The Australian Associate Editor Graham Lloyd says Jim Chalmers has been “keen” to move the conversation “past inflation”. Higher-than-expected inflation figures could see the Reserve Bank delay any interest rate cuts. Annual inflation dipped to 3.6 per cent in the year to March. It is down from 4.1 per cent in the 12 months to December. Mr Lloyd told Sky News Australia that Treasurer Jim Chalmers moving past inflation is to give himself “a bit of room on the budget”.

Shadow Infrastructure Minister Bridget McKenzie has called out the Albanese government for claiming “more funding” was going into Western Sydney infrastructure projects when “they’re being cut”. According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week, inflation fell to 3.6 per cent in the year to March, which is down from 4.1 per cent in the 12 months to December. “I am arguing that you should be spending it on productivity-enhancing infrastructure that’s also dealing with the migration disaster that you’ve got,” Ms McKenzie told Sky News Australia. “We saw an embarrassing thing from the Labor government senior Cabinet ministers this week in Western Sydney with their talking points out of PMO or Catherine King’s office, saying more funding was going into infrastructure projects in Western Sydney when they’re being cut. “The only new projects are stadiums for premiers and the Suburban Rail Link.”

Shadow Infrastructure Minister Bridget McKenzie has slammed the Albanese government for the “absolutely homegrown” inflation figures which they are “responsible” for. According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week, inflation fell to 3.6 per cent in the year to March, which is down from 4.1 per cent in the 12 months to December. “I think what we’ve seen under this infrastructure prime minister is a $25 billion cut to critical infrastructure projects in our congested cities and our regional centres,” Ms McKenzie told Sky News Australia. “That’s simply not good enough when you’re wanting a more productive and more competitive economy. “We know, from economists’ commentary over the last week, that inflation isn’t just sticky, it is absolutely homegrown, and the fiscal policy settings of this government are responsible for that.”

Shadow Infrastructure Minister Bridget McKenzie has slammed the Albanese government for the “absolutely homegrown” inflation figures which they are “responsible” for. According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week, inflation fell to 3.6 per cent in the year to March, which is down from 4.1 per cent in the 12 months to December. “I think what we’ve seen under this infrastructure prime minister is a $25 billion cut to critical infrastructure projects in our congested cities and our regional centres,” Ms McKenzie told Sky News Australia. “That’s simply not good enough when you’re wanting a more productive and more competitive economy. “We know, from economists’ commentary over the last week, that inflation isn’t just sticky, it is absolutely homegrown, and the fiscal policy settings of this government are responsible for that.”

There are calls for the Miles government to tackle issues affecting health workers. These calls are coming from the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association. Staff claim they are suffering from burnout and are concerned about an increase in violent threats. AMA Queensland is calling for incentives to attract and retain workers. They are also asking for incentives to ensure workforce support and relief.

TikTok is warning Australia a ban similar to what is being considered in the US will destroy many businesses and damage the economy. President Joe Biden has signed a bill that will lead to a nationwide ban on the social media platform unless its Chinese-owned parent company sells it. There are concerns a ban would harm businesses as many use the app for marketing purposes. TikTok is currently banned from Australian government devices. The company claims extending it to public devices could cost the economy billions.

Australia will send a further $100 million worth of aid to Ukraine. $50 million will go towards military assistance, while another $50 million will be used for short-range air defence systems. Australia will also assist in the delivery of air-to-ground precision munitions. Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the package while visiting the country. He states Australia will continue to stand with Ukraine. “We understand that this will be an enduring conflict, and we will be contributing more in the future because we are determined to stand side-by-side with Ukraine for as long as it takes Ukraine to prevail,” he said. This package takes the Australian military’s assistance for Ukraine to $880 million since Russia invaded in 2022.

Australian stargazers will be able to spot a rare comet if they look to the night sky in the weeks ahead. The so-called ‘Devil’s Comet’ is making its first appearance in 71 years. The comet is around 34 kilometres in diameter and is essentially made up of ice, rock, space dust and debris. “Over the coming weeks, it's going to gradually get higher and higher in the sky every single evening," says UNSIQ Professor of Astrophysics Jonti Horner. “It’s going to get a little bit fainter, but it is actually going to get a little bit easier to spot because the moon will get out of the way.”

Nearly 900,000 Australians are now receiving either JobSeeker or Youth Allowance payments. Government data reveals that 16,000 people moved onto welfare payments in March. This amounted to 66,000 people since September. It’s the largest monthly increase since the Albanese government was elected in 2022. There are concerns jobless welfare numbers will rise further this year after flat economic growth and a weak labour market.

Voting has taken place in the second stage of India’s general election. The election had lower voter turnout than expected. Voters casted their ballots as part of seven rounds of staggered polls. India's current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term on the back of his economic record, strong policies, and personal popularity. His opponent Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Prime Minister, calling him a threat to democracy.

