AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 9 at 1930
NDIS (CANBERRA)
Disabled Australians have slammed a huge overhaul of funding that would give a single minister the power to cut support as they see fit.
People have been given just over a fortnight to respond to laws which would deliver the largest ever cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Disabled people are at risk of losing their independence and enjoyment as a result, a senate inquiry into proposed changes was told on Tuesday.
The Albanese government maintains the cuts are needed to curb a $50 billion spending blow out in the scheme.
About $11 billion of the $16.6 billion savings forecast for 2029/30 will come from eligibility changes, including more detailed assessments, modelling from the Grattan Institute shows.
The changes are likely to reduce the number of NDIS participants to 598,000 in 2030/31 - a third of the expected cohort if no changes were made.
CFMEU (BRISBANE)
A senior public servant braced for a physical assault during an "unhinged" CFMEU boss's frightening tirade, an inquiry has been told.
Andrea Fox fought back tears as she described the meeting, saying former CFMEU state leader Michael Ravbar threatened to have her "physically dragged downstairs" and thrown into the street.
But Mr Ravbar has denied scaring Ms Fox, saying he was "blunt" but never raised his voice in an exchange he claimed lasted only a few minutes.
An emotional Ms Fox said a "menacing" Mr Ravbar blocked her only exit as he stood over her, saying she disgusted him and the union would not work with her.
She broke down on Tuesday as she told an inquiry into the Queensland CFMEU about what was meant to be a routine meeting at the rogue construction union's office in January 2018.
Iran (DUBAI)
Two US pilots whose helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz "are fine", President Donald Trump says, after the New York Times reported the crew of an Apache gunship had been rescued after the aircraft went down near the Iran-controlled waterway.
It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, experienced mechanical failure or encountered some other problem, the report said.
The White House, US Department of State, and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Asked if he knew what brought the helicopter down, Trump said they would issue a report later on Tuesday.
"The pilots are fine," Trump said, speaking on the runway at John F Kennedy International Airport before returning to Washington, DC.
Legal: Starling (SYDNEY)
Whether a NRL star was pulled down from a stage by police officers or jumped on them from a height is a key question in the trial of two officers charged with assault.
Evan Huw Prowse and Steven Lockwood Brown have both pleaded not guilty to the common assault of Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling at a 21st birthday party in December 2020.
Starling, his brothers Jackson and Josh and friend Jesse Byrne, had originally been charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest after a drunken night out on the NSW Central Coast.
But those charges were later dropped, and Brown and Prowse were subsequently charged with assaulting the NRL player, who suffered concussion and a bloodied face in the incident.
SpaceX (SYDNEY)
Australian investors are lining up to jump aboard one of the world's hottest initial public offerings, the launch of Elon Musk's SpaceX.
The spaceflight and artificial intelligence company will go public on the US Nasdaq exchange on Friday after raising up to $US75 billion ($A106 billion).
It will have a mammoth $US1.75 trillion ($A2.5 trillion) valuation, making it among the 10 most valuable companies in the world.
CommSec, the lead Australian broker on the float, said on Tuesday it was "experiencing extremely high call volumes" and advised customers to submit an application for the share offer online ahead of the 5pm Wednesday deadline.
CommSec also cautioned hopeful Australian buyers to beware of fake "SpaceX IPO" emails that are phishing scams purporting to be from the broker.
Legal: CHAMBERS (BRISBANE)
A family has poured out its pain in court while awaiting the sentence of a man who ploughed his minivan into a father and his nine-year-old son.
Aiden Guimaraes was riding pillion on an e-bike driven by his father David in a designated lane in Robina, on the Gold Coast, when they were struck by the speeding van.
The heavily intoxicated Keith Andrew Chambers was behind the wheel at the time of the October 2024 crash.
Aiden's mother Andrea had to make the decision to turn off the boy's life support later that day while Mr Guimaraes, who was critically injured, remained unconscious.
A large crowd of family and supporters gathered in Brisbane Supreme Court for Chambers' sentencing for the nine-year-old's manslaughter, as well as dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to Aiden's father.
Economy (CANBERRA)
The Reserve Bank's next interest rate move is more likely to be down than up, economists at National Australia Bank say.
NAB has joined Commonwealth Bank and ANZ in forecasting the cash rate to stay on hold at 4.35 per cent for the rest of 2026, having previously predicted one more hike in August.
Westpac is the last of the big four banks to hang onto its rate rise call, with two more hikes pencilled in for the year.
Recently released GDP data and NAB's business survey, published on Tuesday, showed momentum in the economy has slowed, NAB's chief economist Sally Auld and head of Australian economics Gareth Spence said in a research note.
"The backdrop for the RBA when we look back to February - when they started hiking - was one of growth above its trend pace, or its sustainable pace, with the economy operating above capacity and inflation above target," Mr Spence told AAP.
