TRANSCRIPT
- The government and opposition spruik their cost of living policies ahead of tomorrow's federal budget
- Queensland agrees to a deal on public school funding with the Commonwealth
- The Hawks win their second National Basketball League title
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The Labor government and Opposition are talking up their economic policies, ahead of the delivery of the federal budget tomorrow night.
The government is promising cost of living relief including a $150 dollar energy bill rebate divided across the final two quarters of this year - an extension to the $300 dollars worth of subsidies already delivered.
Opposition Minister for Financial Services Jane Hume says the Coalition will support the subsidy, but focus on increasing the supply of gas.
"I've certainly said that we will immediately, on coming to government, fast-track approvals on gas, because it is the only way to bring prices down sustainably. Now we can have subsidies and we're not going to stand in the way of Labor's subsidy but the problem is it's a subsidy because of their failed policy. What we need to see is energy prices come down sustainably. Electricity prices have gone up by underlying 32 per cent, gas prices by 34 per cent. So we'll inject more gas into the system immediately to bring down the under-lining prices of energy."
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The government says energy prices have been affected by global uncertainty and the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back, accusing the Opposition of lacking policy ideas.
"Whether it’s our Medicare tripling of the bulk bill incentive for all Australians, the 50 new urgent care clinics, the $25 for medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the freezing of the beer excise for two years, or a range of other measures, including the extension of energy bill relief. The opposition, having opposed all of these things for almost three years, have just said yes. I guess they’ve got to have something to say about policy, and they don’t have any of their own."
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Queensland has joined the other states in signing a deal with the federal government to fully fund public schools by 2034.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the move in a news conference with the Prime Minister this morning.
The deal will see the Commonweath's contrbution to the Schooling Resource Standard increase from 20 to 25 per cent by 2034, with Queensland funding the remainder.
The standard is an estimate of how much public funding a school requires to meet students' needs.
Queensland was the last state or territory to accept the deal to fund public schools to this level.
The Queensland leader says the agreement is a joint investment in public education.
"As part of this deal we have had to bring for some funding at a Queensland level to bring forward this deal too, but so we should. We've under-invested in public education as a state for too long and this was an opportunity too good to miss, and this was an opportunity to bring two levels of government together, but ultimately it was about kids, it was about can we get an outcome for children."
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The European Union's foreign policy chief says that Hamas should have no role in the future government of Gaza.
Kaja Kallas is in Cairo for talks with Egypt's foreign minister on a proposal to end the war between Hamas and Israel.
Egypt is proposing a transitional government of technocrats during Gaza’s reconstruction - and Hamas has said it will accept the committee and won't be part of Gaza's governance.
Ms Kallas says the plan still has issues that need to be addressed.
"We, the European Union position is that Hamas should have no role in the future governance of Gaza. One question is the cost-sharing of the future reconstruction (of Gaza) and very very important question is the governance of Gaza in the future and the security arrangements as well because the security concerns of Israel need to be also taken into account."
It comes as Gaza's health ministry says Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians since Hamas launched cross-border attacks on October 7th, 2023.
The death toll, which slowed during a two-month ceasefire, has dramatically increased since Israel resumed its air strikes and ground operation last week.
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Rosary prayers continue in St Peter’s Square after Pope Francis returned home to the Vatican, ending his five weeks in hospital for life-threatening double pneumonia.
Doctors say the pontiff needs two months of rest at the Vatican, during which he should refrain from meeting with big groups of people or exerting himself. But they said he should be able to resume all his normal activities eventually.
The Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Peter's in the Vatican, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, says Catholics are wishing the Pope a speedy recovery.
"It is a great joy: the Pope has returned home and we want to thank God together with Mary. His return home is a sign of hope for all those who at this time face the hour of suffering with courage and trust. Our prayer, which accompanied him in this month of trepidation, continues and we implore the Lord to bless him, with a quick and complete recovery, giving him the strength and health to continue to guide the people of God with love, wisdom and vigour."
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In the National Basketball League, the Illawarra Hawks have won their second ever NBL title.
The team defeated Melbourne United 114-104 in game five of the championship series.
It is a remarkable turnaround for the team - from coming last two seasons ago to now winning the team's first title since 2001, and the second in their 47-year history.
Will Hickey ((21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists)) and Trey Kell ((26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists)) delivered strong performances in the game.
Hawks' coach Justin Tatum says it is hard to describe the full extent the joy he is feeling.
"To see the enjoyment of the fans and everybody who was originally from Illawarra and who has been waiting for this for 23-plus years - and that excites me more than anything. And being able to see our team fight through adversity. That is also an enjoyment. So the words are tough to describe right now. But I'm happy."
