More paid parental leave as inflation eases & more
New financial support for parents and signs of easing price pressures lead today's update. Authorities are also urging extreme caution near water following a tragic spike in drownings during record-breaking heat.
You can now claim more government-funded time off to care for a new child as the national paid parental leave scheme is officially extended. This change increases the total number of weeks available to families, aiming to provide better financial security during the early stages of parenthood.
The cost of daily essentials may stop rising as quickly now that the latest economic data shows inflation is easing across Australia. While this does not mean prices are dropping, the slower rate of growth is a key indicator used by banks to determine interest rates and mortgage costs.
Exercise extreme caution at beaches and pools after 40 people drowned across the country on its hottest day on record. The high death toll has prompted emergency services to issue urgent safety reminders about the risks of swimming during heatwaves and the importance of staying in patrolled areas.
For more on these stories, including a UN report on the conflict in Gaza and the latest US warnings to Russia, visit the News section in the app.