What we learned today, Friday 14 July
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed - thank you for spending part of your day with us. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
Penny Wong meets China’s highest ranking diplomat at Asean summit
‘Four decades of dedication’ to RBA and economy: Chalmers thanks Lowe
Dutton’s negativity over RBA candidates ‘bordering on the pathological’, Chalmers says
China’s top diplomat hails ‘stabilised’ relations after Penny Wong meeting
APVMA review finds ‘unacceptable volume of personnel-related complaints’
APVMA CEO and board chair resign amid allegations of ‘industry capture’
APVMA review includes ‘allegations of industry capture’: Murray Watt
Larrakia traditional owners urge Plibersek to visit site of proposed defence development
Sensitive Victorian government data leaked after HWL Ebsworth hack
‘I don’t expect anything like the Aston byelection result’: PM on Fadden byelection
We will be back tomorrow to do it all again. Have a great Friday night.
Updated
ACCC to crack down on company greenwashing
Companies should have evidence to back up claims they make about their environmental sustainability, according to draft guidelines developed by the competition watchdog in a bid to stamp out greenwashing.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published the draft guidance on Friday after its recent greenwashing internet sweep identified concerning practices ranging from overstating climate action to companies developing their own certification schemes.
Updated
ASX enjoys best week since November on back of cooling US inflation
The local share market has enjoyed its best week since November after cooling US inflation increased expectations of an end to domestic interest rate hikes, AAP reports.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Friday up 56.2 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 7,303.1 – a gain of 3.7% for the week.
The broader All Ordinaries rose 61.7 points, or 0.8%, to 7,517.1.
A weaker-than-expected inflation print out of the US filled the sails of local traders, who hope the rapid deceleration in inflation will soon be blown on to Australian shores.
The producer price index released overnight showed price pressures decelerating, with wholesale prices increasing just 0.1% for the month of June.
Local markets have priced down the possibility of an August rate rise considerably, but JP Morgan Australia chief economist Ben Jarman believes the Reserve Bank will raise the rate once more before calling it quits.
He says the appointment of Michelle Bullock as the RBA’s first female governor should not affect the board’s monetary policy direction.
Updated
Wong calls for details of China-Solomon Islands policing deal
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has raised a policing deal signed between Beijing and Solomon Islands in a meeting with China’s top diplomat.
Australia, along with the US and New Zealand, has called for the details of a security deal between China and the Pacific Island nation to be released.
Senator Wong spoke with China’s top-ranking diplomat Wang Yi while in Jakarta for the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting.
The foreign minister confirmed she asked about the policing deal during the talks, which followed their meeting in Beijing in late-2022.
“We take the view, along with all other members of the Pacific Island Forum … that security is best provided for within the Pacific family,” Senator Wong told reporters.
“We urge there to be transparency about the nature of the agreement, we understand that countries made their sovereign decisions.
“The security of the Pacific is something we all have an interest in.”
Solomon Islands government has rejected suggestions its policing deal could jeopardise peace in the Pacific region.
In a statement on Friday, the office of prime minister Manasseh Sogavare said Chinese police will add to the existing support provided by Australia and New Zealand.
“No one has a monopoly of knowledge,” the statement said.
Updated
Senate could compel consultancy fims to give evidence
A senate inquiry examining the conduct of government consultants could compel firms that have so far declined to give evidence in person to appear at hearings.
The inquiry, triggered by the scandal engulfing PwC, is investigating whether government information was also misused by other big consultancy firms.
Consultancy giants EY and Deloitte will appear before the inquiry early next week, days after disclosing conflicts of interest and misconduct breaches.
Boston Consulting Group was invited to appear before senators but “respectfully declined”, telling senators that it would instead provide written submissions.
McKinsey has also declined to appear.
Senators can compel the people to appear before hearings and will consider doing so on Monday.
The Greens senator Barbara Pocock has criticised some firms for declining to provide answers to questions:
Declining to appear for no good reason and failing to answer questions on notice are a good indication that these firms regard themselves as immune to the scrutiny and accountability that the people of Australia expect from those who draw so heavily on the public purse.
Updated
Sydney WorldPride drew $235m in visitor spending, analysis finds
The glitter has settled, the rainbow floats are parked and the results from Sydney’s WorldPride LGBTQ+ extravaganza are in, AAP reports.
Nearly 70,000 tourists from 71 countries descended on Australia’s harbour city for the 17-day festival in February and March, surpassing all expectations and marking Sydney’s biggest event since the 2000 Olympics.
Among them were 21,000 international visitors, mainly from the US, the UK, Germany, New Zealand and Canada, spending an average of $497 each night.
The results are part of a Deloitte Access Economics analysis released by WorldPride organisers.
It shows the parties, performances, talks and events across 17 days in February and March drew in an audience of 1.08 million people and drew $235m in visitor expenditure to the state.
Organisers initially forecast the festival would inject $100m into the NSW visitor economy.
The tourism minister, John Graham, said the high expectations for the event were “outperformed and well exceeded”.
Sydney WorldPride and similar events lead to real change in community attitudes, policies and laws, WorldPride chair Damien Hodgkinson said.
Updated
Nationals accuse Labor of ‘breathtaking hypocrisy’ over APVMA report
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has criticised Labor for its response to the scathing APVMA report, accusing the government of “breathtaking hypocrisy”.
The report into the governance of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, released today, found “serious and systemic issues” within the organisation. Agriculture minister Murray Watt said the independent report, from law firm Clayton Utz, uncovered “serious allegations of poor governance, poor workplace culture and poor leadership that are clearly left the APVMA at risk of not meeting those integrity standards”.
Littleproud, the shadow agriculture minister, claimed Labor had not supported a Coalition push for a governance board for the APVMA between 2019 and 21.
“Labor is now complaining about a lack of governance into the APVMA from 2019 to 2022, despite originally being opposed to a board that would have provided governance to the APVMA,” he said.
Littleproud noted that the report found systemic issues between 2019 and 22, “which was the time the former Coalition Government was trying to make improvements”.
An APVMA spokesperson directed questions about the review to the minister.
“The APVMA Board and interim Executive accept the findings of the Final Strategic Review Report and Ministerial Direction and have undertaken to continue to work diligently towards addressing the findings of the review and act in accordance with the directive immediately,” they said.
Updated
Colonial super agrees to $100m class action settlement
A $100m settlement has been reached on behalf of Colonial First State superannuation fund members who were allegedly charged excessive fees, with thousands eligible for reimbursements, AAP reports.
