Professor Bruce Bonyhady, chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency and economist says spending on the NDIS is expected to run $5 billion under budget by the end of the financial year.

His comments come after it was revealed on Tuesday that spending for the scheme came $10 billion under budget in the last financial year.

The Treasury attributes the figure to lower numbers of participants joining the scheme and less uptake of individual packages than anticipated.

Documents revealed to the Senate have shown officials in the Federal Department of Environment and Energy attempted to cover up the extent of the controversial $444 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

One document shows an email to colleagues from a Department Communications Manager describing the best way to refer to the grant, saying, “hopefully this will be too much bureaucratic detail for a journalist anyway”.

The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission says the Premier may have been exposed to bribery charges in a parliamentary debate on immigration.

During the debate, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk threatened to revoke extra staff funding for members of Katter’s Australian Party if they refused to condemn their federal senator Fraser Anning’s use of the term ‘final solution’ in reference to Australia’s immigration intake.

Tokyo is continuing to push for the resumption of commercial whaling after their defeated proposal at the International Whaling Commision in Brazil at the start of the month.

A fisheries negotiator says if Japan doesn’t achieve sustainable use of marine life, including whales, the country will encounter serious difficulties in food security.

After a ban was imposed for commercial whaling in the 1980s due to dwindling stocks, Japan has conducted research and says that whale stocks have now recovered.

In the US, the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh are underway, with Mr Kavanaugh defending himself against sexual assaults testimonies.

Earlier this morning, Mr Kavanaugh said the allegations were a 'whole new level of absurdity’, and a 'orchestrated political hit’.

One of three accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, gave testimony in the Senate chamber, saying she is 100% certain it was Kavanaugh who sexually assaulted her 36 years ago.

A disability carer in New South Wales has been recorded abusing a young boy with autism.

The audio recording was made in 2016 in a group home for young teens with disabilities.

One man is overheard in the recording stating he wished to be able to beat the children without risk of being caught.

While the two men involved in the incident were fired immediately, the provider has joined others in calling for the Aged Care Royal Commission to be expanded to disability care.  

Amid allegations of political interference in the ABC, Chairman Justin Milne has resigned from the role.

It was reported on Monday Mr Milne, after receiving a phone call from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, attempted to fire political and economic journalists for their critical reporting of the Federal Government.

An internal inquiry by the Department of Communications is currently underway.

Five Queensland government buildings have been audited following an investigation into the flammable structural material cladding.  

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni says his department is working with government agencies that own the buildings in question to consider legal options to recover the costs associated with removing the dangerous material.

Work has now begun on the Logan Hospital, Queensland Rail office, and the Children’s Court building on Quay Street, while work is continuing on the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Today is Police Remembrance Day. The police force and community will pause to pay respects to officers who have fallen in service to the public, on duty, and also to those who have passed away under other circumstances.

There will be a number of services and marches around the state today to commemorate the courage and bravery of the police force.

In addition, the Botanical Gardens at Mt Cootha, and the Story Bridge will light up Blue and White this evening.