Australia news live: Magda Szubanski reveals ‘serious’ cancer diagnosis; margin narrows in Bradfield recount | Australia news

Australia’s consumer watchdog says it is “concerned” about ensuring strong competition in the real estate sector after confirming it is in the early stages of investigating REA Group.

REA Group, the News Corp-controlled real estate listing giant that runs realestate.com.au, confirmed to the ASX this week that it is being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

That follows a Guardian Australia investigation last year that revealed a series of complaints about the way REA Group is using its market dominance, including to drive up real estate listing fees.

The ACCC usually conducts its investigations on a confidential basis. But, following REA Group’s statement to the ASX, it said:

Naturally, the ACCC is concerned to ensure there is strong competition in the important real estate sector. As the investigation is ongoing, the ACCC won’t comment further at this time. The investigation is at an early stage, and we’re yet to form a view.

Magda Szubanski has been diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer and says she will be “lying very low” while she undertakes treatment.

The Australian comedian and actor posted the health update to her Instagram, saying “it’s rough”:

Lovelies. Well. Some not great news. I’ve been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma – a rare and fast-moving blood cancer. It’s serious, but I’ve started one of the best treatments available (the Nordic protocol), and I’m lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne.

I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I’ve never felt more held by the people around me.

I’ll be lying very low while my immune system takes a hammering, so if you see me out and about – don’t hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.

Szubanski says the cancer is obscure and was only discovered incidentally by a breast screen, where they found her lymph nodes were up. Her caption continues:

TBH, I’ve been feeling pretty ratshit for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and – voila! So the take away is – get tested and listen to your body!

Pace of productivity could lead to adjustment in RBA rates forecast

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says Australia is no longer walking the “narrow path” to getting price growth under control, but a surprise rise in underlying inflation could be an indication of more obstacles along the road.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported trimmed mean inflation – which provides a less volatile read of prices than the headline figure – ticked up from 2.7% to 2.8% in the 12 months to April.

While monthly figures tend to bounce around and the RBA places greater emphasis on quarterly data, a spike in dwelling costs could concern the central bank if replicated over the coming months.

The rates market continued to price in a two-thirds chance the RBA would cut rates at its next meeting after the ABS release.

The Reserve Bank forecasts the trimmed mean to fall to 2.6% by the middle of the year and stay there for the foreseeable future.

That’s partly predicated on the RBA’s belief declining labour productivity will rebound into growth by the end of 2025, which would defy the experience of the past decade and more.

Speaking to media following the bank’s board meeting last week, Bullock said the RBA would have to adjust its forecasts if the ambitious productivity prediction did not come to fruition.

“There’s a great deal of uncertainty about productivity,” she said. “I can’t tell you what’s going to turn it around.”

– Australian Associated Press

Slate of Senate ‘button presses’ in WA, QLD and NSW coming soon

Election-watcher Kevin Bonham reports we should have the results of several so-called “button presses” today and tomorrow, which will divvy out election preferences for the Senate. The button in question is actually a computer routine that will determine the Senate results.

• In WA, the button press is set for 3.00pm eastern (1.00pm local time)

• In QLD, the button press is set for 3.30pm today.

• In NSW, the button press is set for 9.30am tomorrow, 30 May.

The buttons have already been pressed in the NT, ACT, TAS, SA and VIC. You can read about some of those results here:

Andrew Messenger

Court rejects application for cycling group protest on Brisbane’s Story Bridge

An application by a cyclist advocacy group to hold a protest on Brisbane’s Story Bridge has been shot down in court this morning.

Magistrate Ross Mack ruled for the Queensland Police that the demonstration would risk community safety by blocking emergency vehicles. The Story Bridge has been closed to pedestrians and cyclists for months. The route is one of the few safe cycling routes in Brisbane.

Protest organiser Kathryn Good said they wanted the Brisbane City council to designate one of the bridge’s six lanes of car traffic as a protected walking and cycling route until the bridge can be repaired. They had planned to hold an 8am protest on the bridge on Friday, but Magistrate Mack approved an application by the police blocking the plan. Good said:

I think they’ve put the rights of motorists not to be inconvenienced for a single hour – what we were proposing – over the rights of people not to be inconvenienced for months on end.

