Australian news and politics live: Chalmers says inflation figures ‘encouraging’ but still too high

Motorists are unlikely to get ongoing relief from fuel excise beyond the end of June, despite warnings the full impact from the Strait of Hormuz closure hasn’t hit yet.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has given his clearest indication yet that the Government doesn’t want to extend the $2.5 billion measure to halve the fuel excise beyond the planned three months.

The excise cut came into effect on April 1 and is due to end on June 30.

“We’re not anticipating extending that or expecting to extend it, but we keep it under review really from week to week,” Dr Chalmers said on Wednesday.

“And that’s because what we’re trying to do here is to provide cost of living relief in the most responsible way that we can, and that means, in this case, in a temporary way.”

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One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson has taken to X to share a happy snap of her with United Australia Party founder Clive Palmer.

“Look who’s come to visit me on my birthday, bearing gifts!” the caption read.

“I really appreciate the gesture.”

The pair’s relationship experienced turmoil ahead of the Federal election last year, after an attempt to unify their parties fell apart.

The two reportedly disagreed over who should lead their proposed singular populist party.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has confirmed that none of the so-called ISIS brides who arrived back in Australia on Tuesday night have been arrested.

Two women and seven children arrived in Melbourne yesterday, while another four women and their six children arrived in Sydney.

Unlike the group who returned to Australia a few weeks ago, this cohort was met by police and searched, but let go.

Shadow minister Melissa McIntosh asked during Question Time how many of those who arrived on Tuesday faced the “full force of the law”, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly said they would.

Mr Burke replied that of the two cohorts who have arrived in Australia in recent weeks, “three (women) remain behind bars” – effectively confirming that no further arrests were made yesterday.

However, he also said that no one should presume that the work of the Australian Federal Police and other intelligence agencies was over, indicating that there could still be charges to come.

The Opposition is targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Question Time for a second day, directing all its questions on the budget to him and abandoning any attempt to pressure Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor kicked off with a question that echoed yesterday’s efforts, asking the PM which small businesses would be carved out from the planned capital gains tax changes.

As he did yesterday, Mr Albanese instead spoke about the measures to help small business that were included in the budget, notably making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent.

Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson follows up by asking how the Prime Minister can say the CGT discount is reverting to the pre-1999 system when it doesn’t include the ability to average taxable capital gains income over five years. Leaving out the averaging means people can get hit with a large tax bill in the year they sell their asset, potentially pushing them up a tax bracket.

Dissatisfied with the PM’s non-answer, Mr Wilson asked it again, this time speaking slowly as if he were addressing a preschooler.

Sadly for the shadow treasurer, his interjections while the PM was speaking saw him booted out for an hour and unable to hear any more.

Justin Stevens has resigned from his role as ABC director of news after four years in the position, stepping down for what he described as personal and professional reasons.

His departure is effective immediately.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks paid tribute to Stevens’ long service at the public broadcaster, noting his contribution over almost two decades.

“I am grateful to have seen the strength of Justin’s editorial instincts and to have observed his commitment to the ABC and audiences. I wish him every success in the future,” Mr Marks said.

In a farewell email sent to staff, Stevens reflected on the demands of leading the organisation and his efforts to strengthen its journalism and culture during a period of rapid change.

“There is no more complex news organisation in the country, no more scrutinised institution, and few so laden with public expectations. In that context, I have sought to strengthen and defend our journalism without being blind to our stumbles; to meet the state of constant change in the digital age; and to improve our culture in News to one where we hold ourselves to the same standards as we do of others in the broader community,” Mr Stevens said.

Mr Stevens was appointed news director at 38-years-old after working as a former executive producer of the ABC’s current affairs program 7.30.

His total remuneration package last year was $667,900.

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The Labor MP who unseated former opposition leader Peter Dutton at the 2025 election has been referred to the electoral watchdog over claims she is enrolled to vote at a vacant block of land.

Queensland Liberal senator James McGrath has asked the Australian Electoral Commission to launch an immediate investigation into Ali France, the member for Dickson, over alleged breaches of the Electoral Act.

“It has come to light that Ms France is currently enrolled to vote at a vacant block of land as her principal residence, which has sat empty for a significant period of time,” Senator McGrath said in a statement.

“Under AEC guidelines and regulations this would suggest a clear breach of the Act and therefore should be investigated with the upmost (sic) seriousness and in a timely manner.

“A Labor MP being enrolled at a vacant block of land is as dodgy as they come. Simple as that.”

Read the full story.

- AAP

Mr Hudson also told the royal commission that officers responding to the attack were placed in danger by not having long-arm guns.

“On (December 14), our police officers were placed at significant risk (with) gunfight armed with 9mm glocks against long arms,” he said.

NSW Police and the police union had requested greater access to long arms in the lead-up to the attack.

“There has been, on behalf of officers within the NSW Police Force, representations made by the Police Association of NSW in relation to glock capability increases, (which can) better protect their officers and their members,” he said.

“The availability of long arms on a more frequent basis is certainly a response to that, and (it also encompasses) better protection of the community, so it’s twofold.”

- NCA

A senior NSW police officer has accused federal intelligence agencies of sometimes being less than forthcoming with sharing information.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner for Investigations and Counter Terrorism David Hudson made the claim as he fronted the Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion today.

He suggested that some law enforcement agencies use a wide-reaching government policyknown as the Protective Security Policy Framework to justify not sharing information.

The framework is an overarching government policy that provides guidelines for organisations protecting their own information and people.

“From our perspective, we take a very open interpretation of the (Protective Security Policy Framework) PSPF, and if there is risk or threat we will share information with other agencies,” Mr Hudson told the commission.

“But other agencies can, on occasions, not be so forthcoming.

“Getting information to the areas where it needs to be, in my opinion, should be the priority ... rather than relying upon the PSPF as a justification for not sharing information.”

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- AAP

Australia’s share market has shrugged off an early wobble after April inflation came in cooler than expected, rising the odds the Reserve Bank will hold rather hike the interest rate at its June meeting.

The S&P/ASX200 crept 8.5 points higher by midday on Wednesday, up 0.11 per cent, to 8,667.2, as the broader All Ordinaries slipped 16.1 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 8,898.7.

Financial stocks held the index back from significant gains, the heavyweight sector down 1.2 per cent and tracking with even bigger losses for the big four banks, as Westpac slumped two per cent after copping a $26 million regulator fine for failing to respond to customer hardship notices.

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- AAP

Mr Chalmers said the government’s decision to cut the fuel excise had helped to take some the “sting” out of price pressures stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

“Our automated fuel fell 7per cent in April. It was rising 32.8 per cent in March and that’s why we stepped in. Treasury analysis shows that our cut to the fuel excise reduced headline inflation by around half of a percentage point.”

Mr Chalmers said even though fuel was a big driver in today’s lower inflation figure, it wasn’t the only one, with food and rent also moderating.

Asked whether the fuel excise would be extended beyond next month, Mr Chalmers said the government was “not anticipating extending” it but it would that reviewed from week-to week.