A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English, I'm Kerrin Thomas.
.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the upcoming budget as the Labor government's most ambitious one yet, with what he calls more than usual saving and reforms.
Dr Chalmers says the war in the Middle East is the main reason for the government taking what he calls difficult decisions on tax reforms, with reports the budget will include changes to the capital gains tax discount.
Labor vowed not to reform the tax during the 2025 federal election campaign but Jim Chalmers says times have changed.
"The developments in the Middle East are a reason to act more decisively and more urgently not to kick the can down the road. There are substantial issues in our economy, in our tax systems, in our housing market, it would be easier to leave them unattended, but it would be wrong."
.
National Party leader Matt Canavan is criticising the plan, saying action is needed on cost of living crisis instead.
He says Labor should focus on cutting spending in this budget.
"What we need right now is a government to tackle inflation, what we need right now is what the reserve bank governor plea the government to do last week, we need the government to control spending, so that they don't have to increase interest rate as much, and nothing what we can see so far in the budget tackles those major issues in front of the Australian people."
.
An Australian army soldier has died during a parachuting training course at the Jervis Bay Airfield in New South Wales.
The Department of Defence confirmed the tragedy happened last night.
The department says one other soldier was injured, but didn't require hospitalisation.
.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says fighting with Russia continues, despite a three-day US-brokered ceasefire.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump.
Mr Zelenskyy says Russia has no intention of ending the war, despite claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin the war may be coming to an end.
Mr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is preparing for further attacks from Russia.
(Ukrainian then English)''Today there was no silence on the front line. Combat actions have continued. We have documented all of this. We also see that Russia has no intention of ending this war. And we are, unfortunately, preparing for new attacks. But peace must come. That is exactly what we are working for."
.
And to sport, Michael Voss has decided to resign as coach of the Carlton AFL side, effective immediately.
The team has suffered seven consecutive defeats - and currently sit in 16th spot on the ladder, with just one win so far this season.
Assistant Josh Fraser will take over as interim coach.
.
I'm Kerrin Thomas, this is SBS News in Easy English.
