Coalition earmarks money for minerals miners, even as one loses fast-track bid.

MP Grant McCallum has called for a meeting with the region’s mayors about dog control.

An online retailer has been taken down for trying to take advantage of the Bondi terror attack by claiming its owners were directly impacted by the shooting.

According to NSW Fair Trading, Bondi United claimed several times its founders "have a connection" to the shooting – the worst ever terror attack on Australian soil – and that the store would give proceeds of sales to victims and their families.

The retailer sold clothes and other accessories through two different websites.

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"NSW Fair Trading's investigation has found these assertions to be false," a statement said.

Bondi United's websites and social media pages were shut down, but shoppers are being warned to be on the lookout for new websites created by the founders who have tried to profit from the tragedy.

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"Other traders may take a similar approach", NSW Fair Trading warned.

People who bought items from Bondi United's website are entitled to refunds, and can also lodge a complaint at the official NSW Fair Trading Website.

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Police are telling people to stay on the lookout for fake cash circulating in Queensland's east after three arrests and a surge in reports of counterfeit notes being found at multiple venues.

Police said the counterfeit $50 notes have been found at restaurants, shops, and service stations throughout Mackay.

The dodgy notes are identified with markings such as the word "PROP" on them, missing security features or repeated serial numbers.

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Police have since charged three people in relation to the distribution with multiple incidents this month.

The charges range from possessing counterfeit money, circulating the cash and fraudulent transactions.

Detective Acting Sergeant Adam Hargrave is urging businesses to remain wary and check the quality of the currency before accepting it.

"Check bank notes for security features including the serial number, coat of arms watermark, and a clear plastic window," he said.

"If counterfeit notes are detected, businesses should record the time and date an individual attended the store and provide any relevant CCTV footage to assist police investigations."

The warning from police comes just months after a surge in counterfeit cash in both South Australia and NSW. 

In October last year, NSW police seized $2600 in fake notes that were used at businesses across the state's Hunter Valley region.

That same month, South Australian police said they had received 124 reports of counterfeit cash with $50 and $100 notes being used to make small purchases to gain large amounts of legitimate currency as change. 

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A council in Perth is offering residents a $50 reward for sorting their rubbish correctly in a crackdown that will see bins checked and tagged.

Waste education officers from Victoria Park Council will conduct "quick and non-intrusive bin checks" on collection day to see whether there are any major sorting issues for the next six weeks.

They will then leave a feedback tag – either a happy face indicating a job well done or a sad face with tips on how to improve – on the bin lid. 

READ MORE: The super mistake which could cost young Aussies $128,000

"The tags include positive reinforcement for properly sorted bins, as well as helpful guidance on common errors to reduce recycling and organics contamination," the council said.

"This approach supports residents to sort their waste correctly by clarifying bin use in real time."

Victoria Park, located in the inner city, has a population of about 38,000 residents and covers about 1760 hectares.

Council will only select 10 per cent of household bins for the program.

It will also reward households that sort their waste correctly by placing them in a draw to win a $50 weekly prize and a $200 overall prize.

Residents are assured that the initiative is purely educational and no fines or penalties will be applied.

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Waste education officers will also not record any personal details or dig through bins.

Bin-tagging is part of a state government-funded initiative that sees councils receive up to $10,000 to roll out the measure.

The program has been shown to improve recycling rates by up to 25 per cent and reduce contamination by up to 60 per cent, which helps make the most out of the different bin systems and reduces landfill.

But the news gained mixed feedback from the Victoria Park community.

Some praised the idea, saying "when we know better we can do better", while others claimed it was not worthwhile and a "waste of ratepayers' money".

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A Victorian council will roll out refunds after discovering an administrative error resulted in drivers overpaying on parking fines dating back to 2009.

Mansfield Shire Council, located north-east of Melbourne, has apologised to impacted motorists and said it is exploring a refund scheme for fines issued over a 10-year period between 2009 and 2019.

The council had been issuing parking infringements between 0.2 and 0.5 penalty units, which amounts to $41 and $102.

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The Road Safety Act 1986 requires local government penalties to be set at the default $41 fine.

A formal council resolution is required before officers can issue the higher amount.

Instead, the council had been issuing $102 infringement notices for 11 different types of infringements during this time period without a resolution.

"Unfortunately, the need for a formal resolution was not adequately communicated to councils in Victoria in 2009 or in 2019 when the guidelines were changed," Mansfield Shire Council said in a statement.

An estimated $34,588 in fines had been collected above the default penalty rate, which amounts to around 765 fines dating as far back as 2009.

Another $10,000 may have also been paid in legal costs or late fees.

Mayor Councillor Steve Rabie said the council is committed to rectifying the issue.

READ MORE: The super mistake which could cost young Aussies $128,000

"We are not scared to address errors. We've identified an issue and we will fix it," Rabie said.

"I have every confidence that the current team will work quickly to rectify these legacy issues. We know the community trusts us and we will work to maintain that trust."

