In this bulletin, a six-billion-dollar boost to the federal budget bottom line, five men remain in custody over an alleged UK terror plot. And in NRL, Brisbane through to a fifth NRLW Grand Final.
Key Points
- Federal Budget Deficit smaller than forecast
- Five arrested in alleged UK terror plot
- Newcastle through to first grand final since 2001
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TRANSCRIPT
The final figures on the federal budget outcome have shown a smaller budget deficit than originally forecast.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the underlying deficit is about $6 billion lower than the $28.3 billion initially forecast in May.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says tax on superannuation investments has been an important part of the improved financial picture.
She rejects claims government spending is contributing to some of the pressures in the economy.
"If you look around the world (at) advanced economies there is an inflation challenge there. Many of those have moved to increase - their central bank have moved to increase rates in the last month because of that. For us here, the war in the Middle East could not end soon enough. That is having ongoing impacts on inflation, particularly being felt at the petrol bowser. But we take our job of getting the budget in better shape. And that is what we've been doing in every budget."
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NSW Police have seized 108 weapons and charged 150 people in a 36-hour statewide crackdown.
More than 4,400 people were stopped, scanned and searched.
Police allegedly found 85 knives, four firearms and 19 other weapons, including two large hunting knives on a teenager at Parramatta railway station in Sydney’s west.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley says there is no good reason to carry a weapon in public, and people should expect to be caught if they do so.
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Five men remain in custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near a British air base used by the United States.
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire was recently used by US warplanes involved in strikes on Iran.
Police were called after three suspicious vehicles were seen travelling towards the base.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone says a large cordon remains in place.
"A 400-metre cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit examine them. As a precaution around 85 households have been advised to evacuate while these examinations take place."
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Eight people have been killed in Russian strikes across Ukraine.
Three people, including a 16-year-old girl, were killed when a children’s centre was hit in the northern city of Sumy.
Three others died in the Zaporizhzhia region, while strikes also killed people in Kyiv and Odesa.
The attacks came a day after Russia’s foreign minister told the UN Moscow would continue its military campaign to the end.
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Billionaire Gina Rinehart allegedly tried to recruit a sitting Liberal National MP to One Nation during a lunch at her Sunshine Coast holiday home.
ABC's Four Corners reports Ms Rinehart asked Queensland MP Henry Pike whether he had considered joining One Nation.
Pike interpreted the conversation as an attempt to recruit him but says he remains committed to the Liberal Party.
Rinehart did not respond to questions about the alleged approach.
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The Queensland government says more areas of the state are being considered for critical mineral projects.
The state is assessing 85 projects*, with 907 projects** under consideration nationwide.
Critical minerals are used in electronic devices including mobile phones, as well as electric vehicle batteries, and even banknotes.
The International Energy Agency estimates demand for critical minerals could more than double by 2030.
The head of Critical Minerals Queensland within the state government, Paul Holden, tells a parlimentary inquiry the state is rich in critical minerals, particularly in the northeast.
"We are looking at what we call the northeast minerals province. So there is a geographic location located between Charters Tower right up through to a place called Mount Carbine. A highly prospective areas in that location for tungsten. But there are also a number of gold projects. And gold carries - when you find gold, you find other critical minerals like antimony, and other things."
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The Brisbane Broncos are through to a fifth NRLW grand final after beating the Gold Coast Titans 20 to 8.
The defending premiers will face the Sydney Roosters in a repeat of last year's decider.
It will also be Bronco’s legend Ali Brigginshaw's final game before retirement.
And in the NRL... Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook says he couldn't be happier after the Knights secured their first grand final appearance since 2001.
Halfback Sandon Smith scored two runaway tries in the 22-14 win over Penrith and Holbrook says he's been a big part of Newcastle's late-season success.
"Quick-witted little halfback there that takes your tap and, you know, he had to step up for us and he did and he stays so calm in situations and a big part in the reason we've been winning games, that's for sure. We just can't wait to play next week.”
Newcastle will face the Sydney Roosters in Sunday's grand final.
