Headlines: Former SA Liberal leader convicted on drug charges

The Coalition has walked back its plan to keep Labor’s tax breaks for electric cars. Former South Australian Opposition Leader David Speirs has been convicted and fined over drug supply charges. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of jeopardising ceasefire negotiations in the war with Russia. And the good news: Australian tennis player Maya Joint has beaten a record previously held by Ash Barty, becoming the youngest Aussie woman to win a match at a WTA1000 tournament.

Hosts: Lucy Tassell and Zara Seidler

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
From The Daily Os. I'm Lucy Tassel, I'm Zara Seidler.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's Thursday, the twenty fourth of April. Here's what's making
headlines this evening.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
The Coalition has walked back its plan to keep Labour's
tax breaks for electric cars. On Monday, Opposition later Peter
Dudden was asked if he had any plans to remove
Labour's fringe benefits tax exemption. That's a policy that aims
to make evs more affordable for Australians, he told reporters.
What we're opposed to is the government's big tax on hybrids. Today. However,

(00:38):
the Coalition confirmed it will remove the exemption if it
is elected on May third. The move has been criticized
by experts, who warn the decision could push up transport
costs and halt environmental progress. Dudden has insisted the Coalition
has been clear on its position all along.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Former South Australian Opposition leader David Spears has been convicted
and fined over drug supply charges. Last year, Spears pleaded
guilty to supplying illicit drugs on two separate occasions. His
lawyer asked the court to not record a conviction so
that Spears will not face issues traveling overseas. In court today,
Magistrate Brian Nischke said, quote, the need for general deterrence

(01:20):
is too great to refrain from recording a conviction. Spears
has since been convicted, ordered to pay a nine thousand
dollar fine and must complete thirty seven and a half
hours of community service.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
US President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski
of jeopardizing ceasefire negotiations in the war with Russia. Earlier
this week, US Vice President JD Vance said negotiations are
targeting an end to the war where the frontlines freeze
in their current spot, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has
reportedly supported. Van said this would mean both sides would

(01:56):
have to give up some of the territory they currently
Ownsky has repeatedly said Ukraine will never recognize Russian control
of the Crimean Peninsula. Russia illegally annexed the region from
Ukraine in twenty fourteen, in a move widely seen as
foreshadowing its invasion in twenty twenty two, in response to
Zelenski's comments, Trump posted on his social media platform truth Socials,

(02:19):
saying the US, Russia, and Ukraine are quote very close
to a deal, but the man with no cards to
play should now finally get it done.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
And today's good news, Australian tennis player Maya Joint has
beaten a record previously held by Ash Barty, becoming the
youngest ossie woman to win a match at a WTA
one thousand tournament. Pro tennis tournaments are named after the
number of points the overall winner earns towards their world ranking.
At the time she won, Joint was nineteen years and

(02:51):
five days old, while Barty was almost twenty one. The win,
which came in the first round of the Madrid Open,
is Joint's first victory at this level. It currently ranked
seventy eighth, up from two hundred and sixty ninth this
time last year.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
That's the latest from the Dalyos newsroom. If you are
looking to catch up on this morning's deep dive, we
discuss what the major parties have proposed in terms of
combating gender based violence. We'll be back again tomorrow morning
with another deep dive, but until then, have a lovely evening.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bunjelung Kalkotin woman from Gadighl country. The daly oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Strait island and nations. We pay our respects to the
first peoples of these countries, both past and present.