Economic growth slows in Australia | Evening News Bulletin 4 June 2025
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TRANSCRIPT
- Australia’s economic growth slows down in the first quarter of this year
- Gaza’s aid centres temporarily close after a third deadly incident in as many days
- Excitement ahead of the Socceroos game against Japan
Australia’s economic growth slowed to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year, as the nation’s post-COVID recovery stalls.
After gross domestic product expanded 0.6 per cent in the December quarter, weaker-than-expected household consumption, business investment and public spending curtailed the economy’s progress.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says annual economic growth held steady at 1.3 per cent.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says even modest economic growth is an encouraging outcome.
“Our economy continues to grow despite very substantial global headwinds. We saw those set out by the OECD overnight and also in the commentary in the Reserve Bank minutes that were released yesterday. There wasn’t a lot of growth in March but what growth,there was, was private sector led, and that’s an encouraging sign.”
The economy would need to grow by 0.7 per cent in the June quarter to meet the Reserve Bank’s forecast of 1.8 per cent annual growth by the middle of this year – an outcome below that would increase the chance of further interest rate cuts.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has defended his reputation, as a no-confidence motion is debated in the state’s parliament.
Labor leader Dean Winter has secured the support of three independents to bring the motion against Mr Rockliff over the Premier’s financial management and recent cost blowouts for a new AFL stadium in Hobart.
Mr Rockliff has vowed that once the motion is passed, he will seek a fresh election, less than 15 months after the last vote.
“It has been a challenge governing: the pandemic, the challenge of losing six beautiful children, the commission of inquiry. All those areas where leaders have had to step up. And I remember all those things well. Difficult decisions had to be made. We had to open up the heart and the cheque book.”
Losing a no-confidence motion normally requires the government to resign in favour of an alternative government or to advise a dissolution of the lower house.
The US-backed organisation in charge of Israel’s new aid distribution system in Gaza says it has suspended aid distribution for the day.
It comes after dozens of Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in the third deadly incident in as many days.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it will not distribute any more food; and is urging the Israeli military to improve civilian safety around distribution sites.
There are now only four aid sites in Gaza, after Israel implemented a new aid model, displacing the UN system that involved 400 sites.
U-N spokesman Stephane Dujarric says the system is a recipe for disaster.
“The system, as (UN official) Philipe Lazzarini called it, is a death trap, right? This system of funneling people between barbed wires, forcing them to walk to get the food, with armed contractors who come from who knows where, with what kind of accountability, right? They’re not even, they’re not, they’re not accountable to national authorities.”
Israel says its forces did fire what it calls warning shots at people it views as a threat.
In football, Perth-raised Serie A centre-back Alessandro Circati says he is excited to play for the Socceroos when the team goes up against Japan in the World Cup qualifier.
More than 50,000 spectators are expected to watch the game tomorrow in Perth.
A win would put the team on the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Circati tore his ACL in September last year, but has made a successful return to club football, playing full games in Parma’s final two matches of the Italian Serie A season.
The 21-year-old says he is feeling good about returning to the Socceroos squad.
“Obviously for confidence it is great and then for yourself because after an injury like this, you never know how you return. It is a bit of an unknown. I think I returned really well. Stronger than I was before. I think over that time, I really worked on myself as a person and as an athlete. I worked on areas where maybe I was weaker – or areas that I had to improve. And so I feel like I have returned back as a better athlete.”
And that’s the latest from the SBS newsroom.
