Today is the second day of the first phase of the inquest.

Wind gusts of up to 120km/h are expected to batter the Canterbury High Country.

Rebecca Smith has lived in a campervan with her cousin and three dogs since March.

Communications Minister Anika Wells is set for face-to-face meetings with the heads of the three big Aussie telcos after major triple zero outages in the last month.

Optus suffered a serious outage in their emergency network system across four states, which led to the deaths of three people, whilst Telstra also suffered smaller outages.

On Sunday, Wells asked the CEO of Optus Stephen Rue, Telstra CEO Vicki Brady and TPG Telecom – the owner of Vodafone – CEO Inaki Berroeta for a meeting when parliament convenes tomorrow in Canberra for assurances the crucial emergency system will not let down Australians ahead of the bushfire and cyclone seasons.

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Wells said she was seeking accountability from the providers and to ensure their responsibilities and expectations are clear.

"Literally, I will be laying down the law", Wells said in an interview with ABC.

"Australians must be able to rely on our triple zero system, and Telcos must do better to give confidence back to Australians after the catastrophic failure on the part of Optus several weeks ago.

"It is a good time for everybody to get together and make sure our expectations are clear and to prepare for natural disaster season ahead."

Wells has already met with Optus executives last week to discuss the network's catastrophic triple zero outage.

The Australian Financial Review said letters to each of the company chiefs asserted the telcos needed to do more to prevent significant outages and failures.

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"On November 1, new rules mean carriers must share real-time network information detailing outages with relevant emergency services organisations and other appropriate entities including the Australian Communications and Media Authority," Wells wrote.

Wells, who only assumed her position as Communications Minister after the recent Federal election, insisted faster implementation of previous recommendations was not a significant factor in the critical outage, claiming the blame has to lie at the door of Optus.

"This is a catastrophic failure on the part of Optus," she said.

"They have spoken themselves to some of the things they have identified about what went wrong in their organisation a couple of weeks ago and it is my job to hold them to account to make sure they face serious consequences on the part of Australian taxpayers."

Wells is also set to announce a new triple zero watchdog in parliament this week, which will increase government oversight of the emergency system around the country.

The Australian Financial Review said letters to each of the company chiefs outlined the powers this new custodian would have.

"On November 1, new rules mean carriers must share real-time network information detailing outages with relevant emergency services organisations and other appropriate entities including the Australian Communications and Media Authority," Wells wrote.

Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh has criticised Wells for not making the meeting a public one, claiming it is in the public's interest given the serious nature of the recent triple zero outages.

"The contents of tomorrow's meetings should be made available to the public," she said. "It is up to the Minister to explain to Australians what she is doing to make sure confidence is restored in our triple zero network."

"At the very least, the Minister should front the Australian public afterwards and explain what actions she is making the telcos take to ensure the community has a fully functioning triple zero system."

Wells' office has been contacted for comment.

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After a short delay and much speculation, Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a formal alliance, cementing Canberra's position as the security partner of choice for its closest neighbour, even as China seeks to increase its influence in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape this afternoon put pen to paper on the mutual defence agreement, also known as the Pukpuk Treaty.

The formal alliance, just the third in Australian history and the first in more than 70 years, puts PNG on the same level of partnership as the United States and New Zealand.

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It includes mutual defence obligations, requiring either nation to come to the aid of the other if it is ever attacked, and sets up a pathway for PNG citizens to enlist with the Australian Defence Force.

"I say on behalf of the government and the people of Australia, we consider it a great honour that our nearest neighbour is our newest ally," Albanese said. 

"This treaty contains a mutual defence obligation similar to Australia's ANZUS Treaty, where we declare in the event of an armed attack on either of our countries, we would both act to meet the common danger."

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The treaty, which was proposed by Marape, was slated to be signed last month, only for PNG to be unable to put together a cabinet quorum to approve it amid celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the young nation's independence.

While the agreement comes as China seeks to extend its influence in the Pacific, both leaders insisted the treaty was solely about the relationship between Australia and PNG.

