Housing crisis solutions and paid parental leave: The biggest takeaways from the federal budget.

The Albanese government has handed down their budget tonight, to mostly positive reviews from economists.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers earmarked $350 million towards affordable housing co-investment with super funds and institutional investors.

The funding, due to start in 2024, will kick-start the government's pledge to build one million new "well-located" homes over five years.

The $350 million will be used to entice super funds and institutional investors to invest in social and affordable housing by covering the gap between market rents and subsidised rents. 

One of Labor's key election promises, affordable childcare for Australian families, has been allocated, with $4.7 billion set aside to improve women's participation in the workforce. Paid parental leave will receive a $531.6 million boost to expand the scheme up to 26 weeks by July 2026.

And an initial $3.4 million will be set aside to introduce a program offering 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave.

Congratulations to my colleagues and friends @AlboMP, @JEChalmers and @SenKatyG on delivering the Government’s first Budget.

It's what Australia voted for.

Cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, paid parental leave, more affordable housing, wages growth, and fee-free TAFE.

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 25, 2022

Another interesting update was that the ABC and SBS will be better protected against political interference and arbitrary funding cuts under a big change outlined in the federal budget. The funding cycle for the public broadcasters will be increased from three to five years. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the shift would safeguard the independence of the national broadcasters, as well as support long-term planning and innovation.

As for the referendum, more than $75 million is being set aside in the federal budget to prepare for a national referendum on a proposed Indigenous voice to parliament.

From an environment and energy perspective, Labor confirmed record spending on cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy.

“Number one, renewable energy is cheaper,” Chalmers said.

As expected, the $20 billion rewiring the nation plan will finance the urgent upgrade and expansion of the electricity grid to connect communities and industry to renewable energy and increase grid security. $1.9 billion powering the regions fund will support traditional and new industries in regional Australia.

Climate action has a $30 billion price tag in Australia's first carbon budget as the nation faces more frequent and severe natural disasters. Some $20 billion to rewire the nation for renewable energy takes the lion's share, along with $630 million for a new disaster ready fund. Some $1.9 billion for powering the regions fund, $275 million for driving the use of electric cars, and $224 million for community batteries to support household solar are also on the climate books.

Some of the key takeaways include:

• Cheaper child care for 1.26 million families (costing $4.7 billion over four years).

• Expanded paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2026.

• Cuts to cost of medicines on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

• National Reconstruction Fund providing $15 billion for loans, guarantees and equity for agriculture, resources and other projects.

• $109.7 billion health budget.

• $1.7 billion women's safety plan.

• $20 billion energy transmission fund.

With AAP.

Content warning: This post mentions sexual assault and may be distressing for some readers.

On Tuesday afternoon, the jury finalised their deliberations in the trial against Bruce Lehrmann, the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins.

After three days and six hours of deliberations, the jurors sent a note to the court on Tuesday afternoon saying they were "unable to reach a unanimous agreement".

But Chief Justice Lucy McCallum requested the jury reconvene to try to reach a unanimous verdict. She told them experience shows juries are able to reach a decision if they are given more time.

"I ask you to retire again to see if you can reach a verdict in this trial," she said.

She said they must calmly and objectively listen to each other's opinions and try to reach a unanimous decision.

"You cannot join in a verdict if you do not honestly and genuinely think it is the correct one," she said.

The chief justice on Monday told the jurors there was no time limit on when they needed to reach a verdict. She said they should not feel pressured to make a decision. She instructed the jurors to find a verdict according to the evidence presented in the courtroom.

Bruce Lehrmann was tried in the ACT Supreme Court after he pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, after Ms Higgins said she was raped inside the office of former cabinet minister Linda Reynolds in 2019. She reopened her police complaint against Lehrmann in 2021, two years after the alleged assault.

He pleaded not guilty and denied he and Ms Higgins had any sexual interaction.

For a full rundown on this news, you can read this article: Jury unable to reach a verdict in the Bruce Lehrmann trial.

Listen to The Quicky unpack this news below:

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Beloved actor Leslie Jordan has died at the age of 67 after a car accident in LA. Best known for his role on Will & Grace, Leslie captured the hearts of his many Instagram followers through wholesome and hilarious videos of his lockdown experience.

Plus, we've been given a glimpse into Zoë Foster Blake's lavish Sydney home, courtesy of Vogue Living. We take you through our favourite bits and why it stands apart from the other celebrity house tours we've seen.

And we’re seeing more and more brands cut ties with Kanye West over his anti-Semitic comments, but it seems the person everyone was waiting to hear from was Kim Kardashian. We unpack why there's an expectation for her to address her ex-partner's actions.

Listen to today's episode of The Spill below:

Rishi Sunak will become the United Kingdom's youngest prime minister in modern times after he won the race to lead the Conservative Party, tasked with steering a deeply divided country through an economic downturn set to leave millions of people poorer.

One of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster, Sunak, 42, will become the country's first prime minister of Indian origin - and its third prime minister in less than two months - as he takes over during one of the most turbulent eras in UK political history.

He replaces Liz Truss, who only lasted 44 days before she resigned, needing to restore stability to a country reeling from years of political and economic turmoil, and seeking to lead a party that has fractured along ideological lines.

Rishi Sunak: A quick guide to the UK’s next prime minister https://t.co/ry0WGLEVpN

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 24, 2022

He told his MPs on Monday that they faced an "existential crisis" and must "unite or die". 

He told the country it faced a "profound economic challenge".

"We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together," he said.

The multi-millionaire former hedge fund boss will be expected to launch deep spending cuts to try to rebuild the UK's fiscal reputation just as the country slides into one of the toughest downturns in decades, hit by the surging cost of energy and food.

- With AAP

Leslie Jordan, the Emmy-winning actor whose wry Southern drawl and versatility made him a comedy and drama standout on TV series including Will & Grace and American Horror Story, has died. He was 67.

TMZ reports Jordan was driving in Hollywood Monday morning when it's suspected he suffered some sort of medical emergency and crashed his BMW into the side of a building.

#BREAKINGNEWS https://t.co/fZx2Pcrfom

— TMZ (@TMZ) October 24, 2022

"The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times," a representative for Jordan said in a statement.

"Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today."

The Tennessee native, who won an on outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2005 for Will & Grace, appeared recently on the Mayim Bialik comedy Call Me Kat and co-starred on the sitcom The Cool Kids.

- With AAP

Samantha Jade and partner Pat Handlin have married in an intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy. 

Sharing the news on Instagram, Jade wrote "we did it," alongside a carousel of pictures.

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A post shared by Samantha Jade (@samanthajade)

The couple were engaged in 2019 but had to put their nuptials on hold because of interruptions brought on by COVID. 

Samantha, 35, had to cancel her ceremony twice in 2020, with the pandemic separating her from her WA family.

Boris Johnson was kicked out of the UK leadership less than 2 months ago on the back of a long list of scandals including hosting and attending parties at 10 Downing Street during the covid lockdowns.

But with his replacement Liz Truss being pushed out after less than six weeks, Johnson looked set for a comeback before pulling the pin at the last minute.

Rishi Sunak has now been declared the new British Prime Minister but could Johnson just be waiting in the wings for him to fail too?

Today we find out who Rishi Sunak is and why he could be Boris's ticket back to the leadership.

Feature image: AAP.