Treasurer Jim Chalmers could hand down a shock surplus when he delivers the federal budget next week, but a back-in-black bottom line will do little to ease Australia's total debt.

Soaring tax revenue on high-value exports such as coal, iron ore and gas could help the Albanese government deliver a surplus budget for the first time in 15 years.

A budget surplus simply means the government's income is greater than its expenses.

READ MORE: What we know so far about the May 9 federal budget

The Australian government's gross debt is currently hovering around $900 billion and is tipped to hit the $1 trillion mark by 2025-26.

When asked about a possible surplus this morning the treasurer was measured in forecasting attractive headline figures while so many Australians struggle to cover household bills.

"The fact that people are speculating even about a Budget in balance is because of the responsible approach that we have taken to the first two budgets by making sure when we get these big upward revisions to revenue that we let most of that flow through to the bottom line," Chalmers told reporters.

"And that, more than anything – our responsible approach to the budget – is why people are speculating about a budget in much better nick.

"Our objective all along is to get the budget in much better nick so that we can fund the things that our society values: help for the vulnerable, setting the economy up to grow into the future."

READ MORE: When life will actually get cheaper for Australians

Pay rises, energy bill bonuses and welfare boosts: federal budget to fight cost-of-living

The government has heralded that next week's federal budget will be firmly focused on easing the costs faced by the nation's most vulnerable.

Measures announced already include a pay increase of up to $10,000 for more than 250,000 aged care workers, and a doubling of some prescription measures to save patients up to $180 a year.

The rate of Jobseeker is set to be boosted for recipients over the age of 55, while the government has also signposted that there will a substantial package aimed at tackling rising energy bills.

READ MORE: Gabrielle Carey, author of Puberty Blues, dies aged 64

Well-off Australians could find themselves disappointed by next week's budget, with experts tipping that a number of generous tax discounts that benefit high-income earners will be wound down.

"The top end of town should be on notice if the recently proposed superannuation changes are anything to go by," said Mark Molesworth, Tax Partner at BDO in Australia.

"Tax breaks on superannuation earnings and contributions are not the largest tax expenditure but the government's move could be seen as a harbinger of other measures that similarly target a smaller population or group of entities that are seen to be well off."

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

Multiple states and territories are bracing for icy weather this weekend after some of the biggest ski resorts received decent falls of snow ahead of the season.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a low-pressure system is crossing south-eastern parts of Australia today and will be followed by cold air accompanied by strong winds.

For many south-eastern parts it will feel like winter has arrived early, particularly for Victoria, Tasmania and parts of southern New South Wales and the ACT.

READ MORE: Ed Sheeran didn't steal Gaye's tune, jury decides

But while many people look to rug up, the early wintry blast has given a preview of the forthcoming season for skiers and snowboarders.

Just weeks out before its start, the cold front has brought a burst of snow showers over major ski resorts.

Satellite images released by WeatherZone showed the it was cold enough to produce snow over the Australian Alps.

Perisher resort in NSW reported 15cms of snow yesterday, while Thredbo had 6cms, with more forecast on the weekend. Mount Hotham in Victoria recorded 2cms.

Photographs from Perisher show the resort's runs covered in snow and deep layers on nearby mountain peaks.

READ MORE: Gabrielle Carey, author of Puberty Blues, dies aged 64

Away from the alpine regions, snowfall is predicted to be much lighter. 

But skiers shouldn't read too much into the early snowfalls.

Autumn snow usually melts before the ski season and has no bearing on winter snow.

READ MORE: King Charles III coronation – What can we expect during monarch's reign

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.



A federal jury in New York has concluded that British singer Ed Sheeran didn't steal key components of Marvin Gaye's classic 1970s tune Let's Get It On when he created his hit song Thinking Out Loud.

As the jury answered the single question of whether Sheeran proved he didn't infringe upon the copyright in the affirmative, the crooner briefly put his hands over his face in relief before standing and hugging his lawyer.

As jurors left the courtroom, Sheeran quietly mouthed "thank you" in their direction. He then spoke for about 10 minutes with the plaintiffs, including the daughter of Ed Townsend, who co-created the 1973 soul classic with Gaye.

READ MORE: Gabrielle Carey, author of Puberty Blues, dies aged 64

They hugged and smiled with each other.

Sheeran later addressed reporters outside of the courthouse.

"I am obviously very happy with the outcome of this case, and it looks like I'm not going to have to retire from my day job, after all," the singer read from a prepared statement.

"But at the same time, I am unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court at all."

He also said he missed his grandmother's funeral in Ireland because of the trial, and that he "won't get that time back."

The verdict came after a two-week trial that featured a courtroom performance by Sheeran as the singer insisted, sometimes angrily, that the trial was a threat to all musicians who create their own music.

Sheeran sat with his legal team throughout the trial, defending himself against the lawsuit by Townsend's heirs. They said Thinking Out Loud had so many similarities to Let's Get It On that it violated the song's copyright protection.

READ MORE: First mpox case in six months detected in NSW

At the trial's start, lawyer Ben Crump told jurors on behalf of the Townsend heirs that Sheeran himself sometimes performed the two songs together.

