Thanks for reading our live news coverage today. Here are some of the main headlines:
- All the big four banks, plus some smaller lenders, have now passed on to mortgage holders the full 0.5 percentage point interest rate hike. ANZ and NAB this afternoon joined CommBank and Westpac, which had already announced the decision last night. Some banks’ savings accounts will also increase. Meanwhile, a former Reserve Bank governor says the RBA must not be “held hostage” by borrowers who took out mortgages recently and are at risk of being squeezed by higher interest rates.
- At a crisis meeting this afternoon between federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen and his state counterparts, ministers agreed on measures to help Australia in the long-term goal to decarbonise the energy grid.
- Thousands of public service workers in NSW went on strike today, protesting the government’s 3 per cent wage cap. The court staff, prison officers and others say the increase doesn’t keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living.
- An appeals court has overturned an order requiring 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age to hand over drafts of a story about a cosmetic surgeon. The surgeon’s lawyers have now launched fresh proceedings.
- The controversial 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese-owned company in 2015 will be reviewed, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today.
We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow. For the rugby league fans out there, enjoy tonight’s State of Origin match.