NSW has appointed its first female police commissioner, Karen Webb, which will be taking up the position to replace Mick Fuller. 

Karen Webb is currently the deputy commissioner of NSW, and will step up into the position after Mick Fuller’s resignation noting the job required “enormous energy”. 

Tens of thousand trans-tasman travellers have had their flight cancelled by Air New Zealand, with the Airline blaming border uncertainty for the move. 

This cancellation follows  New Zealand’s firm quarantine regime until the first quarter of next year, as Jacinda Ardern’s government attempts to restrict cases. 

Air NZ executives have blamed the Kiwi government for dragging the chain on re-opening the border, criticising the fact many families and friends now won’t be able to catch up over Christmas. 

The US Jury has ordered white nationalist leaders and organisations to pay more than $35m in damages over violence that erupted during the deadly 2017 Unite the right riot in Charlottesville. 

After a nearly month-long civil trial, the US District was deadlocked on claims filled by nine people who suffered physical or emotional injuries during the two day demonstrations. 

The plaintiff’s legal team also planned to refile the suit so a new jury could decide two claims the current jury was unable to reach a verdict on. 

Employers have been warned by legal experts of COVID-related workers’ compensation risks when Queensland opens borders. 

Although businesses could face workers’ compensation claims if staff can provide adequate precautions, legal experts warn that it is not yet clear how far Queensland businesses would need to go to demonstrate this. 

Since the pandemic began, the state has accepted 25 workers’ compensation- a further 55 claims were rejected.

The Federal government plans to establish a domestic, family and sexual violence commission as part of its next national plan to end violence against women and children. 

Funded by $22m for over five years, the commission will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives to prevent violence, intervene early and better support victim-survivors.

This announcement follows labor’s promise to set up a national commission.

A controversial mineral sands mine proposed for eastern Victoria has been rejected by the state planning minister because it poses a risk to the environment and nearby agriculture. 

The proposed 16 square kilometre mine footprint was planned for an area near the Mitchell river- one of Melbourne’s key foodbowls. 

Planning Minister Richard Wynne has said this decision has well received by local residents, who have been organising protests and analysing the projects environmental effects statement.

The Taliban has announced a new commission in an urge to purge ‘people of “bad character”’ from their ranks in what the group say is an effort to protect Afghanistan’s reputation.

The group which has operated as insurgent fighters for two decades says people of a bad character have been affecting Afghan’s vested interests. 

Reports on social media have alleged that people identifying themselves as Taliban members have continued to carry out a number of attacks on civilians and former members of security forces of the ousted government.

Griffith University has called on the Queensland Government to set a deadline to end mandatory COVID quarantine for fully vaccinated international students. 

Griffith’s vice-president Sarah Todd said she was worried that Queensland might lose students to interstate universities, with NSW and Victoria already abolishing quarantine for double-vaccinated overseas travellers. 

This concern also follows Australia’s loss of international students this year to universities in Canada and the UK.