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By Kirsty Needham, Reuters A bonus scheme introduced last year will be extended until 2028 and expanded through the middle ranks, offering A$40,000 to defence force members who stay. Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP Australia will spend A$600 million (NZ$672m) on defence reserve recruitment and extending a cash bonus to retain troops as the centre-left Albanese government seeks to overcome workforce shortages, officials are expected to announce on Tuesday. A review of Australia's defence force last year identified severe workforce pressures as a priority issue, even as the government lifts its defence budget to a record A$51.5 billion annually, revamping its northern military bases and acquiring long range strike capabilities. A defence workforce plan expected to be released on Tuesday cites ...

By Alysia Thomas-Sam and Mike Lorigan, ABC 3D-printed guns come in an array of colours and can resemble children's toys. Photo: ABC News: Michael Nudl The lethal FGC-9 semi-automatic weapon can fire up to 30 rounds without needing to be reloaded and is the most popular 3D-printed gun in Australia, based on seizures in every state and territory over the past 12 months. Police say the gun, branded under the name ''F*** Gun Control", is increasingly being found in the hands of organised crime groups, extremists and teenagers around the world. These guns are deadly and far more advanced than the homemade wood and metal piece that was in 2022 used to kill former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. At the Australian Federal Police forensics headquarters in Canberra, the ballistics team man...

Elizabeth Hurley and Damian Hurley pose for a photo during 2024 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 05, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Sam Tabone/Getty Images As two New Zealanders vie for the best dressed and best suited titles at Melbourne Cup 2024 Fashions on the Field event, check out some of the amazing looks rolling in as the gates open for racing. Going strong for 62 years and considered one of the highlights, Fashions on the Field includes contests over several days at Flemington Course, where the pool prize offered is more than $A370,000 ($NZ408,000). Even without a competition though, attendees and members at the Melbourne Cup racing itself are known to make an effort to dress up - making a statement with bright coloured outfits and eye-catching head p...

Britain's Prince William listens to a group of young people at the Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme in Cape Town. Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP Britain's Prince William landed in Cape Town for a four-day trip to South Africa centred on his annual Earthshot Prize for environmental innovators. The heir to the British throne will attend a global wildlife summit and meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the trip, which is his first to South Africa since 2010. On Wednesday he will participate in the awards ceremony for the Earthshot Prize, which gives five winners 1 million pounds (NZ$2.2 million) each to pursue projects addressing climate change and other environmental issues. William launched the prize in 2020, inspired by a visit to Namibia. Its name is a ...

By Laura Walters of Issues like abortion are becoming increasingly important for women this election. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP Analysis - "They're both wrong," the 80-year-old Arizonan says. But Kamala Harris will probably win because she's been strong on a woman's right to access abortions, she says. The mother, who doesn't want to be identified "because I'll probably be too honest", believes Harris is bad for the economy, for job creation, for businesses, and for the country's fuel security. But there's something she cares about more: a woman's right to make choices about her own body. "You can try to put your thoughts in my head, but stay the hell out of my pants." Listening-in is a young mother, with two young children underfoot. "I've always liked Trump,"...