Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will depart on the first international visit of his second term to meet with world leaders from 14 May to 20 May 2025. The PM will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia, from 14 to 16 May 2025 to meet His Excellency Mr Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia.Indonesia was also Prime Minister Albanese’s first bilateral visit following his election in 2022. The Prime Minister will be joined in Jakarta by Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong and Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke MP. Prime Minister Albanese and President Prabowo will discuss the close relations between Australia and Indonesia, and how our countries can deepen our partnership.  The Prime Minister will then travel to the Holy See to attend the inauguration of Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, on Sunday, 18 May 2025. Since 1973, the diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See have helped foster strong links with the Catholic Church, including its humanitarian efforts around the globe, and the five million Australians of the Catholic faith. During his visit to Vatican City, Prime Minister Albanese will meet with a number of other world leaders also in attendance. Prime Minister Albanese will invite Pope Leo XIV to Australia for the 54th International Eucharistic Congress in 2028. On Tuesday, 20 May, the Prime Minister will meet His Excellency Mr Lawrence Wong, the Prime Minister of Singapore, before returning to Australia.Singapore is one of Australia’s closest partners, with a friendship anchored in strategic trust and deep cooperation, and a shared regional and global outlook. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will be Acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Albanese is overseas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “My first overseas visit after my Government’s re-election reflects our enduring commitment to some of our closest partners in the region. “I am honoured to be a guest of President Prabowo Subianto. There is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia. We have a long history of cooperation and friendship, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations last year.   “Together we are setting an ambitious agenda to deepen our ties. “It is also a great honour to represent Australia at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration — a historic occasion for the Catholic Church. “The event will connect Catholics around the world, and the millions of Australians of Catholic faith, as they celebrate and welcome the new Bishop of Rome and Pontiff to amplify his message of peace and social justice for all humanity. “I look forward to reinforcing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. “I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Wong. The close partnership between Australia and Singapore is underpinned by our shared interest in an open, stable and prosperous region.”

Climate change has already added about 10 extra days a year of extreme heat deemed harmful for pregnant women in Australia.Darwin experienced a sharp 17-day jump in heat conditions threatening to pregnant people and newborns, the biggest increase of all Australian cities captured in the analysis by international non-profit Climate Central.Heatwaves pose birth risks, with the World Health Organisation linking high temperatures to preterm birth and stillbirth as well as hypertension and gestational diabetes. Climate Central vice-president for science Kristina Dahl said climate change added more than half of Australia's pregnancy heat-risk days experienced over the past five years."That means climate change is already making it harder to have a healthy pregnancy, especially in regions where care may be limited," Dr Dahl said.(Analysis shows that climate change has increased the risk of harmful extreme heat for pregnant women. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)She said each day of extreme heat increased the chances of serious pregnancy complications. More than 240 countries and territories were assessed against a known marker of elevated preterm birth risks: days when maximum temperatures are higher than 95 per cent of local seasonal temperatures.These extremely hot days were counted and compared with a counterfactual, estimating extreme heat without human-caused climate change.From there, it was possible to gauge how many pregnancy heat-risk days were caused by climate change each year.Every country experienced more pregnancy heat-risk days between 2020 and 2024, with higher emissions from burning fossil fuels and other human activities adding an extra month for nearly one-third.The sharpest increases were recorded in developing nations with substandard healthcare systems.Keeping cool with air-conditioning also tends to be more challenging in less-developed countries.By Poppy Johnston in Sydney

