Australia news live: St Kilda may lose hundreds of little penguins to bird flu; corruption inquiry told of $50,000 branch stacking scheme

Follow today’s news live.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMurray Watt, the federal environment minister, was asked earlier about former rugby league star Luke Bateman’s testimony before a parliamentary inquiry on gambling reform.Bateman alleged betting company promoters supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, also alleging he attended private Gold Coast events hosted by gambling firms where senior figures took illegal drugs with clients.We all feel for him and the circumstances that he went through. And for anyone to be offering illegal drugs as an inducement or for any other reason is obviously a crime. Should not be committed and people should pay a price if they’re engaging in that kind of criminal behavior. Continue reading...