What we learned; Friday 15 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of what we learned today:
Australia has reinstated the $6m of funding to UNWRA’s Gaza aid delivery efforts, and committed a further $4m to Unicef. The Coalition does not support the decision to unpause the funding to UNRWA.
Aged care workers will receive a pay rise of up to 28.5%, after the Fair Work Commission delivered the final ruling in a long-running work value case.
Victoria’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, has hit back at New South Wales’ premier Chris Minns for describing Victoria as a “welfare state” after the latest GST carve-up.
Chief executive of the CSIRO, Douglas Hilton, has said he will “staunchly defend” the organisation and its scientists against “unfounded criticism”, after comments made by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
A tropical low moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria in north Queensland may become a tropical cyclone tomorrow, before moving southwards and potentially making landfall around Monday
FRNSW has recorded 63 lithium-ion battery fires this year, subject to review, at a rate of 5.7 blazes a week. Seven people have been injured in the fires.
NSW’s Forestry Corporation has been fined $45,000 and accused of blatant disregard for the environment after tearing down protected habitat trees.
The New South Wales government has knocked back a demerger proposal by the Inner West Council after 60% of residents voted in favour of a split into smaller local government areas.
Updated
Queensland prisoner charged with murder of another inmate
A Queensland prisoner has been charged with the murder of another man in custody at a prison north of Brisbane.
A 42-year-old man was located unresponsive with serious injuries inside his cell at around 7pm on 2 February at Woodford Correctional Centre.
Queensland police identified the death as suspicious and have now charged a 34-year-old prisoner from the centre with one count of murder.
The 34-year-old is expected to appear in the Brisbane magistrates court on 16 March.
Updated
NSW rejects council demerger proposal
The New South Wales government has knocked back a demerger proposal by the Inner West Council after 60% of residents voted in favour of a split into smaller local government areas.
Ron Hoenig, the NSW minister for local government, said he had accepted a recommendation by the Boundaries Commission that the demerger of the Inner West Council should not proceed.
It comes after the Minns government introduced legislation last month to create a legal pathway to demergers for councils that wish to split – however it has made it clear it won’t be footing the bill.
Hoenig said:
There is compelling evidence that the business case presented by Council will cost the community more money than it saves.
I have been clear and on the record that I will not allow councils to demerge if they cannot prove they will be financially viable.
Consigning three new councils to budget deficits each year until at least 2028 would not be in the best interests of the Inner West community.
I understand sections of the community may be disappointed but this decision delivers certainty for the people of the Inner West.
Mayor of the Inner West council, Darcy Byrne, said the council accepted the commissions recommendations:
We wanted a fair and independent assessment and that has taken place.
We accept the Boundaries Commission’s recommendation that the Inner West Council should not be abolished and recognise that the huge cost of demerger would have had serious impacts on services our people depend on.
Updated
Australian Alps face world’s largest loss of snow by end of century, research shows
Global heating will cause snow cover in the Australian Alps to decline by 78% by the end of the century – much faster than the declines assessed in six other major skiing regions, new research has found.
The study published today by researchers from Germany’s University of Bayreuth cautioned about the quickening consequences of the climate crisis, predicting 13% of ski areas across the globe may lose all natural snow cover in a future with high emissions.
More on this story from Rafqa Touma here:
World’s heaviest blueberry recorded in northern NSW
Some joy for your Friday arvo – a blueberry grown in NSW has broken the Guinness world record as the world’s heaviest.
Roughly the size of a golf ball, the big berry weighs 20.4 grams and was grown using traditional manual techniques.
Sharlotte Thou has the story here:
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Aged care pay rise ‘a very good first step’ to attracting more workers, HSU president says
The Health Services Union president, Gerard Hayes, spoke on ABC Afternoon Briefing a little earlier about the Fair Work Commission’s landmark decision to provide direct aged care workers a pay rise of up to 28.5%.
Hayes said the move was a “very good first step” and could see the sector attract workers from other industries.
He also warned the sector against relying too much on the Pacific for aged care workers, saying “we cannot get to a point where we are bleeding other countries to be able to facilitate our needs”:
We need to be able to facilitate our own needs in respect of other countries. This will go a long way to bring people into the system.
Updated
Unicef welcomes additional UNRWA funding
Unicef Australia has welcomed the additional $4m the government has committed to provide aid in Gaza on top of the $6m the government reinstated today to UNRWA.
“The urgent need for humanitarian aid is paramount and I thank Senator Wong for her life-saving announcement today,” the chief executive of Unicef Australia, Tony Stuart, said.
Unicef said it had moved 25 truckloads into the Gaza Strip in the first week of March.
Earlier, Save the Children Australia’s chief executive, Mat Tinkler, said it is only possible to deliver the amount of aid required in Gaza via land, adding that the delivery of aid via airdrops is “fundamentally a very difficult and problematic way of delivering aid”.
He said:
The amount of need we need to get through is huge. It’s possible to do that through land crossings by trucks – they are just not being allowed through by the government of Israel at the moment, and there is no safe ability for our humanitarian support on the ground to distribute that effectively. So we need a ceasefire urgently, we need safe passage for humanitarian aid to get across the border. It needs to be a land crossing if we are to have any hope of getting close to meeting the needs of humans in that place right now.
Updated
Suspension of UNRWA funding ‘heavy-handed’ and ‘knee-jerk’, Save the Children chief says
The suspension of the funding to UNRWA to provide aid to Gaza was “a bit heavy-handed” and a “knee-jerk reaction”, says Save the Children Australia’s chief executive, Mat Tinkler.
Speaking on ABC Afternoon Briefing now, Tinkler said:
UNRWA is essentially like the government service delivery in Gaza.
We believe the suspension was a bit heavy-handed. If you liken UNRWA to an essential service delivery organisation in Australia, if there was an allegation made about staff and wrongdoing in a major hospital, we would not stop the operations of that hospital, would not suspend its entire funding.
I think it was knee-jerk and other steps could have been taken that dealt with those allegations in an appropriately serious way that fully investigated them and drew the matter to a conclusion but that did not additionally put lives at risk.
This is as bad as it gets in a humanitarian sense right now, so anything like this decision to suspend funding from the core service delivery agency in that setting will have a dramatic impact on children and families and their needs and I think a part of that impact could have been avoided.
Updated
Albanese government welcomes Fair Work decision, commits to funding aged care pay increase
The Albanese government has said it is committed to provide funding to support the Fair Work Commission’s decision to give direct care workers an average pay increase of 23%.
In a joint statement, the minister for workplace relations, Tony Burke, the minister for health, Mark Butler, and the minister for aged care, Anika Wells, said:
The Albanese Labor Government welcomes the Fair Work Commission’s decision on the aged care work value case.
We are closely examining the content of this decision, which is lengthy and highly detailed.
We have committed to provide funding to support increases to award wages made by the Fair Work Commission in this matter and that will help deliver a higher standard of care for older Australians.
Aged care work is highly skilled and provides incredible rewards for workers who make life-changing contributions to older Australians. But aged care work has been historically undervalued.
We promised to fight for a pay rise for Australia’s aged care workers and we did. Early in our term we made a submission to the Commission that unequivocally supported a wage increase.
Updated
Victorian treasurer calls NSW premier ‘mathematically challenged’ over GST comments
If you missed the unfolding quarrel we covered earlier between the Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, and the NSW premier, Chris Minns, over the latest carve-up of GST revenue, my colleague Benita Kolovos has the rundown here:
Updated
Measles warning issued for western Sydney
NSW Health has issued a measles warning for western Sydney after an infant – who was too young to be vaccinated – returned from south-east Asia and contracted measles.
Dr Catherine Bateman, director of the public health unit at Western Sydney Local Health District, said there is no ongoing risk to the public, but warned people who attended the below locations to remain vigilant to symptoms:
Flight VJ085 from Ho Chi Minh City, arriving Sydney international airport on 2 March at approximately 8am
Sydney international airport on 2 March from approximately 8am to 10am
Rhodes Waterside on:
2 March between 11.00am and 12.45pm
8 March between 12.30pm and 1.10pmThe Children’s Hospital at Westmead emergency department on:
5 March between 10.30pm and 6 March 12.30am
6 March between 2.30am and 2.15pmThe Children’s Hospital at Westmead between 8 and 13 March.
Symptoms can take up to 18 days to appear, and include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.
Infants from 6 months of age can have the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine if travelling overseas.
Updated
Only UNRWA able to provide amount of aid required in Gaza, independent MP Zoe Daniel says
The independent member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel – who supported the government’s decision to suspend UNWRA funding – has said she backs the decision to restore the funding, following assurances safeguards had been put in place by the aid agency.
The fact is that only UNRWA has the infrastructure and personnel to provide and distribute humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s civilian population at anything like the necessary scale.
The fact is that no other aid agency is capable of gearing up to provide humanitarian assistance at scale and with the urgency required.
The fact is that much of Gaza’s civilian population is suffering from malnutrition and there is serious risk of famine affecting millions of people if humanitarian assistance is not restored at levels only UNRWA can deliver.
I again encourage the Israeli government to do all it can to allow expedited access for humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population, in line with the international rules of war.
Daniel said that she will keep pushing for the release of the remaining hostages that have been held by Hamas since 7 October and gaining a humanitarian ceasefire.
She added:
My focus continues to be on the mental health, safety, and wellbeing of those in my community who have experienced severe anxiety, fear, and antisemitism since October 7.
Updated
Humanitarian peak body calls for Australia to ensure Gaza aid can be delivered safely
Australia’s peak body for humanitarian and development organisations has welcomed the governments decision to reinstate $6m of UNWRA funding for aid in Gaza, but said it must also redouble efforts to ensure aid convoys can enter Gaza safely via land.
The Australian Council for International Development chief executive, Marc Purcell, said:
Children are already dying of starvation on the world’s watch. Parachuting aid is not a solution. Five civilians have already died in trying to reach air drops in Gaza, and the aid is only reached by those who are fit and able to do so. Women, children, elderly and people with disability are left behind, those who are sick, injured and starving will not receive this relief.
It is essential that the Australian Government redoubles its efforts to ensure aid convoys can enter Gaza safely via land. We call on the Australian Government to urge that aid convoys and humanitarian workers are not targeted further by the Israeli defence forces as they seek to assist civilians.
Updated
Exclusion of indirect care workers from aged care pay rise ‘a lost opportunity’, Centre for Future Work director says
Dr Fiona McDonald, policy director at the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, has commented on the aged care pay rise.
McDonald said:
Today’s decision is crucial to supporting safe and quality care for elderly Australians, and the sustainability of the aged care workforce. For too long, aged care work has been undervalued and low paid. The Fair Work Commission’s decision to award additional pay rises, on top of an interim 15% wage rise, is vital to fixing this.
The introduction of a new classification structure will also provide the basis for the ongoing recognition and valuation of aged care work.
It’s essential the federal government commits to fully funding the additional increases of up to 13.5% from the start of the next financial year.
The exclusion of indirect care workers from today’s decision is a lost opportunity to support the lowest paid workers.
Updated
Hello, I’m here to take you through the news until this evening.
Thanks for joining me on the blog today. Handing over to Jordyn Beazley who will take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care, and have a great weekend.
Optus investigating issue affecting Victorian exchange
Optus said it is aware of an issue impacting some customers – specifically, with calls to and from 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers hosted off an exchange in Victoria.
The company wrote on X:
We apologise for the inconvenience this is causing. Our team is actively working to resolve the issue and restore services as quickly as possible … We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
UPDATE: Our team is investigating issues with calls to and from 13, 1300, and 1800 numbers hosted off an exchange in Victoria.
— Optus Help (@optus_help) March 15, 2024
We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Updated
Government needs to explain why Australia reinstated UNRWA funding before United States: Birmingham
Taking questions from reporters, Simon Birmingham said the Coalition is “not comfortable” with assurances that Penny Wong says she has received, in relation to safeguards for the funding to UNRWA.
Birmingham said:
How can we believe that Australia – through our contribution – is going to be able to have the leverage and influence around tough enough conditions and strong enough verifications to have them upheld when a country like the United States – a far bigger contributor – continues to withhold the funding, pending completion of the independent review?
Penny Wong should be releasing the advice that she’s relied upon. She should be detailing the assurances she’s had. She should be making clear what verification measures are in place. And should be outlining why it is that Australia has decided to act outside and out of step with the United States when, by acting out of step with the US, we are failing to take advantage of the type of leverage that could get more effective outcomes.
Updated
Coalition does not support decision to reinstate UNRWA funding 'at this time'
The shadow foreign minister, Simon Birmingham, is speaking to the media from Adelaide, following the government’s earlier announcement it would reinstate funding for UNRWA.
He said the Coalition does not support the decision, and said:
The need for Hamas to be defeated is clear. The need for humanitarian assistance to flow to the people in Gaza is also clear. However, the allegations made against [UNRWA] that they had employees who participated in the October 7 terrorist attacks are the most grievous of allegations, and they come after longstanding concerns that have been made and raised about the way in which UNRWA operates and the lack of impartiality that appears to come from UNRWA.
The Coalition does not support the decision of the Albanese government to reinstate funding at this time ahead of the conclusion of the review into UNRWA’s staff involvement in the terrorist activities of October 7, ahead of any clarity about the way in which UNRWA is implicated in any way through its staff or otherwise in promoting or inciting terrorism.
We do not support the Albanese government in acting without and ahead of the United States in terms of decisions around this funding.