"This treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or any other reason, but out of geography, history and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood," Marape said.

"It is about one bigger fence that secures two houses that has its own yard space. It is in this construct that we're going about in signing this treaty."

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But at the same time, it secures Australia's defence position in its closest neighbour, and Albanese said that, under the treaty, "both of the nations have also agreed not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation".

"Today, we have a cracker of a result," the prime minister added.

The full text of the treaty will be publicly released by the government and must still be ratified by both nations' parliaments.

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Indonesian rescuers searching for missing students after a prayer hall at an Islamic boarding school collapsed last week recovered more than two dozen bodies over the weekend search, bringing the confirmed death toll to 49.

Using jackhammers, circular saws and sometimes their bare hands, rescue teams diligently removed rubble in an attempt to find the 14 students reportedly still missing.

Rescuers found 35 bodies over the weekend alone, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said.

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The structure fell on top of hundreds of students, mostly boys between the ages of 12 and 19, on September 30 at the century-old Al Khoziny school in Sidoarjo on the eastern side of Indonesia’s Java island.

Only one student escaped unscathed, authorities said, while 95 were treated for various injuries and released.

Eight others suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalised on Sunday.

Police said two levels were being added to the two-storey building without a permit, leading to structural failure.

This has triggered widespread anger over illegal construction in Indonesia.

“The construction couldn’t support the load while the concrete was pouring (to build) the third floor because it didn't meet standards and the whole 800 square metres construction collapsed,” Mudji Irmawan, a construction expert from Tenth November Institute of Technology, said.

Irmawan also said students shouldn't have been allowed inside a building under construction.

Sidoarjo district chief, Subandi, confirmed what the police had announced: the school’s management had not applied for the required permit before starting construction.

“Many buildings, including traditional boarding school extensions, in non-urban areas were built without a permit," Subandi, who goes by a single name, told The Associated Press yesterday.

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Indonesia's 2002 Building Construction code states that permits have to be issued by the relevant authorities prior to any construction, or else owners face fines and imprisonment.

If a violation causes death, this can lead to up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 8 billion rupiah (around $732,000).

The school's caretaker is Abdus Salam Mujib, a respected Islamic cleric in East Java. He offered a public apology in a rare appearance a day after the incident.

“This is indeed God’s will, so we must all be patient, and may God replace it with goodness, with something much better. We must be confident that God will reward those affected by this incident with great rewards,” he said.

Criminal investigations involving Muslim clerics remain sensitive in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

There has been no comment from school officials since the collapse.

“We will investigate this case thoroughly,” East Java Police Chief Nanang Avianto said.

“Our investigation also requires guidance from a team of construction experts to determine whether negligence by the school led to the deaths.”

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A Victorian woman who lost her life savings after her accountant gambled the money away on online betting is preparing to take legal action against Sportsbet.

Kym Cavigan, 53, first learned her $820,000 had been stolen by Andrew Marshall to fund his secret online gambling addiction in 2023.

Marshall arrived on Cavigan's doorstep and tearfully admitted to dipping into client accounts – including hers – to pay for his Sportsbet wagers, The Age reports.

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The 45-year-old self-reported to the police before telling Cavigan at her home in the Macedon Ranges in central Victoria.

He is alleged to have moved the money between two bank accounts before it was transferred to Sportsbet.

Marshall has been charged with stealing funds of almost $4.2 million.

He has pleaded guilty and will appear in court again in November.

The mother-of-two claims Sportsbet had a duty of care to stop proceeds of crime flowing into their online betting accounts.

"It's not their money, and they should have known that the money they are profiting from was stolen from us," Cavigan told The Age.

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Cavigan plans to sue the betting giant for compensation.

Marshall has helped Cavigan in her potential legal fight by providing bank statements, texts and documentation.

A spokesperson for Sportsbet Australia told 9news.com.au the company does not comment on individual customers.

