Sunrise

The International Monetary Fund has warned Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers against providing cost of living relief in the May budget without corresponding spending cuts, citing concerns about rising inflation. The IMF has expressed worry about a potential global recession if the Iran war continues, while Australia faces challenges including a trillion dollar debt, inflation at 3.9%, and declinin...

More than 77,000 people are currently living in Australia illegally as non-citizens, with many having overstayed their temporary visas. The issue has remained consistent across recent governments, with approximately 73,000-75,000 illegal visa overstayers recorded in 2022 and 2024. Political debate centres on whether sufficient resources are being allocated to law enforcement agencies to identify a...

Consumer confidence in Australia dropped 12.5% in April 2025, marking the sharpest monthly decline since COVID-19 and reaching its lowest level in two years. The decline is attributed to the US-Iran conflict driving up petrol prices and inflation concerns, compounded by the Reserve Bank of Australia's March interest rate hike. Approximately 80% of Australians expect mortgage rates to rise within t...

Donald Trump has indicated potential resumption of peace talks between the US and Iran this week, with officials racing to arrange a meeting before the two-week ceasefire ends. A major sticking point involves the duration of a ban on Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities, with the US proposing 20 years versus Iran's five-year counter-offer. The highest priority issue centres on removing approxima...

Melbourne Museum's Wondrous Planet exhibition features seven galleries in one expansive space, offering interactive experiences including encounters with polar bears and snow leopards, coral reef spawning simulations, and rainforest explorations. The exhibition includes a unique underground soil section where visitors can place their hands on interactive displays to see their energy flowing into m...

Prince Harry and Meghan have arrived in Melbourne for a four-day tour focused on mental health, community support and veterans' welfare. While the visit is described as privately funded with no official royal duties or public walkabouts planned, Australian taxpayers will bear the costs of police and public safety operations. Security experts estimate the policing costs for route corridors, venue p...

Australia's flu season has started early with over 25,000 cases recorded since January and more than 100 flu-associated deaths reported in January alone. The emergence of sub-clade K influenza in the Northern Hemisphere has prompted health experts to emphasise the importance of vaccination timing, with updated vaccines now available. Medical professionals recommend getting vaccinated now to ensure...

The United States has implemented a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US Navy under orders to block ships travelling to or from Iran effective midnight. Iran has condemned the action as piracy and threatened to deploy new asymmetric warfare methods, including mines, small gunboat strikes, and aerial and maritime drones. The blockade aims to force Iran to abandon nuc...

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during a war in Iran threatens to push Australia into recession as fuel supplies dwindle. AMP economist Shane Oliver warns that while price increases are immediate, the real economic impact will occur if fuel shortages force usage restrictions in the second half of the year. With Asia receiving 80% of its crude oil through the strait and Australian refineries de...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are undertaking a four-day tour of Australia with stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. The Victorian opposition leader has criticised the use of taxpayer-funded police officers for the couple's security, particularly as they are charging for some events while promoting charitable causes including mental illness, homelessness, veterans' welfare and children's hosp...

The Coalition is preparing to announce a new migration policy that includes plans to deport 65,000 people who have overstayed temporary visas, with 26,000 having remained in Australia for more than a decade. The policy also proposes social media screening for visa applicants and enforcing an Australian values statement in the Migration Act. The announcement has sparked debate about whether this fo...

Donald Trump has implemented a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, preventing all maritime traffic from entering or exiting Iranian ports. The closure is expected to cause petrol and grocery price increases in Australia, potential food shortages globally, and Westpac forecasts three additional interest rate hikes if the blockade continues. Australian commentators discuss the economic impacts and unc...

Australian households are increasingly choosing cheaper ad-supported streaming subscription plans over ad-free options as cost of living pressures mount. ING research reveals nearly 40% of Australians are actively cutting subscription costs, with a PwC report showing 6 in 10 people now prefer ad-supported streaming for better value. Major platforms including Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime and...

The United States has implemented a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian shores except those carrying humanitarian aid that have been searched. Iran possesses between 3,000 and 5,000 fast attack craft, underwater drones, mines, and coastal cruise missiles, which pose significant challenges to US naval control of the narrow waterway. The strait c...

Great Beginnings Early Learning Centre in Australia celebrates World Creativity and Innovation Week with 160 children aged six weeks to five years. The centre features a RAMSA (rhythm and movement) program designed to help children manage emotions through music and movement activities. Current student interests include space exploration, rockets, the moon and stars, which educators incorporate int...

Australian teenage sprinter Gout Gout has run 19.67 seconds in the 200 metres at the Australian Athletics Championships, breaking the 20-second barrier and recording the second-fastest time ever for an under-20 athlete. The 18-year-old's performance is faster than Usain Bolt's time at the same age and would have earned medals at multiple recent Olympic Games. His run also saw fellow competitor Aid...

Eight people will receive special bravery awards in Canberra two years after the Bondi Junction stabbing massacre at Westfield Shopping Centre. Governor General Sam Mostyn says the awards recognise their courageous and determined response during Joel Cauchi's stabbing rampage. Six people lost their lives and twelve were injured in the attack. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cody Simpson, one of Australia's biggest music stars, made headlines when he left his music career to pursue competitive swimming, earning a spot on the national team and winning two Commonwealth Games medals. After achieving his athletic dreams, he has now returned to music with a new album and renewed creative energy. Simpson discusses the parallels between performing on stage and competing in t...

Rising oil prices from the US-Iran conflict are driving up Australian housing construction costs, with building materials like PVC increasing by 30 per cent and paint prices set to rise by 10 per cent. Diesel-dependent construction companies on fixed-price contracts face particular pressure, while the overall increase in building costs threatens to slow new home construction at a time when housing...

Cate Blanchett attended the Olivier Awards at Royal Albert Hall in London, where she was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in The Seagull. She was defeated by fellow Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike, who won for her role in Inter Alia. Paddington the musical dominated the evening, winning seven awards from 11 nominations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qantas has unveiled its custom-built Airbus A350 aircraft designed for Project Sunrise, featuring approximately 230 seats with increased legroom and 20,000 additional litres of fuel capacity. The aircraft will operate non-stop 22-hour flights between Sydney and London, and Sydney and New York. Testing is currently underway in southern France, with commercial flights scheduled to begin in early 202...

Victoria's free public transport initiative is scheduled to end at the end of April, with the Allan government unlikely to extend the programme unless fuel stocks drastically decrease. The scheme has saved daily commuters approximately $200 each but has cost the state $71 million in lost revenue. Meanwhile, a fuel saver app is now identifying petrol stations with the highest prices, showing variat...

A fatal crash on the Mount Lindsay Highway in Queensland's Scenic Rim region claimed the lives of two people travelling in a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo. The 45-year-old woman and 44-year-old man died after the vehicle lost control, with witnesses reporting the car was speeding prior to the crash. Another serious crash occurred the same weekend at Mount Tambourine, resulting in five people being h...

Donald Trump has announced a complete US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan. The talks, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, collapsed over Iran's nuclear ambitions and demands for complete control of the strategic shipping corridor. Trump has threatened to destroy Iranian mines in the strait and strike the country's infrastructure...

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission have just spoken in Houston after the successful end to their historic 10-day mission around the moon and back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.