What we learned today, Wednesday 25 February
It’s time to wrap things up for the day. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy:
Two men were arrested in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, police said. Police also confirmed that remains found yesterday were those of Baghsarian.
Inflation remained at 3.8% in the year to January, but a lift in underlying price pressures added to fears of another interest rate hike.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said that while he was reluctant to go into what Australians may expect from May’s budget, there would be “belt tightening” involved.
WiseTech Global is planning to cut 2,000 jobs over two years as the Sydney-headquartered firm bets big on the ability of artificial intelligence to replace humans.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, urged people “to turn the heat down, for goodness sake” after a suspected bomb threat at his Canberra residence last night. Chalmers echoed Albanese, saying politicians were “unfortunately and increasingly” more exposed to threats from the public.
Nearly 60% of Australians would be open to voting for One Nation at the next federal election, including nearly half of those currently backing Labor, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, was in Samoa this afternoon, her first visit since the country changed government in 2025.
Finally, Politico, a US political news site, is set to launch in Australia later this year.
Thank you, as ever, for joining us. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow.
Updated
Gambling self-exclusion scheme needs improvements: report
The communications minister, Anika Wells, has released the latest review of the BetStop scheme, which allows individuals to self-exclude from telephone and online gambling products.
Led by Richard Eccles, the review found BetStop was delivering well on its objectives for people with gambling addiction, but warned it was too easy to bypass and failed data matches between the scheme and information held by betting companies were too common.
The report said there was scope for greater uptake of BetStop, with only 33.5% of regular gamblers aware that it exists. Among the general population, the figure is only 26.5%.
The report called awareness levels “worryingly low”.
It said users seeking to cancel their participation in the exclusion scheme should face higher barriers, and better coordination with other exclusion programs should be considered.
Eccles called for a widespread marketing campaign and targeted awareness-raising efforts among health providers, mental health workers and emergency relief organisations.
The report said BetStop should be extended to online Keno games and other online rapid play gambling products.
Updated
