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Parliamentary travel entitlements for spouses under scrutiny, Indigenous deaths in custody reach record high, social media ban for children welcomed by parents, and toll road fees in NSW to be abolished.

Today, over sixty-five thousand Victorian students receive their VCE and Atar results, with Ethan Bundle-Bell, a Gunditjmara and Butchulla man, making history as the first in his family to complete year twelve through a vocational major program. Nearly ten thousand students followed this alternative pathway, with six hundred sixty-four achieving perfect scores. This day marks a significant milestone for many young people in Victoria.

Australias new social media ban for teens under sixteen has begun, but its impact is less dramatic than expected. Fifteen-year-old Amelie found her accounts still active, while fourteen-year-old Arlo believes the ban will fail, as teens will migrate to other platforms. The eSafety Commissioner acknowledges the process will be untidy, with over two hundred thousand TikTok accounts already deactivated. The effectiveness of the ban remains uncertain, as teens find workarounds or remain unaffected.

Australias maritime industry grapples with a series of challenges, including delayed projects and costly mistakes. The strategic shipping fleet tender has been postponed, raising concerns about the nations emergency response capabilities and skill maintenance. The new Spirit of Tasmania ferries face hull modifications due to specification problems, adding to the ongoing saga of the ferry rollout. A safety assessment revealed the need for additional bollards at the interim berth in Geelong, costing two million dollars. Other infrastructure projects, such as the Darwin ship lift and the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, also face operational issues. These challenges impact national security, local tourism, and trade.

On December 11, 2005, Cronulla Beach in Sydney, Australia, witnessed racial violence, known as the Cronulla riots, after inflammatory text messages and media coverage escalated tensions. The event involved thousands, resulting in numerous assaults and arrests. Former photojournalist Andrew Meares described the chaos, while Ahmad Sabra, a Lebanese Australian, shared the impact on his life. Today, Cronulla Beach is more multicultural, but concerns remain about potential future riots and persistent Islamophobia.

Australias maritime resilience plan faces delay, raising concerns about national security and economic stability. The governments pilot program, aimed at boosting Australian-crewed ships, has missed its deadline for announcing the first vessels. Experts warn of potential disruptions to maritime trade, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to strengthen Australias maritime capabilities.

Police in Melbourne uncover human remains in suburban backyard, potentially linked to a toddlers disappearance ten years ago. The discovery was made during a preliminary excavation in Brookfield, with the remains yet to be formally identified. The homeowner expressed shock, as the current residents have no connection to the investigation. The coroner has been notified, and the Missing Persons Squad will lead the ongoing investigation.

Maurie Stack, a prominent figure in New South Wales law, has passed away at seventy-seven. He co-founded Stacks Law Firm, growing it from a small Taree office to fifteen locations across the east coast. Stacks Law Firm, established by his father during the Great Depression, became known for its work with farmers and rural communities. Maurie, a partner from 1971 to 2003 and later chairman of Stacks Law Group, was respected for his advocacy for injured people and his role in the Australian Lawyers Alliance. He served as president of the New South Wales Law Society in 1995. Beyond law, Maurie was deeply involved in his local community, serving as an alderman and Rotarian, and even becoming governor of Rotary District 9650 in 2015. He championed numerous charitable projects, including building a hospital in Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami, earning an Order of Australia in 2001. Maurie Stack is survived by his wife, siblings, children, and eight grandsons. His legacy of community service and legal advocacy will be remembered.

Meta faces scrutiny for running ads for GIM Trading, accused of defrauding investors. Victim Sai Skipworth lost $300,000, causing immense stress. Meta denies claims of insufficient action against scams, stating it removes fraudulent content and collaborates with authorities. ACCC and ASIC express concern, with ASIC securing a court order to prevent GIM director from leaving the country. No charges have been laid, but ASICs work is part of a broader investigation into offshore criminal syndicates defrauding Australians.