Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to his British counterpart Keir Starmer to confirm Australia would support the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne - despite being stripped of his titles amid pressure over his ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese is the first Commonwealth leader to openly voice support for Andrew's removal from the line of succession.

LISTEN ABOVE

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to his British counterpart Keir Starmer to confirm Australia would support the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne - despite being stripped of his titles amid pressure over his ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese is the first Commonwealth leader to openly voice support for Andrew's removal from the line of succession.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Anthony Albanese backing the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from line of succession

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/30b63934-ee84-4513-9010-b3fb00443d94/transcript

More early childhood education centres are expected to fold under rising costs.

The Household Economic Survey shows the average weekly ECE fee has jumped from $25 in 2007, to $90 in 2023.

Early Childhood Council CEO Simon Laube says pay parity rules have driven 443 centres to shut in the past three years.

He says it drives up teacher salaries.

"But the funding from the Government doesn't follow suit, so as the salaries increase, the providers are paying more and more to pay the teachers - but the funding stays the same."

LISTEN ABOVE

More early childhood education centres are expected to fold under rising costs.
The Household Economic Survey shows the average weekly ECE fee has jumped from $25 in 2007, to $90 in 2023.
Early Childhood Council CEO Simon Laube says pay parity rules have driven 443 centres to shut in the past three years.
He says it drives up teacher salaries.
"But the funding from the Government doesn't follow suit, so as the salaries increase, the providers are paying more and more to pay the teachers - but the funding stays the same."
LISTEN ABOVE

Simon Laube: Early Childhood Council CEO on the number of ECE centres set to fold due to rising costs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2b2a3a6c-6eed-4ae7-a531-b3fb005eab89/transcript

The cost of living is hitting Kiwis hard, with new data showing Aucklanders are more likely to be worse off.

More than a third of New Zealanders have a savings balance of less than $500, according to new data from Westpac.

Westpac's Financial Wellbeing programme manager, Warren Ngan Woo, says Auckland is a big city where things cost more, which eats into people's ability to save money.

"This is just a snapshot in relation to savings, but it certainly doesn't take into account what other people have in options with their savings."

LISTEN ABOVE

The cost of living is hitting Kiwis hard, with new data showing Aucklanders are more likely to be worse off.
More than a third of New Zealanders have a savings balance of less than $500, according to new data from Westpac.
Westpac's Financial Wellbeing programme manager, Warren Ngan Woo, says Auckland is a big city where things cost more, which eats into people's ability to save money.
"This is just a snapshot in relation to savings, but it certainly doesn't take into account what other people have in options with their savings."
LISTEN ABOVE

Warren Ngan Woo: Westpac's Financial Wellbeing programme manager on the reports revealing less Kiwis have emergency savings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/516dbc6a-a0be-46d1-93fa-b3fb005b01a7/transcript

Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit. 

BusinessDesk says the energy company's half year earnings before interest to December 31- reached $537 million.

It recorded a net $20 million dollar profit - up from a $67 million loss last year. 

Chief executive Stew Hamilton says they're doing well and don't need to raise capital. 

"We've been disciplined in how we manage our money, how we earn our money and spend it, so we're investing wisely, performing strongly - and I think that gives us options."

LISTEN ABOVE

Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit.&nbsp;
BusinessDesk says the energy company's half year earnings before interest to December 31- reached $537 million.
It recorded a net $20 million dollar profit - up from a $67 million loss last year.&nbsp;
Chief executive Stew Hamilton says they're doing well and don't need to raise capital.&nbsp;
"We've been disciplined in how we manage our money, how we earn our money and spend it, so we're investing wisely, performing strongly - and I think that gives us options."
LISTEN ABOVE

Stew Hamilton: Mercury Energy CEO on the company returning to profit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7e46881f-4c78-4029-b481-b3fb005258c6/transcript

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Anthony Albanese backing the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from line of succession

In 1 playlist(s)

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips