Key events
- Australian opposition leader Anthony Albanese says there is “nothing to be served” by keeping Julian Assange in jail.
- Universities chief calls for more research spending.
- UK free trade agreement to begin this month.
Dutton won’t say whether he’ll support restoring higher unemployment benefits for single parents
Dutton won’t say whether he’ll support restoring higher unemployment benefits for single parents when their youngest child turns eight.
He was a junior minister in the Howard government which lowered it, but his language is sympathetic towards single parents having a right to a “dignified” life:
You need to provide support to those who don’t have the capacity to work. But if people do have the capacity to work, then you need to provide incentive for them to take those jobs up, particularly for younger people.
Because you end up in a spiral very quickly if you’re unemployed for a long time.
And there’s lots of evidence presented to governments over a long period of time in that regard, but you want people to have a dignified life and you want people to have support, particularly if they’ve got young children, particularly for single parents.
Albanese accuses Dutton of leading a “no-alition”
Albanese has accused Dutton of leading a “no-alition” offering Australia no constructive ideas. But the opposition leader is indicating he won’t be presenting much by way of strong policy responses to the Albanese government’s budget:
No opposition’s released its full policy manifesto within the first year of being an opposition.
The whole idea of opposition is to work on your policy to catch up with stakeholders to reconsider your vision for the country and then present that in an election campaign which is still 18 months two years away.
Dutton predicts budget surplus
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is predicting there will be a budget surplus next Tuesday.
Speaking to ABC Radio, Dutton says:
I think it’s obvious now that and I think it’s predictable that there will be a surplus.
The revenues from royalties, company, tax receipts, etc. are through the roof and the government obviously has a big spending program.
But we’ll wait to see the detail and I think most analysts now would expect there to be a surplus in the budget next Tuesday.
Royal family’s concern for climate crisis and the future ‘heartwarming’, PM says
Albanese said the monarchy’s concern for the future is what made the request to attend the coronation “so heartwarming”.
One of the things that I certainly admire about King Charles and the Prince of Wales who is continuing that tradition, is their concern about the future.
Their concern and outspoken views about climate change, about the need to protect our planet, about the urban environment, about a whole range of issues, including respect for Indigenous Australians, which is why the palace’s request – which was well received by a government such as mine – was so heartwarming.
– with AAP
Updated at 2023-05-04 16:55:20
Source from www.theguardian.com