Afternoon Update: Woolworths explains profit surge amid cost-of-living crisis; fears for famous seal; and Dolly Parton’s life in quotes

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here , and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter .

Good afternoon.

Woolworths has reported a $175m surge in net profit to $1.14bn , but the supermarket giant’s chief executive, Amanda Bardwell, said it had not done so by lifting shelf prices.

Teenage girl allegedly raped in ‘heinous’ attack at Queensland residential care home ‘So hacked off’: as election nears, New Zealanders despair at the main parties – and Opportunity knocks Productivity Commission says ‘line was crossed’ when WA premier labelled them ‘east coast clowns’ over GST Victorian government secretly increased public transport fares to help pay for controversial Suburban Rail Loop Nine CEO sees ‘world of growth in publishing’ as network slashes costs Continue reading...