The woman is on trial and accused of deliberately making her child sick.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison is among dozens of people being sought by government lawyers as they build a defence against a compensation claim by Brittany Higgins' former boss.

The former Liberal leader was ensnared in Fiona Brown's case after she alleged he made a false statement to parliament after the Higgins rape scandal erupted in 2021.

Brown, a former staffer in Morrison's office, is suing the Commonwealth for damages, saying the government gagged her from responding to accusations about her handling of Higgins' claims.

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She held a leadership role in the then-prime minister's office in February 2021 and was chief of staff to then-senator Linda Reynolds in 2019 when Higgins says a fellow Reynolds staffer raped her in Parliament House.

Her lawsuit returned to the Federal Court today when Justice Nye Perram ordered mediation in late April or early May after the Commonwealth filed its defence.

The federal government's barrister, Matthew Minucci, asked for additional time to prepare the document, saying his client needed to contact the 32 people named in Brown's lawsuit, including Morrison.

Brown's amended statement of claim was filed in late November.

Perram agreed to hold two separate hearings for the matter, first on arguments about the government's liability for the alleged failures and the amount of damages it will have to pay.

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A second hearing on penalties will then be held if the government does not successfully defend the lawsuit.

In a 106-page court filing, Brown alleges she was sidelined from leadership meetings and the then-prime minister refused to talk to her after the scandal broke in early 2021.

The documents then claim Labor later used question time to probe Morrison about claims Brown had not supported Higgins, leading the prime minister to say: "I have had these conversations with the member of staff".

"I have discussed with her those matters and the support provided to her at the time in the messages that were sent to her," he told parliament.

Morrison subsequently spoke briefly with Brown for the first and only time, she claims.

"We've spoken, haven't we?" he allegedly said.

The filing said a "bewildered" Brown responded "yes" and Morrison walked off.

"(Brown) complained that she felt frightened, intimidated and distressed by prime minister Morrison," the filing said.

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The former prime minister has been contacted for comment.

The ex-aide also accuses Morrison and his top-level advisers of stopping her from personally responding to allegedly false allegations made by Higgins.

Higgins' appearance on Network Ten's The Project included identifying Brown by name and accusing her of misconduct for the mishandling of the rape, the documents said.

Brown also claimed that, contradicting Higgins' claim was a text she allegedly sent to Brown, thanking her for her support immediately after the rape.

Suing under the Fair Work Act, Brown alleges the federal government scapegoated and sidelined her, causing her psychological injury to the point she attempted suicide.

In an earlier Federal Court case, Justice Michael Lee found she had shown compassion and integrity in her handling of Higgins' complaint but she had been unfairly "vilified as an unfeeling apparatchik" seeking to cover up a crime.

Lee's finding that, on the balance of probabilities, Bruce Lehrmann raped Higgins was confirmed by the full Federal Court in December.

Lehrmann's criminal trial was derailed due to juror misconduct.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue  1300 22 4636.

A man who strangled his ex-partner in a hotel room made a pathetic attempt to revive her before making a cowardly escape.

Mary Benedito, 25, died in hospital after being violently assaulted by Reo Te Whetu Marama Marsh at a Gold Coast apartment complex on November 27, 2021.

Marsh, 39, faced Brisbane Supreme Court today for sentencing after pleading guilty to murder.

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Benedito had been subject to blunt force assaults and died of a brain injury caused by manual strangulation, Justice Lincoln Crowley heard.

"She had significant bruising to (her) arms, forearms, shoulders and fingers referred to as defensive injuries," crown prosecutor Nathan Crane said.

The couple were separated and had been arguing about Benedito's plan to move to New Zealand and her seeing other men.

"It's no explanation for his conduct," Crane said.

The couple could be seen on CCTV earlier in their holiday on the Gold Coast swimming and shopping.

Marsh fled their hotel room after fatally wounding Benedito and travelled to a suburb in Brisbane while attempting to evade a police search.

"He attempted to run a short distance from his arrest," Crane said.

Crane said Marsh had pleaded guilty to murder on the basis that he assaulted Benedito with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

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Benedito brought warmth, energy and care to any space she entered, her cousin Josiah Benedito-Taotafa said in a victim impact statement.

"She was humorous, totally confident in her values and deeply compassionate," he said.

Benedito's family had faced long hours moving between hope and dread as she lay in intensive care for three days before the decision to turn off life support.

"My family has seen their faith shaken, their health decline and a collective struggle to navigate grief, shock and trauma," Benedito-Taotafa said.

Benedito's sister said she never thought she would have to bury her younger sibling.

"Her greatest achievement was being a mum, and he took that from her," the sister said.

