Major Australian brands are failing to turn the dial on the gender pay gap, with some even slipping backwards in the past year, a detailed new report has revealed.

The massive annual data dump by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reports on the gender pay gap for 10,500 Australian employers in both the private and public sectors, accounting for 5.9 million workers.

It shows an incremental overall improvement in the gender pay gap, with half of employers having a gender pay gap in favour of men larger than 11.2 per cent.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran

This is down from 12.1 per cent last year, but well beyond the target range of five per cent.

Among the worst performers was Qantas, where the gender pay gap has crept up to 41.7 per cent – up 0.5 per cent compared to a year ago.

While women make up 44 per cent of the national carrier's workforce, they hold just one in seven of their high salary roles, which comes with an average total pay packet of $343,000.

In contrast, more than two-thirds of the carrier's low salary positions – where the average pay packet is $79,000 – are held by women.

At a national level, men are still 1.8 times as likely as women to earn a high salary in the top quartile of earners, averaging $221,000.

Women are also 1.4 times more likely to be low income earners, making an average salary of $60,000.

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"The fact that men are nearly twice as likely as women to be in the highest paid roles and that women still dominate the lowest paid roles should offer a reality check for anyone who thinks Australia has achieved equality in the workplace," WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge said.

"Employers should treat gender equality like their other business goals. Do a detailed analysis to find the issues, create an action plan to address them and set targets to be accountable for ensuring progress happens."

Employers in high-paying and male-dominated industries are more likely to have the largest gender pay gaps.

Mining and resources company BHP pays its employees an average salary of $201,000, almost double the average Australian wage.

But just over a quarter of its top-earning employees are women, while women make up two-thirds of its lowest paid workers.

BHP has also seen its gender pay gap widen in the past year, from 11.2 to 12.8 per cent.

Banking and the financial sector has previously scored particularly poorly in the WGEA report, but this year has seen incremental improvements amongst the big four.

Commonwealth Bank, where the average annual remuneration is $167,000, has narrowed its pay gap by one per cent in the past year to 21.3 per cent.

It was a similar story at other major banks, with NAB, ANZ and Macquarie Group seeing incremental improvements of 0.9 per cent, 0.4 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

Large differences in discretionary payments, like performance bonuses and overtime hours, are a key driver of many organisations' gender pay gaps.

This is particularly evident for businesses that rely heavily on bonuses and commission, such as the financial sector.

For example, at Bell Financial Group the base pay for men and women differs by just 7.4 per cent, yet the overall pay difference is a stark 55.5 per cent.

Major healthcare providers also faired poorly.

Advana Heartcare – which bills itself as Australia's largest provider of cardiology services with over 500 employees – has a gender pay gap of 69.2 per cent, up almost three per cent in the last year.

One of Australia's largest pathology and radiology providers with over 5000 Australian staff, Sonic Healthcare saw its pay gap rise from 36.2 to 39.9 per cent.

One notable exception however was pathology provider Healius Ltd, which has reduced its gender pay gap by 13.3 per cent in a single year, now sitting at 27.6 per cent.

Nine, the publisher of this website, recorded a gender pay gap of 15 per cent, down from 17 per cent last year.

Chief People Officer Vanessa Morley said Nine was committed to closing the gap, saying "we have made some progress" but "acknowledge there is more work to be done".

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The apps on your TV are likely about to change – again.

As part of the $US111 billion ($156 billion) merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery announced at the weekend, the newly-combined company has revealed its plan for streaming services.

In a conference call on Monday (today AEST), chief executive David Ellison revealed the Paramount+ and HBO Max apps would become one platform.

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"We will combine the streaming portfolios of the two companies into one stronger platform over the coming years," Ellison said.

"Across the two platforms, there are over 200 million DTC (direct-to-consumer) subscribers today in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide."

In their end of year reports, Paramount said it had 78.9 million direct-to-consumer subscribers, while Warner Bros. Discovery reported 131.6 million.

Netflix, which lost out in the bidding war for Warner Bros, reported having 325 million subscribers globally at the end of last year.

Ellison did not suggest a name for the new combined streamer, but it will almost certainly result in another rebrand for WBD's streamer, which just this past summer rebranded back to HBO Max after spending two years as simply Max.

