Treasurer says childcare and medicines will be budget priorities

03:41

Jim Chalmers says childcare and costs of medicines will be the priorities in the government’s upcoming budget. 

The treasurer also says there is global concern about the state of the world economy, having returned from a few days of consultation with economic ministers as part of the G20 meeting.

The world economy is a difficult if not dangerous place right now. That combination of inflation, rising interest rates and slowing growth, combined with food and energy prices. A big advantage is we have the right economic plan for these conditions.

Chalmers says pressures on Australia’s economy are coming from the supply side and he wants to lift the “speed limits” on the Australian economy.

He says he will be releasing a ministerial statement on Thursday 28 July which will be “confronting” as his job is “to paint a true picture” of the economy.

03:31

Treasurer holds press conference in Canberra

The treasurer Jim Chalmers is speaking in Canberra and has reiterated that the government won’t extend the cut to the petrol excise beyond September because it would be too costly to do so.

03:24

Snow blankets Tasmania, from Hobart to Bruny Island

Amazing images are coming through showing the snow in Tasmania.

Peter Clark captured the frosty sunrise he woke to in suburban Hobart, while Susan Rollason snapped the icy roads in the Huon Valley.

Victorian premier agrees with Albanese on no cut to Covid isolation

03:12  Adeshola Ore

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says now is not the right time to cut the Covid isolation period amid rising infections and increasing strain on the health sector.

Over the weekend, the national cabinet discussed reducing the Covid isolation time period from seven days to five days. 

While Dominic Perrottet had floated the idea, Anthony Albanese said the medical advice suggested now was not the right time to wind back the mandatory isolation time period. 

Andrews echoed Albanese’s words on Monday, but said it would be “terrific” when mandatory isolation could be reviewed. 

I don’t think it’s common sense [right now]. We will get to that point some time in the future where we don’t have to isolate. But in the middle of winter, that’s not the right thing to do.