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Petrol prices rise for a third week in a row.
Petrol prices have risen for a third week in a row as global factors undermine the government’s much-touted temporary cut in fuel excise aimed at easing cost of living pressures.
The Australian Institute of Petroleum said the national average for petrol prices rose by a further 1.4 cents to 179.6 cents per litre in the past week. But cities like Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide are paying well over 180 cents a litre, and regional Northern Territory more that $2.
“Unfortunately oil prices are still rising,” Commonwealth Securities chief economist Craig James said. “It is no surprise that consumer prices are soaring across the globe.”
The latest lift in oil prices came as the Group of Seven nations announced a ban on Russian oil, further cutting the amount of oil to meet global demand.
At a time of rising inflation and interest rates, the government and the Reserve Bank of Australia have spoken much about the ‘savings buffer’ that has been built during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the reality is many households are already finding life difficult.
A survey by financial comparison website Finder revealed almost one-in-three Australian homeowners were feeling the pinch even before the RBA raised the cash rate for the time since 2010.
Also causing stress is the fact annual wage growth isn’t rising very much.
Finder’s Sarah Megginson said this is likely to cause mortgage stress to rise again in May and June as monthly payments inflate.
- With AAP.
Evening headlines: ‘Teacher’s Pet’ murder trial begins.
Do you find the news cycle overwhelming? Depressing? Confusing? Boring? Endless? Then you need The Quicky. Mamamia’s daily podcast that gets you up to speed on the top stories.
Listen to tonight’s episode of The Quicky now!
Russia bombs Ukraine schools ahead of its ‘Victory Day’.
As many as 60 people have been killed in the Russian bombing of a village school in eastern Ukraine, according to its regional governor.
Governor Serhiy Gaidai on Sunday said Russian forces dropped a bomb on Saturday afternoon on the school in Bilohorivka where about 90 people were sheltering.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian forces of targeting civilians in the war. Moscow denies this. In the ruined southeastern port city of Mariupol, scores of civilians have been evacuated from a sprawling steel plant in a week-long operation brokered by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been ruthless in his attempt to secure Ukrainian land. Foreign war experts were concerned that Putin would create more devastation in the lead up to Russia’s ‘Victory Day’ on May 9. And indeed he did.
It’s an annual celebration that marks the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.
In a message to his army, Putin said Russia was likening their efforts to the war against Nazi Germany. “Victory will be ours,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin press release. Putin presided over the parade in Moscow's Red Square of troops, tanks, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles, making a speech that suggested he wasn't yet done with the war in Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders were to hold a video call with Zelensky on Sunday in a show of unity ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Underlining Western support for Ukraine, Britain pledged to provide a further $A2.3 billion in military support and aid, double its previous spending commitments.
"During these days, you are fighting for our people in Donbas, for the security of our country, Russia"
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 9, 2022
President Putin speaks in Moscow's Red Square as Russia marks Victory Day https://t.co/OP49gdI0V8 pic.twitter.com/olXoR7PuAh
About 60 people are feared dead after a Russian aircraft dropped a bomb on a school in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, where civilians were sheltering, a Ukrainian official said. https://t.co/GB4tCASrzf
— CNN (@CNN) May 8, 2022
The Selling Sunset relationship no one saw coming.
The next Doctor Who has been announced, and it's a historic choice we are definitely on board with.
And at least 23 former stars are confirmed to be returning to Neighbours before we say goodbye to Ramsey Street for good in August. We reminisce on some iconic storylines and consider how they could end the series.
Plus, during the Selling Sunset Season Five reunion, Chrishell Stause confirmed who she's dating now, and it's a relationship none of us saw coming. But Chrishell's comments around their relationship feel particularly refreshing in a world that still thinks women in their 40s should act a certain way.
Listen to The Spill now!
Morrison and Albanese’s second debate was “hard to watch”.
I tuned in to see our two potential leaders in their second debate for the election.
