National is calling on the tax to go because the Council can’t spent its revenue.

Rotorua experienced 42.9mm of rainfall in 24 hours.

There were 11,063 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa in the week.

Celebrity chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has died in Melbourne, aged 46.

Police were called to an address on Lygon Street in Carlton for a welfare check and found him dead about 2am today.

His death is not being treated as suspicious. He is survived by his wife Lauren Fried and his four children.

'EXTRAORDINARY MAN': Grief, shock at chef's sudden death

Zonfrillo's family confirmed his sudden death in a statement, saying they are "devastated" and overwhelmed".

"With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday," the statement read.

"So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we're too overwhelmed to put them into words.

"For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.

"We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend."

READ MORE: Boy attacked by shark while snorkelling

MasterChef Australia's latest season was due to start tonight but the show will not air this week, Network 10 has confirmed. 

"Jock was known to Australians as a chef, best-selling author, philanthropist and MasterChef judge but he will be best remembered as a loving father, husband, brother and son," a statement from Network 10 And Endemol Shine Australia said.

"Determined and talented and with plenty of grit, Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant his formative years were heavily influenced by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new pushbike that at just 12 years old fuelled Jock to knock on kitchen doors looking for a job.

"Jock's charisma, wicked sense of humour, generosity, passion and love for food and his family cannot be measured.

"He will be greatly missed."

https://twitter.com/masterchefau/status/1652889590615908353

Zonfrillo became one of the youngest culinary students to do an apprenticeship at Scotland's famed The Turnberry Hotel at just 15, and by 17 he was working alongside Marco Pierre White.

The Scottish presenter joined MasterChef in 2019, hosting alongside chef Melissa Leong and former contestant Andy Allen.

In 2021, he released a memoir titled Last Shot, detailing his years as a heroin addict and his culinary career in London before moving to Australia in 2000.

https://omny.fm/shows/afternoons-with-dee-dee/peter-ford-reacts-to-the-shock-death-of-popular-ma/embed?style=cover

'Rest in peace chef'

Former MasterChef contestants and fellow restaurateurs have expressed their shock at Zonfrillo's sudden death.

Chef Jamie Oliver, who appears in this season of MasterChef Australia, said he is in "total shock" at the news.

"Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit in the show and for that I was really grateful," he posted.

"I can't believe I'm writing this … Sending heartfelt love and condolences to all of his family, friends and his second family the MasterChef team and contestants xxx. Love Jamie."

"Saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo's passing," superstar chef Gordon Ramsay said.

"I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia.

"Sending all my love to Lauren and the family in this difficult time." 

"Such a shock! Love to his family. Sleep well my friend. I'm floored!" chef Colin Fassnidge wrote.

"I'm so shocked… rest in peace chef, my heart and condolences to loved ones," Reynold Poer said.

Minoli De Silva shared: "This is actually devastating and my brain doesn't know how to process this. Such a sad day. Will miss you mate."

Rock legend Jimmy Barnes described Zonfrillo as "like a brother".

https://twitter.com/JimmyBarnes/status/1652899377420312576

TV presenter and cook Jane de Graaf said Zonfrillo was a "champion of beautiful food".

"Such very sad news. Terrible to lose such a champion of beautiful food and a mentor to so many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues," she said.

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A senior police officer has been stabbed while responding to a disturbance in Brisbane's north this morning.

The incident unfolded within a "matter of seconds" after police were called to a Jones Street address in Rothwell about 9.25am.

The male senior constable was allegedly stabbed in the shoulder by a 30-year-old man armed with knife after he attempted to jump into the police vehicle, police say.

READ MORE: Celebrity chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies

Police used a Taser on the offender, before arresting him.

The 30-year-old was taken to hospital under police guard with a wound to his stomach, in a stable condition.

The officer, who has been in the force for 16 years, was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Police officers on scene provided first aid before paramedics arrived.

READ MORE: Nurse among three locals killed in horror Maryborough crash

Detective Inspector Ben Fadian said the alleged attack unfolded immediately after police showed up.

He said a police vehicle was damaged during the attack.

A crime scene has been established at the property and police are continuing to investigate.

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Steven Tougher has been remembered as compassionate, brave, selfless and hardworking by friends, families and dignitaries in a moving funeral intended to celebrate the slain paramedic's life.

