Hi there. It's Tuesday, June 21, and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
One thing to know: We're being warned to expect more issues at airports
If you've got travel plans in the coming months, be warned that airports and airlines are still experiencing problems at peak times.
7.30's Jason Om and Alison Xiao report that Australian air travellers have been warned to expect more disruptions over the next 12 months, including while the industry scrambles to fill critical worker shortages ahead of the July school holidays.
Already this year customers have complained of flight delays, cancellations, missing baggage, hours-long queues at airports, inability to reach call centre staff, and accusations of unfair terms and conditions on flight credits.
Even Labor MP Stephen Jones had a go at Qantas today:
Adding to the confusion, Qantas has said it will no longer require passengers to wear masks on some of its outbound international flights, but they will remain mandatory on domestic flights.
In a statement last week, the company said it was continuing to push for consistent mask rules.
What else is going on: The Reserve Bank has downplayed the chance of a recession
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said today that while inflation was rising, he did not see a recession on the horizon for Australia.
Here are some of his comments:
- He said the RBA still expected inflation to hit 7 per cent this year, up from 5.1 per cent currently
- He warned inflation was increasingly coming from within Australia, instead of global sources
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He admitted the RBA suffered "reputational damage" when it tried to wind back its COVID-19 pandemic stimulus program
News you may have missed
- International Rugby League (IRL) has banned transgender women from its matches "until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy". It comes as numerous sports review their policies after swimming's governing body FINA voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women's competitions earlier this week
- Elon Musk's transgender daughter has filed a request to have her name legally changed. The 18-year-old says she wants to change her name in accordance with her gender identity and because she no longer wants to be related to her biological father. Here's what we know about the situation
- The trial of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins's alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann was meant to go ahead next week, but was delayed today after a court heard that media coverage and social media discussion about the case risked his chances of a fair trial. A new date is yet to be set
Here's what Australia has been searching for online
- Adam Bandt and the Australian flag. The Greens leader had the Australian flag removed from behind a lectern prior to giving a press conference on Monday. The move has been praised by some but criticised by others further right on the political spectrum. Here's what the ABC's Isobel Roe reported during the press conference:
- Hamilton Island. A 29-year-old newlywed woman has died after the golf buggy she was travelling in with her husband rolled. The couple were on their honeymoon. Police say it appears the woman was not wearing a seatbelt
- The winter solstice. You might not have noticed it, but today was the shortest day (and will be the longest night) of the year in the southern hemisphere. Here's everything you need to know about why it happens
One more thing
Here's a cute clip of a four-year-old boy in Saudi Arabia hearing for the first time, following a four-hour cochlear implant operation.
Wajdi Al Nasi, who was born deaf and has never uttered a word, giggled with delight after hearing sounds through an earpiece.
It came after two years of checks and tests on the reliability of his auditory nerve and cochlea.
You're up to date!
We'll be back on Wednesday with more.
ABC/wires
