Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes the Albanese government being adrift on the Palestine stance, a Liberal Senator saying government spending is fueling inflation, Australia’s retail sales up amid consumer caution, Rex adding the Perth and Adelaide route, and a nude passenger forcing an emergency landing of Virgin’s Perth to Melbourne flight.
Politics
Leadership ‘adrift’ on Palestine stance
Sky News political contributor Chris Uhlmann criticises the Albanese government’s stance on Palestinian state recognition. “You could remind the Labor Party of its own history, Australia was the first state to vote for the state of Israel,” Mr Uhlmann said. “So, the sense of history is an important one, and the Labor Party is adrift at the moment at its leadership level on exactly where to stand when its own base is now pulling it towards recognising a state of Palestine.”
Liberal Senator says inflation is fuelled by government spending
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma says “inflationary pressures” are consistently added by the Labor government’s spending, Sky News has reported. The April CPI indicator rose to 3.6 per cent from 3.5 per cent. “I think what our concern is on our side is that the government has been consistently adding to inflationary pressures,” Mr Sharma said. “We’ve seen massive windfalls come into the budget through bracket creep – people paying more through their taxes and record high commodity prices… The government is overwhelmingly spending four out of every five dollars that’s coming into the budget—that’s adding fuel to this inflationary fire.”
Economy
Retail sales up amid consumer caution
Retail sales edged higher in April in the face of high borrowing costs, and rising rents, Share Café reported. ABS data showed retail sales rose 0.1 per cent in April from March when they fell 0.4 per cent. The market had forecast a rise of 0.2 per cent or 0.3 per cent. Sales of $35.7 billion were up a sluggish 1.3 per cent from a year earlier. While that was up from the very weak 0.8 per cent rise year-on-year in March, it was made to look stronger than it was by the 0.3 per cent slide in April 2023, dropping out of the comparison.
Travel
Rex adds 12th domestic route
Rex announced it would fly between Perth and Adelaide on Embraer E-190 jets operated by its group member National Jet Express (NJE), Asian Aviation has reported. The new route is now the 12th domestic service for the Rex Group. The airline flies to major capital cities and popular destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and the Gold Coast.
Nude passenger forces emergency landing
A man’s naked rampage on a Virgin Australia Perth to Melbourne flight led to an emergency landing, police arrest, and an upcoming court date, Travel and Tour World reported. Flight VA696 had to make an emergency return to Perth Airport due to an unruly passenger. Officers from the Australian Federal Police removed the individual from the plane. Virgin Australia extended its apologies to the passengers affected by the disruption, reaffirming that the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew remain a foremost concern.
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