"We adhere to our regulatory obligations and are committed to continually evolving our systems and processes to support safer gambling and mitigate financial crime," the spokesperson said.

There are many different ways to get help and information about gambling. You can visit the National Gambling Helpline or call on 1800 858 858.

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Wage theft has more than doubled in Australia in the past five years, according to a new analysis of data from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Software company Reckon published the report, which also detailed the worst sectors for wage theft.

Overall, in the financial years from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024, more than 16,700 investigations into wage theft were completed, with 9401 businesses (56 per cent) found to be non-compliant.

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More than $1.76 billion was repaid to workers in that time, with penalties increasing sharply.

During the past five financial years, the public administration and safety sector recorded the highest rate of wage non-compliance in Australia, with 932.3 non-compliant businesses per 100,000.

This led to more than $270,000 being repaid to workers within the sector.

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The accommodation and food services industry ranked second, but surpassed the public administration and safety sector in both number of requests for assistance, or RFAs (11,369 to 1390) and number of non-compliant businesses (2553 to 163).

"Our research reveals that wage theft continues to be a significant issue across Australia, with over 16,700 investigations completed and more than 9400 businesses found non-compliant over the past five financial years," Reckon chief executive Sam Allert said.

"The scope of this issue is highlighted by the $1.76 billion that was repaid to workers, emphasising the far-reaching consequences for businesses that fail to comply."

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The other industries that landed in the top 10 worst wage theft offenders – judged by how many businesses per 100,000 Reckon found to be non-compliant – included administrative and support services (281.8); other services (221.2); retail trade (199.6); electricity, gas, water, and waste services (199.3); transport, postal, and warehousing (198.2); arts and recreation services (195.5); manufacturing (179.8); and mining (177.8).

Mining was at the top spot in terms of the average amount of money recovered per non-compliant business, at more than $4.5 million.

That was followed by the utilities service sector at more than $2.5 million.

The report also found wage theft levels differed state to state, with the Northern Territory the worst offender in relative terms, followed by Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, the ACT, Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

The data also appeared to show most wage theft inquiries were initiated by employees rather than self-reported by employers – though an RFA is not a per se indicator of any discrepancy in remuneration.

"Businesses can protect themselves by regularly reviewing payroll systems, staying informed about industry-specific regulations, and promptly addressing any discrepancies," Allert said.

"By implementing robust compliance frameworks, investing in ongoing training, and utilising technology, businesses can not only avoid the costly consequences of non-compliance but also build a strong level of trust with their employees, ensuring a fairer and more sustainable work environment."

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WA Police have confirmed an operation to seize hundreds of guns from so-called sovereign citizens was conducted because of a fatal police shooting in Victoria in late August.

Authorities confirmed a state-wide operation concluded on Friday that saw search warrants conducted at 70 addresses of people aligned with the sovereign citizen movement.

It comes after two police officers in Victoria were shot and killed, allegedly by Dezi Freeman, a self-confessed sovereign citizen. He is still on the run in country Victoria.

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Sovereign citizen is a term for people who hold extreme anti-government views, who believe laws and regulations don't apply to them.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said despite their beliefs, sovereign citizens were not above the law.

"The recent murder of two serving police officers in country Victoria was allegedly committed by a sovereign citizen," he said.

"Following this tragedy, I instructed my officers to conduct a review and risk assessment of those individuals in Western Australia who are licensed firearm holders and whose beliefs align with sovereign citizen ideology.

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"Individuals whose beliefs align with so-called sovereign citizen ideologies do not believe the laws passed by elected members of parliament should apply to them."

Police say they found 135 firearms, and cancelled or suspended 44 firearms licences in the operation.

Police Minister Reece Whitby was fully supportive of the measures and the operation.

"No one is above the law, and that includes anyone who declares they are a sovereign citizen," he said.

"[They] oppose the laws that are the cornerstone of a free and democratic community, which has the potential to threaten public safety."

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Police were alerted to the incident at about 6.25pm this evening.