As part of the merger, Paramount will also acquire CNN, which is currently owned by WBD.

During Monday's call, Ellison told analysts that Paramount has "no divestitures planned at this time" regarding cable — meaning the company does not plan to sell cable assets.

The newly merged streaming giant will boast some of the most coveted franchises in television history, ranging from The Sopranos and Game of Thrones to recent hits such as Yellowstone.

In a previous statement announcing the merger, Ellison has also pledged to keep the 45-day theatrical window for new films, and he promised the merged studios would put out 30 films a year.

– Reported with CNN

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Donald Trump's attacks on Iran have angered some of his most prominent and influential backers.

A litany of conservative commentators have panned the US president's decision to begin a military conflict in the Middle East.

Among those to express their disgust are Tucker Carlson, Benny Johnson, Alex Jones and Matt Walsh.

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Jones described the war as a "gigantic problem".

"This is supposed to be America first. We're not supposed to be running around doing this anymore," he said.

Walsh pushed back on the idea that Americans should be responsible for bringing freedom to Iranians.

"As Americans, the freedom of Iranians is not our responsibility," he said.

"If a single American life is lost in the service of that goal, it will be a travesty."

Carlson meanwhile described the attack as "absolutely disgusting and evil".

And prominent "manosphere" commentator and accused rapist Andrew Tate was angry in his response.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran

"Why would going into a war with Iran benefit anybody in America at all?" he said.

"NOBODY WANTS THIS WAR."

The backlash comes as polling shows the American people are not happy with the president's decision.

A CNN poll found 59 per cent opposed military action in Iran. The Washington Post found 52 per cent were opposed, but only 39 per cent in favour.

Trump's approval rating is also in the doldrums.

Part of the backlash stems from Trump's long-running public opposition to the US getting involved in foreign wars.

It was a central and specific claim that motivated many dithering voters to choose the Republican.

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"Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly — not skilled," he wrote on Twitter in 2013.

"Now that Obama's poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate," he said in 2012.

"In order to get elected, Barack Obama will start a war with Iran," he said in 2011.

Trump forecast the war would take several weeks, but flagged it could be much longer.

He made the prediction during a ceremony to give three veterans the Medal of Honour.

Briefly speaking on Iran, he went into substantial detail on his renovations for the White House's East Wing.

"In about a year and a half from now you're going to see a very, very beautiful building," he said.

"I picked those drapes in my first term. I always liked gold.

"It'll be spectacular, be the most beautiful ballroom."

Six American service members have been confirmed killed since Saturday's surprise attacks.

READ MORE: Trump's past comments on Iran come back to haunt him

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Police knew of "high risk" domestic violence complaints against a man weeks before he set his estranged wife on fire and killed her, a coroner has heard.

Kelly Leigh Wilkinson, a 27-year-old mother-of-three was repeatedly stabbed, doused with petrol and set on fire by Brian Earl Johnston at her Arundel home on the Gold Coast on April 20, 2021.

Queensland Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher today opened an inquest at Southport into Wilkinson's death and the police's response to her prior domestic violence complaints.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump warns the 'big wave' yet to come in war with Iran

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Johnston had been subject to a domestic violence order when he murdered her.

He was also on bail accused of sexually assaulting Wilkinson.

Counsel assisting Sarah Lane said the inquest also proposed to look into whether the police acted in accordance with their procedures and policies.

Detective Inspector Sue Newton testified about the police ethical standards command's investigation into Wilkinson's case, noting the couple's first contact with police was about three weeks before the murder.

Johnston initially contacted officers in anticipation that Wilkinson would accuse him of rape, she said.

"He had concerns for the safety of the children," Newton said.

Wilkinson was designated as a "high-risk aggrieved" person, while the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre urged police to produce a "high-risk response" to her being in danger.

"(Police) put a high-risk flag on her name and residence," Newton said.

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Wilkinson contacted police on April 1 to report Johnston had breached a protection order after he got a third-party to contact her about returning his property and getting access to the children.

Officers were tasked with responding to Wilkinson's complaint as a "lower priority" job.

