Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Prime Minister Albanese confirming that the stage three tax cuts will remain in place, Foreign Minister Penny Wong travelling to the Middle East in a bid to help end conflict in Gaza, Australia joins US and UK for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1, and more Australians to go on a holiday cruise this year.
Economy
Stage three tax cuts to remain—PM
Prime Minister Albanese confirms that the controversial stage three tax cuts will remain in place and will take effect on July 1, the Australian Associated Press reported. The tax cuts will create a single tax bracket for workers earning between $45,000 and $200,000 a year. Workers with a taxable income above $45,000 will benefit from the tax cuts but high-income earners are set to receive the highest gains. Mr Albanese said the tax cuts would not impact inflation since the Reserve Bank had it already factored in.
https://www.aap.com.au/news/aussies-will-still-get-their-tax-cuts-anthony-albanese/
Politics
Foreign Minister off to the Middle East
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will visit Israel, partially the Israeli towns where Hamas attacks took place, in a bid to help put an end to the conflict in Gaza. Ms Wong will travel to Israel, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates over the week and will meet with regional counterparts. “Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice and I’ll be using our voice to advocate for a pathway out of this conflict,” she said. Her visit to Israel will be the first by a foreign minister since 2016, The Northern Daily Leader has reported.
Defence
Australia joins the US and UK for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1
The Royal Australian Air Force has joined the world’s toughest air combat training environment, alongside counterparts from the US and United Kingdom during Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 being held from January 15 to February 2 at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, USA. The exercise is renowned for its use of ‘aggressor’ forces, including enemy fighter aircraft, ground-based radars and simulated surface-to-air missiles, as well as cyber and space-based elements that simulate threats for each mission, the Australian Government said.
Travel and leisure
More Australians to go on a holiday cruise this year
Data from the Tourism & Transport Forum indicated that one in four Australians would go on a cruise this year, Travel Weekly has reported. A national survey of 2,000 Aussies by Pure Profile reveals the number of Australians surveyed who plan to cruise in 2024 has risen from seven per cent to 26 per cent in the past 12 months, despite cost-of-living pressures. Millennials and Gen Z passengers are driving the increased demand, with 35 per cent of Australians under 35 planning to cruise this year, versus 18 per cent of those over 65.
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