Farmers are at their wits’ end dealing with wild rabbits as a plague of the pests sweeps across parts of NSW. NSW Farmers’ Junee Branch Chair Martin Honner said landholders in the Junee, Illabo, Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts were losing the battle to contain the destructive pests as they were reported in unprecedented numbers across the Riverina.  “The Easter Bunny is one thing, but these pests are a whole other ball game that have been introduced into our nation and have been causing havoc ever since,” Mr Honner said. “Every night, our paddocks are crawling with thousands of wild rabbits, who are ravaging our crops and pastures until there’s not a skerrick left on the ground. “Numbers are well and truly past crisis point, and no matter how hard we try to contain these rabbits ourselves, the sheer scale of the population means we need huge investment, manpower and recognition of this problem if we can ever hope to get it under control.” NSW Farmers’ Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petrie said funding for coordinated, targeted pest control programs was needed to address the serious threat presented by the pests across the state. “Controlling introduced pests like rabbits is essential for our environment and our animals, but it’s costing farmers huge sums of money, as well as time they don’t have,” Mrs Petrie said. “What the federal government has promised to spend on fighting pests and weeds is a pittance compared to the problem, and our state government also needs to increase funding for coordinated pest control programs if we want to see any shift at all. “Rabbits are just one example of what farmers are up against here in NSW, and we’re up to our ears containing that pest alone.” 

A man’s hand has been severed during an assault this morning at Coffs Harbour.Emergency services responded to reports that a man’s left hand had been cut off during an assault at a home on Toormina Place, Coffs Harbour, about 6.45am today (Wednesday, 16 April 2025).NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 59-year-old man at the scene before he was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.Two women, aged 58 and 80, who were in the premises at the time, were not injured.Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District have been told two men – one of whom is believed to be known to the 59-year-old man - had assaulted him. They left before police arrived.A crime scene has been established, and an investigation into the incident commenced.As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information about the matter – or was in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Coffs Harbour Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Construction has now started on Australia’s first-ever wildlife specialist teaching veterinary hospital at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.This $80 million state-of-the-art facility will replace the current hospital, which has played a critical role in wildlife care since the 1970s. The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will expand the zoo’s critical rescue and rehabilitation work by delivering new surgical, rehabilitation and recovery facilities to cater for hundreds of animals per year. As a dedicated specialist teaching hospital, it will also enable widespread training and upskilling of wildlife carers, students and veterinary practitioners – further protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity against ever-increasing natural disasters. The 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires affected billions of animals, including koalas, wallabies, platypuses and critically endangered amphibians, which Taronga’s hospital team was instrumental in treating. The devastation of these fires demonstrated a national need for a new, state-of-the-art wildlife hospital.Taronga’s new multipurpose facility will feature:Modern surgical facilities and specialised rehabilitation and recovery spaces for species such as marine turtles, reptiles and amphibians before they return to the wild.Increased quarantine facilities for animals confiscated in illegal wildlife trade seizures and for those transferred from other zoos as part of global conservation breeding programs.Australia’s first Zoo Nutrition Centre dedicated to managing the diets of the zoo's animals.A pathology lab for onsite analysis and testing.Public viewing galleries through which zoo guests can safely watch animal health checks and veterinary procedures.The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital is funded by the NSW Government through an investment of $40.7 million. A further $40 million is being raised through philanthropic donations. This facility will support the important role of volunteer wildlife carers by educating and sharing knowledge with volunteers. This will improve the state’s capacity to respond to wildlife crises through wildlife first aid. The NSW Government is undergoing state-wide consultation on the wildlife rehabilitation sector to gain a detailed understanding of how NSW can improve the way we care for our native animals. Premier Chris Minns said, “Taronga’s new wildlife hospital will be a truly unique facility as Australia’s first wildlife specialist teaching hospital.“Once opened, this new hospital will allow specialist vets to deliver treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation for our native species – and families will be able to come to watch them in action doing what they do best. “Our country is fortunate to have so many unique species, and this facility will enable us to protect even more of our Australian wildlife for generations to come.”Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “As natural disasters become more common, veterinarians and vet nurses are increasingly being called upon to rescue and rehabilitate severely impacted wildlife.“This facility will not only give us the tools we need to rehabilitate our wildlife, it will also allow for us to share critical knowledge with wildlife carers all over the state.”Taronga Conservation Society Australia Chief Executive Cameron Kerr AO said, “Taronga’s Wildlife Hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo treat approximately 1,500 sick, injured or orphaned native animals for treatment and rehabilitation a year, caring for a range of wildlife from marine turtles to echidnas, possums, sea birds, snakes and everything in between.“Every year, we see first-hand the increasing need to treat and care for wildlife. At Taronga, we are driven by our purpose to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. We knew we had a duty to forge the next step. The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will allow our expert veterinary team to care for and protect even more of our precious, native animals, and inspire future conservationists and veterinary practitioners to protect Australia’s unique species.”

