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23:37
The deserted French submarine program has price $2.5bn, as at finish of January, defence officers have instructed a Senate estimates listening to. That price for the Assault-class submarine program compares with $2.4bn expended by the point Aukus was introduced ($100m extra has been spent between September and January).
These aren’t the ultimate prices as a result of the federal government’s negotiations with France’s Naval Group about ending the contract stay ongoing.
Tony Dalton, a deputy secretary of the Division of Defence, mentioned Naval Group had “reserved their rights” – however the authentic strategic partnering settlement was “silent” on preparations for a break fee at this level within the contract.
Dalton mentioned there have been negotiated factors at which a break fee can be payable – however a kind of was the preliminary design milestone that will have been in 2023.
Labor senator Penny Wong wished to know whether or not Naval Group had expressed to the Australian authorities how a lot they believed Australia ought to pay it.
Dalton:
However Dalton confirmed he was conscious, by discussions, of the determine Naval Group was searching for.
Wong requested him to disclose that determine.
Dalton:
I’d reasonably not say, senator.
Wong requested if there was finances provision for this.
“Sure Senator,” Dalton mentioned.
Tuesday evening’s finances papers confirmed a finances estimate of an additional $494m within the 2022-23 monetary yr.
However Dalton mentioned the figures for the Assault-class program in Tuesday’s finances have been as initially budgeted – previous to the cancellation – as a result of “we haven’t decided what the ultimate price is”.
(It’s primarily TBC.)
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23:30
Queensland extends pandemic powers for six months
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23:16
Australian motorists could have to attend weeks for the Morrison authorities’s halving of the gasoline excise to be handed on, with one motoring group warning that retailers might use falling world oil costs as a canopy to fatten their revenue margins.
From midnight Wednesday, the federal government minimize the gasoline excise by 22.1 cents a litre for six months at a internet price to the finances of $3bn.
Petrol costs have been lowering for the previous fortnight in most state capitals, with falls in latest days largely unrelated to the tax minimize.
Guardian Australia understands that service stations at the moment are promoting gasoline that was provided to them with the 44.2 cent a litre excise, and are solely obliged to chop the bowser value once they clear these shares and tackle new provides. Retailers with slower turnover would work by their dearer gasoline first.
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23:06
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22:44
Employees on the bottom pay would obtain an actual pay minimize below a proposal to freeze the minimal wage pushed by the cafe and restaurant trade.
The Restaurant and Catering Trade Affiliation known as for no improve within the minimal wage in its submission to the annual evaluation, arguing take-home pay is already rising resulting from job shortages, on prime of tremendous will increase and finances giveaways.
Wes Lambert, the affiliation’s chief govt, warned that if the Truthful Work Fee ordered greater pay rises it was “solely a matter of time” earlier than cafes charged $7 for a espresso – costs he mentioned have been widespread in different main world cities.
You possibly can learn the total report beneath:
22:36
