The prime minister was also probed about whether he edited his photos, after Catherine, the Princess of Wales, apologised for causing “any confusion” after admitting to editing a family photograph.

The photo was withdrawn by picture agencies amid suspicions it was digitally altered.

Anthony Albanese was asked on ABC radio if he had ever experimented with altering a photo.

The first official photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales since her abdominal surgery in January sparked much speculation.

The first official photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales since her abdominal surgery in January sparked much speculation.Credit: Instagram

“No I haven’t … I think I know what you’re referring to there, with the photo of the Princess of Wales.

“I think it’s unfortunate that this has become a public issue. I think the real issue is everyone wishes the princess the best of health for her recovery,” Albanese said.

He said he relied on the press gallery to take his photos, rather than photoshop or editing software.

Anthony Albanese has been asked whether his government has given up on a federal treaty with Indigenous Australians.

He told ABC radio this morning that treaties were being negotiated by states and territories and the government didn’t change their position.

Here’s what the prime minister said:

Those processes underway, there isn’t a single Indigenous community of course in Australia, it’s made up of a range of First Nations.

And those negotiations in places like Victoria is probably more advanced, each state and territory is progressing [and] moves in their own way, whether it be Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, of course, has their Voice on a state level.”

Staying with the prime minister, who also announced a $4 billion remote housing package for the Northern Territory to build thousands of homes in Indigenous communities.

Anthony Albanese says the federal and territory governments would provide $400 million a year to build 2700 homes over ten years.

The governments focusing on housing for Indigenous Australians because it was key to other opportunities in life.

Anthony Albanese announced the federal and Northern Territory governments would spend $4 billion on Indigenous housing.

Anthony Albanese announced the federal and Northern Territory governments would spend $4 billion on Indigenous housing.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“If you have overcrowding, then you will have not just housing problems, you’ll have health problems. You’ll have problems with justice issues inevitably, that come from the tension that comes from overcrowded homes and communities, and you’ll have difficulty getting education,” Albanese said on ABC radio this morning.

He said housing security would enable people to go about the other things that the government needs to close the gap on, and the funding was a “major step forward”.

The prime minister said the nature of the construction was also important because it would be done through Indigenous housing, and it would also create jobs in the community.

Housing in the communities wouldn’t be one size fits all but would be based on three-bedroom homes, Albanese said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government isn’t proposing a new tax or levy to fund aged care.

It comes as a government-appointed taskforce recommended wealthy Australians should draw down their superannuation and pay more for their aged care costs.

“We’re certainly not proposing a new tax or levy to fund aged care,” the prime minister told ABC Radio this morning.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government wasn’t going to impose an aged care levy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government wasn’t going to impose an aged care levy.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“The taskforce hasn’t recommended that, they’ve considered the evidence and met several times.”

He said the government wanted to sit with the opposition and get an agreement going forward because aged care was an issue that couldn’t be solved in a year.

“Or indeed for a term of government. This is a problem that arises from the ageing of the population that’s been identified for a long period of time.”

The prime minister said the proposal doesn’t punish wealthy Australians, but it was about making the system more “sustainable into the future”.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has been asked about a government-appointed taskforce’s recommendation that wealthy Australians should draw down their superannuation and pay more for their aged care costs.

The taskforce rejected arguments for a taxpayer levy to fund the country’s growing aged care bill, saying it would be unfair to future generations when older Australians were retiring with growing levels of wealth.

Speaking on Nine’s Today program Rishworth said the government wanted to develop a sustainable, strong aged-care system that would be fit for purpose.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“What we know is there will be double the number of 65-year-olds and, triple the number of 85-year-old, and so we need to be able to provide an aged care system that is fit for purpose,” she said.

“We’ve already been doing a lot of work when it comes to putting nurses back into nursing homes, for example, and increasing the pay of our aged care workers.”

She said the government would look at the 23 recommendations the taskforce made in the report.

“There is a challenge in front of us, one, that that will happen over the next few decades that we must address if we’re going to have a sustainable health care system.”