The NSW Government is delivering increased funding for the Small Group Tuition Program in NSW public schools this year, with $80 million invested to lift literacy and numeracy outcomes for students who need extra support to keep on track and meet their potential.  Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Group Tuition Program was made permanent in NSW public schools through an election commitment delivered by the state government.This will enable students to get access to intensive and targeted teaching in the critical foundational skills of literacy and numeracy.The ongoing Small Group Tuition Program is a central component of the Better and Fairer Schools Funding Agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW governments.The NSW Government has enhanced the program to align clearly with evidence-based explicit teaching, while new reporting requirements will also ensure there is a measurable impact on students’ learning progress. The Small Group Tuition Program improves reading and numeracy skills for primary and secondary students while also providing valuable practical experience for student-teachers pursuing their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications, as they can be employed as tutors in the program.With the lift in funding for 2025, schools will be able to increase Small Group Tuition interventions from 10 to 15 weeks.The program has been informed by research undertaken by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), which recommends tutoring students in small groups at the “needs additional support” NAPLAN proficiency level. Additionally, Grattan Institute research found that Small Group Tuition is the most effective way of reducing learning and development equity gaps.Funding is determined based on the number of students identified through the 2024 NAPLAN proficiency standards, ensuring that resources are allocated where they are needed most.NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “The Minns Labor Government is making this significant investment as part of our record education funding, to ensure every public school student can achieve their full potential.“In addition to this funding boost for Small Group Tuition, the new reporting guidelines will make sure we are monitoring student progress in developing critical literacy and numeracy skills.“This is part of our work to reverse declining student outcomes after more than a decade of neglect and mismanagement under the former Liberal Nationals government.  “The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding the NSW public education system to ensure all students have access to a world-class public education and the opportunity to succeed.”

The number of people facing illicit drug charges in the criminal courts fell 9 per cent to 38,039 defendants in the 2023–24 financial year, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Samantha Hall, head of ABS crime and justice statistics, said: 'The number of people facing illicit drug charges has generally been declining in recent years. Around 20,000 fewer defendants faced illicit drug charges in 2023–24 compared to 2018–19.'This was mainly due to a drop in drug possession or use offences in court, down 34 per cent from 2018–19.' There were fewer defendants with illicit drug charges in all states and territories, except in the Northern Territory (up 12 per cent or 38 defendants from 2022–23) and Western Australia (up 8 per cent or 497).Males accounted for three-quarters (74 per cent) of defendants on illicit drug charges. Around 1 per cent of defendants on illicit drug charges were aged under 18 years. Almost all (99 per cent) of those receiving a court judgement on illicit drug charges had a guilty outcome. Of these guilty defendants, over half (55 per cent or 19,407 defendants) received a fine as their principal sentence. The median amount for fines was $400. A further 12 per cent (4,246 defendants) were sentenced to a good behaviour order, and 9 per cent (3,145) to custody in a correctional institution.Nationally, the total number of criminal court defendants for all charges fell by 3 per cent between 2022–23 and 2023–24.

Digital Photo Card holders will be given access to an upgraded digital identity document from this month in a major step forward in developing the NSW Government’s Digital ID and Wallet.Commencing as a pilot project, people will have a more secure way to prove their identity and age, with the upgrade to existing NSW Digital Photo Cards allowing users to share only their required information via a digital ‘handshake’.The pilot will initially operate in three Service NSW Centres at Auburn, Blacktown, and Parramatta from today.Unlike the existing digital ‘copy’ of a customer’s Photo Card stored inside their Service NSW app, the upgraded card will enable people to digitally share information needed for a transaction via QR code without handing over their phone or identity document. The upgraded card is the first government-verifiable photo credential in Australia to be built to these international standards. The new security standards will make it harder for people to misuse the credentials or steal people’s information by keeping information more secure.It will allow people to share their ID and qualifications for a range of tasks and transactions safely and conveniently while ensuring personal information and privacy are better protected.The pilot project is testing the technology platform that will enable digital credentials such as driver's licences, trade qualifications, and working with children checks, securely stored inside the new digital wallet on the Service NSW app.These future upgrades will enable people to selectively disclose their information – for example, only providing confirmation that you are over 18 – preventing unnecessary sharing of personal details and avoiding the need to hand over your physical documents or phone. In the pilot phase, customers completing eligible transactions will present their upgraded Digital Photo Card at the Service NSW counter, where staff will use a device to verify the credential in real-time. This process will test verification of the card and the digital sharing of information with customer’s consent.Successful testing of the upgraded credential paves the way for ongoing rollout of the Digital ID and Wallet program which could see a range of licences upgraded to the new credential standard.Further legislation is required to enable wider use of NSW Digital IDs across government and accredited commercial partners, with consultation planned in late 2025.The pilot builds on the recent success of online Working with Children Check renewals and the First Aid Certificate trial with St John Ambulance. Customers who have an existing NSW Digital Photo Card can voluntarily participate in the pilot, and upgrading their card will only take a matter of minutes.Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said, "This pilot of Australia’s first government-issued digital photo credential is an exciting step towards a digital future for NSW where people have greater control over their digital identity and security.“It paves the way for more credentials to be rebuilt to the new international security standard, allowing people to only share the information they choose and creating easier access to essential documents, including in an emergency.“Upgrading this credential means that over time, more than one million NSW residents who have a Photo Card instead of a driver licence can also benefit from these security and privacy enhancements, including people who are vulnerable, elderly, disabled or new migrants.“The digital photo credential is another way we are building better services for the people of NSW and helping people to better safeguard their identity.”Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “The NSW Digital Photo Card will follow international ISO standards allowing it to eventually be used across other states, territories and countries while making it harder for someone else to use credentials and pretend to be you. “The pilot uplifts security of this primary document and enhances the privacy protections to help keep your identity information and credentials more secure.“Feedback from the pilot will provide the NSW Government with direction in planning for future statewide rollouts.”

