Good afternoon and welcome to Afternoon Update.
Australia’s economy has fared slightly better than economists had expected, with gross domestic product growing by 1% over the year to June, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On a per capita basis, though, activity shrank for a record sixth quarter in a row, making Australia’s economy the weakest it has been since the early 1990s (excluding the first year of the Covid pandemic).
Australia’s swelling population has masked some of the pain caused by 13 interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank in the past 28 months. New South Wales appeared to be the main drag on growth, with the state posting a 0.4% contraction, while all other states registered increases. Per capita GDP contracted 0.4% in the June quarter, extending a record retreat that began at the start of 2023 in data that goes back to 1973.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the better-than-expected data showed the government’s fiscal approach was working, and that Treasury “expects growth to pick up in this financial year, but modestly”.
Top news
NSW Liberals deny “stuff-up spiral” | Leader Mark Speakman insisted his party’s “fundamentals are sound” after it was revealed no one told the former planning minister Rob Stokes he had been named by the federal team as one of three to run the NSW branch.
Reynolds v Higgins closing arguments | Linda Reynolds’ lawyer has told a court privilege does not apply to “a single sentence” of letters marked confidential about Brittany Higgins’ personal injury settlement, which the senator later leaked to the Australian newspaper.
Australia running low on HIV-prevention drug | Sexual health organisations urged those who rely on PrEP to plan ahead, after the TGA confirmed shortages of the antiretroviral drug due to manufacturing, commercial changes and viability.
Bushfire season looms large | Large parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, the south-west of Victoria and south-east corner of South Australia face an increased risk of bushfires this spring, with authorities warning of a likely early start to the season in Victoria.
Iran summons Australian ambassador | The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, said he was “concerned” at the reaction to an Instagram photo of embassy staff in Tehran celebrating Wear it Purple Day in support of LGBTQ+ rights, which the Iranian government labelled “disrespectful”.
Fugitive mayor arrested | Alice Guo, a fugitive former mayor in the Philippines accused of having links to Chinese criminal syndicates, has been arrested in Indonesia, Manila’s justice ministry said.
US Open | The semi-final draws are firming up as Taylor Fritz stunned Alexander Zverev in four sets and Aryna Sabalenka cruised past Zheng Qinwen at Flushing Meadows.
Opinion | Labor came to power with advice that renewable energy was so economically attractive that it would just keep getting built, Adam Morton writes. In reality, financial investment in renewables has fallen off a cliff – and we’re living the consequences.
Spidey senses | Light pollution is shrinking the brains of city-dwelling spiders in ways that could affect their ability to climb and hunt, a new Australian study has found.
In pictures
‘Typhoons have prevented me going to school’: the children behind South Korea’s landmark climate win
Hannah Kim and Jeah Han (pictured) are part of a group of activists who have won a four-year fight to tackle climate inaction. For them, it is just the beginning.
What they said …
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“It’s quite possible that just removing that lump all by itself could have been sufficient treatment.” – Prof Chris Pyke
A leading breast cancer surgeon claims many media reports that supermodel Elle Macpherson treated breast cancer with alternative therapies have left out crucial information, risking people being misinformed.
In numbers
Bad weather has driven up prices on TikTok’s new favourite vegetable – but the good news is that leafy greens and peas are currently great value.
Before bed read
Dog owners may have trouble remembering which toy is Mr Squeaky, but researchers have discovered some dogs can remember the name of a toy even when they haven’t seen it for two years.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ACID . You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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