He and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have been traversing the country over the past week, pitching their economic plans a week after the budget was delivered.

It is understood Mr Morrison will visit Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Government House in Canberra on Thursday to seek an election date, which is likely to be May 18, although the prime minister has continuously mentioned the idea of a May 25 poll.

He released a video on Wednesday night entitled My Vision for Australia in which he says "the next 10 years is going to determine people's lives".

Featuring his two young daughters and wife in the video, Mr Morrison promotes the government's policies on hospitals, education and the economy, saying it took the coalition a long time to "get the country back on track".

Full story: Morrison set to call election

Scientists share first image of black hole

Scientists have revealed the first image ever made of a black hole, depicting its hot, shadowy edges where light bends around itself in a cosmic funhouse effect.

It looked like a flaming orange, yellow and black ring.

The data was gathered by eight radio telescopes around the world, in a milestone in astrophysics.

The research was conducted by the Event Horizon Telescope project, an international collaboration begun in 2012 to try to directly observe the immediate environment of a black hole.

The announcement was made in simultaneous news conferences in Washington, Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo.

Taken over four days when astronomers had to have the perfect weather all across the world and literally all the stars had to align.

The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth.

Group granted bail on kidnapping, assault charges

Four people charged following a series of events which resulted in the stabbing death of a man at One Tree Hill, near Bendigo, last month, have been granted bail.

Steven Judge died from stab wounds to his abdomen on the night of March 15.

A 19-year-old Kennington man was previously arrested in relation to his death and has been released pending further enquiries.

Police on Wednesday arrested Jara Lee Dix, 20, Bo Kevin Valli, 22, Benjamin Keith Judge, 28, and Harley James Dix, 27, who appeared in Bendigo Magistrates' Court this afternoon.

All four are charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and intentionally causing injury.

Ms Dix is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by signing a sworn statement on March 16 that allegedly contained false and misleading information about the circumstances surrounding the death.

She is also accused of committing perjury in relation to a statement allegedly containing false statements regarding the circumstances of the fatal incident.

Full story: Four charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment over One Tree Hill fatal stabbing

Bid to remove birth certificate gender

Tasmania is poised to become the first Australian jurisdiction to make gender optional on birth certificates after landmark legislation passed an upper-house milestone.

Amendments to the controversial bill were finalised after a marathon three-day debate concluded on Thursday night.

The legislation allows 16-year-olds to change their registered gender via a statutory declaration without permission of their parents.

It also removes the requirement for transgender people to have sexual reassignment surgery in order to have their new gender recognised.

The reforms were attached to legislation bringing Tasmania into line with national same-sex laws.

Full story: Tas bid to remove birth certificate gender

Melbourne Victory hit for four in China

Melbourne Victory have been humbled by Guangzhou Evergande, smashed 4-0 on Wednesday night in another Asian Champions League away day destruction.

Victory were two down within 10 minutes courtesy of Brazilian forward Talisca and couldn't compete with the Chinese Super League heavyweights.

Talisca, one part of a A$100million double act with former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho, ran the show in front of a packed Tianhe Stadium.

Paulinho's run through midfield just prior to half-time allowed Chinese international Yang Liyu to net a third.

Leigh Broxham was powerless to prevent an own goal 18 minutes from time, compounding a brutal loss that destroys Victory's hopes of progressing in the competition.

Kevin Muscat's side are bottom of Group F without a point after three games, with their three opponents on six points each.

Full story: Melbourne Victory hit for four in China

Warrnambool is expecting a top of 18 degrees 

There is a 20 per cent of a light shower in the morning on Thursday, with light winds forecast for the rest of the day. 

Warrnambool is expecting a top of 18 degrees after dropping to a low of 10 degrees overnight. 

A large high pressure system just southwest of Victoria extends a ridge across the State.

The high will move slowly across Bass Strait during Thursday and become established over the Tasman Sea early on Friday as a cold front and associated upper low cross waters south of the Bight.

The low will move across Victoria during Saturday as the front slides away to the southeast across Tasmania and a new high forms over waters south of the Bight. T

he low will move slowly across eastern Victoria during Sunday as the high passes to the south of Tasmania and becomes established over the southern Tasman Sea by Sunday night.

Casterton will see a top of 20 degrees on Thursday, Mortlake 19, Hamilton and Heywood 18, and Port Fairy and Portland 17. 

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