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have backed in their plans to tackle cost of living pressures as they made their case to voters during the first leaders' debate of the federal election campaign.The prime minister won the contest on Tuesday evening, after a group of 100 undecided voters cast their ballot at a "people's forum" hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph.Forty-four per cent of the group voted in favour of Mr Albanese, with 35 per cent for the opposition leader, and 21 per cent still undecided.Polling has shown the race to reach majority government is tight.(Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton were asked how they would react to US President Donald Trump's tariffs. (Jason Edwards/AAP PHOTOS)Both leaders were cautious in their responses and avoided any major gaffes at the event in western Sydney.Education, rising healthcare costs, and energy bill relief were among the issues asked by the voters.About half the room of participants raised their hands when asked if they were struggling with cost of living, which is the defining issue of this election.Mr Dutton was repeatedly asked about his rhetoric on migration, as audience members asked what he could do to avoid "demonising" them."We have to have a managed migration program and our argument is that you can reduce it from the record level of at the moment, down by 25 per cent for two years, which will create about 100,000 homes and that will help young Australians get into housing," he said.Answering a question about health, Mr Albanese pulled out a Medicare card - something he has done repeatedly during the campaign - as Labor places the issue at the forefront of its re-election bid."Labor created Medicare will strengthen Medicare, and will make sure that in the future we get those bulk billing rates back up to 90 per cent," he said.Mr Dutton vowed there would be no cuts to healthcare if the coalition is elected, and rebutted Labor's claims about his record.(Mr Dutton was repeatedly asked about his rhetoric on migration. (Jason Edwards/AAP PHOTOS)Both leaders were asked how they would react to US President Donald Trump after he imposed tariffs on every country.Nationals Senator Matt Canavan sent his "thoughts and prayers" to Mr Dutton, after the leader's father Bruce was rushed to hospital just hours before the debate started.Western Sydney is a key battleground for the two major parties.But Labor also faces new challenges from independent candidates from the city's Muslim communities who feel angry and let down by the position taken by the government on the Israel-Gaza war.Both were asked about their response to the conflict during the debate.Mr Dutton has pledged a 25 cents a litre cut to the price of petrol by halving the fuel excise for 12 months if the coalition is elected.Asked why he wouldn't commit to the promised cuts to the fuel excise, Mr Albanese said it would "disappear in a year like the last time it happened"."This is from the Scott Morrison playbook," he said.Modelling conducted by Frontier Economics has found the coalition's national gas plan will see a 23 per cent reduction in wholesale gas prices.This would result in a seven per cent reduction in retail gas bills for residential customers, and three per cent reduction in residential electricity prices.By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

Migrant and refugee communities will have better access to culturally appropriate mental health support thanks to a new partnership between Beyond Blue and settlement agency AMES Australia.The two organisations have joined together to make it easier and more efficient for people to find the support that best suits them, when they need it.   Together, AMES Australia and Beyond Blue support thousands of people each year with information, advice, resources and referrals.  The partnership will improve access to mental health resources and information on supports/services for many marginalised communities; including refugees and migrants, and those who face additional barriers to accessing help.  With one-third of people in Australia born overseas, an increase in people finding refuge and safety in Australia, the continued impact of racism and discrimination, and current global conflicts, the need for more inclusive approaches to mental health is greater than ever.  Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said the partnership will address the unique mental health needs of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD), particularly those for whom English is a second language, or who have low literacy levels.  “By working together, we aim to promote the importance of good mental health and destigmatisation and deepen understandings of mental health support services across the community.  “We hope that by coming together, we can ensure that mental health support is accessible, and comprehensive to those who need it most,” she said.  AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the partnership would help improve access to mental health support for migrant and refugee communities.   “We know that refugees and migrants are among the most vulnerable in our society to the effects of poor mental health. We also know that they often find it difficult to access services of all kinds, including mental health support,” Ms Scarth said.  This important work is also a critical step in informing better policy, research, and service development for diverse communities.  Beyond Blue’s most recent Australia’s 2024 Mental Health and Wellbeing Check found that respondents from multicultural communities were less likely to know where to go for information about mental health compared to the rest of the population.  Respondents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds were less likely to seek professional support(e.g. visiting a psychologist, GP, or calling a phone helpline) but were more likely to reach out to friends and family for support and guidance.  The main support avenues for CALD community respondents were friends (63%), family members or relatives (47%), intimate partners (44%) and community/or religious leaders (11%). Nepalese-born mum of three, Reshma Manandhar knows all too well the feelings of helplessness, overwhelm and anxiety after settling in Australia more than 20 years ago. “My cultural norms were very different to my Australian neighbours, this stems from the way I was brought up; in Nepal you can’t call a phone line and tell them your problems – they simply don’t exist,” Ms Manandhar said. “It was culturally instilled; you share problems with just your family – but now I see sharing issues with a kind-listening ear, as an advantage – sometimes your family isn’t best placed to help you, and you’d benefit from more formal early intervention. “For people in CALD groups, this collaboration will afford people the opportunity to not only learn a new language (English) but also help identify emotions and help them understand at what stage and where to get help for poor mental health; this is planting the seed for a more mentally healthy Australia,” she said.  Ms Harman said around half of refugees internationally experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suffer from anxiety and psychological distress.  “Despite this, rates of help-seeking are often low which can be linked to lower levels of mental health literacy and different cultural understandings of mental health.” “Multicultural communities may find it difficult to use mainstream services because of language and cultural barriers, may be confused about how services operate, or simply be unaware of what supports are available,”she said. “In 70 years of servicing migrant and refugee communities in Australia, we at AMES Australia have learned that partnerships can help us extend our reach and maximise our impact in supporting individuals, families and communities from diverse backgrounds,” Ms Scarth said. “That’s why we are pleased to be partnering with Beyond Blue to provide better access to mental health support to people from migrant and refugee communities.” Ms Harman said if delivering important mental health information, in an accessible and respectful way, results in an uptake of earlier mental health support for people who belong to at-risk communities, then they will have a much better chance of getting better easier and earlier, before they reach crisis point. The relationship will also: Provide targeted training: Beyond Blue will continue to provide training for AMES Australia staff and volunteers who work in multicultural communities, to build on their knowledge around mental health issues, educate them about distress and the early warning signs, plus where communities can find support. Develop culturally sensitive and accessible resources: Collaborate on mental health resources, including translated information materials, to ensure accessibility for diverse communities. For example, with the support of Scope Australia, Beyond Blue and AMES Australia recently launched: Understanding anxiety and depression (Easy English guide) and the How to get support (Easy English guide); two simple guides AMES Australia can share and use with their clients and community.  Promote awareness and education: Work together on public awareness campaigns and community events to reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues and promote wellbeing within multicultural communities. 

