Police have confirmed 13people have been killed and several others injured after a gunman opened fire at a municipal building in Virginia Beach in the United States.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to discuss Australia's role as a member of the 'Pacific family' on a visit to the Solomon Islands over the weekend.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie claims overcrowding and excessive lockdowns at Tasmanian prisons in 2018 is due to a failure to meet staff-to-prisoner ratios.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is being urged to work with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to pass religious freedom legislation when parliament resumes next month.
US President Donald Trump has said he will place a tariff on all imported goods from Mexico until the neighbouring nation to the US does more to combat illegal immigration.