And they were warmed up. By that I mean yelling, brashly, over-the-top of each other all while ignoring their moderator, journalist Sarah Abo, as she tried to reign them in.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese were being quizzed about how the Australian public view their personal character, when I flicked over to the second leaders’ debate on Channel 9 on Sunday night.
“Prime Minister, the hard truth of it is, a lot of people don’t like you... shouldn't a leader unite, not divide?” one of the panellists, Deborah Knight, asked Scott Morrison as he listened in with his trademark smirk.
A few seconds into the answer, Albanese interrupted him. Then he did it again. The two men started talking over each other, each of their points lost in the mish-mash of voices. It was a lot.
To read a full recap, head to this article: 'I tried to watch Morrison and Albanese's second debate. Within 10 minutes, I had to turn it off.'
Leaders clash in fierce election debate, and all the news you need to know this morning.
Morning all and welcome to your live news feed for Monday April 9.
Here are the top five news stories you need to know this morning.
1. Labor leads in polls following fierce TV debate.
Labor is pulling ahead in the polls with less than two weeks until election day.
Ipsos polling reveals Labor is leading 57-43 on a two-party preferred basis, as early voting begins from today.
Newspoll also has Labor in front with support for the party at 39 per cent and Coalition slipping to 35 per cent. On a two-party preferred vote, Labor leads 54/46.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese clashed in the second leaders' debate on Sunday night on Channel Nine.
Both leaders were grilled by a panel of journalists on cost-of-living pressures, interest rates, climate policies, affordable housing and the economy.
During the debate, the prime minister admitted he made a mistake by saying getting COVID-19 vaccines into the people's arms was "not a race".
"It was a race... and we shouldn't have described it in those terms," he said.
Albanese said the government was "too little, too late" in its response to the pandemic.
"That is something that has defined this prime minister," he said. "It doesn't matter whether it is the bushfires or the floods or the vaccine rollout, or the rapid antigen tests."
"We shouldn't have described it in those terms."
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) May 8, 2022
After being quizzed by Anthony Albanese, Scott Morrison admits that his now famous comments that the #COVID19 vaccine rollout was "not a race" were wrong. #LeadersDebate #60Mins
RECAP: https://t.co/HSeWEnXr76 pic.twitter.com/vHyCoOiY0u
Viewers were evenly split 50-50 between the two men vying for the nation's top job.
2. Former Home and Away actor says he was ‘drugged and raped’.
Warning: This post deals with abuse and suicide and may by triggering for some readers.
Former Home and Away star Mat Stevenson says he was drugged and sexually abused at 18.
Speaking on Channel Seven's Spotlight: The Fame Game, Stevenson opened up about the incident following the death of his friend and co-star Dieter Brummer, who died by suicide last year after a struggle with his mental health.
"I was basically drugged and raped and dragged into a spa and thought I was going to drown, and then woke up naked somewhere," he said on Sunday.
"I was 18. And then I won my role in Neighbours the next day... I was a pretty fit guy back then too, but when you’re paralysed there’s nothing you can do."
Former Home and Away star Mat Stevenson has made a bombshell revelation on the new episode of 7NEWS Spotlight: The Fame Game, saying he was drugged and sexually abused as a teenager. https://t.co/Ry16mBEbSS
— 7NEWS Spotlight (@7NewsSpotlight) May 8, 2022
Stevenson went on to say he "suppressed" what happened and "suffered in silence".
"It came out in toxic behaviours... I basically wanted to find the bottom as quickly as I could, and I got there pretty quickly," he shared.
The actor said he is now in a good place and his "greatest role has been (as) a dad".
"I’m come through it. So Deit’s death ripped my heart out and I just don’t want to lose another bloke.
"So, if you’re suffering, reach out is the message."
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
If you think you may be experiencing depression or another mental health problem, please contact your general practitioner. If you're based in Australia, 24-hour support is available through on 13 11 14 or Lifelinebeyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
3. Two Coalition candidates referred to AFP over enrolment.
Police will investigate a Liberal National Party candidate in the federal election over suspicions he has not been living at his registered address.
