RBA lifts interest rates to 4.85 per cent in 18-year high
The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates for the fifth time this year, from 4.6 to 4.85 per cent, the country’s highest since the global financial crisis.
RBA governor Michele Bullock will hold a press conference at 3.30 to answer questions from the media.
Albanese invited to UK to see first steel cut on AUKUS submarine
Britain will invite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to northern England next year to mark a milestone in the production of the first AUKUS submarine to be built in the UK under the defence pact with the United States and Australia.
The AUKUS submarine will be built to a design being used by Britain and Australia for a new fleet for the long term. The first will be made in Barrow-in-Furness, north of Liverpool.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the plan at the start of a meeting with Albanese at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua.
“We’ve got the chance, you and I, to cut the first steel on the first AUKUS sub some time next year,” he said.
US carries out ‘defensive’ strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island
The US has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official says.
The strikes, earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal, appeared to be limited and were not a resumption of major combat operations, the official said on Monday (Washington time), speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Another official said the strikes were defensive measures against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.
The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East. Central Command did not respond to requests for comment.
Earlier on Monday, Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported that there were several explosions on Qeshm Island.
Sydney bus passengers warned of delays, cancellations
Commuters have been warned that industrial action by bus drivers locked in a wage dispute with private operators risks disrupting routes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, lower north shore and inner north-west from Wednesday.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union, which represents drivers, has advised transport authorities that restrictions on the operation of some buses from early on Wednesday could disrupt services.
Work bans affecting buses departing depots will start the following day.
While buses are expected to continue operating, Transport for NSW said the indefinite actions planned by drivers could result in the delay or cancellation of some services where buses were unable to meet the requirements of the notified work bans.
“With the potential for longer wait times, passengers, including students sitting HSC exams this week, are encouraged to allow extra travel time, and consider travelling outside peak periods where possible,” the agency said.
NSW premier fears disproportionate impact of expected interest rate rise
NSW Premier Chris Minns has said the Reserve Bank has a difficult and finely balanced decision to make before this afternoon’s expected interest rate rise.
“I don’t think it is a straightforward decision because the consequences of it will be devastating for a lot of businesses and many families,” Minns said today.
“We’ve got to be careful that in their efforts to slow down the economy they don’t stop it dead.”
A rate rise, as expected, would have a huge impact on the economy, but the NSW premier is particularly worried about the effect on those with mortgage in Australia’s most expensive capital city property market.
“Our house prices are just disproportionately so much more,” he said.
Police investigating potential political attack on Victorian politician, volunteers
Victoria Police have released a picture of a woman seen near an incident where a vehicle mounted a curb near a group of Coalition volunteers and politician Georgie Crozier last month.
Detectives hope the woman may be able to assist in their investigation into the October 17 incident.
A vehicle on Bay Street, Port Phillip, mounted the curb nearby a group of people handing out flyers, at about 11.20am. No one was physically injured.
Police said the incident was “not believed to be an intentional act” and was “potentially driver error”.
PM downplays criticisms of RBA rate rises
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied taking a veiled swipe at the Reserve Bank after labelling interest rate hikes a “blunt instrument”.
Albanese made the remark in an interview with this masthead on Saturday. Until that point, Albanese had never previously used the term.
“For the prime minister over the weekend to blame the RBA for his appalling mismanagement is one of the lowest points I can recall in any discussion of the Australian economy in my lifetime,” Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg told ABC radio on Tuesday.
But Albanese, speaking at a Commonwealth meeting in the Caribbean, rejected the idea he was aiming to criticise the bank.
“No, it was the same phrase that was used by the RBA governor herself,” he told reporters.
UK PM Andy Burnham voices concern for Helen Haines in Albanese meeting
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed concern about violence against politicians in a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth meeting in Antigua, just as news broke in Australia of an attack on a One Nation volunteer.
Burnham expressed his concern about the attack on Victorian MP Helen Haines in his remarks with Albanese on Monday night (about 11am on Tuesday, AEDT).
“We send our thoughts to Helen Haines,” he said.
Albanese spoke to Burnham about the shock of the attack on Haines, while Burnham drew parallels with the UK and other countries. “It’s just this bigger question, isn’t it, about violence against all politicians,” Burnham said.
Alleged attack on volunteer ‘life-threatening’: Hanson
Pauline Hanson says the party volunteer who was allegedly attacked while protecting his One Nation campaign signs was kicked so badly he “lost consciousness” and was “bleeding from basically every orifice” in his face.
“It was life-threatening. Even now, with the bleed, it still could be life-threatening. So this is what we’re facing. This is what the family’s facing,” the One Nation leader told reporters earlier.
Asked whether the alleged attack was politically motivated, Hanson claimed the alleged attackers were walking along the highway when they spotted the campaign signs outside the man’s house.
“I’m very emotional about this because I respect people that who support me, I really do. I don’t take it for granted. It means a lot to me, and that’s when, in times like this, you have to, you know, be there for them as well,” she said.
‘His Majesty invited me’: Albanese defends trip
King Charles has joked with Anthony Albanese about taking the blame for the political outcry over the prime minister’s overseas travel, after days of debate about the long trip to this week’s Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean.
With the Coalition criticising Albanese for being away so long, the prime minister argued on Monday in Antigua that he had to attend.
“At the personal invitation of King Charles, of his majesty, I agreed to come to this meeting,” he told the Australian media.
A few hours later, Albanese met the King and told him that he had been asked “Why are you here?” and chosen to name the King as one of the reasons. And, thanks to boom microphones at major events, the exchange between the King and the prime minister was caught on video.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
