Key events
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to the live blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ve got some of the overnight news before my colleague Rafqa Touma takes over.
It’s been another lively few hours on the diplomatic front in Europe, with Anthony Albanese rubbing shoulders with western leaders as they decided the fate of Ukraine’s hopes of joining Nato. In the end, no firm invitation emerged. But in Brussels Australia saw hopes of its own dashed as talks on a free trade deal with the European Union broke down without a deal. More coming up.
Just four Closing the Gap targets are on track and four others are going backwards, according to the latest data. The Productivity Commission’s latest report found worsening outcomes in Indigenous early childhood development, increased numbers of adults in prison and children in out-of-home care, and an increase in Indigenous suicide. Linda Burney, minister for Indigenous Australians, points to the report this morning as more evidence for the need for a yes vote in the voice referendum.
Things are hotting up in the Fadden byelection taking place on Saturday, with Labor telling voters that “Stuart Robert’s disgraceful robodebt destroyed lives” in a string of negative social media ads targeting the outgoing MP’s legacy. The contest could deliver another blow for opposition leader Peter Dutton should the Coalition candidate lose.
And Jim Chalmers has delivered a speech saying his is a government of “hard heads and warm hearts” – suggesting that the budget surplus will not be spent on more cost-of-living relief.
With all that, let’s get going.
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