The Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee is holding a public hearing in Canberra today looking at a bill that aims to break-up what’s seen as Qantas and Virgin dominance for slots at Sydney Airport.

Some smaller airlines have said this “slot hoarding” by the two big airlines makes it almost impossible to compete on flights in and out of Sydney, locking them out of some of the most profitable high-load routes and times.

The committee will first hear from Qantas at 9am AEDT, then regional aviation operators, then air freight giant FedEx, before Sydney and Canberra Airport operators make an appearance.

Later in the day a range of community groups and experts will appear before the federal Department of Transport and the Australian Competition and Consumer commission wrap up the program.

We’ll bring you any highlights throughout the day.

A powerful story from the ABC’s Michael Atkin today, where he speaks to artist Jacinta Numina-Waugh about the mistreatment she allegedly faced from telco Optus.

The telco’s debt collector pursued her for months after she was signed up to a plan she simply couldn’t afford.

“I thought, ‘This is it, they’re gonna lock me up,'” Jacinta says.

Optus is being sued by the ACCC over allegations it engaged in unconscionable sales conduct involving vulnerable customers, including Indigenous Australians like Jacinta.

Teenage workers excluded from superannuation because they work less than 30 hours a week is discriminatory, according to the Super Members Council.

Chief executive Misha Schubert says they want a historical quirk in super rules to be overturned, and that it could add $10,000 to a retirement nest egg. 

Yet employer groups worry the super to under-18s could be an additional impost for businesses.

ABC’s Peter Ryan with this story.

New data out today shows just how much fortunes have changed for property buyers in capital cities in Australia.

Listings are up more than 20% for capital cities in October, the highest level in a decade, with an annual rise of 14% overall.

“Melbourne and Canberra had record-high new listings for the month of October,” Proptrack’s data shows.

“Sydney recorded its highest October volume of new listings in nine years.

“Brisbane and Hobart hit their highest volume of new listings for October in six years, Adelaide its highest October volume in five years while in Perth, it was the strongest October for new listings in a decade.”

Darwin, however, isn’t seeing the same trend.

This compares to just last year, where a historical shortage in listings was leading property analysts to note that it was keeping prices high for buyers.

Now, they’ve got more power and less urgency.

US president-elect Donald Trump plans to introduce an across-the-board tariff of either 10 or 20 per cent on all imports, which could have a big impact in Australia.

Read more about the implications here.

This story by my colleague Rachel Clayton today.

Census data shows that across the country, the proportion of renters has grown over the past decade for every age group except those aged 80 and over — except for in Sydney, where renting has increased among those over 80.

Data from the Australian Housing Conditions Dataset now indicates that almost 50 per cent of private renters believe they will never be able to afford their own home.

University of Adelaide housing researcher Emma Baker said the data indicated Australia was facing a pivotal shift.

“Australia really is at a tipping point, transitioning from a home-owning nation to a nation where renting needs to be a lifetime tenure,” Professor Baker said.

Read this piece about the ways we could help “forever renters”.

Regional Express (Rex) has been offered an $80 million lifeline by the federal government to keep running regional routes.

The nation’s third-largest carrier entered voluntary administration in July. Its administrators are now set to apply to extend its VA until mid-2025.

Early access to entitlements for former employees who were made redundant will also be granted.

Rex will pay entitlements for the remaining workers who have been made redundant during the period of administration.

An application will be made to the Federal Court to extend the administration period to the end of June 2025.

If that’s successful, the government funding will guarantee ticket sales for that period.

“Today’s announcement is another demonstration of our commitment to maintaining regional aviation access, recognising the important role that Rex plays in regional communities right across Australia,” two federal ministers said.

Good morning!

Emilia here with you this morning, and we’re already seeing quite a few stories filter through.

One of them includes news that the federal government is giving regional airline Rex a $80 million handout as its administrators are set to apply to extend its voluntary admin until mid-2025.

We also have Wall Street rally’s continuing off the back of Trump’s re-election, with stocks here in Australia set to continue. Right now ASX 200 futures are up slightly. 

Bitcoin is also still rising with the Trump effect.

We’ll bring you more on these stories soon!