Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham has called out Labor Minister Murray Watt for his claims the Albanese government has made the “biggest increase in investment” for defence as “complete bunkum”. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has made it clear the Coalition will trump Labor’s spending on defence at the next election. They plan to spend more than Labor’s projected 2.4 per cent of GDP on defence. “I heard Murray Watt making these claims about the biggest increase in investment that the country has ever seen under the Albanese government,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “It’s just complete bunkum. “When the Abbott government was elected, Australia’s defence spending had sunk to its lowest level as a share of our economy since the 1930s – around 1.36 per cent of GDP. “It was the decision of the Abbott government, implemented by Tony, Malcolm and Scott, to restore and build that up to two per cent of GDP. “We oversaw the most significant increase in terms of Australia’s defence spending since the Second World War.”

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham has criticised the Albanese government’s latest defence announcement as “weak and terribly opaque”. “It’s a weak and terribly opaque announcement,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “This is an investment strategy that leaves far more questions about where the cuts to defence are lying than it does answers about where the actual investments are going to occur. “This is a government that has now outlined some $80 billion worth of cuts or delays to different defence investments and programs since it came to office.” Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie also labelled last week’s defence announcement by the Albanese government as "weak".

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says he expects the upcoming budget to have a focus on young people to deter the threat from the Greens. Meeting with other G20 finance ministers in Washington, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget will be underpinned by “five pressures” on Australia’s economy. He identified lingering inflation, slowing growth, rising tensions, fragmenting supply chains, and a transforming global economy as the main concerns to be addressed. Mr Clennell stressed that any cost of living relief in the budget will likely be small as the government will try to avoid putting “fuel on the inflation fire”. “I'm thinking of increases to rental assistance that have been speculated on and the PM suggesting last week there will be changes to the HECS university debt repayment system,” he said.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the supermarket Senate inquiry allows the government to take some of the cost of living focus off itself. Coles CEO Leah Weckert fronted a Senate hearing this week after outgoing Woolworths boss Brad Banducci copped a grilling from Greens Senator Nick McKim. During the inquiry, Mr McKim insisted Mr Banducci respond to ceaseless questioning about one particular type of profit measure, return on equity. Mr Banducci repeatedly refused to answer and the conflict resulted in the Senator threatening to hold the CEO in contempt of the inquiry, which carries up to six months’ jail time. “Some of the evidence to a Senate hearing into supermarket prices was that the supermarkets are forcing suppliers to throw out as much as 40 per cent of their fresh produce,” Mr Clennell said.

Almost half of all Australians believe Meta has a negative impact on society, including one in three people who use its platforms. Polling from Freshwater Strategy suggests only 32 per cent of people have a positive view of Meta. That is compared to 73 per cent for Google and 54 per cent for Amazon. The data suggests only 17 per cent of people have a positive view of Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg. 44 per cent have an unfavourable opinion of him.

The US is marking the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado that killed 13 people. More than two decades on parents and community members are calling for repairs and upgrades to a memorial made for the victims. It is estimated lighting upgrades alone will cost over US$50,000. On April 20, 1999, two seniors at the US high school shot 12 students, and a teacher. 21 others were left with gunshot wounds.

Former Commando Damien Thomlinson, who lost his legs fighting in Afghanistan, is set to make history on Anzac Day taking the first steps on the new parade ground at the Australian War Memorial. It comes 15 years on from the bomb explosion that resulted in his double amputation. Mr Thomlinson was 28 years old at the time. He has since learnt to walk again, even taking on the gruelling Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Thomlinson said he took on the trek in honour of his friend, Private Scott Palmer, who died in a chopper crash one week before he was due to return home.

Stab proof vests have been added to security guards’ uniforms at Westfield Bondi Junction as the centre reopens for its first trading weekend. Locals are beginning to return to the centre one week on from the tragic mass stabbing which claimed the lives of six people. Shoppers paused to remember those who never made it home. The community is expected to gather soon for a candlelight vigil. Six other victims remain in hospital, in a now stable condition according to NSW Health.

A blast at a military base 50 kilometres south of Baghdad has killed a member of an Iraqi security force according to local sources. It is understood an airstrike caused the blast which also wounded eight other soldiers.

eharmony psychologist Sharon Draper shares the best way to have the awkward money conversation with your partner. New eharmony research reveals Australians looking for love are placing a higher premium on financial responsibility in a partner. Being non-judgmental and understanding is key according to Ms Draper. “The way we personally think about money or have an understanding of money is due to our upbringing, or how our parents modelled money,” she told Sky News Australia. “We can’t expect that our partner, or our potential partner, is going to have that exact same experience. “So go into it with a very open mind - you are just trying to understand, you’re not judging. “It needs to be an ongoing, honest conversation.”