At her earlier press conference, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the “best available current advice” from agencies and government lawyers was that UNRWA “is not a terrorist organisation”.
Updated
Forestry Corp fined for destroying wildlife habitat
NSW’s Forestry Corporation has been fined $45,000 and accused of blatant disregard for the environment after tearing down protected habitat trees, AAP reports.
The state-owned logging outfit tried to blame the destruction on the failure of mapping software, but the Environment Protection Authority found it continued to use the system despite prior knowledge of problems.
The fines relate to two breaches in two state forests in 2023.
At Nadgee state forest on the south coast, 15 trees and other vegetation were destroyed inside an environmentally significant area. Forestry operations were banned in that area to protect hollow trees that are crucial for wildlife.
The other offence happened in the Bagawa state forest near Coffs Harbour. In that case, the Forestry Corporation illegally removed a tree on a steep slope, breaching its obligations to prevent erosion.
The EPA’s executive director of operations, Jason Gordon, said forestry operations were subject to strict rules for good reason and the breaches showed “blatant disregard” for the environment:
In no circumstances should 15 trees have been removed from an environmentally significant area. FCNSW claimed the Nadgee state forest issue arose due to a mapping software failure, however our investigations found the software problem was known prior.
AAP has sought comment from Forestry Corporation, which is a state government-owned entity.
Updated
Finishing his speech in Sydney, Gerard Hayes has been thanking a wide range of people for their work to achieve this result:
I would like to thank everybody who’s here. I would like to thank all our members, no matter what part of the country that you are in. Dignity comes to aged care. People – older people – will not be treated as commodities. They will be cared for in their older years. We have an ageing population. This will go a long way to ensure that people can age with dignity and people can care for people without going into poverty.
Average pay increase of 23% for direct care workers
The Fair Work Commission expert panel has adopted a new benchmark pay rate of $1,223.90 a week – or $63,6642.8 a year – for certificate III qualified employees.
The total wage increase which will be produced by the adoption of this benchmark rate, inclusive of the interim increase, will be 23%.
The new benchmark rate was “appropriately justified by work value reasons” and would ensure aged care employees “have an entitlement to a minimum award wage rate which properly reflects the value of their work, including their exercise of ‘invisible’ skills, and which has been assessed on a gender-neutral basis”.
Aged care pay rise ‘best outcome union has achieved’, says HSU president
The Health Services Union president, Gerard Hayes, said the pay rise awarded to direct aged care staff is “one of the best outcomes this union has ever achieved”.
Speaking in Sydney, following the release of the Fair Work Commission ruling, he said:
I’d like to thank everybody who has worked so hard for so long. This is one of the best outcomes this union has ever achieved, and it’s only because of the people in this room, the people who have fought for the last decade, the people who gave evidence from November 2020 to where we are today. And many people think that Rome was built in a day – well, you all have shown that it’s not. It takes commitment, it takes drive, to achieve an outcome.
Updated
More on the direct aged care workers pay rise
The Fair Work Commission expert panel found that the work of aged care sector employees has historically been undervalued because of assumptions based on gender.
Minimum pay rates for nurses failed to properly recognise the addition to work value effected by the transformation of nursing into a profession, it found.
As a result of today’s decision, personal care workers will receive an increase of between 18.2% and 28.5%, depending on their skill and qualification level, and inclusive of the 15% already ordered.
Assistants in nursing will get between 17.9% and 24.5%. Home care workers will get between 13.3% and 26.1%.
The expert panel found that indirect care employees, such as administrative workers and those providing food services, “do not perform work of equivalent value to direct care employees” justifying equal rates of pay.
Indirect care workers were awarded a 3% pay increase reflecting some higher duties such as infection prevention and control. Laundry hands, cleaners and food services assistants who interact with residents significantly more regularly were awarded 6.96%.
Updated
Direct aged care workers receive pay rise of up to 28.5%
Aged care workers will receive a pay rise of up to 28.5%, after the Fair Work Commission delivered the final ruling in a long-running work value case.
The commission’s expert panel said those involved in direct care including nurses, aged care, home care workers deserved pay rises “substantially” higher than the interim 15% pay rise ordered in November 2022.
It adopted a new benchmark pay rate of $1,223.90 a week – or $63,6642.8 a year – for certificate III qualified employees.
The decision will trigger billions of greater investment in aged care, on top of the $11.3bn allocated over four years in the 2023 budget for a 15% pay increase.
Updated
Restoring UNRWA funding ‘the bare minimum’, Mehreen Faruqi says
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson for international aid, Mehreen Faruqi, has released a statement after Penny Wong announced UNRWA funding has been reinstated.
Faruqi said the funding was “inexcusably cut off” 48 days ago, and has been reinstated following “intense pressure from the Greens and the community”.
Faruqi said in a statement:
Without humanitarian aid, children are being starved in the ruins of Gaza and are dying of malnutrition. Restoring UNRWA funding is the bare minimum, the Labor government should publicly pressure Israel to allow aid into all parts of Gaza.
Starvation is a weapon of war and Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from reaching people in Gaza, in brazen violation of the ICJ ruling.
I hope this is the start of the Labor government breaking away from their unquestioning and immoral support of Israel. Now, Labor must call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and an end to the occupation and apartheid.
Updated
Reactions flow after Australia reinstates UNRWA funding
Reactions have been flowing after the foreign minister, Penny Wong, announced that Australia would reinstate its funding to UNRWA.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the decision was “wrong”, and the Australian government “needs to find another way to feed the Gazans”.
Our community favours the provision of aid to civilians in Gaza who are in desperate need, but we are totally opposed to the use of UNRWA as an agency for delivering that aid … It remains our view that delivering aid through UNRWA poses an insurmountable risk of Australian taxpayers’ money being wasted or, worse still, being used in part to support Hamas’s terrorist activities.
At her earlier press conference, Wong stated the “best available current advice” from agencies and government lawyers was that UNRWA “is not a terrorist organisation” and that existing safeguards “sufficiently protect Australian taxpayer funding.”
Greens senator David Shoebridge, meanwhile, said the government shouldn’t expect “gratitude” after its decision to pause funding in the first place. He wrote on X:
Imagine basically stealing food from starving people, then months later giving it back and expecting gratitude. Imagine being the Albanese government.
Updated
Queensland LNP acknowledges ‘mountainous’ task ahead of dual weekend byelections
The Queensland opposition leader, David Crisafulli, has acknowledged the “mountainous” climb ahead of the party in two byelections held in Labor heartland this weekend.
Crisafulli, the Liberal National party leader, has told reporters it won’t be an easy task to defeat Labor in the state seats of Inala and Ipswich West:
We’re dealing with seats in the Labor party heartland, so we understand the mountainous task ahead.
