Latest news with #Apra
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Apra Best Country Music Song award finalists named
Holly Arrowsmith. Photo: Si Moore The finalists have been announced for the Apra Best Country Music Song award, with the winner to be announced at the Country Music Honours in Gore on May 23. The finalists are: 5432 written and performed by Mel Parsons; Blue Dreams written and performed by Holly Arrowsmith; Borrow My Boots written and performed by Tami Neilson, Ashley McBryde and Shelly Fairchild, featuring Grace Bowers. Parsons won the MLT Songwriting Award last year with Hardest Thing. She returned to Gore with her nominated song, an expression of love and quiet hope above gnawing self-doubt. Having toured with Crowded House last year, her latest album Sabotage saw her a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and Aotearoa Music Award finalist for Album of the Year and Best Folk Artist. Last year's Apra Best Country Song Award winner for Desert Dove, Arrowsmith returns as a finalist with the title track from the album Blue Dreams. She is a leader in New Zealand's contemporary folk, alt-country and Americana movement, a finalist for the Taite Music Prize and for the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist. Blue Dreams delves into life as a first-time parent. Neilson is no stranger to awards, having won this award five times since 2014, alongside multiple Aotearoa Music Awards, an Apra Silver Scroll and chart-topping success. Fresh off the back of a tour with Willie Nelson, her next studio album Neon Cowgirl will be released on July 11, followed by US tour supports for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Borrow My Boots was co-written long-distance with US country stars Ashley McBryce and Shelly Fairchild after Neilson's experiences of being lifted up and encouraged by her musical peers in the US. Apra head of New Zealand operations Anthony Healey said the songs spoke with honesty, power and heart. — APL
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Nationals in One Nation deal, the man behind the Trumpet texts, top gong for Amyl and the Sniffers
Morning everyone. Today we look at a One Nation candidate who has promoted Covid and climate conspiracy theories, and whose preferences could decide a crucial regional seat after a deal with the Nationals. The US economy has shrunk amid the Trump tariff panic, Amyl and the Sniffers were the stars of last night's Apra awards, and we reveal how Gout Gout's coach overcame adversity to move into the national spotlight. Punk power | Amyl and the Sniffers have won the top gong at the Australian Performing Rights Association awards, winning song of the year last night for their track U Should Not Be Doing That. Exclusive | A 'handshake' deal by the Nationals to move One Nation up its preference list could help win the New South Wales electorate of Hunter despite concerns about Pauline Hanson's candidate, who has promoted a conspiracy theory that the climate crisis has been used to control every aspect of people's lives. Coalition costings | The Coalition will release its long-awaited policy costings today, claiming that they will show the budget would be more than $10bn better off and debt would be $40bn lower over the next four years than under Labor. A re-elected Coalition government would have to slash net migration of students and temporary skilled workers by 90% to reach its 'impossibly heroic' goal of reducing net migration to 160,000 next financial year, Guardian analysis shows. And our election editorial argues that if progressives want bolder government they should consider voting for the Greens, teals or other alternatives in the hope of electing a minority Labor government with a progressive crossbench. Trumpet texts | Voters have been infuriated by a deluge of unsolicited text messages from Clive Palmer's party. The man behind the messaging campaign – H Fong, 'a highly respected barrister' – authorised them but says he did not send them. 'Surgical menopause' | Women with endometriosis face a higher risk of premature and early menopause and are seven times more likely to experience surgical menopause, a study has found. US 'dictatorship' warning | The US is treading the path followed by democracies that descended into authoritarianism and dictatorship, former ambassadors to countries that underwent autocratic takeovers have warned. It came as Donald Trump lashed out at a journalist in a tense TV interview to mark 100 days of his second term in office. A federal judge in Vermont has ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia student held without charge for two weeks. 'Trumpcession' looms | The US economy slowed sharply in the first quarter of the year as Donald Trump sought to roll out an aggressive trade strategy, claiming that sweeping tariffs on the world would strengthen the country. Reform tactic | A new wave of tactical voting could hamper progress for Nigel Farage's Reform UK in local elections taking place on Thursday, campaigners believe, with even some Tories saying they will vote Labour or Liberal Democrat. Syria clashes | At least 11 people have died in clashes in a town near Damascus as tension continues between Syria's new Islamist government and the Druze minority. Saw point | A jury has been shown footage of what prosecutors say is the moment the Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian's Wall crashed to the ground after being felled by a shadowy figure wielding a revving chainsaw. Back to Back Barries: final election night predictions In this special pre-election episode, co-hosts Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy pull apart the final messages of the campaign, delve into the polling and deliver their last verdicts on how they think it will play out on Saturday night. