Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / GST debt pressure, Telethon record, Victorian election pledges
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Monday October 19, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — — [serious] We begin in Canberra where the government faces pressure over the taxation system ... and the cost of living. A think tank says ballooning debt should force a rethink of the GST, while warning changes must protect families already under strain. The debate comes as Australians also face a looming deadline to lodge last financial year’s tax returns. — — [warm] In Perth, generosity is breaking records. Telethon has raised a remarkable 101 million dollars for children’s health and medical research ... including major donations from the Western Australian Government and businessman Kerry Stokes. The result highlights the continuing public demand for better care, particularly for children and families facing serious illness. — — [serious] In Melbourne, the state election campaign is heating up. Labor is promising to cap tolls at 30 dollars, while the Coalition is targeting gas restrictions. The competing pledges focus on household bills and transport costs ... issues likely to shape how Victorians vote next month. — — [urgent] In Perth, police are investigating violence involving dozens of young people that forced the early closure of a long-running agricultural show. Officers were called to control the disturbance. The incident is renewing concern about safety at major community events ... and the challenge of responding quickly when large crowds turn volatile. — — [curious] Now to our region ... Australia’s defence industry is preparing to reveal advanced undersea mines and unmanned aircraft, developed as part of the AUKUS security partnership. The technology is designed to strengthen surveillance and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific ... as Australia, Britain and the United States deepen military cooperation. — — [serious] Overseas, the International Monetary Fund warns Middle Eastern oil producers may struggle to restore economic growth after the conflict’s destruction. The warning points to damage across infrastructure and industries ... with consequences that could extend beyond the region through energy markets, trade and global prices. — — [serious] And in the United States, attention remains on the wider economic outlook as financial markets respond to changing interest-rate expectations and international risks. For Australians, movements in the dollar, fuel prices and borrowing costs can quickly flow through to household budgets. — — [hopeful] That’s NewsCard Daily. For more top stories and quick summaries that keep you informed in minutes, download NewsCard ... available in the App Store.