The day that was, Wednesday, 1 November
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here’s a quick wrap-up of the day:
Fires still rage in Queensland, with authorities warning the danger is not over as dozens of blazes flare up without rain. The fires are even burning in tropical rainforest.
A 10-year-old Sydney boy has died after being trapped under a lift at school for children with disability.
The Catholic church has lost a landmark high court case over its controversial use of the deaths of paedophile priests to thwart survivors’ attempts at justice.
The convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika has won a high court battle against the cancellation of his Australian citizenship.
Politicians called for action on the “national crisis” of violence against women.
The WA government is set to pay $180m to settle stolen wages class action brought by Aboriginal workers; and
A 4.2 metre great white shark was spotted in the water just after a man disappeared at a popular South Australian surfing spot.
We will see you back here for more news tomorrow.
Updated
Why is the Atherton Tablelands fire unusual as far as bushfires go?
On the fires in the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland, it is worth pointing out how unusual it is for serious fires to develop in the tropics.
There are tropical rainforest areas near Herberton, which is under threat from an “evolving fire situation”.
For the first time in living memory in 2018, bushfires burned in world heritage tropical rainforest and experts say (you guessed it) that climate change is making conditions drier and hotter in these places. Locals say those areas have been particularly dry in recent months.
Updated
St Lucy’s school issues statement after 10-year-old boy dies
The school for children with disability where a 10-year-old boy died after becoming trapped under a lift has released a statement.
New South Wales police said emergency services were called to St Lucy’s school in Wahroonga about 2pm on Wednesday after reports a child was trapped.
Officers attached to the Kuring-Gai police area command arrived to find the child trapped under a lift, police said.
The school said in a statement:
St Lucy’s school is very sad to confirm the tragic death of one of our students this afternoon.
We are cooperating with investigating police and are not able to make any further statement today.
The school will be closed to students until further notice.
We ask for privacy and space for our staff and families to grieve at this difficult time as we remember our beautiful student.
Updated
WA government to pay $180m to settle stolen wages case
The WA government will pay $180m to settle a class action for stolen wages on behalf of many thousands of Aboriginal people who worked in the state, according to a statement from the law firm that pursued the case.
Mervyn Street launched the legal action in 2020 on behalf of workers and surviving relatives of those who received little or no wages while subject to laws in effect from 1936 to 1972.
Shine Lawyers said that as part of the historic class action settlement, the state would pay up to $180.4m to eligible Aboriginal workers or their surviving spouses and children, which includes a separate amount of up to $15.4m for some of the Street’s legal costs.
The state will also issue a public acknowledgment and apology in parliament to the surviving and deceased Aboriginal workers on 28 November, the law firm said.
Updated
Dfat confirms possibility of Gaza border crossing
The Department of Foreign Affairs says consular officials in Egypt are standing ready to assist Australians in Gaza who use the Rafah border crossing, with the government communicating with all Australians about their options.
ABC earlier reported that Dfat had contacted some Australians to say they may be able to use the border crossing to leave Gaza and enter Egypt. A Dfat spokesperson said in a statement to Guardian Australia that the situation remained volatile.
“The situation in Gaza is highly challenging and rapidly changing. Australia continues to strongly urge the protection of civilian lives and the observation of international law as the conflict continues,” the statement said.
The Australian government is assisting 88 individuals in Gaza, including Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members. We understand the situation is extremely distressing for them and their loved ones.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is communicating with all individuals registered with us in Gaza about departure options, including to make them aware of the possibility of the opening of the Rafah border on 1 November.
Dfat said “consular officials in Cairo are ready to provide support to those Australians and their family members who cross into Egypt.”
“Australia continues to work with authorities and support international efforts to establish a safe passage corridor both for humanitarian supplies and for Australians and their family members who want to depart Gaza,” the statement said.
Dfat advised that Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).
Updated
Stephen Smith, an assistant commissioner from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, said authorities were concerned about the fires in the tropics, in the Atherton Tablelands.
“It is an evolving fire situation up there, stay connected and stay informed,” he said.
“We’ve been in a significant period of operational intensity for some time now”.
The Bureau of Meteorology says hot, windy and dry conditions in southeast Queensland are dissipating, and that developing storms are “good news” for firegrounds.
BoM senior meteorologist Laura Boekel said it was unlikely that high risk fire conditions would return for “at least the next week”.
“But [it’s] important to note that it’s not the entire state that’s going to see [improved fire conditions],” she said. Boekel said rainfall would not likely hit the tropics, north of Rockhampton.
In the state’s north, north-west, central west and channel country, high fire danger ratings will continue.
