News

The tiny Australian town of Julia Creek is once again searching for a permanent GP, offering a lucrative salary package and a house to entice a doctor to their remote community. Despite the challenges of attracting medical professionals to the outback, the town remains optimistic, highlighting its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to providing essential healthcare services.

Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House to voice their strong opposition to the government's proposed bail law changes. The protesters, representing a diverse range of backgrounds, expressed deep concerns that the proposed reforms would disproportionately impact marginalized communities and criminalize victims of family violence.

Peter Dutton's proposal to hold a referendum on deporting criminal dual nationals has been met with criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with former attorney-general George Brandis calling it "as mad an idea as I have heard in a long time." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers also criticized the proposal, labelling it a "thought bubble" and "bizarre", respectively.

The Reserve Bank of Australia faces a crucial interest rate decision on April 1st, amidst significant uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook and the impact of US economic policy. The decision will be further complicated by the release of first-quarter ABS inflation data on April 30th, leaving the RBA to navigate a complex economic landscape.

Australia's budget bottom line is not expected to improve significantly next week, with the treasurer warning of a potential multi-billion dollar hit to the economy by 2030 due to a global trade war. While the direct impact of tariffs imposed by the US is estimated to be manageable, the indirect consequences and the broader global picture of trade tensions pose a significant threat to economic growth.