TRANSCRIPT
- The Energy Minister and his Opposition counterpart lock horns over power prices ..
- The Trump administration denies its suspension of sweeping tariffs is related to global market fallout...
- Australians Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin through to the next round at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Federal Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has defended the government's handling of power prices at a debate on energy with his Opposition counterpart at the National Press Club.
As well as policies to develop renewable energy sources, Labor is offering a further $150 rebate on power bills over two years in addition to its current bill relief.
Both leaders were asked if the Australian public should trust politicians' promises to ease power prices given that gas and electricity bills continue to rise.
Mr Bowen has said energy prices were affected by changing geopolitical and environmental conditions but renewable energy was the cheapest form of power.
"I don't pretend this is easy. We're not doing this for fun. We are doing this because the planet depends on it and it's a massive economic opportunity for our country. And because some fundamental things don't change. The fundamentals that renewables are the cheapest form of energy, even with the cost of storage, even with the cost of transmission, renewables remain the cheapest form of energy. That's what the science tells me."
The Coalition is planning to build seven nuclear power stations by the coming decades - and says its policy to incentivise energy producers to reserve more gas for domestic use will reduce household gas bills by 7 per cent and electricity bills by 3 per cent.
Opposition Energy spokesperson Ted O'Brien says the government is failing to engage in big reforms.
"I believe the big problem we've seen over the last three years has been the treatment of regional Australia, in particular, who are carrying the burden of Labor's policies. They've been steamrolled here. And you can't expect communities, let alone the whole country, to come with you when you treat them with reckless indifference."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has confirmed that any cut to overseas migration under a Coalition government would only be for two years.
Australia is on track to reduce net overseas migration by 120,000 to 260,000 next financial year according to government figures in the May budget, following Labor's reforms to reduce the migration intake from record post-COVID highs.
Mr Dutton has already promised to cut net overseas migration by 100,000 from whatever the current figure is if the Coalition wins office.
Today he has clarified the cuts would only be temporary.
"We are going to cut migration numbers so we can increase home ownership in this country. We do it for a two year period then we bring back the numbers but it allows us to create about 100,000 homes , or free up about 100,000 homes, in addition to the $5 billion plan that we've outlined which will create about 500,00 homes. That's a serious housing policy and it will help get Aussie kids into Australian homes."
Israeli aircraft have struck a residential block in northern Gaza killing at least 23 people.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry says eight children are among the dead after the strike hit a four-story building in the Shijaiyah neighbourhood of Gaza City.
The Israeli military says it struck a senior Hamas militant who was behind attacks from the area but didn't name him or provide further details.
Israel has blamed the deaths of Palestinian civilians on the militant group, saying it embeds itself in dense urban areas.
A key member of the Trump administration has denied the President's decision to pause sweeping new tariffs is motivated by falling global stockmarkets.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the decision is designed to give other countries time to negotiate with the U-S.
"So how can you be respectful when a country says, 'I want to come and talk, I will do it'? How do you deal with that when you have so many countries that deserve our time and our respect? So he decided he would pause it, start at 10 per cent for everybody, right? And let's go negotiate with all of these great countries and let's see if we can do great deals for America, much better deals for America, but that's the model."
United States President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs on all countries except China who remains subject to a tariff of 125 per cent.
A universal 10 per cent tariff will still apply to all other countries throughout the period.
About one-in-three Australian adults are collectors according to a report by eBay and Deloitte Access Economics.
The median Australian hobbyist has 50 collectables worth a total of $2200, based on a survey of 2000 collectors.
Expanded to the entire population, the report estimates Australians own about 380 million collectables at a price tag of $16.8 billion.
The report says technological, economic and social change over the past 25 years have expanded people's access across the globe - with Australians spending a record of $69 billion on online shopping in 2024.
Coins are the most popular collectable followed by toys, pre-loved fashion items, and antiques, while trading cards amount to some of the most expensive collectables on eBay.
To sport and in tennis,
24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic has been knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
The defeat has ended the Serbian's quest for a 100th career title for the time being.
Australians Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin fared better in the first major European clay-court event.
World number 10 de Minaur produced an emphatic comeback to subdue Czech Tomas Machac in three sets, while Popyron won his second match in two days, from a set down against US 14th seed Frances Tiafoe.