Updated
Premier provides Queensland fire update
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says there are three main areas of concern as 83 bushfires remain alight across the state.
One of those areas is Dalveen, near Warwick, where 30 rural properties are being monitored closely. The others are towns in the Atherton Tablelands.
It is unusual for severe fires to be so far north, due to tropical conditions.
In the tablelands the communities of Herberton and Watsonville are at risk and Palaszczuk says this is an “unfolding situation”. At one point officials thought they might need to evacuate the Herberton hospital, but this is no longer necessary.
Updated
PM and Penny Wong say they will make representations to China on jailed Australian writer Yang Hengjun
Anthony Albanese says he “always” raises the issues of Australian interests when he meets with Chinese officials, in response to concerns raised by the children of jailed Australian writer Yang Hengjun.
The prime minister leaves for China on Saturday on an official visit.
In a letter released today, Yang Hengjun’s sons pleaded with Albanese to negotiate his freedom, telling the prime minister his situation is critical and their father risks “being left to die”.
The writer and avowed democracy activist was arrested in January 2019 and charged with espionage. Yang has collapsed in prison and been told he has a 10cm cyst growing on his kidney, his sons said in a letter to Albanese, emphasising there was “a narrow window of opportunity” to secure his release.
Albanese told reporters later on Wednesday that the response to the letter said:
That I had raised the issue previously and that we will always raise these issues and make representations on behalf of Australians and that we are very sympathetic and understand the concerns that they would have for their father and for this Australian who has been detained now for a long period of time.
Penny Wong, the foreign minister, told Sky News that the government had consistently advocated for Dr Yang.
We share the concerns of his family about his condition, his medical condition and his medical treatment. We will continue to express that. I will be travelling with the prime minister as well to China, and I will ensure that whatever opportunity I have to make representations on Dr Yang’s behalf, I will do so.
You can read more about the letter here:
Updated
Video footage shows police removing protestors from Marles’ Geelong office
Some more video footage from the protest held by anti-Zionist Jewish activists outside the Geelong office of the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles.
The demonstration, which lasted several hours, included several protesters using bike locks to secure themselves to the building.
The group called on the government to withdraw diplomatic, economic and military support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Updated
Victorian domestic violence victims wait two years for public housing, data shows
Victorians fleeing family violence are waiting almost two years for public or social housing, with advocates concerned the delay could force people to chose between remaining with an abuser or becoming homeless.
Data from the latest Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) annual report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, shows the average wait time for “public rental housing” for people fleeing family violence is 23.6 months, up from 17.1 months recorded in 2021-22. In 2020-21, that waiting time was 11.1 months.
The department is meant to prioritise access to housing for vulnerable Victorians, including those who are homeless, have a disability or are escaping family violence. It aims to find them a place to live within 10.5 months.
But the report showed the average wait time for all priority applicants was 18.1 months, an increase of more than three months since 2021-22.
The department has blamed both waitlist blowouts on “sustained demand for social housing following the Covid-19 pandemic, and less renters moving out”.
More on this story here:
Sydney boy, 10, dies in school lift accident
A child has died at a school for children with disability in Sydney’s upper north shore following a tragic accident.
Emergency services were called to St Lucy’s School for Students with Disabilities in Wahroonga at 2pm today after reports a child was trapped.
NSW police said officers arrived to find the 10-year-old boy trapped under a lift. Fire and Rescue NSW attempted to remove the boy, however he died at the scene.
Police have established a crime scene and say the recovery operation is still ongoing.
Updated
Some Australians reportedly told to ‘seize’ chance to leave Gaza soon via Rafah border
Some Australians trapped in Gaza are being advised to head to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt amid reports it may open to some foreign nationals, the ABC reports.
The ABC has reported it has seen an email sent by Australian consular officials saying that the border may open at 9am local time, which is 6pm here this evening.
The ABC said the email told some Australians to seize the opportunity to leave Gaza if they deem it safe to do so, to take enough food and water to last five hours, and to expect large crowds.
Egypt is accepting a limited number of foreign nationals across the border, with reports indicating an initial list of up to 400.
Foreign minister Penny Wong told Sky News earlier that the Australian government is speaking with Egyptian counterparts about getting all Australians out of Gaza, but couldn’t say how many Australians would be allowed to cross the border.
There are 88 Australian citizens and their families known to be in Gaza.
The United States indicated it planned to inform US citizens in Gaza to head to Rafah “as soon as we have actionable information”.
On Wednesday, the BBC reported that the UK Foreign Office had told British nationals trapped in Gaza that Rafah might open for limited exits.
