Happy Budget Day!

I’m currently driving to Canberra, where it is a lovely 1°C this morning.

I’m heading down there for ‘Budget lockup’, which is exactly what it sounds like. At about 1:30pm, journalists will be locked in a room with Budget papers and supervisors (to make sure we don’t use the internet) ahead of the formal release of the Budget at 7:30pm.

To help shape our coverage, we asked our audience their thoughts on the Budget. The large majority said cost of living is the number one issue they want to see addressed. More specifically, about 40% said their top priority within the area of cost of living is more support for renters. About 40% also said they are worried about Australia’s levels of debt.

Keep an eye out on our feed for our coverage and brace yourself for dollar signs and the word ‘delivering’ on repeat.

I've got 10 seconds

The quote
"I know she's up there, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother." – Prince William referring to the late Queen Elizabeth II while paying tribute to his father King Charles III during a speech the day after the Coronation.

The stat
761,000 
The number of metro viewers who tuned into the Masterchef premiere on Sunday night, which followed a tribute to the late judge Jock Zonfrillo.

Today in history
1901: The first Australian Parliament opened in Melbourne. It was opened by The Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V).

I've got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• TW: Distressing content
  WA's Corruption and Crime Commission has found a police officer used excessive and unnecessary force when arresting a First Nations man in September 2021. The man, known only as 'Mr L', was punched repeatedly and had his leg pulled by the officer after being verbally uncooperative with police. The findings have triggered a reopening of a WA Police investigation into the matter.

• Russia has launched a new wave of military attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities. It comes ahead of Russia's annual 'Victory Day' holiday today, which celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. In a morning update on Monday, Ukraine's Armed Forces said they had recorded 16 missile strikes from Russian forces in Ukrainian cities, in addition to 61 airstrikes and 52 bouts of enemy shelling.

I've got 1 minute

The Victorian Government has announced it will roll out digital driver's licences statewide by 2024.

Drivers will be able to display their licence on their phone using the Service Victoria app or the soon-to-be-released myVicRoads app.

Victoria will follow NSW, SA and WA in adopting digital ID. Queensland is expected to roll out digital licences statewide later this year.

I've got 2 minutes

The Federal Government will increase financial support for single parents by expanding eligibility for the Parenting Payment.

Single parents will be able to apply for the payment until their youngest child is 14, instead of the current cut-off of eight years of age.

The announcement will be included in today’s Federal Budget. It partially reverses a policy put in place by the Howard and Gillard governments.

It will take effect from 20 September this year.

The payment:

The Parenting Payment is a support payment for primary carers of young children. Single parents and parents in couples are both eligible, but single parents get a higher amount.

The payment is targeted at low-income parents. For example, a single parent with one child must earn below $202.60 a fortnight to get the full $67.80 per day.

There are some requirements to be eligible for the payment, such as studying or training, which the Government says is "so they can return to work when their children are older".

History:

Before 2006, parents with children aged up to 16 were eligible for the payment.

In 2006, the Howard Government lowered the cut-off age to eight for the children of single parents and six for the children of coupled parents. Parents who were already on the payment before 2006 were exempt. Unemployed parents with children above these ages instead had to apply for the unemployment payment (then called Newstart, now called JobSeeker).

In 2011, the Gillard Government extended the change to the pre-2006 parents, pushing thousands of additional single parents onto the unemployment payment.

The new change:

The Government will increase the cut-off age for the children of single parents from eight to 14. The cut-off for the children of coupled parents will remain at six.

Single parents whose children are between eight and 14 and are currently on JobSeeker will get about $12 extra per day from the change. The Government estimates this will apply to about 57,000 people, 90% of them single mothers.

There is speculation the Government will also increase JobSeeker in tomorrow's budget, but it's unclear by how much and whether all JobSeeker recipients would benefit.

Response:

The Coalition has not decided its position on the change, telling TDA it will "consider all proposals once the detailed Budget measures have been announced".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the Budget tonight at 7:30pm.

Give me some good news

The 67th edition of the Eurovision song contest will begin in the UK tomorrow.

Musical acts from 37 different countries will take to the stage in Liverpool from Wednesday morning (AEST), with a winner to be crowned on the weekend.

Perth pop-metal band Voyager will be representing Australia at this year's Eurovision with their song 'Promise'.

Today's podcast

A message from our sponsor

Here's how to change your brain - get outdoors. Yep, you can clear your mind by lacing up your boots, zipping up your puffer, and heading out for the day. Science has shown that it changes our brains for the better. When we spend time out there, our stress goes down, our empathy goes up, we become more creative and we feel happier. That doesn't sound too bad for us. To keep you warm while you're out there this winter, make sure you head to Kathmandu to ensure you've got the gear you need. From that point, it's up to mother earth.

A TDA tidbit

An episode of Bluey that aired last month has been changed due to complaints over a ‘fat-shaming’ scene.

In the episode, titled ‘Exercise’, Bluey’s dad begins a fitness regime after weighing himself on a scale and grabbing his stomach. There was controversy over whether the episode sent the wrong message to young kids.

“The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way,” the ABC said in a statement.