Plastic pollution littering Australian coastlines has dropped by more than a third over the last decade, according to research by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Researchers surveyed inland, riverine, and coastal habitats across six metropolitan regions across Australia, including Hobart in Tasmania, Newcastle in New South Wales, Perth in Western Australia, Port Augusta in South Australia, Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.  Dr Denise Hardesty, Senior Research Scientist from CSIRO and co-author, said with up to 53 million metric tonnes of plastic waste estimated to enter aquatic ecosystems by 2030, it was heartening to see a significant decrease in plastic pollution on Australian beaches and coasts. “Three-quarters of the rubbish we find on our beaches is plastic, and flexible plastics, such as food packaging, are the most harmful to wildlife,” Dr Hardesty said. “Along with a 39 per cent reduction in plastic waste in coastal areas, we also saw a 16 per cent increase in areas we surveyed with no plastic debris at all. “Decreases of plastic pollution in the coastal environment were observed in Newcastle, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast, with increases in Hobart and Port Augusta.  “Although there are still areas for concern, it's exciting to see a significant decrease in plastic pollution as people around the country are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of plastic waste on people, communities and wildlife.” A total of 8383 debris items were recorded across 1907 surveys within a 100-kilometre radius of each city. Polystyrene (24 per cent) and cigarette butts (20 per cent) were the most found items, followed by food wrappers, bottle lids and caps. Plastic fragments were also commonly recorded.  The most prevalent items in each region were: Alice Springs: beverage cans Hobart: beverage bottles Newcastle: cigarette butts Perth: cigarette butts Port Augusta: food wrappers/labels Sunshine Coast: cigarette butts ​Dr Steph Brodie, CSIRO Research Scientist and co-author, said the surveys help to identify debris hotspots, understand how land use influences debris in the environment, and how waste ends up on our coastlines.  “We found that areas with intensive land use and socio-economically disadvantaged areas tended to have higher levels of debris,” Dr Brodie said. “Understanding the types and amount of plastic pollution in our environment provides critical data to develop strategies to stop it ending up there in the first place. “These results will help to inform waste management and can be used to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of plastic waste policies, practices and education campaigns to reduce debris in metropolitan regions.” The paper, "Drivers of environmental debris in metropolitan areas: a continental scale assessment," published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, compares data from surveys conducted a decade ago and builds on previous work that showed a 29 per cent reduction in plastic waste across all of Australia.  It is part of CSIRO’s research to end plastic waste, with a goal of an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2030.  This research received funding from the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, with the comparable data from 2011-2014 funded by Shell Australia. 

US tariffs have wreaked havoc on financial markets but could force the Reserve Bank of Australia to deliver more mortgage relief sooner.ANZ Bank - until recently the most hawkish of the big four banks - on Friday upped its interest rate cut predictions due to the carnage US President Donald Trump's tariffs are expected to inflict on the global economy.After previously predicting just one more rate cut, the bank's economists now believe the RBA will deliver three more 25-basis point cuts by August.That would bring the cash rate down to 3.35 per cent, saving the average mortgage holder an additional $269 a month in repayments.(The chaotic US tariff attack may hasten some relief for Australian borrowers. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)ANZ thinks a mega 50-basis point cut at the central bank board's next meeting in May is on the cards, as insurance against an expected collapse in business and consumer confidence."On the information we have to hand, the market reaction and past RBA responses to global shocks, more aggressive RBA easing now seems more likely than not," ANZ's economics team said in a research report.The move comes after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick trashed Australia's biosecurity regime, claiming it was being used to "block" American markets as he attempted to justify Mr Trump's executive order pinning 10 per cent tariffs on Australian imports.The United States has long taken issue with Australia's ban on uncooked American beef imports, which has been in place since a 2003 mad cow disease outbreak.(US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick thinks Australia's biosecurity concerns are "nonsense". (AP PHOTO)Australia also does not allow fresh pork imports, uncooked poultry or pears and apples from the US to prevent pests and bacteria.Mr Lutnick decried these restrictions."This is nonsense. This is all nonsense," he told CNN."What happens is, they block our markets."When we open those markets, our volumes grow, our farmers will thrive and the price of groceries will come down."There was some validity to American accusations Australia used "beyond-the-border" tariffs, Australian National University politics lecturer Jill Sheppard said."Rather than imposing financial tariffs, we use the biosecurity regime as a form of trade policy," she told AAP."Everyone involved in primary industries knows it. Everyone that watches politics knows it."(The US administration believes Australia's biosecurity measures on produce are blocking trade. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have taken a bipartisan position on the issue, with both promising not to undermine Australia's biosecurity in US tariff negotiations.US and world stock markets have tanked amid fears the tariffs could spark a global recession.Wall Street marked its biggest one-day percentage loss - nearly four per cent - since mid-2020 when the COVID pandemic was in play.The Australian stock market followed suit, falling 1.8 per cent by Friday afternoon following a 0.9 per cent drop the day prior.Tariffs are expected to directly reduce Australia's GDP by about 0.2 per cent, but the indirect impact of the measures on global trade could lead to a bigger hit to the domestic economy."What we have seen overnight is a fall in the stock market globally," Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Friday."There is concern that this will lead to lower economic growth right around the world, and of course, as a trading nation, that will have an impact on us."Negotiations with the US administration continue, but Mr Dutton believes his government could bring more to the table if elected."When we were in government last, we negotiated for Australia to be exempt and this prime minister has failed that test," he told reporters in Sydney.No country has successfully secured an exemption from US tariffs.With a federal election on the horizon, the tariffs could provide leaders an opportunity to reinvigorate their campaigns."It's an opportunity for both to show strength," said Headline Advisory director Andrew Carswell, who previously served as a media adviser to former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison.By Kat Wong and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

The Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold in a consensus decision dominated by a big, orange elephant in the boardroom.US President Donald Trump's tariffs cloud the outlook for future rate cuts, following the RBA's widely-anticipated decision to hold the cash rate at 4.1 per cent on Tuesday.Global uncertainty was a significant risk identified by the board in its post-meeting statement, as the world awaits Mr Trump's 'Liberation Day' reciprocal tariff announcements on Wednesday, US time."Recent announcements from the US on tariffs are having an impact on confidence globally and this would likely be amplified if the scope of tariffs widens, or other countries take retaliatory measures," the board said.That has implications for Australia's growth and inflation prospects - and ergo rate cuts.(RBA governor Michele Bullock is still concerned about inflation. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)"The question we're asking ourselves is what it might do to activity globally and inflation in Australia as we move on," RBA governor Michele Bullock told reporters following the decision.Much will depend on how China acts in response. If the trade war escalates that's bad for growth and could encourage the RBA to ease rates more to avoid unemployment rising.But if China - Australia's largest partner - leans into fiscal stimulus, the hit to domestic activity would be limited.That lack of clarity justified the Reserve Bank's decision to keep rates on hold, said KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne."Uncertainty around US tariffs with respect to 'if', 'how much', 'how long', and 'on what' means the RBA has to keep its powder dry," he said.HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said global developments were more likely to pose a downside risk for local inflation rather than an upside risk, thereby supporting more cuts than less.The board reiterated it was "cautious" about the inflation outlook, although recent data suggested a continued easing in price growth.The headline consumer price index slowed from 2.5 to 2.4 per cent in February, below the midpoint of the RBA's two-to-three per cent target band, in monthly figures released last week.Food was the main driver behind the recent pick up in household consumption. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)But the RBA will be looking for more proof in less volatile quarterly inflation data due to be released before its next meeting in May.Following Tuesday's decision, markets were pricing in 17 basis points of cuts for the May meeting - or about a two-thirds chance.The implication of the federal election result on government spending was another uncertainty adding to the RBA's caution, said BDO Economics Partner Anders Magnusson."The RBA has taken a cautious approach by holding the cash rate and waiting for the March quarter CPI release and the results of the upcoming election," he said.The economy was making welcome and encouraging progress, said Treasurer Jim Chalmers."But we know that there will be work to do because the global environment is so uncertain and people are still under pressure," he said. Ms Bullock said the inflationary effects of the federal budget, revealed last week, were "pretty much awash"."It's pretty much the same fiscal impulse, I think, as we've got in our forecasts at the moment, so that's not driving any change in our inflationary forecasts," she said.But weak productivity growth remained a concern for the RBA, threatening to drive up inflation in the long term if wages continued to rise faster than prices.Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor blamed the government for the "lacklustre" productivity outcome."The truth is, getting interest rates down when there's no productivity in the economy is extremely difficult," he said.The RBA noted domestic consumption appeared to be recovering with food the main pick-up, although some sectors continued to report a weakness in demand.That was borne out in retail sales figures released by the ABS earlier on Tuesday.Spending picked up 0.2 per cent in trade in February, slightly below consensus expectations for a 0.3 per cent rise in spending, in a further sign that household consumption is recovering gradually.

The NSW Government’s 12-month trial of body worn cameras continues to be rolled out in selected hospitals in NSW.Liverpool and Bankstown-Lidcombe hospitals have now joined the trial, with the aim of improving safety for staff, patients and visitors.Minister for Health Ryan Park said a total of five hospitals across northern Sydney, south western Sydney and the Illawarra are now participating in the trial, which commenced at Royal North Shore Hospital in December 2024. Security staff in participating hospitals are equipped with body-worn cameras and can activate these cameras in response to incidents involving aggression and violence in the hospital, where there is a risk of harm to staff, patients or others.The trial will determine how effective the presence of the cameras are at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents and will be independently evaluated once completed.Body worn cameras are one strategy intended to keep everyone safe in NSW public hospitals. NSW Health facilities also have a number of other key strategies in place to ensure the safest possible environment for staff, patients and visitors. These include:Ongoing risk assessments to identify and manage emerging security risks.Safety huddles to share information on patient related safety risk with incoming workers.Patient management plans that set out specific arrangements to keep both the patient and healthcare workers safe when providing care.Multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams. This includes the use of NSW Health security staff/Health and Security Assistants to assist clinical staff with the management of incidents.Workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for staff and reduce entrapment, including dual egress at staff stations and in treatments rooms.Lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters for facilities, particularly after hours.Personal mobile and fixed duress alarms for staff to ensure they can summon assistance when necessary.Closed circuit television (CCTV) and effective lighting to ensure visibility.Procedures to enhance car park security, including regular security patrols.This trial is part of the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Anderson Review of Hospital Security and follows implementation of other recommendations by the NSW Government to improve hospital security.These include the establishment of the Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health, the standardising of code black procedures, and enhanced support for patient experience officers.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “The safety of our staff and patients is my top priority as the Minister for Health.“Any instances of aggression towards staff will not be tolerated, and appropriate action will always be taken against individuals who behave in such a manner.“I look forward to the results of this trial which will provide insight into how we can reduce instances of violence and aggression in our public hospitals.”

According to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), one in 15 adults (6.6 percent) has diabetes, up from one in 20 (5.1 percent) a decade earlier.James Mowle, ABS head of health statistics, said: ‘Males are more likely to have diabetes than females. And adults living in the most disadvantaged areas are more likely to have diabetes than those in the least disadvantaged areas.’Older people are more likely to have diabetes than younger people. Another 2.7 per cent of adults are at high risk of diabetes.Nearly a third of adult Australians (30.2 per cent) have high total cholesterol, down from 33.2 per cent in 2011–12. Females (32.1 per cent) are more likely to have high cholesterol than males (28.2 per cent).The survey also revealed that one in five adults (20.6 per cent) has a vitamin D deficiency, which is more likely to occur in winter than summer (since sun exposure is one way of getting the vitamin) and varies significantly by state.‘Results showed 26.1 per cent of Australian adults are vitamin D deficient in winter, compared to 15.5 per cent in summer. We know that vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium effectively, which is important for bone health and muscle function. A severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to brittle and fragile bones.’ Mr. Mowle said.

Australians ate 2.3 per cent more meat and poultry in 2023-24 compared to the previous financial year, an average consumption of 145 grams per person per day, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Paul Atyeo, ABS health statistics spokesperson, said: ‘Compared to six years ago, we’re eating 13 per cent more poultry per person, while beef, lamb, and pork consumption has risen by 1.8 per cent. At the same time, we’ve been eating less processed meats, which have dropped 12 per cent since 2018-19.’ Poultry made up around 44 per cent of total meat and poultry consumption in 2023-24, while 36 per cent was beef, lamb, and pork. The remainder was from processed meat with 12 per cent and sausages with 8 per cent. ‘We’re also buying more bottled water, up by 3.9 per cent over the last year. Soft drinks also went up by 2.2 per cent, and energy and sports drinks combined saw a 9.3 per cent rise. Meanwhile, fruit juices and fruit drinks dropped by 4.8 per cent.’ Chocolate appeared to lose favour over the last year (down 5.7 per cent) but there was a 10 per cent rise in potato chips.   Australians are also eating more berries.  ‘While most fruit categories have seen a fall since 2018-19, we’re eating 24 per cent more berries than we did six years ago.’ Mr Atyeo said. For more information, please refer to the Apparent Consumption of Selected Foodstuffs, Australia, 2023-24 report, available for free download from the ABS website: https://www.abs.gov.au

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published a new report, Youth Justice in Australia 2023–24. The report provides information on young people who were under youth justice supervision in Australia during 2023–24 because of their involvement or alleged involvement in crime. It provides numbers and rates of young people under community supervision and in detention by age, gender, Indigenous status, as well as recent trends. In the report, 'an average day' reflects the average number of young people under supervision on any given day during the year. It is a summary measure that reflects both the number of young people and the amount of time they spend under supervision. ‘An average day’ is calculated by summing the number of days each young person spends under supervision during the year and dividing this total by the number of days in the year. Over the 5 years from 2019–20 to 2023–24, the number of young people aged 10 and over under youth justice supervision on an average day fell by 18% (from 5,158 to 4,227). The rate of young people aged 10–17 fell by 23% from 16 to 12 per 10,000 young people over the same period.There were 4,227 young people aged 10 and over under youth justice supervision on an average day in 2023–24 and 9,224 were supervised at some point during the year.On an average day, just over 4 in 5 (82%) young people under supervision were supervised in the community and around 1 in 5 (20%) were in detention, with some supervised in both the community and detention on the same day. Nearly all young people (96%) under supervision were aged 14 or older and the majority (80%) in detention were unsentenced.The rate for First Nations young people aged 10–17 under supervision on an average day fell from 127 to 113 per 10,000 between 2019–20 and 2023–24.The full report is available by clicking our website.

