An Australian soldier dies during a training exercise; Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the upcoming budget as the Labor's most ambitious one; and Michael Voss quits as Carlton coach.
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TRANSCRIPT
- An Australian soldier dies during a training exercise
- Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the upcoming budget as the Labor's most ambitious one
- Michael Voss quits as Carlton coach
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 budget on Tuesday evening will deliver five major packages, addressing fuel security, cost of living, housing, productivity, tax reforms and saving.
He says the war in the Middle East is a main reason for the government to take what he calls difficult decisions on tax reforms, with reports that the federal budget will include changes to the capital gains tax discount.
Labor had vowed not to reform the tax in the 2025 federal election campaign.
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."
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Nationals leader Matt Canavan has criticised the government's position on the capital gain tax discount in the upcoming budget, saying action is needed on cost of living crisis.
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."
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An Australian army soldier has died during a parachuting training course at the Jervis Bay Airfield in New South Wales South.
The Department of Defence confirmed the tragedy happened last night, without identifying the soldier.
The department says one other soldier was injured, but didn't require hospitalisation.
The death comes after other training incidents in recent years, including the death of Lance Corporal Tulsa Rumney in a single-vehicle rollover at the Townsville Field Training Area in October 2025.
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The federal government has urged migrants in Australia to be wary of unregistered migration agents providing false advice about protection visas, amid a crackdown on unethical practices.
It follows the introduction of tougher measures for migration advisers, including stronger standards, ethics requirements and increased enforcement powers aimed at improving integrity in the sector.
Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill has told SBS Gujarati some scam migration agents are providing misleading advise.
"One of the big problems that we've seen emerge, is there's been too many people who have been advised by agents, or have read things on the internet, to then take a protection claim, a humanitarian claim. People who take fake protection claims, who are not genuine refugees, who just don't want to go home, will be rejected, they'll be deported from Australia, and they'll never be allowed to come back."
He says those seeking advice should only ever use a registered agent listed by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
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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 that the war may be coming to an end.
Mr Putin made the remark on Saturday [[16 May]], over four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking in a nightly video address, Mr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is preparing for further attacks from Russia, dismissing Mr Putin's claims.
''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."
Mr Zelenskyy says he discussed with Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius over the possibilities for joint arms production.
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Michael Voss has decided to resign as Carlton coach, effective immediately.
The Blues have suffered seven consecutive defeats - and currently sit in 16th spot on the ladder, after just one win so far this season.
Blues assistant Josh Fraser will take over from Voss as interim coach.
Voss coached Carlton 99 times after being appointed for the 2022 season, leading the club to a preliminary final in 2023 - the club's best result since making the 1999 grand final.
