The defence department has confirmed Australian planes were involved in an air strike in Iraq which killed up to 18 civilians. The ADF says two Super Hornets were involved in an airstrike in Mosul against Islamic State fighters, alongside other coalition aircraft. The incident occurred in June 2017, but the Australian defence force didn't find out about that until early 2018. It says it is not clear whether the civilians were killed as a result of the Australian fighter jets, other aircraft, or attacks on the ground by Islamic State forces.
A Royal commission into the Murray-Darling basin plan has recommended sweeping changes, but some states are already resisting calls to return more water to the environment. The Murray-Darling basin authority rejected the commission's findings that it engaged in mal-administration, state and federal governments say they remain committed to the basin agreement.
A disaster has been declared for the Townsville area after days of heavy rain. Several properties were evacuated after a landslip was triggered next to a unit block. A 32-year old man is missing near Giru, southeast of Townsville — with fears he may have entered floodwaters to return home. All schools and daycare centres in the Townsville district will be closed today.
And firefighters across Tasmania are trying to take advantage of cooler conditions before the fire danger increases again over the weekend. Five emergency warnings remain in place for, Judbury, Geeveston, Glen Huon, Lonnavale and Castle Forbes Bay.