Labor is expecting a swing to the LNP in Inala, the seat of former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. However, the party still expects to win the seat, which sits on a margin of 28.2%.
The LNP is predicting greater success in the nearby electorate of Ipswich West, another safe Labor seat that has a margin of about 14.3%.
Darren Zanow, the LNP candidate for Ipswich West, said it was time for the community to send Labor a message that “they have been taken for granted” for way too long.
Make no mistake, I’m the underdog and I am working hard to get every single vote I possibly can.
Updated
Emergency centre established in NT ahead of weather system
Daniel Sheehan from the emergency operations centre said the centre was established on Monday afternoon to manage any response required as the wet weather system moved across the Northern Territory.
Communities across the Top End have adequate food supplies, critical goods, and essential services to last through this weather event …
The Bureau has put out several warnings and several messages, alerts and so forth, to communities advising the communities that this weather system is coming, and police in the communities have been working with residents to ensure resilience and ensure that they are in a state of preparedness.
Updated
BoM on tropical cyclone watch near Gulf of Carpentaria
Emergency services in Darwin have been providing an update on a developing tropical low developing in the Gulf of Carpentaria:
It has moved quite quickly overnight across the northern coast of the Top End, and it is expected to move into the Gulf of Carpentaria over the next 24 hours.
With that low-pressure system, we have already seen some heavy rain – over 100mm – across northern Arnhem communities, as well as some damaging wind gusts getting up to over 100km/h.
As that low moves further into the Gulf of Carpentaria, there is a chance that it develops into a tropical cyclone tomorrow morning.
Updated
‘Long Covid’ term misleading and harmful: Queensland chief health officer
Queensland’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard, has given a press conference in Brisbane explaining why he believes the term long Covid should no longer be used:
Using this term long Covid implies that this virus has some unique, exceptional and sinister property that differentiates it from other viruses and makes it far worse.
New research he has led found no difference between the symptoms and impairment of Covid and influenza patients a year after they tested positive:
Gerrard said:
A major problem with many of the scientific studies which have been published on this subject is that they failed to identify an appropriate comparator or control group which is always required in a basic scientific study.
The bottom line is we could identify no difference in the outcomes of patients with Covid or other respiratory infections at 12 months, no matter how we looked at it.
I want to make it clear that the symptoms that some patients described after having Covid 19 are real, and we believe they are real. What we are saying is that the incidence of these symptoms is no greater in Covid-19 than it is with other respiratory viruses, and that to use this term long Covid is misleading and I believe harmful.
Updated
Chris Minns takes another swipe at Victoria over GST
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has taken another swipe at the Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, over the Goods and Services Tax.
The NSW and Victorian Labor governments are locked in a disagreement about the coming financial year’s GST carve up.
Victoria’s GST revenue will soar by $3.7bn compared with 2023-24, while NSW will receive $310m less.
At a press conference in Sydney this morning, Minns was asked about Pallas’ accusation that he didn’t “understand the GST system”.
Minns said:
The only thing worse than Victoria taking our money is them crying about it afterwards.
And this is exactly why we have to fix the system and move to a per capita system, where the states, based on population headcount, can get the resources they need to run major metropolises.
This idea that literally hundreds of billions of dollars is sent to the commonwealth government, it goes into a black box, and a computer spits out a formula – those days have to come to an end. This is public money.
(We had Pallas’ comments earlier in the blog here, here and here)
Updated
More on CSIRO’s response to Dutton comments
Earlier we brought you news that the chief executive of the CSIRO, Douglas Hilton, said he will “staunchly defend” the organisation and its scientists against “unfounded criticism”, after comments made by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
My colleagues Paul Karp and Graham Readfearn have more on this story here:
Updated
Daniel Hurst has all the details on the foreign minister, Penny Wong’s announcement just before that Australia is reinstating its funding for UNRWA:
Updated
‘All visa applicants undergo security checks’: Wong
Answering a final question from the media, Penny Wong is asked about reports that Palestinians fleeing war in Gaza have had their visas cancelled mid-flight en route to Australia.
Wong said:
I know this is an incredibly distressing time for Australians with extended family members in Gaza. We have successfully assisted the vast majority of Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members, wanting to leave Gaza. Australian officials have worked very hard to ensure that occurs.
As I previously said, all visa applicants undergo security checks and are subject to ongoing security assessments. In terms of some of details you raised, they’re for the portfolio of home affairs. So you need to address your questions to them.
Updated
All information ‘we’ve been provided with has been considered’: Wong
Reporter: Was the information that you specifically sought from Israel as part of this investigation provided to you?
Penny Wong:
We received some information, and all information we received obviously has been the subject of consideration in the context of this advice.
Reporter: So Israel has not failed to provide that information that you have requested?
Wong:
Israel has provided some information …
Reporter: You said some information has been provided, not all information then?
Wong:
Well, you have to ask them that, wouldn’t you? I mean, I don’t know what I don’t know.
I know what I do know. What I do know is this, I know there’s people starving in Gaza. I know the European Union and Canada have determined to unpause. I know that UNRWA is critical to providing this assistance to people who are on the brink of or are starving. I know serious allegations were made and I have responsibilities as Australia’s foreign minister to do what I have done, which is to ensure we get the most considered detailed advice which we have, and we put in place the safeguards which I have outlined.
Updated
Taking questions, Penny Wong is asked what specific information the government received from various agencies and government lawyers that led to the decision to reinstate funding?
She said she would not “go into every detail” but said:
There’s been a lot of work done on this. But can I say to you, and you would assume from the time it’s taken us to go through this, that there has been a very careful detailed consideration of information provided to us in the context of our discussions with donors, with the United Nations, with partners, and there has been the subject of detailed discussion and advice from Australian agencies.
UNRWA does ‘live-saving work, and the recent allegations were grave’: Wong
Before taking questions, Wong finished her statement with:
There are two facts a responsible government can’t ignore in relation to UNRWA: They do life-saving work, and the recent allegations were grave.
So the decision I am announcing today is the result of the Australian government working together with our partners to rebuild confidence, to establish ongoing diligence about the use of the aid money generously given by the Australian people.
Once again, Australia reiterates our call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, we reiterate our expectation of humane treatment and humanitarian access for them, and we reiterate our call for an immediate and enduring humanitarian ceasefire.
Updated
Australia to help deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza: Wong
Penny Wong is also making two additional announcements:
Australia will support efforts by Jordan and the UAE to assist with the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, Wong said.
A C17a global master RAAF asset will deliver 140 Australian defence force aerial delivery parachutes for use in humanitarian assistance drops by Jordan and the UAE.
Australia will also provide an additional $4m to Unicef to provide urgent services, including for women and children, and $2m to the new mechanism of the UN’s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, to facilitate expanded humanitarian access into Gaza.
Wong said:
These additional measures bring Australia’s total support to Gaza to $52.5m since this crisis began.
