Reporter Nathan Templeton dies aged 44, school holidays cause chaos at a Queensland hospital, Aunty Jill Gallagher calls for tax breaks for Indigenous people, perks showered on Queensland union workers, Foreign Minister Penny Wong calls for a two state solution in the Israel-Hamas war, Ireland to recognise Palestine as a state, and Arizona's Supreme Court revives a 19th century law banning access to almost all abortions.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Fitzpatrick and Co Advisory Eamonn Fitzpatrick says Australia is “not immune” to inflation. Mr Fitzpatrick told Sky News Australia that inflation is a “huge challenge electorally”. “It’s absolutely why this is a government that did what it did around stage three (tax cuts). “That’s why there has been assistance around some of the cost-of-living measures. “We could be less than a year away from an election, so now’s the time.”

Comedian and actor Rob Schneider has expressed his support for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Schneider appeared on Fox and Friends First on Tuesday to discuss why he chose to support RFK Jr ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The actor revealed he and the independent candidate are friends and that he believes Kennedy speaks about real issues affecting US citizens. During his appearance on the show, Schneider quickly outlined health care as one of the key reasons he supported Kennedy Jr. The 60-year-old comedian also criticised the US for sending billions of dollars to Ukraine and for getting involved in “forever wars”. The comedian then set his sights on freedom of speech and how he believes the Democratic Party are attempting to censor Americans. “The Democrats now suddenly turned out to not be the party of the people. Now that is the party of forever wars and the party of censorship,” he said.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has left the country’s cash rate on hold. For the sixth consecutive month, the RBNZ has decided to keep the cash rate on hold at 5.5 per cent. The RBNZ’s cash rate decision was widely expected. The consumer price index for New Zealand sits at 4.6 per cent, which is outside the central bank’s target band of one to three per cent. This comes ahead of the budget expected to be handed down by the New Zealand government in May.

There have been calls to scrap the so called CFMEU tax in Queensland after a deal was struck between the Queensland government and the CMFEU for better conditions for workers. Queensland Major Contractors Association CEO Andrew Chapman discussed the pitfalls of BPIC (Best Practice Industry Conditions) which ensures a significant wage increase but not greater productivity. “It means we are delivering less for more money over a longer period of time,” Mr Chapman told Sky News Australia. “It means that the taxpayers are paying more and getting less”, Mr Chapman added. “We have already dropped eight to ten per cent this year, over the last year, in productivity on our construction sites and BPIC is forcing that further south”.

DPG Advisory Solutions’ David Gazard says inflationary pressures look like they will stay “stubbornly high”. Mr Gazard said the high inflation appears to be around “for the foreseeable future”. “The cost-of-living equation will loom large,” he said. “In every Australian … mortgage holder’s mind.” Mr Gazard joined Sky News Australia to discuss high inflation in Australia and potential rate cuts.

The NSW government is proposing changes to Sydney's water security policy to better protect residents in flood-prone areas following another bout of intense flooding. The plan could also shore-up Sydney's supply of drinking water. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says they are looking at ‘all potential changes,’ including dropping the maximum allowable level on Warragamba. Minns stressed however he would not be able to do that unless he supplements Sydney’s drinking water supply in the meantime. At the height of Saturday’s deluge the equivalent of 80,000 Olympic swimming pools worth of water spilled from Warragamba Dam.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has backed the “characteristically considered and thoughtful” two-state solution suggestion for Palestine made by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday evening. “Something needs to change in that part of the world,” Mr Chalmers told Sky News Australia. “If we want to build a pathway out of this endless cycle of violence and bloodshed, then a two-state solution is a good place to focus our efforts. “There is a discussion in the international community, including amongst our friends in the world, about whether or not recognition will help build momentum towards a two-state solution. “That would be good for Israel as well and it would help ensure that we keep Hamas out of the future governance of Palestine.”

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone says foreign investors are “putting pressure” on Australia’s housing market. Mr Carbone said foreigners are buying Australian homes “to make a few dollars”. “But then you also have a really high level of migration. “That needs to be brought down.” Mr Carbone joined Sky News Australia to discuss the impacts of foreign investment and migration on the Australian housing market.

Foreigners could be made to pay more if they want to purchase property in New South Wales. The NSW government is considering charging foreign investors more tax to buy property in a bid to tackle the ongoing housing crisis. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the plan could help add to the state's housing supply. Mr Mookhey declared that money from overseas investors should be directed to assisting in the construction of new homes. NSW currently charges an extra eight per cent to foreigners looking to buy property across the state.

