TRANSCRIPT
- 2024 was Australia's second-hottest year on record
- Treatments for prostate and breast cancer added to the list of government-subsidised medicines
- In Tennis, Lleyton Hewitt backs Alex de Minaur as a strong contender for an Australian Open title
The Bureau of Meteorology says 2024 was Australia’s second-hottest year on record.
Based on data going back to 1910, the agency finds average temperature across the country in 2024 was 1.46 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average, calculated from 1961 to 1990.
It is also the second hottest year, after the 2019 record of 1.51 degrees.
The bureau's data shows the 10 hottest years on record for Australia have all occurred since 2005.
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Emergency services have rescued three people, including a child, from a flooded area in Queensland which was hit by heavy downpours causing flash-flooding.
A vehicle with three people inside was carried away by the waters in the early morning hours of Thursday at Lockrose in Brisbane's west.
Parts of southern and eastern Queensland have endured heavy flooding over the last few days including on New Year's Eve, with a region of Bundaberg hit with over 57mm of rain in just one hour on Thursday.
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Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the the European Union’s border-free Schengen area.
Bulgaria's Interim Prime Minister visited the country's border as both countries celebrated the result of years of negotiations.
It means identification checks at their land borders as well as their neighbouring European Union member countries have now officially ceased.
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Australians with metastatic breast and prostate cancers will pay less to access two new and expanded treatments that have just been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The move is expected to significantly reduce medical costs for hundreds of people each year.
Breast cancer medicine, Olaparib currently costs patients 72 thousand dollars per course of treatment.
After the subsidy, around 300 people a year will pay a maximum of thirty one dollars sixty per prescription.
That same price will be paid by prostate cancer patients who use talazoparib, a drug which until now has cost more than $100,000 per course.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the government is focused on reducing the cost of medical treatments.
"The bureau of statistics has told us that as many as a million Australians were going without medicines that their doctors said was important for their health because of affordability concerns. And that is why we have put in place different chapters of our affordable medicines policy."
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UK singer and songwriter Robbie Williams is set to receive the key to Melbourne, in recognition of his contributions to the city.
The pop star will be given the honour during a free concert set to be held later today at Federation Square.
It is part of a promotion campaign for his new film Better Man.
Part of the movie was filmed by the local Docklands Studio Melbourne, in a significant boost for the state's arts and film industry.
Williams joins only 40 others who have received the key to Melbourne in the past.
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In Tennis, Lleyton Hewitt says Alex de Minaur is a strong contender for the Australian Open title.
De Minaur is attempting to become the first Australian man since Hewitt in 2005 to reach the final in Melbourne.
His heroics at the United Cup in piloting Australia to a 2-1 victory over Great Britain weren't quite enough for the tournament hosts to make the quarterfinals.
He achieved straight-sets singles and mixed doubles victories.
He says he is finally back to playing at his best.
"Now officially last year, I struggled with an injury that sidelined me. It was safe to say that it had been a long time since I felt my feet moving as quickly as they did today. And doing all of that without pain. It was a really good feeling. It gave me some goosebumps because it felt good to finally back at that level."