Updated
Penny Wong said the Australian government has been briefed by the world food program, who said there are large food stocks outside Gaza’s borders but no way to deliver it “without Israel’s co-operation and we implore Israel to allow more aid into Gaza now”.
Updated
Australia reinstates funding for UNRWA
Australia is reinstating funding to a key UN aid agency amid growing concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, announced the decision to unfreeze $6m in emergency funding for UNRWA on Friday, as part of a broader package of support.
Australia was among more than a dozen donor countries to suspend funding to the agency in late January, after the Israeli government alleged that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Friday’s decision to reinstate funding follows similar moves by Canada and Sweden.
Wong told reporters in Adelaide:
We took a decision to pause $6m of additional funding … after serious allegations were made resulting in UNRWA’s dismissal of staff alleged to have been involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October. The nature of these allegations warranted an immediate and appropriate response. The best available current advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation and that existing additional safeguards sufficiently protect Australian taxpayer funding. We have been working with a group of donor countries and UNRWA on the shared objective of ensuring the integrity of UNRWA’s obligations, rebuilding confidence, and ensuring that aid flows to Gazans in desperate need …
On that basis, and after consideration by the national security committee this week, Australia is unpausing our contribution to UNRWA.
Updated
Potential cyclone for Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology says a tropical low moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria in north Queensland may become a tropical cyclone tomorrow, before moving southwards and potentially making landfall around Monday:
A tropical low moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria may become a tropical cyclone tomorrow, before moving southwards, possibly making landfall in the southern Gulf around Monday. #TCWatch from Alyangula to QLD border, but may extend into QLD later. See: https://t.co/907llUyAve pic.twitter.com/lo1dwoPV5G
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 15, 2024
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The foreign minister, Penny Wong, is due to speak to the media shortly from Adelaide. We will bring you the latest as soon as we can.
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Four separate lithium-ion battery fires in NSW yesterday
Fire and Rescue NSW has expressed concerns about the rising rate of lithium-ion battery fires after responding to four separate incidents across the state yesterday.
FRNSW has recorded 63 lithium-ion battery fires this year, subject to review, at a rate of 5.7 blazes a week. Seven people have been injured in the fires.
There were 272 lithium-ion battery related fires in 2023, at a rate of 5.2 a week. 38 people were injured last year.
The four incidents FRNSW responded to yesterday include:
An electric vehicle charging station caught alight just after 5pm at Berkeley. Firefighters established a perimeter around a business, fearing multiple batteries were at risk of catching fire, but the blaze was extinguished without further incident.
A tradesman’s toolbox caught alight around 4pm at Lake Macquarie. The worker told fire crews he was driving when he noticed smoke in the rear view mirror, and stopped to find an unattached battery ablaze. He covered it in dirt and drove to a nearby fire station, where it was submerged in water.
About 12.45pm a fire broke out in the rear of a garbage truck travelling along in Silverwater. The driver stopped and tipped the burning rubbish on to the roadway. Crews arrived and found one battery on fire, and submerged it in water.
An e-bike caught fire on the third floor of a 10-storey apartment at Bankstown in Sydney’s south-west. Residents were evacuated and sprinklers activated.
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Victoria police appeal for information, dashcam footage following Greenvale shooting
Victorian police have appealed for dashcam footage from the Greenvale area following the fatal shooting of a man on Tuesday.
A 64-year-old Greenvale man was leaving his Buchanan Place property just after 4.30am on Tuesday when he was fatally shot.
Police said the incident is believed to have been targeted, and detectives are looking at a number of possibilities – including any links to organised crime groups.
Detectives are still working to determine how many offenders were involved and how they left the area.
Investigators are keen to speak with anyone travelling through Greenvale or Gladstone Park, particularly around Mickleham Road, between 2am and 6am on Tuesday.
Detectives hope any footage will provide further information on any vehicles that were in the area in the lead up to, and shortly after the shooting.
Information can also be provided to police anonymously, including any information about who was involved or the motivation behind the shooting. A statement says:
Detective senior sergeant Danny Travaglini from the homicide squad said:
This shooting was particularly concerning for police given it occurred in such a publicly violent manner. We are doing everything we can to find those involved and hopefully the right piece of dashcam footage could give us a breakthrough.
GST carve-up decided by independent body 'at arm's length': treasurer
The federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has released a statement about the carve-up of GST between the states and territories, after state leaders have taken jabs at each other throughout the week.
He said the GST allocation was decided by an independent body “at arm’s length” from the Albanese government, and it is “wrong to imply otherwise”.
Chalmers noted that it is “pretty standard” for states to want more money from the commonwealth. He recognised the pressures on state budgets and asked for state leaders to “recognise the pressure on ours”.
There is more than one jurisdiction with budget challenges. It is easy but wrong to blame the Commonwealth government for these pressures.
Chalmers said states are receiving “billions and billions of extra dollars from the Albanese government in the form of support for health and hospitals funding, investment in housing, and the extension of the no worse off guarantee”.
His statement concluded:
We will always do what we can afford to do to invest in the states to deliver for the people and communities we all represent and serve. We believe this is best done by working together not taking shots at each other.
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German tourist bitten on leg by dingo at tourist spot
Rangers are searching for a dingo after a German tourist was bitten on the leg at a popular Queensland holiday spot, AAP reports.
The man was forced to jump on the bonnet of a vehicle to get away after the bite left him with a laceration on his shin. The incident occurred while he was with three others visiting K’gari.
The group stopped at Gerowweea Creek on Wednesday to check the depth of the water before driving through but did not notice the dingo approaching.
The animal bit and “mouthed” the man’s right shin. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said:
The man received a shallow laceration ... and jumped onto the bonnet to get away from the dingo before getting into the vehicle.
First aid was provided by the group and the man presented to the Queensland Ambulance Service at Eurong (on K’gari) but did not require further treatment.
Rangers are attempting to find the dingo and have increased patrols.
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State treasurers to meet today
Tim Pallas is meeting with other state treasurers today, including New South Wales’ Daniel Mookhey. Pallas insists there’s not going to be any drama:
I get on very well with the New South Wales treasurer. I see that Victoria and New South Wales will have common cause on many things and we’ll continue to do that. But I’m not going to sit back and have this state rubbished and misrepresented by somebody who clearly can’t read a balance sheet.
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Pallas refuses to ‘sit back’ and let NSW ‘misrepresent and misunderstand’ how GST operates
Now to questions, and Tim Pallas is asked what he thinks motivated Chris Minns’ comments about Victoria.
He argued the New South Wales government “realised that they probably miscalculated what they were going to get in their GST share and are trying to distract attention away from what now is a fiscal problem for them”.
