Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes the Albanese government continuing its focus on middle Australia, government funding new toy libraries for ADHD patients, $399 million being earmarked for Ghost Bat development, and Australians spending $7 billion annually on lotteries amid the cost of living crisis.
Nation
The government funds new toy libraries for ADHD patients
The Albanese Labor Government is putting up an additional $150,000 to establish 10 new toy libraries in areas of growth and support up to 50 existing toy libraries to purchase resources and toys for families and children with additional support needs, including Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This new funding boosts the Albanese Government’s initial investment of $700,000. It will allow Toy Libraries Australia to grow its work with local organisations in fast-growing communities, often on the edge of cities or regional centres, Mirage News has reported.
https://www.miragenews.com/more-support-for-australian-families-1171603/
Politics
The Albanese government has a ‘steadfast focus’ on middle Australia
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Albanese government has a “very firm focus” on middle Australia, SkyNews reported. Mr Chalmers’ comments come as the government has confirmed their changes to the stage three tax cuts. “That’s why we’re giving every Australian taxpayer a tax cut. “I think of middle Australia as the people who get up and work hard to provide for their loved ones and get ahead. “What we’ve been able to demonstrate here … showed the benefits for working families, the benefits for young people, the benefits for people in the care economy. “What we’ve been able to do here is we’ve got a very firm focus on middle Australia.”
Defence
$399 million earmarked for Ghost Bat development
The Australian government has allocated an additional $399 million for the ongoing development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, the Asia-Pacific Defense Reporter has reported. The Ghost Bat—a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—is being developed in cooperation with Boeing Defence Australia. It is the first military combat aircraft to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years. The aircraft will be used for the protection of military assets and perform combat roles.
https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/australia-allocates-a399-million-for-ghost-bat-development/
Lifestyle
Australians spend $7 billion annually on lotteries
Australians are spending more on lotto tickets and scratchies despite cost of living pressures, ABC News reported. New data from Queensland’s Statistician’s Office, published in late 2023, Australians spent more than $7 billion on lotteries in the 2020-21 financial year, up from$4.3 billion in 2010-11 and $3.4 billion in 2000-01. New South Wales residents spent the most at $1.9 billion, while Victorians spent $1.8 billion and Queenslanders spent $1.4 billion. The Queensland Audit Office found Queenslanders lost more than $500 million to lotteries in 2022-23. It is that hope for a better life that drives people to enter lotteries, according to Associate Professor Alex Russell, from CQ University’s Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-11/lotto-spending-and-the-cost-of-living/103441426
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