What we learned, Sunday 23 April
That’s it for our live news coverage today. Thanks for being with us.
Here’s what we learned.
The world has reacted to the death of Australian comedian Barry Humphries with tributes flowing from fellow entertainers, political leaders, and significant public figures around the world.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese, King Charles III and Rupert Murdoch were among the notable figures to pay tribute to Humphries, with the Victorian government speaking to the family about a possible state funeral.
Anthony Albanese has announced New Zealand citizens living in Australia on a special category visa, and their children, will have a direct path to Australian citizenship from 1 July.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher says the government is addressing gender inequality in its upcoming budget but won’t lift the base rate of jobseeker as it has other priorities.
Anti-poverty advocates have described comments by Gallagher as “heartless” and that the “government can’t get its story straight on jobseeker” after advocating for an increase while in opposition.
A new phone number registration scheme will be trialed to block scam calls.
Coalition MP Andrew Hastie has said the identification of his great uncle’s final resting place on the USS Montevideo Maru has brought “many a degree of peace” to his family.
Have a good rest of your weekend. We’ll have another live blog tomorrow.
Updated
Young carers to get study funding boost
The federal government will extend support for young carers who want to continue their studies while caring for a loved one.
Around one in 10 Australians are unpaid carers, including 235,000 young carers (aged 12-25).
Young carers face a higher risk of unemployment and underemployment, along with long-term welfare dependence related to difficulties engaging in education, federal social services minister Amanda Rishworth said.
We don’t want young carers missing out on their education or missing the opportunity to connect with friends.
The federal government will boost funding to a Carers Australia-delivered bursary program by $10m, increasing the value and number of bursaries available for the historically oversubscribed program.
The bursaries promote future financial security for many of our young carers across Australia.
This funding boost will increase the number of bursaries available by almost 60 per cent.
Carers Australia CEO Alison Brook said the 2022 Carer Wellbeing Survey revealed young carers faced a higher level of financial hardship than other carers and were more likely to seek assistance.
Young carers who have accessed the program tell us the bursaries have helped to relieve the financial pressures they experience so they can focus on their studies, develop academic and workforce ready skills, balance competing demands, and also improve their emotional, social and mental wellbeing.
To date the bursaries have supported more than 9,000 young carers across the country.
Applications for next year’s young carer bursary program open on 18 July 2023, through the Young Carers Network.
– AAP
Updated