Pallas continued:
They are a strong economy, they have always worked positively and cooperatively with us, but I’m not going to sit back and have NSW firstly misrepresent and misunderstand how our GST system operates or indeed, misrepresented to the rest of the nation, that Victoria is in some way mendicant. We are not.
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Pallas continues to rip into Minns over GST carve up
Tim Pallas still hasn’t gone to questions yet – he’s been ripping into NSW premier Chris Minns for almost six minutes without drawing breath. He’s now going on about how little infrastructure funding Victoria gets from the Commonwealth compared to NSW (which we touched on in an earlier blog post).
The Victorian treasurer ends his monologue with not only an attack on Minns, but a dig at other states:
It’s quite frankly nonsense that we’re hearing from the premier of New South Wales. He clearly doesn’t understand how the GST system operates. What he has failed to appreciate is that Victorians and Victoria has every year since the GST was brought in, continues to subsidise the federation and in the newest allocation we will continue to subsidise the federation to the tune of about 2.6 cents in the dollar of every dollar paid by Victorians. That’s looking after the well being of states like Tasmania, South Australia, and many other mendicants and ingrates, but we’ll continue to demonstrate that we have a higher degree of generosity than our counterparts north of the Murray.
And I think it’s just so Sydney you have the premier of New South Wales to scream outrage about the fact that we’re coming close to getting a reasonable GST share and bemoan Melbourne’s success. It really is. it demeans him, it belittles his state, and quite frankly, Victoria continues to do all the heavy lifting in terms of propping up the federation each and every year since federation.
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‘Dripping sense of entitlement constantly coming out of NSW’: Victorian treasurer
Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas went on to say that Victoria doesn’t get all the GST it contributes back but that they aren’t going to carry on like New South Wales does.
He told the media:
If you look at the altered no worse off guarantee process, then that system generates $94.6bn [worth of GST revenue] and Victoria gets $23.7bn or 97.4% of our payments to the GST. I know there’s a lot of math in this, but put simply, we’re getting less than 100% in GST returns.
But unlike the New South Wales premier, we’re not being churlish about it. We don’t have this dripping sense of entitlement that seems to constantly come out of New South Wales, that if they’re not being basically given preferential treatment, they cut up rough about the consequences.
We say 97.4% is not a bad return to Victorians. We actually support the federation. We support the idea of horizontal fiscal equalisation that is looking after the poor performing economies in the nation. We’ll leave it to New South Wales and their Sydney based mentality to care only about themselves and their welfare and not make a contribution to the rest of the federation.
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Minns’ ‘not the sharpest tool in the shed’ got ‘GST break up wrong’, Pallas says
The fired-up Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, has just held a press conference – still on the topic of NSW premier Chris Minns’ comments about the GST carve up.
(We had his comments earlier in the blog here and here).
Pallas opens with this zinger:
We’ve basically heard from the NSW premier, the mathematically challenged NSW premier, might I say. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he is a tool. He has totally got the GST break up wrong.
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To reach net zero Australia needs ‘a historic step-change in public policy’, O’Neil says
Continuing from our last post: In September, unions joined business and investors in calling for $100bn of investment over 10 years to boost jobs and reduce emissions, including through investments in clean industries and manufacturing of renewable energy components.
Today, ACTU president Michele O’Neil said:
Our purpose, should we choose to accept it, is to reach to zero emissions by 2050; establish Australia as a world-leading exporter of embodied decarbonisation; and create one million new safe, secure, well paid, union jobs in the process.
Achieving that will require our own new deal, our own breakthrough climate industry policy—one purpose built for Australia’s unique challenges and opportunities. For months, the union movement has been engaging partners across civil society to develop the bones of just such a plan. And a strong new consensus is emerging. For Australia to achieve this purpose, we will need a historic step-change in public policy and investment support across four major areas.
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ACTU and Mariana Mazzucato push for green energy transition
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is hosting an event with economist Mariana Mazzucato pushing for a green energy transition.
ACTU president Michele O’Neil said the Australian union movement “knows that decarbonising our economy could create generations of good jobs, healthier and more equitable communities, and a renewed national prosperity”, all while “safeguarding Australians from spiralling climate disasters”.
O’Neil said in order to achieve this, Australia “is going to have to embark on a quest”.
For decades, the Australian government has shied away from thinking in terms of grand quests, preferring instead the narrow lane of market repair—tinkering at the edges to try and patch up any perceived market failures, but otherwise keeping its head low. This macroeconomic meekness was borne of the myth that innovation and market creation was the sole purview of the private sector—that governments couldn’t and shouldn’t drive long-term social and economic projects. Myths that the market would respond to the needs and demands of the country and our economy.
That’s why we’re so glad to be here today with Prof. Mariana Mazzucato, whose pioneering work has resurrected the long history of governments doing exactly that—and with world-changing results. It was a government-funded space race that generated the enormous technological spillovers that gave us everything from laptops to LED lights. It was the Australian government creating our own research lab the CSIRO that played a critical role in the invention of wifi ...
And if there was ever a challenge that not only needs but requires government intervention it’s the climate crisis.
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24-year-old WA man charged as part of alleged $2m fraud scheme
A 24-year-old man has been charged after allegedly pocketing $2m from fraud victims across Australia.
Detectives from the financial crimes squad charged the man following an investigation into a fraudulent investment scheme. A statement from the Western Australia police said the accused was the managing director of an investment firm.
It will be alleged that between February 2021 and February 2024, the man entered into several contracts with varying people under the guise he would perform trades on the global stock exchange with their money.
Police will allege the investors were led to believe the investments were secure with returns of about 3% per months. The accused received around $2m in funds from victims across Australia, police claimed.
A small number of alleged victims received partial funds but police allege many “did not receive any return” and reported their concerns to police.
On 6 March the 24-year-old Mandurah man was arrested and charged with 11 counts of gaining benefit by fraud. He is due to appear before the Perth magistrates court on 22 March.
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Truck fire on Pacific Highway
Firefighters from the New South Wales RFS and Fire and Rescue responded to a truck fire on the Pacific Highway, north of Maclean, earlier this morning.
The highway was closed in both directions at the time, and motorists were advised to allow extra travel time.
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Police investigate theft of memorial plaques from ‘Garden of Little Angels’
Victorian police are investigating after 75 memorial plaques were stolen from the Altona memorial park, in Melbourne’s south-west.
In a statement, police said the alleged “heartless thieves” stole the plaques between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The bronze plaques were erected in memory of children by their families in the “Garden of Little Angels”.
Police are investigating the incidents and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Detectives have warned scrap metal dealers to watch of for anyone attempting to sell the plaques.
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Peter Dutton stands by criticism of CSIRO report 'not CSIRO in general'
Opposition leader Peter Dutton says there is “nothing disparaging” about the comments he made about the CSIRO’s GenCost report – which he labelled as “discredited”.
