Disability advocates express concerns over the federal budget changes; US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping; Michael Voss reveals the considerations behind his decision to quit as Carlton coach.
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Transcript
- Disability advocates express concerns over the federal budget changes.
- US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
- Michael Voss reveals the considerations behind his decision to quit as Carlton coach.
Disability advocates are expressing concerns over the federal budget changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which includes cutting access to more than 160,000 participants by 2030.
The changes aim to save almost $38 billion over the next four years, and include establishing a standardised assessment process to decide on eligibility.
Cherry Baylosis, from Disability Advocacy Network, has told SBS there needs to be a viable alternative to address the gap.
"Drastic is an appropriate word. I think we are going to see some unprecedented changes with the scheme, including access. We can anticipate that there will be, uh, a large amount of people exiting the scheme, difficulties accessing the scheme as well, as well as seeing a reduction to plans as well."
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The Property Council of Australia says changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax that are designed to address housing inequality, won't be effective without an influx of new homes.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the government is proceeding with changes to tax system settings that have benefitted property investors so that young people have a better chance of buying their first home.
The government says it will move to introduce legislation to replace the 50 per cent Capital Gains Tax discount with a discount based on inflation.
It also plans to abolish federal budget measures like abolishing negative gearing for future purchases of established investment properties.
Property Council CEO Mike Zorbas says while he welcomes a $2 billion commitment to help build infrastructure enabling infrastructure like roads and sewage, he is skeptical about Treasurer Jim Chalmers' claim the tax reforms will help boost supply.
"They're a big roll of the dice that I hope is successful in creating new homes, but our previous modeling suggests not. Our previous modeling suggests that they will have a contractionary impact."
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One of Australia’s biggest iron ore companies has been ordered to pay an Aboriginal community about 150 million dollars, after mining on its land without an agreement and damaging cultural heritage sites.
The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation had sought $1.8 billion from Fortescue Metals Group, founded by billionaire Andrew Forrest, claiming the company mined without free, prior and informed consent.
In the Federal Court in Perth, Justice Stephen Burley ruled the community’s economic loss was 100-thousand dollars, while cultural losses totalled $150 million.
He says the evidence showed serious harm had been caused to Yindjibarndi songlines and culturally significant sites.
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U-S President Donald Trump says arms sales to Taiwan will be discussed during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing in the coming hours.
The talks come after Washington approved an US$11 billion (A$15 billion) weapons package for Taiwan, including missiles, rocket systems and drones.
A spokesperson for Taiwan's Foreign Ministry, Hsiao Kuang-Wei, says Taiwanese officials will closely follow updates from the meeting in Beijing.
"We will continue to monitor developments in the United States–China interactions very closely. At the same time, we will maintain close and constructive communication with the US. They (Trump administration) have taken concrete actions to implement the United States’ longstanding and consistent policy, including the previously announced $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan."
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Michael Voss says the demands of coaching Carlton had become too much, and that was a major factor in his decision to step down after more than four years in the role.
The former Brisbane Lions premiership captain says he is frustrated by the way his tenure ended, but at peace with the decision to resign.
Voss also defended his record, insisting Carlton is in a better position than when he arrived.
Josh Fraser has been appointed interim coach as the search begins for Voss' successor.