The state government is building a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.  New rules require all bail decisions in NSW courts to be made by a magistrate or judge, while tough new penalties will apply for breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.    Magistrates and judges to make bail decisions  Registrars will continue to play an important role in the administration of our courts but no longer have the legal power to make bail decisions.  The laws, announced last year to reform how the justice system handles cases of domestic and family violence, came into effect this month.  The NSW Government has invested $39 million to increase the capacity of the courts to support the reforms, with 35 audio-visual courtroom upgrades to improve remote hearing facilities across a range of matters including bail hearings.  The funds were announced last year and formed part of a package of $245.6 million in the 2024-25 NSW Budget to address domestic and family violence through primary prevention, earlier intervention and crisis responses.  All first-appearance bail applications are now managed through a Centralised Bail Court at Parramatta Children’s Court, with the number of acting magistrates increased from three to six.  Four additional magistrates have been recruited to manage Local Court bail applications and recruitment is underway for another three.  It follows the introduction of tough bail laws to make it harder for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.    Tougher penalties for ADVO breach  People who breach an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) will face up to five years’ imprisonment under tough new penalties which apply from Monday.  Two new offences target both serious and repeat breaches of ADVOs. Breaching an ADVO with the intention of causing harm or fear will carry a maximum penalty of three years’ jail.  Those who breach an ADVO three times within a month face a maximum penalty of five years’ jail.  Existing penalties for breaching an ADVO, up to two years’ jail, will continue to apply.  Last year, the Minns Labor Government introduced tough new reforms making it harder for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.  Serious alleged domestic violence offenders who are granted bail are now electronically monitored by Corrective Services.  Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders to monitor and supervise high-risk offenders, modelled on a scheme to combat organised crime, will also begin later this year.  These reforms are part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to take action to reduce and ultimately eliminate domestic and family violence in our state.  The new ADVO offences were legislated last year but commence on Monday following a period of training and education for justice agencies.    Attorney General, Michael Daley said, “The NSW Government is making important changes to the court system to ensure the safety of the community and improve protections for domestic and family violence victim-survivors.  “This includes investing in court infrastructure and strengthening our laws to give the community greater certainty around bail decisions.  “Registrars perform a valuable public service and will continue to play an important role in the administration of our courts.  “Decisions about bail can be difficult and complex and the NSW Government believes they are most appropriately handled by a magistrate or judge.  “New ADVO offences will help hold perpetrators to account and strengthen protections for victim-survivors.  “They target serious, repeat behaviour indicating a high risk of harm to someone protected by an ADVO.  “These laws are tough, and they need to be. Domestic and family violence offenders are among the state’s most serious criminals.  “The NSW Government will continue to look at ways we can improve the law to protect women and children from domestic and family violence.”    Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said, “The NSW Government is working hard to build a safer New South Wales by reducing domestic and family violence in our communities.  “We are committed to making sure victim-survivors of domestic and family violence are safe and supported when they escape violence, as well as holding perpetrators to account for their actions.  “The new ADVO offences show that our justice system is enhancing the protections for victim-survivors of domestic violence and boosting their safety.  “Everyone in New South Wales deserves to live safe in their homes, free from violence. That’s why a key priority for this government is to address the underlying attitudes that tolerate and condone gendered violence through our primary prevention strategy.”    Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr Hannah Tonkin said, “The new ADVO offences prioritise the safety of women and children and send a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated.  “This will make a practical difference to women and children who experience serious and repeated violence, while also strengthening accountability for offenders.  “We need a multi-pronged approach to prevent domestic and family violence in our communities, and stronger penalties for ADVO breaches are an important piece of the puzzle.”  

The NSW Government is today announcing sweeping legislation that will ban all future public-private partnerships being imposed on the state’s acute hospitals.The legislation will protect hospitals that provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services from any future government entering into such partnerships that limit public control over hospital services. The Health Services Amendment (PPP Prohibition) Bill 2025 (NSW) will achieve this by preventing governments from entering into a Northern Beaches-style arrangement to build or operate an acute public hospital.This law will honour the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa, who tragically died in September last year.The protection of the state’s acute hospitals will apply to any future government that seeks to pursue a privatisation agenda.Health Minister Ryan Park will introduce legislation in the NSW Legislative Assembly to amend the Health Services Act 1997 (NSW) to this effect.This legislation forms part of the Government’s broader response to ongoing community concerns in relation to the quality and safety of health services delivered at Northern Beaches Hospital, including: A parliamentary inquiry into the hospital;A review of the systems and processes surrounding paediatric care at Northern Beaches Hospital, led by the Clinical Excellence Commission;A roundtable to improve the accessibility of the REACH protocol (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way);Requesting a coronial inquest; andA commitment to ensure Healthscope implements all recommendations of the Serious Adverse Event Review into Joe Massa’s death.Premier Chris Minns said, “Today we are announcing that under ‘Joe’s Law’, NSW will ban all future public-private partnerships being imposed on the state’s acute hospitals.“As a Labor government, we believe critical public services like acute hospitals should remain in public hands, safeguarded from privatisation.“The NSW Government is committed to delivering the healthcare that the people of NSW rely on to keep our communities safe.”Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “Today, we are announcing a ban on public-private partnerships being imposed on our state’s acute hospitals.“From the very beginning, we’ve adamantly opposed these sorts of arrangements – and we will continue to oppose them, now and into the future.“What we are doing today is to deliver further protection of our hospitals – honouring the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa.“Joe’s Law will mean that public hospitals which provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services, will be protected under this government and from any future government that wishes to enter into such partnerships with private providers.“Our major and local community hospitals should be run by the people.”

