Monday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Gold Coast mum who allegedly left newborn to die on top of washing machine applies for bail.

A Gold Coast mother who has been behind bars since she was arrested on October 31, 2014, charged with the murder of her baby has applied again for bail.

Police allege Jodie Tarnawskyj, 36, wrapped her baby in a towel after its birth and left it lying on a washing machine, unattended, for 17 hours while she went about her life “pottering” about in her home.

Prosecutors said that Tarnawskyj, who has two other children, had told her family and friends she wasn’t pregnant. The former dietitian claims she didn’t know she was pregnant until she went to the toilet and delivered a stillborn baby.

She had allegedly made appointments to legally terminate the fetus at eight months and two months – but had delivered the baby at full term on June 8 in her home.

The mother claimed to ambulance paramedics when she called them 17 hours after the birth that she had miscarried.

Prosecutors say she had researched how to self-terminate a pregnancy reports The Courier Mail.

Lawyers for Tarnawskyj have argued that this was not murder, “at best it’s a case of manslaughter”

But prosecutors allege she knew she was pregnant, the boy was born full-term, and there was evidence he had taken several breaths as air was found in his lungs and bowels.

2. Kevin Rudd “refuses to back Bill Shorten” to newspaper then tweets his response.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has refused to publicly back Bill Shorten reports News Limited.

When asked what Mr Shorten would bring to the table as PM, Mr Rudd ‘s spokewomen said he didn’t comment on Australian domestic politics.

“Mr Rudd’s longstanding policy is to not comment on Australian domestic politics,” a spokeswoman said.

However as News Limited points out only last September he happily did.

“Best wishes to Malcolm Turnbull becoming Australia’s 29th Prime Minister. Huge job with huge challenges. Therese and I wish he and Lucy well,’’ Mr Rudd wrote on September 15.

Early this morning Mr Rudd reacted to the news report writing on Twitter:

3. Police hunt man who sexually assaulted 3-year-old.

Police in WA are hunting for a man who sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl in the eastern Wheatbelt region of WA in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The man allegedly entered the girl’s room, which she shares with her five-year-old brother in a home in the Bruce Rock townsite, around 4am.

He has been described as a tall dark skinned male, with white hair and a white beard and was a brown flannel shirt, long pants and boots.

Anyone who can assist in this investigation is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

4. Catholic Bishops issue statement over same-sex marriage.

The Catholic Clergy have intervened in the federal election, warning Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten not to undermine traditional marriage reports Fairfax Media.

In a 2016 election statement the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said that “political decisions” will damage the institution of marriage and hurt families.

“Marriage and family are at the heart of a healthy social environment” the ACBC states, but “political decisions can end up undermining marriage and providing less and less support for families despite a rhetoric that claims otherwise”.

“The fact is that economic decisions have been less and less favourable to families in recent years; and it may be that political decisions in the future will undermine further the dignity and uniqueness of marriage as a lifelong union of man and woman,” the bishops say.

“Support for marriage and the family does not look a big vote-winner, so that even the most basic human institution, upon which the health of a society depends, can become part of the throwaway culture or at best an optional extra.”

The wording is stronger than the last statement on marriage in 2013 which stated there “must be legal recognition of the unique nature of marriage between a man and a woman.”

It will be distributed to bishops, priests, dioceses, parishes, schools and Catholic work places across the country and is representative of issues the church would like people to consider when they vote.

5. Rio athletes to get stronger condoms.

Athletes headed to the Olympics will be provided double-strength condoms in a bid to combat the Zika virus.

Last week IOC president Kevan Gosper said that all 134 members of the Australian Olympic team should be blood-tested for the virus following the games.

“The Zika virus can be passed onto the female in any sexual relationship for a period of up to six months,’’ he said.

“I recommend to the AOC that they look at blood testing, two weeks after the (athletes) come out of Brazil.’’

AOC medical director Dr David Hughes said it wouldn’t be necessary “If individuals take reasonable care as instructed, then I believe the risk to our team members will be ­minimal.’’

The AOC’s deal with condom manufacturer Starpharma will supply the Rio team with “dual protection condoms” that feature an antiviral lubricant.

6. Frankston Bombers football club under fire for ‘racist’ blackface party.

Victorian football club, Frankston Bombers is in hot water after a number of its club members came to a dress-up party in blackface.

When some of the images ended up on social media the club was deluged with complaints.

Indigenous rapper and activist Adam Briggs called the club out for its “racist night” after the pictures were posted on Instagram. But instead of an apology he received an offensive message.

“How ya going mate? You sent me a text message about f**king posting black people mother f***ker,” the voicemail said.

“I’m short and I’m fat and people take the p***s all the time.

“And we’re at a function… where people come dressed as people and that’s what they f***king do.”

“And we’re at a function… where people come dressed as people and that’s what they f***king do.”

In a statement posted on the Frankston Bombers Facebook page on Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson said the club was “extremely regretful of the situation”.

The club said it wanted to “assure supporters, sponsors and the wider community that the club is in no way racist and unreservedly apologises for any offence that has been caused”.

“Our club is run by a group of local volunteers, who seek nothing more than to provide a supportive, well-intentioned and beneficial environment for local footballers and netballers,” the Facebook post said.

“We now understand that our actions at last night’s club event have caused offence and division and for this we apologise.”

7. Call to ‘ban smoking for anyone born after 2001’.

Should smoking be banned for anyone born after 2001? Via IStock.

The Cancer Council has urged the Queensland government to examine a proposal to ban on smoking for anyone born after 2001.

Queensland's chief health officer Jeannette Young has also urged families to ban smoking in their own homes.

Cancer Council Queensland chief executive Professor Jeff Dunn said children must be protected from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

"We do need to have a conversation in our community about what is next," he said.

"How do we rid Queenslanders of the scourge of tobacco-related death and disease?"

Professor Dunn said a 2001 birth ban enacted this year would mean anyone turning 15 in 2016 would never legally be allowed to smoke reports the ABC.

8. Rumbling with Dad good for kids.

Dad and kids rumbling is good for kids. Via IStock.

A study by the University of Newcastle has found that rumbling rough and tumble games between fathers and children is good for kids.

“We know both girls and boys enjoy physical play with dads, but we were interested to see it also pointed to good outcomes for children as well,” lead researcher Jennifer St George told News Limited.

“Children whose fathers engage in rough-and-tumble play that was warm and playful are also children with better emotional and behavioural outcomes.”

“When kids engage in this kind of play in the playground it can mean they are more ready for other, more quiet games at other times,” she said.

“It can provide a real-world opportunity for a child to observe and practise important social skills such as recognising emotions, suppressing impulse and aggression, and sustaining reciprocal play.”

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au