What we learned today, Tuesday 28 February
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Here’s a recap of the day’s news:
The Albanese government will raise the tax rate on superannuation accounts with balances over $3m.
The federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, released the latest tax expenditures and insights statement, which showed super concessions cost $50bn a year.
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, says Labor’s super changes breach an election commitment.
Stuart Robert said the Coalition should “double down” on robodebt after he was told it was unlawful, the royal commission has heard.
Dozens of cough medicines have been recalled by the TGA.
Workplace ministers around the country have been asked to fast-track a ban on silica products. And Safe Work Australia will investigate silica dangers.
Australia’s education ministers will develop a framework on AI use in schools.
The “exhausted” northern NSW city of Lismore marks a year since traumatic floods.
Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out pill testing in Victoria.
Energy provider Ausgrid has started installing electricity pole-mounted EV chargers in Sydney.
A man armed with a knife has been shot dead at a Sydney police station.
A primary school child was reportedly hit by a train in Adelaide.
A man has been arrested over an alleged $5m bushfire extortion attempt.
Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us – we will be back tomorrow morning to do it all again.
Updated
Ruby Rose speaks out on LGBTQ+ discrimination and exclusion at school formals
The queer advocate Ruby Rose will join a new partnership between Hilton and Minus18 as an ambassador to raise awareness of the discrimination and exclusion LGBTQ+ teens experience at school formals.
Announced in Sydney on Tuesday, the partnership will expand access to LGBTQ+ young people to free and inclusive school formals in new cities and regional areas.
Rose says:
As a queer person who came out at a very young age, I cannot overstate the importance of this cause ... to drive awareness around the need to provide more inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ teens.
We must never underestimate the impact inclusion and acceptance has on both young people in their formative years. Attending a school formal as your true self is a rite of passage that every teen deserves. Queer high schoolers too often don’t have the right support network when navigating who they are. It’s time to change this.
Since 2010, more than 5,000 young Australians have attended Minus18 events including its Queer Formals.
Updated
