What we learned today, Wednesday 15 May
We will wrap up the live blog for tonight right here. Here’s what made the news today:
On the morning after the budget, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the measures would moderate inflation in the country.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, meanwhile has backed the $300 rebate for energy but wants it means-tested.
The Labor senator Fatima Payman accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and questioned how many deaths will be enough for the prime minister to declare “enough”.
Pro-Palestine protesters at the Australian National University (ANU) were advised to vacate their encampments or risk breaching the university’s code of conduct, becoming the second university management in Australia to crack down on the camps.
Hundreds of protesters descended on the main arts building at the University of Melbourne on the Parkville campus, unofficially renaming it after a prospective Palestinian student who was killed in Gaza.
Victoria’s speaker, Maree Edwards, told Greens MPs they are not allowed to wear the keffiyeh in parliament.
Peak farming groups including the National Farmers Federation staged a walkout during the agriculture minister Murray Watt’s post-budget speech this morning in outrage over the government’s decision to ban live sheep exports.
Wages rose faster than consumer prices in the March quarter.
Amy will be back with you tomorrow, with all the day’s news ahead of the opposition leader’s budget reply speech tomorrow night. Until then, enjoy your evening.
Updated
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has slammed the law enforcement and university reaction to the University of Melbourne protests.
Governments, unis and police shouldn’t be cracking down on peaceful protestors.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) May 15, 2024
They should listen to their demands.
Students are calling for peace and an end to arming a military force that is subject to orders to stop genocide.
That’s something everyone should support. https://t.co/7CpQAUS7B8
