Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says the Federal Government needs to come clean about whether it has decided to scale back the number of new submarines Australia will buy.

If you are freezing your balls off (or your tits off) in some eastern part of the USA now, you're entitled to say "global warming is crap"...

The United States and Turkey have signed a deal to train and equip Syrian opposition forces, officials say.

Australians will "fall of their chairs" when the inter-generational report is released, Treasurer Joe Hockey says, because for all the government's efforts "we still don't get anywhere near being able to reduce spending over the medium-term to the same level that exists today".

In a blunt warning ahead of the release of the report in the coming weeks, Mr Hockey said Australia faced a downward spiral of rising debt levels and ballooning interest repayments that would break the "compact between generations" of Australians.

Josh Frydenberg nominated busting the grip of unions over Australia's $1.9 trillion superannuation industry and giving a leg up to retail super funds as one of his first priorities upon becoming Assistant Treasurer.

But the star recruit of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's recent cabinet reshuffle has not exactly put his own hard-earned money where his mouth is on creating a level playing field for commercial and industry super.

An update to Mr Frydneberg's pecuniary interests register shows the Kooyong MP has switched his work super out of an AMP super fund (retail) into Australian Super (industry).

Tim Wilson, former policy director for right-wing think-tank the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), has been appointed as the human rights commissioner. His remit will be in the area of "freedom", focusing particularly on freedom of speech. Attorney-General George Brandis explained that Wilson's appointment would bring "balance" to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull has done little to allay leadership speculation after carefully deflecting questions in a coy appearance on ABC's Q&A.

The one-time leader of the Liberal party, who was tipped to replace Prime Minister Tony Abbott if a leadership spill came to fruition last week, delivered a thinly-veiled criticism of the sacking of Chief Whip Philip Ruddock and refused to say whether he would step up to the plate if the leader's position became vacant.

"I wish they'd get rid of those blue ties," Ita Buttrose, the founding editor of Cleo magazine, said while commentating on live television. "They're so stupid."

During the week, image consultant Imogen Lamport recommended: "If he wants to appear different, fresh and modern, a light pink could work.

"Or maybe a deep burgundy – red without the aggression."

Veteran MP Philip Ruddock is to stand down as Chief Government Whip in the wake of a leadership spill motion which Tony Abbott described as a near-death experience.