Cutting-edge scientific processes have found 28 current and historic mine sites that could have critical minerals and high-tech metal deposits hidden inside their old waste.For mines that have closed, these results could mean new opportunities for production, bringing more jobs and investment opportunities to those communities across regional NSW.The Geological Survey of NSW’s Mine Reuse Project collected more than 1,200 samples.These specimens were then run through the latest sampling techniques and underwent high-precision chemical analysis to identify critical minerals.This uncovered elevated concentrations of 11 critical minerals and high-tech metals, including copper, cobalt, silver and antimony. Historic mines where sampling occurred include CSA in the Central West, Queen Bee, Great Cobar and Nymagee in the Far West, Endeavour Elura and Endeavour McKinnons in the Central West, and Hillgrove in the Northern Tablelands.Current mines where researchers were looking for additional materials include Peak Gold Mine and Tritton near Cobar, RASP and Southern Operations near Broken Hill, and Stratford in the Upper Hunter.The Mine Reuse Project also identified existing discoveries from the reprocessing of waste and tailings. This includes gold from historic tailings at the Mineral Hill mine in the Central West, and tin from Ardlethan mine site in the Riverina.Results from the survey are being released this week as part of NSW Minerals Week, further highlighting NSW’s status as a global leader in exploration and mining of critical minerals.Critical minerals and high-tech metals are crucial for clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, along with aerospace applications. The International Energy Agency estimates that, over the next 20 years, the global economy requires six times the current amount of critical minerals to reach net-zero carbon emissions.NSW Minerals Week provides an opportunity for government, industry and regional communities to celebrate the contribution that mining makes to the state.Data from Geological Survey projects are used extensively by the industry to guide explorers and miners and assist them in identifying new opportunities for critical minerals mines. Providing free, pre-competitive data helps de-risk projects and draws investment to NSW.The release of data from projects like this helps focus explorers and miners on the best opportunities for development and could see an increase on the 190 critical minerals exploration titles already being pursued across NSW.This latest data release is part of the Government’s continued focus on delivering the NSW Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy 2024-35. It builds on the extensive investments made by the Government to date, including: a $2.5 million co-investment fund for critical minerals explorers;a $250 million royalty deferral initiative for new critical minerals projects;the provision of world-class and targeted precompetitive geoscientific data, including the recent commencement of the Central Lachlan Seismic Survey around Euabalong to Bathurst and Nyngan to Gilgandra.The work for the Mine Reuse Project was undertaken in collaboration between the Geological Survey of NSW with the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland and Geoscience Australia.The Mine Reuse Project data can be accessed at https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/geological-survey/projects/mine-reuse-project.Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said, “The release of this data reinforces that NSW really is the state to be for explorers looking to find the next big critical minerals project.“As key ingredients in our solar panels, wind turbines, EVs and batteries, critical minerals and high-tech metals are integral to our economic future.“This release of data is an important part of our critical minerals strategy. This pre-competitive data helps to minimise investment risk in exploration and identify new opportunities.“We know how important mining is to communities across the state. More exploration means more jobs and more investment in regional NSW.“It’s also a good reminder of the important work done by the Geological Survey of NSW as we celebrate its 150th year. The agency has made a remarkable contribution to the mining, exploration and geology sectors in NSW.”NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said, “This initiative recognises the ongoing growth in global demand for many of the valuable mineral commodities we have here in NSW.“It also highlights the need for more mine approvals in NSW so we can play our role in meeting this global demand while also delivering economic benefits to regional communities.”Chief Geoscientist and head of the Geological Survey of NSW, Dr Phil Blevin said, “The Mine Reuse Project is a direct outcome of the government’s commitment to a Critical Mineral and High-Tech Metals Strategy that drives investment and innovation in the exploration and mining sector through the provision of world-class and targeted precompetitive geoscience.“There is a significant multiplier effect in the provision of this data, and it helps drive exploration and innovation. The results of the Mine Reuse Project is just another example of this.”

