Eleven people have been rescued from an overturned barge in the Gulf of Papua and are being brought to Port Moresby for medical checks.

A slide in production and demand for China's manufactured goods has fuelled concerns that Australia's biggest export market is slowing.

HSBC's monthly Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for manufacturing fell from 49.2 in May to 48.3 in June, which is a nine-month low.

There was strong negative reaction to the data from Australian equity and currency traders, with the Australian dollar dropping to a fresh 33-month low of 92.4 US cents and the share market falling about 2 per cent.

A Foodland store in Adelaide has been fined $200,000 for selling expired food and failing hygiene standards.

Mining support company Hastings Deering has announced plans to cut 200 jobs from its Australian workforce.

The man who attached a fake collar bomb to the neck of a Sydney teenager is appealing against his jail term on psychiatric grounds.

The UK is introducing a labelling scheme which colour codes foods according to how healthy they are.

Labor backbencher Susan Close has introduced a bill to the South Australian Parliament seeking to allow same-sex marriage.

Dr Close said the traditional rules of marriage between a man and a woman were too narrow and it was time for change.

Her brother is gay and she said it was unfair he was unable to share the same rights as her to marry a partner.

The Opposition said it would not support legislation that was at odds with federal laws.

The Federal Government says the first six-monthly report into its Stronger Futures scheme in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities shows improvements are being made.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says fresh allegations of abuse in the Defence Force have surfaced, including new complaints relating to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)

Mr Smith told Federal Parliament today that abuse is more widespread than previously thought, and the Defence Abuse Taskforce is now investigating 2,410 complaints

He has highlighted two Defence institutions where there have been a number of complaints; ADFA and the Navy's HMAS Leeuwin training base in Fremantle.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says fresh allegations of abuse in the Defence Force have surfaced, including new complaints relating to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)

Mr Smith told Federal Parliament today that abuse is more widespread than previously thought, and the Defence Abuse Taskforce is now investigating 2,410 complaints

He has highlighted two Defence institutions where there have been a number of complaints; ADFA and the Navy's HMAS Leeuwin training base in Fremantle.

Police in Victoria have arrested two violent sex offenders who have fled a supervision centre in western Victoria.

The men have been fled just before midnight.

The Corrections Department was alerted after their electronic monitoring bracelets triggered an alarm.