The latest national news update from the National Indigenous Radio Service.
‘Long way to go’ to pay equality: minister
On Equal Pay Day federal minister for women and employment Michaelia Cash admits there’s a long way to go to close the gender pay gap, despite the fact it’s come in from 18.5 per cent in 2014 to 16.2 per cent today.
Senator Cash says the Coalition is equally focused on getting women into high-paid jobs, leadership positions and non-traditional roles.
But the Australian Council of Trade Unions says it wants a government-funded parental leave scheme of 26 weeks, 15 hours free early education and care for every child per week, and an enforcea
Turnbull heading to Micronesia
The Pacific Islands Forum has begun in Micronesia overnight, with climate change top of the agenda.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is due to touch down in Micronesia later this week for the leaders retreat.
The smaller island states like the Cook Islands, Kiribati (KIRRA-BUS) and Marshall Islands have met separately before the main forum to discuss how they can tap into climate change mitigation funding.
Aussie economy growing faster than G7 mates
New national accounts figures released late yesterday show that Australia’s economy is growing faster than every G7 economy and well over twice as fast as the United States and Canada.
The economy grew at an annual pace of 3.3 per cent in 2015-16, the fastest in four years.
Dastyari has more to offer: Shorten
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten insists embattled senator Sam Dastyari has “a lot more to offer” after stepping down over a Chinese donor saga.
Senator Dastyari quit the front bench on Wednesday after days of mounting pressure over a Chinese donor wiping his personal travel debt.
Melbourne teen crashes ute into train
Two Melbourne teenagers have had a lucky escape overnight after their car hit the side of a moving train.
A male driver and his passenger escaped with only minor injuries after their ute flipped onto railway tracks near a level crossing on the Hurstbridge Line at Ivanhoe in the city’s east.
The 18-year-old driver has been arrested by police and is expected to be charged with conduct endangering life.
Lindt inquest findings expected in 2017
The findings of the long-running inquest into the fatal Sydney Lindt Cafe siege are expected to be handed down next year.
While wrapping up the inquest’s last public hearing on Wednesday, Coroner Michael Barnes declared it was not his role to lay blame over the tragedy.
The question of whether Australia’s intelligence agency ASIO could have done more to stop the gunman before the fatal siege in December 2014 will likely go unanswered.
Boy dies after fall at Victorian school
A five-year-old boy has died after falling on stairs at a Victorian primary school.
The boy was critically injured in the fall at Wodonga South Primary about 4.30pm yesterday and was taken to Albury Base Hospital, in NSW, but died shortly afterwards.
