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TRANSCRIPT
- The US says a fragile ceasefire is holding despite increased tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Reserve Bank explains why it's raised interest rates again.
- Carlton fined over its handling of a mental health incident.
US officials say a fragile ceasefire with Iran is holding, despite an exchange of fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon says American forces have destroyed Iranian boats, missiles and drones while escorting commercial vessels through the waterway, after President Donald Trump ordered naval protection for stranded tankers.
Meanwhile Iran has fired on U-S ships and launched missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates, which has said the strikes mark a serious escalation and a direct threat to its security.
But US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the ceasefire is not over, and the US has successfully secured a path through the Strait of Hormuz for thousands of commercial ships to pass through.
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Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has defended the latest interest rate rise, saying inflation remains too high.
The Governor says the RBA has already been seeing firms passing on cost pressures by increasing prices of goods and services, which raises the risk of even higher and more persistent inflation if left unchecked.
Ms Bullock says businesses are entitled to pass on higher costs, but the bank is trying to stop inflation becoming entrenched.
"I'm not saying businesses shouldn't pass on costs, I think it's reasonable that they should be doing so. What we're trying to guard against - is that once those new price levels have been achieved is for people to think oh well it's normal for things to go up by 4 or 5 percent, we'll just continue to do that, that's the challenge."
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A prominent Jewish advocate has condemned the decision to not shut down a neo-Nazi rally outside New South Wales Parliament, as the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has continued hearings in Sydney.
Peter Wertheim, who is co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has told the inquiry he regarded the decision by NSW police to allow the November 2025 rally to proceed as a gross error of judgment.
The group of roughly 60 demonstrators linked to the National Socialist Network shouted Nazi slogans and unfurled a large banner with the slogan "Abolish the Jewish Lobby".
Mr Wertheim says the inquiry is a moment for Australia to confront difficult truths raised by incidents like this.
"This Royal Commission like all Royal Commissions is a moment of truth, it's moment when the country holds a mirror up to itself and asks some tough questions about things that have happened in this country that should never had happened. But I'm also hoping this Royal Commission will also be a moment of opportunity for a pathway forward for a better Australia, and a pathway toward redemption."
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For the first time, Australian children won't require a needle with the introduction of free nasal spray flu vaccines in four states.
New South Wales and South Australia are funding the free treatment for children aged two, three and four; Queensland is offering it to those between two and five, and Western Australia is funding it for kids aged two to 11.
Flu-related mortalities reached 1700 in 2025 across all age groups, surpassing the national road death toll by several hundred.
Australian National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance director Kristine Macartney says it is important for young children to be vaccinated as they are more vulnerable to severe infection.
"Ten thousand families impacted by the hospitalisation of their child since 2022. More than six per cent of those in ICU and the average age of those is 5.1 years. So you don't think of your healthy five year-old at risk of hospitalisation from influenza but they are and this is why we see funded vaccine."
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One in every six new vehicles sold in Australia is electric as more drivers bypass diesel and petrol vehicles during the fuel crisis fed by the conflict in the Middle East.
Sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveal consumers bought more than 15,400 electric cars during April, breaking a sales record for the second month in a row.
By contrast, sales of petrol cars dropped by 30 per cent during the month and diesel vehicle sales fell by 21 per cent.
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To sport and in AFL news, Carlton have been fined $75,000 over their handling of an incident involving player Elijah Hollands in a game against Collingwood in April.
The fine will be paid to the AFL's mental health partner, Headspace.
AFL chief Andrew Dillon has called the scenario unprecedented and a pivotal moment for the league.
Head of Football Operations Laura Kane says the league will also implement several changes around mental health care in the game as a result of the investigation.
"We will implement the appointment of full time psychologists or the equivalent across our AFL and AFLW programs, with industry consultation in relation to that initiative, commencing immediately."
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