Australian news and politics recap March 24: Teal MP Monique Ryan’s husband allegedly takes down rival’s sign
Scroll down for the latest news and events.
Key Events
Treasurer denies election ‘bribe’ as bill relief looms
The Albanese government will use the federal budget as a springboard into an election campaign set to be dominated by price pressures.
Both major parties are vowing to make Australians better off as Labor focuses on healthcare and the coalition slams the government for increases in power bills and grocery prices following a stinging run of inflation.
Ahead of his fourth budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a $150 energy bill rebate divided equally across the final two quarters of 2025 to help ease hip pocket pain.
It’s an extension of the government’s $300 subsidy that spanned a year’s worth of power bills, but Dr Chalmers denied it was a pre-election bribe for voters.
“I would describe it as a government responding to the pressures that people still feel despite this progress that we’ve made on inflation,” he said.
Tuesday’s budget would reveal Labor had saved and re-prioritised $95 billion over its term, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said.
‘You’re blowing it up’: Joyce slams Labor’s energy move
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says Labor is working “under the ignorance that people don’t realise they’re getting their own money back” with energy bill relief.
“It’s your money, it’s not the Government’s money. The Government is merely handing back or allocating the funds that you have paid in your taxes,” Mr Joyce said on Sunrise.
“Unless you move away from intermittent power, you can’t fix the power price and the cost of living.”
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Labor was “proud” to give every Australian household $150 off energy bills.
Ms Plibersek said Mr Joyce did nothing when the Coalition was told 40-50 coal-fired power station were reaching end of life and approaching decommision.
“We have to rebuild our energy system and we’re doing that. You never did it. We’re doing it,” Ms Pliversek said on Sunrise.
“Tanya, you’re not rebuilding it, you’re blowing it up. Some of the coal-fired power stations you are literally blowing up,” Mr Joyce fired back.
