Emily KaineUpdated May 21, 2026 — 7:06am,first published 6:45amWhat’s making headlines todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Thursday, May 21. 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. Former prime minister Paul Keating has accused investors criticising the capital gains tax overhaul of pure greed, leaping to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ defence. It came on the same day as NSW Premier Chris Minns slammed the government for failing to provide bigger income tax cuts. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson addressed the National Press Club yesterday, in his post-budget reply speech. He was highly critical of the government’s agenda, including changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount that were not taken to the last election.A diphtheria outbreak has spread to several states and territories, with one death in the Northern Territory so far caused by the disease. Health Minister Mark Butler said earlier this week it was the most severe outbreak Australia had seen in decades, and the government were responding with an emergency support plan. Meanwhile overseas, a rare strain of the Ebola virus has caused the worst outbreak of the disease in more than a decade as it rapidly spreads through the Democratic Republic of Congo and healthcare workers on the ground say they are poorly prepared and “undertrained”. There are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases, according to the World Health Organisation. And US President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran were “in the final stages”, while warning of further attacks unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal. Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have shown little progress. Trump said this week he came close to ordering more attacks, but held off to allow time for negotiations.Latest Posts7.06am‘Something’s wrong when you have to wheel out Keating’: McKenzieBy Emily KaineNationals senator Bridget McKenzie just appeared on Nine’s Today show, and has slammed Labor for “wheeling out” former prime minister Paul Keating to defend its budget amid criticism of changes to the capital gains tax. In a written statement, Keating, a mentor of Chalmers who first created the CGT, said investors “want to retain a preference for capital over wage and salary income.”Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.Dominic Lorrimer“You know something’s wrong … when you have to wheel out Paul Keating to stick up for your budget. I mean, a lot’s changed, Mr. Keating, in the quarter of a century since you’ve been in charge of the Treasury,” McKenzie said this morning. McKenzie also said she backed in Minns’ criticisms of the federal government, after he said yesterday they had failed to provide bigger income tax cuts. “I’ll take more of it if I can get it. We all, need all shoulders to the wheel to disclose just how bad this budget is,” she said. 6.45amVictorian opposition asks corruption watchdog to investigate state’s lottery licence By Kieran RooneyThe Victorian opposition has asked a corruption watchdog to investigate a 40-year extension of the state’s lottery licence amid concerns about the secretive process.Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury wrote to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission yesterday asking it to look into the deal.On May 5, The Lottery Corporation announced to the stock market it had secured a 40-year extension to its Victorian licence, two years before the current one was due to expire, through “exclusive bilateral questions”.The company agreed to make an upfront $1.1 billion premium payment.Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury.Wayne Taylor6.45amUS forces board Iranian-flagged tanker in Gulf of Oman By Emily KaineUS forces boarded an Iranian-flagged tanker “suspected of attempting to violate the US blockade by transiting towards an Iranian port”, Central Command said on social media earlier this morning. According to Central Command, American forces searched the M/T Celestial Sea, before releasing and directing the ship’s crew to change course. Central Command also claims US forces have now intercepted and redirected 91 commercial ships in enforcement of Trump’s blockade. It is the latest indication that the US’ blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is still in place. There is no sign so far of when it may end. Pinned post from 6.45amWhat’s making headlines todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Thursday, May 21. 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. Former prime minister Paul Keating has accused investors criticising the capital gains tax overhaul of pure greed, leaping to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ defence. It came on the same day as NSW Premier Chris Minns slammed the government for failing to provide bigger income tax cuts. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson addressed the National Press Club yesterday, in his post-budget reply speech. He was highly critical of the government’s agenda, including changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount that were not taken to the last election.A diphtheria outbreak has spread to several states and territories, with one death in the Northern Territory so far caused by the disease. Health Minister Mark Butler said earlier this week it was the most severe outbreak Australia had seen in decades, and the government were responding with an emergency support plan. Meanwhile overseas, a rare strain of the Ebola virus has caused the worst outbreak of the disease in more than a decade as it rapidly spreads through the Democratic Republic of Congo and healthcare workers on the ground say they are poorly prepared and “undertrained”. There are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases, according to the World Health Organisation. And US President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran were “in the final stages”, while warning of further attacks unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal. Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have shown little progress. Trump said this week he came close to ordering more attacks, but held off to allow time for negotiations.1 of 1