Australia news live: PM says Angus Taylor’s claims inflation has not come down ‘rather extraordinary’

PM says claims inflation has not come down ‘rather extraordinary’
Anthony Albanese is speaking with Patricia Karvelas on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
The prime minister says today’s inflation figures are “welcome news”.
It is indicative of the hard work that the government has done when it comes to responsible economic management, but also the hard work that Australians have done as well.
I certainly think the government has done what we can and these figures are very welcome. We understand there is more to do but that stands in stark contrast to the rather extraordinary claims that – we’ll wait and see if Angus Taylor on your show makes the same claims – that inflation hasn’t come down.
… It would appear, unlike the government’s responsible economic management, the opposition’s irresponsible economic rhetoric wants to see Australians worse off because they think that will make them better off politically.
Earlier, the shadow treasurer said:
Now, we see the inflation out today and we see that core inflation is stubbornly above target.
Key events
NSW police are investigating incident at Dural working with AFP and Asio
The New South Wales deputy police commissioner David Hudson has released a statement from Dural, where investigations into an incident are under way.
The NSW Police Force is working with the Australian Federal Police, NSW Crime Commission, ASIO, Victoria Police and the Queensland Police Service.
This is an ongoing investigation and is being taken seriously with all lines of inquiry being pursued.
There is no ongoing threat to the community.
Hudson and the premier, Chris Minns, will address the media about the incident shortly – we’ll bring you more as soon as we can.
Teenage boy arrested after death of man on NSW south coast
A teenage boy has been arrested after the death of a man on the New South Wales south coast yesterday.
Police said emergency services were called to Dunmore, near Shellharbour, on Tuesday afternoon after a 25-year-old man was found critically injured.
Paramedics treated the man for a stab wound to his abdomen but he died at the scene.
In a statement, police said that a 15-year-old boy had been arrested at a home in Horsley this afternoon.
He was taken to Lake Illawarra police station, where inquiries were ongoing. He has not been charged.
A 35-year-old woman was earlier charged and remains before the court. Investigations continue.
Bureau of Meteorology forecasts heatwaves across Australia this weekend
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts widespread heatwaves across Australia this weekend, bringing hot days with temperatures from 6C to 12C warmer than average.
In its latest heatwave update, the bureau says extreme to severe heatwave conditions are expected through parts of the north interior and north-western Western Australia from Friday to Sunday.
Severe to low intensity heatwave conditions are expected through parts of central and western Northern Territory, southern parts of the Kimberley, much of southern and inland WA, and parts of the Furneaux Islands and eastern Tasmania.
The bureau predicts low intensity heatwave conditions through parts of the ACT and much of western, northern and southern New South Wales, parts of the Cape York peninsula and southern and western Queensland, parts of the Tiwi Islands and much of southern and eastern Northern Territory, much of South Australia including Adelaide, much of Victoria including Melbourne and much of Tasmania including Hobart.
Wong says Russia has confirmed Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody
Josh Butler
In breaking news, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the government “has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody” – weeks after the Australian man was reported to have been killed after being captured fighting in Ukraine.
Wong said in a statement that the government was calling on Russia to release the man.
The Australian Government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody. We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war.
We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.
Wong said she had spoken with the Ukrainian foreign minister and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who she thanked for their advocacy.
“The Government calls on Russia to release Mr Jenkins,” Wong continued.
If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal. DFAT continues to provide consular support to the family.
‘No sign of prices coming down,’ shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says
Despite positive-looking inflation figures, Angus Taylor has repeated his line that core inflation remains stubbornly above target.
Speaking with the ABC just now, the shadow treasurer told Patricia Karvelas:
Sadly, we have seen a crash in Australia’s standard of living, PK. Since Labor came to power, we have seen the biggest [decline] in Australian household standard of living in our history, the biggest of any of our peer countries, and we know right at the heart of it is a big increase in the price of everything, over 10% increase in prices for Australian families.
… We have core inflation stubbornly above target, services inflation that is above 4%, and there is no sign of prices coming down, that’s not going to happen. We’re going to continue to see price increases and, worst of all, we’ve not got a restoration of our standard of living back to where it was when Labor came to power until beyond or 2030 or beyond.
… This is a situation that is worse than Canada, worse than the UK, worse than the United States, worse than our peer countries across Europe. It is a diabolical situation and the treasurer is out today congratulating himself and telling Australians that this is a soft landing.
A little earlier, Anthony Albanese told the same program:
Getting inflation down without having people cast aside as some of the commentators would have had us do, is like landing a 747 on a helicopter pad. It has been a difficult thing to navigate, but we have been determined to make sure no one is left behind and also no one is held back.
PM says Dfat seeking confirmation Oscar Jenkins who reportedly died fighting for Ukraine is alive
The prime minister says the government is seeking further confirmation and details about news that the Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins, who travelled to fight in the defence of Ukraine, is alive and in Russian captivity and not dead as feared.
Anthony Albanese told the ABC:
I can say that we have received that information through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but we are seeking confirmation.
But we are seeing confirmation … I am reticent to confirm that is the case, but certainly that has been the statement made by Russian authorities through to our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials as well, so if that is the case it certainly would be welcome, it is something that we have demanded information on.
The PM says he is “reluctant” to go into the details about communications between the Russian ambassador and the Australian government.
One of the things we have been keen on doing is making sure that Mr Jenkins’ family get information before it is spoken about publicly as well. But at this stage we are seeking further confirmation and details. We will continue to do so. We always make representations on behalf of Australians and, can I say this, the foreign affairs and trade officials do a remarkable job providing that representation.
