TRANSCRIPT
- Employer groups concerned over criminal penalties in draft laws on the right to disconnect from work
- The Reserve Bank governor says inflation pressure easing, but challenges remain; and in basketball
- The Australian Opals begin their campaign to qualify for the Paris Olympics
Employer groups are concerned that criminal penalties could be imposed on employers who breach what's being legally drafted as the "right to disconnect" from work.
Under draft legislation on industrial relations reform, which passed the Senate yesterday, an amendment was added after negotiation with the Greens party, giving workers the right to ignore out-of-hours calls and emails, without being penalised.
There is recognition that employers could have a legitimate reason for contacting their staff at home, like filling empty shifts, but there is still the prospect that employers could receive a fine of $18,000.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says during the Senate vote, the government tried to scrap the criminal penalties for employers that don't follow the rules, but there was no support for the move from the Coalition.
He says there would be no chance of employers being fined, if the Coalition would give their support.
"None if the Liberals get out of the way. This is an issue because the Liberal Party refused to grant leave to have a government amendment to make it very clear. It is up them. So I suggest that... the questions should be asked of Peter Dutton, why is it that his team are so negative in voting against everything?"
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Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says inflation and cost-of-living pressures remain a challenge for Australian households.
Australia’s annual inflation rate has dropped a two-year low at 4.1 per cent, but remains well above the RBA's target of between 2 and 3 per cent.
Ms Bullock made the remarks in her first appearance before the House of Representatives economics committee.
She says there are "encouraging signs" that inflation pressures are easing, but challenges remain.
"Something that has not changed since our previous hearing in 2023 is the challenge presented by high inflation. We all remain acutely aware that the cost of living is rising much faster than it has over recent decades. It's been evident over the past couple of years in many of the essential goods and services we all buy, but also in a myriad of other goods and services that we might regard as a bit more discretionary."
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Thousands of Victorians reported feeling the impact of a 4.3-magnitude earthquake that shook large parts of the state on Friday morning.
It hit near Leongatha in the Gippsland region, 135km southeast of Melbourne, at 12.49am.
Geoscience Australia says the tremors were felt as far north as Sunbury to Wilson's Promontory National Park in the south.
Bureau of Meteorology says there was no threat of a tsunami in the aftermath of the quake.
The Seismology Research Centre's chief scientist, Adam Pascale, says the quake was the biggest to hit the state since a 5.0-magnitude earthquake rattled residents in southwestern Victoria in October.
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Vote counting is underway in Pakistan in a general election marred by militant attacks and the suspension of mobile phone services.
Three-time PM Nawaz Sharif is ahead in early counting, in an election a number of analysts say is among the least credible in the country’s post-independence history.
There have been allegations of "pre-poll rigging" amid a wide crackdown on former leader Imran Khan’s party.
Farzana Shaikh, an analyst from the London-based Chatham House think tank, says the role of the military in the elections must not be overlooked.
"The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Justice Party led by former prime minister, and now incarcerated leader Imran Khan, is almost surely not going to have a chance of forming the next government. The military establishment ... they've taken a whole series of measures to ensure that the party has no chance as emerging, as the most popular party, or the largest party."
The country's military has rejected allegations it has been involved in establishing governments, saying it remains apolitical.
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In basketball, the Australian Opals have begun their campaign to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The team will play three games in four days - against Brazil today, Germany on Sunday, and Serbia on Monday.
One win across the games will see Australia book a spot at the Paris Games beginning in July.
Australia is currently ranked World No. 3 behind China and the USA.
