Facebook's quasi-independent oversight board will take longer than expected to decide on whether or not the suspension of former president Donald Trump should be upheld.

The board said on Friday it needed more time to go through the deluge of public comments.

The social media giant had asked the board to make a final ruling on whether it was justified in indefinitely suspending Mr Trump from its platforms after he incited supporters to storm the US Capitol in January.

READ MORE: Bitche fight as Facebook removes French town's official page

The panel's initial 90-day deadline to come up with a decision was days away.

"We extended the public comments deadline for this case, receiving 9,000+ responses," it said in a Twitter post.

"The Board's commitment to carefully reviewing all comments has extended the case timeline, in line with the Board's bylaws. We will share more information soon."

The board said its decision would be announced "in the coming weeks," without being more specific.

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Facebook set up the oversight panel to act as the ultimate referee on content decisions, amid furious criticism about its inability to respond to a tide of misinformation, hate speech and other harmful content.

The board is empowered to make binding rulings on issues such as whether posts or ads violate the company's rules.

The social media giant regularly takes down thousands of posts and accounts.

Since it was launched in October, the board has received some 300,000 appeals from users over content decisions but it's prioritising cases that have the potential to affect many users around the world.

It has overturned decisions in five of the seven cases it has ruled on so far.

Andrew Peacock, a former leader and stalwart of the Australian Liberal Party has died in the US, aged 82.

His daughter Ann Peacock confirmed the news on Friday night in a statement, revealing her dad passed away peacefully "at home in Austin, Texas with his wife Penne by his side".

"The profoundly loved Australian who gave all to his country, will be sadly missed," Ms Peacock said.

There will be a service for family and friends in Austin, with an Australian memorial service to be announced later.

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Ms Peacock, one of Mr Peacock's three daughters, also shared a series of emotional posts on social media.

"To my beautiful loving most caring thoughtful generous and brilliant father, you will be so greatly missed, your guidance and deep love for us will live in my heart, we are absolutely devastated," Ms Peacock captioned a photo of her and her father, who was born in Melbourne in 1939.

"Daddy, love you more than the world, please continue to look after us all. You will live within us forever and ever."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison remembered the former federal MP as "a great Australian and a treasure of the Liberal Party".

He credited Mr Peacock with helping "shape Australia and the Liberal Party over three decades".

Across his 28-year career in politics, Mr Peacock held multiple portfolios in government including Army, External Territories, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Industrial Relations and Industry and Commerce.

Mr Peacock served as Opposition Leader twice, from 1983-1985 and again from 1989-1990, leading the Liberal Party to the 1984 and 1990 elections.

After his time in Parliament ended in 1994, Mr Peacock served as Australia's Ambassador to the United States, based in Washington.

"He had a long career in the Parliament, entering it at the age of 27," Mr Morrison said.

"He followed Sir Robert Menzies as Member for Kooyong. These were big shoes to fill, but he was not daunted and filled them in his own way.

"Andrew was known as the 'colt from Kooyong', a term which did not do justice to his thoroughness, intellect and capacity to make friends far and wide."

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, the current Member for Kooyong, also released a statement on Friday night, saying "Australia has lost one of its political greats".

"Combining style and substance, he left an indelible mark on the Australian political scene," Mr Frydenberg said.

The Treasurer and deputy Liberal leader said "there was no more popular and respected Liberal in the Victorian Division."

"Andrew was authentic, tough and possessed a dry sense of humour," he said.

"He will be remembered fondly by those on both sides of the political aisle as he played his politics as he pursued life, with vigour, dignity and the utmost decency.

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"I will be forever grateful to him for his generous friendship, advice and support, and feel so proud to be part of his wonderful legacy in Kooyong where he was an exceptionally popular local member."

The Prime Minister also touched on Mr Peacock's life outside of the political sphere.

"Andrew had a rich life outside politics," Morrison said. "He had a lifelong love of horse racing and the Essendon Football Club. His love of his daughters was a mainstay of his life. In later life, his wider family also brought him immense happiness.

"To his wife Penne and his family, Jenny and I extend the sympathies of the Government and the Liberal Party."

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In a second post, Ms Peacock wrote: "Stunning most beautiful photo of the love of my brilliant loving father's life, his wife, Penne Peacock. RIP daddy xxxxx."

He and Penne had been married almost 20 years, after tying the knot in 2002.

Mr Peacock was previously married to Susan Renouf — with whom he shares three children Ann Peacock, Caroline Peacock, Jane Fiona Chapple Hyam — from 1963 to 1978.

He was also married to Margaret Ingram from 1983 to 1995.

Witnesses are counting themselves lucky no-one was badly injured when a car smashed through the front of a restaurant in Sydney's Sutherland Shire.

