News live: honours council ‘concerned’ by its own list that saw three-quarters of Australia Day awards go to men

Council of the Order of Australia hopes gender imbalance in nominations a ‘prompt for community action’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSurf Lifesavers say coastal conditions for much of NSW to be too dangerousSurf Lifesaving NSW said coastal conditions for much of the state, from the north down to the Illawarra, will be too dangerous for many beachside activities over the coming days, including swimming, rock fishing and boating.After the week we have had with several shark incidents and some hot weather, to now have hazardous surf along the coastline on a public holiday – lifesavers are well and truly on high alert.The conditions are not isolated, this is the entire coastline from the north of the state down to the Illawarra that will be impacted. It’s expected to be hazardous for swimming, boating and rock platform-related activities over the coming days.There is no doubt there are as many outstanding women contributing to our communities as there are men … the council would like to see this balance reflected across all nominations and, therefore, outcomes at all levels of award.We encourage all Australians to look around their community, their workplaces and the whole of our society, identify the women, as well as the men, who make a difference and whose impact is profound and nominate them so they can be celebrated through the Order of Australia. Continue reading...