The ACT will provide free abortions for ACT residents from next year.

Residents across the ACT will soon be able to access free abortion services, with the ACT Government to fund the cost.

They plan to spend over $4.6 million over the next four years to ensure improved abortion access across the territory, with the free services available to all residents from early next year.

It will include free medical and surgical abortions for pregnant people up to 16 weeks gestation. Those without a Medicare card will also be able to access this.

ACT Minister for Women, Yvette Berry, said when announcing the news that making abortion care available to everyone has been a priority. 

“This means that individuals will be supported to make a choice about having an abortion without being influenced by financial barriers. It also means that having an abortion can occur in a time-sensitive manner without being delayed due to an inability to pay.”

This morning the @ACTGovernment announced the removal all out of pocket costs associated with accessing medical or surgical abortions. This recognises that abortion is fundamentally a health service & that delays due to financial barriers are a risk to wellbeing & recovery.👏👩‍🦰👩🏾 pic.twitter.com/1WfnFI4oR1

— YWCA Canberra (@YWCACanberra) August 4, 2022

Image: Getty.

Three people have died and a man is fighting for his life after a mass shooting in rugged terrain in central Queensland. The gunman remains on the run as police lockdown the area surrounding the scene of the shooting, a rural cattle property at Collinsville northwest of Mackay.

Police have not confirmed a motive for the tragedy after the gunman opened fire on four people about 9am on Thursday. Three people died at the scene, while the fourth survived after fleeing into remote bushland with a gunshot wound to his stomach.

The injured man staggered “several kilometres” before raising the alarm. He has been airlifted to Mackay hospital where he remains in critical condition. It is understood the victims are related to the injured man, but police have been unable to confirm their identities.

DEVELOPING: Three people are dead and a fourth is critically injured following a shooting at a rural property south-west of Bowen.@heinkealex has the latest. #9News

READ MORE: https://t.co/duf0qJRpNo pic.twitter.com/ci7yCk5FQ8

— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) August 4, 2022

“We are actively searching the area and committing our investigations as to what the circumstances were and how tactically people have been shot,” Mackay District Superintendent Tom Armitt told reporters. 

“We do not know who was responsible. We haven’t been able to get any other details from the male person who had been shot, as he was required emergency transport back to the hospital and he’s currently undergoing emergency surgery.”

Supt Armitt said police were methodically clearing the property before a detailed examination of the crime scene could be conducted.

“We believe that the person who shot them may still be in the area ... We haven’t been able to get close enough at the present time to confirm anyone’s identity.”

The hunt for the gunman continues and members of the public and aircraft have been told to avoid the area. Supt Armitt described the incident as a “very rare event” and said police would remain on the scene for as long as it takes to track down the gunman. 

With AAP.

Do you find the news cycle overwhelming? Depressing? Confusing? Boring? Endless? Then you need The Quicky. Mamamia's daily podcast that gets you up to speed on the top stories.

Listen to tonight's news headlines below:

In happy news, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have announced they are expecting a baby after suffering a devastating pregnancy loss nearly two years ago. Here’s everything you need to know about their announcement.

Plus, there’s been some pretty shocking news out of Hollywood this week with Warner Brothers cancelling the release of the highly anticipated new Batgirl film, despite the fact that it had been filmed in its entirety and was in post-production. Now we need to talk about the stars who have taken a hit and what this cancellation really means for the industry.

And today we’re joined by Abbie Chatfield, one of the new judges for The Masked Singer Australia. Abbie talks to us about what it’s really like filming the quirky reality show, how she kept it cool working alongside Spice Girl Mel B, her recent ADHD diagnosis, and why she cried in a bathroom at the Logies.

Listen to The Spill below:

Morning everyone,

With COVID-19 cases rising again, we've been hearing a lot more talk in the news about 'long COVID'. 

If you're wondering how you can avoid, my colleague Erin Docherty has rounded up nine questions you have about long COVID, answered by experts. You can find out everything you need to know, here. 

But first, let's get you across the five top stories you need to know today.

1. Parliament to pass 'historic' climate laws after securing Greens’ support. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is urging his colleagues to be on the right side of history when a vote on climate change laws takes place today.

The bill, introduced by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen on the first sitting day of the new parliament, will set a carbon emissions cut target of 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

Greens leader Adam Bandt announced the party would support the bill yesterday, after ensuring the emissions target could only go up in the future.

There will also be greater transparency and strengthened requirements on the Climate Change Authority.

BREAKING: Greens have secured changes to Labor’s weak climate legislation and will vote to pass it.

But the fight to stop Labor’s new coal and gas continues.

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) August 3, 2022

Liberal MP Bridget Archer also indicated yesterday she would support the bill, despite the Coalition's opposition.

"It's important to me that when I'm back in my own community, I'm able to sincerely say that I used the opportunity afforded to me with the power of my vote to stand up for what they want and need," she told parliament.

