Guardian AU
Victorians and Tasmanians get free public transport as state governments seek to ease surge in fuel demand
Victoria and Tasmania are rolling out free public transport — for one month and through July respectively — as soaring petrol prices driven by Middle East conflict strain household budgets. The move is designed to shift commuters away from their cars and reduce pressure on fuel demand. It marks one of the more direct government interventions in response to the energy shock rippling through the region.
Read article →Guardian AU
As the fuel crisis worsens and more sectors call for help, Labor must be prepared to make tough choices
Australia's worsening fuel crisis is piling fresh pressure on Jim Chalmers ahead of the May budget, with the government bracing for a prolonged disruption rather than a quick resolution. National cabinet has stopped short of petrol rationing, but more significant government interventions appear increasingly likely. With multiple sectors already lining up for relief, Labor faces hard decisions about where to direct limited fiscal firepower.
Read article →ABC AU
Australians may be losing faith in US alliance, Hastie says
Andrew Hastie, senior shadow minister, has raised the alarm that American credibility is eroding in the eyes of Australians, potentially undermining confidence in the decades-long alliance. The warning signals growing bipartisan anxiety in Canberra about Washington's reliability as a strategic partner. For a nation whose security architecture is built on US ties, shifting public sentiment could have significant foreign policy consequences.
Read article →Guardian AU
Coroner to investigate after Northern Territory records two deaths in custody in a week
Two men, aged 25 and 26, died in Northern Territory custody within days of each other, prompting a coronial investigation. The deaths — one in a Darwin correctional centre cell and one in a police vehicle — mark a grim week for a jurisdiction already under scrutiny over its treatment of people in custody. Authorities have referred both cases to the coroner as investigations into the circumstances of each death get underway.
Read article →Guardian AU
‘Entirely wiped out’ crops, buildings destroyed and weeks of recovery as cyclone damaged assessed
Western Australia's Carnarvon region, responsible for roughly 60% of the state's fresh winter produce, is counting the cost of Cyclone Narelle after crops were entirely wiped out and buildings destroyed. Flooding remains a threat for low-lying communities as recovery efforts continue, with authorities still working to restore power to the area. The damage to this critical food-bowl region signals potential supply disruptions for consumers across the state in the months ahead.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →