Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Tuesday, June 27. It’s set to be mostly sunny today, with expected highs of about 17 degrees. Enjoy your day!
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NSW women still lag behind men in pay, super and work
New figures on women and work from the NSW government show an increase in the proportion of women taking up trades.
The Women in NSW: Work, Leadership and Financial Security report, to be released on Tuesday, shows while women are making some progress in non-traditional careers as well as workforce participation, wage disparity with male workers remains stubbornly hard to shift. Read more.
Liberal MPs secretly drafting private members' bill to legalise same-sex marriage
Two Liberal MPs have been secretly working on a plan to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia as soon as August, with a draft copy of the laws well advanced and consultation with advocates underway.
Fairfax Media can reveal WA senator Dean Smith and NSW lower house MP Trent Zimmerman are working on a private members' bill they hope will be presented to Parliament to legalise same-sex marriage through a conscience vote, rather than the Turnbull government's stated policy of a national, non-binding plebiscite.
While the bill is unlikely to be selected for debate by the government-controlled parliamentary committee that chooses bills, it would take only a handful of Liberal MPs to side with the opposition and cross bench, reach an absolute majority of 76 votes and force the law to be considered. Read more.
'Vulnerable': Australian households sent a warning
High household debt levels amassed in the past decade have left Australian households among the most vulnerable to a sharp rise in global interest rates, the Bank for International Settlements warned on Sunday.
Australia's household debt-to-income ratio is at an all-time high of 189 per cent, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia. Read more.
Man found hiding under kids bed
One of Queensland’s ‘most wanted’ has been arrested in Glossodia over the weekend.
In August 2016, Crime Stoppers Australia launched Operation ROAM: Fugitive Hunt.
The state-wide manhunt is part of an annual national campaign by police and Crime Stoppers aimed at locating and arresting 19 of Australia’s most wanted fugitives. Read more.
Mount Druitt police have thanked the public after fears of a possible abduction in Blackett were put to rest on Monday.
Witnesses reported hearing a woman screaming for help while being dragged into a white utility on Keesing Crescent, Blackett about 2am on Saturday.
An investigation began into the incident but police called off the search on Monday after a conversation with a couple in Willmot. Read more.
Rate of global sea level rise jumps 50 per cent in two decades
The rate of global sea level rise has spiked by 50 per cent in a little over two decades, a study from Australian and international researchers has found.
The study, published by Nature Climate Change, used refined satellite estimates to show global sea level rise has increased from 2.2 millimetres each year in 1993, to 3.3 millimetres each year in 2014. Read more.
NBN speeds set to be tested
Federal MP for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has urged Blue Mountains residents frustrated by their NBN service speed to volunteer to help with a national testing trial.
Last week, the ACCC called for 4,000 volunteers to test broadband speeds nationwide. Volunteers need to sign up by July 31. Read more.
Wests Tigers hooker Matt Ballin retires
Wests Tigers hooker Matt Ballin has announced his retirement effective immediately.
A two-time premiership winner with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and a Queensland representative, Ballin’s two seasons with the Wests Tigers have been hampered by injury.
The 33-year-old notched up 220 games during his NRL career. Read more.
King to end 733-day wait for NRL recall
Cameron King is set to make his Parramatta debut after 733 days in the NRL wilderness with the Eels convinced they can help book a return to the finals - erasing the salary cap nightmare of last season - by snuffing out the Bulldogs' faint finals hopes.
King, who is at his third club, is set to turn out for the first time in blue and gold after injury restricted to him to just 21 games in his eighth top grade season.
It will be the first time King will appear in the NRL since a stint with North Queensland almost two years ago, and his first run-on start since playing for St George Illawarra in 2013. Read more.
Women's World Cup: Australia hammers West Indies after chaotic start
Australia have opened their Women's Cricket World Cup defence in ruthless fashion, cruising to an eight-wicket win over the West Indies at Taunton.
An excellent display from the bowlers helped dismiss the Windies for 204 and a chanceless 107 not out from opener Nicole Bolton eased Australia home with 11.5 overs to spare. Read more.
Giants netballer Susan Pettitt picked in Diamonds' Constellation Cup squad
Giants shooter Susan Pettitt will audition for a shot at an elusive Commonwealth Games gold medal after being named in the Australia's squad for this year's Constellation Cup.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander will use the Constellation Cup and the preceding Quad Series to help mould her national team ahead of the April Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and Pettitt is one of four goal attacks who has been given the chance to display their credentials. Read more.
