Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Victoria losing power affecting hundreds of thousands, Australia telling Israel to ‘listen to friends’, Greens blocking Labor’s housing scheme, the Philippine President giving a speech to Australia’s Parliament, and New South Wales issuing a measles outbreak alert.
Nation
Greens to block Labor’s housing scheme
The Greens are threatening to block Labor’s ‘help to buy’ housing scheme unless there are significant changes made to negative gearing, SkyNews has reported. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government has no plans to change negative gearing. The Greens are set to use their power in the Senate to pressure Labor into reducing negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts in exchange for their support. The Albanese government’s ‘help to buy’ scheme was a part of their election campaign and requires the backing of the Greens to pass.
Foreign relations
‘Listen to friends’, Australia tells Israel
Australia has called on Israel to “listen to its friends” while expressing “deep concerns” about reports of an impending Israeli ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than one million people are sheltering, SBS News reported. “I unequivocally oppose the terrorist acts that occurred on October 7 but we cannot have disregard for innocent life and I’m very concerned at the consequences for those civilians,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Politics
Philippine President to give rare speech to Australia’s Parliament
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address a rare joint sitting of Australia’s parliament in a sign of Canberra’s deepening ties with Southeast Asian nations at a time of strategic competition in the region, The Straits Times reported. Mr Marcos will speak to Australian lawmakers in Canberra on Feb 29, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday. A joint sitting of both houses of parliament is a rare honour previously only accorded to leaders such as US Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Regions
Hundreds of thousands lose power in Victoria
More than 500,000 homes or businesses had lost power in Victoria after a major power plant shut down because a storm knocked out parts of the state’s electricity transmission network, Malay Mail reported. AGL’s Loy Yang A power station, responsible for about a third of the state’s power, was forced to shut down this afternoon after several towers along a major section of the state’s transmission network collapsed in bad weather.
Health
New South Wales issues measles outbreak alert
The New South Wales (NSW) health authority has issued a public warning over measles, as one case has been recently confirmed in the state’s north, People’s Gazette has reported. NSW Health confirmed on Sunday that the case returned from overseas, and several countries have had ongoing measles outbreaks. Schoolchildren on the Singh Company bus on Feb. 5 and those who attended the emergency department at Murwillumbah Hospital were urged to monitor for related symptoms.
https://gazettengr.com/measles-outbreak-alert-issued-in-australias-new-south-wales/
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