On Sunday, the Australian Electoral Commission said a review of Vivian Lobo's enrolment and candidate nomination forms prompted the referral to the Australian Federal Police.
"There is concern as to whether the information provided by him regarding his residential address on these forms is false," the AEC said in a statement.
The LNP candidate for Lilley is facing an Australian Federal Police investigation for providing a false address to the nation’s electoral commission. https://t.co/ExHUNCa5WP
— The Australian (@australian) May 8, 2022
Lobo, who is contesting the north Brisbane seat of Lilley, said he will co-operate with the investigation.
"I enrolled in the electorate as I had signed a lease in Everton Park with the intention to move in straight away," Lobo said in a Facebook post on Friday.
"However, due to my campaign commitments and difficulty with getting tradespeople to the home, I was delayed moving in."
The coalition campaign has not said whether it will continue supporting Lobo in Lilley.
He is the second coalition candidate to be referred to the AFP for investigation in recent days.
Isaacs candidate Robbie Beaton was referred on Thursday after he told a newspaper he did not live at the Melbourne property where he was enrolled.
4. Bono gives 'freedom' concert in Kyiv metro.
Irish rock group U2's frontman Bono and his bandmate The Edge have performed a 40-minute concert in a metro station in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and praised Ukrainians fighting for their freedom from Russia.
"Your president leads the world in the cause of freedom right now... The people of Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you're fighting for all of us who love freedom," Bono told a crowd of up to 100 gathered inside the Khreshchatyk metro station.
"This evening, 8th of May, shots will ring out in the Ukraine sky, but you'll be free at last. They can take your lives, but they can never take your pride," he said.
Kyiv metro. Just the legendary Bono from the band U2 sings with Taras Topola.
— Good morning, Ukraine (@good_ukraine) May 8, 2022
We are unbreakable. We are invincible. The whole world supports us.
Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦#Bono #U2 #StandWithUkraine #Artists pic.twitter.com/7QqoQ1jVtr
Meanwhile, as many as 60 people are feared to have been killed in the Russian bombing of a village school in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the regional governor says.
Governor Serhiy Gaidai on Sunday said Russian forces dropped a bomb on Saturday afternoon on the school in Bilohorivka where about 90 people were sheltering, causing a fire that engulfed the building.
"Thirty people were evacuated from the rubble, seven of whom were injured. Sixty people were likely to have died under the rubble of buildings," Gaidai wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
5. NAPLAN testing takes final step to online.
More than one million students will take part in the latest round of annual NAPLAN testing this week and for the first time, all the assessments will be conducted online.
Students in years 3, 5, 7, and 9 will sit the national literacy and numeracy test across 9500 schools and campuses across Australia, and the move to online testing will benefit pupils, according to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.
"NAPLAN online is a better, more precise assessment that is more engaging for students," authority CEO David de Carvalho said.
Every student will sit NAPLAN tests online for the first time from tomorrow, with digital security beefed up to combat cheating @theheraldsun https://t.co/8ob6mEpNJ7
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) May 8, 2022
It will move from May to March in 2023, giving education authorities access to results earlier in the year.
"These changes mean the valuable NAPLAN data will be more useful to teachers, schools and education authorities," de Carvalho said.
"This year's test is particularly important so that we can add to a national data set and continue getting insight into the impact the (COVID-19) has had after two years of disruptions to schooling."
You're all up to speed. We'll be back to bring you more of the biggest news stories throughout the day.
- With AAP.
Female umpires fight back against toxic culture.
Imagine if, every day, you go to work and not only are you confronted by a crowd of people telling you how terrible you are at your job, but that the reason you're terrible at your job is because you're a woman.
That's what female umpires face when they step out to referee sports across the country, with a damning report into the culture of AFL umpiring revealing the abuse is not just coming from the crowd.
The Quicky team speaks to a former umpire and author of that report to find out what's turning women away from doing a job they love.
Feature Image: Channel Nine/Channel Seven/AAP.