Australia news LIVE: RBA expected to slash rates; Trump to host Netanyahu for talks next Monday as US presses for Gaza ceasefire

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7.28am

Australia bans three ‘forever chemicals’ after 18 months

By Kayla Olaya

The government has banned the import, export and use of three of the most notorious “forever chemicals” in Australia, almost a year and a half after former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek first promised the change.

Over 500 cancer-linked chemicals which have been found to contaminate the nation’s drinking water will be banned or severely restricted from today.

Leura reservoir in NSW has been found to contain PFAS at five times the incoming safe level.

The ban is set to impact a wide range of household products that contain PFAS – such as non-stick cookware, plastic tupperware and waterproof fabrics – which have been linked to other adverse health effects, including immune suppression and high cholesterol. While old products can still be sold, new ones must rely on safer alternatives and will face tougher restrictions.

Since their invention in the 1930s, PFAS chemicals have become prized by industry because of their oil, water and stain-repellant properties. However, one of the banned chemicals, PFOA, has been deemed carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation, with the other, PFOS, as possibly carcinogenic. The third, PFHxS, is typically used in firefighting foam.

The decision means Australia will join 171 other countries that have already banned the three chemicals after it was added to the Stockholm Convention in 2009.

7.15am

All the changes coming into effect from today – and it is not all good news

By Bronte Gossling

It’s not just end-of-financial-year sales that could hit your hip pocket from July 1.

There are also some stipulations that may see millions of Australians bolster their savings.

Here are the July 1 changes you should know about.

Age pension eligibility thresholds increasing
Superannuation accrual for government-funded parental leave scheme
Minimum wage increase
Pay rise for incoming skilled visa workers
Indexation applied to Centrelink payments
Cost-of-living relief for students
Payroll tax changes in some states and territories
Solar battery rebates come into effect
Superannuation guarantee – and tax – changes
Greater Sydney households copping wheelie bin fee hikes
Power bills are going up
Snail mail is slowing down
Fines are going up
Australian Taxation Office cracking down on late payments

Read more about all the changes coming your way here.

6.53am

Trump to host Netanyahu for talks next Monday as US presses for Gaza ceasefire

US President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday, according to two US officials.

The visit comes as Trump has begun stepping up his push for the Israeli government to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas and end to the war in Gaza.

The officials were not authorised to comment publicly on the visit that hasn’t been formally announced and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer visited Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters.

The president in public comments has signalled he is turning his attention to Gaza, since the ceasefire to end fighting between Israel and Iran took hold a week ago.

Trump on Friday told reporters, “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire” in Gaza, but did not offer any further explanation for his optimism.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this morning said Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership the conflict was a priority for Trump.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end,” Leavitt added. “He wants to save lives.”

6.49am

Home values continue to climb with RBA expected to cut rates

By Millie Muroi and Shane Wright

Home values look set to continue climbing in the latter half of the year after nearly every corner of the country recorded growth in June, and as the Reserve Bank faces mounting pressure to further cut interest rates.

Fresh data from Cotality shows Australian home values grew for the fifth month in a row, climbing 0.6 per cent in June and 1.4 per cent across the quarter. Over the past 12 months, national home values have climbed 3.4 per cent, taking the median value of a home to $836,586.

Home values in Australia have grown for five months in a row.

Economists see a rate cut at the next RBA meeting in early July as all but locked in, as the economy faces headwinds including conflict in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and slowing domestic growth, while inflation has become a background concern.

The May monthly inflation data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed lower-than-expected inflation, which CreditorWatch chief economist Ivan Colhoun said cleared the way for the RBA to reduce interest rates at its July meeting.

However, further cuts in interest rates without sufficient growth in supply are likely to fuel further growth in housing values and house prices as borrowing costs fall and buyers flock to the market.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of today’s national news stories. I’m Cindy Yin, and I’ll be with you for the morning.

It’s Tuesday, July 1. Here’s what’s making news this morning:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled he could use a gathering of world leaders in India to meet US President Donald Trump as he justifies Australia’s defence spending as more transparent than the measures used by other countries.
Home values have edged up for the fifth month in a row, with the Reserve Bank set to cut rates next week and deliver further relief to those paying off their properties.
It’s the beginning of the new financial year, and a number of changes are coming into effect. Who won when the clock struck midnight? It depends on what stage of life you’re in … and where you live.
AI is championed by some as the biggest technological advancement since electricity, but new research shows it could also boost Australia’s economy by $115 billion annually.
In the US, a gunman allegedly started a forest fire in northern Idaho then opened fire on firefighters who responded, killing two and wounding another before his body was found nearby.