Angus Taylor uses budget reply to unveil tax, immigration and welfare overhaul; Donald Trump says Chinese President offering to help broker peace with Iran; and in sailing, Australia prepares for Americas Cup return.
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT:
- Angus Taylor uses budget reply to unveil tax, immigration and welfare overhaul
- Donald Trump says Chinese President offering to help broker peace with Iran
- Australia prepares for Americas Cup return
Australia's tax system would be overhauled, welfare payments restricted to citizens, and immigration slashed under a future coalition government.
In his first budget reply speech, Angus Taylor has conceded the Liberals and Nationals still have a long road to win back the confidence of voters, but asked Australians to "begin to believe again".
The opposition leader has outlined a plan to index tax brackets in line with inflation, returning hundreds of dollars to workers that would've otherwise gone to the government as tax.
Mr Taylor says his immigration policy would see a cap set on Net Overseas Migration based on the number of houses built.
He says the exact number for the cap would be revealed closer to the next federal election.
"The Coalition will deliver one of the biggest cuts to immigration in the history of this country. Our immigration cut will complement our plan to lift immigration standards. We will make the existing Australian Values statement an enforceable visa condition. We will enhance screening to stop radicals from entering our borders. We will curtail frivolous protection claims by restoring temporary protection visas and establishing a list of safe countries deemed free from persecution."
.
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre says Mr Taylor's speech demonises migrants and stokes fear, rather than delivering policy solutions.
The centre's deputy CEO, Jana Favero says the call to revive Temporary Protection Visas would bring back one of the most harmful elements of Australia’s past refugee policies that trapped peoeple in uncertainty and kept many families separated for more than a decade.
She also condemned remarks blaming migrants for the housing crisis as disingenuous when experts have debunked such a link - and instead identified the primary drivers as under-investment in public housing, negative gearing and a failure to build enough affordable homes.
Settlement Services International says the Coalition's budget reply risks deepening division and fear-mongering at a time when the country needs unity and social cohesion.
CEO Violet Roumeliotis says she is concerned by the proposal to bar all non-citizens from accessing welfare payments like parental leave and the carer allowance would also exclude permanent residents, who are paying taxes and living and working in Australia.
.
United States President Donald Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to help broker peace with Iran, as the two leaders continue talks in Beijing.
Mr Trump says President Xi would also like to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened.
"I said, well, we didn't stop it. They did it and then we stopped them. You know, it's sort of interesting. He joked. He said, you know, sort of they stopped it, then you stopped them. They'd like to see it Hormuz open."
Mr Trump has also confirmed China plans to order 200 Boeing aircraft, though no major agreements have been announced so far.
The two leaders are due to attend a tea reception before the US president returns to Washington.
.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is standing by her criticism of some of Australia's Muslim population by claiming they don't always adhere to Australian law.
Pauline Hanson has long history of criticising Australia's Muslim population and told the Senate in 2016 that she believed Australia was "in danger of being swamped by Muslims".
Muslim community leaders and some politicians have described those comments as racist and bigoted.
Senator Hanson has told SBS News she stands by her misgivings about Muslims.
Senator Hanson: "We've got a big Muslim population that's happened, about a million people in the last census. We're going to have another census this year. But it's not about just Muslims..."
Anna Henderson: "They are a big voting group."
Senator Hanson: "I'm sorry. We are Australians. I'm not looking at the fact of whether you're Muslim."
Anna Henderson: "But they would say they're Australians too."
Senator Hanson: "Yeah, they are but do they all act under the Australian law, and they don't."
.
Australians fans have gathered in Austria to watch Delta Goodrem represent Australia in the second semifinal of Eurovision.
There are 15 countries performing, including Ukraine, Albania, Malta and Norway.
These fans say they can't wait to see Delta perform her song 'Eclipse'.
Group: "Go Delta!"
Female voxie: "I am just so confident that Delta is going to win. She has class, she is a real Aussie girl, she has been going at it for her whole career. And she is one of the oldest contestants. And she is fabulous."
Male voxie: "I just think she is so warm and natural. And the song is just a powerhouse. We were there when Dani Im came so close in Stockholm. But I think we could do it tonight."
.
To sport, and in sailing, Australia is preparing to make its return to the Americas Cup, nearly 30 years after last competing in the event.
The team will be led by sailing heavyweight and Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby and backed by Sydney to Hobart winner John Winning Jr.
Australia has won the famed Cup just once, famously ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak in 1983.
Twenty-five year-old team member Tash Bryant says it'll be inspiring for up-and-coming sailors.
"I'm super excited to get out there and represent the country and like everyone's talked about it's been a long time coming and listening to the stories in this room and over the last few years talking about it everyone's so excited and it's an incredible experience and I'm extremely honoured to be here."