The class action alleged the super trustee, owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, charged excessive fees as part of arrangements to pay ongoing commissions to financial advisers who did not provide continuing services to customers in return.
The settlement, brought by law firm Slater and Gordon and subject to court approval, relates to fees charged to members of the Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust between July 2013 and June 2020.
The class action alleged Colonial continued to charge thousands of existing members high fees under the commission arrangements despite legislation banning the charging of commissions on new super accounts from 2013.
It was alleged that Colonial had the power at the time to reduce the fees or transfer existing members to identical products with lower fees and where commissions were not paid, but this did not happen until 2019 and 2020.
Former customer and lead applicant Marcel Krieger joined Colonial’s FirstChoice Personal Super after a bank financial adviser recommended the product during a branch visit to the Commonwealth Bank in 2010.
Updated
Vales Point seeks four-year extension to ageing coal-fired power plant
One of Australia’s oldest and dirtiest power stations reckons it can extend its life by another four years.
Vales Point, near Newcastle in New South Wales, had been slated to shut in 2029 but its new owners - Sev.en Global Investments - say they have advised the market operator (AEMO) they plan to keep the clunker going until 2033.
Built in 1978, the 1320 megawatt plant supplies about a 10th of New South Wales’ electricity. It was formerly government-owned and sold in 2015 to Delta Energy for a $1m, and then on sold last year to Czech billionaire Pavel Tykač,
“As the 2029 date draws closer, Delta has been able to estimate plant technical capabilities with a greater level of accuracy,” the company said in a statement.
“The Vales Point Power Station continues to be a key asset in the transitioning energy market by providing essential firming capacity to support the growing integration of renewable energy and ensuring a reliable and secure source of electricity.”
Of course, coal plants can’t ramp up or down very fast at all so there is no real firming capacity as such. Still, with the speculation swirling about the future of the less-clunky 2880MW Eraring power station nearby, Vales Point’s likely extension is notable.
Origin Energy has today dismissed a report that the NSW government was ready to intervene to keep Eraring going beyond August 2025 in the Daily Telegraph as a “whole lot of nothing”.
That 2025 date is the earliest possible closure date for Australia’s biggest power station and it doesn’t mean all of the plant would shut at the time. Watch out for more on this issue tomorrow.
South Australia’s acting chief public health officer Chris Lease on the state’s vaping blitz:
Our vaping blitz has already targeted a range of businesses through the week and found that a third have not been complying.
We are urging businesses to comply with new licence holder changes as we will be inspecting them throughout the eight weeks and the appropriate action will be taken.
Businesses have been put on notice that it is illegal to sell any nicotine vaping products in South Australia unless you are the holder of a licence under the Controlled Substances Act (such as a pharmacy) and the purchaser is in possession of a valid prescription.
Updated
Vapes seized as South Australia cracks down on ‘scourge’
Earlier today we reported that 1200 vapes, believed to contain nicotine, had been seized in South Australia.
I’ve got some more information for you from SA Health about the state’s blitz against vapes.
As part of the eight-week crackdown SA Health compliance officers are inspecting businesses that sell vapes, including convenience stores, service stations, gifts and accessories stores, and supermarkets to check that licence holders are meeting the new conditions.
SA Health:
In the first four days of the eight-week operation, 1200 vapes suspected of containing nicotine have been taken off shop shelves by SA Health officials, worth a total estimated street value of $36,000.
So far this week, 18 inspections have been held across metropolitan Adelaide. About a third of businesses inspected have been found to be stocking vape products listed on the TGA website as containing nicotine.
All seized property will be laboratory tested over coming weeks to confirm the presence of nicotine.
Once results are verified, SA Health will consider enforcement action, including issuing cautions or expiations and commencing legal proceedings or the cancellation of business licences.
The eight-week enforcement blitz began on Monday, coinciding with tough new licence conditions imposed by the Malinauskas Labor government to crack down on the vaping scourge.
Updated
Flu deaths prompt alarm over low vaccination rates in Queensland
Everything is on the table – including free jabs for all – as health authorities figure out how to get more Queenslanders immunised against the flu.
Health minister, Shannon Fentiman, says providing jabs free of charge again is a possibility amid rising influenza cases and vaccination fatigue following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Influenza B has become the state’s dominant strain this winter and is a particular danger to children, fuelling concerns about the low rate of vaccinations among under-fives.
Fentiman’s meeting to address the issue this week with chief health officer John Gerrard followed the flu-related deaths of an 11-year-old girl on the Sunshine Coast and a year-nine student on the NSW Central Coast.
“I have requested the chief health officer and the department to put together all options about how we can get the message out there to families that they need to get the flu vaccine,” Fentiman told reporters on Friday.
“Really, the message is not getting through and there is a level of vaccine fatigue. So we’re going to redouble our efforts.”
- AAP
Updated
What are your questions on the proposed voice to parliament?
For an upcoming episode of our daily news podcast Full Story our podcast team wants your questions on the referendum for a proposed Indigenous voice to parliament and how it will work.
Do you have any questions about:
First Nations people in remote communities and the voice?
How is the media covering the referendum?
Please email your questions to voicequestions@theguardian.com
A panel of experts will answer select questions in a future episode.
Updated
Campaign urges government to address shortfall in social housing
National housing campaign Everybody’s Home warns the rental crisis will continue unless there’s a significant increase in social housing, as new figures show persistently slow growth.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows between 2006 and 2022, social housing stock grew by just 36,200 dwellings. That’s about 2,260 homes each year.
The figures over the same period show just how much federal governments have walked away from providing homes, with Australia losing 43,800 public dwellings.
Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said:
Every year, we are getting further behind on social housing. With sky-high need and long waiting lists, it’s not hard to see how we ended up in this housing crisis.
Our social housing shortfall is massive. Australia needs 640,000 homes for people experiencing homelessness and extreme housing stress. But these numbers show that the shortfall is getting worse, not better.
With so many people in extreme housing stress, competition for rentals is fierce. We need the federal government to step up and make a plan to end the social housing shortfall.
We are calling on the federal government to build at least 25,000 social homes each year to end the shortfall and tackle rental stress.
Updated
Almost 80 people to be rehoused in Rochester nine months after floods
Almost 80 flood-affected Victorians will be rehoused before an emergency accommodation centre closes to make way for an agricultural event.
The Elmore accommodation site has housed more than 300 people from towns such as Rochester and Echuca since record floods surged through northern Victoria in October 2022.
