Historic win results in 10 days paid DV leave for victim-survivors, and what women are talking about tonight.

This post deals with the topic of domestic violence and might be triggering for some readers.

The Fair Work Commission had a major win today.

In a historic move, millions of Aussies employed under modern awards will now be entitled to ten days paid domestic violence leave. Workers will have access to it on a yearly basis at their base rate of pay, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.  

It is hoped that the landmark decision will set a precedent for all industries and workers. So far, 2.66 million workers covered by modern awards will have access to this leave.

The next Federal Government will have to decide whether to extend paid family and domestic violence leave to all workers covered by the National Employment Standards (NES) ensuring the right covers an additional 8.44 million workers.

In a statement, Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil said it was a historic win.

“This is a generational achievement for millions of women who have fought for this against the resistance of Coalition governments,” she noted.

“Already this year 18 women have been killed by their current or previous partner. Access to paid family and domestic violence leave saves lives. No worker should ever have to choose between their income and their safety.”

Labor has said they are committed to providing ten days paid family and domestic violence leave through NES. The ACTU is calling on the Coalition to do the same.

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.

The Men’s Referral Service is also available on 1300 766 491 or via online chat at www.ntv.org.au.

This year’s TV Week Logie Award nominees have been announced. 

They include the one and only Melissa Leong from MasterChef Australia, Karl Stefanovic from Today, Hamish Blake from Lego Masters, Julia Morris from I'm A Celeb, Tom Gleeson from Hard Quiz, Sonia Kruger from Big Brother and Home and Away veteran Ray Meagher (aka Alf Stewart).

It’s been more than three years since the last Logie Awards, which saw comedian Tom Gleeson win the Gold – a win which stunned the industry after his somewhat brutal campaigning. 

So after a long COVID-hiatus, it will be interesting to see who snaps up the award this year. 

Live voting for all the Most Popular awards including the Gold Logie, is open now for five weeks right through until the end of the red carpet telecast on June 19.

Fans can now vote for their favourites from the shortlisted nominees here.

There's seven beloved Aussie stars nominated this year! #LogieAwards #tvweeklogies #thisisqueensland #majoreventsgoldcoast #playgoldcoasthttps://t.co/Y6RRQE5bTL

— TV WEEK (@TVWEEKmag) May 14, 2022

NOMINATIONS REVEALED | Who will win the 2022 GOLD LOGIE AWARD? https://t.co/FPfDTeUT4F

— TV Blackbox (@TV_Blackbox) May 15, 2022

Image: Instagram.

Do you find the news cycle overwhelming? Depressing? Confusing? Boring? Endless? Then you need The Quicky. Mamamia’s daily podcast that gets you up to speed on the top stories.

Listen to tonight’s episode of The Quicky below:

The trial of Guy Sebastian’s former manager has been delayed again after a juror suffering from a severe allergic reaction was rushed to hospital during the lunch break.

It’s not the first health emergency to affect the case.

Less than a week after the case against Titus Emanuel Day commenced, NSW District Court Judge Peter Zahra – who was the judge in the trial – had a suspected stroke and sadly died.

Australian Idol winner and the Crown’s key witness, Sebastian, also tested positive for COVID-19 after beginning his evidence in the case, and recently prosecutor David Morters SC also contracted COVID-19.

Judge Timothy Gartelmann announced on Monday that he would be taking over the trial and was soon handed several notes from different members of the jury raising concerns about future commitments. He said he would deliberate overnight once he had found out the welfare of the jury member who had recently suffered anaphylactic shock.

“I will then make a decision about whether or not it is practical for individual jurors and indeed the trial itself to continue.”

Titus Emanuel Day has pleaded not guilty to 50 charges including fraudulently embezzling money allegedly owed to Sebastian through royalties and performance fees. He also denies 50 alternative counts of larceny or stealing. The Crown alleges that Day – who managed Sebastian via 6 Degrees between 2009 and 2017 – embezzled Sebastian out of almost $900,000 between 2013 and 2020.

But Day's defence barrister Dominic Toomey SC said his client has an answer to every single charge, and the police were perhaps “seduced” by the entertainer's high profile.

The trial is expected to resume before Judge Gartelmann this week.

Judge in fraud trial of Guy Sebastian's former manager dies suddenly https://t.co/B9Xd7FhACe

— ABC News (@abcnews) May 9, 2022

The judge in the case is deliberating over whether it is ‘practical’ for the trial itself to continue. #7NEWS https://t.co/ZRziGg3UR6

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 16, 2022

- With AAP.

This post deals with miscarriage and might be triggering for some readers.

Sadly, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari have announced the loss of their pregnancy, with Britney sharing the news via a statement to her Instagram account.

And nominations for the 2022 TV Week Logie Awards have been revealed, after COVID-19, unfortunately, shut the awards down for the past two years. This year some brand new categories have been added to the mix and the Gold Logie race is already stirring up a new set of controversies.

Plus, the defamation case brought by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard continues this week with more celebrity voices than ever before throwing their support behind Johnny. Chris Rock in particular has made some truly disturbing comments about Amber during his latest show and it's got us thinking that no matter how the trial ends, we already know what's in store for Johnny Depp.

Get the latest episode of The Spill in your ears now!

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24 hour support line on 1300 072 637.

Morning everyone, 

We've officially made to the final week of the election campaign! 

As we countdown to polling day, keep an eye out on our socials for our handy guides on where the Coalition, Labor and the Greens stand on important issues, like this one right here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus)

We'll be dropping them at about 8pm every night to help you weigh up your options.

But for now, let's get you across the biggest news stories you need to know this morning, Monday May 16.

