Good afternoon.
Anthony Albanese has halved the fuel excise in a move that will save motorists 26 cents a litre for three months from 1 April. National cabinet also agreed to reduce the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months as part of a four-stage national fuel security plan to manage the crisis.
Guardian Australia’s economics editor, Patrick Commins, wrote that injecting $1.5bn via petrol subsidies into an economy already struggling with inflation is not going to make the RBA’s job any easier. The Albanese government’s move came as South Korean airlines asked their government to help redirect jet fuel exports to the domestic market, threatening half of Australia’s imports of the critical fuel.
The prime minister also shifted his language on the US-Israel war on Iran, saying he wanted to see a de-escalation and “more certainty” around Donald Trump’s objectives. The US president said earlier his “preference would be to take the oil” in Iran and that US forces could seize the regime’s export hub on Kharg Island.
Top news
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In pictures
Surfers at Bondi beach braving hazardous surf conditions are among the highlights from Guardian picture editors’ selection of the weekend’s best photos.
What they said …
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“This is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” – Pope Leo
During a Palm Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square, the pope said the conflict between Iran, Israel and the US was “atrocious” and that Jesus could not be used to justify war.
Full Story
What’s behind the push for more Australian babies?
When the new Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, addressed the media earlier this month, his vision of a “hyper” Australia with “more Australian babies” drew headlines. But as Krishani Dhanji tells Reged Ahmad, it’s not the first time a politician has let it be known they want people to get busy in bed.
Before bed read
Emigrating to be with your partner sounds wildly romantic, but what happens when the person is right and the place very much isn’t? Tim Prior, who moved from Australia to Switzerland for a partner he has separated from, now finds himself stuck there until his children finish school. “I find the seasons an emotional rollercoaster,” the Queenslander confesses. “Every winter it just gets worse.”
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ONTO. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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