The Victorian government and Emergency Recovery Victoria are delivering short-term modular housing at the local caravan park in Rochester to house people still unable to return, nine months after their homes were damaged or destroyed.
The acting emergency services minister, Anthony Carbines, said the caravan park location would be convenient for locals as they rebuilt their homes.
“We know how important it is for people to stay connected to their community when recovering from disaster – so people can keep close to loved ones, keep going to work and school, and stay connected as one,” Carbines said in a statement.
Fewer than 80 people remain in accommodation at the temporary housing site in Elmore, which is required for the Elmore Field Days agricultural event in October.
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Opposition criticises Labor over new NSW transport department boss
A former Labor staffer will head up Australia’s busiest transport network, prompting accusations it’s a case of “jobs for the boys”, AAP reports.
The Laing O’Rourke executive Josh Murray will take the wheel of the NSW transport department as the Minns government promises radical improvements to tollways, bus services and train maintenance.
His 15 years of experience at the global construction and engineering firm meant he had the right skills and experience to lead a 28,000-strong organisation heavily reliant on frontline workers, the transport minister, Jo Haylen, said.
The new secretary was chosen after market testing and a recruitment process by the head of the premier’s department.
But the opposition dubbed the appointment an “extraordinary and unprecedented case of ‘jobs for the boys’.”
“Mr Murray’s only qualification for the role is that he is an ex-Labor staffer,” the opposition transport spokeswoman, Natalie Ward, said today.
Updated
South Australian authorities seize 1,200 vapes suspected of containing nicotine
More than a thousand vapes have been seized for testing in a crackdown across Adelaide targeting illegal nicotine sales, AAP reports.
In the first four days of the eight-week operation, 1,200 vapes with an estimated value of $36,000 and suspected of containing nicotine were taken off shop shelves. All seized products will be laboratory tested which could lead to legal action or the cancellation of business licences.
The health minister, Chris Picton, said it was concerning young people could pick up vapes so easily not knowing they contained highly addictive nicotine.
“The rates at which young people are becoming hooked on vapes is alarming and we must act now to turn this around,” he said on Friday.
SA this week introduced new conditions requiring retailers to provide proof vaping products being sold are nicotine-free. Retailers also need to provide information about their e-cigarette suppliers, importers or manufacturers to allow products to be traced.
The new conditions are an interim measure, while the federal government works through plans to stop the importation of non-prescription e-cigarettes along with the banning of vapes in retail settings and the sale of single-use vapes.
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Albanese government advertises jobs for new in-house consultancy after PwC controversy
Friday is usually taking out the trash day – a euphemism to describe politicians announcing or releasing information they aren’t too keen on getting a lot of attention when people’s attention is elsewhere – usually on the weekend, or in some cases, the announcement of a new RBA governor.
This isn’t quite trash – but still interesting – it seems the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet have quietly released the job applications for the new in-house consultancy it is establishing with the Australian public service.
Australian Government Consulting is to do just that – build up in-house capacity for the APS to consult, without having to go to private consultants.
It was one of the things Anthony Albanese said he was going to prioritise upon winning government. Once the PwC controversy hit, it became obvious why the government was focused on rebuilding internal capacity within the APS.
The last budget included $11m over the next two years to establish the in-house consultancy and now we can see why – seven jobs have been loaded onto the PMC vacancies portal that we can see – with pay from the low six figures.
Updated
‘Huge impact on people at the bottom’: ACTU urges RBA caution on rates
McManus agrees the new RBA governor will have difficult decisions in the months ahead:
The trade union movement think that the Reserve Bank has already gone too far in putting up interest rates and they should have paused those several rate rises ago.
We say that because we can see the huge impact on people at the bottom, working families, and they’ve been crushed by either their own interest rate rises or by their landlords passing those on and we can see what’s happening there.
So whenever your own domestic economy suffers, the whole economy suffers when working people are under stress. We are the economy.
So we would like that to continue to pause and to see what’s happening in terms of the dropping of inflation around the world.
Updated
‘They have punished working families’: ACTU urges RBA to focus on wages
The ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, is on the ABC, talking about what changes she would like to see at the RBA:
I’d like to see first of all them recognise that wages in Australia are not going to magically just go up. You can see what’s happening now in the United States.
There’s been a big drop in inflation and their wage rises have been way higher than ours. And so I think that they have punished working families for a problem that they did not cause, and making workers poorer actually doesn’t help the economy.
So I would like them to update their understanding about how wages work because that’s a key part of their overall thinking in terms of their decisions.
Updated
PM urges Greens to back housing fund
Anthony Albanese is in Jordan Springs, in Sydney’s west, to talk about housing.
The PM urges the Greens to back the Housing Australia Future Fund:
All we need for someone to be able to be sitting in a new home that is for them, to make a difference to their lives and their children’s lives, is for the Greens party to get up off their seats and go sit on the right side of the chamber.
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‘We understand there are some people who are doing it really tough,’ PM says
The PM is talking about the global economic outlook, and how Australia, despite the challenges is in a good position.
We understand there are some people who are doing it really tough. We will do our best each and every day to make a difference to their lives.
Updated
'I don’t expect anything like the Aston byelection result': PM on Fadden byelection
The PM has been asked about the Fadden byelection.
Albanese starts by talking about how governments usually see swings away from them during byelections:
Fadden and the northern part of the Gold Coast have only ever returned LNP members. They’ve never returned Labor members federally. But our confidence is, we have a great candidate, I was out there happy to launch our campaign.
The Labor party are running so people have that choice, but I don’t expect anything like the Aston byelection result. That was an extraordinary result. But I don’t expect anything will change for the Coalition.
Updated
PM focused on cost-of-living relief while not putting pressure on inflation
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and housing minister, Julie Collins, are speaking to reporters in NSW.
Albanese says the government is focusing on relieving the cost of living while not putting pressure on inflation:
What we are doing is putting in place positive plans that make a difference for people on childcare, housing, healthcare costs, education, including the provision of Tafe, while managing the economy so we take that pressure off inflation.
Updated
Sensitive Victorian government data leaked after HWL Ebsworth hack
Highly sensitive Victorian government data has been published to the dark web but authorities are still working out the extent of the compromise, AAP has reported.
The information, which was stolen during a cyber-attack on a top law firm, has been leaked to the dark web.
The data was taken during the HWL Ebsworth hack earlier this year. A spokesperson for the Victorian government said it was aware a number of files had been released and was still in the process of working out the extent of the compromise.
“We have been advised by HWL Ebsworth that information affected includes highly sensitive documents from legal files with state government departments and agencies,” they said on Friday.