The parents of a Michigan school shooter have been sentenced to at least ten years each in jail for not doing more to prevent their son's attack. James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced in an Oakland County court on Tuesday. Both were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials. Their son Ethan Crumbley is serving a life sentence after killing four students in the 2021 mass shooting. They are the first parents convicted in a US mass shooting carried out by their child.

Most of Australia has seen its coldest morning since October. Toowooba felt the cold the most, recording a seven degree drop in temperature compared to any other morning of the year so far. It comes as heavy showers that battered New South Wales on Tuesday begin to ease off, with only a slight chance of showers on Wednesday. North, Central and Southwest Australia can expect abundant sunshine throughout Wednesday. Brisbane is expected to feel a steep drop in temperature going from a high of 27 degrees to a low of 13 degrees by the end of the day.

Labor MP Julian Hill says recognition of Palestine’s statehood will “help build the pathway” to a two-state solution. Mr Hill joined Sky News Australia to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “This debate comes in the context of accelerating global discussion about recognition of Palestinian statehood to help build the pathway to a two-state solution,” he said. “It’s been Australia’s longstanding position, bipartisan position, in support of a political solution to this decades-old conflict. “That’s what this debate is about.”

CommSec’s Tom Piotrowski says the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is “likely to leave rates on hold” today. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will meet on Wednesday for the second time this year to decide the official cash rate. “They are likely to leave rates on hold,” Mr Piotrowski told Sky News Australia. “But their commentary will be valuable in terms of just assessing where they are in the trajectory, where interest rates are concerned,” he said. Presented by CommSec.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson says he welcomes the youth curfew extensions in Alice Springs. The Northern Territory government has extended the Alice Springs youth curfew for six days. It was announced by Chief Minister Eva Lawler in response to riots involving up to 150 people in Alice Springs on March 27. Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia that the community’s attitude has “drastically changed” in the last two weeks. “People are begging for it to be extended.”

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson says the youth curfew in Alice Springs has made a “massive difference” to the anxiety levels of locals. The Northern Territory Government has extended the Alice Springs youth curfew for six days. It was announced by Chief Minister Eva Lawler in response to riots involving up to 150 people in Alice Springs on March 27. Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia that people are now “going into the CBD at night again”. “So, it’s been a very, very welcome change.”

Sky News host Caleb Bond says the Climate Council has pushed for the ban of “all petrol cars” by 2035. According to the Climate Council, Australia can cut transport pollution faster by encouraging the uptake of shared and active transport such as walking. “You have heard this before, the ACT is planning on doing it but now, it should be every vehicle in the country electric,” Mr Bond said. “Forget about your petrol car, you’ve got to get rid of it. “If you’ve got two cars, the Climate Council says you have got to go down to one car.”

Sky News host Paul Murray says the seat of Wills is now the “latest battleground” between the Labor Party and the Greens. Mr Murray says it is an “eight per cent margin”. “The Labor party would logically be able to hold onto it however current politics means the Greens are on a political surge,” he said. “The Greens will only be able to take on this seat if the Liberal Party actually preferences them over Labor. “Equally I think Labor shouldn’t preference the Teals in the seats where the Liberal Party are under particular threat.”

Sky News host Liz Storer commended influencer purplepingers, Jordan van den Berg, for his attempt to help squatters find vacant homes. Ms Storer joined Sky News hosts Caleb Bond and James Macpherson to discuss the influencer’s attempt to help squatters. “I’ve got to say, I’m torn on this one,” she said. “Because I’m very much an advocate for – the government is not coming to save you, they’re not friend, they push their agendas over yours and your personal welfare day in day out. “So whenever an individual takes it upon themselves to take responsibility for themselves and those around about them I go ‘good for you’, the government’s not doing it so you should get on your bike.”

There are reports the Victorian government may choose to not apply land tax on certain residents based on whether they’re Indigenous. Former Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger says activists should focus on “real problems” such as the situation in Alice Springs. “There is an Aboriginal industry made up of activists who have largely got government jobs that love going to conferences in Canberra, that love talking about the politics of grievance, our history, etcetera,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray. “That train slowed very much at the time of the Voice where Australians said ‘stop trying to divide the country on the basis of race’. “Stop the politics of grievance and history, get into the real world and do something about fixing the problems in the Aboriginal community.”