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The Don Dale Youth Detention Centre should be urgently closed down and sweeping changes made to address "shocking and systemic failures" in the Northern Territory's youth justice system, the final report of the landmark royal commission into NT child detention and protection has found.

Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating has stepped up his attack on Victorian Labor, slamming its move to legalise assisted dying.

Recently resigned Liberal MP for Bennelong John Alexander confirmed he would be eligible to stand in next month's by-election after receiving advice from the UK Home Office.

A Nationals-led push to defy Malcolm Turnbull and force a powerful commission of inquiry into Australia's banks could finally succeed, with another backbench Coalition MP suggesting he might cross the floor to back the probe.

Victoria has economic growth of 3.3 per cent, but NSW has recorded the best growth per resident.

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Report shows the system is "deep seated, confronting and come at an enormous human and financial cost".

The Devonport mayor set to replace Jacqui Lambie in the Senate has called on Parliament to refer him to the High Court, to test his eligibility for the upper house.

The Royal Commission into children in detention in the Northern Territory says the financial costs are "staggering" and its final report to be released on Friday will show the problem is "deep seated, confronting and come at an enormous human and financial cost".

Any deal would risk jeopardising relations with Australia, which remains resolutely against such an arrangement.

The government's formal position was to oppose the motion, but several conservative Coalition frontbenchers sided with Cory Bernardi.

Rod Culleton alleges Mr Brandis misled the Senate over matters that led to his dismissal.

In a stinging rebuke of Australia's third-largest industry, Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh will dress down an audience of executives over billions of dollars in tax avoidance, opening the door to a new mining tax-style campaign from industry in the lead-up to the next election.

Leading conservative cabinet minister Peter Dutton has intervened in the debate about same-sex marriage laws, slapping down calls for sweeping changes to senator Dean Smith's proposed legislation but suggesting a new "religious protections" bill may be introduced in 2018.

Overwhelming national support for same-sex marriage and in every state and territory shouldn't be seen as a "blank cheque" for legislation in Parliament, Senator Zed Seselja warned on Thursday.

Parliament today begins to debate legislation to make same-sex marriage legal.

It might be passed by early December, but the first same-sex weddings may not be thrown until at least January 2018.

The cyber-nod of approval for the raunchy video from account "XxxPornGay" came the same night people across the country were celebrating the result of the same-sex marriage postal survey.

Newly minted Greens senator Andrew Bartlett could be the next federal politician to fall foul of the constitution, with the party seeking fresh legal advice about his eligibility just four days after he was sworn in.

Former Labor leader claimed a defamation lawsuit brought against him is an attempt to "break" him financially.

More than any other area in Australia, the people of western Sydney voted no.

More than any other area in Australia, the people of western Sydney voted no.

Florists, photographers and wedding celebrants are among the army of small businesses set to enjoy a billion-dollar plus boost when tens of thousands of same sex couples are finally allowed to walk down the aisle.

Of the top 10 Queensland electorate seats most in favour of same-sex marriage, half were located outside the Brisbane urban area.

When the man from the ABS said the words the crowd was longing to hear he kicked off a joyous, city-wide celebration.

Gary Hayward, proprietor of the Buddha Shop, was over the moon. He'll be marrying his partner of 16 years - and friend for 14 years before that.

Australia will join the rest of the English-speaking world and legalise same-sex marriage - but a fierce political stoush looms first.

Faith played a heavy role in determining voting patterns, underscoring the role that religious leaders could play during parliamentary debate.

The diversity of Australia's biggest city has been underscored by voting patterns in the same sex marriage survey.

Voters in electorates held by Liberal members of parliament were more likely to support same sex marriage than voters in Labor electorates.