Midday News Bulletin 31 March 2025

The Hunter Valley is also a traditional coal mining area and been identified as a site for one of seven nuclear power plants under the Opposition's nuclear policy.

Mr Dutton was asked by a reporter how the region feels about nuclear energy.

The Liberal leader says the plan will create jobs for the local community.

" Have a look at Collie, where we've just had state election. We've just had a 20 per cent plus swing to the Liberal party in Collie, where we've just said that, on that coal mining site, at the end of its use, we will site one of the nuclear power stations there. So, I think in the Hunter and elsewhere to be honest, if there is not a replacement industry for coal, then these jobs go. "

Mr Dutton was also asked how much how much electricity and gas prices will drop under the Coalition’s plan to increase domestic gas reserves, but he was unable to provide a figure, saying more detail will be released later.

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A survey by Newspoll indicates the government's popularity has risen following the federal budget.

The survey published in The Australian newspaper [[late Sunday]] has Labor leading the Coalition 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis, less than five weeks before the election.

The survey of over 1,200 voters was conducted from Thursday to Saturday, after the federal budget and budget-in-reply speech from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

It showed primary support for Labor lifted from 32 to 33 per cent since a Newspoll in March, while the Coalition recorded a drop of two percentage points to 37 per cent.

The Greens remained at 12 per cent, while support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation dropped from seven per cent to six.

National Senator Matt Canavan has told Channel Nine he isn't worried about the latest poll.

“I'm just glad he's finally called the election; he’s been running scared all year. Now people have their choice. What the polls have shown for ages now is that this is very, very close. Anthony Albanese is up by one point this week, a couple of weeks ago he was down by one point. That's all within the statistical margin of error. What it shows is that people the listening have the choice here."

The polling is the third major survey to show the government gaining ground after Resolve and YouGov polls also reported support swinging Labor's way.

Anthony Albanese is in Perth to unveil a $355 million upgrade to a Perth hospital.

Mortgage holders are likely to see repayments hold steady, when the Reserve Bank board delivers it's cash rate decision tomorrow.

The bank's board is meeting in Sydney today to discuss the decision and will include two new members, following recent government reforms to the RBA structure.

But the cash rate is not expected to change - with economists tipping it will remain at 4.1 per cent, following a 25-point basis cut last month.

Inflation data released last week showed price growth tracking within the Reserve Bank's target range.

But RBC Capital Markets chief economist Su-Lin Ong told AAP, the board will want confirmation of that positive trend in next month's figures -particularly against the backdrop of global protectionism triggered by United States tariffs.

She also says she expects the board will want to keep a low profile during the election campaign.

Share markets are rating the chance of a cut at less than 10 per cent.

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The death toll from a major earthquake in Myanmar is expected to rise, as residents and communities struggle to access clean water and food.

The 7.7 magnitude quake that struck the central city of Mandalay has left more than 1,700 people dead, with more than 300 still missing.

India, China and Thailand are among countries that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and emergency workers from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia.

But some residents in Mandalay and Sagaing are reporting international aid has not arrived, as concerns grow about a severe shortage of food, electricity and water.

Around 3 and a half million people in Myanmar have already been displaced by civil war.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent report humanitarian needs are growing by the hour.

UNICEF's Sai Han Lynn Aung says the country needs urgent assistance.

“While we are still conducting rapid needs assessment, we know that this is an absolute catastrophe for children and families across Mandalay. Many homes have been destroyed, roads and bridges damaged, many children and families are still missing and traumatised. We need urgent assistance, especially for children who often suffer the most in this kind of situation.”

In Thailand, at least ten people have been killed in the quake, most of them in the collapse of a Bangkok office tower.

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And in sport, Australian golfer Min Woo Lee has won his first PGA Tournament in a dramatic finish at the Houston Open in Texas.

Lee shot a final-round "3-under-par 67" with a magnificent putt from off the green on the final hole.

In doing so, he held off World Number One and Two, Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland, who both finished a stroke back.

The 26-year-old described the tournament as a "big mental grind" and said the win was "unbelievable. "

Woodland has now moved into second place by going 4 under through eight holes, trailing Lee by four shots.