What’s making news today
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of news from Australia and around the world. It’s Friday, May 29. Here’s what is making headlines today.
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers has introduced the first tranche of legislation to enact the tax overhaul announced in the government’s budget. A Senate inquiry will examine the proposed changes.
- This morning, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has defended his decision to call Prime Minister Anthony Albanese an “arrogant prick” during question time. Taylor withdrew the comment in the chamber yesterday.
- Albanese’s department has sought to block royal commissioner Virginia Bell from considering whether the government directed intelligence agencies to reduce counter-terrorism resources in the lead up to the Bondi massacre, a senior minister has confirmed.
- Counter-terror police have charged a woman with terrorism offences after she returned to Australia from Syria last year. She will seek bail in Melbourne on Monday.
- A group of passengers who were on board a hantavirus-struck cruise ship will have their quarantine period in a COVID-era facility in Perth extended by three weeks. The World Health Organisation advises hantavirus has an incubation period of up to 42 days. The passengers monitored for the entirety of that period. The group will be released on June 23.
- And the US and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire in the war by 60 days, but President Donald Trump has yet to approve it, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Taylor’s attack on PM reflects public sentiment, says independent MP
Angus Taylor’s attack on the prime minister during question time reflects a broader public sentiment of frustration towards the government, says independent MP Dai Le.
“[It’s] what a lot of people are saying online, on social media everywhere anyway,” the member for Fowler told the Today show this morning.
“People are already out there saying those things.”
During a debate over income tax proposals in question time yesterday, Taylor called the PM an “arrogant prick”. He withdrew the comment.
Taylor doubles down on ‘arrogant prick’ remark
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has refused to back down from his attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during question time yesterday.
During debate over the government’s income tax proposals, Albanese said that for many MPs it “might be the last time” they vote on an income tax proposal. His suggestion was that many of his opponents would be wiped out by One Nation, or Labor, at the next election.
“Arrogant prick,” Taylor said in an off-mic comment across the desk separating the pair, according to Labor frontbenchers who told this masthead what they heard. Taylor withdrew the comment.
But speaking on the Today show this morning, Taylor would not say he regretted the choice of words.
“I had to withdraw. It was unparliamentary, but what I am hearing everywhere I go is far worse than that.
“And the worst thing … is that we ask questions of the prime minister in question time. He doesn’t even try to answer them. He’s not even attempting.”
US, Iran agree on 60-day ceasefire extension, pending Trump’s approval
The US and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire in the war by 60 days, but President Donald Trump has yet to approve it, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Among the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day window is what will happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium, a US official said. Details of the pact were first reported by the US news outlet Axios.
The memorandum makes clear that Iran will not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to the US official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The US, meanwhile, would gradually lift its naval blockade on the strait, the conduit for about a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas before the war. Its closure has sent oil prices skyrocketing, driving up fuel prices around the world.
A second US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private diplomacy, said the broad outlines of an agreement have been reached but stressed that until Trump signs off on it, there is no deal.
Reuters
What’s making news today
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of news from Australia and around the world. It’s Friday, May 29. Here’s what is making headlines today.
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers has introduced the first tranche of legislation to enact the tax overhaul announced in the government’s budget. A Senate inquiry will examine the proposed changes.
- This morning, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has defended his decision to call Prime Minister Anthony Albanese an “arrogant prick” during question time. Taylor withdrew the comment in the chamber yesterday.
- Albanese’s department has sought to block royal commissioner Virginia Bell from considering whether the government directed intelligence agencies to reduce counter-terrorism resources in the lead up to the Bondi massacre, a senior minister has confirmed.
- Counter-terror police have charged a woman with terrorism offences after she returned to Australia from Syria last year. She will seek bail in Melbourne on Monday.
- A group of passengers who were on board a hantavirus-struck cruise ship will have their quarantine period in a COVID-era facility in Perth extended by three weeks. The World Health Organisation advises hantavirus has an incubation period of up to 42 days. The passengers monitored for the entirety of that period. The group will be released on June 23.
- And the US and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire in the war by 60 days, but President Donald Trump has yet to approve it, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
