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SBS News in Easy English 19 June 2026

SBS News

A 5-minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.


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Presented by Essam Al-Ghalib

Source: SBS News


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A 5-minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.


Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised what he calls misinformation about the government's proposed changes to the capital gains tax, saying the expansion of tax benefits for businesses shows the government is listening.

The federal government yesterday announced the 2 million dollar turnover threshold for the 50 per cent tax reduction will increase to 10 million dollars.

That will cover 2.7 million small businesses and 98 per cent of all active businesses.

A new tax discount for new businesses is now open for consultation.

The Tech Council of Australia called the tax benefits a constructive response to the concerns of those in the sector; while the Australian Industry Group says the changes need to go further.

Addressing Business New South Wales, Mr Chalmers says it is important to look at the package as a whole.

"We have unfortunately seen a lot of misinformation about our changes. The fact is the overwhelming majority of businesses are eligible for those concessions. And we've just made them even more generous. And it brings that business tax relief package to more than $3.8 billion in total. So much of the budget will be beneficial for housing and for businesses here. But at the same time, we do know that economic reform in this country; and tax reform in particular, is always contested."

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US Vice President JD Vance has warned Israeli people who disagree with the Iran deal to avoid turning against their strongest supporter.

Mr Vance will travel to Switzerland this weekend for talks on the Iran deal, after it was electronically signed two days earlier than previously expected.

In a media briefing at the White House, Mr Vance credited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for not personally criticising the deal, but says members of his cabinet need to stop their attacks on the agreement.

"Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. The other thing that I would say is that over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. And anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in."

Mr Vance says the United States remains a strong supporter of Israel.

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Community groups have spoken out against Pauline Hanson's call for a 'monocultural' Australia.

The One Nation leader used her speech at the National Press Club earlier this week to call for an end to the policy of multiculturalism, declaring it had failed.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, FECCA, says it completely rejects Ms Hanson's remarks, calling it an attempt to resurrect the White Australia Policy and to promote division.

FECCA chair Peter Doukas says Ms Hanson's remarks ignore the key role of migrants in Australia's history and national identity.

"The idea of a monocultural Australia is not mainstream. So people from all backgrounds, all faiths, all religions - multicultural Australia is what is normal here. It is what has always been normal here. And what Ms Hanson is saying - is talking about - is not only a revisionism or a nostalgia for a policy that is long gone. It is something that never was. And I think that is what we need to be mindful of."

Mr Doukas says Australia has always been made up of people from many different backgrounds.

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The world's most popular animated cartoon series, Bluey, is to be translated into an Australian Indigenous language for the first time.

Five episodes of the series will be voiced in Yolŋu Matha to mark this year's NAIDOC Week.

The episodes have been re-voiced by speakers from North-East Arnhem Land, with local children providing the voices of Bluey and Bingo.

Dimathaya Burrawanga from the band King Stingray will voice Bandit, while Yolŋu educator and translator Rosie Mununggurr will voice Chilli.

The special episodes will be shown from July 5 during NAIDOC Week, and will also be shown at this year's Garma Festival.


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