Updated
NSW police call for information about ‘suspicious fires’ in Taree, now extinguished
The New South Wales police are appealing for information following “several “suspicious fires” that were later extinguished at Taree on the state’s mid-north coast.
The police statement said:
About 6pm on Monday 30 October 2023, emergency services were called to Hughes Street, Taree, following reports of a small bush fire.
About 1.35am yesterday (Tuesday 31 October 2023), police were patrolling Bushland Drive, Taree, when they located a second fire.
A short time later, police located a third bushfire along the same stretch of road.
About 11.25pm yesterday (Tuesday 31 October 2023), a fourth fire was located behind a property on Hughes Road.
Detectives from Manning and the Great Lakes police district have commenced inquiries about the fires, and police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Birmingham: loss of innocent lives a ‘tragedy’ but Israel has a right to remove terrorist threat
The interview now turns to the Israel-Hamas conflict, where Birmingham is asked whether too much attention is being given to Israel’s right to defend itself given that “thousands of innocent Palestinians, including children, are being caught up in the conflict”.
Birmingham starts by acknowledging “all loss of innocent lives is a tragedy”, but says “we cannot lose sight of the objective of removing the terrorist threat from Israel”:
Israel has a right to defend itself and within [that] right, it has the right to remove Hamas as a terrorist threat to Israel. That does need to continue to be respected and acknowledged and while yes, of course we all grieve for the loss of innocent life that occurs in a war situation that is occurring here, we do need to remember the objective, which is to remove a terrorist threat and one that would continue to pose a threat to other innocent lives were Hamas be allowed to continue.
I hope and trust that Israel will use all resources they can to try to minimise or reduce the loss of innocent life and we wish to see humanitarian assistance get through wherever that is possible. We cannot lose sight of the objective of removing the terrorist threat from Israel, which would only see further loss of innocent lives in the future were Hamas to continue with a position of power.
Earlier today, Anthony Albanese again reiterated that Israel has a right to defend itself amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, but has warned how it defends itself matters.
Updated
Coalition citizenship-stripping laws aimed to remove future threat from Benbrika, Simon Birmingham says
Acting shadow affairs minister, Simon Birmingham, is speaking on ABC Afternoon Briefing now about the high court ruling that another part of the Coalition-era citizenship-stripping laws are invalid, after a successful appeal by convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika.
Asked whether he thinks the Coalition government overreached by enacting these laws, Birmingham said:
The High Court obviously comes to its own judgments and ultimately we all have to respect those judgments of the court.
What we [were] seeking to do as a government was to make sure that Mr Benbrika, who was a convicted terrorist and posed a genuine threat to the Australian community, was removed in terms of the threat that he could pose in the future.
Our view is that the Albanese government now needs to pursue every possible avenue to look at how they can remove the threat for the future, and their response to this judgement that has been handed [down].
Updated
Anthony Albanese speaks with Netanyahu as protesters occupy Richard Marles’ office
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has spoken with Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the first time since the latest conflict erupted in Gaza.
His message to the Israeli prime minister remains unknown, but Albanese told a press conference on Wednesday the government remained concerned about humanitarian issues and civilian lives in Gaza, and that while he believed Israel has a right to defend itself, “how it defends itself matters”.
Police on Wednesday also removed protesters outside the Geelong office of deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, after a demonstration of anti-Zionist Jewish activists protested the government’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.
The demonstration, which lasted several hours, included protestors using bike locks to secure themselves to the building. The group called on the government to withdraw diplomatic, economic and military support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
More on this story here:
Updated
Queensland issues three more emergency bushfire warnings
The Queensland fire and emergency service has issued three emergency bushfire warnings on Wednesday, the most recent for a blaze at Watsonville in the state’s north.
The other two warnings were issued for fires near the Glen and Dalveen, in the southern downs region.
The full list of warnings is here.
Updated
Meta refused to remove memes despite pressure from Australia’s defence department
The Australian defence department pressured Meta to remove a popular veterans meme page from Facebook and Instagram as well as dozens of posts – including those referencing the widely used Downfall meme.
Documents released last week by the department under freedom of information laws reveal multiple emails from Defence to Meta since 2019 requesting the removal of posts from the Pineapple Express page. The page is followed by defence veterans and personnel, and has more than 79,000 followers and 62,000 likes.
Defence was previously successful in having the Facebook page and Instagram account taken down. But the emails reveal that in May 2019 an unidentified staff member from the departments’s social media team contacted Meta complaining that the pages were live again.
You can read more on that story here:
Updated
Victorian child held in adult prison placed in spit hood, watchdog finds
A Victorian child being held in an adult prison was placed in a spit hood while spending months confined to his cell for up to 23 hours a day, the state’s children’s commissioner has revealed.
