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TRANSCRIPT
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has called for greater transparency on the fuel crisis in a formal response to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's national televised address.
Mr Taylor has criticised the federal government's management of the impacts of the war in the Middle East on Australia, accusing Mr Albanese of failing to lead adequately.
The opposition leader says the government took too long to announce the cut to the fuel excise, which came into effect earlier this week, saying the cuts were only introduced after significant pressure from the Coalition.
He is calling for more clarity on the government's future plans to alleviate economic pressures and fuel shortages.
"The risk ahead of us is a patchwork of different rules across the country that leave Australians uncertain. We don't want to see heavy-handed mandates that restrict people's freedoms, and governments must be honest with us about taking any such steps. Last night, when the prime minister addressed the nation, Australians were expecting answers and details. They received neither."
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Gambling reform advocates have reacted furiously to the government's announcement on gambling advertising reform, describing the proposed changes as half-baked.
Amongst the reforms are a ban on celebrities spruiking gambling, a ban on gambling ads on live sport telecasts between 6am and 8:30pm, and a ban on betting ads in sporting venues- including on team jerseys.
But Gambling expert Samantha Thomas says the plan is more about optics than making a difference.
Australian Medical Association vice president Julian Rait says partial bans don't work - and the reforms fail to provide the comprehensive protections needed to reduce online gambling harm.
And Spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello says the changes fall short of recommendations from the late Peta Murphy's landmark gambling harm inquiry report, handed down in 2023.
"It's a start but it's a very timid response. The truth is the Murphy report - supported by the majority of Australians - wanted all ads banned. So that kids would stop being groomed, so that sport would stop being captured by gambling companies."
Listeners seeking support can call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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US President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Mr Trump made the announce in a social media post, saying Ms Bondi will be transitioned to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.
Ms Bondi has been a strong ally of the president, but has been criticised by some Trump supporters for her handling of the release of the Justice Department files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
She has also been criticised over efforts to prosecute perceived Trump opponents, such as former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
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A spokesman for Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed a speech by US President Donald Trump as nonsense.
In his national address, Mr Trump warned Iran that he would bomb the country back to the stone ages.
Spokesperson for Iran's president, Elias Hazrati says Mr Trump's remarks have only further galvanised leaders and people in Iran.
(Farsi then translated into English): "Trump has definitely fallen into talking nonsense. The speech he gave last night—which was supposed to be the most important speech a president could deliver in the middle of a war—ended up being ridiculed worldwide. Financial markets ridiculed and again oil prices went up, and stock markets fell once more. And today, not only did he fail to inflict even the slightest damage on a great and powerful Iran, but he actually strengthened the unity of the people and the cohesion of officials."
Iran has fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states in the last 24 hours, demonstrating Iran's continued ability to strike its neighbours, even as Donald Trump claimed the US had nearly eliminated the threat from Iran.
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The United Nations says that 15 per cent of Lebanon's territory has been affected by Israeli displacement orders, with more than one million people - around one-fifth of Lebanon's population - forced from their homes.
Lebanon is entering its second month of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with Israel pledging to occupy large parts of southern Lebanon in order to protect residents in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
More than 1,300 people have been killed in this round of the conflict.
Stephane Dujarric is the spokesman for the U-N Secretary-General.
He says the humanitarian situation is deteriorating at a rapid pace, and the U-N is struggling to provide basic healthcare to the needy in Lebanon because of the conflict.
"Hospitals are struggling to keep up. Half of the facilities that are supported by the UN Population Fund in areas impacted directly by the conflict have been forced to close due to the violence. Many health care workers themselves have been forced to move. Hospitals and primary health care centres are overwhelmed and they are understaffed."
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New research shows Australians will be spending more this Easter - and, unsurprisingly, petrol prices are the main cause.
Those who say they anticipate spending this Easter will spend an average of $2,019, according to consumer research group Finder.
That's well up on last year's total of $1,556.
The main reported cost is travel- up nearly 500 dollars more on average than last year.
And, what's more, anticipated spending on chocolate is predicted to be slightly down.
Research by the Tourism and Transport Forum late last month showed more than 40 per cent of people had already scaled back or cancelled their Easter travel plans due to the higher petrol prices, along with pre-existing inflationary and cost of living pressures.
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In football, the Matildas and their Japanese counterparts have joined forces to slam the prize money on offer at the women's Asian Cup.
In the recently-concluded tournament, in which Japan beat Australia in the final in Sydney, 2.62 million dollars in total prize money was on offer.
That's the same amount as was on offer at the previous Asian Cup in 2022.
By contrast, at the most recent men's Asian Cup, in early 2024, a total of 21.54 million dollars in prize money was on offer.
In a joint statement, the Matildas and the Nadeshiko are calling for equal prize money, saying it would lift standards across Asia, and benefit the game long-term.
The sport's global governing body, FIFA, has pledged equal prize money for the next men's and women's World Cups.
