Guardian Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to raise the cash rate to 4.6% at its upcoming board meeting, which would take borrowing costs to their highest level since 2011. The Guardian reports markets and economists are bracing for the hike, with homeowners facing further pressure on mortgage repayments as the bank continues its fight against persistent inflation.

Immigration is a prominent topic in Australian public debate, with political and media discussion intensifying. The Guardian has taken the angle of asking migrants themselves – the people most affected by the policies being argued over – what they make of the conversation, shifting focus from politicians and commentators to those at the centre of it. Their perspectives add a human dimension to a debate often dominated by numbers.

Australia is in the middle of a national debate about migration, with the topic dominating political discussion. A Guardian report shifts focus to migrants themselves, asking those directly affected by the policies what they think of the conversation around them. Their perspectives are often missing from coverage, despite migration shaping elections and public opinion.

Larissa Waters has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens, citing health reasons. The announcement, reported by Guardian Australia, ends her stint leading the party and is expected to trigger a leadership contest. Waters, a long-serving senator for Queensland, has been one of the Greens' most prominent federal figures, and colleagues are likely to pay tribute while discussion turns to who will succeed her.

Australia captain Mitch Marsh admitted his side were 'outplayed' after a capitulation against South Africa in their one-day international, the Guardian reports. South Africa wrapped up the match convincingly, and the result is drawing attention from cricket fans across Australia, the UK, the US and India, with the fixture topping search interest in several countries.

Larissa Waters has stepped down as leader of the Australian Greens because of ill health, according to The Guardian. Her resignation creates a leadership vacancy at the head of the party just as it navigates federal politics, and colleagues and supporters are likely to debate who should succeed her and what the change means for the Greens' direction.

A Palestinian careers adviser in Sydney has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit, alleging she was told to stop wearing the keffiyeh at the school where she works. The case, reported by the Guardian, touches on debates over Palestinian identity, religious and cultural dress, and workplace rights in Australia, particularly amid heightened tensions around the Israel-Gaza conflict.

A new Guardian Essential poll finds Australia's Coalition has sunk to its lowest ever primary vote, while a majority of voters back hardline immigration policies. The combined findings are drawing attention because they suggest voters are drifting away from the major conservative party even as they embrace tougher positions on immigration, complicating the political strategy of both major parties ahead of future contests.

Health experts, writing in Guardian Australia's Antiviral column by Melissa Davey, are weighing whether magnesium supplements live up to their popular reputation for easing digestion problems, muscle pain, anxiety and poor sleep. Researchers say evidence for supplementing without a diagnosed deficiency is inconsistent, and warn that taking extra magnesium when you are not deficient brings little benefit and can carry risks.

A five-paragraph email OpenAI sent to inform the Australian government about an agent attack has been revealed. The Guardian reported the disclosure, drawing attention to how briefly the company notified Australia of the incident and raising questions about transparency around AI agent security threats.