PollVic (MELBOURNE)
Victoria's under-siege premier is staring down dire polling and leadership rumblings, declaring she's "all in" for an election fight.
Flanked by women at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Melbourne office on Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan dismissed speculation of a brewing leadership challenge.
Victorian Labor's primary vote has slumped to 23 per cent, compared to the coalition's 27 per cent, while a surging One Nation has shot to 25 per cent, according to a Freshwater Strategy poll conducted for the Herald Sun.
If the findings are replicated at the November state election, the 12-year-old Labor government would likely be turfed from office - although the coalition faces an uphill battle to govern in its own right.
Over 60 per cent of respondents said Ms Allan should be replaced ahead of the election, including 39 per cent of Labor voters.
In finance ...
Markets Aust (SYDNEY)
Australia's share market has slipped after returning from the long weekend, following surprising US jobs data which increased the odds the Federal Reserve will have to hike interest rates before the year's end.
The S&P/ASX200 lost 45 points by midday on Tuesday, to be down 0.52 per cent to 8,580.1, as the broader All Ordinaries fell 55 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 8,800.9.
"A much stronger-than-expected US non-farm payrolls result on Friday unsettled financial markets, prompting investors to sharply reprice the Fed's policy path," Westpac Group economist Mantas Vanagas said.
The basic materials sector dropped by almost three per cent, as gold slumped to 11-week lows near $US4,270 ($A6,059) an ounce at the prospect of higher US interest rates and a stronger greenback.
US AUST (CANBERRA)
A tariff hike on exports to the US is not linked to Australia's response to modern slavery, the trade minister says, following talks with his American counterpart.
The Trump administration announced plans last week for a new 12.5 per cent tariff on dozens of countries it says are failing to crack down on goods made with forced labour.
The proposed tariff was made public by US trade representative Jamieson Greer as part of an investigation into what Washington says were unfair trade practices by 60 countries.
But Trade Minister Don Farrell suggested the US' reason for the plan was not accepted by Australia.
"I don't see the two as being linked, as such," he said when asked if he would negotiate with the US about its claim Australia does not adequately address slavery in its supply chains.
In entertainment ...
Romy (LONDON)
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino have started production on the Romy and Michele's Hugh School Reunion sequel.
Work has officially started on the long-awaited follow-up to the 1997 cult classic comedy after the two returning stars shared a photo of themselves on set in their iconic quirky style.
The professional photo was also shared by 20th Century Studios, with the caption: "The reunion you've been waiting for! The Romy and Michele sequel is now in production."
The project is set to be released exclusively as a Hulu Original via streaming, rather than in cinemas.
The new Romy and Michele movie will be helmed by Tim Federle, while Robin Schiff - who created the characters and wrote the original - will pen the script.
Perry (LONDON)
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have made their red carpet debut as a couple.
The 41-year-old Roar hit maker and the former Canadian prime minister, 54, were photographed together at the 2026 Tribeca Festival on Monday for the premiere of the pop star's concert film Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live From Paris.
The couple smiled and posed for pictures in what was their first-ever joint appearance at an event of this scale.
Trudeau could be seen stood close by her side as Perry signed autographs and took photos with fans.
Speaking to People magazine at the event, she said the new film was "very different" from her 2012 documentary Part of Me.
"That was more of a documentary about my life, and this is really a concert experience at the highest level for the fans," Perry said.
In sport ...
AFL Injuries (MELBOURNE)
Brody Mihocek is recovering from surgery to fix a neck fracture after he was stretchered off the MCG during the AFL King's Birthday match.
The Demons said the forward is recovering well and is already walking after the Monday night operation.
Mihocek was hurt in a tackle and play was held up for 10 minutes before he was taken off the ground and sent to hospital in an ambulance.
"Mihocek successfully underwent surgery overnight and doctors have since provided a positive update, confirming he is up and walking today," the Demons said in a statement.
Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson expressed relief that the operation had gone as planned.
."You never want to see an incident in our game like what we saw with Brody on Monday," Richardson said.
WC26 Aust (OAKLAND)
Eleven years ago, Tony Popovic read Craig Bellamy's autobiography as he searched for inspiration.
Then, as Melbourne Victory coach six years later, he experienced the Melbourne Storm coach's brilliant intensity in the flesh.
Popovic is famously meticulous, detail-oriented and determined to improve himself and those around him every day.
Sound familiar?
A man who counts Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Guus Hiddink among his influences, Popovic lights up when he, unprompted, brings up one of his biggest inspirations.
"I was fortunate to spend time with Craig Bellamy and you see the work that he's done," Popovic told AAP.
"You talk about meticulous -
that's what you call meticulous.
"Each pre-season, I'd see him - he's driven to do even better than the last year and thinking about new ways of making the team better.
Ends Bulletin
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