Albanese urged those on the opposition benches to put aside conflict and take action on climate change.

"We have a great responsibility to this beautiful island continent that we live on to make sure that we act on climate change (and) this government will," he told parliament yesterday.

"Then we will tell our children that we stepped up, we took responsibility and we met the moment."

2. PM calls for de-escalation of tensions following Pelosi's Taiwan visit.

Anthony Albanese has called for stability and a de-escalation of tensions following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit.

The prime minister says Australia's position on Taiwan and China had not changed and we will continue to work with our allies. 

"We don't want to see any unilateral change to the status quo," he told reporters in Canberra. "We'll continue to work with partners to promote peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Pelosi is the highest-level US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, but the trip has led to the Chinese military being put on high alert.

I led a Congressional delegation to Taiwan to make crystal clear that America stands with the people of Taiwan – and all those committed to Democracy and human rights.

Check out this video of our historic visit to Taipei. pic.twitter.com/TON6zB3x4s

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 3, 2022

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control.

Chinese warplanes buzzed along the line dividing the Taiwan Strait before Pelosi's arrival in Taipei, and Chinese state media said the People's Liberation Army would hold exercises near Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday.

The US has warned China against using Pelosi's visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.

3. Ukrainian President speaks to Aussie uni students. 

It's important the world doesn't forget any of the 161 days Russia has occupied Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told Australian students.

In a televised address, Zelenskiy again accused Russia of war crimes and spoke of the importance of holding the Kremlin accountable for its actions.

"Humanity has come through 161 points of (no) return," he told students at the Australian National University yesterday.

"The world has... a choice. To recognise the Russian Federation as (a) terrorist-sponsor... You cannot hide from this choice, you cannot somehow avoid it."

ANU student Sophia asked President Zelenskyy how he stays optimistic in the face of war.

He says he is inspired by people, by his nation.#UnisWithUKR pic.twitter.com/d7zO3BUgiz

— ourANU (@ourANU) August 3, 2022

Zelenskiy said Russia had lost the veil it used to try to shroud itself as a "peacekeeper" as it continues to commit atrocities across Ukraine.

"Those things they've done. I'm shocked. I never thought people are capable of those (actions)," he said.

"We have seen horror movies but I never thought the realities in Ukraine would be more scary."

4. Kansas votes to preserve abortion rights.

Kansas voters have rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have declared there is no right to abortion, delivering a win to abortion rights advocates in a deeply conservative US state.

The vote was the first statewide referendum on abortion since the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade decision in June. 

The amendment's failure will prevent Kansas' Republican-led legislature passing severe abortion restrictions without violating the state constitution.

“My state just showed up and boldly told me that they are going to take care of me.”

Voters in Kansas resoundingly decided against removing the right to abortion from the State Constitution.https://t.co/oGSCLveciA pic.twitter.com/RvNa4W7s2u

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 3, 2022

It will also preserve a key abortion access point in America's heartland. Patients travel to Kansas for abortions from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and other states that have banned the procedure almost entirely since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the 1973 case that legalised abortion nationwide.

President Joe Biden said the win in a deeply conservative state showed that "the majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion".

"Congress should listen to the will of the American people and restore the protections of Roe as federal law," he said. 

5. Ariarne Titmus wins fourth gold medal at Commonwealth Games as Aussies claim more medals in the pool. 

Ariarne Titmus has won her fourth gold medal in Birmingham, claiming victory in the 400m freestyle. 

The Olympic Champion beat out Canadian Summer McIntosh, who won silver, and fellow Aussie Kiah Melverton, who placed third. 

🇦🇺 Just another day in the pool for Ariarne Titmus. 🥇🥇🥇🥇

🏊 Already with the 200m, 800m and 4x200m gold medals from Birmingham, Titmus has added the #CommonwealthGames 400m title, with a Games record of 3:58.06. 💚💛

📝 @birminghamcg22 blog 👉 https://t.co/oEaDEh3omX#B2022 pic.twitter.com/xUQOxSRnDM

— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) August 3, 2022

Titmus will also take home gold medals from the 200m, 800m and 4x200m relay.

Elsewhere in the pool, Mollie O'Callaghan won silver in women's 50m backstroke and Kaylee McKeown took home bronze, while Sam Short won gold in the 1500m. 

Australia now has 123 medals to our name, including 46 gold. 

That's it, you're all up to speed. We'll be back to bring you more of the biggest stories throughout the day. 

- With AAP. 

This week, US Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan as the highest ranked US official to visit the disputed island in decades. 

This move was considered a provocative one by the Chinese government, and they've since responded to her arrival by flying military planes on the Taiwan Strait border.

In this episode of The Quicky, we speak to the Director of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy at the Lowy Institute, Natasha Kassam, about the possible implications of this visit.

READ: 

What women were talking about on Wednesday

What women were talking about on Tuesday

What women were talking about on Monday

Feature Image: Getty.