Updated at\u00a020.51 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
![\"Luca](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780795209_10_Luca_Ittimani.png\")
Luca Ittimani<\/p>\n
Australian borrowing personal loans in record amounts<\/p>\n
Australians are borrowing record amounts in personal loans as a long-term buildup in living costs wipes out savings buffers.<\/p>\n
New personal loans issued by banks reached a record $5.1bn in the first three months of 2026, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.<\/p>\n
While personal loans can be used to fund big-ticket items such as weddings, overseas trips or home renovations, they are also used to pay off regular bills or other debts.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Six arrested after alleged affray at Flinders Street Station<\/p>\n Victoria police have arrested six people after an alleged affray at Flinders Street Station on Saturday night.<\/p>\n Witnesses reported to police up to 10 people, some allegedly armed with machetes, were seen fighting in the concourse area at about 10pm on Saturday.<\/p>\n Four people who boarded a train were arrested after they were allegedly found armed with machetes by protected service officers, while another two were arrested in the precinct.<\/p>\n A 17-year-old was injured during the incident and was taken to hospital with a laceration to his arm.<\/p>\n A 22-year-old has been charged with affray, reckless cause injury, assault with a weapon and possessing a prohibited weapon. He has been bailed to appear in the Melbourne magistrates court on 27 November. <\/p>\n The remaining five, aged 13, 14, 15 and two 16-year-olds, have been released pending further inquiries.<\/p>\n The incident remains under investigation, Victoria police said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.52 EDT<\/p>\n Man hospitalised after alleged assault in Bondi<\/p>\n A 33-year-old man was wounded in his torso following reports of an assault in Bondi, NSW this morning, NSW police said.<\/p>\n Police were called out to Bondi Road, Bondi, at 6.45am this morning after the reports of an assault.<\/p>\n The incident occurred at a unit on Imperial Avenue, Bondi.<\/p>\n The man was assisted by members of the public before being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a stable condition.<\/p>\n NSW police said a crime scene has been established and investigations into the incident have commenced. People with information have been urge to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.51 EDT<\/p>\n Myki goes contactless from today<\/p>\n In exciting news for those of us in Victoria, Myki is going contactless from today on rail lines.<\/p>\n As my colleague Benita Kolovos reported yesterday, from today, commuters on the Cranbourne-Pakenham, Frankston and Stony Point, Sandringham, Sunbury, Werribee and Williamstown lines, as well as Bendigo, Gippsland and Geelong V\/line services, will be able to bypass using a physical Myki card in favour of paying via a debit or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch.<\/p>\n The technology only supports full adult fares, so seniors, students and healthcare card holders must stick to their concession Myki cards if they wish to still receive their discounted rates.<\/p>\n The Alamein and Glen Waverley, Belgrave and Lilydale, Mernda and Hurstbridge lines will switch on next Sunday.<\/p>\n Trams and buses are still TBA, so you will need to keep your Myki card for a little while longer on those forms of transport (unless you use the Android version of Myki which has allowed such payments for a while).<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Greens call for longer inquiry into NDIS changes<\/p>\n The Greens senator David Shoebridge says the Greens would like a longer inquiry than the one currently before the parliament into the NDIS cuts in the federal budget.<\/p>\n He told ABC\u2019s Insiders program he had not seen any offer from the government to support a longer inquiry in exchange for passing tax changes the but Greens would like a longer inquiry than the one currently on hand.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markTens of billions [of dollars are] being taken away from families, from people who desperately rely [on it], and we are absolutely committed to getting a longer inquiry.<\/p>\n The Coalition and Labor and One Nation joined together to do this short inquiry.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s June it\u2019s due to report, which is, what, late next week?<\/p>\n That way you can get to the bottom of the impacts of taking tens billions of dollars of support away from people in an inquiry time.<\/p>\n We are committed to doing what we can actually use that time to some of these brutal Labor\u2019s proposing on NDIS.<\/p>\n He said the Greens were pressuring the government to wind back some of the existing tax benefits that have been grandfathered in for those who already benefit from them.<\/p>\n double quotation markEverybody who already owns property, whether they have five, 10, or 100 investment properties, they keep all of their tax benefits and young people, renters, people with nothing, they get absolutely nothing out of this budget.<\/p>\n Greens senator David Shoebridge. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.08 EDT<\/p>\n Australia should have \u2018realistic\u2019 view of China, Shoebridge says<\/p>\n The Greens\u2019 defence spokesperson, senator David Shoebridge, has said Australia should have a realistic view of China, its military force and have a frank and honest relationship about human rights and trade.