TRANSCRIPT
The Coalition has confirmed it would match Labor's pledge to reduce the cost of medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Ahead of next week's federal budget [[25 Mar]], the Albanese government says if re-elected it would move to limit the cost of medicines on the PBS to no more than $25 a script - a $6.60 reduction from the current cap.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claims the announcement continues a trend of his government making mecicine cheaper.
"This measure will save Australians over $200 million a year. The reform will make PBS scripts cheaper than at any time in the last two decades. And today's announcement will add to more than $1.3 billion that Australians have already saved from cheaper medicines since we came to government (three years ago)."
The measure is included in next week’s federal budget and is projected to cost the government $689 million over the next four years.
+++
A major flood warning has been issued for Far North Queensland communities near the Lower Herbert River.
The water level has surpassed past the major flood level of 5.5 metres [[Thu morning 20 Mar]].
For days, persistent showers and storms have been occurring across the Lower Herbert and Tropical Coast, with up to 200 millimetres of rain recorded between Townsville and Innisfail each day.
Residents in Townsville were just recovering from last month's floods and are now dealing with this new flood threat.
Miriam Bradbury, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says the rain is set to continue throughout today, increasing the flood risk.
"Today will be another rainy day for the north-east tropical coast of Queensland. The risk of higher falls will continue more likely this morning. However, even into tomorrow we may see heavier falls persisting as thunderstorms come in off the water. We're likely to see severe thunderstorm warnings continue through the next day or so, but they may come and go - depending on where the severe storms are likely to have an immediate impact. Wherever we see those severe storms developing, we could see areas of flash flooding."
+++
The New South Wales has become the first state in Australia to introduce legislation to regulate the disposal of lithium batteries used in electric scooters and bikes that can cause fires.
Under the bill, those who make and sell the products will have to follow requirements on design and manufacturing, reuse and recycling, and safe disposal.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales says these type of battery fires are the fastest growing fire risk in the state.
In 2024, Fire and Rescue New South Wales responded to 384 lithium-ion battery incidents since 2024 alone.
Those incidents include at least 33 injuries and multiple fatalities.
State Environment Minister Penny Sharpe says she is optimistic the legislation will be passed next week.
"It is estimated that between 10 as 12-thousand in waste facilities, and trucks and bins is happening across Australia every year. Just this year, people have lost their lives as a result of battery fires. The emergence of consumer batteries, the emergence of e-bikes and e-scooters, battery systems for solar - mean that we have to make sure that they're as safe as possible."
+++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to reciprocate with Russia on pausing strikes on energy infrastructure, after holding an hour-long phone call with US President Donald Trump.
In their first conversation since an Oval Office meeting descended into a shouting match last month [[28 Feb]].
In a statement, Mr Zelenskyy says the phone was positive and very substantive.
Mr Zelenskyy thanked Mr Trump for US support and they agreed that technical teams would meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss further steps.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says there are discussions about a lasting ceasefire.
"We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement. So we've moved beyond just the economic minerals deal framework and we're looking at a lasting ceasefire. Right now we're at a partial ceasefire. But again, the president is sending his highly skilled, intelligent and experienced team to Saudi Arabia later this week to continue fighting for peace in this conflict."
+++
The Greens have criticised a plan by the prime minister to introduce a bill next week [[listed for 25 Mar]] to change the federal environment laws to allow the ongoing operation of the salmon industry in Tasmania where an endangered fish species lives.
Scientists have warned the endangered fish species, the Maugean skate, is teetering on the brink of extinction.
The species lives in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour where the salmon industry operates.
Environmentalists have expressed concern over the regulation of the salmon industry.
It comes amid a long-running legal review by the federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, into whether an expansion of the industry in the harbour in 2012 was properly approved.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the bill is damaging for the environment.
"What this rushed legislation will do is let those big foreign salmon corporations off the hook, ignoring the wills and concerns of the local community in Tasmania - and allow these big foreign companies to keep farming this toxic salmon sludge. Cutting out community concern and ignoring scientists."
+++
First-time author and Indigenous elder Wanda Gibson has won the top prize at this year's Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.
A long-time artist across several mediums - including weaving, painting and printmaking - Ms Gibson is the first children's book author to win the $100,000 prize.
She also won the $25,000 award for children's literature.
A fluent Guugu Yimithirr speaker, she is elder for the Nugal Warra clan group in Far North Queensland.
Her son, Bruce Gibson, says she is thrilled to be honoured with this achievement.
"Stories have been a big part of Indigenous culture mum has told us stories of our grandfathers and my grandfather is telling me stories. And they still exist in our hearts and that is how we communicate. And we ensure the right information is passed on to our children through stories and love - and all that, which she has no doubt given to our family."
+++
In cycling, the men's and women's Tour de France will begin in Britain in 2027.
It will be the first time both races have held stages in the same country outside France.
The Scottish city of Edinburgh will host the start of the men's Tour - the Grand Départ [[gron deh pah]] - for the first time.
The men’s race will feature stages in Scotland, England and Wales.
The women’s race will also start in the U-K, but the host city for the start is not yet known.
Retired British cyclist Mark Cavendish won 35 Tour de France stages over his career.
He says he is excited to see the 2027 race begin in Edinburgh.
"My first Tour de France was 2007 when we started in London. Then we had Yorkshire even bigger in 2014. 2027 we're starting here in incredible Edinburgh. It is going to go into England and Wales as well. And finally we're back to France before continuing the Tour de France, the race that I love the most. You know that. I will be watching it. I will be here and I will be cheering with everybody else. And I cannot wait to see everybody there."
