Good afternoon. The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has likened his party’s shock decisionto end its formal coalition with the Liberal partyto a relationship breakup, saying the decision was about both parties taking “time apart for us to be better”.
Nationals MPs voted to formally split with the Liberalsfor the first time since the 1980safter a breakdown in negotiations with the new opposition leader, Sussan Ley, on Tuesday. Sticking points included support for nuclear power, a $20bn regional future fund, breakup powers for supermarkets and minimum standards for regional mobile and internet access.
In the aftermath of the announcement, Ley told media that she“will continue to meet regularly”with Littleproud despite the split.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, called the split a“nuclear meltdown”and said the Coalition had “learned nothing” from its election loss. Littleproud and his deputy, Kevin Hogan, said they hoped the two parties would reunite again in the future. As Dan Jervis-Bardy writes, the two parties need each other to regain power – and their breakupmay even do the Liberal party some good.
RBA interest rates announcement: Reserve Bank cuts official cash rate to 3.85%
Security chief tells Bondi Junction inquest Westfield has ‘very strong security culture’ due to Frank Lowy
Condell Park shooting: ‘Brutal’ killing of plumber in Sydney driveway looks like targeted hit, police say
LNP’s youth crime legislation condemned by UN as ‘incompatible with basic child rights’
NSW flash flooding and weather warnings: intense rain leads to evacuation orders, school closures and rescues
Canva billionaire and wife join Bill Gates pledge to give away wealth
Victorian police are appealing for witnesses after a lifesize fibreglass cow called Betsy was stolen from a business in Melbourne’s west.CCTV shows Betsy being lifted on to the back of a trailerby three unknown people at 1.20am on 27 April. Police said Betsy’s ownerswere “udderly devastated”.
“Words won’t stop bombs. Words won’t stop the killing. Words won’t stop starvation.”
The Greens deputy leader,Mehreen Faruqi, hascondemned the Albanese governmentfor not joiningthe UK, Canada and Francein threatening a “concrete” response against Israel’s expansion of its war on Gaza.Australia joined 22 other nationsin urging Israel to uphold humanitarian principles and allow the full resumption of aid into the starving territory, but the NSW senator says the call for more aid is “meaningless” without the threat of sanctions.
The Victorian treasurer, Jaclyn Symes,has unveiled the 2025 state budget, which includes $11.1bn for health, $2bn in early childhood education, $1.5bn for new and upgraded schools and $2.3bn in cost-of-living measures. The cash splash will be funded in part onan assumption of 1,200 fewer full-time public servants over the next four years, with the potential for that number to push towards 3,000.
Sign up toAfternoon Update
Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotion
Why do I get car sick and my boyfriend doesn’t? Madeleine Aggelerasked experts
One thing is certain: motion sickness, which happens to one in three people, is not a sign of weak character. So what exactly is it, andwhy do some people experience it so much more than others?
Today’s starter word is:CADE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word.Play Wordiply.
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday,sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know withour Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up forThis Week in Trumpland.