Australia news live: Victoria fights bushfires; Albanese to spruik childcare savings

Two major bushfires in Victoria overnight have left residents in the Grampians and Victoria Valley being told to leave their homes. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government will attempt to shift the political debate to childcare today, trumpeting its record in cutting fees for families and shoring up the educator workforce as it spruiks its long-term vision for a universal system.As workers return to the office after the Australia Day long weekend, Labor will release new figures showing families on an income of $120,000 per year have saved about $2,770 in childcare fees since new subsidies were introduced in July 2023.This shows our 15 per cent pay rise for early educators is working. Applications are up and job vacancies are down.Building Australia’s future is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about investing in people, especially our children and their future opportunities.We want to make sure we are putting in place the building blocks for a universal childcare system, while providing immediate cost of living relief for families and educators now.We do have that risk of pretty high rainfall totals, the possibility of flash flooding about the northeast tropical coast, just as moisture is directed against the coast and just really ramps up any showers and storms that develop.We’ve only seen two cyclones in the Australian region so far, or that have originated in the Australian region so far this season, and they’ve both been in Western Australia.Sydney Min 24 Max 40Perth Min 19 Max 37Canberra Min 19 Max 37Darwin Min 25 Max 33Brisbane Min 21 Max 32Adelaide Min 17 Max 27Melbourne Min 17 Max 22Hobart Min 15 Max 20. Continue reading...

Australia news live: Victoria fights bushfires; Albanese to spruik childcare savings

Two major bushfires in Victoria overnight have left residents in the Grampians and Victoria Valley being told to leave their homes. Follow today’s news live

The Albanese government will attempt to shift the political debate to childcare today, trumpeting its record in cutting fees for families and shoring up the educator workforce as it spruiks its long-term vision for a universal system.

As workers return to the office after the Australia Day long weekend, Labor will release new figures showing families on an income of $120,000 per year have saved about $2,770 in childcare fees since new subsidies were introduced in July 2023.

This shows our 15 per cent pay rise for early educators is working. Applications are up and job vacancies are down.

Building Australia’s future is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about investing in people, especially our children and their future opportunities.

We want to make sure we are putting in place the building blocks for a universal childcare system, while providing immediate cost of living relief for families and educators now.

We do have that risk of pretty high rainfall totals, the possibility of flash flooding about the northeast tropical coast, just as moisture is directed against the coast and just really ramps up any showers and storms that develop.

We’ve only seen two cyclones in the Australian region so far, or that have originated in the Australian region so far this season, and they’ve both been in Western Australia.

Sydney Min 24 Max 40

Perth Min 19 Max 37

Canberra Min 19 Max 37

Darwin Min 25 Max 33

Brisbane Min 21 Max 32

Adelaide Min 17 Max 27

Melbourne Min 17 Max 22

Hobart Min 15 Max 20. Continue reading...