Australia news LIVE: Tax bill to progress to Senate after passing lower house; Hezbollah rejects ceasefire, darkening prospects of ending Iran war

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What’s making news today

By Emily Kaine

Hello and welcome to our national news live blog for Friday, June 5. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage for the first part of the day. Here’s what is making news.

• The first tranche of the government’s budget tax legislation passed the lower-house yesterday unamended. The package combines into one bill the $250 income tax offset and $1000 instant deduction for workers, as well as curbs on negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. The legislation will now progress to the Senate, where Labor is in minority and reliant on either the Coalition or the Greens to pass the reforms.
• A US plan to hit 60 countries, including Australia, with new tariffs has been widely condemned by the government and opposition. Trump’s plan would see Australian goods subject to a 12.5 per cent levy – a 2.5 per cent increase on the 10 per cent tariff currently in force. Trump claims the tariffs are a response to anti-slavery violations.
• ABC Radio Melbourne’s Drive host Charlie Pickering said he “should have known better” after telling far-right agitator Avi Yemini that the broadcaster’s four-part podcast series featuring Grace Tame was “problematic”.
• There are no signs a new ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will hold, as Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah rejects the peace agreement. The group says it will not withdraw troops from the country. With Iran making a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with the US, the prospect of an end to the war still seems unlikely.