Greens leader Adam Bandt criticises the federal government's inflation response...
Concerns over government backdown on LGBTIQ census changes,
Iga Swiatek advances to the second round of the US Open.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has torn into the Albanese government's economic record, condemning their anti-inflation policies and efforts to ensure affordable housing for Australians.
In an address to the National Press Club, Mr Bandt criticises what he calls the governments failure to address price gouging by mega corporations like Coles and Woolworths who have recorded high profits while steadily raising prices on consumers.
This comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed the monthly consumer price index rose by a stronger-than-expected 3.5 per cent over the 12 months to July.
The most significant price rises were housing, alcohol and tobacco, food and non-alcoholic beverages and transport.
The Greens leader says the government needs to stop making borrowers pay the price of inflation with the rising interest rates and cost of goods and instead tax the billions of dollars of corporate profits.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has condemned the Greens over their presence at union rallies yesterday.
Greens M-P Max Chandler-Mather has come under fire for giving a speech at a rally in support of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union in Brisbane, appearing alongside a sign depicting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a coffin.
Tens of thousands of people gathered across Australia calling for a reversal of the government's decision to place the construction arm of the union into administration amid allegations of links to organised crime and corruption.
Mr Watt says Mr Chandler-Mather's speech reflects poorly on the Greens.
"For Max Chandler-Mather, the Greens M-P from Brisbane, to share a stage with people with that kind of Nazi references, coffins, let alone the behavior that we've seen from some CFMEU leaders around organised crime, bikies and violence. I think that says a lot about the Greens party, that they're prepared to grandstand and turn a blind eye to the repeated behavior of certain union officials in that union."
Refugee advocates are mourning the death of a 23-year-old Tamil asylum seeker and activist in Melbourne.
Mano Yogalingam's family fled to Australia by boat in 2012 when he was just 11-years-old due to alleged threats from the Sri Lankan military.
The Tamil Refugee Council says he and his family have been on a temporary bridging visa for 12 years and he had been waiting for news that they could permanently settle in Australia.
Lavanya Thavaraja an activist and friend of Mr Yogalingam, told SBS he's been an important figure in the movement fighting for more recognition of asylum seekers and refugees and his loss is devastating.
"It's very hard to see us losing a lot of refugees like this, the community is depressed. Mano was a very strong activist. His loss is unacceptable for all the refugee community."
If you or someone you know needs crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says the government is trying to avoid division within the community by keeping the census questions the same.
Labor promised to amend the Census to include questions about LGBTIQ+ identity before the last election, but has since decided there will be no changes to the questions used in 2021.
The Census survey happens every five years and helps inform the government about Australia's population for future policy decisions.
Mr Marles says the party is trying to avoid sparking debates.
"We are taking, in broad terms to the next census, the set of questions that went to the last census. And we are doing that because we do not want to open up divisive debates in the community now."
In tennis,
Iga Swiatek has overcome a slew of unforced errors to secure her spot in the second round of the US Open with a 6-4 7-6 victory over Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova.
The world-number-one Pole, who counts the 2022 U-S Open among her five grand slam titles, converted three of six break-point chances but also racked up 41 unforced errors on the way to securing the victory.
Rakhimova broke to get to 5-5 as the second set went to a tiebreak.
There the Pole saved three set points before edging through to the second round and a meeting with Ena Shibahara.