Australian Catholic supremos are welcoming the election of American Robert Francis Prevost as the Pope and say he will emphasise simplicity and community.Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Leo XIV and is both the first American, and first native English-speaker to be appointed to the papacy. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago-native's "missionary heart" would hold him in good stead."Like the late Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV will bring to the church the experience of being part of a religious order with an emphasis on simplicity and community," he said."It was very moving that the Holy Father opened his first address to a watching world with a greeting of peace, and repeated the central truth of the gospel, that God loves all of us 'without any limits or conditions'."(Pope Leo's message of peace was celebrated by Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher and Anthony Albanese. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Leo spent decades as a missionary in Peru, before Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican's bishop selection process.Archbishop Fisher, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, invited Leo to the International Eucharistic Congress, to be hosted in Sydney in 2028.Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics everywhere."May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," he said.Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe offered the Catholic church in Australia's heartfelt congratulations. "Cardinal Prevost brought to his most recent role as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops an approachability and willingness to listen which were no doubt developed throughout his many years as an Augustinian missionary in Peru," Archbishop Costelloe said. Melbourne Archbishop Peter Andrew Comensoli also offered kind words for the new Pope."May the Holy Spirit guide him with wisdom, courage, compassion, and strength as he shepherds the universal church in truth and charity," he said.Catholic Social Services Australia executive director Jerry Nockles said Pope Leo's appointment came at a critical time when the world yearned for compassionate leadership grounded in gospel values of justice, dignity and solidarity with the vulnerable. "At a time when Australia and indeed the world faces unprecedented social challenges - from growing inequality to escalating violence and social division - Pope Leo's election offers a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that the church stands firmly for peace and with those on the margins," Dr Nockles said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia.By Andrea Hayward and Alex Mitchell in Sydney

Ten renewable energy projects have been given the green light to connect to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), through agreements that will deliver enough power to supply more than half of NSW homes.The NSW Government has awarded groundbreaking ‘access rights’ to renewable energy companies, which pave the way for wind and solar farms and large-scale batteries to connect to the incoming transmission line in the REZ.The projects have a total of 7.15 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage capacity, capable of powering 2.7 million homes by 2031 in peak periods. They will avoid 10.29 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.Renewable energy generators and projects that have been successful in securing rights to connect to the Central-West Orana REZ are:Valley of the Winds (wind farm) – ACEN (919 megawatts)Birriwa Solar (solar facility) – ACEN (600 megawatts)Birriwa Battery Energy Storage System (battery storage) – ACEN (600 megawatts)Sandy Creek Solar (solar facility) – Lightsource bp (700 megawatts)Sandy Creek Battery Energy Storage System (battery) – Lightsource bp (700 megawatts)Cobbora Solar (solar facility) – Pacific Partnerships (700 megawatts)Cobbora Battery Energy Storage System (battery) – Pacific Partnerships (400 megawatts)Tallawang Solar Hybrid (solar and battery facility) – Potentia Energy (500 megawatts)Spicers Creek Wind Farm (wind farm) – Squadron Energy (700 megawatts)Liverpool Range Wind Farm (stages 1 and 2) (wind farm) – Tilt Renewables (1,332 megawatts)The ten projects are expected to bring more than 3,200 jobs to the region during construction and 870 ongoing operations and maintenance roles, over the average 30-year agreement.The projects will bring significant investment to the region, including hundreds of millions in community benefits through access fee payments over 30 years. The Minns Labor Government last month announced an initial $60 million in grants, delivering infrastructure and community-led projects with lasting benefits for residents in the REZ.When fully operational, the renewable energy projects in this REZ alone are expected to generate 15,000 gigawatt-hours of energy per year.Liverpool Range Wind Farm, Birriwa Solar and Battery Energy Storage System and Spicers Creek Wind Farm have secured planning approvals and are moving through the next phases of development. The remaining projects are subject to planning approval processes, including ongoing community consultation.When combined with the recently announced wind, solar and battery projects that will connect to new power lines in the South West REZ, more than 10 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage is being added to the NSW grid, enough to power more than 4.3 million homes.Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said, “These deals will secure billions of dollars of private investment in renewable energy and deliver enough electricity to power 2.7 million NSW homes a year.“By unlocking new renewable capacity and enhancing battery storage, we are making our power grid more reliable and putting downward pressure on bills.”EnergyCo Chief Executive Officer, Hannah McCaughey said, “This is a landmark initiative that puts NSW on the map as a leader in renewable energy innovation. Granting access rights to these renewable energy projects will almost double NSW’s current operating large-scale wind and solar generation.“In addition to private investment, the Central-West Orana REZ will fund community initiatives and generate thousands of jobs. It will also help keep the lights on and secure our energy future.”Further information:What is a Renewable Energy Zone?REZs will group new wind and solar power generation into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW. Five zones have been identified and will keep electricity reliable as coal-fired power stations retire, by delivering large amounts of energy.REZs will help deliver lower wholesale electricity costs and place downward pressure on customer bills through increased competition.Where is the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone?The state’s first REZ is in the Central–West Orana region, centred by Dubbo and Dunedoo. It takes in Gulgong, Mudgee, Wellington, Gilgandra and other towns.Transmission lines for the Central-West Orana REZ will travel 240 kilometres. The easement will take in 0.04% of the total agricultural land in the four impacted local government areas.A wind, solar, or energy storage project must hold an access right, or approval from EnergyCo, before it can connect to the REZ network infrastructure.What is EnergyCo?EnergyCo is the NSW Government authority responsible for leading the delivery of REZs, as part of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The Roadmap is the state’s 20-year plan to transform our electricity system and unlock more affordable and reliable energy.EnergyCo leads strategic planning and consultation processes, to make sure the new transmission infrastructure needed is built in the right place at the right time, with benefits for host communities.