Social media platform X says it will not comply with a global takedown order issued by the Australian eSafety commissioner that demands footage from the western Sydney church stabbing be removed from its site. “The recent attacks in Australia are a horrific assault on free society. Our condolences go out to those who have been affected,” the X spokesman said. “We stand with the Australian people in calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. “While X respects the right of a country to enforce its laws within its jurisdiction. “Global takedown orders go against the very principles of a free and open internet and threaten free speech everywhere. “We will robustly challenge this unlawful and dangerous approach in court.” The government has said it expects social media companies to adhere to Australian laws to keep communities safe.

eharmony psychologist Sharon Draper says couples are starting to talk about finances “sooner” into relationships as the cost-of-living bites. New eharmony research reveals Australians looking for love are placing a higher premium on financial responsibility in a partner. “Money is definitely a significant factor in relationships,” Ms Draper told Sky News Australia. “It always has been, but I think what people have usually done is just avoided the conversation. “Nowadays I think people want to talk about it sooner to assess whether the potential partner is a good match.”

The Queensland government is claiming a major victory in its transition to renewable energy, reaching its 30 per cent emissions reduction target eight years ahead of schedule. The state's latest Greenhouse Gas data, which reflects its 2022 emissions, shows a 35 per cent reduction. Energy Minister Mick de Brenni says the reduction is a credit to state government policies like reduced land clearing. State Parliament has passed a bill this week enshrining into law a 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2035. As well as net zero by 2050.

Property agent Eric Wong says relief for renters facing record high rates could be on the way. Millions of Australians are facing all-time high prices, after asking rents for houses and units jumped in the March quarter. Vacancy rates are at record lows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. While rates in Adelaide and Brisbane are not much better. “There is less, and less people looking to rent now because of the rent being so high. “A lot of people are actually staying put and are trying to negotiate with the current landlord. “I think the supply might start to increase when people start to move out, when they buy their new home, so there could be relief coming soon.

Despite the rescue efforts of volunteers and everyday Australians, new research has revealed the dire survival rates of wildlife during the Black Summer bushfires. This has sparked calls for improvement to disaster response plans, to ensure wildlife is factored in. An estimated 46 million animals were caught in the New South Wales fire zone of the black summer bush fires of 2019/2020. Only 0.01 per cent of those animals could be rescued. Four years on from the national disaster it’s been revealed over half of the marsupials rescued did not survive.

Property agent Eric Wong reveals the three things renters can do to improve their chances of securing a property amid a very difficult market. Millions of Australians are facing all-time high rents, after asking rents for houses and units jumped in the March quarter. Vacancy rates are at record lows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. With rates in Adelaide and Brisbane not being much better. “You can actually potentially offer rent upfront; if you have a six month lease you might potentially even offer the landlord three months upfront,” Mr Wong told Sky News Australia. “The second one; at the moment rental bidding is prohibited so a tenant can actually offer more rent but then the agent cannot ask for it. “Obviously offering rent upfront and increasing rent is actually increasing the financial burden… So you can actually get a reference from your agent, or your landlord – sometimes if you get a good reference from your landlord you can actually sway them to you.”

Teachers in Western Australia will walk off the job next week leaving many students without supervision. Teachers are calling for a 12 percent pay increase over two years, instead of the government’s proposed 11 percent over three years. WA Premier Roger Cook says parents should still send their children to school despite expected disruption to several institutes. More than 80 schools across Western Australia will be either closed or partially closed due to the planned industrial action.

Olympic organisers have unveiled their plan to make the Games safer and more appealing using artificial intelligence.  The Games are less than 100 days away and organisers are planning to integrate AI technology with video surveillance to flag potential threats.  The IOC has also considered how AI could help identify athletes in otherwise overlooked places to spot talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.  IOC President Thomas Bach has also predicted AI could improve the Games for viewers and keep athletes safer online.  “AI will be a revolution for our society, and it will be a revolution for sport,” he said.

The future of budget airline Bonza is up in the air.  The low-cost carrier’s parent company has called in advisors to check the finances.  The Coalition is calling on Labor to save the airline, saying Bonza has breathed new life into the aviation sector.  “Bonza has breathed new life into the sector, with innovative, affordable offerings between regional capitals,” Senator Bridget McKenzie said.  “And I hope that the Albanese government does all that it can to ensure they succeed.”

New pathology tests will soon let Australians know which virus they have within 24 hours.  The PlexPlus test will be used to indicate if patients have the flu, COVID, or one of 14 different respiratory viruses.  It will be available at GPs and will have a similar function to the COVID nasal PCR tests.   The company, SpeeDx, is looking to have the tests approved for this year’s flu season.