From The Daily Os. I'm Zara Sidler, I'm Emma Gillespie. It's Monday, the seventh of April. Here's what's making headlines this evening.
The Australian dollar has dropped to a five year low, plunging below sixty US cents. The latest market decline comes in response to US President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariff announcements last week. Trillions of dollars was wiped off global markets following the announcement, which saw the worst day on Wall Street since the start of the pandemic in twenty twenty. The Australian share market is now mirroring the US downturn, with the ASX two hundred falling by four percent today.
The Aussie dollar is trading significantly lower, reflecting global uncertainty. During a press conference today, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he's expecting the tariffs to have a quote manageable impact on some prices here. However, he said the government is quote forecasting economic growth to kay continue to gather the pace thanks to slowing inflation and cost of living relief measures.
The Coalition has reversed its promise to force Australian public service employees back to the office if it wins the upcoming election. In early March, Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume said a coalition government would make it an expectation that all aps staff work from the office full time. Today, the Coalition announced it has backflipped on its planned work from homeban. This means there will be no changes to flexible work within the public service if it wins the election.
Senator Hume said in a statement that there will be no mandated minimum number of days for public servants to work in the office. Hume also clarified that the coalition never had a policy impacting flexible work in the private sector.
Israel has promised a quote thorough examination of a strike that killed fifteen first responders in Gaza last month. According to the United Nations, eight place Stinian medics, six civil defense first responders and a UN staff member were assisting in Rougher when the IDF attacked their convoy. Israeli forces originally said the group was advancing suspiciously towards its troops
without headlights or emergency signals when it opened fire. However, it's now admitted this account was inaccurate after footage of the incident emerged showing the flashing emergency lights of the ambulances. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, paramedics stopped to help injured civilians when they were fired upon by Israeli forces. It said the PRCS insignia was visible on their uniforms
and vehicles at the time of the attack. The IDF says several of the medics had ties to humas, but it has not yet shared evidence to support this claim. Israel said its continuing inquiries to quote understand the sequence of events and the handling of.
The situation and today's good news. New data from the CSIRO Revere fel that plastic pollution along Australian coastlines has decreased by thirty nine percent. The study, which surveyed six key regions including Hobart, Newcastle, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, found a marked reduction in plastic waste across five of
six locations, along with a decreased plastic pollution. Senior CSIRO researcher doctor Denise Hardesty so the survey identified a sixteen percent increase in the number of coastal areas with no plastic debris at all, although there are still areas of concern. Hardesty said Australians are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of plastic waste on people, communities and wildlife.
That's the latest from the Daily os newsroom for your Monday, But if you're looking for something else to listen to, check out today's Deep Dive featuring our interview with Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor. Another fantastic interview from Billy speaking to him about the Coalition's plan for young people. We will be back tomorrow morning with another deep dive. Until then, have a great night.
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda Bunjelung Kalkadin woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and torrest Rate island and nations. We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries, both past and present.