Midday News Bulletin 18 April 2024

A Labor senator breaks ranks to accuse Israel of genocide; Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico in a life threatening condition after being shot; And in sport, two NRL fans get lifetime bans for alleged racial abuse towards Indigenous players.

Farmers walk out of a post-budget speech over Labor's live sheep export ban; Students turfed from a second pro-Palestine encampment in Canberra; Former gold medallist Steven Bradbury makes headlines again - for an act of bravery.

The federal government defends its decisions after handing down its third Budget on Tuesday night; Plans for a rally to protest a Sydney council book ban; Alex de Minaur knocked out of the Italian Open.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the 2024 Federal Budget; the Opposition calls energy bill relief in the Budget "a band-aid on a bullet wound"; and in rugby league, Gold Coast and Brisbane rocked by injuries.

Budget 2024 news bulletin

David McBride, the whistleblower who leaked defence secrets has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison, the Greens have expressed concerns over tonight's budget decisions on climate, Tottenham Hotspurs given one last chance to reach the Champions League.

In this bulletin, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says there will be a tax cut for all Australians in the upcoming federal budget; domestic violence offenders in New South Wales to find it harder to get released on bail; and in tennis, climate protesters forced two matches to be suspended at the Italian Open.

In this bulletin, the Treasurer to deliver a budget surplus; unhappiness over the Eurovision EU flag ban; and in the A-League, Football Australia imposes a two-year ban on a fan who performed a Nazi salute.

Anthony Albanese says tomorrow night's budget will be one for Australia's future, crisis talks between universities and the federal government over international student numbers, allegations of racist abuse from a spectator towards two star Indigenous players.

The government to introduce a cap on the number of international students universities can accept, the death toll from Israel's assault on Gaza reaches 35,000, And world number one Novak Djokovic defeated by Chile's Alejandro Tabilo at the Italian Open.