According to the state’s Commission for Children and Young People’s (CCYP) annual report, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, the child was kept in “effective isolation” for 24 weeks out of eight months.
In February, the child contacted the commission to report that prison officers had used a spit hood on him that day. The commission launched an inquiry after the report.
After the spit hood incident, the prison turned off water in the child’s cell for about 22 hours, leaving him unable to wash his hands or use the toilet facilities or brush his teeth, the CCYP report said. This was despite him requesting staff to return his access to water.
You can read more on that story here:
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today. I’ll leave you with my colleague Nino Bucci to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care!
Wong to continue pressing Egypt to open humanitarian corridor in Gaza
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong says she will continue to press Egypt to open up a humanitarian corridor for those trapped in Gaza, 88 of which are Australian.
The border between Gaza and Egypt, known as the Rafah crossing, has been closed since the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, began in October.
The Israeli military has been warning those in Palestine to head south in the besieged strip as it invades the densely-populated northern region, leaving many trapped at the Rafah crossing.
Wong told Sky News on Wednesday she had spoken to her Egyptian counterpart two nights ago to press for the opening of the border:
We have 88 Australians and their families [in Gaza]. We want to see Australians out of Gaza. We want safe passage. We’ve called for humanitarian pauses to enable both aid and assistance to get in, and also for civilians to get out.
The foreign affairs minister said she did not have confirmation as to whether any Australians are within a group of 400 foreign nationals Egypt is reportedly allowing into the country from Gaza.
Updated
Residents to the west of NSW town Gulgong should ‘prepare now’ for approaching bushfire
A bushfire near Gulgong in New South Wales has been upgraded to a “watch and act” level.
This means conditions are changing and there is a heightened level of threat.
A bushfire at Ridge Road, Cooks Gap in the mid-western council area is burning 15km northeast of Gulgong and spreading in a westerly direction.
The NSW RFS says residents in the vicinity of Ridge Road and Maiala Road should prepare now.
Watch and Act: Ridge Rd, Cooks Gap (Mid-Western LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 1, 2023
A fire is burning 15km NE of Gulgong spreading in a W direction, residents in the vicinity of Ridge Road and Maiala Rd, Cooks Gap should Prepare Now. More info via Hazards Near Me app and #RFS website: https://t.co/vL8czqZlNH pic.twitter.com/Ocq590c1R3
Updated
The high court has ruled that First Nations people living in remote dilapidated housing are entitled to compensation for distress or disappointment after they brought forward complaints about problems including leaking sewage, unstable electricity and a lack of air conditioning, AAP reports.
You can real the full story below:
Zoo reports among documents tabled in Victorian parliament
Among the 240 documents released today is the annual report form Zoos Victoria, which reveals animal welfare investigations its completed recently.
It includes an investigation of the death of a plains zebra, after she was transferred from Werribee Open Range Zoo.
According to the report, two zebras were loaded on to a crate and one on to a trailer, and transported to the docks. They appeared calm but after 90 minutes “a loud banging was heard from the crate”.
The report said:
It is assumed something spooked the zebra, leading to an impact between the zebra and the crate. Staff quickly checked on the zebra and found her lying on her side with a suspected fractured neck. The force of the impact resulted in a fatal injury, fractured cervical vertebra. The reason for impact is unknown.
In another incident under investigation at Melbourne Zoo, a northern saratoga fish was found dead on the ground six days after being introduced to a new habitat:
Saratoga are known for jumping out of the water to feed. In the absence of reports of water quality issues or aggression with other animals housed in the habitat, veterinary diagnosis was death by misadventure.
Ten tropical fish also died at Melbourne Zoo when water temperature was increased due to a faulty actuator valve, while 16 Murray River (Crimson-spotted) Rainbow Fish died at Healesville Sanctuary after a hose was left running in an aquarium tank for too long.
Updated
Defence minister Richard Marles shares photos from his US visit
Marles met with his US counterpart, secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, in Washington, and said:
We spoke about the strength of our Alliance and the progression of the AUKUS partnership. I also thanked Secretary Austin for the efforts of the US to fast-track Australia’s procurement of Black Hawk helicopters.
An enormous pleasure to catch up with my friend, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III in Washington 🇦🇺🇺🇸 @SecDef pic.twitter.com/n2LYldD15K
— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) November 1, 2023
We had more on this in the blog earlier.
Updated
‘We have all witnessed Mark and Deborah’s courage’, Penny Wong says, as Dreyfus mourns his wife
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has expressed her condolences for Mark Dreyfus’ wife of 44 years, Deborah, who has passed away.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese announced her passing earlier today, and said Dreyfus would be taking leave.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), Wong says her thoughts are with Dreyfus and his family today:
We have all witnessed Mark and Deborah’s courage and strength over many years. Their tenacity is a testament to their character, family and love.
