Good afternoon. Anthony Albanese has announced a major funding package in next week’s federal budget to overhaul Medicare. The overhaul is part of a $2.2bn planned spend to strengthen the country’s health system which will also expand the roles of pharmacists and paramedics.
After Friday’s national cabinet meeting in Brisbane, Albanese said state and territory leaders had agreed to a raft of measures, including developing plans to strengthen the rights of renters and to boost property supply and affordability, in a bid to address the nation’s housing crisis and win support for the Albanese government’s signature housing policy.
In other news, Bruce Lehrmann has won his court bid to extend the usual 12-month time limit on defamation claims to pursue action against News Corp and Network 10.
Let’s get into it.
Top news
Medicare changes | The prime minister has announced $2.2bn in funding for health, including changes to Medicare. The funding, which will be in this year’s federal budget, will also mean nurses and pharmacists play a greater role in the health system as well as more funding for GPs to open after hours and investment in digital health. National cabinet also signed off on a promise to boost the capability of the NDIS.
Lehrmann given extension | Bruce Lehrmann is now free to pursue defamation claims against News Corp and Network Ten after the federal court gave him an extension on the usual 12-month time limit. The defendants will seek to prove the truth in their initial reporting of Brittany Higgins’s allegation of rape. The trial will take place on 20 November and last for 20 days. Lehrmann denies raping Higgins in Parliament House.
Speakman slams Latham comments | The incoming NSW Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, has added his name to the list of people to condemn Mark Latham’s homophobic commentary. Latham has doubled down on his remarks, and suggested the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson – who has called on Latham to resign – does not understand “how straight men feel about this”.
Cleopatra controversy | Even before its release, the upcoming Netflix docudrama Cleopatra has caused controversy. The casting of a Black actor has angered groups in Egypt who say it is “a falsification of Egyptian history”. Egypt’s antiquities ministry insisted on Thursday that Cleopatra had “white skin and Hellenistic characteristics”.
Racist flyer drops | Queensland police have released security camera footage in an attempt to identify three men who distributed racist flyers on the Sunshine Coast. The flyers carried the name of an interstate white supremacist group, contained a racial slur and had pictures of two local girls who are accused of assault.
Indigenous children in care | In a letter, the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has told Eleanor Bourke, the chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, that the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the care and justice system is “a source of great shame”. Victoria has the highest rate of Indigenous children in out-of-home care.
Sheeran serenades courtroom | Did the English singer-songwriter copy Marvin Gaye’s classic Let’s Get it On when he wrote his hit song Thinking Out Loud? That is what the American federal court is set to decide. Testifying as the first witness in his own defence on Thursday, Sheeran played part of the song and said he had drawn inspiration for writing it from a new romantic relationship.
Mike Pence fronts inquiry | The former vice-president’s proximity to ex-president Donald Trump has made him a key witness in the criminal inquiry into the Capitol attack. Pence’s testimony took seven hours and was held behind closed doors, meaning the evidence he gave remains private.
Advantaged and disadvantaged | Regional areas dominate the list of the nation’s most disadvantaged, while those on or next to water, particularly in Sydney, are the most advantaged. How does your suburb rate?
In pictures
A climate protester scaled the spire of the Arts Centre Melbourne in an early morning demonstration today, unfurling a giant banner promoting climate activist group Extinction Rebellion and promoting three days of rallies set to be held in late May. Down below, supporters set up tents to watch the climb.
What they said …
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“One of the things about Kyle Sandilands – I’ll say this: a bloke who at one stage was homeless, living on the streets of Sydney, and has grown into someone who is a significant public figure, is a part of what is an Australian success story.” – Anthony Albanese
The prime minister was asked why he agreed to DJ at shock jock Kyle Sandilands’ wedding.
In numbers
New analysis from the financial systems watchdog shows 44% of so-called “choice” superannuation funds are generating returns below expectation.
Before bed read
The controversial talkshow host Jerry Springer, who died yesterday aged 79, has been remembered for the wealth of hand-to-mouth moments that defined his shock-heavy career. We’ve got a great wrap of them here.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: CTS (not actually a word, we know). You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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