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Australia news live: Bondi royal commission says counter-terror capability ‘could be improved’ and urges action on gun buyback

30 April 2026 at 00:32

Meanwhile Penny Wong says China has agreed to facilitate exports of jet fuel to ease supply disruptions. Follow today’s news live

Chalmers understands calls for gas export tax, but says government focused on getting fuel for Australians

Chalmers said he understands calls to tax gas exports, but maintained the government was set on securing international supply arrangements during the ongoing fuel crisis. He told ABC News:

I understand that there is a constituency in the Australian community to go further … But there are also, as the prime minister said, really good reasons to prioritise these international supply arrangements particularly during this oil shock.

All of us have been prioritising getting fuel for Australia and for Australians to keep the economy ticking over and that’s why there are good reasons for the comments that the prime minister made yesterday.

We’ve been very upfront with people and said when we think about the intergenerational unfairness in the budget, in our economy, in our society more broadly, a couple of the drivers of that are in housing, are in the tax system.

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© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Guardian Essential poll: Australians want higher tax on gas exports and extension of petrol excise cut

29 April 2026 at 15:00

The fuel crisis is seeing more voters keen to shift to renewable energy rather than stick with fossil fuels

Most Australians support taxing profits from gas exports and extending the cut to the fuel excise, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll, despite Anthony Albanese on Wednesday ruling out a new tax on existing gas export contracts.

The poll also found the fuel crisis is seeing more voters keen to shift to renewable energy rather than stick with fossil fuels. Australians also say they are already cutting back on travel, switching to public transport and reducing their use of aircon and heating amid the global fuel uncertainty.

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© Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

© Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

© Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

Inflation jumps to 4.6% in Australia as Iran war fuel shock begins to bite

29 April 2026 at 02:32

Financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for a third straight meeting next Tuesday

Inflation jumped to 4.6% in the year to March, from 3.7% the month before, in what the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, warned was the start of an Iran war-linked fuel shock that will ripple through the economy over coming months.

With consumer prices now growing at their fastest pace in two-and-a-half years, financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for a third straight meeting next Tuesday as officials struggle to manage the nightmare scenario of containing inflation even as growth is expected to slow sharply.

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© Photograph: George Chan/EPA

© Photograph: George Chan/EPA

© Photograph: George Chan/EPA

At least 160,000 to be cut from NDIS amid concerns vulnerable people will be left without care

22 April 2026 at 09:02

Announcing a major overhaul of the scheme, health minister Mark Butler said it was costing ‘too much and is growing too fast’

At least 160,000 people are expected to be removed from the national disability insurance scheme by 2030, as the Albanese government looks to claw back savings by changing who can access the scheme.

The health minister, Mark Butler, unveiled a massive overhaul of the $50bn scheme on Wednesday, announcing the growth rate will be brought down to just 2% every year until 2030 in an effort to curb annual plan inflation and produce billions in savings.

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© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Labor to tighten child NDIS eligibility to curb spending as Queensland MP warns change is ‘failing kids’

21 April 2026 at 10:07

Health minister faces backlash from states as he announces major changes to scheme ahead of May budget

National disability insurance scheme service providers will be required to undergo mandatory character checks and eligibility rules will be tightened further for children under 18, as Labor moves to curb growth in the $50bn program.

But the health minister, Mark Butler, faces a backlash from state counterparts as he announces major changes on Wednesday, with Queensland accusing federal Labor of walking away from responsibilities to families dependent on long-term care.

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© Photograph: Darren England/AAP

© Photograph: Darren England/AAP

© Photograph: Darren England/AAP

NDIS infiltrated by organised crime gangs using intimidation and threats of violence against Australians

20 April 2026 at 15:00

Review recommends better use of NDIS data to identify repeat rorters and a requirement for providers to register with the government

Organised crime gangs are using the national disability insurance scheme to launder money, earn income and hide assets, law enforcement officials have warned parliament, seriously undermining probity in the $50bn program.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has told a review into NDIS integrity that criminals are paying cash kickbacks to participants and their families, and sometimes resorting to intimidation and threats of physical violence towards vulnerable people to rip off taxpayers.

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© Photograph: Jordi Mora igual/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jordi Mora igual/Getty Images

© Photograph: Jordi Mora igual/Getty Images

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