What we learned today, Wednesday 10 May
And with that, we are going to close the blog. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said he stood by the budget amid “predictable political responses”. He told the National Press Club he was “supremely confident” the budget would not add to inflation.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, signalled the Coalition was likely to support electricity rebates and the GP bulk-billing incentives.
The Senate rejected Labor’s bid to rush through the housing bill.
The Greens senator Jordon Steele-John responded to the $74.3bn cut from the NDIS.
The high court reserved its decision in the landmark Qantas case over the legality of layoffs.
The Queensland MP Barry O’Rourke cancelled a meeting with a former “patriots” group leader.
The chair of the Lehrmann case inquiry said he considered closing hearings to the media over “loathsome” reporting.
The federal government introduced a law to allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
The NSW Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, announced state Coalition members would not be bound by their party on the voice.
Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us – go well.
Updated
Finally, the prime minister is asked about the push for Julian Assange to be released from prison.
Last week in the UK, he expressed frustration over the WikiLeaks founder’s incarceration, saying it needed to be brought to a conclusion. These comments were broadly backed by opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
Do you want Julian Assange back in Australia? And is this something that you will press home when president Joe Biden is here for the quad meetings?
Albanese says he doesn’t discuss private conversations with leaders of other countries but his “public comments are the same as my private ones here”.
We have made our views very clear to the US administration, we’ll continue to do so. And a solution needs to be found that brings this matter to a conclusion. Mr Assange needs to be a part of that, of course. I am hopeful that that will occur. It has been too long and in my view, as I said before, I see nothing is served from the further incarceration of Mr Assange.
On Tuesday morning, a cross-party delegation of Australian parliamentarians pressed for an end to the pursuit of Assange at a meeting with the US ambassador, Caroline Kennedy.
Updated
