TRANSCRIPT
- The federal government to cut immigration levels.
- The United States stops a UN Security Council resolution that demanded a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Alyssa Healy appointed as captain of the Australian women's cricket team.
The federal government is cutting immigration levels, in a plan to be fully announced next week.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there was always going to be a jump in immigration once Australia's borders opened again at the start of last year.
Treasury forecasts show that immigration is expected to decline substantially this financial year.
But Mr Albanese says, over a longer period of time, immigration levels need to be altered.
"Well, we've got to make sure that our population is sustainable. And that's why we're having this comprehensive approach, That's why we did the proper reviews. Good governments do proper analysis, and then have responses."
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The federal government says it is committed to keep spending down to help ease cost of living pressures.
The economy is one of a range of issues that has made things difficult for the government in the back half of his year.
New data shows Australia is in a per-capita recession.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says rising wages and the government's cost of living measures are two of his key achievements.
And Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has told the Nine Network the government's measures will help ease cost of living pressures as 2023 turns into 2024.
"We can't be throwing cash around- that will make a bad situation worse. Our job- keep a lid on fiscal policy, keep a lid on government spending, keep jobs growing, while the Reserve Bank does its bit, and some of these international factors whichare bearing down upon us start to ease. We expect some of the inflation pessures should start to come off- as they already are- over the course of the next nine months."
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Official data shows Australia's barley exports to China have resumed with vigour.
China's customs agency has released official data for the first time in more than three years.
It shows that 314,000 tonnes of Australian barley, worth 139 million dollars, have been imported since tariffs were lifted in August.
Trade Minister Don Farrell says the latest data shows Australia’s trade relationship with China is on a positive trajectory.
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The number of Australians opting to re-finance their mortgage remains near record levels.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the value of total re-financing between lenders is 12.6 per cent higher than a year ago.
It was last measured at a little more than 20 billion dollars.
671,000 home loans have been re-negotiated since the Reserve Bank began lifting interest rates last year.
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The United States has used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to block a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The vote on the matter had earlier been delayed so US Secretary of State Antony Blinken could meet with Middle Eastern leaders.
There were thirteen votes in favour of the ceasefire demand on the fifteen-member Security Council, with one abstention, leaving the United States isolated in its support of Israel.
The veto comes as Israel has sharply increased is strikes on Gaza, pounding the length of the enclave, killing hundreds of people with 450 strikes from land, sea, and air in the space of 24 hours.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says violations by Hamas do not justify what Israel is doing in return.
"The brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. And while indiscriminate rockets fired by Hamas into Israel and the use of civilians as human shields are in contravention with the laws of war, such conduct does not absolve Israel of its own violations.”
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Alyssa Healy is the new permanent captain of the Australian women's cricket team in all three formats of the sport.
Healy, a 33-year-old wicketkeeper, had previously been vice-captain to Meg Lanning, who quit international cricket recently.
Healy has filled in for Lanning as captain for extended spells in the past two years, including during this year's women's Ashes.
Healy's first assignment as permanent skipper will be the all-format tour of India later this month.
Healy says she will be fit to make the tour, despie missing all of the recent Big Bash League tournament with a finger injury, suffered when she was trying to break up a fight between her two dogs.
