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Mar 9, 2026 - World

Australian Services Union, which represents more than 135,000 workers, also calls for ‘roster justice’ rulesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor is facing growing calls to legislate a four-day work week and for workers’ annual leave entitlements to be expanded, as part of a review of Australia’s national employment standards.The Australian Services Union has told the Albanese government that five weeks annual leave is necessary to help employees inundated with instant communication and information updates from the workplace, and to allow workers to take proper breaks to boost their productivity. Continue reading...

Mar 9, 2026 - World

Exclusive: Spokesperson for One Nation leader says it supports roof-top solar, as Matt Canavan also defends using schemeGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson accessed a taxpayer-funded rebate scheme to install solar power on her Queensland home, despite calling for an end to public subsidies for renewable energy projects.Information from the Clean Energy Regulator, released under freedom of information laws, shows the One Nation leader among three conservative federal MPs to access the small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES), despite being a strident critic of government subsidies for net zero policies. Continue reading...

Mar 9, 2026 - World

Greens say support for superannuation tax changes is a ‘down payment’ on Labor pursuing genuine reform in 12 May federal budgetFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor’s plan to raise the tax rate on the largest super balances will become law after the Greens agreed to wave it through the Senate, ending a three-year political fight over concessions for wealthier retirees.The Greens treasury spokesperson, Nick McKim, said the decision to support the watered-down package was a green light for Labor to pursue “bold reform” in the upcoming federal budget, including scaling back the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing. Continue reading...

Mar 9, 2026 - World

Cem Özdemir gains 30.2% of vote in Baden-Württemberg, ahead of CDU, with far-right AfD in thirdFriedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) have stumbled into a busy election year with a defeat to the Greens in a key state poll, as his embattled party struggles to fend off a challenge in other pivotal races from the far right.The German chancellor’s conservative CDU had enjoyed a double-digit lead in the south-western car production region of Baden-Württemberg just weeks ago but the Greens and their charismatic candidate Cem Özdemir eked out a half-point-margin win in Sunday’s poll with 30.2%. Continue reading...

Mar 9, 2026 - World

Ministers understood to be considering ways to mitigate rising energy bills as oil prices surpass $100 a barrelMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has said that a long-term US-Iran war would affect the “lives and households of everybody”, as the head of the AA advised motorists against making “non-essential” journeys.On Monday, oil prices surged past $100 (£75) a barrel for the first time since 2022, which will feed through to higher costs at petrol stations, and consumers will also be hit if energy costs push up inflation. Continue reading...