The NSW Government will today introduce legislation to the NSW Parliament, significantly reforming the state’s victims registers to ensure victim-survivors of serious crimes receive a mandatory notification about their right to sign up as a registered victim-survivor to receive critical information about an offender.The three NSW victim registers include the Corrective Services NSW Victims Register, Youth Justice Victims Register, and Specialist Victims Register for victims of forensic patients.Those who opt in to the registers will receive timely, accurate, and trauma-informed updates regarding the perpetrator’s progress through the custodial system. This may include details about the offender's location, sentence, parole eligibility, and any changes that may affect the victim's safety and well-being. Registered victim-survivors also have the right to make a submission about an offender’s parole where relevant.Over several months, Corrective Services NSW has hosted consultation meetings with victim-survivors, victim advocates, and victim support services to ensure these changes reflect the views of the people the registers serve.Eligible victims of serious offenders will receive a mandatory notification letting them know about the relevant register and their eligibility to opt in.If victim-survivors do not want to make a decision at the time, they will have the option to be contacted at a later date to discuss the benefits of registration and decide whether they would like to be registered.Generally, the serious offenders that will cause a mandatory notification about the victims' registers to be sent to a victim-survivor or family member will be:An offender who has committed murderAn offender who is serving a sentence of life imprisonmentAn offender who is serving one or more sentences, totalling a minimum of 12 years in custody, for offences such as attempted murder, serious sexual assault, abduction and aggravated robbery.Family members of the victim will be notified if the victim is deceased, incapacitated or under the age of 18.Ensuring victim-survivors continue to have the choice to register is considered to strike the appropriate balance between ensuring that victim-survivors are aware of their right to be on the register, while importantly maintaining victims’ choice and avoiding re-traumatisation.The state government acknowledges the severe impacts for people directly or indirectly exposed to crime.A person who has experienced personal violence can suffer long-lasting trauma and the feeling that their safety and security are under threat.Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said, “These reforms are about ensuring that victim-survivors of serious crimes know about the victims registers and have a clear opportunity to sign up and benefit from being registered.“We have listened to the voices of victim-survivors, and we are responding to their call to improve the system, whilst balancing the critical need to avoid re-traumatising those victim-survivors who do not wish to be re-exposed to the heinous crimes of their offenders.“Signing up to the victims registers will allow victim-survivors to receive vital information and a choice to engage in fundamental legal processes that will have a direct impact on their lives – things like opposing the perpetrator’s parole and being informed if they are going to be released from prison.“No one chooses to become the victim of a violent crime, and that is why the Minns Labour Government is doing everything within our power to support and empower victim-survivors in the aftermath of a crime.“Eligible victim-survivors of serious offenders deserve the choice to be on the victims registers and be given the knowledge and agency to engage with the justice system, ensuring no-one is left behind.”Attorney General Michael Daley said, “Community safety is at the heart of this reform, allowing victim-survivors to be aware of, and to opt in to receive important updates about an offender’s sentencing and parole.“This is important to help victim-survivors engage in the legal process in a way that is empowering and promotes recovery.”Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM said, “Corrective Services NSW works tirelessly to support victim-survivors through the CSNSW Victims Register. “Our highly trained, trauma-informed staff have seen firsthand the impact that good communication can have on the healing process.“From the moment an offender enters custody, we keep registered victim-survivors up-to-date on all significant information.“We can also assist victim-survivors to have their voices heard when important decisions are being made regarding an offender’s release.“Our aim is to give victim-survivors back some of the power they lose when they are exposed to crime.“A person who has experienced personal violence can suffer long-lasting trauma and the feeling that their safety and security are under threat.“Knowing that information will be made available at key milestones, particularly around the timing of release to the community, can provide reassurance to those victim-survivors who wish to receive such information and help them to better plan for their safety.”Victims Advocate Howard Brown OAM said, “These reforms will ensure that victim-survivors of serious crimes will now have knowledge and information about the victims registers, and the opportunity to sign up to them if they choose to.“The victims registers are able to provide the kind of information that victim-survivors may feel that they need to be able to take back control of their lives, sometimes many years after a serious crime has been committed against them.“Maximising free and full access to such a vital resource like the victims registers is a major step toward healing for victim-survivors.”