“We know this could be a distressing situation for the people affected and we are working to notify all those affected as soon as possible.”
The law firm has clients at government level in every state and territory. Australia’s top cybersecurity coordinator, Air Marshal Darren Goldie, previously said several government entities had been impacted. In June, hackers from Russia claimed to have published data stolen during the attack.
Updated
ACTU calls on new RBA governor to halt interest rate hikes
Hello everyone, this Cait Kelly. What a busy morning! I will be with you for the rest of the day – so let’s get into it.
First up, I’ve got a statement from the Australian Council of Trade Unions for you. The council has welcomed Michele Bullock as the new RBA governor and called on her to stop the interest rate hikes.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus said in a statement:
We welcome the changing of the guard of the Reserve Bank. New leadership needs to consider the realities of the Australian economy with fresh eyes. It is time to stop fighting mythical wage price spirals and to recognise we have a very different wages system to the 1970s.
Working people have been punished for an inflation problem they did not cause and this has put severe pressure on working families. We hope the new governor will consult directly with the people who understand these issues.
In the last 14 months we’ve seen 12 interest rate rises, that can’t go on.
Workers have been feeling the brunt of inflation rate rises and we call on the Michele Bullock to take a different approach than her predecessor.
We also reiterate our call that the RBA fulfill its commitment to full employment.
Updated
Handing over now to Cait Kelly, who will take you through the afternoon’s news.
Thank you for joining me on the blog this busy morning – I’ll see you next week.
Shadow treasurer thanks Lowe, welcomes Bullock into RBA governor role
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has thanked Philip Lowe for his service as Reserve Bank governor, and congratulated Michele Bullock on her appointment.
Dr Lowe has been an independent, distinguished, and dedicated governor who has helped to steer Australia through some of our biggest economic challenges.
Michele Bullock is a highly capable economist, with qualifications from the London School of Economics and University of New England, who has served the Reserve Bank with distinction for 38 years.
Taylor says it is essential Australians have confidence in the RBA, amid feeling the impact of high inflation:
With inflation at its highest level in three decades, it is essential Australians can have confidence in this crucial economic institution and that we continue to have a credible and capable Reserve Bank.
Families are feeling the impacts of higher prices and rising interest rates every day. Along with strong economic management, a strong Reserve Bank is essential to addressing the inflation that is driving higher prices.
Updated
Larrakia traditional owners urge Plibersek to visit site of proposed defence development
A temporary halt to clearing at Lee Point in Darwin has been extended while the environment minister Tanya Plibersek considers an application by Larrakia traditional owners to protect the site from a proposed defence housing development.
Defence Housing Australia has agreed to pause planned clearing of woodlands until 11 August.
It follows a community campaign in Darwin to protect the area which is home to species including the Gouldian finch and black-footed tree rat and to coastal reserve that acts as a corridor to other woodland areas.
Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia, acting for Larrakia traditional owners, have applied to Plibersek for a declaration to protect a significant Aboriginal area under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.
Under the act, the government can make a declaration to protect traditional areas and objects of significance to First Nations peoples.
Larrakia traditional custodian Lorraine Williams said Larrakia people had not been properly consulted about the housing development and wanted the minister to meet with them in Darwin:
Please minister Plibersek, come and speak to Larrakia people on the ground before any further works take place. We would like to talk to you about the importance of the area, the plants and the animals here, not just for Aboriginal people, but for all Territorians. No one wants to see this place destroyed.
You can read more about the story here:
Updated
ABC asks court to discharge orders over revealing confidential source
The ABC has asked a court to discharge orders that the broadcaster revealed a confidential source for an investigative story about the alleged actions in Afghanistan in 2012 of the November platoon.
Former commando Heston Russell is suing the ABC for defamation over the story.
The ABC dropped its public interest defence in the case at the 11th hour on Wednesday after a federal court order.
On Friday morning Justice Michael Lee was hearing a submission from Russell’s lawyers that the source should still be revealed because it is relevant to damages.
The ABC’s barrister said:
My clients are faced with the choice between prosecuting a public interest defense under Section 29A, and adhering to its promise to a source not to disclose his name has chosen to withdraw the public interest defense.
The court has adjourned until 12.15pm.
Updated
Review into Eraring coal power station handed down by August
The New South Wales government says no decisions about the future of the Eraring coal-fired power station have been made following media reports it would remain open past 2025.
A spokesperson said a review into the state’s energy outlook was underway and all decisions would be made after it was handed to the government next month.
The spokesperson said:
A health check is underway regarding the NSW energy outlook. It’s being conducted at arms-length from the NSW government. Its report is due to be handed to the government in August and the government will consider its response in due course.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has repeatedly said all options were on the table relating to the plant owned by Origin Energy.
It is due to be turned off in 2025.
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APVMA review includes 'allegations of industry capture': Murray Watt
The Clayton Utz review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority uncovered serious allegations of poor governance, poor workplace culture and poor leadership.
Agriculture minister Murray Watt adds:
Concerningly the review also includes allegations of industry capture of the APVMA. It appears to have played a key role in the APVMA not performing its full regulatory responsibilities.
Watt says the authority is left at risk of not meeting integrity standards.
He says the findings join a “long line of examples of incompetence” under the former government:
Unfortunately this saga is just another in what has become a long line of examples of incompetence and maladministration under the former Coalition government. This happened on their watch but I’m determined to clean up their mess.
By taking the firm action I have outlined today we will ensure the integrity of Australia’s outback chemical regulation and we will maintain competence in our world leading food and fibre industries.
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APVMA CEO and board chair resign amid allegations of ‘industry capture’
Agriculture minister Murray Watt also confirmed the CEO and board chair of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority have resigned.
Finally I would also like to advise that in recent days, both APVMA CEO and board chair have tended the resignations from the respective roles.
A nationwide search is conducted for their long-term replacements.
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Long delays in chemical review program
The review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority also highlighted long delays in its chemical review program, agriculture minister Murray Watt says.
He says:
In some cases these reviews have been going on for over 20 years.
He has issued APVMA with a ministerial directive to finalise outstanding reviews for eight chemicals currently in use. Those reviews have been underway for more than 17 years each.
This is the first time ever that this type of ministerial direction has been given to the APVMA.
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Agriculture minister says findings from chemicals regulator require ‘serious, firm action’
Agriculture minister Murray Watt says findings from the review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority require “serious, firm action”.