There was no indication her complaint should have been treated as urgent, but the officers making the decision would not be aware of her "high risk" of domestic violence, Detective Inspector Newton said.

The coroner responded: "You are going to have to explain that to me."

It would take more than a week to provide evidence about that decision, the police commissioner's barrister Michael Nicholson told Gallagher.

Wilkinson was later accused of "cop shopping" by police, who did not act on her complaints days before her badly burnt body was found outside her home.

The officer who made the comment was later the subject of a disciplinary interview, Detective Inspector Newton said.

"The words to us were not appropriate to be used for a domestic violence situation," she said.

No officer received disciplinary action as a result of the case but two were given remedial training, Detective Inspector Newton added.

Johnston, a former US marine, later entered Wilkinson's home wearing black clothing and a black mask while carrying a backpack with a hatchet, duct tape, zip ties and sedatives.

Wilkinson's body was found outside her home and her killer was found nearby after he collapsed and suffered burns in the fire.

Johnston was jailed for life in March 2024 after pleading guilty to murder.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

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US FBI director Kash Patel issued a grim terror warning in the wake of the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, as the destabilised regime vowed to enact revenge for its slain supreme leader.

Iran launched a swift and heavy offensive in response to the strikes, as missiles targeted US military bases in the Gulf region.

In response, Patel announced he had placed counterterrorism and intelligence teams on "high alert" and had mobilised all assisting security assets, while assuring citizens that teams were working 24/7 to disrupt any threats in the US.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump warns the 'big wave' yet to come in war with Iran

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The chilling promise of "intense" retaliation has sparked fears in Washington over potential attacks on American soil.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday declared that America was prepared and "ready" to respond to domestic threats levelled by the Iranian regime.

"This is a regime that seeks to export that ideology, that seeks to export terror," Hegseth said.

"We're ready for that."

Multiple US outlets have reported that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security had been placed on "war footing" in anticipation of retaliatory action.

Former FBI counterterrorism official Matthew Levitt told USA Today that if there was ever a time for Iran to launch attacks abroad, "it would be now".

"Iran has developed this capability to carry out attacks abroad over many years," Levitt said.

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The FBI is investigating Sunday's Texas bar shooting, which left two people dead and wounded 14, as a potential terrorist act.

The gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was also killed in the attack.

While the shooter's motive still remains unclear, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran said agents had identified potential terrorist ties.

"Obviously, it's still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and then his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism," Doran said.

Australia's official government advice for travellers heading to the US remains unchanged.

Visitors have been warned to avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring over the potential for unrest and violence.

The latest Smartraveller advice also notes there is a "persistent threat of mass casualty violence and terrorist attacks".

"On 5 June 2025, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued an alert highlighting potential public safety concerns related to ongoing threats to the Jewish and Israeli communities," the advice reads.

The US has remained on a heightened threat level since the Trump-led strikes on Iran in June last year and Homeland Security warned that the risk of violent extremism on home soil would only increase if Iranian leadership called for retaliatory attacks.

"The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks," Homeland Security said in a statement in June.

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An airport worker has faced court over claims he performed a Nazi salute to a group of Jewish schoolchildren.

Oscar Diaz Ysuiza, 23, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court today, about a month after federal police charged him over an incident at Melbourne airport.

Australian Federal Police will allege the Greenvale man performed a Nazi salute, which was directed towards a group of Jewish school-aged children, inside the airport terminal on February 2.

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Ysuiza allegedly left the airport shortly after and the incident was reported to the AFP.

AFP members reviewed CCTV and interviewed witnesses to identify Ysuiza, before visiting him at a Greenvale home, in Melbourne's north, later that day.

Police identified he was an airport employee and found that he held an Aviation Security Identification Card, AFP said.

Ysuiza was charged on summons with one count of making a Nazi gesture in a public place in circumstances where doing so is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Ysuiza sat behind his legal aid lawyer as upcoming court dates were set, and left the court to awaiting media where he covered his face with a cap.

He will return to court on May 26 for a committal mention.

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A Ramadan cannon blast at sunset was mistaken for a bomb blast in Dubai, causing some tourists to flee a restaurant in the city.

