Morning, everyone. At the end of a busy week Jim Chalmers has had a sit-down with our political editor to talk about the thinking behind his cost-of-living budget. He also reveals a $45m advertising blitz to spruik the government’s plans to transform the Australian economy. Elsewhere, how thousands of women fleeing domestic violence are frozen out of legal support, Australians soldiers “thrown under the bus” by generals, and why a Women’s Origin classic could be a turning point.
Australia
Soldiers betrayed | Australian soldiers and junior officers were thrown “under the bus” by generals and politicians over allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, a body representing Australia’s SAS has said.
Exclusive | The Albanese government has earmarked $45m in this week’s budget for an advertising campaign to promote its plan to fund and underwrite clean-energy technology and innovation under the banner Future Made in Australia, Jim Chalmers has told Guardian Australia in a special podcast interview. His budget was attacked last night by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who said in his official reply that he would temporarily cut permanent migration by a quarter.
Burning issue | A new tariff that will charge solar panel owners for exporting their energy during the middle of the day could discourage solar uptake, consumer groups say.
Profit shaming? | The regional head of Cadbury’s owner, Mondelēz, has criticised what he described as “profit shaming”, arguing that food suppliers in Australia face the same inflation pressures as households and had to raise prices.
Menopause unfriendly | Companies are accrediting workplaces as “menopause friendly” without using any strong evidence for their processes, according to leading women’s health organisations.
World
Stock surge | The Dow Jones Industrial Average passed 40,000 points for the first time overnight, powered by strong results from corporate America and rising bets of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Cohen admission | Michael Cohen, the former attorney who made a $130,000 hush-money payment on behalf of Donald Trump, was forced to admit under cross-examination that he had lied to protect the former president because it affected him personally.
Labour launch | There will be no “quick fix” to the deep problems Labour will inherit if it wins the next election, the party leader, Keir Starmer, has said while unveiling his party’s six election pledges in a gear change that shows he is on track to become prime minister.
Comrades in arms | Russia and China have announced they will deepen their already close military ties, as Vladimir Putin met Xi Jinping in Beijing on his first foreign trip since being inaugurated for a new term as Russia’s president.
Slovakia shooting | The Slovakian prime minister, Robert Fico, is in a stable condition but “not out of the woods yet”, officials have said, as the public wonders why he was shot and opposition figures fear a crackdown on media outlets.
Full Story
Jim Chalmers on his budget balancing act
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton, speaks to the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, about whether his third budget can really provide cost-of-living relief without fuelling inflation.
In-depth
Tens of thousands of women fleeing family violence are unable to get legal assistance each year, forcing them to represent themselves in court, incur huge debts to pay legal fees, agree to unfair parenting and child support arrangements, or stay in abusive relationships. Alleged perpetrators are using the legal system to drag out proceedings, forcing women to either run up huge costs or endure abusive relationships. “He just wants to keep fighting and fighting,” one woman tells our reporter Kate Lyons. “It really came very close to completely destroying my life.” Another says it cost her $200,000 and 10 years to protect her child from an abusive partner.
Not the news
Beef Week – or just Beef, to participants – has been held every three years since 1988 in Rockhampton to celebrate Australia’s largest agricultural industry. Mandy McKeesick goes along and finds the talk is of emissions, windfarms and educating the next generation of farmers. Not forgetting the hot sauce (pictured).
The world of sport
Rugby league | NSW have held off a Queensland comeback in a brilliant Women’s Origin opener in Brisbane last night that will be a watershed moment for the game.
Golf | Find out who’s making the early running in the USA PGA at Valhalla with our live coverage.
Media roundup
Flu and Covid are spreading rapidly in NSW, the Sydney Morning Herald reports, pointing to a spike in hospital visits. Olympic swimmers led by Kyle Chambers have led a lobbying campaign supporting Gina Rinehart’s bid to have portrait removed from the NGA, the Age says. Tasmania’s Aboriginal Centre says the state should leave the toppled statue of William Crowther “the way it is”, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
Queensland | The final day of the inquest into death of Selesa Tafaifa, who died in jail with a spit hood over her head, will be held.
Sydney | The University of Sydney is challenging findings that it was wrong to fire a professor who superimposed the Swastika on an Israeli flag.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
