What we learned, Sunday 7 May
That’s it for our live news coverage today. Thanks for being with us.
Here’s what we learned.
The federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has been doing a media blitz ahead of handing down Tuesday’s budget.
Among the measures announced on Sunday were changes to the petroleum resource rent tax (PPRT) that would collect an additional $2.4bn over four years and a plan to subsidise electricity bills up to $700. Oil and gas producers welcomed the PRRT tax plan and called on the Coalition to negotiate with the government over the passage of the bill.
The PM, Anthony Albanese, is on his way home after attending the Coronation of King Charles III, where he took an oath of allegiance ahead of the budget. The Australian republican movement had called on Albanese to remain silent during the oath, while the Monarchist League criticised a decision not to allow a display on the Sydney Opera House by NSW’s premier, Chris Minns.
Labor has flagged that it will reposition on its hard stance against a lift to jobseeker, with speculation the government will raise Jobseeker by $20 a week. The Greens are critical, saying that if the amount reported is true it will be a “slap in the face” for people in “desperate” need of assistance.
Angus Taylor has attacked the government, saying a “big-spending” budget will not solve inflation.
Have a good rest of your weekend. We’ll have another live blog tomorrow.
Updated
Victorian Liberal leader will vote to expel exiled MP
The Victorian Liberal’s leader, John Pesutto, has backed a second bid to expel an exiled MP from the party despite her backing down from threats of legal action.
On Sunday, the state opposition leader confirmed he would vote in favour of a motion to expel Moira Deeming during a motion to be heard at a party room meeting on Friday.
He revealed the five MPs who came to him with the motion were the former party leader Matthew Guy, along with James Newbury, Cindy McLeish, Roma Britnell and Wayne Farnham.
What those five members of the party room have done reflects the concerns that many ... including myself share about needing to resolve this matter so it will be dealt with on Friday morning.
It will be the second time the party considers expelling Deeming after she attended an anti-transgender rights rally in Melbourne where neo-Nazis performed the “heil Hitler” salute.
A previous vote in late March led to a nine-month suspension from the Liberals.
On Friday, the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, flagged intervening in the Victorian division as a way to sort out “the whole mess”.
- AAP
Updated