Watt says:
Our first course of action will be a rapid evaluation of the APVMA’s structure and governance.
The evaluation will be conducted by Ken Matthews, former public servant. The report will be submitted to Watt by 30 September. It will include recommendations on the future governance, structure and funding arrangements of the APVMA.
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APVMA review finds ‘unacceptable volume of personnel-related complaints’
A review of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has found the organisation has “an unacceptable volume of personnel-related complaints” with a formal complaint recorded every four to six weeks for the past five years.
It also found the APVMA had focused on targets around the timeframes for registering agvet chemicals at the expense of undertaking monitoring and compliance activities, that it had taken an “educational approach” to enforcing regulations rather than applying stronger penalties, and that its approach to regulation “appears to align with industry interests”.
The desktop review by law firm Clayton Utz was released this morning by agriculture minister Murray Watt, who commissioned it to look into broader compliance issues at the regulator. It follows allegations at senate estimates that a senior member of staff at the APVMA had urinated on other staff members at a Christmas function in Armidale in 2021. A separate report into that incident was completed in February 2023 and the matter was referred to the Australian federal police.
It found that the agency, which employed 129 people as of 30 June 2022, had recorded 56 personnel-related complaints between 2018 and 2023, of which 21 were allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The report said:
There were clearly cultural issues with the organisation given that on average there was a formal complaint about once every 4-6 weeks for 5 years.
It added that while “some of the complaints were very serious” there appeared to have been “little if any reporting of these matters to the Board”.
There was no reporting that we could find of any kind of these matters to either the department or the minister meaning that matters were not escalated and relevant action could not be taken.
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Yes/No cases to be published on AEC site
The AEC has announced that the Yes and No cases for the Indigenous voice to parliament will be published on its website on Tuesday.
Each committee has until 11.59pm on Monday and whatever the AEC has received will be published.
Which makes it sound like a bad group assignment where you don’t know what is going to be actually handed in, but we are sure it is a lot more professional than that.
The committees are made up of MPs who voted yes and no on the referendum legislation which was passed by the parliament in the last sitting and are bipartisan.
Electoral commissioner Tom Rogers says:
Each case will be published in separate, unedited, and unformatted documents, exactly as they have been received by the deadline.
The deadline for case committees to submit each case is 11:59pm on Monday. Whatever we have received will be published the very next day, in order to provide visibility to voters.
Our role here is as a post-box only and this impending raw publication of each authorised case is the first aspect of our independent delivery role.
We’ll then get to work to complete the Yes/No case pamphlet for printing and create a range of translated and accessible versions. These will also be on the AEC website as they become available.
Which is very polite speak for THIS IS NOT THE AEC’S OR BELIEFS – it is only the messenger.
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China's top diplomat hails ‘stabilised’ relations after Penny Wong meeting
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said China and Australia’s relations have “stabilised, improved and developed” under the joint efforts of both countries, Reuters reports.
In a Chinese foreign ministry statement, Wang also said he hoped Australia will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in the country.
Both sides should respect each other, treat each other as equals, properly handle differences, and cultivate a friendly atmosphere of mutual understanding and appreciation, he said.
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‘Vindication for the Greens’: Greens senator on Lowe’s term not being extended
Greens senator Nick McKim says Michele Bullock’s appointment as Reserve Bank governor is “business-as-usual”.
Replacing one RBA insider with another is business-as-usual, and a clear signal that renters and mortgage holders will keep getting smashed to solve a problem they didn’t cause.
Labor needs to tax corporate super profits and wealth. That would be anti-inflationary and reduce the pressure on the RBA to use the only tool it has.
McKim says Philip Lowe’s term as governor not being extended is “vindication for the Greens”:
The decision to sack Dr Lowe is vindication for the Greens who have been calling for him to go for some time.
Dr Lowe made a series of mistakes and poor calls that resulted in renters and mortgage holders getting smashed for inflation they didn’t cause.
But corporate Australia will be heaving a giant sigh of relief today.
It’s clear that interest rate rises will continue to be used as a tool to increase unemployment and suppress wages, and that monetary policy will not be used to address inequality or climate breakdown.
Updated
If you missed it, here is prime minister Anthony Albanese announcing Michele Bullock as the new Reserve Bank governor, and treasurer Jim Chalmers thanking outgoing governor Philip Lowe for his service:
Bullock acknowledges challenging timing entering RBA governor role
Deputy governor Michele Bullock says:
I am deeply honoured to have been appointed to this important position. It is a challenging time to be coming into this role, but I will be supported by a strong executive team and boards.
I am committed to ensuring that the Reserve Bank delivers on its policy and operational objectives for the benefit of the Australian people.
In a statement, The Reserve Bank of Australia have outlined the responsibilities Bullock will inherit when she becomes governor, including management of the bank, and being chair of the Reserve Bank Board, the Payments System Board and the Council of Financial Regulators.
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‘First-rate appointment’: Lowe congratulates Bullock
Governor Philip Lowe says Michele Bullock is a “first-rate appointment” to take over his role from mid-September:
The treasurer has made a first-rate appointment. I congratulate Michele on being appointed governor.
The Reserve Bank is in very good hands as it deals with the current inflation challenge and implementing the recommendations of the review of the RBA.
I wish Michele all the best.
Updated
Bullock to implement RBA review recommendations
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says part of Michele Bullock’s role will be implementing recommendations of the Reserve Bank review – which said the organisation needs a shake-up.
[Michele] has made clear … how we can implement in the best possible way the recommendations of the Reserve Bank review. We’ve had a number of conversations about that and I know that Michele Bullock is committed to the RBA review process, as am I, as you know.
There is a lot of work to do to agree to the new statement of conduct this year, and to introduce the legislation this year ideally as well.
The fact that Michele Bullock brings that experience and expertise, but also that heft and gravitas, will be a really important asset when it comes to the relationship with the RBA board and when it comes to implementing … the review.
Updated
Dutton’s negativity over RBA candidates ‘bordering on the pathological’, Chalmers says
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Peter Dutton’s negativity “is bordering on the pathological,” following the opposition leader saying he would not support a move to appoint the next governor from the ranks of the public service yesterday.
At today’s press conference, Chalmers says:
I wasn’t obligated to consult the Opposition on this appointment, but I did it anyway. I thought it was important that I do that and I thank Angus Taylor for making the time on a couple of occasions, including this week, to talk about this appointment.
When it comes to Peter Dutton, [he] is so relentlessly negative that he is even now bagging things that aren’t happening.