Anthony Albanese has been asked whether the inflation figures – about which he is “clearly happy”, suggests Patricia Karvelas – may influence the timing of the election.
The PM refuses to be drawn on an election date, but concedes that he is “always pleased to see Australians getting relief from inflation”.
Inflation punishes people who have less income, more than people who are wealthy. I am pleased because I want Australians to have their living standards grow and what we’re seeing here is inflation is going down, wages are going up, while employment is being maintained with low unemployment. I think that tri-factor of lower inflation, higher wages and low unemployment is a good outcome for our country.
PM says claims inflation has not come down ‘rather extraordinary’
Anthony Albanese is speaking with Patricia Karvelas on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
The prime minister says today’s inflation figures are “welcome news”.
It is indicative of the hard work that the government has done when it comes to responsible economic management, but also the hard work that Australians have done as well.
I certainly think the government has done what we can and these figures are very welcome. We understand there is more to do but that stands in stark contrast to the rather extraordinary claims that – we’ll wait and see if Angus Taylor on your show makes the same claims – that inflation hasn’t come down.
… It would appear, unlike the government’s responsible economic management, the opposition’s irresponsible economic rhetoric wants to see Australians worse off because they think that will make them better off politically.
Earlier, the shadow treasurer said:
Now, we see the inflation out today and we see that core inflation is stubbornly above target.
Wartook residents told to leave immediately due to Grampians fire danger
Wartook, Victoria residents have been advised to leave immediately because of bushfire danger.
VicEmergency said:
Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
A bushfire in the Grampians national park continues to burn.
Orcas hunt great white sharks and eat their livers, scientists find
The first confirmed evidence of orca predation on great white sharks in Australia and their likely selective eating of shark liver has been published, reports Guardian Australia’s Petra Stock.
Using DNA and citizen science data, scientists have been able to confirm orcas have a taste for shark liver and prey on great white sharks in Australian waters.
The phenomenon was previously observed off South Africa, where in one published case an individual orca incapacitated a great white and ate its liver in under two minutes.
Australia bat first as cricket Test series in Sri Lanka begins
Away from news from Canberra, Guardian Australia’s live coverage of Test cricket in Sri Lanka is under way.
Australia is batting first as the two-Test series begins in Galle. The tourists have dropped a selection bombshell with the young opener Sam Konstas omitted from the XI as Travis Head takes his spot at the top of the order and Josh Inglis has been handed a Test debut.
Both sides have turned to spin as a new-look Australian lineup seeks to win a series in Sri Lanka for the first time since 2011. Follow all of the action from day one of the first Test with our over-by-over cricket blog:
Littleproud clarifies comment that Coalition would start work on nuclear power plants ‘the very first day’ after elected

Josh Butler
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has been forced to clean up remarks he made about the Coalition’s nuclear policy, after he appeared to say a Dutton government would start building the plants on its “very first day” in office.
Labor ministers jumped on Littleproud’s claim in a Sky News interview on Wednesday, pointing out Peter Dutton had promised extensive community consultation, engagement and planning in the seven communities before those plants would be built.
“We’ll start building the first nuclear power plant the very first day after a Coalition government is elected. We’ll get on with the job. The time for talk is over,” Littleproud said on Sky.
The employment minister, Murray Watt, tweeted: “Your power bill goes up from Day 1 under Dutton.” Other ministers including Ed Husic and Tanya Plibersek also criticised the statement, calling the Coalition’s plan “sloppy” and questioning key details such as its cost and what designs would be used.
Littleproud was asked about his statement in a subsequent press conference in Bendigo, where he claimed to have been misrepresented, and that he meant the preparatory work – not necessarily the construction – would commence immediately.
He said:
I know the prime minister is running this around in Canberra and that’s the sad, desperate state that he’s got to. The reality is, is that there is a process, a process where technical assessments would take place.
They start from on those seven sites that we’ve identified. Now, if he wants to be puerile about this and doesn’t want to have a mature conversation about energy alternatives, then he’s a prime minister that’s out of ideas … The process starts as we’ve clearly articulated with those technical assessments on the seven sites we’ve identified.
‘I’m relieved’: Elizabeth Struhs’ sister speaks outside court after family members convicted
Jayde Struhs has welcomed the court’s conviction of her father, Jason, mother, Kerrie, and brother, Zachary, for manslaughter – but said more should have been done to protect her sister Elizabeth.
The estranged former member of the Saints religious group left after coming out as a lesbian. She testified against her family in the trial.
Outside court in Brisbane, she said:
It’s been a long and hard three years. Not a moment has gone by that I haven’t thought about my little sister. I think the court made the right decision, and I’m relieved that those responsible were found guilty for their actions.
Although we had a good outcome today, I have to acknowledge the system failed to protect Elizabeth in the first place. We are only here today because more wasn’t done sooner to protect her or remove her from an incredibly unsafe situation.
Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died in 2022 because she was denied insulin. Her mother, Kerrie, was previously convicted of failing to provide her the necessaries of life after she fell into a coma in 2019.
Severe storm forecast for parts of northern NSW and Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.
The warning is in place for parts of NSW’s northern tablelands and north-west slopes and plains and for those in Queensland’s southern downs area.
The bureau has forecast heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large hailstones in the affected areas.
With that, I will pass the blog baton into the capable hands of Daisy Dumas. Thanks for reading.