As we brought you earlier, CSIRO chief executive Douglas Hilton penned an open letter defending the organisation and its scientists after Dutton questioned the integrity of its latest annual report, which labelled nuclear as the most expensive form of energy.
Speaking on the Today Show, Dutton stood by his comments and argued the report “doesn’t take into consideration all of the costs around renewables”.
The opposition leader said he is “strongly in favour of renewables” but argues they would lead to blackouts and raise power prices.
(Dutton’s arguments have been fact checked below, thanks to Graham Readfearn):
Dutton said:
All I’m saying is let’s have a fair comparison instead of a skewed one. And that’s why I was critical of that particular report, not of the CSIRO in general. And I think it was a fair point to make.
Host Sarah Abo pointed out that Dutton is not a scientist, and asked if he was picking a fight with them. Dutton responded that he is “not doubting the science” but is instead talking about economic modelling.
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Pallas calls Minns’ bemoaning of Melbourne’s new GST ‘so Sydney’
Continuing from our last post:
Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas said Victoria still receives less than its population share “as it has in every year since the GST was introduced”:
If premier [Chris] Minns is concerned about mendicant states, I would remind him that New South Wales has been an infrastructure ‘welfare recipient’ from the Commonwealth at the expense of Victorians for decades. In the federal government’s latest mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, Victoria received one per cent of new infrastructure spending, and has only received 60% of our population share over the past five years.
He ended the statement by boasting about Victoria leading the nation in creating new jobs and a forecast from Deloitte that says the state will lead the nation in economic growth in the next five years. Pallas said:
Isn’t it just so Sydney of premier Minns to bemoan Melbourne’s success.
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Victorian treasurer lashes NSW premier over ‘welfare state’ GST comments
Victoria’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, has hit back at New South Wales’ premier Chris Minns for describing Victoria as a “welfare state” after the latest GST carve-up.
Earlier this week, the Commonwealth Grants Commission announced that Victoria would get an extra $3.7bn in GST revenue in 2024/25, while NSW will get $310m less than it received this year.
Minns later went on Sky News and described Victoria as a “welfare state receiving a bunch of money from the pockets of NSW families”.
But Pallas was having none of it. In a lengthy statement released this morning he said Minns doesn’t understand the GST system:
Not a dollar of NSW GST is going to Victoria. Victoria has subsidised other states, not the other way around. We have paid more into the GST pool than we’ve received every year since its inception. Victoria has received as little as 84 cents in the dollar and averaged 91 cents since the GST was introduced. What’s more, Victoria’s relativity has been below New South Wales for 14 of the last 25 years.
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Shorten says government is not planning to ban TikTok
NDIS minister Bill Shorten has also weighed in on TikTok, and said his biggest concern is about the impacts of social media on young people.
Speaking on the Today Show, Shorten said he acknowledges the “important” national security debate but said a separate discussion is needed:
I think there’s a separate discussion to be had about the impact of social media on kids in particular, the algorithms that these programs use, I think, do have an injuring effect on kids … I’m not a fan of TikTok at all, but in terms of national security, we’ll take the advice of the national security experts.
He responded with a firm “no” when asked if the government is planning to ban TikTok, relying on advice from security agencies.
When asked about allegations of China mining Australian data through the app, Shorten said:
Well, I think that as a general issue is a challenge, yes.
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Banning TikTok would ‘depend on the advice’ from national security chiefs: Dutton
Peter Dutton has reiterated comments he made yesterday, arguing the PM needs to “step up” against TikTok and allegations that China is mining data.
But the opposition leader has again stopped short of calling outright for a ban on the social media platform.
Speaking on the Today Show earlier, Dutton said any action towards banning TikTok would depend on the advice given to government from national security chiefs.
If they’re saying, look, prime minister, we’ve got a real problem here because young kids [and] Australians of all ages are using TikTok and their personal information is being mined, the images are being captured and Australians are having their devices exploited, then the prime minister has got a responsibility to step up and do the right thing by Australians. Now, whether that’s banning it, it will depend on the advice.
Asked if he would be “agitating” for a ban, Dutton said he hadn’t received the advice Anthony Albanese received from national security chiefs, but “clearly there’s a huge problem” and the PM “does need to step up”.
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Top science agency defends energy report after Dutton labelled it 'discredited'
Chief executive of the CSIRO, Douglas Hilton, says he will “staunchly defend” the organisation and its scientists against “unfounded criticism”, following comments made by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
The CSIRO’s annual GenCost report labelled nuclear as the most expensive form of energy. Dutton questioned the report’s integrity and said it was “discredited” because it “doesn’t take into account some of the transmission costs, the costs around subsidies for the renewables”.
In an open letter, Hilton called on political leaders to “resist the temptation to disparage science”. He also defended CSIRO’s scientists and said they each work “creatively, assiduously and with integrity”.
The letter reads:
As Chief Executive of CSIRO, I will staunchly defend our scientists and our organisation against unfounded criticism.
The GenCost report is updated each year and provides the very best estimates for the cost of future new-build electricity generation in Australia. The report is carefully produced, its methodology is clearly articulated, our scientists are open and responsive to feedback, and as is the case for all creditable science, the report is updated regularly as new data comes to hand.
The GenCost report can be trusted by all our elected representatives, irrespective of whether they are advocating for electricity generation by renewables, coal, gas or nuclear energy.
No matter the challenge we are tackling, CSIRO’s scientists and engineers can be relied on by the community to work creatively, assiduously and with integrity.
For some much-needed context, you can read this analysis from Graham Readfearn below:
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‘Not unreasonable’ for wealthy Australians to pay more for aged care, HSU president says
HSU president Gerard Hayes said it is “not unreasonable” for wealthy Australians to pay more for aged care, as recommended by a a government-appointed expert panel earlier this week.
Hayes argued there “must be a safety net” for people who can’t afford aged care so they have dignity as they age, and those who are wealthy are able to “look after themselves” and are entitled to pay for a “silver service”.
The vast majority of Australians who are of modest means should be able to access aged care and quality aged care.
‘Important [that] age care providers … are not profiteering’, Health Services Union president says
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Gerard Hayes was asked whether the 25% increase would be financially challenging for some providers.
He said providers need to be clear about their bottom line:
The government has put a lot of money into aged care, particularly the 15%. That was worth about $15bn. The government is doing the right thing. If the government is prepared to continue to support, it is important for aged care providers to make sure they are not profiteering out of aged care and elderly Australians don’t become a commodity, as opposed for us caring for them.
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Union president ‘quietly confident’ 25% pay rise will pass for age care workers
Health Services Union president Gerard Hayes says the union is “quietly confident” aged care workers will be awarded a 25% pay rise by the Fair Work Commission today.
As we flagged earlier, the FWC is due to hand its decision down at 2pm.