The world’s first personalised skin cancer vaccine is being tested on patients in the United Kingdom. It’s tailored to each patient to search for their cancer cells and prevent the disease from returning. Developed by Moderna and MSD the jab is now being rolled out for a final trial after promising results. “I think this whole area of immunotherapy for cancer is probably one of the most exciting developments in modern cancer therapy,” says University of Warwick UK Molecular Oncology Professor Lawrence Young. “It comes after many, many years of fundamental research into how the body's immune system is regulated.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is predicting it is ‘very likely’ the Coalition will win the next state election. The admission follows polling by YouGov which shows Labor trailing the Liberal National Party 56 to 44 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. The Premier says the polls indicate Opposition Leader David Crisafulli will most likely be elected as leader in October. He has used the polling to call out the Opposition’s lack of policies, saying he has not detailed a ‘single action plan’. Some of the Premier’s ministers are coming to his defence.

Financial Planner and Author Patricia Howard says the whole world is looking at a “fairly dismal outlook” when it comes to inflation. Ms Howard said we are seeing inflation “break out” in the United States. “People over there are now talking about the prospect of stagflation, which is an economic term we really haven’t heard about since the 70s,” she told Sky News Australia. “That’s the situation here the central government can’t get inflation under control and in their efforts to do that they bring the economy to a halt. “That’s the worst outcome for all economies.”

Financial Planner and Author Patricia Howard says Australia has a “situation” where inflation is “rising”. “We also have substantial wage growth of about four per cent,” she told Sky News Australia. Ms Howard said “we’re also looking at a federal government budget which by every indication” is “going to be inflationary”. “There’s going to be more defence spending, more spending on the NDIS, then it’s going to be followed in quick succession by the stage three tax cuts. “That’s going to put even more money into the economy and with that more pressure on prices.”

Financial Planner and Author Patricia Howard says the rate of inflation is “stubbornly staying” above three per cent. Ms Howard said the Reserve Bank of Australia wants to get the rate “back into its preferred trading range” between two and three per cent. ‘It’s stubbornly staying above 3 per cent,” she said. “The most recent figures for March are suggesting that inflation is actually about to increase. “Certainly, increased during the March quarter and there are every indications that it will continue to rise.”

A couple of finance experts are forecasting possible interest rate rises this year. This comes as the ABS this week published worse-than-expected inflation figures as the price of rentals and insurance increase. Financial Planner and Author Patricia Howard joined Sky News Australia to discuss the possibility of interest rate rises. “I think there’ll be a lot of people holding their breaths waiting for the reserve bank to announce their decision in May,” Ms Howard said. “I think all signs are showing that there’s a possibility that the reserve bank will lift interest rates … in order to get the rate of inflation under control.”

Cartoonist Mark Knight explains the “political analogy” behind the sketch of an iconic WWII photo on the Kokoda Trail and its “similarity” to Anthony Albanese and James Marape. Mr Knight’s ‘Walking Kokoda … Then and Now’ illustration shows an injured Australian Prime Minister being assisted along the path by his PNG counterpart in a mirror image from a WWII digger guided by a local tribesman. “Albo does have a few little injuries from opinion polls lately,” Mr Knight said. “So, I had James helping him down the track. “And if you look closely, Albo has that hole in his foot which is where he shot himself in the foot during the Voice referendum.”

Paramedics are treating two people at the scene of a plane crash at Mount Beauty near Falls Creek in the Victorian Alps. Emergency services responded to reports a light aircraft had crashed around 1:30pm on Saturday afternoon. The Country Fire Authority has confirmed two people were onboard the plane and are currently being assessed. Victoria Police have also arrived to assist with the situation. The incident has been announced as under control as emergency crews continue to go through their respective operations.

Small Business Women Australia’s Amanda Rose says she hopes Scott Morrison “shows some compassion” to the people who “suffered depression during the COVID-19 pandemic after the former prime minister revealed his own mental health struggles. Ms Rose’s comments come after former prime minister Scott Morrison is set to reveal details in an upcoming book on his mental health struggles. “Politics can be quite nasty,” she told Sky News Australia host Steve Price. “Show some compassion to all the people that have been impacted by his decisions and by politics. “We had a lot of people suffering depression say from the lockdowns during COVID and so forth.”

Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand has called for the “brutality of politics” to come to an end. Mr Hildebrand’s comments come after former prime minister Scott Morrison is set to reveal details in an upcoming book on his mental health struggles. “This is why I was very dark on people smashing him up for going to Hawaii on that ill-fated family holiday,” Mr Hildebrand told Sky News Australia host Steve Price. “Sooner or later, you have got to draw a line and say these people are human beings. “It is time to lay off.”