Australia news live: Marles and Wong to host talks with UK ministers; top schools add $1.3m to house prices
Date: 2025-07-24T20:34:38.000Z
Title: Welcome
Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before Nick Visser takes up the reins.
The Productivity Commission has identified five key areas where action can be taken to improve productivity as it prepares for Jim Chalmers' much-vaunted summit next month. In the coming days, the PC will release reports on creating a 'more dynamic and resilient economy', and include options for tax changes to drive more investment. The other areas will be the clean energy transition, the digital economy, skills and training, and the care economy. More coming up.
Penny Wong and Richard Marles will be in Sydney this morning to welcome their British counterparts – the foreign secretary, David Lammy, and defence minister, John Healey – for the latest round of talks between ministers from the two countries. The so-called Aukmin talks will focus on defence and diplomatic cooperation. More coming up.
Plus, new data puts some numbers on the postcode premium – how much a sought-after school adds to house prices nearby. But there's also a surprise: it may be a good investment in the kids, but not so much in the property. More on that soon too.
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