Benedito's aunty Maria, who had helped raise her as a child, said she would always be heartbroken.

"Seeing her black and blue with tubes keeping her alive broke our family into pieces," she said.

Marsh had daily regrets and self-hatred for taking what could not be replaced, he wrote in a letter to Benedito's family.

"The unfairness of my actions are too severe to ask for forgiveness," Marsh said.

Marsh's barrister said his guilty pleas had saved the family the trauma of a trial and he was genuinely remorseful.

Justice Crowley told Marsh he had dragged Benedito back to their hotel room and made a "pathetic" attempt to revive her before his cowardly escape when paramedics arrived.

"You used substantial force to do so. You smothered her at the same time you strangled her," he said.

"All this happened because you became angry … you sought to control her life."

Marsh was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He will be eligible for parole in under 16 years due to time already served in custody.

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

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The US Global Entry program just slammed shut and it could cause major issues for Australian travellers.

Global Entry is a US customs program that which offers some Australians a streamlined, expedited clearance through dedicated lanes at immigration.

It functions like a membership program that allows pre-approved, low-risk Aussie travellers to use special kiosks when entering the US to get through customs quickly.

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Aussies can apply online, then undergo a background check and interview before being approved for a five-year Global Entry membership.

The non-refundable application fee is $US100.

Aussies travelling to the US still need to satisfy visa entry requirements, such as applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Global Entry members then get to skip processing lines and paperwork when entering the US and wait times at customs can be slashed from up to 90 minutes to just 10 minutes.

But the program, which only recently opened to Aussies, has just been closed.

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at our breaking newsletter here

The now-infamous photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving a UK police station last Friday has made it to the top of the art world after it was hung in the Louvre.

A group of activists under the name Everybody Hates Elon posted a video of a man hanging up a framed copy of the photo on an empty Louvre wall.

"They say 'hang it in the Louvre'. So we did," the caption reads.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/DVEQ1y2CLm4/?hl=en

The picture was even accompanied by a title card that read "He's Sweating Now", dated 2026.

The title, which was also a front-page headline for UK tabloid The Sun last week, refers to the former prince's claim in a 2019 interview that it was nearly impossible for him to sweat.

The photo of Mountbatten-Windsor showed him appearing shocked and stunned in the back seat of a car as he left police custody last Friday.

It was snapped by Reuters photographer Phil Noble

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Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested about 12 hours before, on his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

No charges were laid before he was released, but police have searched his current and former residences.

UK legal experts have said it's not unusual for people to be arrested and released without charge, particularly in historical and financial investigations.

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Mountbatten-Windsor, who remains in the line of succession for the British throne, was stripped of his final royal titles, including the right to use the title of "prince", by his brother King Charles late last year, largely over continued revelations of Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Investigators have not confirmed what specific alleged misconduct they are probing, but Mountbatten-Windsor was a trade envoy for the UK from 2001 to 2011.

He has denied all wrongdoing in connection with his relationship with Epstein, including allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein.

The Louvre has not yet publicly addressed the activists' video.

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A retired Queensland couple is proving to everyday Australians that it's possible to live well for less.

Sandra Rielly and her husband Peter keep their expenses to less than $15,000 a year, which covers groceries, bills, petrol, council rates and insurance.

The couple focuses on keeping their costs low to free up more money for travel, dining out on special occasions and home renovations.

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Sandra helps run the popular Facebook group Simple Savers, an online community where more than 240,000 Australians share their money-saving tips.

When Sandra shares the details of the couple's budget, she is often met with curiosity and disbelief.

"A lot of people say they think you're eating the paint off the walls or something, and you're not," Sandra said.

"We all have to pay some things that are non-negotiable.

"I just try my best to keep that stuff low and live the good life."

Over the course of a year, the couple spends $5126 on house expenses, $2656 on phone, internet and home entertainment costs, $3628 on maintenance for two cars, $84 on health costs and $3168 on groceries.

How to spend less at the supermarkets

A simple idea helped Sandra and Peter slash their grocery bill to $60 a week.

Their grocery budget covers food, cleaning products, toilet paper and toiletries.

"I've always been an ingredients-based pantry person," Sandra said.

"One day I said 'I'm going to get $200, I'm going to do the shopping and I'm going to buy every no-name thing that I can find'."

Sandra went to every grocery shop in her area and bought $200 worth of generic-branded pantry staples.

She admits her family had "some funny meals" that fortnight but those ingredients soon gave them options.

"The next fortnight I wrote a list and went shopping to fill the gaps," she said.

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Now when Sandra and Peter go to the supermarket, they aim to live by one golden rule – every item in their trolley must be a generic-branded product or on special.

