Two sailors have died in separate incidents on the first night of the 79th Sydney to Hobart sailing regatta, after they were both hit by sail booms; they mark the first deaths in the famed race since six men lost their lives in the 1998 event

500 rescues were performed in New South Wales, with 50.000 people still isolated by the flood waters; over 120 alerts are in place for the region, including major warnings, as more rain is expected after 4 months of rain came in 48 hours

In 3 May Federal election for the 48th Parliament of Australia the PM Albanese Labor party won a second term over the opposition Liberal–National Coalition, led by Peter Dutton; Labor secured its highest-ever seat count in the House of Representatives

The aerial shooting of over 700 koalas in Budj Bim National Park in Victoria's west has begun; authorities claim they made the decision out of humane reasons, as the animals were dehydrated by a recent fire, the local community was horrified at the plan

Doctors threaten to walk off the job for the first time in decades upon a pay dispute and exhausting shifts; thousands say they will strike for three days next week in a move that will dramatically impact non-urgent care and defy a court order