Debate continues over capital gains tax changes; The US Vice-president warns Israeli critics not to attack the US-Iran peace deal; And in football, anticipation ahead of the Socceroos World Cup game against the USA.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Debate continues over capital gains tax changes
- The US Vice-president warns Israeli critics not to attack the US-Iran peace deal
- Anticipation ahead of the Socceroos World Cup game against the USA
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised what he calls misinformation about the government's proposed changes to the capital gains tax, saying the expansion of concessions for businesses shows the government is listening.
The federal government yesterday announced the $2 million turnover threshold for the 50 per cent tax reduction will increase to $10 million.
That will cover 2.7 million small businesses and 98 per cent of all active businesses.
A new tax concession for startups is now open for consultation.
The Tech Council of Australia called the concessions a constructive response to the concerns of those in the sector; while the Australian Industry Group says the amendments need to go further.
Addressing Business New South Wales, Mr Chalmers says it is important to look at the package as a whole.
"We have unfortunately seen a lot of misinformation about our changes. The fact is the overwhelming majority of businesses are eligible for those concessions. And we've just made them even more generous. And it brings that business tax relief package to more than $3.8 billion in total. So much of the budget will be beneficial for housing and for businesses here. But at the same time, we do know that economic reform in this country; and tax reform in particular, is always contested."
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Opposition leader Angus Taylor says the Coalition will oppose the newly announced concessions.
Speaking after a business town hall forum in Queensland, Mr Taylor says he believes the legislation should be abandoned entirely.
"Small business people in there a moment ago have got a different view on that (than the federal government). They all innovate. The lot of them. Every single one of them. And so the idea that this government is going to decide who gets their carve out and who doesn't. It's not going to work. We don't need a back-flip. We don't need a carve-out. We need an axe. Start again. The government has simply got this budget wrong."
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US Vice-president JD Vance has warned Israeli critics of the Iran deal to avoid alienating their "only powerful ally" left in the world.
Mr Vance will travel to Switzerland this weekend for technical talks on the Iran deal, after it was electronically signed two days earlier than previously expected.
In a media briefing at the White House, Mr Vance credited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for not personally criticising the deal, but says members of his cabinet need to stop their attacks on the agreement.
"Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. The other thing that I would say is that over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. And anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in."
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Community groups have criticised Pauline Hanson's call for a 'monocultural' Australia.
The One Nation leader used her speech at the National Press Club earlier this week to call for an end to the policy of multiculturalism, declaring it had failed.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, FECCA, says it completely rejects Ms Hanson's remarks, calling it an attempt to resurrect the White Australia Policy and to promote division.
FECCA chair Peter Doukas says Ms Hanson's remarks ignore the key role of migrants in Australia's history and national identity.
"The idea of a monocultural Australia is not mainstream. So people from all backgrounds, all faiths, all religions - multicultural Australia is what is normal here. It is what has always been normal here. And what Ms Hanson is saying - is talking about - is not only a revisionism or a nostalgia for a policy that is long gone. It is something that never was. And I think that is what we need to be mindful of."
The Australian National Imams Council condemned what it called a tired and divisive narrative from Ms Hanson in blaming migrants for Australia's housing, energy and cost of living challenges.
It urged senator Hanson to engage in constructive dialogue - rather than blaming those who pray differently, look different, or speak another language at home.
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The world's most popular animated cartoon series, Bluey, is to be translated into an Australian Indigenous language for the first time.
Five episodes of the series will be dubbed into Yolŋu Matha to mark this year's NAIDOC Week.
The episodes have been re-voiced by speakers from North-East Arnhem Land, with local children providing the voices of Bluey and Bingo.
Dimathaya Burrawanga from the band King Stingray has lent his voice to the character Bandit, Yolŋu educator and translator Rosie Mununggurr voices Chilli, with local elder and musician Andrew Gurruwiwi as the granddad.
The special episodes will premiere from July the fifth during NAIDOC Week, and will also be screened at this year's Garma Festival.
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To sport, and in football, anticipation is high ahead of the Socceroos second World Cup fixture.
The team goes up against tournament co-hosts, the USA, in Seattle tomorrow at 5am AEST.
A win would take either side to the knockout stages, after both nations won their opening games of the tournament.
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has told SBS, the pressure is on.
"I think we have full respect for the player, the coach. And of course tomorrow, we want to win. We want to fight against Australia, but knowing it is going to be really tough. And the game against Turkiye, I think they (the Socceroos) show the quality. And it is going to be a very dangerous game, very tough game. A game for sure we need to be always competing our best version. We want to be, of course, to win."
You can watch all the World Cup matches live on SBS and SBS On Demand. There is also extended coverage with our special World Cup podcast, the 90+. Search for 90 and the plus (+) symbol.
