Katina Curtis

Who’d turn down $50b GST? Someone with an election to win

KATINA CURTIS: Economists might have a clear-cut view of the way the world should be but when you add the brutal realities of politics into the mix, that cost-benefit analysis becomes a lot murkier.

Economist Saul Eslake and former premier Colin Barnett.

Katina Curtis and Dan Jervis-Bardy

‘WA GST deal worst policy of the century’: Economist

Economist Saul Eslake has reignited his attacks on the Federal Government’s assurances about WA’s GST share, labelling the deal the worst public policy decision of the century.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will use a speech to promise $566 million over the next decade for Geoscience Australia to create maps freely available to industry and communities.

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Albo maps the way ahead for underexplored resources

A comprehensive map of every resource under the ground of Australian land and oceans will help to guide mining projects into the future, backed by $566 million plus guaranteed funding until 2060.

‘Unacceptable’: PM blasts China over fighter jet near miss

Australia should be imposing political or economic sanctions on China rather than merely expressing concerns over the latest dangerous military incident, a leading security expert says.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, pictured, is promising a Budget that shows spending restraint but says it’s not the time for “scorched earth austerity” with slower growth looming over the next few years.

Early educators set for wage rise as Chalmers curbs spending

Childcare workers are expecting they will be in line for a substantial pay rise in next week’s Federal Budget.

Domestic violence commissioner Micaela Cronin says campaigns on the issue need to make it clear there are serious and rapid consequences for perpetrators.

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‘No easy answers’: Call for DV ads to show real consequences

Domestic violence commissioner Micaela Cronin says campaigns on the issue need to make it clear there are serious and rapid consequences for perpetrators.

Michaelia Cash has questioned why the Attorney-General has not used his powers to direct Commonwealth prosecutors about how to handle cases involving alleged breaches of visa conditions by non-citizens.

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‘Disgrace’: AG under fire over detainee bail fail

Michaelia Cash has questioned why the Attorney-General has not used his powers to direct Commonwealth prosecutors about how to handle cases involving alleged breaches of visa conditions by non-citizens.

Katina Curtis and Dan Jervis-Bardy

‘Board made wrong decision to remove GPS tracker’: Albo

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is outraged prosecutors did not oppose bail for a man who allegedly breached visa conditions and was then found not to need an ankle tracker.

A former immigration detainee will appear in court charged with breaching his curfew.

Western Australia

Emily Moulton and Katina Curtis

Former detainee on alleged curfew breach to remain in jail

A former immigration detainee who allegedly breached his curfew multiple times and failed to keep his tracking device “in working order” will remain behind bars after appearing in court on the charges.

The chilling toll of domestic violence and abuse must stop

KATINA CURTIS: All ages, all locations, and all demographics are affected by domestic violence and abusive relationships. Change will take everyone stepping up —and money.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the National Cabinet meeting.

Albo commits almost $1b to help domestic violence victims

A scheme to help women leave violent partners will be made permanent and the Albanese Government will trial pornography age verification access as part of a response to the crisis of violence against women.

Homes in ruins after two dams burst in 2015, flooding the small town of Bento Rodrigues in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The dams broke inside an iron ore mine, operated by Samarco, which is jointly owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale and Australia's BHP Billiton.

Mining

BHP, miners warned more class actions are in the pipeline

The head of a US law firm that has set up shop in Australia says more class actions against BHP and other miners are likely.

New legislation will set up five tests for how and where the Government acts, but Dr Chalmers says anyone who thinks Australia should not be in the game is kidding themselves about global realities.

Chalmers defends ‘smart and strict’ industry investments

Government investments in Australian industry will be ‘smart and strict’, not try to cover every sector or last forever, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will declare as he tackles criticisms of the Budget centrepiece.

$161 million set aside for national gun register

The Federal Government will include $161.3 million over the next four years in next month’s Budget to set up the register and back extensive reform of state and territory firearms management systems.

‘A problem for us’: Encryption hampers ASIO and police

The nation’s top security officials have accused social media companies of ignoring law enforcement and enabling criminals and terrorists as they roll out end-to-end encryption on their products.