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ Renters in battleground electorates in western Sydney, outer Melbourne and Perth are among those feeling the most financial pressure, new analysis shows, with rents in some Sydney suburbs equal to nearly half the average local income. So why have the major parties been so quiet about helping renters? Gout Gout and Di Sheppard make an unlikely pair. One is the teenage sprint sensation who is on track to become the face of the Brisbane Olympics while the other is his 60-year-old coach whose life has been defined by adversity. Jack Snape talks to her about guiding the Ipswich sensation, overcoming trauma, and why becoming a more recognisable figure means she might lose her 'fuck-off aura'. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Tennis | Jannik Sinner considered quitting tennis amid the fallout from his doping case, he has said as he prepares for the Italian Open. The former world No 1 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the same competition after a poor run of form. Alex de Minaur is in action at the Madrid Open this morning against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. Rugby union | English rugby's governing body – infamously dubbed '57 old farts' by Will Carling – is likely to be scrapped in a radical governance shake-up. Football | Barcelona host Inter this morning in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. A new poll shows Peter Dutton needs a 'miracle' to win Saturday's election, the Daily Telegraph reports, with the Trump and nuclear factors proving decisive in turning voters away from the Coalition. Anthony Albanese is sticking by his plan to slug big super balances to pay for his spending pledges, the Australian reports. Schools in Hobart have tightened security amid concerns about a spike in youth crime, according to the Mercury. Melbourne | Victorian energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio, AEMO chief Daniel Westerman and Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean speak at the CEDA climate and energy summit. Sydney | Two-day interlocutory hearing in Ben Roberts-Smith's appeal against defamation findings. Art | Archibald prize finalists announced. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Amyl and the Sniffers win song of the year at 2025 Apra awards
Amyl and the Sniffers have won the top gong at the Australian Performing Rights Association (Apra) awards, winning song of the year on Wednesday night for their track U Should Not Be Doing That. The track – the first single from the Melbourne punk quartet's 2024 album Cartoon Darkness – is a brazen kiss-off to industry gatekeepers and naysayers. 'I think it's a comedic way of rubbing the dog's nose in its own dog piss after it weed on your favourite rug,' frontwoman Amy Taylor has said of the song. The Apra award is the latest honour in a mammoth few months for Amyl and the Sniffers, who were recently nominated for best international group at the Brit awards. A Guardian review of Cartoon Darkness said the band were 'on the brink of transforming critical acclaim and cult status into something much bigger'. True to form, they are now partway through a mostly sold-out US tour – which saw them play Coachella earlier in April – before heading to Glastonbury later this year. Song of the year is the only peer-voted category at the Apras, where most awards are determined by airplay and royalties. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Also a big winner at the awards, which were held at Melbourne Town Hall, was Tame Impala's Kevin Parker – who won both most performed Australian work and most performed pop work for his contribution to Dua Lipa's single Houdini. The Apra board of directors does have discretion over a few categories including songwriter of the year – which went to Apra favourite Troye Sivan. It marks the Australian pop star's third win after taking home song of the year in 2024 for Rush and breakthrough songwriter in 2017. The board also selected emerging songwriter of the year, which was won this year by Royel Otis – the indie rock duo who had a breakthrough year in 2024 with a debut album and two viral covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor and the Cranberries' Linger. A highlight of the night was the Ted Albert award – a lifetime achievement honour – which went to Kylie Minogue. 'Seventeen-year-old me would not be able to compute the life that music has given me,' she said in a video acceptance speech. 'We all know it's work. You work for it, but I feel like whatever we give and whatever it might take from us, we receive more.' Six-time Apra winner Sia won most performed Australian work overseas for her 2016 hit Unstoppable, which was released as a US radio single in 2022 after it resurfaced on TikTok that year. Grammy winner Keanu Torres took home the international recognition award – previously titled the overseas recognition award – in the first time the prize has been presented since 2019. The songwriter and producer, also known as Keanu Beats, has worked with Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Drake, Kendrick Lamar and The Kid Laroi. Other genre awards on the night went to Paradise by Coterie, for most performed alternative work; New Love by Ziggy Alberts, for blues and roots; Take Forever (Hally's Song) by Cooper Alan, for country; Saving Up by Dom Dolla, for dance and electronic; Epitaph by Make Them Suffer, for hard rock and heavy metal; Fall Back by Lithe, for hip-hop and rap; Space by Kaiit, for R&B and soul; and Through the Trees by King Stingray, for rock.
