Good afternoon. The latest labour market results are in and the national unemployment rate has held firm at 3.5% – which might prompt the Reserve Bank to resume lifting interest rates.
Strong labour demand coupled with an expected high CPI result for the March quarter would make more rate hikes likely, according to some economists. Meanwhile, self-described misogynist Andrew Tate is facing fresh sexual assault claims with civil action launched in the UK.
Top news
Unemployment rate steady | Demand for workers remains strong with 72,200 full-time jobs added in March.
Cyclone Ilsa expected to reach category 5 | … which is the highest severity level. Pilbara residents are preparing for the cyclone’s impact, as it bears down on the Western Australian coast. The Bureau of Meteorology upgraded the cyclone to a category 4 system this morning as it tracked closer to Port Hedland.
Queensland dog attacks | Queensland is reviewing its dangerous dog laws after three young children and two adults were injured in a spate of attacks across the state. “If you are the owner of a dog, you have a duty of care and responsibility to make sure that dog does not cause any injury or detriment to anyone else,” the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said.
Victoria’s public drunkenness law | … will be abolished in the state starting Melbourne Cup Day in November. The Victorian government committed to decriminalising public drunkenness at the start of a 2019 coronial inquest into the death of Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day, who died in custody after being arrested under the law. “This is a reform that is long overdue,” the premier, Daniel Andrews, said.
NSW Covid fines might be invalid | A leading community legal group has warned NSW police that all remaining Covid fines have been rendered invalid by a recent supreme court judgment and should be withdrawn. The new NSW government is yet to reveal what it will do with roughly 29,000 Covid-related infringements after a damning ruling last week by the NSW supreme court that undermined the legality of the fines.
News Corp publishes lottery promotions as news stories | News Corp Australia has published multiple articles by staff writers presented as news about lottery winners but which are advertising products paid for by the lottery and lifted from its promotional material. The media giant is paid for publishing the articles and receives a share of ticket sales through links on the page.
UK civil claim against Andrew Tate | Three alleged victims of sexual and physical assault by Andrew Tate are pursuing the claim. The three women, who are now in their late 20s and early 30s, allege that the offences took place between 2013 and 2016 while Tate was living in the UK.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in pothole mischief | The Hollywood star and former California governor got so frustrated with a large pothole in his LA neighbourhood that he picked up a shovel and filled it himself. Except it wasn’t a pothole – authorities told him it was an essential service trench for a utility company.
North Korea missile confusion in Japan | A Japanese alert system was forced to retract a warning sent to millions of residents that a North Korean missile might land on or close to the northern island of Hokkaido, after admitting it erred in its prediction. North Korea did in fact launch a ballistic missile, but it disappeared from Japan’s radar immediately after detection.
Full Story
‘This is not a decision I took lightly’: Julian Leeser on his resignation from shadow cabinet
Julian Leeser speaks to Guardian Australia in this 21-minute episode.
What they said …
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“What’s happening with this cyclone is very unusual and a lot of people are getting very worried because it’s getting closer and closer to Port Hedland.” – Peter Carter, mayor of Port Hedland
In numbers
When it comes to buying a home, millennials have it so much harder than those before them, and it’s changing the way they vote, Greg Jericho writes.
Reader callout
Iconic brand Tupperware is facing collapse after its shares crashed by almost 50% this week. So, with a potential emotional farewell looming, we want to hear your Tupperware-adjacent stories.
What wild memories were made at your plastic-container-centred gatherings? What concoctions have you kept safe with the famous “burping” seal? Which container will you protect with your life and why? How much have you spent investing in Tupperware kitchen gadgets and storage?
We want to hear them all!
Fill out the form on this page.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: DIAL. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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