TRANSCRIPT
- Labor pledges to reduce the cost of medications on the PBS
- Donald Trump says he has had a "very good" phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- The Socceroos take on Indonesia as they aim to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026
If re-elected, the Albanese government says it would legislate to ensure people pay no more than $25 for a script under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
That limit is currently set at $31.60.
The measure is included in next week’s federal budget and is projected to cost the government $689 million over the forward estimates.
The government says the measure would see a cut of more than 20 per cent in the maximum cost of P-B-S medicines, and would save Australians more than $200 million a year.
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United States President Donald Trump says he had a "very good" phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It comes a day after his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Putin has said Russia would stop attacks energy infrastructure targets in Ukraine for 30 days, without committing to a broader ceasefire.
Hours later, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of attacking energy infrastructure.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is feeling positive about the steps being taken towards a broader ceasefire.
"President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fantastic phone conversation. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for a productive start and for the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah. On 11 March, the meeting of senior officials from both nations significantly helped in moving towards ending the war. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for the support of the United States, especially the Javelin missiles that President Trump was the first to provide, and for his efforts towards peace."
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Turkish authorities have detained President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, in what the opposition have called "a coup attempt against our next president."
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the Republican People's Party, faces two separate investigations that also include charges of leading a crime organisation, bribery and tender-rigging.
His party was days away from naming its challenger to President Erdogan, who has run Turkey for more than two decades, in the next election.
The two-term mayor is widely seen as competitive in any future poll.
In a video he shared on his X account before his arrest, Mr Imamoglu says he will not give up.
"I am saddened to say that a handful of minds trying to usurp the will of our people have used my beloved police, the security forces of this country, as a tool for this evil, and have piled hundreds of police at my house, at the door of the residence of sixteen million Istanbulites. We are faced with great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not give up. I love you all very much. I entrust myself to my nation. Let my entire nation know that I will stand tall. I will continue to fight against that person and his mind that uses this entire process as an apparatus."
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The Greens have criticised the Coalition's plans to fast-track energy giant Woodside's controversial 50-year North West Shelf gas expansion in Western Australia.
Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton has declared the massive gas expansion a project of national importance, outraging those concerned about the billions of tonnes of carbon pollution it's set to emit throughout its lifespan.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has condemned the proposal, accusing the Coalition of confusing national interest with the commercial interests of a big fossil fuel company.
Greens Environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young says the decision will cause more destruction to the climate, and blames Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for not rejecting the proposal outright.
"Peter Dutton's pledge to fast-track the expansion of fossil fuels by Woodside is Peter Dutton doing the bidding of Gina Rinehart and the fossil fuel industry. He will make pollution worse, he will push wildlife extinction to the brink and it will make the climate crisis worse. It's disappointing that Tanya Plibersek has not made a decision to reject this project."
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Nukgal Wurra writer and artist Wanda Gibson has won the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature with her book Three Dresses, which she also illustrated.
It's the first time a children's book has taken top spot at Australia's richest literary prize, and Three Dresses also won the $25,000 children's book category.
The story describes Ms Gibson's experiences growing up on a Lutheran mission in the Cape York region during the 1950s.
She was unable to make the trip from the N-T, but her son Bruce accepted the award in Melbourne last night.
"I can see you now sitting on her couch, tears running down her face, with all her grand-kids around her, yeah, and telling her, 'Mom you got more money than us now.' Thank you so much."
**
In football, Tony Popovic has warned against underestimating Indonesia as the Socceroos seek to take a giant step towards automatic World Cup qualification.
The Socceroos face Indonesia tonight in Sydney.
A win will significantly boost their chances of making next year's tournament in North America.
Australia sits second on the table, occupying the second of two automatic qualification spots, with seven points and four games left to play.
Popovic says it is a crucial game to win.
"Vital. I think the players know that when we come in, we know the magnitude of the games and how important they are. We're in a position that we can retain our second spot. We know what the expectation and pressures are playing for the Socceroos and representing our country, but from what I've seen, the players are embracing that. They're enjoying that challenge and expectation. And they look really relaxed and confident and prepared for this game."
