Australian news and politics recap: Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers fourth Federal Budget

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is speaking now in the House of Representatives, delivering the Federal Budget.

He says the Budget has two new tax cuts and higher wages, more bulk-billing and help with medical bills, cheaper medicine and less student debt.

“It is a plan to build Australia’s future with more homes, more investments in skills and education, competition reforms and a future made in Australia.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is just minutes away from getting to his feet in Parliament to deliver his fourth Federal Budget.

Reporters have been locked away for the past six hours, poring over hundreds of pages of Budget papers to decipher what’s in store, the good and the bad, for Australians.

After two back-to-back surpluses, the Budget is set to forecast years of deficits ahead and is expected to offer targeted relief while ensuring the economy is “more resilient” in the face of great global unpredictability.

Many of Labor’s cost-of-living measures have already been announced, including the $150, six-month extension of power bill rebates, which will cost $1.8 billion.

That, and other promises like the $25 cap on PBS medicines, the $8.5 billion boost to expand Medicare bulk-billing and the 20 per cent reduction in student debts are all contingent on Labor being re-elected.

Mr Chalmers will deliver his budget speech at 7.30pm AEST.

Stay with us as we cover it live.

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Have a listen to host Ben O’Shea’s take on Trump’s huge security fail and why Albo is using influencers to sell the budget.

Australian law firm Slater & Gordon has referred a former employee to Victoria Police.

It claims there are “reasonable grounds to suspect” that “malicious emails” sent to more than 900 employees in February and alleged to contain salary information were sent by an ex-employee.

The consumer law firm has been attempting to get to the bottom of the scandal that involved a “series of identical emails” sent on Friday, February 21 between 9.41am and 9.57am.

In a statement the firm branded the flurry as a “premeditated and carefully planned attack which Slater and Gordon condemns in the strongest possible terms”.

Slater and Gordon confirmed the findings of its investigation had been referred to police.

“This matter continues to be taken extremely seriously by Slater and Gordon, and we have referred the outcomes of the forensic investigation to Victoria Police. We will continue to assist the police with their work,” chief executive Dina Tutungi said in a statement.

“While this malicious incident was unwelcome, our priority remains our people and the critical work we do every day to provide access to justice for our clients.”

Read Simone Grogan’s full story

Rowing Australia is concerned that the 2032 Olympic venue won’t comply with World Rowing regatta standards due to the currents in Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River.

Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River has been announced by the Queensland government as the site for rowing and sprint canoeing in the 2032 Games, disregarding a recent recommendation the Olympic rowing be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

AAP is reporting that Rowing Australia boss Sarah Cook was more concerned about the current in the central Queensland location than crocs, being a river rather than a lake or man-made venue like the Sydney course.

The Rockhampton waterway has been used as a training facility for the Australian rowing team, including before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and with further plans to do the same ahead of next Games in Los Angeles.

However, the rowing body fears the venue could fail to meet international rowing regatta standards, with the announcement made before the completion of a technical feasibility study that would confirm its ability to host national or international level racing.

With World Rowing set to visit the river in May, any river current that could impact results or favour certain lanes were not permissible under the rules.

Basil Zempilas has been confirmed as WA’s new Liberal Opposition Leader at the first meeting of MPs since the party’s third straight electoral loss two weeks ago.

Mr Zempilas, the new Churchlands MP, was chosen unanimously by MPs on Tuesday after no other contender emerged following former leader Libby Mettam’s departure last week.

Ms Mettam was endorsed as Mr Zempilas’ deputy.

Outside parliament, Zempilas said it was the start of a new era for the Liberal Party.

“You don’t often get an opportunity for a fresh start and that’s what the WA Liberal Party have and that’s what today represents in many ways, and I’m really looking forward to getting in there and getting it all started,

“It’s more than a rebuild. I think it’s a total reset and that’s the opportunity that we’ve got.

“But that is a matter for me and all of our colleagues to come together and discuss.”

After some false starts, the race to the Brisbane 2032 Games is underway with the Olympic venue plan finally unveiled.

A 60,000-seat main stadium in Brisbane’s Victoria Park has been confirmed as the centrepiece after the Queensland government.

Other big winners include swimming with the inner city Centenary Pool to be transformed into a 25,000-seat national aquatic centre near the main stadium, ditching initial plans to host the sport in a drop-in pool.

The Brisbane Showgrounds will also get a facelift with a 20,000-seat stadium planned next to a relocated main athletes village.

Hockey will also be happy, with the sport to be held on the Gold Coast at a revamped 2018 Commonwealth Games venue instead of Brisbane’s Ballymore rugby field.

For all the details read the​​ full story​​.

A huge earthquake has rocked residents on the west coast of New Zealand’s south island.

The magnitude 6.8 quake struck 160 kilometres from Riverton in Southland at 2.43pm local time.

People in the Southland and Fiordland regions have been urged to stay away from beaches and marine areas as strong and unusual currents may present a danger, New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency said in an update.

Read the story

“Brisbane needs a world-class arena in the CBD full stop.”

David Crisafulli has announced sweeping changes for the Brisbane CBD and is taking the idea to tender.

“I can reveal today the State Government has received offers from the private sector to build a Brisbane arena for a fraction of the cost for taxpayers.”

“To my mind, this development is a game-changer and proof there would be no value to Australian and Queensland taxpayers to spend $2.5 billion on a Brisbane Live Arena when the private sector is willing to engage with us to deliver one.

“To show how serious we are about progressing plans with the private sector, today I officially announce our Government will move the new Brisbane arena priority society from Roma Street to the vacant site at Woollongabba and we will proceed immediately with a market-led proposal.

“The vision our government has beyond the Games also includes the Gabba coming down to make way for urban renewal beside a world-class arena.

“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final, the Gabba’s swansong?”

As part of the Olympics upgrade the famous Brisbane showground precinct and Pat Rafter tennis centre will be getting an upgrade and facelift.

“We will be delivering the RNA show grounds a much-needed and long-awaited upgrade,” David Crisafulli said.

“As well as housing the Brisbane athletes’ village, an upgraded 20,000 seat arena, an outdoor arena, will host key events.

“Equally importantly, it gives new life to the Ecca, one of the most important cornerstones where the country meets the city.

“I can also announce Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane.

“A major upgrade of the tennis centre will include a 3000 seat show court arena and 12 new courts.”