The couple still buys meat but prefers to limit their consumption to twice a week.

They grow their own fruit and vegetables in their garden, cook in bulk and bake to keep their food costs low.

To eliminate food waste, the couple organises their pantry items by the use-by date and rotates them regularly.

The couple also strives to eat a balanced diet in order to maintain their health.

Peter spent $84 at the chemist last year and the couple's medical appointments were all bulk-billed.

Tree change grows savings

Sandra and Peter relocated from Sydney to regional Australia more than 30 years ago to pursue a more affordable lifestyle.

The couple has since paid off their mortgage and their children have become independent adults.

They manage to keep their housing costs low due to the way their property is set up.

Their home is north-facing which means their solar panels get the sun all day.

Solar electricity and solar hot water has kept their electricity bill to $360 a year.

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The couple also buy energy-efficient appliances to keep their energy usage down.

They use a water tank on their property and live in an area that experiences high rainfall, which means their water bill costs them around $260 each year.

The couple also has a home sewage treatment plant, which is serviced quarterly, allowing them to save on sewage usage charges.

"The rates are cheaper because the only thing we've got is the garbage man that comes to our house," she said.

The couple keeps their gardening costs to a minimum by using permaculture principles and avoiding sprays.

Their petrol costs include fuel for two cars, a lawnmower, a whipper snipper and a chainsaw.

The couple also pays for the internet and yearly plans for two mobile phones which is $350 each.

Home and contents insurance is the couple's largest expense, which works out to be $2964 a year.

A two-year plan

The couple said they were semi-retired in their mid-30s when they moved away from Sydney.

Sandra worked as a data processing operator, while her husband was a butcher by trade on Pitt Street in the city's CBD.

The couple moved to the NSW Central Coast where Peter drove a backhoe during the day and worked as a cleaner at night.

He did this work for three years until the couple started a cleaning business.

Peter cleaned for 10 years and Sandra took care of the bookwork for the business.

The couple made a two-year plan in 1991 to pack up and move to Queensland.

Over the past 32 years, Peter has worked odd jobs so he could learn how to run the couple's property.

Sandra worked at the Hyatt Regency Coolum for six-and-a-half years as a casual.

The couple also decided to sell doughnuts for a while.

The couple bought land in Queensland in 1993 and built their house in 1994.

A community of savvy savers

The Simple Savers community shares money saving tips, support, hints and recipes.

Simple Savers administrator Fiona Lippey said the group started 16 years ago after a retired school principal told the Simple Savings forum she fed herself on $20 a week.

"Everyone said 'what? Tell us how'," Lippey said.

"It was a combination of cooking from scratch and growing food."

The group now runs a challenge for members to feed themselves for $50 a week per person.

For Sandra and Peter, a budget is all about creating freedom.

"Life is not about going without anything," Sandra said.

"It's just about paying the right price for what we want to have."

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.

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The road is currently closed and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

Radical Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir is one step closer to becoming the first group banned under new hate speech laws.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke today said the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had advised the group met the threshold to be outlawed.

"The first stage, on the process of a prohibited group listing happening for Hizb ut-Tahrir is now complete, the ASIO advice is in," he told ABC's Insiders today.

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"This is the first time we've been able to ban, potentially, a group which falls short of a terrorist listing.

"It says you don't have to be specifically calling for violence, but you do have to be acting in a way that increases the risk of communal violence or politically motivated violence."

The attorney-general can sign off on the ban once ASIO has given the all clear and a minister has prepared a brief and the leader of the opposition is advised.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a radical political organisation that aims to establish a global Islamic caliphate, with headquarters in Lebanon and branches across the world.

The United Kingdom listed the group as a terrorist organisation last year after it praised the October 7 attack against Israel and referred to Hamas militants as "heroes".

Hizb ut-Tahrir has also been banned in Germany, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Central Asian and Arab countries.

Last month it vowed not to break up in an open letter.

The federal government's new hate speech and gun laws, devised in response to the Bondi Beach terror attack, passed last month.

The new laws will create powers for authorities to designate certain organisations as "hate groups", allowing members and donors alike to face possible jail time.

It will create new aggravated offences for religious or spiritual leaders who advocate violence, as well as penalise religious leaders who preach hate to children.

The new framework will also give ministers more powers to cancel or refuse visas to those who spread hate or extremist views.

Educators will also come under scrutiny in New South Wales after a change to the code of conduct expands an existing hate speech clause into schools.

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Emergency services were called to the crash about 8pm.

Coastguard was alerted to a yacht run up against rocks at Opito Bay in Northland.