Good morning. It’s Monday 16 May and here is a summary of the latest news.
The Greens will outline priorities in the case of a hanging parliament
With five days left until the federal election, the Greens are outlining their priorities, if they keep the balance of power after the election.
The party officially launches its campaign in Brisbane today.
In his speech, leader Adam Bandt will announce urgent action on climate change, tackling cost-of-living crises, and developing the Uluru Statement from the Heart for Indigenous Peoples will be their top priorities if they have to negotiate with either the coalition or the Labor Party to form a government.
The Greens currently have one seat in the House of Representatives and nine seats in the Senate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to launch today’s campaign in Brisbane, while opposition leader Anthony Albanese is in Perth.
Finland and Sweden join NATO
Both Finland and Sweden have decided to apply
Both countries have decided to join the alliance due to security problems, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland shares a border of about 1,300 kilometers with Russia, although Russia insists there is no threat to Finland, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a phone call to his Finnish counterpart Sauli Ninniesto this weekend that Finland’s decision to join is a mistake.
Finland and Sweden must be approved by all 30 current NATO members in their domestic parliaments before they officially become NATO members.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson is holding a press conference after the Swedish governing party, the Social Democrats, decided to support a Swedish NATO application. Source: AAP / Fredrik Persson / EPA
Economists worried about the coalition’s housing policy
Some economists have reacted with dismay to its revelation
The proposal would allow first home buyers to have access to up to $ 50,000 from their pension balance to cover the cost of a property purchase.
But the McKell Institute says policies would resume house prices and empty pension savings.
The institute’s managing director Michael Buckland told SBS News that the policy goes against all available evidence.
“One of the most important conclusions in our report was that the people who enter the housing market and use their money from the pension pension are the ones who would still enter the housing market,” says Buckland.
“So what this does is it does not allow new people to enter the domestic market. What it does do is allow new people to postpone their home purchases.”
“Now it’s a very important difference because it means that even if people can enter the housing market earlier, they will pay more for their house. So it’s a big extra cost just for a few extra months.”
Ukrainian soldiers are seen with new military weapons in Donetsk, Ukraine on May 14, 2022. Source: Getty / Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Russia is trying to capture Donbas
in the east with missiles, targeting command centers and arsenals as its forces try to surround Ukrainian army units in the Battle of the Donbas.
Russian forces have been driven out of the area around the city of Kharkiv in the northeast for the past two weeks, their fastest losses since being expelled from areas around Kyiv and northern Ukraine in early April.
Russia is now trying to capture the two eastern provinces known as the Donbas.
Its forces have pushed down from the city of Izium south of Kharkiv in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces between Izium and Russian-controlled territory around the city of Donetsk.
Thousands attend a flood concert in Lismore
Thousands of music fans have braved the wet weather to enjoy a rock concert especially for flood-stricken residents of northern New South Wales.
The concert, called One From The Heart, was held in Lismore for the local community, which has experienced the effects of at least two major floods in the region since the beginning of the year.
Music veteran Daryl Braithwaite was one of the high-profile acts who appeared.
“It was so short notice, but to be part of the collection of groups to play for the people and give some joy for a couple of hours,” he said.
“I think music, more than any other profession, can help. In a very small way, it can lift people’s spirits.”