Good morning. It’s Thursday 5th May, and here’s a round up of the latest news.
Solomon Islands expresses concern over agricultural visa
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has rejected concerns raised by the Solomon Islands' High Commissioner about .
High Commissioner Robert Sisilo says the agreement, designed for workers from South East Asia, .
, and discussions are underway with India.
"We have two huge countries, and we don't want to be trapped between them, and be sandwiched. We would prefer that they worked closely together.
The Pacific Ocean is huge. I am sure there is enough space for both of them, Mr Sisilo said.
The first workers under the new agreement are expected to arrive in Australia later this year.
Mr Littleproud says the new visa is needed to hire more experienced workers.
The Labor party says, if it wins the election, it will honour the agreement with Vietnam, but otherwise scrap the new agriculture visa.
Coalition targets small businesses
The federal government is turning its election campaign attention to small and family businesses.
The Coalition is pledging to help create if it wins re-election on 21 May.
It says it will invest nearly $18 million in the Business Energy Advice Program to help businesses navigate the electricity retail market, and adopt more efficient technologies to reduce their energy cost.
The government claims its tax incentives have driven $23 billion of business investment in the past year.
EU proposes a Europe ban on Russian oil
It forms part of the sixth package of, which includes plans to target the country's largest bank and major broadcasters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says enacting the ban will be no small feat.
"We will phase out all Russian supply of crude oil for six months and refine products by the end of the year," Ms von der Leyen said.
"Let's be clear, it will not be easy because some member states are strongly dependent on Russian oil. But we simply have to do it."
More language services needed to boost COVID-19 vaccine uptake
A multicultural health service says there is still a need for .
Rayees Mohammed (left) speaks with healthcare worker Chee Kin Lee prior to receiving his COVID-19 vaccine in Melbourne. Source: AAP / James Ross
Executive Director Adele Murdolo says more resources need to be directed to women with young children.
"I think that's something that particularly needs to target mums because they're the ones who are on the frontline, really, of getting vaccinations for children," Dr Murdolo said.
"There's still a pretty significant need for that additional education and information in languages other than English."
Abortion rights first. What's next for the US?
United States President Joe Biden warns that if the Supreme Court strikes down and the right to abortion nationwide, it would likely set off the deterioration of more American Constitutional rights and protections.
suggesting the 1973 landmark Roe decision could be overruled triggered mixed reactions across the country when it was published earlier this week.
The President says he fears the overturning of Roe v Wade would lead to the unravelling of other privacy rights, including same-sex marriage and birth control.
"What happens if you have states changing the law, saying that children who are LGBTQ can't be in classrooms with other children? Is that legit, under the way the decision is written? What are the next things that are going to be attacked?"
