Some Vodafone customers facing network issues this morning
This morning, some Vodafone customers are experiencing “intermittent issues” with their mobile service.
Our technical teams are working to restore services as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this is causing customers.
Vodafone users, if you can read this, we will provide updates as they become available.
Small businesses win additional relief from CGT changes
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has increased the threshold for small businesses to qualify for a capital gains tax (CGT) exemption to $10 million, which is five times the previous level. This adjustment comes as the government responds to criticism of its tax reform proposals.
Ahead of a consultation paper to be released later today, Albanese announced plans to introduce a new innovative business tax concession aimed at start-ups, addressing concerns that entrepreneurs might be disproportionately affected by the proposed shift from a flat 50% CGT discount to an inflation-linked model.
Additionally, “genuine” testamentary discretionary trusts, which are used to manage estates and wills, would be exempt from the proposed 30% minimum tax, Albanese stated.
Jim Chalmers announces ‘generous’ CGT concessions for small businesses
Treasurer Jim Chalmers described the forthcoming tax reforms as including “generous” concessions for the 2.7 million active small businesses in Australia.
Chalmers emphasized that the reforms are focused on facilitating home ownership, while acknowledging that economic reform is often contested and will not receive unanimous support.
It’s unusual for big ambitious tax reform like this to involve a lot of consultation … It’s always contested, it’s always contentious. But it will be worth it.
We are delivering real change here. And it means that the details that we have outlined today will provide a bit more clarity and confidence to investors, more support for small businesses also increase those incentives for innovation.
Prime Minister Albanese and Treasurer Chalmers are currently detailing the carve-outs to the budget changes affecting the capital gains tax discount. Further updates will be provided shortly.
Media union condemns Pauline Hanson attack on journalist Sarah Martin
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has issued a statement supporting Australia journalist Sarah Martin, who was subjected to a personal and unfounded attack by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson yesterday.
MEAA condemns the continuing treatment of journalist Sarah Martin by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Journalists must be able to do their job without fear of intimidation, exclusion, or personal attack. The public’s right to know depends on it. This is a moment for us to stand together and hold the line on press freedom.
Martin’s reporting has revealed, among other issues, Hanson’s repeated failure to declare gifts and the unraveling of One Nation’s network of local branches.
In response at the National Press Club, Hanson said:
I’ve never seen a person that’s such a trashy journalist, and what you put out all the time, you’ve got this obsession with constantly trying to pull down myself, my party, or Mrs [Gina] Rinehart.
Lang Park set for upgrade, but no major capacity increase or roof before Olympics
Brisbane’s Lang Park will receive new LED video screens but will not see a significant increase in seating capacity or the addition of a roof before the 2032 Olympics.
In a statement released just before last night’s Origin game, the Queensland government announced what it described as the stadium’s largest upgrade since its 2003 redevelopment.
We’re adding new video screens, more capacity, new bars and entertainment zones, so whether you’re here for Origin, the Rugby World Cup, major concerts, you’ll have an unforgettable experience for years to come,said Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
The state government has faced pressure to substantially increase the stadium’s capacity from its current 52,500 seats.
Crisafulli mentioned last year that he was aligned with Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, who called for an upgrade after winning the 2025 NRL premiership. The club has 60,000 members, the largest in the NRL.
NRL commissioner and former premier Peter Beattie proposed an upgrade to a 65,000-seat, roofed venue last year.
Instead, the planned upgrade will involve removing two screens at either end of the ground to create space for approximately 1,000 additional patrons, including some safe standing areas.
Acting Sports Minister Andrew Powell ruled out a larger capacity upgrade on ABC Brisbane on Thursday morning before the Olympics and stated there are no plans for a roof “at this stage.”
The stadium will host the third Origin match on 8 July, which has already sold out, and hosted a sold-out Magic Round in May. It will also serve as a venue for football and rugby sevens during the 2032 Olympics.
NSW to get $126m injection to fight digital organised crime
NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission will receive a $126.2 million funding boost in the upcoming 2026-27 state budget to combat digitally enabled organised crime.
Premier Chris Minns and Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley are scheduled to announce the package today. The funding aims to address the evolving threat environment where syndicates use encrypted devices and the dark web to operate “click to order” criminal networks.
A total of $108.8 million will be allocated to NSW Police for a major technology upgrade, including digital infrastructure, mobile police devices, and forensic analytics. It will also fund the expansion of BluLink, which enables the public to stream live video to responding officers, and Evidence.com, a digital evidence management system for serious crime investigations.
An additional $17.4 million will be provided to the NSW Crime Commission to disrupt organised crime networks and confiscate illegal and unexplained wealth.
