Senate rejects federal government's attempt to rush extraordinary immigration powers through parliament.
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- Miko Santos and the Team
As of February, the CPI rose 3.4% p.a., slightly less than economists' 3.5% forecast, easing concerns of an inflation spike.
This boosted the S&P/ASX200 by 39 points, putting it 34 points from a record. The benchmark index closed on its high, indicating more strength, and gains were broad-based. [ Continue ]
💡Evening’s Headlines
Alice Springs CBD gets youth curfew amid calls for federal intervention over unrest.
As new data indicates homelessness is at a record high, Shelter WA releases the budget submission.
New NDIS bill proposed by Shorten prioritises "more dignified" support according to needs
🗳️ AUS POLITICS
Parliament is not rushed into approving the government's extraordinary immigration powers.
Senate rejects federal government's attempt to rush extraordinary immigration powers through parliament.
Parliament received the government's bill to make deporting non-citizens easier. After passing the House of Representatives with Coalition support on Tuesday, it has stalled in the Senate for the foreseeable future.
Journalists have been questioning Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil since Labor's proposed legislation pertaining to immigration detainees was defeated in a vote.
The Albanese government was looking for support for amendments that would subject detainees who refuse to cooperate with authorities to a minimum sentence of one year.
As per the legislation, the government will be vested with additional powers to prohibit foreign nationals from submitting visa applications if their home country declines to grant them.
On Wednesday, the Senate's Coalition and Greens joined forces to postpone the bill that would have sent the emergency powers to a parliamentary investigation.
In the Senate, the Coalition voted with the Greens and the crossbench to block the bill, sending it to a Senate legal committee that will report by May 7.
📠 BUSINESS
February saw no change in the yearly rate of inflation, which remained 3.4%.
In the year that ended in February 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released new data showing that the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator increased by 3.4%.
Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Annual inflation was unchanged in February and has been 3.4 per cent for three consecutive months”.
The most significant contributors to the February annual increase were Housing (+4.6 per cent), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.6 per cent), Alcohol and tobacco (+6.1 per cent) and Insurance and financial services (+8.4 per cent).
"CPI inflation is often impacted by items with volatile price changes like Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel. It can be helpful to exclude these items from the headline CPI to provide a view of underlying inflation.
"When excluding these volatile items from the monthly CPI indicator, the annual rise to February was 3.9 per cent, down from 4.1 per cent to January. Annual inflation excluding volatile items has continued to slow over the last 14 months from a high of 7.2 per cent in December 2022,” Ms Marquardt said. [CONTINUE ]
🖥️ Technology
The Grok chatbot will soon be enabled for X Premium users, Elon Musk says
X Premium subscribers can use xAI's Grok chatbot, Elon Musk's response to OpenAI's ChatGPT, later this week. Musk tweeted Grok's expanded availability and a video on how to chat with the chatbot on the X website.
X's Premium+ subscribers can use Grok since it left early beta, but it costs $16 a month or $168 a year. This rollout makes Grok more affordable since the Premium tier costs $8 a month or $84 a year. [Source - Mariella Moon ]
🌎 World Tonight
Brazil and Colombia are among the many Latin American countries that have expressed concern about the worsening political situation in Venezuela following the opposition politician's inability to register to vote in July's presidential election, which put him in the best position to challenge the country's autocrat, Nicolás Maduro.
The third attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan this week resulted in the death of six people when a suicide bomber crashed a car packed with explosives into a convoy of Chinese labourers in that country.
Local paramedics report that on Monday, at least 12 Palestinians drowned while attempting to retrieve airdropped packages that had fallen into the sea off the northern Gaza coast, close to Beit Lahia.
Thailand moved one step closer to becoming the third Asian territory to guarantee equal marital rights on Wednesday when its House of Representatives approved the legalisation of same-sex unions.
🏅 SPORTS
Parliamentarian Andrew Wilkie alleges secret AFL player drug tests.
Federal MP Andrew Wilkie told parliament that a doctor who has come forward with information has exposed claims of covert illegal drug testing carried out in order to help AFL players evade detection on game days.
Wilkie reported the claims made by a former football club president and doctor for the Melbourne Demons to the House of Representatives.
He characterised the accusations as precise, believable, and supported by signed declarations that he received and that made it obvious where the papers were obtained.
The "clinical intervention model" used by the AFL, in which players are tested for illegal drugs under the supervision of club physicians, has been defended by League CEO Andrew Dillon, who says it has always been a component of the AFL's illegal drug policy. [ Continue ]
📰 Good News, Inspiring, Positive Stories
Blossoming Appreciation - Why It's Time to Gift Men Roses - Mr Roses
In a world where expressions of appreciation and love transcend traditional norms, an emerging trend is reshaping gift-giving habits: men are increasingly finding joy in receiving flowers, challenging the notion that blooms are reserved for women and only for men on sombre occasions (such as funerals).
According to research, a shocking 88% of men have never received flowers, despite another survey showing that almost two thirds of men asked would actually love to receive a bunch! The research is clear - there is a vast untapped potential for expressing affection and appreciation in our relationships by sending roses to our men.
“Receiving flowers can stimulate feelings of connection, validation and gratitude. These qualities deepen intimacy, and build relational trust,” said Trauma-informed Therapist and Penguin Random House Author Natalia Rachel. “When someone lets us know they are thinking about us, we feel valued. Aside from the relational qualities, flowers also offer the gift of nature and vitality. Having flowers in the home can be a reminder of our own aliveness and beauty, which may inspire feelings of peace, joy and creativity.” [Continue ]