► Tasmanian guide to the federal election

LGH frees up more beds Surgeons at the Launceston General Hospital have been asked to go on leave as part of the Tasmanian Health Service’s strategy to deal with demand coming through the emergency department.

Walking trail set for 2016 opening The pilot stage of a 230-kilometre Great Eastern Trail walk along the state's East Coast could be ready for operation as soon as this year, developers say.

Public urged ‘dob in a dealer’ A national program encouraging residents to “dob in a dealer” has been rolled out in Launceston.

Jury retires to consider fate of men A jury has retired to consider the fate of two men charged with assaulting a woman and depriving her of her liberty in 2014.

McSweyn making late run towards Olympics When Australian 1500-metre record-holder Ryan Gregson was asked who was the country’s next big thing in middle distance running, he had no hesitation.

►WOLLONGONG: A stolen rental car, two kidnapped dogs, one trashed hotel room and an epic road trip are among a bizarre set of police allegations levelled against a Sydney man in Wollongong court this week.

►BURNIE: It may not have the friendliest face on the coast, but if Team Sentinel is awarded the contract for the Land 400 phase 2 program, there will be people lining out the door to smooch the grizzly face of the vehicle that will bring 150 new jobs to Burnie. Read more here.

►NEWCASTLE: A man who had his little finger chopped “clean off” by a machete over an unpaid drug debt was also stabbed repeatedly while asleep on a lounge in April, according to court documents.

►REDLAND: The Greens party has promised to match a state government pledge of $20 million for Stradbroke Island if it wins the balance of power on Saturday. Watch the video here.

►BENDIGO: Four hundred Victorian registered charities risk losing their charity status, including several within central Victoria. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has urged registered charities to submit any outstanding Annual Information Statements by the end of their reporting period, which is often June 30.

Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered. 

►SYDNEY: Katrina Dawson was lying face down in a back corner of the Lindt cafe, her hands covering her head. Man Haron Monis was standing almost directly above her when police shot down the glass front door. Hostage Louisa Hope stood close by him as the gun battle erupted.

These were the conclusions of a NSW police forensic specialist who presented a three-dimensional reconstruction of the Martin Place cafe to an inquest on Wednesday

►MELBOURNE: Despite the installation of a huge new warning system, yet another truck has ploughed into the Montague Street bridge. The truck driver says he hit the safety gantries meant to warn over-height vehicles – but thought it was just "a noise" and kept driving before getting stuck

►WASHINGTON: The governor got to drive a Ferrari. He was at the beachside clambake – where they cracked a $US5000 ($6750) bottle of cognac and poured what was left into the fire. And after exclusive rounds of golf he was allowed to blitz the resort store – with his businessman host picking up the tab.

Throw in a Rolex for him; and for the missus, $US20,000 worth of designer dresses from Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman, and there's more than a whiff of corruption – yes?

►BREXIT: We are now beginning stage two of the Brexit fallout. We have witnessed the immediate shock and the accompanying carnage on world sharemarkets. Now we will witness interest rates around the world start to fall as central banks attempt to cut off any prospect of recession at the pass.

Australia will be no exception.

2001: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lady Marmalade.' A hit for LaBelle in 1975; then it was at No 1 in 1998 for All Saints. This version was from the Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge.

People in his electorate see him on flyers and banners but Gareth Ward MP is set to go even further when his portrait features in this year’s Archibald Prize. Nowra artist David K. Rees put the finishing touches on the portrait this week and said Mr Ward’s striking features light up the canvas.

“He’s fascinating because of course he’s an albino and he’s registered blind which makes it even more interesting,” Mr Rees said. 

READ more and WATCH the VIDEO

It's American, but more than a little relevant in Australia this weekend.