Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes soldiers to be receiving bonuses to stay in service, Australia set for a budget rebound, Jetstar to launch its $77 sear sale, and the government to ban recreational vaping.
Nation
Soldiers to receive a bonus to stay as strategic risks rise
The government will be paying military personnel $50,000 to stay beyond an initial service period, days after a review found its defence posture was “not fit for purpose” amid rising competition between the United States and China, the Inquirer has reported. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the number of defence personnel was 3,400 below the positions funded, and there was a retention problem. The retention bonus will be paid to personnel who stay after completing a mandatory period of service, which is typically three years.
Economy
Australia set for a budget rebound
The Labor government is set to reveal a vast improvement in the budget’s bottom line next week as its coffers bulge with tax windfalls, yet the outlook will be a sober one as fiscal challenges still loom large. There will be some money to offset the cost of living pressures, particularly on energy prices, and perhaps a long-delayed rise in unemployment benefits. Defence is set for the biggest increase since World War II over plans to spend $368 billion until the 2050s on nuclear-powered submarines from the United Kingdom and the United States. Aljazeera reported.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/5/1/australia-set-for-budget-rebound-signals-fiscal-restraint
Travel
Jetstar launches $77 sale for its 19th birthday
Jetstar has released 45,000 ‘return for free’ sale seats in celebration of its 19th birthday, News.com has reported. The budget airline’s famous sale – which is an annual event – will see flights around Australia start at $77 return and international fares from $259 return. Travellers will have their pick of 59 domestic routes and 28 international routes that will be on sale. This sale is available to Club Jetstar members from midday (AEST) on May 2, 2023, and to the public from midnight on Wednesday, May 3, 2022. It then runs for 48 hours, ending at 11.59 pm on 4 May 2023 unless sold out.
Health
Recreational vaping to be banned
The federal government is keen on tightening e-cigarette laws, including introducing new controls on import and packaging to stamp out vaping especially among kids, in the biggest crackdown on the tobacco industry in more than a decade, the Inquirer has reported. The government will take steps to ban all disposable vapes and the import of non-prescription vapes, restrict flavours and colours, and reduce allowed nicotine levels, aiming for vapes only to be sold as products to help smokers quit.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1763724/australia-to-ban-recreational-vaping-in-e-cigarette-crackdown
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