Video seen on social media at an unnamed hotel restaurant shows several diners getting up from their tables and fleeing in a panic after hearing a loud booming noise.

The city, the second biggest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been targeted by retaliatory strikes from Iran as it respond to attacks from the United States and Israel.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran

Many hotels and landmarks in the city have already been hit, causing residents and tourists to be on a heightened state of alert, which explains the quick reactions of some people seen in the video.

However, there is a more innocent explanation for the loud blast seemingly heard in this video.

The cannon heard is actually marking the start of Iftar, an important time of the day during the month of Ramadan.

During this time, Muslims fast during the day, and are not able to eat or drink until sunset, with the fast-breaking meal called Iftar.

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In Muslim-majority countries, this time is marked by a cannon blast, which is what occurred in the video.

There was no actual explosion or damage at the hotel seen in the video, though the city still remains under threat of bombardment from Iran.

However, there are signs tensions could be easing. Global airline Emirates, which has its base at Dubai International Airport, reported they would slowly resume flights after grounding all of their planes when Dubai was hit by airstrikes.

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Wild theories have emerged as mysterious "glowing orange orbs" were seen in the sky across parts of the NSW Hunter region.

Residents north-west of Newcastle, between Singleton, Cessnock and East Maitland, reported seeing the display on Sunday night.

The lights appeared in the sky one by one and remained there before later disappearing.

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Residents have speculated it could be anything from "aliens" to "government drones".

"Everyone should start packing their bags and run for the hills," one person said on social media. 

"Wonder if this is the real reason they just made that 'Australia wide' siren that will go off on our phones," another said.

"Not sure if I should report it," a third added. 

Some were even worried it may have something to do with the US-Israeli war in Iran. 

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Hunter MP Dan Repacholi has set the record straight and said the lights were part of a "totally normal" military exercise at the Singleton base.

"Look, I hate to disappoint but it wasn't ET popping into the Hunter for a cheeky wine tour," he said.

"What people were seeing were military illumination flares used during nighttime training exercises at the Singleton Base.

"They're dropped from aircraft with a small parachute attached and burn really bright for a few minutes while slowly drifting down.

"Because of the low cloud cover, the light reflects back down and makes them look like glowing orange orbs just hanging there in the sky."

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The Australian Defence Force previously announced it would be conducting ground and air training exercises at the Singleton base between the hours of 8am and 11pm, starting last Wednesday February 25.

The exercises are expected to continue until December 15. 

"Members of the public should not be alarmed if they hear increased activity in the area during these periods," defence said.

"This essential training is vital to maintain Australia's military capability."

The Singleton base, which covers 14,000 hectares, includes the Lone Pine Barracks and the Training Area.

It is a key army training facility where all infantry soldiers undertake their initial training and is one of the country's major live-fire and tactical training ranges.

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The federal government has made it clear that Australia is not involved in the US-Israel strikes on Iran, but that doesn't mean some impacts of the conflict won't be felt here.

Because of Australia's position as an island continent, we are largely shielded from any unrest in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the region is "a long way from Australia" and that we are "not big players in the Middle East" when asked if Washington had requested assistance on ABC's 7.30.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran

Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles also both flatly denied any possibility of Australian troops joining the fray, despite Australia being among the first US allies to express support for the joint strikes.

"No, we're not," Marles told Today, adding that it was "hard to speculate exactly how long this will go".

"We are supporting the US-led action," Marles said.

After the strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowed a swift offensive would follow.

It warned that "the most-intense offensive operation" ever would inflict revenge on Israel and US bases, as missiles triggered terror in Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait.

READ MORE: Trump's past comments on Iran come back to haunt him

However, Australia's terror threat remains unchanged at "probable".

This means there is a greater than 50 per cent chance of an "on-shore attack or attack planning in the next 12 months".

The threat level did not change after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, which killed 15 innocent people and injured dozens of others, and has remained the same since 2022.

In the wake of Khamenei's death, Albanese said Australia would not mourn his passing and said we had "not been immune from the impact of the regime's actions".

"We want to see, when it comes to military action, I think as always, Australia always supports diplomatic action where possible, and we hope that the actions that have been taken lead to a swift resolution," the PM said.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said Iran had played a role in the antisemitic attacks across Sydney and Melbourne over the past few years.

