie banknote hack nobody knows about

"It's quite clear we need to do better in cooperation between jurisdictions when it comes to firearms," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

"It's agreed that that would be a necessary measure."

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been vocal in pushing for a national gun registry.

Police organisations and gun control activists have also been seeking a national gun registry for some time.

The agreement was made after a briefing at the national cabinet from the Director-General of ASIO Mike Burgess.

READ MORE: Leaders sign 'statement of intent' to secure Voice to parliament

Burgess briefed the group about the rise of right-wing extremism in this country, especially that of "so-called sovereign citizens".

Albanese referenced national security in connection with the Wieambilla murders in December.

"The catastrophic premeditated, calculated murder that occurred there on the basis of a warped ideology … it requires us to do what we can to keep the citizens we all represent safe," he said.

"We know that the threat is real and tragically, we have seen the consequences of it."

READ MORE: What is the 'sovereign citizen' movement?

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A Victorian woman thought she was being scammed when she first saw that she had won a $40 million lotto jackpot, but now she's ready to toss in her job.

The Euchuca woman claimed the entire division one prize pool in Thursday night's Powerball draw 1394, the biggest division one lotto prize so far this year.

"This just doesn't feel real. How do I know if this is real?" she said.

"I'm so nervous, I feel really bizarre. My whole body has gone numb."

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The winning numbers were 7, 35, 31, 2, 24, 21 and 15 and the Powerball was 18.

Officials from The Lott said the ticket was registered to an online account and that they had trouble getting in contact with the winner at first.

"Myself and the team at The Lott were ready to speak with Powerball's newest division one winner straight after the result of tonight's draw, but sadly when we called our winner's number, it went to voicemail," she said.

The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said she was working at the time so couldn't answer.

But this might spell the end of that problem, as she plans to pay off the mortgage and spend far more time with her family.

"My god, I can quit my job," she said.

"We want this win to go a long way. We want to leave a legacy for our family for years to come."

More than two dozen division two winners took home about $26,000 each.

READ MORE: Child found dead inside car in Sydney after being left inside 'throughout the day'

There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. Call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858; use online counselling; find information about help services in your state or territory; get information and support for family and friends; get information about how to talk with someone about their gambling; or contact Gamblers Anonymous.

All services are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The federal government has announced a plan to get more general practitioners into the primary care system.

It comes as Australians increasingly struggle to find GPs, especially those willing to bulk-bill.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the number of medical students aiming to become GPs was on an "inexorable slide".

READ MORE: Doctors call for more support to treat patients with long COVID

"Perhaps the most terrifying statistic in the area of primary care is that now less than 14 per cent of medical graduates are choosing general practice as their career," Butler said. 

"It's not too long ago … that about half of medical graduates chose to be a general practitioner."

Butler said a shortage of GPs means a lot of patients who don't need hospital treatment end up in emergency rooms.

"We know that about half of all emergency department presentations right now are classified as semi-urgent or non-urgent – about 4 million every year," he said.

"And many could and probably should be dealt with outside of hospital settings."

READ MORE: Victorian Powerball winner $40 million richer but might not know it

"The emergency department ends up effectively as the lightning rod for every failing elsewhere in the health system.

"If you can't get care in an aged care facility or in a general practice, too often you end up in an emergency department."

Butler touted the release of the report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce today.

But his announcement was short of funding commitments. 

"We will respond to this report in the budget," he said.

"We might not accept every single recommendation right now, but this is a really good set of recommendations."

He said the $750 million pledged in the election was always intended for July.

But he said MyHealthRecord will get more money after its current funding arrangement ends in June.

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"If we're not able to find new money to continue the My Health Record, you'll have to dust off your fax machines, because the whole of the e-health system in Australia will fall over," he said.

"This is just one of hundreds of measures that we've talked about that were only part-funded by the former government."

But the prospect of getting more doctors into primary care was not a quick fix.

"I know this is not a single-budget challenge," Butler said. 

"I know there will be more to do."

READ MORE: Rural town offers $1m salary to doctor willing to work there

Asked about an increase in the Medicare rebate, Butler said he was not ruling anything out.

In a follow-up question, Butler was asked if a rise in the Medicare levy was on the table, he said no.

He expressed openness to the idea of pharmacists being authorised to give prescriptions, but said that decision was not in the hands of politicians.

Australia's leaders have identified a series of focuses for 2023 including reforming health, energy and securing a successful Voice to parliament referendum.

First on the bill, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said state, territory and federal government counterparts have committed to constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

"We reaffirmed the support of all governments from all states and territories for constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, including through a constitutionally enshrined Voice to the parliament," he said.

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States and territories signed a statement of intent to secure a successful referendum later this year.

