Once Australia’s second priciest city, Melbourne has become more affordable. What happened – and will it last? pred 5 urami More homes and less property investor activity has seen Victoria’s capital rise up the affordability rankingsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn 2021, Melbourne’s median house price surpassed $1m, after a decade of rising by an average of more than $70,000 a year.It was Australia’s second most expensive housing market, after Sydney. The next year, prices began to fall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia’s $20m ‘iron fist’ deal with Israel’s largest arms company signed two weeks before UN genocide finding pred 5 urami Exclusive: Experts criticise federal government’s ‘iron fist’ contract with Elbit Systems as ‘troubling acceptance’ of Israel’s conduct in GazaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s $20m purchase of missiles from an Israeli arms company for its “iron fist” weapons system on infantry vehicles has been condemned as “morally questionable” and reflective of a “troubling acceptance” of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.The Australian defence department signed a contract with Israel’s largest weapons company, Elbit Systems, on 1 September, two weeks before a UN commission of inquiry found Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. Details of the contract were not published on the Australian government’s contract database until last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mining giants must pay rent tax so Australians don’t miss out on critical minerals cash boom, MPs say pred 5 urami David Pocock, Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney say past policy decisions on taxing gas profits must not be repeated as next resources opportunity beckonsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCrossbench MPs are reviving calls for a mining rent tax to guarantee taxpayers a “fair cut” of a potential critical minerals boom.Independents David Pocock, Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney say past policy decisions that have allowed companies to profit off Australian gas with relatively little return to taxpayers must not be repeated as the country’s next big resources opportunity beckons. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Officers in California fire on truck they say tried to back into Coast Guard base pred 5 urami in 17 minutami Incident occurred after ICE agents arriving at Alameda base were met by hundreds of protestersLaw enforcement officers in California opened fire on Thursday night at a vehicle that authorities say attempted to back into the entrance of the US Coast Guard base in Alameda, where protests had taken place earlier in the day over the arrival of federal immigration agents.In a statement, the Coast Guard said that at around 10.00pm local time on Thursday, “Coast Guard security personnel standing watch on Coast Guard Island observed a vehicle driving erratically and attempting to back into Coast Guard Base Alameda. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