The minister said there would need to be a lt of work needed to fund a sustainable system.

“Our aged care system, whether that’s at home or in an aged care facility, is of high quality, and we’ll look after our older Australians. There is a challenge with the sustainability we have had previous, complete neglect of this system, we need to tackle this to provide the best possible care,” Rishworth said.

Billionaires such as Clive Palmer and Mike Cannon-Brookes will have their influence on politics dramatically curtailed as Labor moves to remove big money donations in the biggest shake-up to Australian election rules in a generation.

The Albanese government will shortly begin briefing MPs on its plans to limit the amount donated to parties and candidates, in a move that will prove controversial among Coalition, Greens and independent MPs. In its legislation, the government will also seek to limit the amount spent in each electorate.

Billionaires such as Clive Palmer and Mike Cannon-Brookes will have their influence on politics dramatically curtailed under Labor’s plans.

Billionaires such as Clive Palmer and Mike Cannon-Brookes will have their influence on politics dramatically curtailed under Labor’s plans.Credit: Matt Dennien, Louis Trerise

But the rules will not apply until after the next election as Labor gives the Australian Electoral Commission time to administer the overhaul and seeks to avoid opposition claims it is trying to game the system to win a second term.

Read the full exclusive here.

Wealthy Australians should draw down their superannuation and pay more for their aged care costs – particularly their everyday living expenses such as meals, laundry and cleaning – a major review of aged care funding has told the Albanese government.

A government-appointed taskforce has rejected arguments for a taxpayer levy to fund the country’s growing aged care bill, saying it would be unfair to future generations when older Australians were retiring with growing levels of wealth.

The taskforce said there was a strong case for increasing co-contributions for those with the means to do so.

The taskforce said there was a strong case for increasing co-contributions for those with the means to do so.Credit: Jessica Hromas

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells will on Tuesday publish the taskforce’s 23 recommendations to make the sector more sustainable as it becomes one of the fastest-growing areas of federal expenditure and the Baby Boomer generation retires with higher expectations around quality.

Over the next decade alone, the independent Parliamentary Budget Office estimates the cost of aged care will climb by more than 82 per cent – or almost $29 billion – to $63.6 billion in 2033-34.

Learn more about the taskforce calls here.

Palestinians began fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with cease-fire talks at a standstill, hunger worsening across the Gaza Strip and no end in sight to the 5-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.

Prayers were held outside amid the rubble of demolished buildings on Monday. Fairy lights and decorations were hung in packed tent camps, and a video from a UN-school-turned-shelter showed children dancing and spraying foam in celebration as a man sang into a loudspeaker.

People inspect damage and recover items from their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza.

People inspect damage and recover items from their homes following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza.Credit: Getty

But there was little to celebrate after five months of war that has killed over 30,000 Palestinians and left much of Gaza in ruins.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the bodies of 67 people killed by Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours, bringing the Palestinian death toll to more than 31,112 since the war began.

Here’s the latest on the conflict, from AP, Reuters.

Good morning, and thanks for your company.

It’s Tuesday, March 12. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started:

  • A leading economist says the Coalition’s plan to let first-time buyers use their superannuation for a home deposit would be “one of the worst public policy decisions” of the century.
  • A government-appointed taskforce says a special aged care levy would not be fair to future generations when older Australians are retiring with growing levels of wealth.
  • Former treasurer Peter Costello says Facebook and Instagram owner’s decision to opt out of commercial deals with Australian news publishers has prompted an “existential moment” for media companies.
  • Billionaires such as Clive Palmer and Mike Cannon-Brookes will have their influence on politics dramatically curtailed as Labor moves to remove big money donations in a major shake-up.
  • Australia will not reinstate funding to the UN’s main provider of humanitarian aid to Palestinians until an investigation into the agency is complete, a minister says.
  • Overseas, the Princess of Wales has apologised for causing “any confusion” after admitting to editing a family photograph that was withdrawn by picture agencies amid suspicions it was digitally altered.

Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
SMH

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