Brisbane City council designated a lane of Coronation Drive for active transport when its neighbouring cycleway was rendered unsafe by the 2022 floods. But Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said designating part of the Story Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians would inconvenience more motorists because the bridge is busier. Schrinner said:

The Story Bridge has city-wide implications. So there’s much wider implications in the traffic network. And certainly we did the modelling for Coronation Drive, we believed that that was OK to do then, in terms of the implications. The same modelling has been done for the Story Bridge, and the impacts are major. In all parts of the city there’s a flow-on effect.

He said the bridge ordinarily accommodates about 100,000 people a day by car and bus and 4,000 by foot and bike.

So we’re talking about 4% of people using those (transport modes) basically not being concerned about the 96% of people either using car or bus. And we are concerned about everyone who uses the bridge. But in the end, we need to support the movement system of the city.

Brisbane City council plans to conduct footpath strengthening, likely to involve putting a second deck on the bridge. There is no estimate for the length of time the project will take.

Ironically the bridge will be closed for several hours on Sunday for the Brisbane marathon.

One-off payments available from tomorrow for those hit by floods

People affected by the severe flooding on NSW’s mid-north coast can apply for financial assistance beginning tomorrow to help cover essential costs related to the declared natural disaster.

Eligible individuals will receive a one-off payment of $180, or up to $900 per household, to help cover costs including food, clothing, medicine and emergency accommodation.

Applications open at 9am on Friday 30 May, and people can apply via the Service NSW website or app, or in-person at recovery centres.

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said:

We know it’s going to take more than hardship grants for these towns to get back on their feet, but we are getting the ball rolling with essential support.

Jonathan Barrett

CBA to reduce fixed mortgage rate as lenders price in more cuts

Australia’s biggest lender, Commonwealth Bank, is cutting its one-year fixed rate home loan by 40 basis points, as banks start pricing in a string of anticipated cash rate cuts.

The Reserve Bank cut the cash rate by a quarter percentage point last week to 3.85%, prompting financial markets to up their bets of further decreases this year that could take the rate towards 3.1%.

Lenders adjust fixed rates according to market pricing and their assessment of future rate changes. All of Australia’s major bank lenders announced a 25 basis point cut for their variable home loans in response to the RBA decision.

Sally Tindall, data insights director at financial comparison site Canstar, said:

Fixed rates have been falling fairly consistently this year and we expect this activity will continue as banks price in the increasing likelihood of further cash rate cuts.

CBA’s fixed rate cuts aren’t groundbreaking, but rather a bid to inch closer to its key competitors.

CBA will be the sixth lender to cut its owner-occupier fixed rates since the RBA decision, according to Canstar.

The margin is down now to just one vote between Liberal Gisele Kapterian and independent Nicolette Boele in the Bradfield recount, with Kapterian in the very slight lead.

Josh Butler

Don Farrell says Labor examining US court’s tariff injunction

The trade minister, Don Farrell, says the Australian government is closely studying the ruling of an American court placing an injunction on some of Donald Trump’s tariffs, and says the trade barriers on Australia remain unjustified.

A federal trade court on Wednesday (US time) blocked Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency powers law. The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based court of international trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump has exceeded his authority, left US trade policy dependent on his whims and unleashed economic chaos.

In a statement, Farrell said the government was considering the issue.

We will study this ruling of the US federal courts on reciprocal tariffs closely and note that they may be subject to further legal processes through the courts.

The Albanese government has been consistent in the view that these tariffs on Australian imports into the US are unjustified.

Farrell said the government would “continue to engage and strongly advocate for the removal of tariffs”.

The Albanese government will always stand up for Australia’s national interests, including Australian jobs and Australian industries.

The Queensland Fire Department rescued three tiny kittens from under a bridge in Gatton – and they have since been named Blaze, Asher and Smokey.

“On Monday, three tiny kittens were found soaking wet and clinging to a concrete pier under Davies Bridge in Gatton,” QFD said in a post to social media.

“After a member of the public called for help, Gatton auxiliaries responded and carefully rescued the scared trio.

“They’ve since been named Blaze, Asher, and Smokey! A reminder that a small act, like making a phone call, can help save a life fluffy or otherwise.”