The owner of the neighbouring pizza shop said he thought there were about 30 people, including a group of older people, eating at the Ding Hao Chinese Restaurant when the car went through the window about 7.30pm on Friday.

"Mate I was in there making pizzas and all of a sudden I just heard this bang crash and it was like 'what the hell was that?'" Pizza League owner Vince Talotta told 9News.

READ MORE: Man refused bail after nine hour Sydney siege

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"Next thing I see everybody running. Everybody in the restaurant just ran outside

"Never seen anything like it. Not here."

There were reports the driver, an older woman, was taken to hospital but neither police nor paramedics were able to provide details of any injuries.

Mr Talotta said it appeared the driver had confused the accelerator and the brake, smashing through the shopfront and missing a table by "that much".

He said the lady and some of the older patrons in the restaurant were "pretty shaken up" but it was lucky no-one had been walking past at the time.

"It was just so loud eh. I just seen materials, like glass and stuff fly across our shop and I'm thinking 'what the hell's just happened there?'".

The death of a 48-year-old woman who developed rare blood clots days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine is "likely" linked to the jab, Australia's medicines regulator has found.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration also clarified the timing of the woman's vaccination, saying it took place on the morning of April 8, before the government later that day recommended Pfizer be preferred for Australians under 50.

"The TGA's Vaccine Safety Investigation Group (VSIG) met late today and concluded that a recently reported case of thrombosis (blood clots in the arteries and veins) with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) is likely to be linked to vaccination," it said, in a statement issued on Friday night.

READ MORE: National cabinet meetings ramped up to get troubled vaccine rollout 'back on track'

"VSIG reviewed a report about a 48-year-old woman who was vaccinated in New South Wales and admitted to hospital with an extensive thromboembolic event and thrombocytopenia (TTS) four days after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.

The woman developed "extensive" blood clotting four days after receiving the vaccine before dying in hospital.

The TGA said VSIG's review was complicated by the "patient's underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, some other medical conditions as well as some atypical features".

9News can confirm the woman was not a frontline health worker, but her medical issues put her in the 1B rollout category.

The group made the call despite some differences to what had been seen in previous cases of the rare clotting disorder, including the absence of specific antibodies found in most other examples.

READ MORE: Australians are more likely to win the lottery than suffer vaccine clotting, TGA chief claims

"Despite the atypical clinical features and the negative antibody test, in the absence of an alternative cause for the clinical syndrome, VSIG believed that a causative link to vaccination should be assumed at this time," the TGA said.

Some lab results are still pending so the regulator will review the decision if those results or an autopsy point to a different cause of the clots.

The woman, who died in John Hunter Hospital on Thursday, was the third Australian to develop the specific type of clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Given at least 885,000 doses of the jab have been administered in Australia, that puts the local frequency at one in 295,000, roughly in line with the one in 250,000 figure reported by British authorities.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the clots were fatal in about a quarter of patients

The TGA says the rare clotting disorder, referred to as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), is not linked to more common types of blood clots, which affect about 50 Australians a day, separate to vaccination.

The regulator said common side effects, such as fever, sore muscles, tiredness and headaches, which usually begin within 24 hours of receiving the jab and lasted a day or two, are not of concern "unless severe or persistent".

Reports of the rare clotting disorder have been received between four and 20 days after immunisation, and have usually been severe enough to require hospitalisation.

"Consumers should seek immediate medical attention if, a few days after vaccination, they develop symptoms such as a severe or persistent headache or blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain unusual skin bruising and/or pinpoint round spots beyond the site of injection," the TGA said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday morning offered her sympathies to the woman's family.

"We just extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time," she told Today.

Ms Berejiklian said she believed the "vast majority" of citizens wanted to get a vaccine, despite the highly-publicised incidences of rare adverse reactions.

"It is important for us to be really well-advised," she said.

"If anyone has concerns, you should ask your GP."

The number of buildings destroyed by Cyclone Seroja has now increased to 32 – 23 of them homes – with more than 800 confirmed damaged from the powerful weekend storm.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Kalbarri, one of the hardest hit communities, during his WA visit today.

The damage inflicted on the small tourist town has now been declared an "insurance catastrophe".

READ MORE: Scott Morrison gets physical at WA mine

Mr Morrison said the Australian response in helping those affected was "truly humbling" and commended those travelling from all over the country to offer assistance.

"We've seen too many disasters in this country over recent years," Mr Morrison said.

"But on each occasion, the Australian spirit and the Australian response is truly humbling.

"My message to the people of Kalbarri today is that Australia is standing with you, as Australia has stood with all of those Australians who have faced such terrible natural disasters."

While a disaster relief fund was originally just available to those affected in the Shire of Northampton, this has now been extended to other areas.

