TRANSCRIPT
- More details of housing policies launched by major parties
- A class action lawsuit filed against Bupa aged care homes...
- Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel wins the Paris-race for the third-straight year.
The federal government says it believes it housing election policy announced over the weekend will go some way to addressing the supply issue.
Labor's policy would allow all Australian first home buyers to purchase their first home with a 5 per cent deposit, avoiding lenders mortgage insurance, in an expansion of an existing scheme.
The party says it would allocate $10 billion to build 100,000 homes exclusively for first home buyers.
Australia Future Fund, which provides loans and grants for projects that increase the supply of affordable housing across Australia.
"Our government has been assiduously working on building more homes for three years now - and it's working. Let me just share some numbers with you. We've got a commitment to build 1.2 million homes with the states over the coming five years. We are making real progress on that. We've built half a million homes across the country since we came to government and that has been assisted by the policies we have put into place. Fee-free TAFE has trained half a million people around the country - 40,000 of them in construction professions."
Economists have expressed concern with the housing policies of both major parties, saying making it easier to buy a first home would increase house prices by fuelling demand.
The Coalition's plan would see first-time buyers deduct interest payments against their taxable incomes on the first $650,000 of a mortgage on newly-built homes.
The Coalition says it is also reviving a policy it first introduced in 2022, ahead of the last federal election.
The Super Home Buyer Scheme would allow first homebuyers to withdraw up to 40 per cent of their superannuation balance – capped at $50,000 – to purchase a home.
Coalition leader Peter Dutton told Channel Seven, he feels good about the party's policies.
"It shows that we're serious about being the party for home ownership again. People have lost that dream - that hope. And we believe very strongly that because it only applies to new builds, new units, new homes; it's going to increase the supply. And that is the view of the HIA (Housing Industry Association), the housing industry experts as well. It's going to encourage housing construction, which is really important. This just means for young couples, for individuals as well - there is a huge opportunity now to get into the housing market."
The Greens party has launched its election policy on education, outlining a 46.5 billion-dollar-plan for free university and TAFE.
Greens leader Adam Bandt party says the cost of the policy over three years would be offset by its corporate tax policy, which would involve taxing coal, gas, oil and mining companies, as well as excessive profits of big corporations.
"In a wealth country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics - and that includes a good quality free public education from early childhood - right the way through to TAFE and university. And we can fund it. One in three big corporations in this country pays no tax at all. Meanwhile, Gina Rinehart and Australia's billionaires, well billionaires doubled their wealth over the last six years; while everyone else was doing it tough."
A class action lawsuit has been launched against Bupa aged care homes by residents who allege they received substandard care between 2019 and 2025.
The class action alleges that, by failing to provide staffing levels that would meet minimum acceptable standards, Bupa has breached contractual obligations and Australian Consumer Law.
Echo Law has filed the case in the Federal Court, with support from Australian litigation funder CASL.
Hugh Evans has become the first Australian to win the Sunhak Peace Prize.
The award is announced in Seoul every two years to a person who has made significant contributions to peace and human development.
The co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen, Evans since he is proud that the organisation has seen $78.5 billion committed to ending poverty, impacting the lives of 1.3 billion people.
"During challenging geopolitical times we see up close, the dangers of parochialism and isolationism. Look what happens when we ignore humanitarian crisis or when we turn a blind eye to climate change. Leaders who do so, do so at their own peril - and that of global stability. These are all ultimately man-made global issues. And as such, they can ultimately only be solved by global citizens demanding global solutions from their leaders."
In cycling, Mathieu van der Poel overcame a fierce challenge by Tadej Pogacar to claim his third straight victory in the Paris-Roubaix.
Pogacar had been looking to become the first Tour de France winner to also prevail in this race since 1981. But he overcooked a turn and lost his balance on a cobbled section of the route.
The Dutch cyclist says an opportunity arose and he took it.
"Yeah, the speed was super high and I think he (Pogacar) misjudged the turn a bit. I was just quick enough to save it and then I don't know what happened afterwards because it was quite a big gap I had immediately and then I had to go for it. That's part of racing."
