Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes a US teenager arrested over meth import, defence minister warning China over provocative tactics, The Department of Home Affairs has been ordered to fix deportations to NZ, Inflation quickens to a five-month high, and There may be travel restrictions for Donald Trump in Australia.
Nation
Australian airport arrests US teenager over alleged meth import worth $24 million
A teenager from the US has been charged after he allegedly tried to bring more than 25 kilograms of meth into Australia in suitcases, 9 News has reported. The 18-year-old touched down at Sydney Airport on Wednesday when border force officers stopped him. His two suitcases were searched and more than 20 tightly wrapped packages were found. The seized meth had the potential for 260,000 street deals worth more than $24 million according to federal police. He was arrested and charged with one count of border-controlled drug import.
Defence minister warns China over provocative tactics
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has claimed Defence Minister Richard Marles has done the “absolute bare minimum” after meeting with his Chinese defence counterpart, Sky News reported. It comes as the defence minister called out China’s rising aggression on the global stage while speaking at a security summit in Singapore. “Well, Richard Marles finally did the bare minimum a week later. This raises the issue of a very serious unprofessional unsafe conduct by the People Liberation Army against Australian personnel which put their lives in danger,” Mr Paterson said. “That’s the bare minimum that any Australian government should do.”
Politics
There may be travel restrictions for Donald Trump in Australia
Donald Trump may be hit with visa issues for multiple countries after his criminal hush money conviction, the Herald Sun reported. Donald Trump will need special approval from the federal government to visit Australia if he is sentenced to more than a year behind bars after his criminal hush money conviction. Visa rules in other countries including China, Canada and the UK may similarly restrict the former US president’s travel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sidestepped questions about whether he would be granted a visa, saying: “I’m not going down that rabbit hole.”
The Department of Home Affairs has been ordered to fix deportations to NZ
The Prime Minister’s department directly instructed the Home Affairs department to attempt to find a way to stop the deportation of many New Zealand citizens who had lived in Australia for many years, Sky News reported. The instruction came before Immigration Minister Andrew Giles’ direction 99, which has led to a series of administrative appeals tribunal decisions overturning the minister’s decision to kick sexual offenders and other criminals out of Australia.
Economy
Inflation rises to a five-month high
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed its monthly consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.6 per cent in April, up from 3.5 per cent in March and above market forecasts of 3.4 per cent, Reuters has reported. Moreover, a closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, also accelerated to an annual 4.1 per cent, from 4.0 per cent. The CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel stayed at an annual 4.1 per cent. The RBA expects headline inflation to increase to 3.8 per cent by June this year. Still, the hope is that the new relief from the government – including billions in electricity rebates and rent subsidies – would ease cost-of-living pressures in the second half.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/australia-consumer-inflation-surprises-high-side-april-2024-05-29/
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