READ MORE: Damage from WA cyclone declared 'insurance catastrophe'

People in Carnamah, Chapman Valley, Greater Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori and Three Springs local government areas can now also access the support package.

Mr Morrison thanked the Australian Defence Force personnel who are in Kalbarri and surrounding areas, helping with the recovery effort.

He also commended the local SES who helped ensure thousands of locals were safely evacuated prior to the storm hitting.

"Some 7000 or so weren't there. People who were in this town before that cyclone hit and the commander of the local SES made sure that people got out. That clearly saved lives," Mr Morrison said.

READ MORE: Thousands still without power after Seroja

"That quick thinking, that experience that was needed in that moment, the work that was done as a community to get people to safety was extraordinary and we are now in the position where the injuries here are minor, substantially, and there has certainly been no loss of life and that is, indeed, a miracle, given what we've seen happen as a result of this terrible cyclone."

Tech giant Google misled some Android mobile users when it came to their personal data.

In a landmark ruling today, the Federal Court found between January 2017 and December 2018 Google was collecting location data from users who tried to turn it off.

The Court ruled when users created a new Google Account when setting up their Pixel phone, it misrepresented the privacy around location services.

READ MORE: How to tell if your smartphone is spying on you

Between 2017 and 2019, 280,00 of these phones were sold in Australia.

Google is accused of giving users the impression that when they turned "location history" off their location data wouldn't be collected.

Consumers were also misled because Google did not inform them that by leaving the "Web & App Activity" setting switched on, Google would continue to collect, store and use their personally identifiable location data.

"This is an important victory for consumers, especially anyone concerned about their privacy online, as the Court's decision sends a strong message to Google and others that big businesses must not mislead their customers," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

"Today's decision is an important step to make sure digital platforms are upfront with consumers about what is happening with their data and what they can do to protect it."

The Court also found that Google's conduct was liable to mislead the public.

"We are extremely pleased with the outcome in this world-first case. Between January 2017 and December 2018, consumers were led to believe that 'Location History' was the only account setting that affected the collection of their personal location data, when that was simply not true," Mr Sims said.

"Companies that collect information must explain their settings clearly and transparently so consumers are not misled. Consumers should not be kept in the dark when it comes to the collection of their personal location data."

A Google spokesperson said the tech giant is looking at its options.

"The court rejected many of the ACCC's broad claims. We disagree with the remaining findings and are currently reviewing our options, including a possible appeal," the spokesperson said.

"We provide robust controls for location data and are always looking to do more – for example we recently introduced auto delete options for Location History, making it even easier to control your data."

A man has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after an incident at a property in the inner city Auckland suburb of Westmere.A police spokeswoman said they were called just before 8pm to an address in Rawene Ave.The man…

Nine of Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy advocates were sentenced to jail terms Friday for organising a march during the 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from Beijing.

Those sentenced include the city’s so-called “father of democracy” Martin Lee as well as pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

They were found guilty earlier this month of organising and participating in a massive protest in August 2019, where an estimated 1.7 million people marched in opposition to a bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial.

The protest was not authorised by the police.

Their convictions and sentencing were the latest blow to the city’s flagging democracy movement, amid an ongoing crackdown by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

Lee, an 82-year-old lawyer and former lawmaker known for his advocacy of human rights and democracy in the city, had his sentence of 11 months in prison suspended after his age was taken into consideration.

Lai, the founder of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily tabloid, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Prior to sentencing, he was remanded in jail on other charges, including collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the city’s affairs — a new crime under a national security law imposed on the city in 2020 by the central government in Beijing.

Lee Cheuk-yan, a pro-democracy activist and former lawmaker known for helping to organise annual candlelight vigils in Hong Kong on the anniversary of the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Lawyers Albert Ho and Margaret Ng both had their 12-month jail sentences suspended. Former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung was sentenced to 18 months, while another former legislator, Cyd Ho, was given a jail sentence of eight months.

Two other former lawmakers, Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung, who previously pleaded guilty were also given jail sentences. Au was sentenced to 10 months in prison, while Leung’s eight-month jail term was suspended.

China's new political view of Hong Kong

Beijing had pledged to allow the city to retain civil liberties not permitted in mainland China for 50 years after the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, but recently has ushered in a series of measures, including a national security legislation and electoral reforms, that many fear are a step closer to making Hong Kong no different from cities on the mainland.

Under the new rules, Hong Kong residents can be held legally liable for any speech opposing China's government and the ruling Communist Part or perceived colluding with hostile foreign political groups or individuals.

Electoral changes mean just 20 out of 90 Legislative Council members will be directly elected and Beijing will retain even tighter control over the body that picks Hong Kong's future chief executives.

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