Albanese said the Voice to parliament needs to be above party politics and heavily consulted by Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander people.

"This is about two things: recognition and consultation," he said.

"It is the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution, in our nation's birth certificate."

https://twitter.com/Fi_Willan/status/1621304837974679552

Health reform a priority in 2023

National cabinet agreed health reform needs to be a priority in 2023 with emergency departments overwhelmed, general practitioners struggling with waning Medicare coverage and shortages of doctors and nurses plaguing the system.

Albanese said a key focus will be efficiency in the health system and how to better integrate the hospital network with primary health care.

"We know that the key, going forward, is to better integrate the systems, so that patients are what it is all about," he said.

He added the government intends to look at reforming Medicare and making health access cheaper after last year Australia saw a reduction in bulk billing services and many were left out of pocket.

"We need to improve primary healthcare, we need to improve access to GP services," he said.

But leaders said it isn't about "dollars and cents" and didn't flag changes to the Medicare rebate.

"If you start with funding you won't get an outcome," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

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Albanese said many Australians are going to emergency departments because there are "no other options" and the government will work to improve access to primary health care services.

It comes after the government announced funding for urgent care clinics, especially in Western Australia, to take the pressure off the emergency system.

The government is also awaiting the strengthening Medicare report which is expected to make recommendations on reforming the system and Albanese pledged to act on the measures outlined in the report.

Are more energy blackouts on the cards?

After the energy crisis in 2022 when states saw surges in the network and prices rise substantially, leaders have recommitted to fixing the grid.

"We know that part of the key to fixing the energy system is fixing the energy grid, bringing it into the 21st century," Albanese said.

Last year, the government announced a $1.5 billion plan to provide energy relief.

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State and territory leaders are meeting next week to finalise the energy relief plan.

"This isn't going to be a one-size-fits-all, because different states and territories have different systems and starting points," Albanese said.

National firearms register on the cards

In the wake of the horrific ambush and shooting of two Queensland police officers last year and the rise of sovereign citizens, the government is working towards implementing a national firearms register.

"It is clear we need to do better with jurisdictions when it comes to firearms," Albanese said.

"It is agreed that would be a necessary measure."

National cabinet will meet again in April.

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Every week we will break down, debunk and demystify your rights as a shopper in Australia. This week we are looking at damaged banknotes and how residents can receive what they're entitled to.

We all know life is getting more expensive than ever before, and how important it is to stretch every dollar you make.

That's why each week we'll answer a question surrounding what shoppers are – and aren't – entitled to when dealing with retailers and manufacturers.

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Caught short on cash?

Hi Stu,

Do shops have to accept banknotes that are a little bit damaged? 

I have this $20 note that I think I received as change and it's missing a chunk out of one corner.

No machine will accept it and I don't want to pass it on to some small business who then will probably have trouble cashing it in.

I'm owed this $20, but it feels like I've been caught short with a dud! That also makes me wonder about people who draw moustaches on the face of the Queen on money?

Hi there, that's a lot of questions!

Have no fear – there is a way that you can receive your $20 and rid yourself of that damaged note.

Shops are not obliged by law to accept banknotes that are damaged, especially as some forms of damage may arouse suspicion over whether the note is genuine.

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The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) looks after banknotes in this country, not the Australian Royal Mint, which deals with coins.

The RBA is keen to remove damaged banknotes from the system, as having shoddy and worn money introduces a whole new set of problems, including a greater chance of counterfeit currency being used.

To cut a long story short – you can simply take your $20 note to your bank, and depending on how badly it is damaged, they will replace it for you.

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Every bank is given a set of "grids" by the RBA that can determine how much a damaged banknote is worth.

If you only have half a $20 note, well then you've only got $10.

This is roughly how it pans out:

If less than 20 per cent of the banknote is missing: Full face value is paid.

If between 20 and 80 per cent of the banknote is missing: The value is paid in proportion to the percentage remaining, for example, $5 value for half of a $10 banknote.

If more than 80 per cent of the banknote is missing: No value is paid.

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If you have a large amount of damaged cash, you can also submit a claim directly to the RBA, the details of which you can see here. 

If it's more than $1000, you'll also have to prove your identity.

Oh and drawing a moustache on the Queen? Well, that's actually illegal under the Crimes (Currency) Act 1981.

If you intentionally deface, disfigure, mutilate or destroy an Aussie banknote, you could be looking at a maximum penalty of $5000 or two years in prison – or both!

READ MORE: Pulling the monarch off the $5 has been labelled an 'attack on society' – but there was controversy when Queen Elizabeth first went on too

Do you have a Money Matters question you want answered? Contact Stu via sm****@******om.au.

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.