The state government is continuing work to reduce the New South Wales road toll and reduce the tragic impact of road trauma on communities across the state, with road safety experts and advocates gathering in Sydney today for a Motorcycle Safety Roundtable.Sadly, the number of motorcyclists dying on New South Wales roads has hit a ten-year high, with 16 more people dying on a motorcycle in 2024 compared to 2023.The New South Wales Government has today convened a roundtable with the intention of better understanding why more motorcycle riders have died and to explore potential steps that can be taken to save lives. Topics on the agenda include enhancements to the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme, innovative road infrastructure safety measures, vehicle safety and more use of protective gear. Attendees include the Motorcycle Council of NSW, Motorcycling NSW, the Australian Automobile Association, the NSW Police Force, Stay Upright, NRMA, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Deakin University, Monash University Accident Research Centre and ANCAP.Motorcycles make up just 3.8 per cent of registered vehicles in NSW, but accounted for almost 20 per cent of deaths on New South Wales roads in 2024. Over the decade 2014-2023, a total of 590 fatalities involved motorcycle riders or their passengers, with young people over-represented.Hospitalisations of motorcyclists also increased by 10 per cent in the 12 months to June 2024, with 2,846 motorcyclists admitted to hospital. This is 248 more than the previous 12 months. Data shows:Fatality risks are highest during the early stages of a rider’s licensing journey, particularly during the learner, P1, and P2 licence phases Deaths among young riders aged 16–25 have surged, rising from 12 in 2023 to 21 in 2024Over the past decade, 87 per cent of motorcycle crashes occurred in fine weather, with the most common type of crash involving riders running off the road on a curve Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison MP, said, “Motorcycles make up just 3.8 per cent of registered vehicles in NSW, yet they accounted for nearly 20 per cent of road deaths last year – a significant over-representation. Modelling suggests that motorcyclists will make up 30% of road deaths by 2050. “I am confident this roundtable will help identify further road safety measures we can move ahead with.“I am delighted that there has been a strong response from stakeholders to the roundtable, which is being coordinated on behalf of the NSW Government by the Centre for Road Safety, bringing together rider groups, safety experts, academics, and government agencies.“Research shows injury risk to the part of the body protected can be reduced by more than 40% by wearing gloves and boots – a $50 pair of gloves can make a huge difference.“Every life lost on the roads is one too many. We know we can do more to protect all road users, especially our most vulnerable. That’s why we’re holding this roundtable—to listen, to learn, and to act.”

Midnight Mafia on 3 May 2025 will be the second music festival to participate in the NSW pill testing trial.Illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW. The NSW Government reiterates that there will always be risks involved when consuming these substances, and this is not an endorsement of illicit drug use.The pill testing trial is designed to help patrons make safer choices by connecting them with experienced health and peer staff who can provide information along with harm reduction advice.The first trial site was located at the Yours and Owls music festival in Wollongong on 1 and 2 March 2025.The free and anonymous drug checking service allows festival patrons to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to be analysed. Qualified health staff provide a rapid evaluation of the main components of the substance in line with available technology, and an indication of potency where possible.The service is staffed by peer workers, health workers and analysts who clearly communicate the capabilities and limitations of pill testing to festival patrons. Patrons are never advised that a drug is safe to use.Staff at the service can also provide patrons with referral to health and welfare services available at the event and in the community.NSW Health and NSW Police Force are working closely with festival organisers and other stakeholders to ensure safe and effective implementation of the trial at these events. The trial operates alongside other harm reduction and medical services at participating festivals.The trial will run for 12 months and will be independently evaluated. Up to ten additional festivals will be included in the trial following Midnight Mafia.The trial comes after the NSW Government’s Drug Summit concluded in early December. The recently released Report on the 2024 New South Wales Drug Summit provides a priority action recommending a trial of music festival-based drug testing.Further information on the NSW drug checking trial can be found here.More information for young people on how to keep themselves and their friends safe at music festivals is available on the Your Room website.Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “We want to make clear no level of illicit drug use is safe.“This trial is about helping festival goers make more informed decisions about drug use with the goal of reducing harm and saving lives.“As we saw at the first trial site at the Yours and Owls festival, collaboration between all stakeholders is critical to ensuring the trial runs effectively.“We thank their event team for hosting, the patrons who visited the service, the dedicated NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) peer workers, and the Forensic & Analytical Science Service. “The NSW Government looks forward to listening to the evidence and applying the lessons learned as this drug checking trial progresses.”Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said, “I commend the NSW Government and NSW Health for this evidence-based and harm reducing trial.“Pill testing is all about keeping people safe, Informed, and can ultimately safe lives.”