"If this has affected anybody – we are sorry."

Rabie said the discrepancy was "disappointing because it's an avoidable situation".

"It's a small amount of money over many years," he added.

"Mansfield Shire Council has not sought to make money on parking fines – we use fines to ensure fair use of parking resources for the community as a whole."

The council said it will continue to investigate the matter and has sought legal advice to confirm the amount that had been overpaid.

Drivers who are eligible for a refund should expect to be contacted.

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The living standards of Australians in 2026 are "as good as it gets" unless the country can improve productivity, the boss of one of the nation's biggest banks has warned.

Speaking to the Australian Financial Review's Chanticleer column, NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine said the Reserve Bank had no choice but to raise interest rates earlier this month, because a lack of productivity growth has put the handbrake on the national economy.

"The fact is, without productivity, Australia simply can't grow any faster than it is today," he told the publication.

EXPLAINED: What is productivity and how does it affect you?

"So how we're living now in 2026 is, frankly, as good as it gets, unless we lift productivity. 

"This is peak Australia."

The nation's lagging productivity growth – an issue faced by most developed economies with the exception of the United States – has been highlighted as a key concern by scores of economists.

Last year, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers held a three-day roundtable to canvas ideas to address the issue, and came out of the summit highlighting eight priority areas, including a widely supported road-user tax, where action would be taken quickly.

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The government also appears to be gearing up to hand down a significant, reform-filled federal budget, which may include changes to the contentious capital gains tax discount for property investors.

Chalmers has said the May 12 budget will include both productivity and savings measures.

Economic thinktank the e61 Institute today added its voice to the chorus calling for reform, releasing a new report which stated the tax system can't support current spending levels, and must be improved.

"There is no imminent debt crisis, but with renewed pressures ahead – like an ageing population and slow productivity growth – Australia's fiscal options are narrowing," chief executive Michael Brennan said.

COST OF LIVING: The super mistake which could cost young Aussies $128,000

"With the tax system as it currently stands, we will be asking workers to pay a larger share of their income to fund a fiscal gap that has been building for two decades – and that's before any new spending commitments are added to the ledger," he added.

"Without tax reform, spending restraint will be needed to avoid burdening future generations with a fragile, inequitable and inefficient Australian economy."

In his comments to the AFR, Irvine said the upcoming budget was crucial, pinpointing housing and construction, energy prices, and private spending as particular areas to focus on.

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"The May budget is key, and the treasurer has indicated that we should have high expectations for that budget from a productivity perspective," he said. 

"We're looking forward to hearing what he has to say."

Irvine's remarks were delivered on the same day NAB posted its first-quarter profit for the 2025-26 financial year.

Net profit was up 30 per cent year-on-year to $2.2 billion, which was welcomed by investors; the bank's share price rose some 4 per cent yesterday following the results announcement to reach a record high just north of $47.

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Young Australians could find themselves around $128,000 worse off in retirement, simply because they showed a lack of interest in their superannuation funds, new research suggests.

The Super Members Council is urging young Australians to check their super more often after new research revealed more than a third either look at their super or only check it once a year.

The survey of more than 1300 Australians by research house Ideally found more than one in four Australians (26 percent) couldn't name their own super fund. The issue is slightly more prevalent for young Aussies, with 28 percent unaware of who is managing their retirement savings.

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The Council modelled the marked financial impact of this lack of engagement and found that paying just 0.1 percent more in fees could make someone $14,000 worse off at retirement. For those paying 1 percent more in fees, the loss balloons to a staggering $128,000.

Super Members Council CEO Misha Schubert said Australia's retirement system was the envy of the world, but more needed to be done to make young Australians aware of how to make the most of it.

"Too many Australians risk sleepwalking into retirement with less money than they should have because they haven't felt confident to engage with their super," Schubert said.

"Small differences in super can add up to life-changing sums over time. That's why staying engaged with your super from when you start working until you retire is so important."

The rising cost of 'setting and forgetting'

The warnings come as Australian superannuation balances hit record highs. According to recent data from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), the average super balance has climbed to $172,834. For those nearing retirement (aged 65-69), the average balance has reached $420,934.

Despite these growing figures, 33 percent of young Australians say super doesn't "feel like their money" because retirement feels so far away.

The Super Members Council said the "best yardstick" for performance was "net benefit" – the total investment returns left over after all fees and insurance costs are deducted. 

Previous research found that young Australians who understand their super are six times more likely to take action to improve their savings.

Simple steps to boost your balance

With the Super Guarantee rising to 12%, balances are set to grow even faster. The Council suggests several immediate steps to ensure young workers aren't leaving money on the table:

• Check you are being paid: Unpaid super affects one in four workers, costing 3.3 million Australians almost $6 billion a year. Use your fund's app to verify employer contributions.

• Consolidate accounts: Use the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) online tools to find lost super and merge accounts to avoid paying multiple sets of fees.

