In this bulletin;
- A new $750 million investment in Australia's metal manufacturing industry;
- Opposition refuses to confirm whether they'd support energy rebates in federal budget;
- And in football, Tottenham Hotspur through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The Federal Government has announced a new $750 million investment into new technologies to help metal manufacturers and exporters produce low-emission materials.
The new funds are part of the government's Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund and will target aluminium, iron and steel industries, aiming to lower emissions, improve productivity and revitalise plants and equipment.
The government says the investment will open the door to new jobs, trade opportunities and a competitive and environmentally responsible metal manufacturing industry.
Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, says it's all about combining cutting-edge science with homegrown manufacturing.
"What we want to do is get the know how and the smarts out of our scientists and researchers and put it into the mills and the smelters in this country to come up with new ways to make steel and aluminium that involve less of a carbon footprint."
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The Opposition is refusing to confirm whether they will support further energy bill relief in the upcoming federal budget, as Opposition leader Peter Dutton calls for Energy Minister Chris Bowen to be sacked.
Hundreds of thousands of households face higher power bills after the energy regulator proposed lifting benchmark prices by up to nine per cent in some regions.
Labor is under scrutiny for failing to deliver on its promise of cutting electricity prices by $275 a year by 2025.
Opposition Energy Minister Ted O'Brien told ABC energy prices have spiked under Labor as a result of their depleted supply of gas resources.
He says the Coalition's policy would ensure a balance of gas, renewables and nuclear energy.
"Like always we will look at whatever the government puts forward. But if I can make this point though, the government has been in there for nearly three years, and still to this day, it has no solutions to deal with soaring electricity prices. Australians are paying among some of the highest prices in the world now. Our plan in the short term is to prioritise gas, in the long term to prioritise zero emissions nuclear energy."
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A week after bracing for cyclonic impact, one of Australia's tourism hotspots is learning the full extent of damage.
Before and after pictures of the Gold Coast indicate the task ahead as authorities scramble to rectify widespread beach erosion by the Easter holidays.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate revealed 80 per cent of beaches had been eroded in the system's wake.
Experts warn the Gold Coast may take a major financial hit amid fears holiday makers will stay away due to the widespread coastal destruction - typically injecting $2.5 billion tourist dollars into the Queensland economy last year.
But locals told SBS they're not expecting the same turnout this year.
"Been on the Gold Coast about six years and this is the first time I've seen this."
"Oh 100 per cent. If i was a tourist visiting here I would cancel my trip for sure."
"You can still lie on the beach, so maybe. But, maybe not."
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In football,
Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur have kept their trophy dreams alive by defeating Dutch club AZ Alkmaar and progressing through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Starting the second leg one-nil down to the Dutchmen, Postecoglou's men defeated Alkmaar 3-1 at home for a 3-2 win in the tie, with two goals from Wilson Odobert and another from James Maddison.
Odobert's first season at Tottenham has been blighted by injury but the French youngster was pleased to make his mark with his first goals for the club.
The Australian coach told TNT Sports that he's proud of his team's perseverance.
"Our composure I think, particularly at the beginning of the game. When you're one-nil down from the first leg there's always that propensity to rush things or panic a little bit but I never got that sense. We took our time and we had to wear them down a little bit. Scored a great goal from a press and second half we started really well and we really should've put the tie away in the first 15 minutes. But, yeah super pleased for the boys."