Australia is on track for structural deficits as far as the government can see, clouding the economy's final approach to a soft landing.Treasurer Jim Chalmers' federal budget unveiled on Tuesday night locks in underlying deficits until 2035/36 as a result of ballooning spending and lower revenue growth than previous years.The 2024/25 year budget is now estimated to be $27.6 billion in the red, more than $600 million worse than anticipated in the December mid-year update, following two brief surpluses.But the headline deficit paints an even bleaker picture, with off-budget spending pushing $104 billion in the five years to 2028/29.(Structural deficits are clouding the Australian economy's final approach to a soft landing. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)That includes investments in projects like the NBN, Snowy Hydro and student debt write-offs, which are supposed to make a return for the government but still contribute to debt.Independent economist Chris Richardson estimated the fundamentals of the budget have worsened by about $50 billion in recent years."Making permanent promises off the back of a temporary spurt of revenue is an old mistake - and that's what this measure of the structural budget position suggests that we've done," he said.The treasurer looked on the bright side, comparing the state of the budget now with even gloomier forecasts before Labor came to office in 2022, touting a $207 billion improvement to the bottom line.That has saved taxpayers from being on the hook for $60 billion in interest costs over the decade."These are some of the dividends of our responsible economic management," Dr Chalmers told parliament in his budget speech."Achieved through a combination of spending restraint, finding savings and banking revenue upgrades."(The federal government has made improvements to structural spending pressures like the NDIS. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The government has banked almost 70 per cent of upgrades in tax revenue and made improvements to structural spending pressures like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and aged care in interest costs, Dr Chalmers said.But the budget shows the improvement to the bottom line has come as a result of parameter variations - factors outside the government's control - rather than policy decisions, which resulted in a $34 billion hit to cumulative deficits over the five-year forecast.Tax receipts were also impacted by a $6.9 billion downgrade in the tobacco excise, which has encouraged a lucrative black market for cigarettes and vapes.The government provided another $156.7 million to boost a crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade.(Authorities are continually trying to stop the flow of illegal vapes, and cigarettes. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)The structural degradation in the budget means Australia will eclipse $1 trillion in federal debt for the first time in the next financial year, putting the nation in a worse place to respond to economic shocks.Treasury revised down Australia's growth outlook for this financial year to 1.5 per cent, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred delivering a 0.25 per cent hit to quarterly growth.Amid slowing growth in China, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Donald Trump's tariffs, the Treasury predicts the global economy to grow at its slowest rate since the 1990s.But Australian GDP would grow stronger in future years, while China and the US slowed, revealing a new-found "Australian exceptionalism", Dr Chalmers said.Encouragingly, much of this recovery will be fuelled by the private sector."Tariffs and tensions abroad have been accompanied by storms at home," he said."Storm clouds are gathering in the global economy too."Australia is neither uniquely impacted nor immune from these pressures, but we are among the best placed to navigate them."(Australia will eclipse $1 trillion in federal debt for the first time in the next financial year. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Underlying inflation, excluding the impact of energy rebates and fuel, is expected to be back in the Reserve Bank's target band by the middle of this year, six months earlier than previously expected.Wages, meanwhile, are expected to keep growing faster than inflation until at least 2028/29.Treasury predicts growth in living standards, as measured by real household disposable income per capita, will accelerate to two per cent, boosted by more tax cuts announced in the budget, which will support a pick up in consumption."All of this means the soft landing we have been planning and preparing for is looking more and more likely," Dr Chalmers said.By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Business bosses are furious about a "heavy-handed" measure designed to help workers take better-paid jobs or start their own companies.The workplace change contained in the federal budget means workers earning less than $175,000 cannot be "handcuffed" to their jobs.The change is subject to legislation and expected to take force in two years.Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar blasted the budget measure. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Businesses will be unable to impose non-compete clauses, which stop or restrict people from moving to a competing employer, on their workers.Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said the change was unnecessary."It's a heavy-handed measure," he told AAP."This is something that really will affect particularly a lot of smaller businesses who invest in time to train their staff to pass on their intellectual property. "They then face the risk that if those staff move on, they can go to a competitor, and very quickly you're at a competitive disadvantage, in many cases, if you're just a small business."Research out of the US, where the Federal Trade Commission has moved to ban non-competes entirely, suggests it would improve business start-up rates and would affect several industries including finance, health and beauty.("Invisible handcuffs are there, and that's really unfair," nurse practitioner Leanne Boase said. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)Leanne Boase is a nurse practitioner in Melbourne's outer north as well as chief executive of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners. When she left a GP clinic, she co-owned, her former practice partner tried to prevent her working at rival clinics within 25km for 10 years."I wasn't free to actually move into a different practice location, and my patients were not free to have the choice to continue to see me as a provider, and that's what worried me," she told AAP."Invisible handcuffs are there, and that's really unfair."More than three million Australians are covered by such clauses, including childcare workers, hair stylists, and construction employees.The Labor government is also considering expanding the ban on non-competes to people earning more than $175,000 - the threshold defined as high income under Fair Work legislation.The changes could add $5 billion, or 0.2 per cent of GDP, to the economy each year, according to Productivity Commission modelling.(Many childcare workers are among those subject to non-compete clauses in employment contracts. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Non-compete clauses have been found to drive down wages by an average of $2700 for workers, according to analysis by research institute e61.The government will also clamp down on loopholes in competition law that allow businesses using "no-poach" agreements to stop workers from being hired by competitors.The crackdown will also extend to employers making anti-competitive deals that cap workers' pay and conditions without their knowledge or consent.By Tess Ikonomou and Jacob Shteyman in Canberra