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Australia’s federal budget is due today. 

With gross debt predicted to rise above $1 trillion by 2026, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is walking a tightrope between offering cost-of-living relief without fuelling inflation. 

Repayments on Government debt have become the fastest growing expense in the budget, and Dr Chalmers is facing calls to continue cutting spending. 

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that they’re hearing that inflation could be under control a year earlier than expected. 

The early relief could result in interest rate cuts, and there has been talk of energy bill relief for students and welfare recipients, she said. 

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All Blacks Captain Sam Cane has announced his retirement from the international stage. 

From next year he’ll take up a three-year contract with Suntory in Japan, where he spent this season’s sabbatical.  

Elliott Smith, Newstalk ZB’s rugby commentator, told Mike Hosking that it isn’t quite the bombshell people are calling it, but it is still earlier than expected. 

He said that Cane was still in the mix to continue the captaincy after he led the team to the World Cup final last year. 

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There are calls for the government to better regulate salt content in our processed foods. 

Research from Otago and Auckland universities reveals about two thirds of packaged foods on supermarket shelves exceed the World Health Organisation benchmark. 

Stroke Foundation General Manager Jess Winchester says one fifth of New Zealanders already have high blood pressure. 

She told Mike Hosking that the government needs to begin holding food manufacturers to the WHO sodium benchmarks. 

Winchester says people shouldn't be risking their lives every time they bite into their favourite pie. 

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It's thought a Court of Appeal decision finding the Waitangi Tribunal could summon ACT MP Karen Chhour doesn't set a precedent for future cases. 

The decision overturned a High Court ruling which found the Children's Minister did not have to front with her reasoning for removing Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act.  

Massey University Law Professor Chris Gallavin told Mike Hosking that lots of ministers have given evidence before the tribunal in the past. 

He says it's a bit of a storm in a teacup. 

Gallavin says there's lot of agreement between the High Court and Court of Appeal, and they just took different views on one point. 

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New teachers across the country are not being set up to succeed, according to the Education Review Office (ERO). 

Two thirds of principals are reporting new teachers coming into the role are unprepared, and a third of new primary teachers claim they are unprepared to teach science. 

The ERO is calling for more to be done. 

Ruth Shinoda, Head of ERO’s Education Evaluation Centre, tells Mike Hosking the combination of teachers themselves saying they don’t feel prepared, and their principals reiterating this is concerning. 

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A new proposal could see protest groups in the UK banned in a similar way to terrorist organisations.  

Extracts of an upcoming report show recommendations will be made for a new category proscribing “extreme protest groups”, defining these as those which routinely use criminal tactics to try to achieve their aims. Protest groups such as Just Stop Oil and Palestine Action could have sanctions that restrict the groups’ ability to fundraise and rights to assembly in the UK. 

Plus, a new device might cut down hospital time for cancer patients.  

The Liberty has been given regulatory approval. The device allows patients to take blood tests and upload the results at home without supervision. 

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells Mike Hosking the device has only been tested on a small number of types of cancer. 

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