Good afternoon.
The surcharge added to the total when a debit or credit card is used for payment will be gone by October under Reserve Bank reforms, with big banks likely to foot the bill for the cost-of-living measures.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said Australians “hate paying these charges”, which the RBA estimated cost consumers about $1.6bn a year. The Australian Hotels Association criticised the ruling, saying it wouldn’t make the typical coffee or beer any cheaper.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association has meanwhile hailed a “landmark decision” by the Fair Work Commission to abolish junior pay rates for those aged 18 and over. The decision will boost the wages of about 500,000 workers at major retailers including Coles, Woolworths, McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s.
Top news
Perth man accused of attempted terror attack at Invasion Day rally to plead mental health defence
Jackie O seeks $82m for wrongful termination in legal action filed against her former radio station
Vanuatu Indigenous leaders raise concerns over plans to build resort for cruise tourists
‘Extremely rare’ Bob Dylan draft lyrics discovered inside Allen Ginsberg book
In pictures
Bakers’ delights, a spiky surprise and a Mardi Gras marriage feature in Guardian Australia’s pick of March’s most arresting images. And if your photos of the moon never quite turn out, our gun photographer and picture editor Carly Earl shares her tips for snapping the perfect blood moon shot.
What they said …
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“It is astonishing that any president would try to target, shame, and harass children just trying to be themselves, let alone a president with so many actual problems to address.” – Keith Ellison
Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general called out Donald Trump after the US Department of Justice sued the state’s education department and school athletics body for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
Full Story
What we know about the shooting of Dezi Freeman
Fugitive Dezi Freeman, the man allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of two officers at Porepunkah, was killed yesterday after a seven-month manhunt in rural Victoria. Reged Ahmad speaks to justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci.
Before bed read
A recent episode of Married at First Sight, in which a departed contestant turned up for a dinner party and began “spewing arbitrary hatred at all the other brides”, prompted some fans to question why it had been aired. It’s not the first piece of reality television that should have hit the cutting-room floor. Stuart Heritage looks back at the worst of the worst, from racial abuse to teeth literally being pulled out.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PATE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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