Mortgage-holders are set for further relief, with economists declaring you can "lock in" an upcoming interest rate cut.Quarterly numbers released on Wednesday are expected to show core inflation has dropped within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range, paving the way for a rate cut at its May 20 meeting.Economists from Australia's big four banks have all forecasted the Reserve Bank's preferred measure of annual trimmed mean inflation will come in at either 2.8 or 2.9 per cent - within its target range of two to three per cent.(Economists at the big four banks forecast inflation to be within the Reserve Bank's target range. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)The annual rate leapt out of the target range in early 2022, triggering 12 rate rises in 13 months.The central bank cut its cash rate to 4.10 per cent in February, and Westpac Group chief economist Luci Ellis said another cut in May was guaranteed."You can lock in a (0.25 per cent) cut in May, even if the Q1 inflation data is a shade disappointing," she said."For the time being, we continue to expect a total of three further cuts (0.75 per cent in total), including the cut in May, with August and November pencilled in for the other two cuts."Each 25 basis point cut would shave about $90 off monthly repayments on a typical $600,000 mortgage.While some wondered if the global economic uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs might trigger a larger than usual cut - as high as 0.5 per cent - Dr Ellis said that was not plausible.(Trimmed mean inflation is expected to come in at either 2.8 or 2.9 per cent. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)She labelled commentary suggesting the double-cut "breathless" and said Australia was less affected by the tariffs than other economies."If the board were to do something other than cut by 0.25 per cent in May, it might consider a 0.35 per cent move to 3.75 per cent," she said."To be clear, we regard this as a very outside chance."NAB, however, disagreed and has prepared for a 0.5 per cent rate cut, also predicting annual trimmed mean inflation would be recorded at 2.8 per cent."We think quarterly CPI will largely take a back seat to rising global uncertainty," its weekly markets report read."Our base case is that the RBA will deliver a 50bp cut in May to take policy more quickly towards neutral."(US President Donald Trump is set to mark his first 100 days in office. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Retail sales figures are due out on Friday, while US policy developments will continue to be of interest as Trump celebrates his first 100 days in office at a rally in Michigan on Tuesday.Investors on Wall Street have meanwhile parsed a spate of earnings looking for signs of easing tensions in the US-China trade dispute.The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices were bolstered by gains in the "magnificent seven" group of artificial intelligence-related megacaps on Friday, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was more muted.The latter rose 20.10 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 40,113.50, the S&P gained 40.44 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 5,525.21 and the Nasdaq gained 216.90 points, or 1.26 per cent, to 17,382.94.In a shortened trade week, Australian share futures lifted only 2.0 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 7,786.The S&P/ASX200 rose 47.7 points, or 0.60 per cent on Thursday, before the Anzac Day public holiday, to 7,968.2, as the broader All Ordinaries gained 49.9 points, or 0.61 per cent, to 8,175.1.By Alex Mitchell in Sydney

Australia's growth outlook has been slashed by a major international body as US President Donald Trump's trade upheaval sends market volatility skywards.The United Nations financial agency, the International Monetary Fund, said uncertainty had surged to unprecedented levels in its World Economic Outlook for April.Mr Trump's latest comments - that the US would be "very nice" in negotiations with China - followed conciliatory remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that sent Wall St shares bouncing back from heavy losses overnight.The Australian bourse jumped more than 1.5 per cent on Wednesday morning.(Global fallout from US tariffs has hit Australia's prospects for economic growth. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)Despite the positive reaction, the fluctuating daily pronouncements are damaging the economy.The fund downgraded Australia's economic growth projection for 2025 to 1.6 per cent from 2.1 per cent in January.Global growth is also expected to be half a percentage point lower at 2.8 per cent.Equity markets had suffered heavy losses since Mr Trump's tariff announcement on April 2, but US stocks potentially had further to fall, the IMF said."Major policy shifts are resetting the global trade system and giving rise to uncertainty that is once again testing the resilience of the global economy," the agency said in the document, released on Tuesday, US time.If the agency's predictions are borne out, about $13 billion would be shaved off Australia's economy.The potential hit to the economy is worse than feared by Treasury, which predicted only a 0.1 per cent reduction in growth in its budget, reaffirmed in the pre-election economic and fiscal outlook earlier in April.Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government's job was not to "follow the bouncing ball of daily announcements and shifts", given the unpredictability around tariffs and trade negotiations."Our job is to make our economy more resilient, to engage with our colleagues and counterparts around the world, to find the most diverse, reliable markets that we can," he told reporters on Wednesday."Obviously, a big concern to us is the impact on the Chinese economy of these escalating trade tensions."(Treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned about the unpredictability of tariffs and trade negotiations. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)China's GDP growth was downgraded by 0.6 per cent to four per cent in 2025, below Beijing's target of five per cent growth.Tariffs will dominate talks between global financial leaders gathering at IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington during the week.Finance ministers from around the globe will be eagerly seeking meetings with Mr Bessent, who is leading trade negotiations, to strike a tariff exemption deal.Dr Chalmers will be a notable absentee while he is tied up campaigning for the federal election.He said Australians would be worse off and more vulnerable to global economic uncertainty if Opposition Leader Peter Dutton won the election on May 3.(Inflation is expected to come in lower for 2025 than first forecast. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said the downgrade was a warning that Australia needed fiscal buffers to the budget, which Labor had abandoned when it came into government."One of the things that we have said is that we will bring the budget back to a path of structural surplus," she said."It's going to take some time, because so much of that windfall revenue gain that has come through from the Labor government in the last couple of years has been squandered or it's been spent in recurrent expenditure baked into the budget."Australian GDP growth is expected to pick up to 2.1 per cent in 2026, slightly lower than the 2.2 per cent projected in January.Headline inflation is projected to come in 0.8 percentage points lower in 2025 than previously forecast, at 2.5 per cent, before accelerating strongly to 3.5 per cent in 2026, once federal energy rebates come off.By Jacob Shteyman in Canberra

Pope Francis's Australian-like informality and love of the people are being remembered as millions of Catholics mourn the pontiff's passing.The 88-year-old's death on Monday after a recent serious health battle was marked by tolling church bells and preparations for scores of memorial masses for the Catholic leader.Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, who met Francis about 20 times, described the Pope as very easy to talk to and almost like "an Australian in terms of his informality".(Tributes are flowing for Pope Francis, who is being remembered kindly by bishops and everyday people. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)"He was a man of deep compassion ... I count it a great privilege that I got to talk to him so many times," he told ABC TV."He shared a real passion for the marginalised, for refugees, for people who felt alienated from society, for people who were poor, financially and emotionally."Many mourners attended early masses at local cathedrals following the Pope's passing.Outside Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral, Stephen said Francis had continued Pope John Paul II's legacy as a man of the people.(Mourners attend early masses to pay tribute to the Pope, remembered as a man of the people. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)"That's what Pope Francis brought to this world: really giving everyone hope and not just making the church something that's symbolic," he told AAP."He went to the prisons to wash the feet of the captives; it's like he was representing Jesus in the truest form."Mark Andrews stopped by the cathedral before work on Tuesday and said Francis's legacy spread outside Catholicism."People across faiths saw his value and his kindness ... he was a good man in every sense," he said.(Anthony Albanese put campaigning on hold to attend a memorial at St Patrick's Cathedral. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is Catholic, said the major party leaders had agreed to dial back election campaigning on Tuesday as a sign of respect.He attended mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne on a rainy Tuesday morning.Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president and Perth Archbishop Tim Costelloe reflected on images taken just hours before the Pope's death, when Francis made a public appearance at St Peter's Square."Even though he was so sick, and so weak, he was determined to be with his people," he told ABC radio."Being with his people, being present to his people, was probably the great gift that he brought to the church and to the world."National flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect.(Flags are being flown at half mast for the late Pope Francis, who is being remembered for humility. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The Pope's death could also prove a turning point in Australia's relationship with the Vatican after Francis overlooked local archbishops when selecting the nation's sole cardinal in December.Cardinal Mykola Bychok said he was filled with sadness for the loss of a "pope of peace" and a man of simple piety."I am grateful for the late Holy Father's frequent appeals for a just peace in Ukraine and for the efforts of the Holy See that he oversaw - known and secret - that in some way helped bring relief to the imprisoned and suffering," the Ukrainian-born, Melbourne-based cardinal said.Cardinal Bychok was on his way to the Middle East on a pilgrimage, but will divert to Rome to take part in the funeral rites before joining other cardinal electors to choose the 267th and next pope.Mourners paid tribute to a progressive Pope who was a champion of refugees and the poor. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)The change in leadership could also offer a chance for Australian church leaders to "reset" dealings with the Vatican, Deakin and Oxford universities' Catholic historian Miles Pattenden said.After Cardinal George Pell's 2023 death, Francis overlooked local archbishops when selecting the nation's next cardinal in December."It was an extraordinary snub that Francis made Mykola Bychok, the Ukrainian Australian bishop, cardinal and not the archbishop of Sydney," Dr Pattenden said."There's no way to read that except as a rebuke to Sydney."

Holidaymakers are warned to avoid any unnecessary risks as powerful swells lash the east coast, resulting in record drownings in one state.Seven people are confirmed dead - six in NSW and one in Victoria - with the search for two others missing since Good Friday continuing on Easter Monday.In the latest tragedy, a nine-year-old boy died after becoming trapped between rocks at a popular holiday spot on the NSW mid-north coast.Police and other emergency services tried to free the boy from the site at South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon, but he died at the scene.(A man is still missing after a large wave dragged him into the sea at Little Bay on Friday. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce described the deadly Easter stretch as one of one of the "most horrific weekends on record in NSW".He said crews had also taken part in countless rescues as he urged people to steer clear of rock platforms during the large surf, which was leading to many people being washed off rocks. "We're asking people to avoid the rock platforms all together, particularly where the swell has not abated yet, and rock fishers to please wear a life jacket," Mr Pearce said on Monday."I can't stress enough how important it is for the public to be aware of the surf conditions when visiting the coastline and to not place themselves in a position of unnecessary risk."(Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce described the weekend toll as tragic. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)Unseasonally warm conditions fuelled large crowds at many beaches and waterways over the holiday period.Rescue crews in NSW and Victoria continued to search for two men missing since Friday.They included a 24-year-old who was swept off the rocks at Little Bay, in Sydney's east, and a 41-year-old man exploring the beach near San Remo in Victoria.Neither have been spotted since going into the water.The older man was with a group of fellow Chinese nationals living in Pakenham when three of the friends were knocked into the ocean by a wave. One woman was rescued, but the missing man's wife drowned.(Swimmers and anglers are being urged to beware of huge swells and not to take risks. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Emergency services were also called to Wattamolla in Sydney's Royal National Park at 11am on Sunday following reports two people were swept off the rocks while fishing.One of the duo was winched to safety, but the other was unable to be revived and died at the scene. A 58-year-old fisherman also died after being swept into water at Wollongong Harbour on Friday morning, while another fisherman died after being swept off rocks at Green Cape, near Eden on the NSW south coast, that afternoon.A man drowned at Mosman, on Sydney's north shore, on Friday.(Royal Life Saving Australia says people are often putting themselves in danger in the water. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with those who had lost loved-ones."Australians love the water, we love the surf," he said."Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, to be careful of your kids."Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Carr said the deaths happened in extreme weather conditions when people had often put themselves in danger. Those activities included walking along rocky shelves, getting too close to the water to take pictures of the storm swell and rock fishing when it wasn't safe.An average of six people have drowned each Easter long weekend over the past 20 years, according to the organisation.By Melissa Meehan in Melbourne

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