In case you missed it

View all stories on Instagram

Happy Budget Day!

I’m currently driving to Canberra, where it is a lovely 1°C this morning.

I’m heading down there for ‘Budget lockup’, which is exactly what it sounds like. At about 1:30pm, journalists will be locked in a room with Budget papers and supervisors (to make sure we don’t use the internet) ahead of the formal release of the Budget at 7:30pm.

We asked our audience their thoughts on the Budget. The large majority said cost of living is the number one issue they want to see addressed. More specifically, about 40% said their top priority within the area of cost of living is more support for renters. About 40% also said they are worried about Australia’s levels of debt.

Keep an eye out on our feed for our coverage and brace yourself for dollar signs and the word ‘delivering’ on repeat.

I've got 10 seconds

The quote
"I know she's up there, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother." – Prince William referring to the late Queen Elizabeth II while paying tribute to his father King Charles III during a speech the day after the Coronation.

The stat
761,000 
The number of metro viewers who tuned into the Masterchef premiere on Sunday night, which followed a tribute to the late judge Jock Zonfrillo.

Today in history
1901: The first Australian Parliament opened in Melbourne. It was opened by The Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V).

I've got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• TW: Distressing content
  WA's Corruption and Crime Commission has found a police officer used excessive and unnecessary force when arresting a First Nations man in September 2021. The man, known only as 'Mr L', was punched repeatedly and had his leg pulled by the officer after being verbally uncooperative with police. The findings have triggered a reopening of a WA Police investigation into the matter.

• Russia has launched a new wave of military attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities. It comes ahead of Russia's annual 'Victory Day' holiday today, which celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. In a morning update on Monday, Ukraine's Armed Forces said they had recorded 16 missile strikes from Russian forces in Ukrainian cities, in addition to 61 airstrikes and 52 bouts of enemy shelling.

I've got 1 minute

The Victorian Government has announced it will roll out digital driver's licences statewide by 2024.

Drivers will be able to display their licence on their phone using the Service Victoria app or the soon-to-be-released myVicRoads app.

Victoria will follow NSW, SA and WA in adopting digital ID. Queensland is expected to roll out digital licences statewide later this year.

I've got 2 minutes

The Federal Government will increase financial support for single parents by expanding eligibility for the Parenting Payment.

Single parents will be able to apply for the payment until their youngest child is 14, instead of the current cut-off of eight years of age.

The announcement will be included in today’s Federal Budget. It partially reverses a policy put in place by the Howard and Gillard governments.

It will take effect from 20 September this year.

The payment:

The Parenting Payment is a support payment for primary carers of young children. Single parents and parents in couples are both eligible, but single parents get a higher amount.

The payment is targeted at low-income parents. For example, a single parent with one child must earn below $202.60 a fortnight to get the full $67.80 per day.

There are some requirements to be eligible for the payment, such as studying or training, which the Government says is "so they can return to work when their children are older".

History:

Before 2006, parents with children aged up to 16 were eligible for the payment.

In 2006, the Howard Government lowered the cut-off age to eight for the children of single parents and six for the children of coupled parents. Parents who were already on the payment before 2006 were exempt. Unemployed parents with children above these ages instead had to apply for the unemployment payment (then called Newstart, now called JobSeeker).

In 2011, the Gillard Government extended the change to the pre-2006 parents, pushing thousands of additional single parents onto the unemployment payment.

The new change:

The Government will increase the cut-off age for the children of single parents from eight to 14. The cut-off for the children of coupled parents will remain at six.

Single parents whose children are between eight and 14 and are currently on JobSeeker will get about $12 extra per day from the change. The Government estimates this will apply to about 57,000 people, 90% of them single mothers.

There is speculation the Government will also increase JobSeeker in tomorrow's budget, but it's unclear by how much and whether all JobSeeker recipients would benefit.

Response:

The Coalition has not decided its position on the change, telling TDA it will "consider all proposals once the detailed Budget measures have been announced".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the Budget tonight at 7:30pm.

Give me some good news

The 67th edition of the Eurovision song contest will begin in the UK tomorrow.

Musical acts from 37 different countries will take to the stage in Liverpool from Wednesday morning (AEST), with a winner to be crowned on the weekend.

Perth pop-metal band Voyager will be representing Australia at this year's Eurovision with their song 'Promise'.

Today's podcast

A message from our sponsor

Here's how to change your brain - get outdoors. Yep, you can clear your mind by lacing up your boots, zipping up your puffer, and heading out for the day. Science has shown that it changes our brains for the better. When we spend time out there, our stress goes down, our empathy goes up, we become more creative and we feel happier. That doesn't sound too bad for us. To keep you warm while you're out there this winter, make sure you head to Kathmandu to ensure you've got the gear you need. From that point, it's up to mother earth.

A TDA tidbit

An episode of Bluey that aired last month has been changed due to complaints over a ‘fat-shaming’ scene.

In the episode, titled ‘Exercise’, Bluey’s dad begins a fitness regime after weighing himself on a scale and grabbing his stomach. There was controversy over whether the episode sent the wrong message to young kids.

“The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way,” the ABC said in a statement.

In case you missed it

View all stories on Instagram