1. Labor slams PM’s first home buyers plan.

Labor has attacked the government's new policy allowing first-home buyers to dip into their superannuation to get into the housing market.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison used the Liberal Party's official election campaign launch yesterday to announce first home buyers will be able to access 40 percent of their superannuation (up to $50,000) to buy a house. 

"The evidence shows that the best thing we can do to help Australians achieve financial security in their retirement is to help them own their own home," said Morrison. 

The Prime Minister has set the stage for a policy battle in the last leg of the campaign, announcing a plan which would allow first home buyers to dip into their super. #9Today pic.twitter.com/hgKuqZ7IQw

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 15, 2022

But Labor housing spokesperson Jason Clare said the policy would drive up prices and hurt young Australians, after the former prime minister and super architect Paul Keating called it a "full-frontal assault" on the system.

"This would be like adding kerosene to a fire. Their super will supercharge the property prices," said Clare, adding, "You shouldn't have to raid your super to buy a home." 

The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees also said the Coalition's plan would drive up house prices and undermine the core purpose of the super system.

2. Calls for COVID-19 refocus after election, as Australia tops world in cases. 

One of the heads of Australia's peak doctor's organisation hopes for governments to turn back to combating COVID-19 once the election "silliness" is over.

Australia currently has the highest per capita infection rate in the world, reporting more than 48,000 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.

About 40 people are dying with the virus per day based off the latest seven-day average, with almost 7800 Australians dying with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Australia led the world in COVID infections this week and the experts say 'it's not over'. ⁦@abcnews⁩ https://t.co/ftDT9XxTUg

— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) May 14, 2022

Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Moy said a mix of fatigue and complacency had seen the virus shunted from the national spotlight.

"I think, past the silliness of this election, we do need to refocus," Dr Moy told the ABC on Sunday.

He also warned the health system is trying to help thousands of Australians suffering from long COVID.

"Which is, I think, something as a community we haven't acknowledged," Dr Moy said.

3. Sweden and Finland make historic NATO plan. 

Finland and Sweden have both decided to apply for membership of NATO, setting aside decades of effective neutrality in light of growing concerns for their own security amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"A new era is beginning," Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said alongside Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Sunday, announcing a step that the two leaders called historic.

"We have had wars with Russia, and we don't want that kind of future for ourselves, for our children, and this is why we're making these decisions today and in the upcoming weeks, so there will never again be a war," the Finnish premier said.

Finland confirmed that it will apply for NATO membership once it gains parliamentary approval, a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/HvO8N4E4og pic.twitter.com/rfcPD5pXfP

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 15, 2022

Sweden later announced its intention to apply for NATO membership in a move that marks a major shift in their position on the defence alliance.

"We are faced with a fundamentally changed security environment in Europe," Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said. "The essential question for us is how best to protect Sweden and the Kremlin has shown that it is prepared to use force to achieve its political goals."

Meanwhile, British military intelligence says Russia may have lost a third of the invasion force it sent into Ukraine as its offensive continues to struggle in the face of stiff resistance.

4. Flood warnings remain in QLD, as residents begin clean up. 

Floodwaters are slowly receding across Queensland as a dangerous weather system passes, but scattered rain is due to continue across the state's southeast.

Between 200mm and 300mm fell across the state over 48 hours into Saturday, with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and State Emergency Service volunteers responding to hundreds of call-outs throughout the recent deluge. 

Flood warnings remain in place with significant flooding in the Mary River, in the upper creeks and tributaries of the lower Brisbane River, and in the Condamine-Balonne River system, among other areas.

The rain has eased but we’re still experiencing the impacts of flooding across the road network today in our Southern Queensland region.

Here's the state-controlled roads which are currently closed below 👇 pic.twitter.com/TRiXYKiFah

— Transport and Main Roads Queensland (@TMRQld) May 15, 2022

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy has warned against complacency as residents begin recovery and clean-up efforts.

"While we're seeing the rain easing ... we still have a number of creeks that are flowing," Chelepy said.

"We have seen the water significantly reduce in Warwick but we know that we've had approximately 26 dwellings impacted to various degrees and about 22 commercial premises and hose clean-ups have already started out there."

Light showers expected hang around during the week before another weather system develops on Friday.

In NSW, rainfall has eased with flood warnings cancelled for the Brunswick, Richmond and Wilsons rivers. However, warnings remain including along the Macquarie and Clarence rivers.

5. US shooter was on authorities' radar, as vigil held for victims. 

A teenager who fatally shot 10 people in a racially fuelled attack at a New York grocery store in a black neighbourhood, had been taken into custody a year ago but was released after roughly a day, authorities say.

The suspect, Payton Gendron, 18, surrendered to police on Saturday at the Buffalo grocery store after what authorities called an act of "racially motivated violent extremism." 

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told reporters that Gendron had been taken into custody and given a mental evaluation over a day and a half last June but was released.

New York State police said they had been called to a high school in Gendron's hometown of Conklin, New York, on June 8, 2021, in response to a 17-year-old student making a threatening statement.

On Sunday, several dozen community members held an emotional vigil for the victims outside the store.

Eleven people struck by gunfire were black and two were white, officials said. 

Shocked Buffalo residents mourn victims of mass US shooting https://t.co/4zOCADHoLn

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 15, 2022

We'll bring you more of the biggest news stories throughout the day.

- With AAP and DPA.

When you move in with a partner, managing finances for household bills and spending money is an important conversation to have.

Where do you stand on joint versus separate finances? Do you have one bank account where all your money goes in and out? Do you keep all of your dollars separate and transfer between one another as and when needed? 

The Quicky speaks to two financial experts to consider what the options are, how they can impact your long term financial situation, and what happens if your relationship breaks down.

If you're separating from a partner, MoneySmart has a checklist to help you organise your finances after a break-up.

Feature Image: Canva.