The Queensland government is claiming a major victory in its transition to renewable energy, reaching its 30 per cent emissions reduction target eight years ahead of schedule. The state's latest Greenhouse Gas data, which reflects its 2022 emissions, shows a 35 per cent reduction. Energy Minister Mick de Brenni says the reduction is a credit to state government policies like reduced land clearing. State Parliament has passed a bill this week enshrining into law a 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2035. As well as net zero by 2050.

Property agent Eric Wong says relief for renters facing record high rates could be on the way. Millions of Australians are facing all-time high prices, after asking rents for houses and units jumped in the March quarter. Vacancy rates are at record lows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. While rates in Adelaide and Brisbane are not much better. “There is less, and less people looking to rent now because of the rent being so high. “A lot of people are actually staying put and are trying to negotiate with the current landlord. “I think the supply might start to increase when people start to move out, when they buy their new home, so there could be relief coming soon.

Despite the rescue efforts of volunteers and everyday Australians, new research has revealed the dire survival rates of wildlife during the Black Summer bushfires. This has sparked calls for improvement to disaster response plans, to ensure wildlife is factored in. An estimated 46 million animals were caught in the New South Wales fire zone of the black summer bush fires of 2019/2020. Only 0.01 per cent of those animals could be rescued. Four years on from the national disaster it’s been revealed over half of the marsupials rescued did not survive.

Property agent Eric Wong reveals the three things renters can do to improve their chances of securing a property amid a very difficult market. Millions of Australians are facing all-time high rents, after asking rents for houses and units jumped in the March quarter. Vacancy rates are at record lows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. With rates in Adelaide and Brisbane not being much better. “You can actually potentially offer rent upfront; if you have a six month lease you might potentially even offer the landlord three months upfront,” Mr Wong told Sky News Australia. “The second one; at the moment rental bidding is prohibited so a tenant can actually offer more rent but then the agent cannot ask for it. “Obviously offering rent upfront and increasing rent is actually increasing the financial burden… So you can actually get a reference from your agent, or your landlord – sometimes if you get a good reference from your landlord you can actually sway them to you.”

Teachers in Western Australia will walk off the job next week leaving many students without supervision. Teachers are calling for a 12 percent pay increase over two years, instead of the government’s proposed 11 percent over three years. WA Premier Roger Cook says parents should still send their children to school despite expected disruption to several institutes. More than 80 schools across Western Australia will be either closed or partially closed due to the planned industrial action.

Olympic organisers have unveiled their plan to make the Games safer and more appealing using artificial intelligence.  The Games are less than 100 days away and organisers are planning to integrate AI technology with video surveillance to flag potential threats.  The IOC has also considered how AI could help identify athletes in otherwise overlooked places to spot talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.  IOC President Thomas Bach has also predicted AI could improve the Games for viewers and keep athletes safer online.  “AI will be a revolution for our society, and it will be a revolution for sport,” he said.

The future of budget airline Bonza is up in the air.  The low-cost carrier’s parent company has called in advisors to check the finances.  The Coalition is calling on Labor to save the airline, saying Bonza has breathed new life into the aviation sector.  “Bonza has breathed new life into the sector, with innovative, affordable offerings between regional capitals,” Senator Bridget McKenzie said.  “And I hope that the Albanese government does all that it can to ensure they succeed.”

New pathology tests will soon let Australians know which virus they have within 24 hours.  The PlexPlus test will be used to indicate if patients have the flu, COVID, or one of 14 different respiratory viruses.  It will be available at GPs and will have a similar function to the COVID nasal PCR tests.   The company, SpeeDx, is looking to have the tests approved for this year’s flu season.

Pockets of affordable homes are opening up despite Sydney’s overheated property market.  According to a report on affordable areas, Parramatta and south west regions are where young buyers have the best chance of purchasing a home.  However, property experts explain there are a lot of challenges to overcome.  “I think we’ve got some really big numbers to fill – they’re saying we need 1.25 million homes by 2029,” The Home Establishment Director and Builder Shani Naleshni said.  “I don’t know how we’re going to get to that such an ambitious target.”

Two people are in critical condition after a Brisbane blast, police have charged a man over a fatal crash in Sydney, a shopping strip in Burleigh is under siege, parts of Queensland face rain and flood warnings, WA teachers to strike next week for better pay, hopes for struggling Sydney homebuyers loom, and more than 20 Chinese Olympic swimmers were cleared over test contamination. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Multiculturalism in Australia is at a “crossroads,” two leaders of the government’s multicultural policy review have warned.  The incoming reform blueprint will be aimed at strengthening the foundations of social cohesion.  Multicultural Framework Review Chair Dr Bulent Hass Dellal says the key challenge in doing so is to ensure discrimination and hate are not passed on to a new generation.  “Our challenge is to try and break that cycle of hate, learn from history and to move forward,” he said.  The organisation says the success of the policy would depend on bipartisan support and commitment to change.  Some believe the issue stems from the government’s migration policies.

