In this bulletin, Inflation levels fall below four per cent for the first time since the war in the Middle East began in February; Victoria's opposition renews calls for a royal commission into the CFMEU at the federal level; and in football, Former French captain Zinedine Zidane appointed coach of national team
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin,
- Inflation levels fall below four per cent for the first time since the war in the Middle East began in February
- Victoria's opposition renews calls for a royal commission into the CFMEU at the federal level
- And in football, Former French captain appointed coach of national team
Inflation levels have fallen below four per cent for the first time since the war in the Middle East began in February.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the headline inflation in June fell from four per cent to 3.8 per cent.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the drop is good sign amid global economic challenges.
"This is the third consecutive month now where annual headline inflation has come down. It is an encouraging outcome that shows that we have made some progress on inflation since the budget, even in the face of very intense global economic uncertainty."
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Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson has renewed calls for a royal commission into the CFMEU at the federal level.
It comes as newly-installed Victorian Premier Ben Carroll seeks to restore Labor’s fortunes in the state by bowing to calls for a royal commission into the construction sector.
Lawyer and integrity expert Geoffrey Watson has suggested corruption added $15 billion to the cost of Victoria's Big Build.
In a senate committee on Wednesday, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie questioned him on the extent to which federal funds have bankrolled organised crime.
Mr Wilson says it’s clear there are integrity issues in multiple jurisdictions.
"We need to understand that what started in Victoria has now been replicated nationwide. The model from Dan Andrews has been taken by Anthony Albanese to Canberra and exported this model of corruption, which is increasing costs for construction, which means Australians are getting less when they come and buy a home. They're paying higher prices, and that's why I've argued that we should see a royal commission into the CFMEU at a nationwide level.”
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More suspected bird flu cases have been identified after eleven birds were discovered in South Australia.
There are 27 confirmed or presumed positive detections of H5 bird flu in Australia across four states to date.
The latest suspected cases were found in SA - in the state's southeast and also on Kangaroo Island.
SA's Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said it was extremely likely to represent localised distribution of the virus.
"Samples have now been sent to the national laboratory in Geelong and we will wait for confirmation, but it is quite likely they are positive for H5 bird flu. They have all been in greater crested terns. Seven have been found in the South East of the state and four on Kangaroo Island. One is at Southend, one was at Cape Jaffa, two were at Port MacDonnell, and three were at Beachport.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society warns the area is a key habitat for Australian sea lions which are endangered and vulnerable to extinction from bird flu transmission.
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The Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has heard that health care professionals need to improve their understanding of antisemitism and its impacts on the Jewish community.
The hearing on Wednesday has focused on training framework within Australia's healthcare sector to counteract and prevent manifestations of antisemitism.
Dr Zhaoli Dai from the University of Sydney tells the hearing that education about the history of Holocaust and antisemitism is needed for healthcare professionals, especially when they treat survivors of the Holocaust.
"With October 7 attacks, Bondi attacks,these small contemporary shocking events accumulate effects adding on their historical trauma they make them feel vulnerable in the healthcare setting to seek care."
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US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met at the White House - and discussed moves to allow Ukraine to make Patriot missile interceptors.
Ukraine has run chronically low on supplies of Patriots, which remain the only weapon in its arsenal capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles.
The US Senate has also taken the first steps to introduce a Russian sanctions bill that seeks to penalise countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations.
Mr Zelenskyy thanked the Senate for the legislation.
"The discussion was with details on how to help Ukraine, and we're thankful that this bill is very important. Sanctions, pressure on Russia is very important, and really, it gives...It's not only about money. How Russia, how to stop, to finance this war, but it's also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people."
The bipartisan 86-12 procedural vote came hours after a funeral for Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the bill’s chief negotiator.
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The French Football Federation has appointed former captain and World Cup winner France Zinedine Zidane as the coach of the national team.
The appointment of former Real Madrid manager Zidane comes two weeks after Didier Deschamps' tenure as coach ended following France's fourth-place finish at the World Cup.
His final match in charge was a 6-4 defeat by England.
Zidane says coaching the French team is a dream come true.
"For me today, it's simply a continuation, in a way a dream. What I can tell you is that over the last four or five years since I stopped (coaching Real Madrid), I received offers to take over clubs, and I turned them all down for the French national team. Because for me, the French national team was the only thing I wanted to do."
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