A conviction might make it more difficult to attend pharmacist conferences, he said.

Experts have once again cast serious doubt on the viability of nuclear energy in Australia, with a new CSIRO report finding it would likely be more than twice as expensive than using renewables.

The latest version of the GenCost report, published this morning, concluded a mix of solar and wind power with firming is the cheapest form of energy production, and will remain so well into the future.

It found nuclear presents "no unique cost advantage over other technologies".

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"Similar cost savings can be achieved with shorter-lived technologies, including renewables, even when accounting for the need to build them twice," CSIRO chief energy economist and report lead author Paul Graham said.

"The lack of an economic advantage is due to the substantial nuclear re-investment costs required to achieve long operational life."

The report found renewables with firming produced power at a cost of $98-$150 per megawatt-hour (MWh) this year, and is set to drop to between $67-$137 in 2030.

Large-scale nuclear generation has a cost, on the other hand, of between $155-$252, which is set to only drop to $150-$245, while the respective figures for nuclear small modular reactors are more expensive again at $400-$663 and $285-$487.

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The findings come as the federal opposition prepares to release the long-awaited costings for its proposal to build seven nuclear power plants.

Asked about the report, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton didn't answer whether his party's plan would push up power prices, instead questioning the methodology used by the CSIRO.

"The assumptions and the methodology have been disputed before… they were disputed before, and do you know what? They haven't even seen our plan yet, and yet they're out bagging it," he said.

The national science agency has changed its methodology used to assess nuclear power costs, to the point it gives the technology "extremely generous" assumptions, emeritus professor Ian Lowe said.

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"The study confirms the view of the electricity industry that solar and wind with storage are much cheaper than any nuclear power station would generate, even with extremely generous assumptions about the costs and operating life of nuclear reactors," he said.

Western Sydney University's Dr Thomas Longden said there are a number of issues facing nuclear power.

"For nuclear to achieve the lowest levelized cost of electricity, it needs to be built big and operate all the time and for a long time," he said.

"Yet, the bigger it gets; the more upfront cost needs to be paid. And if it isn't used as often or as long as expected, then it gets more costly.

"The true cost of nuclear will be revealed over a long time and is subject to construction costs, plus there's also the issue of operational, fuel, and waste costs, which will be higher for nuclear."

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Energy expert Ken Baldwin noted the report showed the cost of solar and battery storage has significantly decreased, while wind, coal and particularly gas have increased.

"Solar and wind remain the cheapest form of electricity generation, even when taking into account the additional cost of firming with storage, and the additional transmission costs," he said.

"This cost advantage over nuclear is projected to widen over the coming decades – especially by the earliest date that nuclear could foreseeably be expected to operate in Australia in the late 2030s, given the projected lead time of around 15 years."

Dutton promised to unveil the Coalition's nuclear costings later this week.

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A firebombing attack that significantly damaged a Melbourne synagogue has been described as "one of the most evil acts" ever seen.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan made the remarks during a press conference today, where the Australian Federal Police confirmed the fire was being treated "terrorist attack".

The Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea in Melbourne's south-east was left gutted after a suspicious blaze on Friday morning, leaving the Jewish community in deep shock.

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AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed the investigation had transitioned into a counter-terrorism investigation.

"This is now a terrorism investigation led by the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team, which includes Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO joint counter-terrorism teams include the best terrorism investigators in the country, and a Joint Counter Terrorism Team investigation unlocks more powers, more capability and more intelligence," Barrett said.

The declaration will give police extra powers including the ability to stop, search and seize people without a warrant.

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Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said officers were pursuing three suspects in the case.

"The intelligence that has been gained from that joint management committee meeting has recommended that their belief is that this is likely a terrorist incident that has occurred," Patton said.

Dozens of additional police will patrol places of worship and surrounding streets across the city's south-east following the fire.

Patton also confirmed that a bullet found outside the synagogue had nothing to do with the attack.

Police said last week that two masked intruders were seen spreading accelerant around the building before the fire.

The witness left and police were alerted. Soon after the building was engulfed in flames.

'One of the most evil acts'

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said her thoughts were with the Jewish community throughout the investigation, describing the fire as "one of the most evil acts we've seen".

"This has been an awful, evil, antisemitic, and now we know, confirmed as a terrorist attack," she said during a joint press conference.

"We must remember and continue to hold the community, who is grieving, who suffering, in our hearts and give them all of our support.

"This has to come to an end. We cannot let this conflict overseas continue to be a cloak for behaviour like that."

Speaking on Friday, Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, the head of a modern Orthodox congregation in Hawthorn, referred to the attack as a "pure hate crime".

"The way this is looking right now this is pure antisemitism. People coming in the wee hours of the morning to a synagogue, breaking windows, throwing fuel on the floors and setting it alight while people are there sitting and learning."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dash cam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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But National and Labour are down.

The year is racing to a close, so it's time to get prepared for your Christmas shopping and party planning.

Shopping centres and retailers have all nominated their own special opening hours for the coming days.

From supermarkets to retailers, here is who is open – and isn't – on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's.

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Coles

Generally, all Coles stores will be closed on Christmas Day and open on other days, with specific hours depending on the individual store. Coles stores are all going to be open on Christmas Eve.

