His family announced his death on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains.

The treasurer has downplayed a leaked document from his department that included possible outcomes of the government's upcoming productivity round table, saying it shouldn't come as a "big surprise" that briefings have been prepared.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has questioned whether upcoming productivity talks are a "stitch-up" and a waste of time after documents leaked to the ABC outlined the round table's recommended outcomes.

Israel has provided documents it says justify its killing of a high-profile Palestinian journalist in Gaza. But the "trust us" mentality employed by Israeli authorities has long lost its power.

This week in politics the government abandoned a confusing word and a former foreign minister rejected bullying allegations.

Vladimir Putin has manipulated or scorned a string of US presidents. Now, the question remains whether Donald Trump is about to cement his place alongside them.