Minns emphasized the need for next-generation tools to match the sophisticated technology used by syndicates, citing data that showed a decade ago a seized mobile phone held up to 64 GB of data, compared with today’s devices holding up to 2TB — a 60-fold increase in information police must analyze and store for 99 years.
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson case against Kiis FM in federal court today
The Federal Court has scheduled a case management hearing this morning for both Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson, although Sandilands’ legal claim has been formally discontinued.
Sandilands settled with ARN Media for a $12 million cash payout yesterday.
Justice Angus Stewart will preside over the case management of Henderson’s $82 million claim against ARN Media and the media company’s counterclaim.
Sandilands and Henderson, co-hosts on Kiis FM’s Breakfast Show, took separate legal action against ARN after the company terminated their 10-year contracts after one year. Henderson’s suit remains unresolved.
Virginia Trioli to leave the ABC after 27 years
Virginia Trioli announced this morning that she will depart the ABC after 27 years at the national broadcaster.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, she said it “feels right” to leave now to pursue her own creative projects.
This job is holding a morning audience in your hands, every morning letting them know whether their world is safe or not and keeping that connection going, and it’s gold.
I’m proud of that body of work and I’m really happy to leave now because, after spending the last few years with, you know, distinctive great Australian creatives, I’ve come to realise I’m a bit of a creative type myself. So I’m off to do my own work.
I’ve been working on a number of little projects in my spare time. That’s become a clarion call now, about, well, if you’re not going to do it now, Trioli, when are you going to do it? And so that’s what I’m heading off to do.
She said her future plans include writing and “at least another couple of books.”
Choosing electricity energy plan to be made 'as easy as buying a pint of milk'
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), the energy market rule maker, aims to simplify electricity pricing so that it is as straightforward as buying milk at the supermarket — with one simple shelf price rather than itemized bills for the cow, carton, and transport costs.
In the final recommendations of its two-year review into electricity pricing, the AEMC advocated for straightforward energy plans that are easier for customers to understand and compare.
Electricity pricing has become too complex, too hard to compare, and too often unfair. You shouldn’t need to be an energy expert to get a fair deal, and long-standing customers should not pay more than someone who just walked in the door.
Victorian opposition plans to hit premier with no-confidence motion
Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson will give notice to parliament today of her intention to move a motion of no confidence in Premier Jacinta Allan when parliament resumes after the winter break.
Under the state constitution, the opposition can move a single motion of no confidence in the premier each four-year term. The last such motion was in October 2020 against then-premier Daniel Andrews during the pandemic.
If successful, the motion could lead to the dissolution of parliament. However, given Labor’s commanding majority, this is unlikely. Instead, with only months remaining until the November state election, the motion will provide Wilson and her team with a full sitting day to present their case for change.
Wilson’s statement indicates the likely themes of her speech, expected on 28 July. She said:
Victoria needs a fresh start and that begins with changing the government and changing the premier. It’s time for a new government with the right priorities and a clear plan to deliver for Victorians. My Liberal and Nationals team has a plan to ease cost-of-living pressures, grow our economy, end the crime crisis and restore hope and prosperity to Victoria.
Datacentres in Australia consuming more than four times Melbourne’s drinking water annually
Datacentres in Australia currently consume approximately 5.5 gigalitres of water annually, which is more than four times the volume of Melbourne’s drinking water supply. For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) used 207 million litres in Sydney and 158 million litres in Melbourne last year.
Matt O’Rourke, head of infrastructure and energy at AWS Australia and New Zealand, explained that Melbourne datacentres owned by AWS do not require water for cooling for 96% of the year, relying mainly on outside air to cool servers. However, during hotter summer months, water is used in evaporative cooling systems to dissipate heat from servers.
Cameron Fitzgerald, managing director of Greater Western Water, noted that recycled water is a growing opportunity. “As Melton grows, we have more water available, because we treat more sewage.”
Cameron Steele, spokesperson for the Concerned Waterways Alliance, a network of Victorian community and environment groups, called for greater transparency from the industry, stating, “Datacentres are going into already highly stressed systems.”
Amazon datacentre first in Victoria to use recycled water for cooling
Amazon Web Services announced that one of its datacentres in western Melbourne will be the first in Victoria to use recycled water for cooling.
Treated water from the Melton sewage plant will be supplied directly to the AWS datacentre via a pipeline, with construction set to commence next year.
Matt O’Rourke said this initiative will help preserve millions of litres of drinking water annually for local communities.
Connecting a datacentre to recycled water from day one of operations is a significant first for Victoria, and AWS in Australia.
He added that globally, AWS has 26 datacentres connected to recycled water.
This announcement follows the federal government’s introduction of critical requirements for the industry, mandating that datacentres use non-potable water “where possible” and report transparently on water use and efficiency.