"ASIO found… the Revolutionary Guard was involved with that, and the civil unrest that we've seen on the streets of our of our city," Littleproud told Today.

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Australians travelling or living abroad have felt the greatest effects of the unrest in the Gulf region, after airspaces around the United Arab Amirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait suddenly closed.

Around 115,000 Australians were in the Middle East at the time of the strikes and countless remain stranded days later.

Australians have been urged not to travel to the Middle East as the conflict escalates.

The economic impact of the conflict is expected to hit Australians at the petrol bowser.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander has claimed the Strait of Hormuz is closed, vowing to attack any ship that tries to pass through.

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The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off southern Iran, is the main route for shipping crude oil from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the rest of the world.

Petrol prices are predicted to rise in response and the closure of the Hormuz has sparked fears over Australia's limited reserves.

There have been no Australian casualties or injuries in the conflict.

The UAE air base housing Australian defence personnel was targeted by Iranian retaliatory missiles, however Marles later confirmed that all Australians were "safe".

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The Reserve Bank has cautioned it remains too early to tell what the economic impact of the war in Iran will be, even as surging petrol prices deliver another hit to inflation-weary households.

Speaking at the Australian Financial Review's Business Summit in Sydney this morning, RBA Governor Michele Bullock was characteristically guarded when addressing the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East over the weekend.

She said while a disruption of oil and gas supplies could send Australia's already-high inflation further in the wrong direction, a prolonged conflict could have the opposite effect, albeit while dragging the rest of the economy down with it.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran says it will attack ships on key oil route

"It's too early to say what the economic impact will be," she said.

"Events are moving rapidly and there are different ways this can play out. We will take some time to make sense of what it could mean for inflation here…

"It is not obvious how this might play out."

The most obvious impact for Australians so far has been at the petrol pump.

In NSW, for example, the average price for a litre of unleaded 91 has jumped from 178.7 cents on Friday to 185.5 cents today. 

One servo, according to state government data, is already slugging motorists 256.9 cents a litre.

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This is despite the NRMA saying yesterday that it should take 7-10 days for surging oil prices to flow through to the bowser.

"In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, we are now at the top of the price cycle, and if anything prices should start to come down," spokesperson Peter Khoury said.

While Iran is a significant oil producer, the far greater issue is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, corking a crucial bottleneck where one-fifth of the world's supply passes through.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have now threatened to strike any ships that pass through the critical strategic passage between Iran and Oman, which at its narrowest is just 39km wide.

READ MORE: Trump's past comments on Iran come back to haunt him

Oil prices rose to $US77.60 per barrel yesterday, but analysts have predicted it could hit as high as $US100 – shy of the $US125 reached following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but still well above the roughly $US60 it was selling for at the start of the year.

If that plays out – and with US President Donald Trump talking about a weeks-long operation and refusing to rule out putting troops on the ground, there clearly is a chance of a long, drawn out-conflict – it will be a significant hit to Australian households.

"Roughly speaking each $US1 a barrel rise in oil prices adds around a cent a litre to petrol prices," AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said. 

"So, a $US40 a barrel rise in world oil prices taking them above $US100 a barrel would add around 40 cents a litre with a 7-10 day lag if sustained.

WATCH: Diners flee Dubai restaurant after mistaking Ramadan cannon for bomb blast

"A 40 cents a litre rise in petrol prices would add about 0.8 per cent to CPI inflation, but it would also impart a dampening impact on growth. 

"This is because it would add around $14 a week to the household petrol bill leading to a cut-back in spending elsewhere in the economy. 

"In other words, it will act as a tax on households."

While he argued the RBA should look through that inflation spike, Bullock admitted today her bank might not be able to ignore a temporary shock to the system, with inflation already far too high for anyone's liking.

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"That's a very relevant point," she said.

"With a supply shock occurring in a situation where we already have high inflation, I think there is a risk that inflation expectations may start to move.

"That will be something, I think, that will be front of mind for the (monetary policy) board."

That, in turn, could raise the chance of an interest rate hike, which many economists already think is highly likely in May.

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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.