TRANSCRIPT
- The Opposition Leader defends his migration strategy in the face of a trade skills shortfall...
- Concerns Australia is falling behind in maths education...
- Matildas star Mary Fowler out of action with a knee injury after Manchester City's semi final loss
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has denied that his plan to cut immigration by 100,000 people will worsen the shortage of tradies needed to build new homes.
The Coalition is promising to reduce the permanent migration program by 25 per cent by cutting net overseas migration for the first two years of its government if elected.
Mr Dutton says those plans won't adversely affect the construction industry, because more tradespeople will be able to receive skilled worker visas.
He says the number of tradies the Coalition would welcome to the country depends on the amount of applications received, and demand for their skills.
"We are increasing the number of people on the skills list who can come in through with trade qualifications. One of the things that the CFMEU did with Labor is they stopped the tradies going on to the list. So you had yoga teachers and all sort of things under Labor. We have already said we'll prioritise people with the requisite trade skills to come in through the program. "
The Prime Minister says Adelaide would host the United Nations climate summit, if Australia is successful in its bid for the COP31 summit in 2026.
Australia has a joint bid with Pacific nations to host the event - but they won't know until June next year if they've won against a rival bid put forward by Türkiye.
The Coalition says it won't be supporting such a bid for COP31.
Anthony Albanese says it makes sense for Adelaide to host any potential successful bid for the event.
"And one of the things that a climate change conference would do is showcase this beautiful city of Adelaide to the entire world. And when you look at the work that the Premier is doing in renewables...then I can't think of anywhere better than South Australia. A bit like the election, we're not getting ahead of ourselves. We haven't won the bid. But if the bid is successful than my choice will be having it (COP31) right here in Adelaide."
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has confirmed it has taken control of the Zamzam camp in North Darfur - home to 500,000 refugees displaced by two years of civil war.
It comes after the RSF launched a ground and aerial assault on Friday targeting the regional capital El Fasher and the nearby Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps.
The United Nations says more than 100 people died in the attack and Relief International says nine of their humanitarian workers were killed by the militants.
Social media video posted by RSF members shows them celebrating taking control of the camp after two days of fighting, destroying homes, markets and healthcare facilities.
Mohamed Elday, a Sudanese-Australian man living in western Sydney, says more than 13 of his family members have been killed in the violence.
"One of my second cousins recently passed away from the ethnic killings. She was passed away at just 12 years old. Her name was Maira. And I also have another cousin from my dad's side who also passed away and multiple uncles. There's way too many people to list. There's over 13 of them."
A study released by the Grattan Institute has found Australian students are struggling with maths and many teachers lack confidence with it.
The study found just 13 per cent of Australian year four students excelled on a 2023 international maths test, compared with 22 per cent in England and 32 per cent in Japan.
At year eight level, just 11 per cent of Australians excelled.
The survey also found some teachers said they lacked the confidence to teach year six maths.
The report calls for clearer guidance to schools on teaching methods and more professional development for teachers.
But Director of the Australian Professional Teachers Association Karen Yager says, the study is counter productive to government efforts to attract and retain more teachers.
"Putting out a report at the start of the holidays which accuses teachers of following fads in their teaching strategies is probably not the best thing. Secondly a priority is elevating the profession. This does not elevate the profession, once again, it is criticising the profession."
People in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar have kicked off an annual holiday that sees people splashing water on others as part of a ceremony showing respect to elders.
The celebration normally spread over several days, sees a mass exodus from cities with people returning to their home towns.
The holiday has its roots in a traditional ritual still practiced today which involves cleansing images of the Buddha and washing the hands and feet of elders.
Matildas star Mary Fowler has suffered a knee injury during Manchester City's semi-final defeat by Manchester United.
Fowler limped from the field just 20 minutes into City's 2-0 home loss after she appeared to wrench her right knee while overstretching for the ball.
Manchester City's interim manager Nick Cushing says he didn't want to speculate about the injury but does not expect her to be able to join the training squad imminently.
City's defeat ended any prospect of Fowler meeting Sam Kerr in the Cup final at Wembley in May, after Chelsea reached the final with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