Here is the state and territory breakdown for Coles:

Christmas Eve

All Coles stores will be open on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day (December 25)

All Coles stores closed in all states and territories.

Boxing Day (December 26)

All Coles stores except those in SA will be open.

In SA all metropolitan stores are closed and all regional stores are open.

New Year's Day (January 1)

All Coles stores will be open in all states and territories except for SA.

In SA all metropolitan stores are closed and all regional stores are open.

In WA, Coles Tom Price will be closed, but all other stores will be open.

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Woolworths

Generally, Woolworths stores will be closed on Christmas Day, but all stores around the country will be open Christmas Eve.

Most stores will be open on Boxing Day and through to January 2 – but exceptions do apply so customers are urged to check their individual store's hours.

Christmas Day (December 25)

All Woolworths stores will be closed in all states and territories

Boxing Day (December 26)

All Woolworths stores will be open in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, NT, ACT and Tasmania.

In SA all metropolitan stores will be closed and all regional stores will be open (except Millicent).

New Year's Day (January 1)

All Woolworths stores will be open in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, NT, ACT and Tasmania.

In WA all stores will be open except Northam.

In SA all metropolitan stores will be closed and all regional stores will be open (except Millicent).

Kmart

You can search for your local Kmart's trading hours here. All stores are closed on Christmas Day.

Big W

Over this holiday season, Big W stores will only be closed on Christmas Day.

Potential shoppers were advised to check their local store for exact opening hours.

Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market, and Vintage Cellars

Generally, all stores will be open for the holiday period, but closed on Christmas Day. In some states, stores will be closed on New Year's Day.

Christmas Day (December 25)

All the bottle shops under these brands will be closed on Christmas Day. Except for a tiny handful of stores in Tasmania and Victoria.

Boxing Day (December 26)

All stores nationwide will reopen on Boxing Day. Except for stores in Alice Springs, and in Queensland, Red Hill and Milton Village will stay closed. A handful of stores in Western Australia will stay closed.

New Year's Eve (December 31)

All stores will be open but shoppers should check online for the hours of their local store.

New Year's Day (January 1)

All stores will be open except some stores in Western Australia.

BWS and Dan Murphy's

Bottle shops under these brands will be open as normal on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day (December 25)

Almost every store will be closed, except for some select stores in Victoria and Tasmania.

Boxing Day (December 26)
BWS and Dan Murphy's will reopen on Boxing day.

New Year's Eve (December 31)
Dan Murphys will be open until 9pm nationwide, BWS will be open under normal hours.

New Year's Day (January 1)

All stores will be open under slightly reduced hours.

Westfield

Westfield shopping centres will be closed on Christmas Day. For the rest of the holiday period, they will mostly be open with varying trading hours.

Christmas Eve (December 24)

Most Westfield centres will be open until 5pm or 6pm the night before Christmas.=

Christmas Day (December 25)

All stores will be closed.

Boxing Day (December 26)

Across the Public Holidays stores will be open again. Some will be open until 9pm.

New Year's Eve (December 31)

Opening hours are specific to each store, check your local store's trading hours.

New Year's Day (January 1)

In NSW, except for Warringah Mall all centres will be closed. Centres will be closed in the ACT and South Australia. In the other states, stores will be open with reduced hours.

Aldi

The European supermarket will be closed on Christmas Day in all states and territories.

Hours will vary across Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year's Day so Aldi is encouraging all customers to check their website for local trading hours.

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A clever sniffer dog on the NSW mid-north coast has helped identify a new type of koala sub-species which aren't riddled with chlamydia.

Large swathes of the Australian marsupials are famously infected with the sexually transmitted disease (STD) and it's one of the leading causes of koala population decline.

Finding a group of chlamydia-free koalas is rare. However, Max the English springer spaniel struck gold in Coffs Harbour.

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WWF Australia revealed Max, who is trained to sniff out koala excretement, identified a population of 10 koalas on properties in Fernbrook and around the Dorrigo Plateau which appear genetically different to other koalas.

Tests on the poo revealed the koalas found in Fernbrook are also chlamydia-free.

"For a koala researcher this is such an exciting result," Lynn Baker from Canines for Wildlife said.

"We knew the koalas at Fernbrook looked different. They are a lot furrier and darker in colour than their compatriots on the coast. They look like cold weather koalas."

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Baker added: "But if this is a genetically different and chlamydia-free group then it's important that they are protected. 

"There are not many areas left in NSW that have distinct groups of chlamydia-free koalas."

Baker said the team is trying to figure out if there are more chlamydia-free koalas roaming the wild which may be connected to the group in Fernbrook.

The results have also highlighted the importance of reducing logging in state forests to protect the unique Australian marsupials.

A wider survey of koalas in the mid-north coast region found there is a generally healthy population with genetic diversity and low levels of chlamydia.

In NSW, infection rates can be as high as 100 per cent.

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WWF-Australia warns these koalas are in danger if their habitat continues to be logged.

"These surveys provide a picture of a robust, genetically healthy koala population, but that will change very quickly if we allow logging to knock down food trees and sever vital habitat corridors," said WWF conservation scientist Dr Stuart Blanch.

"The NSW Government should halt logging within the proposed national park and engage in sector wide transition planning towards sustainable timber plantations."

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Hamilton teen’s initial prison term was reduced by 60 months due to a range of factors.