Tougher, who was allegedly stabbed to death while on a break at a McDonald's in Campbelltown in mid-April, was farwelled at the University of Wollongong, south of Sydney today.

During the funeral Tougher was awarded a National Medal of Service and a NSW Ambulance Long Service and Good Conduct Medal posthumously.

But Tougher's father revealed his love of helping others started at a very young age – before the paramedic's expecting wife made a vow. 

READ MORE: Celebrity chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies

"[He gave] handmade first aid kits to families in the street Christmas party, no wonder we could never find a bandaid," Jeff Tougher said in a eulogy written with the help of Steven's mother Jill.

"We also discovered that he had put flyers in peoples mailboxes saying 'if you need first aid call Steven' at the age of about eight.

"His compassion was as big as his heart and his bear hugs were something to be experienced, there's nothing like a Steve hug.

"Since you have been gone, the nights have been long and dark. My heart has been smashed and I ache to hear his voice.

"I miss my little boy."

Tougher's pregnant wife Madison, who is weeks away from welcoming their second child, a daughter, made a vow to her "forever love".

READ MORE: Man breaks Melbourne woman's nose in alleged random attack

"Today I vow that our two beautiful children will always know what a selfless, hardworking, kind, compassionate person you were," she said.

"They will forever understand how their dad was a hero who helped people through the most painful and sickest times.

"Through the many and wonderful stories I will share about their dad, I know I will not be alone in loving you forever."

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan revealed more than 200 staff from around the state volunteered to cover shifts so Tougher's friends could attend the funeral.

READ MORE: Local nurse among three dead in horror crash

While NSW Premier Chris Minns said his death leaves a number of questions unanswered. 

"Whether we knew him our not, he represents the best of us; selfless, brave and dedicated," he said.

"What kind of dad and husband would Steve have been? How high would he have risen in the ranks of the NSW ambulance service? How many lives would he have saved.

"We will never know."

As Tougher's coffin made its way to its final resting place family, friends, dignitaries and paramedics formed a guard of honour to escort the hearse as NSW Ambulance and NSW Police helicopters flew over the procession.

READ MORE: Millions of jobs to vanish within years

Tougher was just 29 when he died. 

Jordan Fineanganofo, 21, has been charged with the paramedic's murder and will reappear in court in June.

Tougher's father has previously called for sterner laws to protect emergency workers.

He is pushing for mandatory life sentences for any emergency service worker killed on the job and mandatory prison terms for anyone assaulted.

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The persistently high cost of living will be top of the government's agenda when Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the federal budget next Tuesday.

Faced with local and global factors that have seen grocery, fuel and housing costs soar, the pressure is on the Albanese government to deliver reform that will have a meaningful impact on the wallets of ordinary Australians.

Flush with surging tax revenue from the cost of iron ore, coal and gas, here's what we expect to see in the federal budget on May 9.

READ MORE: 'Why is everything so expensive right now?'

Australia's wealthiest to be taxed more

Wealthy Australians could be forced to pay more tax if the May budget removes a number of tax discounts that traditionally favour those who have a large number of assets or a high superannuation balance.

Mark Molesworth, Tax Partner at BDO in Australia, said he expects the budget to increase the amount of tax those who are well-off will pay.

"The top end of town should be on notice if the recently proposed superannuation changes are anything to go by," Molesworth said.

"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."

Stage three tax cuts could still be tweaked

Currently, the long-heralded stage three tax cuts are due to start in 2025, but Molesworth said tweaks could be made in the budget to target the very highest income earners.

"The government could still move to reduce the generosity of the stage three tax cuts by keeping the existing threshold for the top tax bracket at $180,000," he said.

"Again, it would be framed at targeting high-income earners and would not trouble the vast majority of the population.

"What we probably don't expect to see are system-wide tax reforms that affect a large cohort of taxpayers or consumers.

"On that basis, we don't expect to see any changes to the rate or the base of the GST, however acceptable or desirable those changes might be."

READ MORE: 'Our position hasn't changed': PM on stage-three tax cuts

Superannuation tax loophole to close

Australians who have a superannuation balance above $3 million will have their concessional rate doubled from 2025.

This means – for around 80,000 Australians – when they make contributions to their superannuation they will be taxed at a rate of 30 per cent, up from 15 per cent.

The changes will come into effect after the next election and will not be retrospective but will rather apply to future earnings.

