Key Points
- Indigenous leaders make budget appeal to Federal Government
- Democrats demand investigation into how war plans were shared with a journalist
- Brisbane to get new stadium ahead of Olympics
TRANSCRIPT
Prominent Indigenous leaders are urging the federal government to use its latest budget to invest in housing, education and health, in an attempt to urgently close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
The Government will hand down its budget tonight, with Australians due to hit the polls for an election before May 17.
It comes after recent investment announcements, including increased funding for boarding schools to support remote Indigenous students.
The budget also includes a 10-year National Strategy, to improve food security for First Nations People in remote communities.
Former Australian Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, told NITV that he hopes in tonight's budget there's a reflection on work required to close the gap.
“That there's additional funding for education, and certainly in terms of economic development, wealth creation and employment because when you have an economy then you're able to contribute, build your capability and build the ability for your family to be able to enjoy the same things that every other Australian does. But I don't think there will be a specific Indigenous component within the budget.”
Associate Professor at Curtin University, Dr Hannah McGlade says there needs to be more consultation with First Nations people for investment.
“I think it's pretty clear where the closing the gap is actually failing and things are getting worse, there's three key areas, Aboriginal child removal, Aboriginal incarceration and also suicide rates, the mainstream programs are simply not designed for us, they're not designed with us and they're not working.”
---
A leading economist says government spending could stay in deficit for the next ten years, as Labor prepares to hand down its fourth budget this evening.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has flagged it will deliver a deficit for the first time in three years but maintains the budget will balance essential service delivery with responsible economic management in the face of global uncertainty.
Measures to ease the cost-of-living burden will include a $150 power bill rebate and lowering the price of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
And while debt is expected to hit a record level of $940 billion dollars - that's still $177 billion lower than projected before the last election in 2022.
AMP Chief economist Shane Oliver told SBS news the government has benefited from high tax revenue and commodity prices over the past two years - that was now coming to an end.
" Now we're seeing these structural budget pressures, particularly in areas like the NDIS, aged care, health care, defence and of course interest payments on public debt - they're all putting big pressure on the budget and the budget deficit. So, I'll be looking at the size of the deficit. Hope it's going to be a little bit smaller this year than previously flagged, but also for how long they expect us to stay in deficit, and I suspect that it's probably going to be for a at least a decade or so."
Opposition leader Peter Dutton who will deliver his budget reply speech on Thursday has promised to fast-track gas approvals to address energy prices if elected, and cut 36-thousand jobs from the public service.
---
US politicians say officials have breached the country's national security after mistakenly disclosing war plans in a messaging group that included a journalist.
The White House said this happened shortly before the country attacked Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he had advance notice of the strikes via the group chat on Signal.
The group included Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance.
US President Donald Trump said he was unaware of the incident, with the White House saying an investigation is underway.
Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer has expressed his disappointment.
"This kind of carelessness is how people get killed, it's how our enemies can take advantage of us, it's how our national security falls into danger. If you were up in arms over unsecure emails years ago, you should certainly be outraged by this amateurish behaviour.”
---
The United Nations says it will reduce its footprint in Gaza after five staff members of the organisation's Palestinian relief agency were killed in the fighting.
It comes after Israel resumed large-scale strikes on Gaza last week, killing hundreds of civilians and shattering an already tenuous ceasefire agreement.
Humanitarian aid was also barred from entering the Gaza Strip since early this month.
UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, says despite a reduced presence, the U-N remains committed to providing aid to civilians.
"We are not leaving Gaza. I repeat, the United Nations is not leaving Gaza. We remain committed to continuing to provide aid that civilians depend on for their survival and for their protection. Secretary-General renews his urgent call for the restoration of the ceasefire to bring an end to the anguish."
A new 63,000-seat stadium is set to be built in Victoria Park for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The stadium is part of the venues plan announced today by Queensland's Premier, David Crisafulli.
He made the announcement after initially promising no new stadiums would be built when he won the state election.
The plan also includes the development of a new national aquatic centre and upgrades of several existing sporting venues.
The Premier said there was not enough time to upgrade the Gabba before the Olympics.
"It became a choice between spending billions on temporary facilities and temporary stands that delivered no legacy or securing the future of AFL and cricket at a new home."
