What we learned, Sunday 30 April
That’s it for our live news coverage today. Thanks for being with us.
Here’s what we learned.
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles said Australia must focus on building domestic defence manufacturing capacity as it faced a blockade risk in any future conflict.
NT police commissioner Jamie Chalker has announced his retirement after a settlement with the Territory government over his future.
Former Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle has been stripped of his Order of Australia honour.
An Australian man has been charged with assault for allegedly spitting in the face of an imam in Indonesia.
Tesla cars are currently unavailable in Australia and several south-east Asian countries on Sunday but the company did not say why.
A crocodile is suspected in the disappearance of a fisher in far-north Queensland.
An 11-year-old boy is in hospital after a shark attack in northern WA.
The Greens will introduce a bill to parliament to freeze interest rates and rents.
NSW SES received more than 100 calls for help on Sunday morning after severe weather lashed parts of the state.
Have a good rest of your weekend. We’ll have another live blog tomorrow.
Small businesses to get $314m in tax cuts for going green
Small and medium-size businesses that invest in energy efficient equipment could be eligible for a tax deduction of up to $20,000.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Sunday announced the Small Business Energy Incentive – to be included in next month’s budget – in a bid to help businesses manage the costs of cutting their energy consumption.
Up to 3.8 million businesses across Australia could benefit from the measure.
Businesses with a turnover of up to $50m will be incentivised to electrify their cooling and heating systems, install batteries and heat pumps, as well as more efficient fridges and induction cooktops.
The maximum bonus tax deduction is $20,000 per business, and will cost $314m over the next four years.
Dr Chalmers said small businesses will be front and centre in the budget.
This incentive is all about helping small business save energy and save on their energy bills, support that comes on top of the direct energy bill relief for small businesses that will be a centrepiece of the budget.
The Albanese government’s policies like the Small Business Energy Incentive are all about giving small businesses the leg-up they need to expand and grow.
Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said the scheme came at the right time.
Ensuring our small business can take part in the energy revolution means cheaper energy costs that can be passed on to customers.
Rewiring Australia co-founder and chief scientist Dr Saul Griffith said the scheme would help permanently lower the cost of business.
Swapping out fossil fuelled devices and energy sources for renewable-backed electrification is the fastest, most cost effective way to decarbonise our domestic economy.
– AAP
Updated
