TRANSCRIPT
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australians can expect a restrained and measured budget
- More than one and a half million vapes seized in Australia
- Borussia Dortmund through to the Champions League final.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Australian public should expect a measured budget to manage inflation.
He says there will be cost of living assistance for Australians but insists such measures must not contribute to worsening inflation.
He told ABC RN the government has already made positive steps for the economy, including bringing down debt and delivering the first surplus in 15 years.
Dr Chalmers added that he's in frequent conversation with RBA Governor Michelle Bullock.
This comes as the Reserve Bank left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35 per cent following a two-day meeting of the RBA's board members.
Minister for health Mark Butler says more than one and a half million vapes have been seized since the beginning of this year by the Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
It comes after national reforms were introduced on January 1st, including the importation of all disposable vapes being banned, with very limited exceptions.
On March 1st, the importation of all vapes were also banned unless importers have an import licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control.
Mr Butler says the reforms have impacted the supplies for vaping retailers.
"In just the first few months since January, more than one and a half million vapes have been seized since by the Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration. That's one and a half million vapes taken out of the hands of our kids and very, very young adults. It is starting to choke off supply of these vapes to vaping retailers, we're hearing that anecdotally already in Australia."
The parents of two Australian brothers murdered during a surfing trip in Mexico have made a emotional statement, saying the world has become a darker place for them following their loss.
Originally from Perth, Callum Robinson and his brother Jake were on a surfing trip with their American friend in the Mexican state of Baja California when they failed to check in to a pre-arranged accommodation near the city of Ensenada.
After searches by authorities, three bodies were found in a well and earlier this week the brothers' parents travelled to Mexico and confirmed their identities.
Their mother Debra Robinson says its time to bring them back home to Australia.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Callum and Jake Robinson have been murdered. Our hearts are broken and the world has become a darker place for us. We also mourn the loss of Carter Rhoad, a close friend, they were young men, enjoying their passion of surfing together."
Cumberland city councillor Steve Christou has responded to controversy around his decision to ban same-sex parenting books in local libraries.
He told Channel Nine it's dangerous when local elective representatives fail to listen to their community, adding that about 60 per cent of the community were born overseas and have deeply conservative values.
Mr Christou says any form of sexualised content should not be accessible to children.
"It's not just about targeting gay parents. They don't want any form of sexualised books. Our kids being opened up to any form of sexualization in the libraries. Let kids be kids."
The government is threatening to review the library's funding, saying the ruling may be in breach of the New South Wales government's anti-discrimination act.
And in sport,
Central defender Mats Hummels has helped Borussia Dortmund into the Champions League final, with the German team winning 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain.
Moments after Warren Zaire-Emery missed an open goal for PSG, Hummels rose unchallenged to head in Julian Brandt's corner from the left in the 50th minute.
Dortmund will either play against record 14-time champions Real Madrid or six-time winners Bayern Munich on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.
Dortmund are on course for their second Champions League trophy after winning in 1997.
