Australia politics live: opposition benches jeer Jim Chalmers as treasurer says RBA rate hike was ‘widely expected’; Tim Wilson ejected from question time
Follow today’s news liveRBA interest rates decision: Reserve Bank increases cash rate to 3.85% in blow to mortgage holdersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberal politicians have joked they need “divine intervention” at a church service before parliament resumes today.Federal parliamentarians are attending the ecumenical service, before sitting begins later. Media doorstopped most of the MPs on their way in, with reporters asking what they were praying for, whether they needed “forgiveness”, and whether they prayed for a Coalition reunion.We know that inflation’s higher than we would like. People are under more pressure than anybody wants. And that’s why the responsibility that we have … is to continue to manage the budget in a responsible way, continue to roll out this cost of living relief. Continue reading...
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Lake Cargelligo alleged killer Julian Ingram previously convicted for grabbing family member by throat
Broader investigation under way into police handling of allegations against 37-year-old, who has still not been foundGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWarning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have diedJulian Ingram was convicted of grabbing a family member by the throat after she made a comment about his children four years before he allegedly murdered three people and went on the run.Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, is suspected of shooting dead his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, her new boyfriend and her aunt last month in Lake Cargelligo, about 450km west of Sydney. The 37-year-old was later seen leaving the town in a white single-cab Ford Ranger. Continue reading...
RBA interest rates decision: Reserve Bank increases cash rate to 3.85% in blow to mortgage holders
Shortest rate-cutting cycle in the RBA’s modern history ends after unexpected jump in inflation Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Reserve Bank has hiked rates for the first time in over two years, with mortgage holders to bear the brunt of dealing with an unexpected jump in inflation through the second half of 2025.The RBA monetary policy board announced on Tuesday at the end of its two-day meeting that the cash rate target would lift to 3.85%, from 3.6%. Continue reading...
NSW goldmine faces community class action over allegations of a ‘toxic trifecta’ of pollution
Residents living near Cadia goldmine in central western NSW allege in court filings that dust containing heavy metals has contaminated the water supplyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResidents of a small regional community near Orange in New South Wales have filed an environmental class action over a “toxic trifecta” of alleged pollution caused by Cadia goldmine.The supreme court challenge against Cadia Holdings, which trades as Cadia Valley Operations and is owned by Newmont, is seeking compensation including damages for a reduction in property values and an injunction to restrain further pollution. Continue reading...
UK police to review misconduct claims after Mandelson’s leaks to Epstein
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says ex-envoy Peter Mandelson should no longer hold seat in upper house of parliament.
Cuba in contact with US, diplomat says, as Trump issues threat to block oil
Cuban diplomat says Havana ready for dialogue with US, but certain things are off the table, including the constitution.
Mark of Cain singer comes out as trans ‘to finally live as myself’
Josie Scott, who has played in the Australian heavy metal band with her brother Kim for 40 years, writes to fans: ‘I’ve decided to embrace, rather than endure, who I am’Get our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThe guitarist and vocalist in Australian heavy metal band the Mark of Cain has come out as a trans woman, writing that seeing younger trans people live freely had “helped shine a light on the possibility that maybe I can finally be me in my autumn years”.On Monday night, Josie Scott wrote a statement to fans on the band’s social media, announcing that her family know her as Josie or Jo and “given where I identify on the gender spectrum, I fit within the paradigm of being a trans woman”.Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...
Judge blocks Trump administration plan to strip protected status for Haitians in US – as it happened
This live blog is now closed.Trump news at a glance: Trevor Noah’s Grammys joke hit a sour note for TrumpHouse speaker Mike Johnson is set to swear in Christian Menefee, a Democrat who recently won a runoff election for a reliably blue seat in Texas.Menefee’s victory, however, means the margin in the House is even more slim: 218 Republicans to 214 Democrats. His current term will end at the end of the year, and he’ll have to start campaigning almost immediately for the 2026 midterms. But this time, it will be for a new district, after the GOP-controlled legislature successfully gerrymandered the state’s congressional map. Continue reading...
Trump unveils $12bn critical minerals stockpile scheme in apparent move to counter China’s dominance
Other countries are expected to join Project Vault, which US president said would ensure that US businesses are ‘never harmed by any shortage’Donald Trump has announced the creation of a critical mineral reserve worth nearly $12bn, a stockpile that could counter China’s ability to use its dominance of the hard-to-process metals as leverage in trade talks.“Today we’re launching what will be known as Project Vault to ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage,” Trump said at the White House on Monday. Continue reading...
Ex-US President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton to testify in Epstein probe
The Clintons agree to testify in congressional probe of high-society sex offender Jeffrey Epstein amid contempt threat.