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Peter Dutton says he will help homebuyers who don't have the bank of mum and dad. But how would his policy work?
The Coalition has pledged to relax home lending rules if it is elected. What exactly is it planning, will it improve housing affordability and are claims that its policies will help young people – especially those without access to the 'bank of mum and dad' – accurate? The Coalition policy is designed to reduce the serviceability buffer overseen by the banking regulator, used to help determine a person's borrowing capacity. A serviceability buffer is the rate on top of the interest rate that the lender adds to test an applicant's ability to make repayments. It was set at 2.5 percentage points above the lending rate before the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (Apra) increased it to three percentage points in late 2021, under the Morrison government. If a bank's interest rate is 6%, for instance, a 3 percentage point serviceability rate means banks would test whether a borrower could still meet repayments if rates increased to 9%. The increase was implemented during a time of ultra low rates, albeit with inflation risks looming on the horizon. The opposition housing spokesman, Michael Sukkar, said on Tuesday the buffer was 'overly cautious'. 'This one-size-fits-all rule is stopping tens of thousands of Australians from getting a home loan – even when they can meet the repayments with a prudent margin against unexpected future rate rises,' Sukkar said. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, declined to name what rate the buffer should be set at when questioned on Tuesday, saying 'ultimately it's a decision for Apra'. This raises questions over how the plan would be implemented, given it relies on a future Coalition government telling the regulator to reduce the buffer below what Apra believes is prudent, but not by how much. The argument for a reduction in the serviceability rate is that given lending rates are now elevated, it's less likely they will surge another two or three percentage points. While robust buffers are designed to help protect against customers getting into loans they can't repay, the downside is that they can push otherwise prudent households into financial distress by limiting their refinancing options. These borrowers are known as 'mortgage prisoners', and could benefit from a looser serviceability requirement. But there are downsides to easing restrictions. Mortgage stress is already elevated and there are concerns that allowing borrowers to take on more debt could come back to bite them, and the wider economy. A lower buffer would also increase available credit, putting upwards pressure on property prices, pushing home prices even further out of reach for some prospective owners, especially younger generations. Prof Stephen Whelan, from the University of Sydney's school of economics, says 'demand-side measures tend to push prices higher'. 'It may well get some households currently renting into home ownership … but the household is also exposed to increased risk,' he says, referring to rising interest rates or an economic shock, such as the loss of a job. 'The key to getting more people into homes is to increase the supply of housing, rather than simply increasing capacity of households to pay more.' Apra has resisted lowering the serviceability level, arguing in October that as well as interest rate changes 'the buffer also factored in unforeseen changes in a borrower's income or expenses, which we have seen play out recently as cost-of-living pressures mount'. A loosening of lending standards also appears to conflict with moves by the Reserve Bank to guard against measures that could fuel inflation. Banks can already use discretion to give loans to good quality borrowers who do not fit the standard buffer, however a change in the regulator's policy would give lenders freedom to issue more loans. Dutton has framed the Coalition's housing policy as one that will help young people 'achieve the dream of home ownership', especially those without financial support from parents. 'I'm not going to be a prime minister … that is happy with a housing market where only those kids with a bank of mum and dad can buy a home,' he said on Tuesday. A lower serviceability rate could help some younger borrowers meet lending requirements and buy their first home. At the same time, price rises could push home ownership even further away for others. Under the policy, the Coalition would require Apra to 'adjust the capital treatment' of loans backed by lenders mortgage insurance, which typically refers to borrowers who can't raise a 20% deposit. They are often younger borrowers, without access to financial help from their parents, who get charged higher lending rates. The Coalition would need to ensure the policy has restrictions in place to make sure the benefits flowed to younger borrowers, rather than allow wealthier investors to take advantage of any broad loosening of lending standards.
