News in 5: Mum of boy with autism "gobsmacked"; Meryl Streep's fury; Crazy peanut butter hack.

1. Mum of boy with autism strapped to chair “gobsmacked” by school’s response.

A NSW mum has been left "gobsmacked" after discovering her seven-year-old son, who has autism, was strapped to two different chairs at his school last year.

Georgina Maker-North told the ABC's 7.30 that when she confronted Manning Gardens Public School in Taree about their treatment of her boy, Thomas, she was stunned.

"When I saw the chairs it was shown like it was a great show-and-tell piece: 'they were fabulous'," she said.

"The words that were used when I looked — and I was gobsmacked — was, 'would it better if we got some more aesthetically pleasing chairs?'"

Maker-North said the restraining of her son was like something that happened "in the '70s and went away in the '70s".

Documents obtained by 7.30 show this case is one of almost 250 reported complaints of mistreatment of disabled children in NSW state schools in the past two years.

After making a complaint to the NSW Education Department, Maker-North received a response in the mail.

"A finding has been made there was sufficient evidence to support that some of the alleged conduct occurred. Appropriate follow-up action has been taken," the letter read.

The state's Education Minister has also since issued an apology, saying he was "shocked and horrified" by the restraining device.

Maker-North said she had never been told how often Thomas was tied to the chairs but she believes it was probably on a daily basis.

"Given they were called 'Thomas's chairs' straight out, I can only guess it was probably at least every day, probably for hours a day," she said.

2. Meryl Streep rips into Harvey Weinstein over "disgraceful" sexual harassment allegations.

Meryl Streep calls Harvey Weinstein's alleged sex harassment 'inexcusable' (Photo: Reuters/AP) https://t.co/WX1oKfkKvf pic.twitter.com/02FhRughof

— ABC News (@abcnews) October 9, 2017

Meryl Streep has issued a strongly worded statement condemning Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein for allegedly sexually harassing multiple women over several decades.

"The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," Streep said on Monday, AAP reports.

"The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes."

Streep won an Oscar for The Iron Lady and picked up a nomination for August: Osage County, both of which were distributed by the Weinstein Company.

Streep said she didn't know about "these other offences", financial settlements or the alleged meetings in his hotel room.

"If everybody knew, I don't believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it," she said.

"The behaviour is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game."

3. Suspicions rise after Sydney woman's death prompt man's 12-hour apartment rooftop standoff with police.

Chatswood high-rise standoff ends as man arrested after woman's body found in alleyhttps://t.co/hNwTNqKFOP pic.twitter.com/MLG8sQkS6W

— ABC Sydney (@abcsydney) October 9, 2017

Detectives are investigating whether a woman fell to her death during a domestic dispute before her partner staged a 12-hour standoff on a balcony roof in Sydney's north.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was found face down in an alleyway off Brown Street in Chatswood on Monday morning, AAP reports.

Soon after, her boyfriend appeared on an awning off the 27th floor of the Leura building nearby and a delicate negotiation began.

The man appeared agitated at times and was given cigarettes and water by police throughout the day, but it wasn't until after 7pm that he gave himself up.

He was led to safety by two officers wearing helmets and harnesses, who'd been watching on from above.

Superintendent Philip Flogel said an investigation was underway to determine if the woman was pushed.

"We can say that we believe this may be a domestic violence-related incident and that the man and woman were known to one another," he told reporters at the scene on Monday night.

He said the pair had been in a relationship for "at least a few weeks" but police weren't sure if they lived together.

4. Rebel Wilson voices disappointment after Bauer announces appeal of $4.5 million payout.

A magazine publisher's move to fight Rebel Wilson's record $4.5 million defamation payout will be a "chance to expose more of their disgraceful practices", the star says.

The publisher of Woman's Day defamed the Pitch Perfect actress in a series of eight articles during May 2015 portraying her as a serial liar about her age, real name and childhood.

Bauer Media will appeal the $650,000 in general damages and $3,917,472 in special damages it was ordered to pay the Victorian Supreme Court in September, AAP reports.

In a series of tweets, Wilson said she was not surprised Bauer was appealing.

"I am disappointed that this now delays my plans to support Australian charities and Australians in the entertainment industry," she said.

"Nevertheless if this is a chance to expose more of their disgraceful practices and present more evidence on damages, I welcome it..."

5. Live-saving leukaemia, lymphoma drug soon within reach.

“This listing will save lives" - CEO Bill Petch in Sydney with PM to welcome PBS listing of cancer drug #ibrutinib https://t.co/mQcrkW6kiQ pic.twitter.com/U1EizU9pAH

— Leukaemia Foundation (@LeukaemiaAus) October 9, 2017

When his wife was eight months pregnant with their first child, Warren Lippiatt was told he had five years to live.

But within weeks of participating in a clinical trial of Ibrutinib - also known as Imbruvica - he started to feel better.

"This drug has not only saved my life but it's saved hundreds and it will save thousands of people's lives in the future."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Monday the drug will be listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme from December at a cost of $466 million, AAP reports.

"It is a reminder of how keenly focused we are in the fight against cancer," he said.

The medicine, which normally costs $187,390 per course of treatment, will be reduced to $38.80 per script or $6.30 for concessional patients.

It will be available to eligible patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

It's estimated the announcement will put the drug within reach of more than 920 Australians each year.

6. Behold: The supremely confusing peanut butter hack you never truly needed.

The Food Network's "brilliant peanut butter hack you never knew you needed" might just be the most confusing video we've ever seen.

The "hack", as demonstrated by food blogger Bev Weidner, is meant to make spreading peanut butter easier but it just seems... unnecessary.

In her demonstration Weidner placed spoonfuls of peanut butter on baking paper, before covering it with another sheet of baking paper, and then spreading it out with a rolling pin and freezing it.

Weidner says you can then cut the peanut butter into squares, wait for it to defrost and then spread it easily over your bread. You know, like you would have in the first place before you embarked on this crazy hack.

A video of the hack posted to Facebook has already been viewed 9.1 million times, leaving most people bemused.

“Because nothing is easier than spreading peanut butter on wax paper, rolling it flat with a rolling pin, freezing it overnight, then cutting the frozen sheets of peanut butter into bread sized squares and using them to make your honey and peanut butter sandwiches,” a user commented.

“The time it took to spread it on wax paper, smooth it with a rolling pin, freeze it and then cut it with scissors, I could have made you 308 peanut butter sandwiches.”