The jury saw video of a concert in Switzerland in which Sheeran can be heard segueing on stage between Let's Get It On and Thinking Out Loud.

Crump said that was "smoking gun" proof he stole from the famous tune.

When Sheeran testified, he repeatedly picked up a guitar resting behind him on the witness stand to demonstrate how he seamlessly creates "mashups" of songs during concerts to "spice it up a bit" for his sizeable crowds.

The English pop star's cheerful attitude on display under questioning from his attorney, Ilene Farkas, all but vanished under cross examination.

"When you write songs, somebody comes after you," Sheeran said during his testimony as he explained that the case was being closely watched by others in the industry.

He insisted that he stole nothing from Let's Get it On when he wrote his tune.

Townsend's heirs said in their lawsuit that Thinking Out Loud had "striking similarities" and "overt common elements" that made it obvious that it had copied Let's Get It On, a song that has been featured in numerous films and commercials and scored hundreds of millions of streams spins and radio plays in the past half century.

READ MORE: US denies 'ludicrous' Russian claim it ordered Kremlin drone attack

Sheeran's song, which came out in 2014, was a hit, winning a Grammy for song of the year. His lawyers argued that the songs shared versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression freely available to all songwriters.

Gaye was killed in 1984 at age 44, shot by his father as he tried to intervene in a fight between his parents.

He had been a Motown superstar since the 1960s, although his songs released in the 1970s made him a generational musical giant.

Townsend, who also wrote the 1958 R&B doo-wop hit For Your Love, was a singer, songwriter and lawyer who died in 2003.

Kathryn Townsend Griffin, his daughter, testified during the trial that she thought Sheeran was "a great artist with a great future."

She said she had hoped the lawsuit would not result in a trial, "but I have to protect my father's legacy."

Gabrielle Carey, the Australian author who co-wrote the iconic coming-of-age novel Puberty Blues, has died. She was 64.

Carey co-wrote the book with fellow Kathy Lette when the two were both teenagers. It was published in 1979, and two years later was turned into a film.

It was then adapted for TV, with two seasons airing between 2012 and 2014.

READ MORE: Axe attack victim thanks good Samaritans who saved her

Lette sent her "heartfelt condolences" to Carey's friends and family in a statement issued overnight.

"I'm deeply saddened by this tragic news," she said.

"I have such happy memories of our teenage years. They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure.

"We made some mischief and broke some barriers by writing Puberty — our raw, earthy take on the brutal treatment of young women in the Australian surfing scene which is sadly, still so relevant."

In addition to Puberty Blues, Carey authored nine other books, ranging from fiction to biographies and essay collections.

Her 2020 title Only Happiness Here: In search of Elizabeth von Arnim was shortlisted for the Nib Literary Award. 

READ MORE: Video shows police officer stopping armed ice user from firing his gun

In addition to her books, Carey also penned articles for newspapers like the Sydney Morning Herald and Australian.

She also taught writing at a number of universities, including the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Canberra.

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

The experienced broadcaster labelled the closure of Today as ‘brutal’.

An 18-year-old man has been charged over a "terrifying" attempted carjacking in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

A woman was stopped in traffic outside Broadmeadows Central on Coleraine Street about 5.30pm yesterday when the man allegedly opened a rear passenger door of the Toyota Kluger and climbed into the car.

The Roxburgh Park woman wrestled with the man while her two children, aged five and seven, were strapped in the backseat.

READ MORE: Truck driver jailed for 'horrific' cyclist hit-and-run in Victoria

The driver jumped out of the car and tried to pull the man out of the backseat, but was pushed to the ground.

He allegedly then climbed over the car's centre console into the driver's seat and tried to lock the car doors.

The woman jumped into the front passenger seat before he began driving down Pascoe Vale Road.

The woman and man allegedly fought to take control of the car, causing it to cross onto the wrong side of the road and crash into a railway fence.

READ MORE: Australian online alcohol retailer Boozebud collapses

Numerous witnesses ran to help the woman and children and held the man until police arrived.

Peter Daher witnessed the distressing incident.

"You know, kidnapping kids to steal a car. I don't know what to say. I'm about to tear (up) because of what's happened," he said.

"It's not right. It's not right."

An 18-year-old man from Broadmeadows has since been charged with carjacking, theft of motor vehicle and other offences.

He was denied bail today, with the magistrate saying the accused was a danger to himself and the public.

The court heard that, half an hour before the alleged carjacking, the accused tried to steal another vehicle with a child inside near the shopping centre but the driver was able to lock the door and speed off.

The 18-year-old will face court again in June.

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

A Melbourne council says it has been forced to call off a drag queen story time event after receiving threats of violence to its staff, councillors and attendees.

Monash City Council was due to hold the event at Oakleigh Library on May 19 to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The council's chief executive Andi Diamond said it had "no choice" but to cancel the event after receiving "repeated threats of violence and intimidation".