<\/p>\n He told ABC\u2019s Insiders program Australia should not \u201cgo down a warpath with Washington\u201d against China.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI see a role for us working with our neighbours and working and prevent global conflicts shutting regions.<\/p>\n Shoebridge said Australia does not need nuclear-powered submarines, criticising the Aukus program.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhy are we inviting ourselves to a US war with China by buying platforms and making our defence force an interoperable part of the US?<\/p>\n He said underwater drones and crewed platforms for a defensive purpose could do the job.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.04 EDT<\/p>\n One Nation housing confusion a sign of party \u2018chaos\u2019: Rishworth<\/p>\n The confusion and mixed-messaging from One Nation MPs about their housing policy is a sign of the \u201cchaos\u201d that the party brings, according to the Labor minister Amanda Rishworth.<\/p>\n In an embarrassing 24-hours for the rightwing populist party,<\/a> MPs struggled to explain if it wanted to force permanent residents to sell their homes after Barnaby Joyce initially suggested it did.<\/p>\n After what was described as a \u201ctrain-wreck\u201d radio interview on 2GB, the One Nation senator Sean Bell eventually clarified that permanent residents would not be affected.<\/p>\n Instead, One Nation wants to ban foreigners and temporary visa holders from buying properties and give existing owners two years to sell-up.<\/p>\n Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Rishworth said:<\/p>\n double quotation markLook, it really demonstrated to me just the confusion that One Nation has and the chaos potentially that One Nation will bring. I mean, we didn\u2019t just have Barnaby Joyce, there were other members of One Nation that couldn\u2019t answer the question, couldn\u2019t tell us how much it\u2019s going to cost, excuses about why that couldn\u2019t be costed. So, to be honest, I think if One Nation wants to be taken seriously, they\u2019ve got to do the work and, unfortunately, what we saw here was One Nation being able to identify a problem but be absolutely chaotic in what that solution could look like.<\/p>\n Rishworth also took aim at Pauline Hanson after she claimed \u2013 incorrectly \u2013 that One Nation was unable to use the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to cost its policies before the last election because it didn\u2019t have enough members to be considered a formal party.<\/p>\n double quotation markIf One Nation wants to be taken seriously they need to act like a serious party, just not making things up on the run.<\/p>\n Amanda Rishworth. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.38 EDT<\/p>\n NSW government proposes extending Sydney Opera House outdoor hours<\/p>\n The New South Wales government has said it will increase the maximum capacity for outdoor events from 5,000 to 6,000 people for low and medium-scale events, and from 6,000 to 7,000 for major events as part of changes for the Sydney Opera House.<\/p>\n The late-night sound levels for major events will be increased to be consistent with maximum levels allowed earlier in the day and event hours will be increased across all days of the week.<\/p>\n The NSW government said this will increase community engagement and participation by supporting major events, and improve audience experience, and the commercial viability for concerts.<\/p>\n The proposed changes will be out for public exhibition from today until 7 July.<\/p>\n The minister for the arts and night-time economy, John Graham, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markNo longer will noise levels at the Sydney Opera House forecourt be dictated by the bedtimes of the residents at \u2018the Toaster\u2019.<\/p>\n Over the decades it became a Sydney sport to move in next door to a pub and then campaign to close it down. We are putting an end to that and the same approach should apply to the world\u2019s greatest performance venue.<\/p>\n The Sydney Opera House is everyone\u2019s house and these changes make sure the experience matches the epic setting.<\/p>\n Eden Porter, Danta Whitham, Chantelle Lee Lockhart, Eli Clarke and Kallum Goolagong of Bangarra Dance Theatre outside the Sydney Opera House. Photograph: Don Arnold\/WireImageShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.19 EDT<\/p>\n Liberals appoint new top strategist<\/p>\n The Nationals party director, Lincoln Folo, has been appointed the Liberals\u2019 new top strategist, tasked with helping to rebuild its campaign machine after two thumping federal election defeats.<\/p>\n Folo was late on Friday announced as the replacement for Andrew Hirst, who stepped down after three elections in the role.<\/p>\n In a statement announcing the appointment, the new Liberal party<\/a> president, Tony Abbott, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markLincoln brings extensive experience in political campaigning, organisational leadership and party administration. He has earned a strong reputation as a capable and effective operator, committed to the values and principles that have long underpinned our party.<\/p>\n Abbott thanked Hirst for this \u201csterling service\u201d to the Liberal party, which included masterminding Scott Morrison\u2019s surprise win in 2019.<\/p>\n![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780795210_717_Dan_Jarvis-Bardy.png\")
Dan Jervis-Bardy<\/p>\nDan Jervis-Bardy<\/p>\n