Australia Hits $1 Trillion Debt as Unemployment Rises to 4.5%

Australia's national debt has officially cracked $1 trillion for the first time, a milestone that landed today just as new data showed the unemployment rate unexpectedly rising to 4.5% — its highest level in nearly five years. The twin developments have ignited a fierce political battle over fiscal responsibility and economic management, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers slamming critics for "hyperventilating" over the debt figure while opposition leaders demand a clearer...