TRANSCRIPT
- Debate on negative gearing sets the stage for tax policy to dominate another week of federal parliament.
- Joe Biden urges caution in Israel’s Gaza assault.
- And in sport, Australia’s U-19 cricket team clinches World Cup victory.
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Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are under pressure to change tax breaks on investment properties.
Tax reform looks set to dominate the political debate, as another sitting week of federal parliament begins.
The Greens are proposing limiting negative gearing rules, which allow investors to claim tax deductions on losses, to just one investment property per person.
However, both the government and the opposition have ruled that out.
The Coalition says it will instead develop a policy focused on addressing bracket creep, which Mr Dutton says is presently affecting productivity by giving less incentive to work harder.
But Mr Anthony Albanese says his government has tax policy right, and Mr Dutton is opposing him because he doesn't know how to do otherwise.
"All 13.6 million taxpayers will get a tax cut, and 84 per cent of Australians will get a higher tax cut. Peter Dutton wants to talk about anything but what's happening. He wants to talk about what is not happening. Peter Dutton wants Australians to work longer for less. What Peter Dutton wants is lower wages, more taxes on low and middle income Australians, and to continue to wind back any reforms that are made in the interests of working people."
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United States President Joe Biden has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should not proceed with their assault on Gaza's southern city of Rafah unless they have a detailed plan to ensure the safety of Palestinians sheltering there.
Roughly 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering in the city, which lies on the border with Egypt, amid Israel's deadly assault on the territory which has killed over 28,000 according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Mr Biden's call to Mr Netanyahu came days after the US leader said Israel's response to the 7th of October Hamas attack, which killed close to 1,200, was "over the top."
With no obvious place for civilians in Rafah to go ahead of the coming assault, aid agencies say many people are expected to die.
While Mr Netanyahu claims he will protect civilians, Mohammad Atwan, a Khan Younis resident sheltering in Rafah, fears the coming assault will force Palestinians into Egypt.
"Where do people go? The Israeli army closes everything. It is prohibited to enter several areas. If someone enters Khan Younis, you bomb and execute them. You only gave them one option when Israel strikes an area in Rafah under the pretext of the Rafah-Philadelphi corridor, and people then exit to Egypt. This is a displacement of Palestinian citizens from Gaza to Egypt, and this is expected to be about 90 per cent of us.”
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Melburnians making their way to Ballarat to join the search for missing woman Samantha Murphy are warned to take safety precautions so resources are not unnecessarily diverted away.
Dozens of volunteers continue looking for Ms Murphy despite police suspending their foot search.
The 51-year-old mother of three left home on the 4th of February to go jogging and has not been seen since.
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson says it has been heartwarming to learn that people had made the trip from Melbourne, but also concerning because newcomers don't know the area.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King is the MP for the area.
She says the local community realises just how hard the search for Ms Murphy is.
"The terrain they've been working through is really difficult. It's beauitful bushland. We all love it. But we know how difficult it is. And just for a community like Ballarat... big hearts... very, very big hearts... and we just hope very much that here's a positive outcome for Samantha Murphy and her family."
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Australia's teenage cricketers have emulated their seniors by beating India to become champions of the world.
Hugh Weibgen's side lifted the Under-19 World Cup at the South African venue of Benoni with a comprehensive 79-run win over the reigning champs.
After compiling 7-253 off their 50 overs, the Australians, with four young fast bowlers and the spin of Raf MacMillan, bowled out India's previously unbeaten side for 174 off 43.5 overs.