Tech giants are told to remove harmful content off platforms, Westfield Bondi Junction reopens after stabbing attack, a new test to identify a virus in 24 hours for Australians, multiculturalism in Australia is at a 'crossroads', and two children have been killed in Russian strikes on multiple cities in Ukraine. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Racing NSW’s Nick Berney has revealed his tips for All Aged Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Mr Berney joined Racing Dreams for the last time in the autumn season to discuss his top tips for Randwick. “lt’s going to be a great meeting,” Mr Berney said. “I’m against a few favourites, so maybe I’m going to go home having a good day or licking my wounds. “So, hopefully, we can get some cash nice and early – I’ve got a roughy in the first race.” Mr Berney revealed that his best bet was on Race 4 No.1 Tannhauser. In partnership with Racing NSW

Treasurer Jim Chalmers forecasts multiple global pressures will “weigh heavily” on next month’s budget.  The Treasurer outlined five pressures on Australia’s economy while meeting other G20 finance ministers in Washington.   They include lingering national inflation, slowing growth and a transforming global economy.   Mr Chalmers said fiscal strategy is evolving in the face of both challenges and opportunities.  “Global factors will be a big part of the next few weeks as we put the finishing touches on the budget,” Mr Chalmers said.  Some political commentators are criticising the Treasurer’s comments.

The Arrowfield name is synonymous with champions of the track and some of the most revered stallions in the industry.   Sky News Australia sat down with Arrowfield’s John Messara to rewind the clock on the history of the iconic farm.  “It’s only in 1979-1980 that I got quite involved in thoroughbreds,” he said.  “We’ve got a lot to go, we’ve got big plans, we’ve got big opportunities now worldwide, and we intend to carry on.  “But it’s certainly met our expectations, but I think there’s plenty more to do.”  In partnership with Arrowfield Stud

The New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard says the United States is doing “everything it can to avert an all-out war” in the Middle East as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate. It comes as Iranian authorities have declared on Friday morning they shot down several drones from the sky over the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz on Friday. Israel's government and military are declining to confirm or deny if they carried out the strike. The United States has denied any involvement in Israel's attack on Iran Friday morning. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US leaders, along with others at the G7 Summit, are focused on de-escalating tensions. Mr Shephard reacted to the US Secretary of State's comments claiming the remarks made were not surprising. “That was not a terrible surprising given the overall framing we’ve seen from the Secretary of State in the aftermath of these sort of tit-for-tat strikes that we’ve seen between Israel and Iran,” he said.

The US House of Representatives has moved ahead with a $148 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The chamber voted 316-94 to advance the bills. It is expected to vote on Saturday on the legislation, and if passed, it would need to go back to the Senate for final approval. Hardline Republicans are pushing back against Speaker Mike Johnson and the $148 billion package saying money should not be sent overseas without dealing with the crisis at America’s border. With other conservatives threatening to oust Mr Johnson.

India's election has kicked off after millions of people took to the polls in the first phase of the world's largest election. About 969 million people have registered to vote across 44 days. Populist Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to secure a third consecutive term. The election is seen as one of the most important votes in several decades as Mr Modi's powerful right-wing BJP party seeks to secure an outright majority in India's lower house. India's elections are rolled out over six weeks consisting of seven phases, and votes of almost one billion eligible voters will be counted on June 4.

Iran seems to be downplaying Israel's apparent strike over the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz on Friday. An Iranian senior official has revealed that Tehran has no plan to hit back immediately against Israel, report says. Initial reports have claimed the drones were launched by Israel in retaliation to 300 Iranian drones and missiles launched towards Jerusalem last week. Israel's government and military are declining to confirm or deny if they carried out the strike. Questions remain as to whether Tel Aviv's strike was a pre-cursor to something more sinister in the coming days or weeks. Analysts said the crisis has been somewhat de-escalated but the situation still remains volatile.

Sky News host James Morrow reacts to Joe Biden’s “family cooking lore”, with the President claiming his uncle was eaten by cannibals after his plane crashed in New Guinea. President Biden can be heard in a clip saying, “he got shot down in an area where there were a lot of cannibals in New Guinea at the time”. “They never recovered his body.” “Listen to him here telling the stirring, or should I say pot-stirring, tale of what happened to his old ‘Uncle Bosie’,” Mr Morrow said. “This is, by the way, Biden’s new obsession – he told the same story three times in the past 24 hours, according to various news reports.” Pentagon records state the aircraft plunged into the Pacific off the coast of New Guinea.