TRANSCRIPT
- Hundreds of immigration detainees remain behind bars after a High Court ruling
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal budget will include a vision on achieving net zero
- And in sport, the start of the Olympic Torch 11-week journey through France
Hundreds of immigration detainees will remain behind bars after Australia's highest court decided against extending a landmark ruling.
A bisexual Iranian man, known as ASF17, failed in his bid for freedom after taking his case to the High Court.
The judgment comes after a High Court decision in November that it was illegal to detain someone if there were no real prospect of deportation .
Ahead of the latest judgment, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the federal government needs to have the capacity to deport people who had no right to stay in Australia.
"For people who have no right to stay in Australia, they've exhausted their legal processes, they've been found not to have any right to stay here, they shouldn't be just allowed to self nominate in staying here."
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers says next week's federal budget will be all about incentivising more private investment in the future of Australia's economy, as the government faces criticism over its energy policy.
Dr Chalmers says there will be public investment, but there will also be a focus will remain on attracting funding from private entities.
He says there will be an increase in the federal government's spending on gas projects because it is needed to meet surging energy demand.
"That is one of the defining objectives of the budget on Tuesday is how we make the most of this net zero transformation in the global economy and in our own economy, big investments in the future of renewable energy. While we recognise that gas has a role to play in the interim, the future gas strategy that was released yesterday recognises that gas has a role to play, but overwhelmingly the budget will be about renewables."
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Migrant women experiencing domestic and family violence will soon be able to access specialist help for the first time in New South Wales.
The support hub will operate from southwestern Sydney and provide a crucial starting point to connect at-risk women.
The NSW government will invest $4.4 million to establish the centre in partnership with Settlement Services International.
The director of the Multicultural Centre for Women's and Family Safety, Gulnara Abbasova, says migrant and refugee women face specific challenges and tailored support is needed.
This can include limited English, lack of family support or established networks, social isolation as well as cultural stigma.
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International students hoping to study at an Australian university now need to have nearly $30,000 in savings to be approved for a visa.
The new restrictions come after a record low in student visa approval rates as the government seeks to restrict migration.
The Department of Home Affairs says the change aims to ensure students coming to Australia to study can afford to support themselves and will not face an increased risk of exploitation.
It is the second increase to the savings minimum in the last year.
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Air Vanuatu has been placed into voluntary liquidation, after the airline cancelled all of its flights to Australia and New Zealand.
Tourists were left stranded on Thursday, after the airline's international flights were cancelled through to Sunday.
Liquidator EY says the Pacific Island nation's national carrier is hoping to resume normal operations after carrying out safety and maintenance checks.
Vanuatu is heavily reliant on tourism - just four planes were operating between the country's islands and Australia, New Zealand and other South Pacific Islands.
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Two of the favourites to win Eurovision 2024 have secured spots in Saturday's grand final.
Switzerland and Netherland are competing alongside Israel, despite large protests against the country's participation.
Around 100,000 visitors have gathered in the southern Swedish city of Malmo for the annual music competition.
There's also a under heavy police presence as authorities brace for possible protests.
This protestor spoke to SBS News about their concerns.
"We wanted to come here to actually make our voice heard to express what we feel about Eurovision, about this so-called war situation."
Armenia, Austria, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Latvia and Norway also qualified for the final.
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To sport, former Ivorian footballer, Didier Drogba has lit the Olympic cauldron at the end of the first day of the Paris 2024 torch relay in Marseille.
Ex-NBA basketball player Tony Parker was earlier among those carrying out torchbearer responsibilities along a route that ended at the Stade Velodrome, where Drogba played for Olympique Marseille before moving to Chelsea in 2004.
The flame arrived in Marseille after a 12-day trip from Greece.
