More than 30,000 first-home buyers face potential negative equity as national home values fell again in July, with market predictions of a 10% plunge. The Coalition warns that buyers who entered the market through the 5% deposit scheme may now owe more than their homes are worth. Debate centres on whether the scheme should be means-tested after the government removed the $200,000 income cap and expanded eligibility to permanent residents.

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US President Donald Trump has called Iran duplicitous while claiming talks are resuming, though Iranian officials deny any negotiations are taking place with the US. Iran and Oman are currently in discussions to establish a safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz after previous maritime tensions led to Iranian forces firing on ships. Middle East experts suggest Trump's statements about progress may be aimed at reassuring markets and his political base rather than reflecting actual diplomatic developments.

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Emma's Bakery in Ballarat is participating in the best pie competition running throughout August, with plans to attempt a record for the most people simultaneously biting a meat pie. The bakery, operating for 12 years, has entered a goat deluxe pie featuring Meredith Dairy goat shoulder slow-cooked for eight hours with Nepalese curry and goat cheese in the people's choice category. The competition includes a voting component where participants can win a luxury holiday.

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ING has put financial compatibility to the test with their Dating on a Dime event, two Sunrise staff members attended with the initiative to make money conversations less awkward!

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Saroo Brierley was separated from his family in rural India at age five after accidentally boarding a train that took him thousands of kilometres from home. Adopted by an Australian family and raised in Hobart, he used his photographic memory and Google Earth as an adult to painstakingly search for his hometown, successfully reuniting with his biological mother in 2012 after 29 years apart. His extraordinary story was adapted into the multi-award winning film Lion, starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, and he now partners with Tahbilk wines to help other separated families reunite through a competition covering travel expenses.

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Financial expert Sally Tindall from Canstar outlines strategic ways to maximise tax refunds, prioritising high-interest debt repayment, particularly credit cards charging up to 28.99% interest. She demonstrates how a $3,000 tax refund can save thousands in interest when applied to credit card debt, mortgages, or superannuation contributions, with super offering tax advantages and compound interest benefits. Alternative strategies include investing in exchange-traded funds, personal development courses, or time-saving services.

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New South Wales has launched a large-scale shark drone surveillance program covering more than 70 beaches, with drones flying every day of the year.

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The Voice Australia returns with its biggest season yet, featuring global pop star Tones and I as a surprise new coach joining the judging panel. The hit maker, whose streaming records have surpassed The Beatles and Beyoncé, takes her place in the iconic red chair for the first time. This season introduces a major format change with a second chance opportunity for contestants if the coaches don't turn their chairs initially.

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Australian home values fell by 0.7% in July 2024, marking the largest national decline since December 2022. High-value properties experienced the steepest losses, whilst lower-priced homes under $1.5 million gained 0.3%, driven by first homebuyer activity and investor demand in more affordable market segments. The downturn, now four months old nationally and longer in Sydney and Melbourne, is expected to continue through the rest of 2024 until interest rate cuts begin around mid-2025.

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Petrol prices are set to increase by approximately 16 cents per litre as the fuel excise tax cut ends, adding roughly $10 to the cost of filling a typical 60-litre tank. The timing coincides with growing global oil supply risks, including Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the depletion of strategic oil reserves by IEA member countries, and Russia's extended fuel export ban due to the Ukraine conflict. Australia currently holds 40 days of diesel reserves, established under previous and current governments, which could help manage supply disruptions for approximately six months.

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