Hayes told ABC News Breakfast:
We have run a very good case and we are quietly confident. We have been able to articulate the issues for women in aged care – the average superannuation balance is about $18,000 and it is not sustainable and if we can get to that 25%, that will go a long way to attract and retain workers and prevent a lot of women working their way into poverty and retirement.
Hayes said that an interim 15% pay rise has led to a “slowing in people leaving the industry”. If the 25% increase is approved, Hayes said this would “no doubt” allow aged care providers to recruit more people.
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Security agencies looking into whether Australian TikTok data is accessed in China, Rowland says
Asked if Australian data is being accessed by TikTok staff in China, and if that worries her, Rowland told ABC RN that security agencies are looking into this closely.
But, she added, Australia will make its decisions around this “in a very sober way”.
We take these matters and decisions in a very sober way based on the assessments and the best advice that we have. Our intelligence agencies are the best in the world and we will always be guided by their assessments and their recommendations.
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Australia’s privacy laws ‘need to be made fit for purpose’, Rowland says
Q: Could the Privacy Commissioner’s review of Australia’s privacy laws lead to reform around TikTok, if the government isn’t considering an outright ban?
Michelle Rowland:
This is part of the ordinary course of Australian law and Australian law reform. Our office of the Australian Information Commissioner will undertake its own inquiries, which could lead to a formal investigation as well, but there are particular issues that are alleged there …
The attorney-general and I think the broader community and privacy advocates in this space in particular are very aligned to some of the issues that have been raised by TikTok’s practices, in the fact that our privacy laws need to be made fit for purpose and that’s one of the key reasons why the attorney-general has picked up this issue and is prosecuting it.
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Australia to ‘make own security assessments’ as US looks to ban TikTok, communications minister says
Communications minister Michelle Rowland just spoke with ABC radio about all things TikTok.
In case you missed it yesterday: TikTok’s future is in peril as the US threatens to implement a nationwide ban. But prime minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has “no plans” to follow its ally’s footsteps, despite national security concerns. TikTok welcomed his comments.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton called on Albanese to “show leadership” on the issue of risks posed to privacy and security from social media platforms – but stopped short of endorsing a ban.
Speaking on the radio just now, Rowland noted the US ban is proceeding through the legislative system with cross-party support, and Australia takes that seriously – but also needs to take the advice of its own security agencies:
As the prime minister has noted, we are an independent country [and] we make our own security assessments. We’re an independent country, [and] of course we know what is happening in other countries [but] we should make our own decisions.
Rowland said the government is continuing to monitor the situation and noted it has already taken steps to ban the app on government devices:
I think the other point that needs to be made is that any entity operating in Australia must comply with Australian law and within the attorney-general’s portfolio. I note that there is already an investigation being undertaken by our Privacy Commissioner into how TikTok is handling personal information and whether that is compliant with the law. I also note that this is an important consideration [to be] made by the attorney-general in his consultation of the review of the Privacy Act right now, as well. So we’ll continue to monitor those developments.
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Historic aged care wage case to be handed down
Aged care staff will learn whether they are to receive a major pay rise, with the Fair Work Commission set to hand down a landmark decision, AAP reports.
More than 100,000 indirect employees in the sector are expected to finally enjoy a wage boost after the Health Services Union lodged an application for a 25% across-the-board increase in 2020.
The commission awarded an interim 15% pay rise to direct care employees at the end of 2022 and since then, the union has continued to push for a comprehensive increase for all staff.
HSU national president Gerard Hayes says aged care workers are the under-valued, under-appreciated lifeblood of the care economy:
The women of this sector have been overlooked for too long.
Aged care workers perform physically and emotionally demanding work with our community’s most vulnerable members.
All they have asked for is a proper wage that recognises their skills and dedication.
The Fair Work Commission will hand down its decision on Friday afternoon, at 2pm.
Updated
One in eight people can no longer afford home insurance
One in eight households can no longer afford insurance and a global insurance company has blamed a lack of risk reduction and planning laws that allow building on flood-prone land, AAP reports.
Global insurance giant Swiss Re has warned that the risk of large insurance losses needed to be reduced for reinsurance to remain sustainable.
The company’s concerns are revealed in a submission to a House of Representatives inquiry into the insurance industry’s response to major flood disasters in eastern Australia in 2022.
The cost of home and contents insurance had now become unaffordable for one in eight households in 2023, according to Swiss Re. That is up from 2022 when it was one in 10 households.
Swiss Re blames the trend on the lack of risk reduction and planning laws that allow housing development on flood-prone land, saying in its submission:
Risk reduction is the only way to lower the risk and therefore improve affordability.
Swiss Re wants stronger building codes and better land use planning that consider the changing climate over multiple decades.
Representatives from the company will appear before a public hearing today, and the committee will finalise a report by September.
Updated
DFAT providing support to family of Australian woman who died in Bali
The department of foreign affairs is providing consular support to the family of a 47-year-old Australian woman who died in Bali.
Two tourists, including the Australian woman, were killed on the Indonesian resort island after heavy rain triggered a landslide that swept away their villa, an official said yesterday.
A DFAT spokesperson said in a statement:
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who has died in Bali.
We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.
Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.
Miner critical, tributes to worker killed in collapse
A miner is fighting for life in hospital after an underground collapse that killed his colleague, AAP reports.
The 21-year-old Ballarat man was taken to the Alfred hospital in a critical condition hours after becoming pinned underneath fallen rocks at the Ballarat goldmine at Mount Clear on Wednesday.
He remained in a critical condition at the hospital as of 7.10am, local time.
Bruthen man Kurt Hourigan, 37, died in the incident. Heartbroken friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to him and express grief.
Reece Hourigan posted to Facebook:
I still can’t believe you are gone.
Stephanie Coleiro said:
Our brother, our best mate, our son Kurt Hourigan ... we are so broken without you.
His local football and netball club extended deep sympathy to the family of their past player. The Bruthen Football Netball Club said:
A dedicated father and friend of many, Kurt always pushed himself to give 110% and will be missed my all.
Welcome
Good morning, and happy Friday – welcome back to another day on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be with you for most of the day.
Making news overnight, tributes have been flowing for 37-year-old Bruthen man Kurt Hourigan, who was killed during an underground rockfall at a Ballarat goldmine.
Heartbroken friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to him and express grief, AAP reports, while his local football and netball club extended deep sympathy to the family of their past player.
As of 7.10am, a 21-year-old miner who was injured during the collapse remains in a critical condition at the Alfred Hospital.
AAP is also reporting that one in eight households can no longer afford insurance, according to Global insurance giant Swiss Re who says the cost of home and contents insurance had now become unaffordable for one in eight households in 2023. That is up from 2022 when it was one in 10 households.
Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission is due to hand down a landmark decision at 2pm today, revealing whether aged care staff will receive a major pay rise.
We will have more all of these stories shortly.
See something that needs attention on the blog? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