READ MORE: Tax rate increased for Aussies with super balances above $3 million

Family, friends could chip in to help get onto the property ladder

Home ownership will soon be in closer reach for millions more Australians as the federal government expands eligibility for its Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS), in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.

Under one of the changes, friends and family will be allowed to team up to buy a first home as the definition of the word "couple" will be changed from those who are married, or in de facto relationship, to "any two eligible individuals" from July 1.

Under the scheme, the federal government acts as a guarantor, making up the majority of a loan for prospective buyers.

READ MORE: Millions more to become eligible for housing grants as government extends criteria

Welfare payments could increase for disadvantaged

While no concrete plan to increase welfare payments has been publicly announced, it is widely speculated the Labor government will attempt to improve welfare conditions during the current cost of living crisis.

John Hicks, professor of economics at Charles Sturt University, said some measures could be made to improve the cost of housing for Australians on low incomes.

"Closely associated with lower-cost housing and the provision of housing for the homeless are other aspects of welfare – including support for those out of work and unable to work," Hicks said.

"It would be most unlikely that these groups will be ignored in a Labor budget.

"While payments at the level that are being proposed by some groups are unrealistic from a budget perspective, there is no doubt that some attempts will be made to raise payments."

Possible boosts for single parents and the unemployed have been flagged.

READ MORE: Man receives COVID-19 relief money two years later

The budget itself could be in surplus for the first time in 15 years

Inflation, record-low unemployment and tax revenue from the soaring cost of exports such as coal, iron ore and gas could see the government deliver a budget surplus for the first time in 15 years.

The AFR reports the return of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, along with a number of other factors, is narrowly tipping the budget balance towards the black.

While this sounds fantastic, don't mistake it with Australia's government debt, which is currently sitting close to $900 billion.

READ MORE: Pension, welfare payments boosted from today

Potential energy bill relief on the way

Australians struggling with paying their utility bills could be in luck come next Tuesday, with around $3 billion tipped to be set aside for specific energy bill relief.

This money is said to include deals with each of the states and territories to smooth out bill shock for residents despite rapidly rising wholesale costs for suppliers.

Cheaper medicines

Reducing the strain on the nation's general practitioners has been a key policy for the government, which has announced a doubling of the length of some prescriptions to keep patients out of waiting rooms.

From September 1, eligible prescriptions will be extended to 60 days supply.

This is tipped to save the average Australian on these prescriptions around $180 a year.

READ MORE: Hundreds of medicines to be half price for millions of Aussies

Huge overhaul on defence spending

We all know the government is spending big – $368 billion big – on new submarines.

But next Tuesday's budget will likely overhaul exactly where defence money will go following the release of the government's Defensive Strategic Review.

It's expected much of the cash will go towards equipping each branch of the military with better long-range missile capability.

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The artist behind a sculpture of a walrus that was controversially euthanised over public safety concerns says she hopes her creation becomes a "three-dimensional history lesson" after it was unveiled in Norway's capital Oslo.

The life-sized bronze statue shows Freya the walrus curled up on her side close to the water's edge. The artwork was funded by an online campaign, which raised A$37,000.

Freya became a social media sensation last year, with tourists and locals thronging to see her.

READ MORE: Norway puts down Freya the walrus that drew Oslo crowds

The young female had been spending time at the Oslo Fjord, an inlet on the country's southeastern coast, and was seemingly unafraid of humans, unlike most walruses. Videos showed the walrus clambering onto small boats to sunbathe.

She became a danger to visitors who ignored the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries orders to keep a clear distance from her, instead getting up close to take photos of the mammal and even throwing objects at her. This prompted the directorate to make the decision to put her down, leaving many across the country enraged.

READ MORE: Snake season is coming to an end. But where do the reptiles actually go, and do they hibernate?

The statue's artist, Astri Tonoian, told CNN how she was happy to work on the project "almost for free" as it was an issue that was close to her heart. She hopes it will serve as a "three-dimensional history lesson."

"In my head, my goal was to make an immortal symbol of people's ability to mistreat not just wildlife but also humans," she said.

READ MORE: Walrus named Freya wreaks havoc on boats in Norwegian fjords

She believes that Norway's Directorate of Fisheries should have dealt with the situation in a more ethical manner.

"The authorities could have acted more quickly and tried to move her instead of shooting her. They waited too long and it became dangerous for the people. They decided to do the 'quick fix'."

