The PM announces a $50 million support package for flood-affected Queenslanders, Rent price hikes continue into the holiday period, Manchester United secure a 2-0 win at the FA Cup.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The PM announces a $50 million support package for flood-affected Queenslanders.
- Rent price hikes continue into the holiday period.
- Manchester United secure a 2-0 win at the FA Cup.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $50 million support package is on the way for those affected by recent wild weather in the state's far north and southeast.
The new support package will include measures for tourism recovery and clean-up programs for areas hardest hit.
Mr Albanese said the grants will be targeting local resilience and recovery in key areas.
He said the government will also be announcing a cyclone industry recovery and resilience officers program.
The new amount comes on top of a $64 million tourism package for Queensland announced in December following previous storms.
The Prime Minister said he would travel to Victoria tomorrow directly from far north Queensland.
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Everyone onboard a flight that crashed on a far north Queensland island have now been discharged from hospital, except the pilot.
Ten people, including the pilot, were transported to hospital after the plane flipped over at a luxury holiday destination Lizard Island, 240 kilometres north of Cairns, around 7:30am on Monday.
A statement from Queensland Health said all 10 people onboard are in a stable condition.
The aircraft had reportedly taken off for Cairns but returned to the island 10 minutes later due to mechanical trouble, and it's believed the plane clipped trees before coming to rest upside down while attempting to land on the island's small airstrip.
Assistant Commissioner Brina Keating acknowledged the bravery of the pilot when she spoke to Channel Nine.
"It was quite a calm scene., they were all undercover they were taken care of. I just want to acknowledge the lizard island first responders and all the staff there who prepared for us when we arrived. And they did a fantastic job and that pilot he did a fantastic job in just keeping those people alive."
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Rent price hikes have continued into the holiday period before the market's busiest time of year.
The latest PropTrack Market Insight report found the median national rent has continued on its meteoric rise, increasing 1.8 per cent over the December quarter to $580 per week.
This is an 11.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year, which means rents are $60 more expensive a week than they were in early 2023.
Capital city prices were 13.2 per cent more than the year before, bringing the median to $600 a week as units in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane increase by 15 to 17 per cent.
According to PropTrack economist Angus Moore, the short-term situation is unlikely to improve, but says renters may find relief on the horizon as 2023 data showed rental growth had slowed compared to the year before.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he has found leaders in the Middle East are determined to prevent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza from spreading.
Blinken told reporters in Saudi Arabia that all of those he spoke to realised the extent of the challenges, adding "no one thinks that anything will happen overnight."
He called to minimise rising tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
"First in with regard to Lebanon. It's clearly not in the interest of anyone, Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah for that matter to see this escalate and to see an actual conflict. And the Israelis have been very clear with us - that they want to find a diplomatic way forward that creates the kind of security that allows Israelis to return home."
Blinken also said Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea have to stop, adding countries have made clear that there must be consequences if the attacks continue.
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ACT Police have condemned drivers for what they described as 'moron tourism' at one of Australia's premier car festivals.
Police seized 13 cars, including a Holden Commodore for doing a burnout metres from pedestrians at the Summernats car festival.
The 22-year-old behind the wheel was suspended for driving in the territory for three months.
Police said two children and two adult passengers were also allegedly in the car during the manoeuvre.
Acting Inspector Mark Richardson addressed the incident.
"The behaviour of these drivers, I mean they just haven't evolved very far. I think they have really plateaued as a species, as a sub-species of the human race. I don' t know what goes through their mind."
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Police are investigating other incidents tied to the event.
And in football,
Manchester United have secured a 2-0 win at the FA cup fourth round.
Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes scored the goals to secure the victory over Wigan Athletic - a welcome relief for the 12-time FA Cup winners, who are out of Europe and the League Cup.
United will next visit the winners of the third round replay between fourth-tier Newport County and Eastleigh FC of the National League.
