Australia news LIVE: Treasurer’s push for savings obstructed by PM’s razor gang; final words before Spanish train disaster revealed

What to know this morning

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Welcome to the national news live blog for today, Friday, October 30. Here’s a look at today’s biggest stories:

• Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ push for tighter fiscal discipline was obstructed by the prime minister’s razor gang ahead of the last budget, intensifying scrutiny on Anthony Albanese’s economic credentials as Labor scrambles to find savings. Chalmers had often advocated for the lowest-cost option when proposals came to the cabinet’s expenditure review subcommittee ahead of the May budget and years past, but was unable to convince colleagues to tighten belts.
• Leaked recordings reveal the messages between the rail control centre in Madrid and two train drivers operating the same line moments before one train smashed into the rear of the other, killing at least 69 people. A controller in Madrid told the driver of a Renfe AVE high-speed train to “resume normal operations” after being stopped due to a signalling malfunction. The instruction in Spanish, according to national newspaper El País, was la marcha normal – a message that led the driver to accelerate rapidly without knowing another train was stationary on the line ahead.
• The final section of Sydney’s $30 billion M1 metro line has opened after a two-year wait. The first passenger service ran through Sydney’s south-west suburbs at 4.31am, bringing a festive feel on the trains and stations along the corridor. It marks a historic day for Australian heavy rail infrastructure, and a new chapter for Sydney’s public transport. Follow our live coverage here.

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The final words in moments before Spanish train disaster

By David Crowe

London: Leaked recordings from a Spanish train controller have shed new light on the horrific train crash that killed at least 69 people, while raising key questions about the ultimate blame for the disaster.

The recordings reveal the final messages between the rail control centre in Madrid and the two train drivers operating on the same line south of the Spanish capital, moments before one train smashed into the rear of the other.

Spanish media outlets report that a controller in Madrid told the driver of a Renfe AVE high-speed train to “resume normal operations” after being stopped due to a signalling malfunction.

The instruction in Spanish, according to national newspaper El País, was la marcha normal – a message that led the driver to accelerate rapidly without knowing another train was stationary on the line ahead.

Read more from David Crowe. 

PM’s razor gang hindered Chalmers’ saving plans

By Paul Sakkal

Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ push for tighter fiscal discipline was obstructed by the prime minister’s razor gang ahead of the last budget, intensifying scrutiny on Anthony Albanese’s economic credentials as Labor scrambles to find savings to offset new spending.

High-level government sources said that in the run-up to the May budget and years past, Chalmers had often advocated for the lowest-cost option when proposals came to the cabinet’s expenditure review subcommittee. Budget proposals usually come with a range of options on the cost, giving ministers the option to spend more or less.

Chalmers told this masthead’s Inside Politics podcast this week that he had become a “lightning rod” for criticism at a time when inflation is running hotter in Australia than the UK and the US and the G7 average.

But the role of Albanese and his close allies on the secretive budget spending committee has not attracted the same level of scrutiny.

Read more from Paul Sakkal. 

Pinned post from 6.28am

What to know this morning

By Daniel Lo Surdo

Welcome to the national news live blog for today, Friday, October 30. Here’s a look at today’s biggest stories:

• Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ push for tighter fiscal discipline was obstructed by the prime minister’s razor gang ahead of the last budget, intensifying scrutiny on Anthony Albanese’s economic credentials as Labor scrambles to find savings. Chalmers had often advocated for the lowest-cost option when proposals came to the cabinet’s expenditure review subcommittee ahead of the May budget and years past, but was unable to convince colleagues to tighten belts.
• Leaked recordings reveal the messages between the rail control centre in Madrid and two train drivers operating the same line moments before one train smashed into the rear of the other, killing at least 69 people. A controller in Madrid told the driver of a Renfe AVE high-speed train to “resume normal operations” after being stopped due to a signalling malfunction. The instruction in Spanish, according to national newspaper El País, was la marcha normal – a message that led the driver to accelerate rapidly without knowing another train was stationary on the line ahead.
• The final section of Sydney’s $30 billion M1 metro line has opened after a two-year wait. The first passenger service ran through Sydney’s south-west suburbs at 4.31am, bringing a festive feel on the trains and stations along the corridor. It marks a historic day for Australian heavy rail infrastructure, and a new chapter for Sydney’s public transport. Follow our live coverage here.

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