She added that the intention with the statue is not to make people hate the authorities as one entity, but instead "question the system" as a whole.

Previously, the directorate told CNN that it was considering multiple solutions, including relocating Freya out of the fjord.

But "the extensive complexity of such an operation made us conclude that this was not a viable option," Director General Frank Bakke-Jensen said. He added: "We have great regard for animal welfare, but human life and safety must take precedence."

Female walruses typically weigh between 600 and 900 kilograms, or around 1,300 to 2,000 pounds. Usually, the marine mammals are wary of humans and stay on the outer edges of Norway's coast.

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A gold mining company in Western Australia has been fined $41,000 after authorities found a flood left damage "so significant it could be seen in satellite images".

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) said Bellevue Gold Limited drew saline water from disused mines in the northern Goldfields between December 2019 and March 2020, with the intention of "pumping the water into surface pits".

The company was charged with causing material environmental harm and not being licensed for the emission under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, which carry maximum penalties of $250,000 and $100,000 respectively.

READ MORE: Boy attacked by shark while snorkelling

During sentencing, Perth Magistrates Court Magistrate Andrew Matthews imposed a fine of $31,000 for causing material environmental harm and $10,000 for not being licensed for the emission.

The company was also ordered to pay $4663 in costs.

A DWER spokesperson said about 145,000 kilolitres, enough to fill about 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools, was discharged into one surface pit and overflowed into the environment through a vent shaft connected to the pit.

READ MORE: Boy, 13, charged after horror multi-car crash kills three

"The resulting hypersaline spill extended over 46 hectares and affected approximately 16 hectares of native vegetation and associated ecosystems," the spokesperson said.

"Initially the discharge killed all native vegetation in the area and left a visible salt scar on the land.

"While subsequent rainfall dissipated surface salts, the salinity of the soil remained elevated in May 2022.

"Although saline-resistant species such as chenopods had started growing in the area, other coloniser species such as acacias had not recovered, even after approximately two years since the discharge."

Bellevue Gold Limited declined to comment when contacted by 9News.com.au.

However a spokesperson referred to a statement on the company's website which said "there is native vegetation re-growth on the formerly salt-affected areas" and photographic monitoring would be ongoing.

DWER executive director for compliance and enforcement Kelly Faulkner said the environment needed to be protected.

"In this case, the discharge left an impact so significant it could be seen in satellite images," Faulkner said.

"It is the responsibility of mining companies to ensure they have the correct permissions to discharge water or otherwise impact the environment."

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A Sydney woman has detailed her fury at being hit with high eftpos fees over the weekend, declaring she's being "ripped off using my money".

"Over the weekend every debit transaction incurred a transaction. Is this the new norm?" Marrisa, who was identified by just her first name, told 2GB radio.

"I feel like I'm being ripped off using my money. It's not a credit card". 

READ MORE: Boy, 13, charged after horror multi-car crash kills three

https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/it-s-extortion-eftpos-fees-rise-as-banks-collect-6/embed

Host Ben Fordham said he was inundated with messages from other angry Sydneysiders who pointed out paying cash isn't really an option anymore as Australia moves towards a cashless society

Editor-at-large of Canstar, Effie Zahos, explained to Fordham the fees themselves haven't gone up but instead have been influenced by record-high inflation.

"Even though the fees haven't gone up, let's think about it, we are in a cost-of-living crisis," she said.

"We are seeing inflation number still at that 7 per cent, so the value of what we buy has gone up.

"So guess what? The fee we pay on that card goes up as it's calculated as a percentage."

READ MORE: Bad news for homeowners in this city

Mastercard fees sit around $0.47, whereas Amex "is a lot more expensive" with a $1.34 surcharge, Zahos added.

The finance expert went on to explain that small businesses also incur a cost to use eftpos in their stores. 

This was corroborated by a small business owner who told Fordham his merchant fee went up 20 cents per transaction in January.

READ MORE: Boy attacked by shark while snorkelling

"Some of the small businesses can't carry it on and they're forced basically to pass it onto consumers," Zahos said.

"I do feel some pain for them as well.

"Understand (they) may possibly charge you a higher surcharge than big business."

READ MORE: Ref allegedly bashed at soccer match will be back on the field

To avoid being stung by high transaction fees, Zahos advised customers to always swipe over using "tap-and-go".

"Tap-and-go can go through some more expensive networks," she said.

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