Minister says constitution limits ability to block return of IS-linked doctor

Murray Watt says there are constitutional limits on what the government can do to prevent the return of an Islamic State-linked doctor. Follow live. Environment Minister Murray Watt says there are constitutional limits on what the government can do to prevent the return of an Islamic State-linked doctor.

Follow all the updates in our live blog. Choose what information you see below by using filters Foreign Minister Penny Wong has raised concerns about China test-firing a nuclear-capable missile, which flew over multiple Pacific nations earlier this month, during a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila last night. At the time, China called the launch "routine, but countries including Australia firmly criticised the missile test, with Wong expressing the strong concern of Pacific nations in the face-to-face meeting.

The ABC's been told Wong also once again raised the case of Dr Yang Hengjun, an Australian democracy activist and writer, who's been detained in China for years on spying charges he denies. "I expect we will discuss our concerns today, including around peace and stability in our region, safe and professional military conduct, and the importance of transparency and reassurance of intent, as well as the issues of consular, human rights and other bilateral and regional matters, Wong said ahead of the meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' summit. The Northern Territory government has pass controversial child protection laws during a late-night sitting of parliament.

Critics of the bill say it will weaken the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, which acknowledges the importance of country, culture and community to Aboriginal children. That will instead be replaced by a universal child placement principle. Environment Minister Murray Watt says it's a "disappointing" development and says connection to country and people is important.

"Everyone wants to make sure that any child, whether it be an Aboriginal child or others, lives in a safe home and a safe environment but making sure that connection to country and connection to people is important, Watt says. "This is a backwards step on a really important issue in the Northern Territory. Asked if the Commonwealth would intervene, Watt says he's not aware of any plans to do that and says doing that would be a "big call".

Environment Minister Murray Watt is doing the morning television rounds, and he's been asked about gambling reforms. Labor's national conference is shaping up as a battleground over gambling reform, with members pushing for a stronger national regulator to oversee the industry. Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Watt has talked up the government's gambling advertising changes, but says he expects people will put forward proposals at the national conference.

"I don't want to pre-empt the conference. There will be people who say a range of things about these sorts of issues. But I do think it needs to be recognised that the government has taken some very serious action already, Watt says. Pressed on whether the government will introduce a national gambling regulator in the future, Watt says Labor's focus in on advertising.