READ MORE: Australian online alcohol retailer Boozebud collapses

"This event has attracted significant attention with hateful and threatening commentary and misinformation spread online, via email and directly over the phone," Diamond said in a statement.

"It is incredibly disappointing to have to cancel an event designed to celebrate IDAHOBIT but we were left with no choice after Victoria Police advised Council of the risks associated with holding the event."

It comes only a week after protesters derailed the month's council meeting over the planned event.

Mayor Tina Samardzija was forced to temporarily suspend the meeting for 15 minutes after protesters began hurling abuse at councillors.

They were heard chanting "shame on you" and "save the children" during the meeting.

Extra security staff and police officers were organised to attend the event, but the call was made to cancel it after police engaged in discussions with council over safety.

"The decision to cancel this event was ultimately made by the council after a risk assessment was conducted involving several partners and agencies," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

READ MORE: Millions of Aussies worried about paying off student loan debt after indexation rise

Councillor Josh Fergeus said it was "really shattering".

"Everyone can wander into the library, they know where librarians work and so these sorts of threats and intimidation make it a really unsafe workplace for people," he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was a "disgrace" that the event needed to be cancelled.

"It's shameful. My message to those people is if you wanna behave like the worst elements of the Florida Republican party, well get to Florida. Get over there where your hateful views might be worth something, they're worth nothing here," he told Question Time today.

Diamond said the event would introduce children to "diverse role models and encourages acceptance, love, and respect of people in our LGBTIQA+ community".

"We understood this was not for everyone and scheduled it outside our regular library programs so that parents planning to bring their children were making a deliberate choice to attend," she said.

"Unfortunately, some in the community were not willing to allow that choice.

"In the end we were unable to guarantee that we would be able to hold the event safely.

"I hope they understand we did not make this decision lightly and we share their disappointment; Council remains committed to delivering on the outcomes and goals of our recently endorsed LGBTIQA+ Action Plan."

Boroondara City Council cancelled a similar event over threats.

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

If the royals aren’t your cup of tea, Pīkari Mai might be for you.

Students, staff told to ‘stay away’ after a student with measles went to class last month.

A complaint about a barking dog was the "minor disturbance" that led two South Australian police officers to the home of a man who stabbed them in a 'horrific" attack and was shot dead.

Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, and Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, 32, were seriously injured after visiting the home of Sean Ferris on Symons Street in Crystal Brook, about 200km north of Adelaide, yesterday morning.

Todd was stabbed in the neck, arm and hand and Allely suffered stab wounds to his right leg and arm.

READ MORE: Thousands of workers to get $10,000 pay rise

One of them managed to open fire and shoot Ferris who died at the scene.

It is now clear multiple complaints about Ferris' barking dog were the catalyst for the incident.

Police were visiting Ferris' home after a confrontation with Pauline Flavel who knew Ferris through previously keeping his dog calm outside shops.

Flavel told 9News Ferris' dog was tied up outside Foodland and thought his owner would be a while doing his shopping so she untied the dog and moved him up the bench so she could sit with him to stop him barking.

READ MORE: Global weight loss company Jenny Craig 'on brink of closure' in US

"I'd hardly tied him up and stopped him yapping and carrying on and Sean came out," Flavel said.

Flavel said Ferris seemed to snap when he walked out and couldn't see his dog.

"He went off his tree at me," she said.

"It gave me such a shock for him to go off at me like he did."

She said Ferris had never spoken to her like that before.

READ MORE: Millions of Aussies worried about paying off student loan debt

Flavel didn't report the incident to police, but someone else did and the following day the two officers went to Ferris' home.

Neighbours told 9News Ferris was heard yelling at officers to stop harassing him about his dog before he attacked the pair.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Allely has been discharged from Royal Adelaide Hospital and is now recovering with family.

Todd remains at the hospital after undergoing surgery overnight for his life-threatening injuries.

"He was in surgery for several hours last night, and the outcome of that surgery was very positive and is showing signs of progress throughout the day," Stevens said.

The police commissioner thanked those who saved Todd's life – a neighbour who ran to his aid and the medical staff involved in his treatment.

He also thanked the community for their well wishes.

"From my point of view, it's important that both of these officers understand the whole organisation is thinking about them," he said.

Crystal Brook residents have told of Ferris' increasingly menacing behaviour, including Flavel who had never seen him react like he did outside Foodland.

Ferris' friend David said he had begun collecting weapons.

"He had a lot of homemade weaponry he'd done over the internet, ordered parts and pieces and bows and arrows," he said.

David also said Ferris has a strong disliking for police.

"That's because he was getting visits from them over petty little things like his dog barking outside Foodland," he said.

READ MORE: Pacific travel hotspot bans swimming at beaches for a year

Multiple inquiries are underway as to how the incident occurred.

"This is the most traumatic incident that I can remember in a very long time that has happened to a police officer in our state," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said the attack sent reverberations through the police force and South Australian community.

"Yesterday's incident involving the horrific violence perpetrated towards Ian and Jordan reminds us all of the extraordinary dangers police put themselves in every day," he said.

"It is shocking for the whole state."

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.