What we learned – Monday 29 July
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today. Here is a recap of the main news:
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce apologised for comparing voting to using a bullet while speaking at an anti-wind farm rally held in Lake Illawarra, NSW, at the weekend.
Anthony Albanese labelled Joyce’s comments “a test” for opposition leader Peter Dutton, calling on him to sack Joyce.
Labor politicians assembled at Government House in Canberra for the swearing in of the prime minister’s new cabinet ministry.
The world’s rules were being “bent and twisted or broken”, Penny Wong said after Quad meetings in Tokyo.
South Australia has once again been recognised as an economic powerhouse for its robust jobs market and strong building activity.
An inquest into what appeared to be an ambush of Queensland police by three extremist Christian conspiracy theorists began today.
Brisbane airport recorded its coldest morning in 10 years with an overnight minimum temperature of 2.7C.
Rex Airlines requested a trading halt after speculation it would appoint consultants to turn around its financial woes.
A teenage boy died in a house fire in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
Australian state and territory governments have amassed record cash deficits, raising fears that their growing interest bills will impede public spending, according to ratings agency S&P Global.
Ita Buttrose said the Nine strike on the eve of the Olympics was “unwise”.
Half of young Australians believe they will need to support their parents in retirement, a survey by AMP has found.
The body of a man who fell into the Brisbane River was located following a search over two days, AAP reports.
Australia’s banking regulator has retained affordability buffers for mortgage holders, denting hopes the levels would be relaxed to allow so-called “mortgage prisoners” locked into uncompetitive rates to refinance.
Updated
O’Neil dismisses idea of rent freeze
Asked specifically if she would consider changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, new housing minister Clare O’Neil just repeats herself:
The really important thing for us at the moment is we have $32 billion we are committed to focusing on this really urgent issue of housing supply and my job is to deliver that money and make sure it is going into building as many houses in as many parts of the country as possible and that is going to be my focus.
Asked about a rent freeze, O’Neil said she wouldn’t do anything that would “increase the cost of housing” (without expanding on the link between the two).
I am not going to do anything that will increase the cost of housing in our country and it is clearly documented that would be the result of a rent freeze.
Things that will help people with their rent, such as a government commitment to increase rent assistance, things that are going to improve housing supply is what I am really focused on – making sure young people do not give up on the great Australian dream of buying their own home.
Updated
