Good afternoon. Australia has followed the US, Canada and New Zealand in banning TikTok from government devices. A few hours later, Victoria announced a similar ban, with the premier, Daniel Andrews, saying he would stop using the popular app.
Meanwhile, mortgage holders have been given a reprieve with the Reserve Bank holding the cash rate at 3.6% – the first pause since the central bank began hiking rates last May. And cases of beer spill after a train derailment in Montana.
Top news
Australia’s TikTok ban | The government cited “significant security and privacy risks … arising from extensive collection of user data”, in its decision to ban the Chinese social media app.
Interest rate pause | A lot has happened over the past month that may have influenced the RBA’s decision, from bank collapses and takeovers in the US and Switzerland, to inflation in Australia easing off at 6.8%.
Jarryd Hayne guilty of rape | Former NRL star has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on NRL grand final night in 2018 after a third trial jury deliberated for more than a week. Hayne, 35, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Crikey v Murdoch | Lachlan Murdoch was culpable for the violent insurrection of the US Capitol after the 2020 presidential election because of lies told through Fox News, an Australian federal court heard today. The claim was put forth by the publisher of Crikey, as part of its defence against Murdoch’s defamation suit over an opinion piece published in June last year.
Medicare non-compliance costing taxpayers | Fraud and non-compliance by doctors is costing between $1.5bn and $3bn a year, according to a government-commissioned independent review. The health minister, Mark Butler, said the figure is described as “stemming from non-compliance errors rather than premeditated fraud”.
Victorian public-sector wage cap doubled | The state treasurer announced the doubling of the cap from 1.5% to 3%. Victoria’s 1.5% wage cap was the lowest in the country and did not provide pay increases in line with inflation. In New South Wales, the premier, Chris Minns, promised to remove the state’s 3% wage cap in the lead-up to the March election.
Four dead in Cancún | The bodies were found near a beach in the Mexican resort city of Cancún, in the latest incident of violence to hit the holiday destination. There was no immediate information on the nationalities or identities of the victims. The incident comes less than a week after a US tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos.
Saudi Arabia executes man during Ramadan | It’s the kingdom’s first execution during the Muslim holy month since 2009. Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest rates of executions, with 147 people put to death in 2022 – more than double the 2021 figure of 69.
Huge beer spill in Montana | Not a Simpsons episode – cases of Coors Light and Blue Moon beer did actually spill beside a scenic western Montana river after a trail derailed. No injuries were reported, but it has left a difficult task for cleanup crews.
Time in nature helps with mental health | Walking in nature, farming and gardening are among the outdoor activities that can help to reduce blood pressure and improve anxiety and depression symptoms, new Australian research has shown.
Full Story
Why the Greens are blocking Labor’s $10bn social housing plan
Political reporter Amy Remeikis breaks down the opposition to this bill and whether the tough negotiations ahead could result in a more ambitious housing plan. Listen to the 18-minute episode.
What they said …
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“We understand community concern about the current volume of betting ads, particularly around those that offer inducements. We believe this needs to be balanced with a concern that over-regulation will have on the integrity of AFL matches and the wider sporting environment.” – Gillon McLachlan
The AFL chief executive clarified his earlier criticism of gambling ads and warned against a total ban during a parliamentary inquiry today, chaired by Labor MP Peta Murphy. The chair questioned how the AFL and NRL, as “major beneficiaries of sports betting”, can promote “their codes as family-friendly and socially responsible organisations”.
In numbers
The deal is designed to help Aesop’s Brazilian owner, Natura &Co, pay down debt, with the price tag showcasing the runaway value of a brand founded by Melbourne hairdresser Dennis Paphitis in 1987.
Before bed read
A new month and a new guide on the best-value fruit and veggies. A is for April, autumn and apples, Maddie Thomas writes. Broccoli’s also running pretty cheap at the moment, but tomatoes are now back in the expensive bracket. See the full guide.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ULT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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