This is bordering on the pathological when it comes to his negativity, and to describe people of the calibre of Steven Kennedy and Jenny Wilkinson, who have advised both sides of politics in a frank and fearless and impeccable way … it is not those two who are tainted.
Chalmers says having Wilkinson, Kennedy and Bullock in three key positions “is the best of all worlds”.
We get Michele Bullock at the Reserve Bank, and we get Steven Kennedy at the Treasury, and we get Jenny Wilkinson at Finance. I couldn’t have more respect for Kennedy and Wilkinson and Bullock.
Updated
Michele Bullock rundown
So who is Michele Bullock?
Peter Hannam, our economics editor, will fill you in more fully very soon. But in the mean time, here is your quick cheat sheet.
Bullock went to the University of New England where she received her bachelor of economics (honours) in 1984 and then graduated from the London School of Economics with her masters in 1998.
From there, Bullock worked at the RBA in a bunch of different positions before becoming the chief manager of the payments policy department in 1998. She was in that role until 2007 before she was promoted to the department’s chief manager.
From there, Bullock climbed the ladder to deputy governor, which she was appointed to in April 2022 after Guy Debelle’s shock resignation.
From 18 September 2023, Bullock will be the governor.
Bullock will be the 9th Governor of the RBA and the gig lasts for seven years, with an option to be extended.
Five of the eight governors have served one term – recent governors have seen their terms extended, but it is not the rule.
Updated
Chalmers says it’s ‘not unusual’ to forgo extending tenure of RBA governor
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it is “not particularly unusual” to not extend the tenure of the Reserve Bank governor at the end of their term.
We considered Philip Lowe on a shortlist of appointable candidates.
This idea that I think backbench members of the Opposition put around, that this is unusual not to extend him, I mean, is frankly not right.
Typically Reserve Bank governors haven’t been extended. The last couple have, but there has been eight, and five of them haven’t been extended, so … it is not particularly unusual.
I think once we realised we had the right candidate, there is no point extending governor Lowe if you have the right candidate ready to go.
So we’re appointing Michele Bullock from 18 September, and Philip Lowe goes with our thanks, gratitude and dignity.
Updated
‘It is an absolute honour’: New RBA governor thanks government
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and treasurer Jim Chalmers are now meeting with Michele Bullock, the incoming Reserve Bank governor.
Bullock says:
Thank you very much. It is an absolute honour and I’m really happy that I’ve got such great support from the government.
I think a big part of my role is going to be … leading the bank through change, which is a very important part of the next days also.
Updated
Most of Chalmer’s appointments are women
As both Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese have mentioned, Michele Bullock is the first woman to hold the RBA governor role.
That continues a trend in Treasury appointments since Chalmers took over as treasurer – most of his appointments in his first six months in the job have been women. That includes Catriona Lowe as deputy chair of the ACCC and Elana Rubin to the RBA board.
Chalmers’ chief of staff Claudia Crawford is the first woman to lead a treasurer’s office in about fifty years.
Updated
Katy Gallagher celebrates first female RBA governor
Responses to the new Reserve Bank governor appointment are rolling in.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher says:
This is a historic moment for Australia with Michele’s appointment seeing our RBA led by a woman for the first time!
Congratulations Michele Bullock — an accomplished economist & leader — on a well-deserved appointment as Governor of the RBA 👏
— Katy Gallagher (@SenKatyG) July 14, 2023
This is a historic moment for Australia with Michele’s appointment seeing our RBA led by a woman for the first time!#auspol
And former RBA board member Warwick McKibbin says Bullock is “a great appointment” and that it is “rare to have three outstanding options to choose from”.
Michele Bullock is a great appointment to be RBA governor. Rare to have 3 outstanding options to chooses from. Jim Chalmers is right that the best three people are in the most important economic positions in Australia. #Auspol2023 @ANUCrawford @CAMacroAnalysis
— Warwick McKibbin AO (@WarwickMcKibbin) July 14, 2023
Updated
Albanese shares other potentials for governor role
You may have heard Anthony Albanese just mention some of the other potential names which were in the mix for the governor job – he was speaking in the context of Peter Dutton’s attacks that the appointment needed to be “independent” and not a departmental official.
That attack was ridiculous for a number of reasons – departmental officials are meant to be independent from government anyway and the people mentioned, treasury head Steven Kennedy and deputy treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson were both appointed by the former Coalition government.
Wilkinson was floated as one of the front runners, but there was always the question of whether or not the government would want to lose one of the best macroeconomic minds in the country to the RBA. Wilkinson’s expertise, as well as Kennedy’s guidance of the treasury, obviously proved pretty valuable to Chalmers.
Michele Bullock knows the RBA and is also across the review which she will now be implementing, so it seems like it was a fairly obvious choice for Chalmers.
Updated
Bullock the best choice for RBA governor, Chalmers says
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is glad to “end the speculation” about who would replace Philip Lowe as governor of the Reserve Bank.
Obviously, an appointment of this magnitude, there is lots of speculation and I think it is a good thing today that we can end the speculation about the next governor of the Reserve Bank.
Chalmers says that, although the decision was not made until Cabinet discussion today, he has believed Michele Bullock is the best choice for RBA governor “for a while now”:
The decision was not taken until it was taken by the Cabinet collectively today, and that’s important, but it has been my view for a while now that Michele Bullock is the best person to take the bank into the future.
Updated
‘Four decades of dedication’ to RBA and economy: Chalmers thanks Lowe
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Philip Lowe is a “terrific guy” as he thanks the outgoing governor for his commitment to the RBA and “our country as well”:
We thank Phil Lowe for more than four decades of dedication and commitment and service, not just to the Reserve Bank and not just to the economy, but to our country as well. Phil Lowe goes with our respect, he goes with our gratitude, and he goes with dignity, and I want to make that clear.
On a personal level, I have really valued my working relationship with Phil. I have known Phil for a long time. He is, on a personal level, a terrific guy, and he has handled himself impeccably, as we’ve gone through this process.
Updated
RBA governor one of the most important appointments, Chalmers says
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the appointment of Michele Bullock as the ninth Reserve Bank governor is “not an easy call”.
Chalmers says:
This is the right call, but it’s not an easy call. This comes after months of deliberation and consultation, and we have come at this in the most methodical and considered way that we could.”
This is one of the most important appointments that we will make as a government.
Updated
Just a couple of examples of Michele Bullock’s communication style – here is the incoming governor speaking on mortgage rates in July 2022:
And here is how she saw the economy in September 2021 and what she saw the risks as:
RBA’s direction under Bullock expected not to change much
The new governor of the RBA, Michele Bullock replaced the man who was widely tipped as the next governor – Guy Debelle as deputy governor of the RBA.