• Compare performance: Use the ATO's MySuper comparison tool to see if your fund is a top performer.

• Small contributions, big impact: Modelling shows an average 30-year-old who salary sacrifices just $20 a week could have $67,000 more at retirement, while also benefiting from tax savings today.

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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The good times for Australians enjoying more affordable travel because of the strong dollar are likely to keep rolling, and there could be some welcome repercussions for those stuck at home, too.

Currently buying a smidge under 71 US cents, the Aussie dollar has been sitting at around three-year highs against the greenback for much of 2026, and is at an even better level against other currencies as a whole.

That's a far cry from just 10 months ago, when it sank to about 60 US cents following US President Donald Trump's tariff announcements last April.

So what's the reason for the turnaround, and how long is it going to last?

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Why is the Australian dollar on the rise?

There are a few reasons at play here.

First up, despite Trump's claim to the contrary, the US dollar has not been doing so great.

"At the current level, the US dollar is around 15 per cent below its mid-2022 peak and circa 1.5 per cent under its 10-year average," Westpac head of international economics Elliot Clarke wrote on Monday. 

Trump himself is a factor here, as investors look to limit their exposure to his unpredictable, volatile presidency.

"Investors are concerned that the US is no longer a safe place to park money," AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said.

"Given the US attack on allies like Europe, reframing of international agreements and norms, the erratic nature of policy making from the Trump administration and US sanctions or freezing of foreign-owned US assets, (it's) leading countries to wonder if they are next."

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At the same time, the US Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates while the RBA pulled the trigger on what may be the first of several hikes.

"Another 1-2 rate cuts from the US Fed is likely this year, so even if the RBA keeps rates unchanged, the gap between Australian and US interest rates is widening," Mousina wrote. 

"Historically, this has led to the Australian dollar appreciating against the US dollar."

But it's not just against the greenback that the Aussie is performing strongly. The trade-weighted index (TWI), which measures our dollar against a suite of other currencies, is at five-year highs of around 65.

That's partly due to interest rates, which have a lower short-term outlook in other Western economies than at home, but also thanks to surging commodity prices, which have historically boosted the Australian dollar.

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Is the higher dollar here to stay?

Without a reliable crystal ball to turn to, it's impossible to say for certain, but the signs are good – certainly a retreat to 60-US-cent lows appears highly unlikely.

Equally, don't bank on a return to the good old days of the early 2010s, when the Aussie was at and even above parity with the greenback.

"The fair value of the Australian dollar is around 0.72 US cents, relatively close to its current value," Mousina said.

"So, on this measure the Australian dollar may not have much more upside. 

"However, (it) has a tendency to overshoot once momentum builds, meaning a short-term move towards 0.75-0.80 US dollars cannot be ruled out. 

"That said, such high levels are unlikely to be sustained. 

"Over the next few months, we expect the Australian dollar to average around $US0.70-0.75 with a trade-weighted index of around 69."

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What does that actually mean for the Australian economy?

Obviously a stronger dollar is fantastic for any Australians heading overseas, who get far better bang for their buck than when the currency is trading lower (although it's bad news for tourists arriving here, who'll have to contend with a more expensive holliday).

The same is true for Australian businesses that import goods, however the opposite applies to exporters, whose wares become more expensive to international buyers.

Overall, higher exchange rates can be a slight handbrake on the overall economic growth.

While that's not great news for an economy that is only growing gradually, there's a silver lining here for businesses and borrowers worried about the potential for more interest rate hikes this year: a stronger currency can take the sting out of inflation – which is, of course, the driving force behind higher rates.

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"The impact on inflation from currency moves is through 'tradable' goods, items whose prices are mostly set on a global basis, because they are significantly influenced by international trade and competition," Mouisna said. 

"Tradables make up 35 per cent of the inflation basket. 

"If the stronger Australian persists, then tradable inflation will most certainly have to slow from its current pace of 2.1 per cent…

"The stronger currency could do some of the work for the RBA in terms of reducing inflation."

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The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

A young nurse has been left with a broken nose after being allegedly assaulted in a racial attack at a gym in Geelong.

Harman Preet Singh, 22, said he was confronted by three men when leaving his gym in Corio last night.

He said the harassment began while he was still training, and that the trio were waiting outside for him when he had finished his workout.

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Video shows one man shouting at Singh, calling him an "Indian dog" and using expletives. Singh was allegedly headbutted by one of the men.

"He got really close to my face and then just got really back and hit his head on my nose. And just started bleeding straight away," Singh said.

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"Nobody wants to hear it.

"Especially when you're just minding your own business.

"Anyone would be hurt. I'm still traumatised."

The alleged offenders left in a grey sedan and Singh spent the night in hospital.

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He said it was not the first time he had been the target of racial abuse, and it has started to have a big impact on him mentally.

"I try to keep myself strong, not care about such things, but it hurts," he said.

"I don't know if I'm going to go back to [the] gym or if I'm going to change my hours … I'm not going to feel safe after this."

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