The parents of two Australian brothers shot dead in Mexico have spoken publicly for the first time, saying from the US it was time to bring their sons home.

Debra and Martin Robinson have urged people to hold their loved ones closer, following the tragic murder of their sons Callum, 33, and Jake, 30.

The Robinson brothers were on a surfing trip with American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, when they were allegedly killed by Mexican nationals attempting to steal parts of their ute.

Debra and Martin Robinson travelled from Western Australia to Mexico on Friday, where they identified the bodies of their two sons this week.

“Now it’s time to bring them home to families and friends and the ocean waves in Australia,” Debra said.

“Please live bigger, shine brighter and love harder.”

Here’s the full story.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says there will not be tax reform in the housing space and is unprepared to go into whether there will be rent assistance.

During his interview on ABC Radio National, Chalmers said there will be tax reform in other spaces but not housing.

“Not the kind that some people have been calling for, there’s no changes for example to negative gearing, or those kinds of changes,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“But there will be tax reform, there’ll be income tax reform and there’ll be some additional measures as well, which recognises that the tax system can be a good way to incentivise the kind of private investment that we want to see in the future of our economy.”

While rental inflation was nearly 8 per cent, Chalmers cited the “substantial increase” in rent assistance last year, saying he did not want to get further into that area of reform this week.

“I think people recognise that because of the substantial increase in rent assistance that we budgeted for last year, those rental figures that you cite are still too high, but they are lower than they would have otherwise been had we not stepped in with that rent assistance,” he said.

There will be additional tax reform in the budget beyond the government’s reforms to stage 3, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.

Speaking on ABC Radio National, Chalmers was asked if there would be more tax reform beyond what was known.

“There will be in the budget, and what you’ll see is an emphasis on tax reform that will incentivise the kind of investment that we want to see in the future of our economy and in a Future Made in Australia,” Chalmers answered.

Here’s what else he said on the changes:

We have indicated that we are prepared to use the tax system in the service of our big national economic objectives.

That budget will balance the cost of living help here and now in a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer with our responsibilities to the future and the tax system does have a role to play there.

There’ll be some other tax changes as well. In all of the budgets we’ve done so far, there has been modest but meaningful tax reform and that’s because I believe in doing these things in a sequenced and orderly and methodical way and people should expect to see more of that on Tuesday.

Fuelled by a desire to force his way back into the Wallabies’ fold, Hunter Paisami has defied the allures of overseas ventures and secured his future in Australian rugby.

Hunter Paisami of the Wallabies in action.

Hunter Paisami of the Wallabies in action.Credit: Getty Images

Fresh off a dominant 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the barnstorming centre has re-signed with the Queensland Reds through to the end of 2026, despite reports he had been linked with a lucrative move to Europe.

A frustrating run with injuries last year quashed the 26-year-old’s hopes of adding to his 24 Test caps at the World Cup, but he has returned and helped propel his side to fifth on the ladder.

His kicking game has grown under Queensland coach Les Kiss, while his three try assists in the past three rounds helped take pressure of young five-eighth Tom Lynagh.

Now, Paisami has his eyes set on convincing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt he is the man to don the No.12 jumper against Wales in July.

Here’s the full scoop.

Private training colleges are being sent federal orders to stop recruiting fake overseas students and cease their exploitation of the visa system, in a new move to tighten the rules and cut the nation’s migration intake.

The official warnings identify the most concerning conduct by colleges that bring thousands of students into the country each year, telling the owners they will lose their licences within six months if they do not improve their operations.

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security Clare O’Neil.

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security Clare O’Neil.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Months after we revealed the rise of “ghost colleges” that attract offshore visa holders who want to work rather than undertake genuine study, the new letters clear the way for legal sanctions against providers with poor track records.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has angered universities and colleges by telling department officials to raise the benchmarks for approving student visas, sparking claims that higher education providers will lose at least $300 million in revenue.

Read on for the full story.

Despite a clear morning (from where we at Brisbane Times are sitting!), it appears another cloudy day is forecast today, with the chance of showers. Here’s the outlook for the rest of the week.

Looking further afield, here are some of the headlines from around Australia and the world.

Stormy Daniels, far right, answers questions in Manhattan criminal court as former President Donald Trump looks on.

Stormy Daniels, far right, answers questions in Manhattan criminal court as former President Donald Trump looks on.Credit: AP

It feels like something in the Australian property market has to give, and it probably won’t be the bank of mum and dad.

It feels like something in the Australian property market has to give, and it probably won’t be the bank of mum and dad.Credit: Sam Bennett

The new iPad Pro is Apple’s thinnest ever device.

The new iPad Pro is Apple’s thinnest ever device.

Con Hatzis and former fiancee Anastasia Soulios and the diamond pear halo ring.

Con Hatzis and former fiancee Anastasia Soulios and the diamond pear halo ring.

Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
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