Don’t expect too much change in the RBA’s direction under Bullock’s tenure – her recent speeches have been in line with what Dr Philip Lowe has been saying.
In terms of communication, Bullock is a policy head – her explanations have been bureaucrat-speak heavy, but she has also given a little more information in terms of how the decisions have been impacting those on the margins. The RBA tends to focus on the aggregate – Bullock has made mention of those outside the aggregate in some of her recent speeches. It’s going to be interesting to see how that continues in her role as governor.
Updated
‘Outstanding economist and leader’: PM announces new RBA governor
Prime minister Anthony Albanese calls new RBA governor Michele Bullock an “outstanding economist and leader”.
She is an outstanding economist and leader with a deep understanding of the RBA’s role and operations, built up over her long and distinguished career with the central bank.
Bullock will be the first woman to lead the RBA in its 63-year history.
Albanese says:
Her appointment strikes the optimal balance between providing exceptional experience and expertise and offering a fresh leadership perspective.
Bullock has been the RBA deputy governor since April 2022.
Her appointment will take effect from 18 September.
Updated
Michele Bullock named new RBA governor
Michele Bullock will be appointed as the ninth Reserve Bank governor, prime minister Anthony Albanese and treasurer Jim Chalmers have just announced.
Updated
With the RBA governor role pending, one of the more hawkish banks has modified its view on rate changes.
ANZ now expects the RBA will extend its pause to August at least.
Here is ANZ’s announcement:
While it’s possible the RBA could hike in August, on balance we think an extended pause at 4.1% is most likely.
This change in our view is unrelated to any decision regarding the RBA governor. Rather it reflects an assessment of the economy based on a deterioration in forward‑looking labour market indicators, good news on the global inflation front and increasing anecdotal evidence (including in our own spending data) that the most recent rate rises have had an impact on consumer behaviour.
Updated
In ten minutes, prime minister Anthony Albanese and treasurer Jim Chalmers will hold address a press conference in Canberra.
They are expected to announce the replacement for the role of RBA governor.
Stay tuned.
Wong pushes faster action on China’s trade sanctions
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong pushed for faster action on China’s crippling trade sanctions in her second round of talks with top diplomat Wang Yi, AAP reports.
The foreign minister also raised her “deep concerns” over Hong Kong’s pursuit of overseas pro-democracy activists, including two living in Australia.
Wong is in Jakarta for the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting. She told reporters after the meeting:
My view is we’re seeing some progress on trade – we would like to see more.
Today, I met China’s Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in the margins of ASEAN-related meetings in Jakarta.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) July 13, 2023
Australia will continue to work with China to grow our relationship, navigate differences and engage in the national interest. pic.twitter.com/qQ6KQNKhoB
Updated
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and treasurer Jim Chalmers will hold a press conference at 9.40am in Canberra.
We will bring you updates to the blog as they come – stay tuned.
Updated
Voice would help Indigenous health and education, Burney says
The Indigenous voice would help “change the frustration” of Aboriginal Australians in health and education, the minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, said at a major community meeting in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
She added that those issues had been “ghettoised” into her portfolio in the past rather than dealt with more closely by responsible ministers.
You get better outcomes if you listen to local people. It shouldn’t all come from Canberra, but that’s what’s been happening, and it ain’t working.
Read more from Josh Butler, reporting from the Yule River bush meeting, here:
Updated
Nab strikes pay deal with workers
National Australia Bank workers earning up to $100,000 a year will be paid an extra 17.5% over four years in a deal that also enshrines a right to work from home.
The union-negotiated agreement, which will now be voted on by Nab staff, comes amid a tussle between the big banks and their employees over work arrangements, as the country’s biggest financial institutions try to entice, and sometimes demand, workers return to the office.
Finance Sector Union national secretary Julia Angrisano said:
While some improvements have been made to address the hours of work crisis at Nab that is putting immense strain on employees’ physical and emotional wellbeing, more needs to be done.
Under the arrangement, Nab employees can request to work from home and appeal unreasonable refusals.
A recent push by the major banks to bring workers back to the office has led to an increase in foot traffic in Sydney.
Some Australian companies, including Nab, now require senior managers to work in the office while offering hybrid arrangements for other staff.
Nab was contacted for comment.
Updated
Bee-killing mite spreads to inland NSW
The bee-killing varroa mite has been found in inland NSW – at Gumble, west of Molong – hundreds of kilometres from where it was first detected in the state, AAP reports.
The deadly mite was first detected near the Port of Newcastle in June 2022. Authorities tried to halt the spread of the parasite, but more than 14,000 hives were destroyed in the first four months of the outbreak.
Varroa mite has the potential to decimate the beekeeping industry and hit other pollination-dependent sectors, such as horticulture.
But the Department of Primary Industries has reassured producers that its operation – resembling contact tracing for Covid-19 – is working.
Deputy incident controller Shannon Mulholland said:
Whilst the discovery of a new mite location is disappointing, it provides further confidence that our tracing and surveillance strategies are working.
Only one mite has been discovered at Gumble and this low mite count suggests we’ve detected the movement early, and the fact it was a recent legal movement gives us some confidence we can control this spread quickly.
Updated
Toyota-backed rental service to offer hybrid only
Toyota-backed car rental service Kinto will offer only hybrid electric versions of passenger cars and SUVs in a bid to meet customer demand for more eco-friendly solutions, AAP reports.
It has revealed its fleet will feature almost 500 hybrid cars.
The move comes in the same month Australia sold more than 9000 new hybrid vehicles – recording a 40% jump in sales compared to June last year.
Kinto general manager Mark Ramsay said the company had seen customers increasingly choose greener cars.
We started with a range of vehicles to test the market in March 2021 and we’ve seen the preference for hybrid vehicles.
In our most popular car, the (Toyota) Corolla, when we had petrol and hybrid models available, the hybrid was more popular and that confirmed our suspicion it was the right way to go.
Kinto’s hybrid transition will not extend to light commercial vehicles, such as utes and vans. The company is also not adding battery electric options yet.
Updated
Cabinet meeting to decide Lowe’s successor today
Philip Lowe will be replaced as the Reserve Bank governor, with today’s cabinet meeting to decide his successor, Guardian Australia has confirmed.
Lowe’s seven-year term expires on 17 September, and he was widely expected to be replaced – though the timing was unknown.
