What we learned, Sunday 3 May
With that we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the major stories from Sunday:
Northern Territory police charged Jefferson Lewis with murder over the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. Lewis is expected to make an appearance in Darwin local court this week.
In New South Wales, police arrested a 32-year old man following an incident at a home in Sydney’s south-west in which three people – believed to be his parents and sibling – died.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said the state “can’t afford” a Liberal-One Nation government, in comments following the Liberal party’s win in the Nepean byelection.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said the private plane gifted to Pauline Hanson’s party by Gina Rinehart’s company “won’t really worry” voters.
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino said the federal government won’t rule out extending fuel excise cuts, but any extension would be decided after the budget.
And Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is expected to arrive in Australia tonight, in her first official visit since taking office. She will meet with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in Canberra tomorrow for the Australia–Japan Annual Leaders’ Meeting.
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
Extra $1.8bn pledged to maintain urgent care clinics
Medicare urgent care clinics are set to become a permanent fixture of Australia’s health system, with the federal government pledging an additional $1.8bn over five years from 2025-26 to keep them running.
There are currently 135 urgent care clinics that offer walk-in and bulk-billed urgent care, seven days a week, for a range of non-life threatening issues, such as cuts or infections.
The announcement also includes $525.6m each year from 2030-31.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said:
These clinics are good for wallets, good for health, and are taking pressure off local emergency departments.
Updated