Lowe said on Wednesday:
If I was asked to continue in the role, I would be honoured to do that and I would continue.
If I am not asked to continue in the role, I will do my best to support my successor, and the treasurer has said he will make an announcement before the end of this month.
You can read the full story from Paul Karp and Peter Hannam here:
Updated
Philip Lowe to be replaced as RBA governor
Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent Paul Karp has confirmed Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe will be replaced.
Updated
Lowe’s exit as RBA governor won’t be a big surprise
Few have expected Philip Lowe would have his seven-year term as Reserve Bank governor extended when it ends in September. Speculation is in a frenzy mode that we’ll have that confirmed later today by treasurer Jim Chalmers.
The two previous RBA governors had three years tacked on to their terms, so Lowe’s exit would be something of a rejection by the government. Lowe has, of course, overseen 12 interest rate rises in the past 14 months to try to rein- in inflation – not exactly boosting his popularity.
We looked at the likely candidates to replace him in this piece:
There’s always been the issue of who os best qualified for the job and whether that person wants the job. One rumour had it that Carolyn Wilkins – a Canadian with central bank experience in both her own country and in the UK and a member of the RBA review panel – had been approached but turned down the offer.
It’s also worth remembering that the government will also soon name the members of a separate monetary policy board within the RBA to set rates. The next RBA governor in other words is likely to have a diluted role – that’s worth keeping in mind.
As we understand it, Chalmers will take just the one name to cabinet and he’ll seek endorsement of it. That name will, it seems, be someone other than Lowe.
For what it’s worth, a lame duck Lowe is not expected to raise rates at the 1 August meeting. Investors now rate the odds of a 25 basis point increase to 4.35% at less than one in three, according to the ASX rates tracker.
Updated
No campaign’s tactics revealed
The no campaign in the Indigenous voice referendum is running three different social media strategies – each one targeting different groups of Australians with apparently contradictory messages, a Guardian Australia investigation can reveal.
The lobby group Advance, one of the lead organisations in the no camp, runs one Facebook page highlighting conservative criticism, another highlighting progressive complaints and a third portraying itself as a neutral news source.
You can read our exclusive from Josh Butler and Nick Evershed here:
Updated
Crackdown on greenwashing
The consumer watchdog has published draft guidelines today warning against misleading advertising in an attempt to improve confidence in environmental standards claimed by companies, AAP reports.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced a crackdown in 2022 on businesses greenwashing – which involves making false claims to deceive consumers into believing a product or service is environmentally friendly.
An internet sweep found 57% of businesses reviewed were making potentially misleading environmental claims.
ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said businesses needed to be honest and transparent when making claims so they didn’t undermine consumer confidence:
Our draft guidance sets out what the ACCC considers to be good practice when businesses make environmental claims about their products and services, as well as making them aware of their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law.
Businesses that are taking genuine steps to adopt sustainable practices are put at a competitive disadvantage by businesses that engage in “greenwashing” without incurring the same costs.
Updated
Philip Lowe will be replaced as RBA governor, ABC says
The Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe will reportedly be replaced when his seven-year contract concludes in mid-September, according to the ABC.
An announcement from treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to follow today’s cabinet meeting, when the topic of Lowe’s replacement will be discussed.
Guardian Australia has not yet been able to confirm this. We will bring you updates as they come.
In the meantime, here is more on what the future may look like for the Australian economy, the RBA and Lowe, from our economics correspondent Peter Hannam:
Updated
Good morning!
I’m Rafqa Touma, taking the blog for the day. Thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking us off this morning.
If you see anything you don’t want us to miss, let me know on Twitter or Threads. Let’s get into it.
Updated
Penny Wong meets China's highest ranking diplomat at Asean summit
Penny Wong has met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi for the second time in a year, at a meeting for south-east Asia’s foreign ministers, AAP reports.
The foreign affairs minister, who is in Jakarta for the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting, said:
We had a constructive discussion about the bilateral relationship and the value of ongoing dialogue.
I reiterated Australia’s position on a range of issues, including trade impediments, consular cases, human rights and Hong Kong.
Australia will continue to work with China to grow the bilateral relationship, navigate differences and engage in the national interest.
Asked before the meeting if she would raise a policing pact signed between China and Solomon Islands, she said Australia maintained the view shared by its regional neighbours that security should be provided by Pacific nations.
She told the ABC’s 7.30:
We are continuing to call for transparency from China and Solomon Islands in relation to this agreement. I think it is of benefit for the Pacific Islands Forum to discuss it.
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and the Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, jointly announced a comprehensive strategic partnership in Beijing this week.
Updated
Wong reassures Asean nations about Indo-Pacific security
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has placed Asian nations at the forefront of security in the Indo-Pacific even as Nato considers expanding its presence in the region, AAP reports.
The military alliance proposed opening a liaison office in Japan’s capital Tokyo, in an attempt to deepen cooperation with partners in the region.
But the proposal was strongly opposed by China.
Wong is in Jakarta for the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting and, asked if Australia backed Nato’s expansion, she said the government maintained “Asean as the centre of the region”. She told the ABC’s 7.30 last night:
Asean centrality within the Indo-Pacific is so critical to peace and prosperity and stability. We are providing support that we think is appropriate and that is needed.
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. This is Martin Farrer bringing you some of the early headlines this morning but my colleague Rafqa Touma will soon be here to guide you through the day.
With speculation mounting that cabinet could sign off on the appointment of a new Reserve Bank governor today, Peter Dutton has said senior public servants should not be considered for the job to avoid any connection with past governments. If Philip Lowe is to be replaced once his term expires, two of the leading candidates for the position are the Treasury secretary, Steven Kennedy, and the finance department secretary, Jenny Wilkinson. But the opposition leader indicated he would oppose such an appointment.
In the second part of his investigation into the tactics being used by the no campaign in the Indigenous voice referendum, our political reporter Josh Butler reveals today that opponents of the change are running three different social media strategies, each targeting different groups of Australians with apparently contradictory messages. The lobby group Advance, one of the lead organisations in the no camp, runs one Facebook page highlighting conservative criticism, another highlighting progressive complaints, and a third portraying itself as a neutral news source.
After the death of two children from flu, people are asking why it’s happening and what can be done to stop it. Our science writer Donna Lu hears that that although the influenza A and B strains circulating appear to have a greater impact on children, the key to cutting infections is to make sure more people are vaccinated. There has been a drop of 10 percentage points in young people getting flu jabs since the pandemic, doctors say.
Let’s get into it.