My thoughts are with my friend and colleague Mark Dreyfus and his family today, following the tragic passing of Mark’s wife Deborah.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) November 1, 2023
We have all witnessed Mark and Deborah's courage and strength over many years. Their tenacity is a testament to their character, family and love. pic.twitter.com/6Cu6wZoz4a
Updated
Clearer picture of property damage to come, says Queensland official
Photograph: Darren England/EPA
Rob Boniwell said there have been over 50 reports of damaged structures in the Tara area amid the bushfires.
At this stage, we’re still trying to get some clarity on that, and we will find that the same at Wallangarra and Dalveen as well.
We will not put people in unsafe situations, so once the fire becomes more under control and damage assessment teams can move in, we will get a clearer picture of the extent of the damage.
He was also asked about claims from Queensland Police that a bushfire at Goodwood, south of Bundaberg, may have been deliberately lit:
That is in hands of the Queensland Police at the moment. They are well versed and will be conducting their investigation, we will work with them and understand that in due course.
Updated
‘Danger is still not over’ in Queensland fires
Rob Boniwell, acting assistant commissioner with Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, is speaking to the ABC with an update on the bushfires.
He said firefighters have been focused on the border region, with Wallangarra in Queensland and Jennings in New South Wales separated by just a single street and both facing the threat of fire.
Warwick in the Dalveen area is also of concern, and the “danger is still not over” for the Tara region, he added.
Boniwell said a weather change will provide “welcome reprieve” for crews:
…just so we can bring these fires under control, strengthen containment lines and make our communities as safe as possible.
… We desperately need some rain and extra humidity in the air to make the fire conditions more tenable, but they can also bring dry lightning storms and could set new seeds of fire.
That said we are as prepared as we can be and will continue to work hard to keep our community safe.
Updated
Back to the pro-Palestine protest at Richard Marles’ Geelong office
A protester on the scene says that some people are being taken from the building, while others remain inside. The protester also claims that police have blocked the entrance to the building.
First of the people locked on are taken out of the building. pic.twitter.com/8pMY7kIQh4
— Matt (@MattH093) November 1, 2023
A group inside remains defiant. Cops are have blocked the entrance to the building. pic.twitter.com/FL6w2eUIiL
— Matt (@MattH093) November 1, 2023
Updated
NSW bushfire warning levels around Tenterfield in NSW changed
A number of bushfires in and around Tenterfield in New South Wales have been downgraded to “advice” level as conditions ease.
However, residents and those nearby are still being urged to monitor conditions.
According to the NSW RFS, “advice” level means there is no immediate danger, while “watch and act” means there is heightened risk, conditions are changing and people need to take action.
Here is where things currently stand across the state:
“Watch and act” alerts are in place for the following:
• Benders Creek, burning south of Tenterfield
• Scrub Road, 4km southeast of Tenterfield
• Christies, burning near Jennings in the Tenterfield LGA
Meanwhile, “advice” level alerts are in place for the following:
• Glens Creek Road, Nymbodia
• Frost Road, Woodside, Mole Station Road near Tenterfield
• Sawyers Creek, Donnybrook State Forest
• Ulan Road, Cooks Gap 2km south of Ulan
• Ogilvie Drive, Tabulam 50km northeast of Tenterfield
• Maryland Cullendore Road, Maryland, 60km north of Tenterfield
• Ashglen, in the Tenterfield LGA
Updated
Police allegedly tell protesters to leave Richard Marles’ office
An update on the anti-Zionist Jewish protest at Richard Marles’ Geelong office:
According to a protester on the scene, police have now given a direction for protesters to leave the building.
Cops have now given a direction to leave the building. pic.twitter.com/nXBc64R8qU
— Matt (@MattH093) November 1, 2023
Updated
Two more emergency warnings have been issued for bushfires in Queensland
Residents of The Glen, near Dalveen, have been told to leave immediately due to a large, dangerous fire burning near the New England Highway.
This warning is for properties between Granite Hills Road, Rockland Road, New England Highway, and Crystal Mountain Road.
(Earlier this morning, a separate emergency warning was issued for parts of Dalveen).
Meanwhile, an emergency warning has also been issued for Watstonville, near Heberton, due to a fast-moving fire at Cave Hill.
Residents between Herberton Petford Road, Sandridge Road, Walsh River Road and Bischoff Mill Road – including Shiffron Road and Eichblatt Road – have been urged to leave immediately.
Updated
Police enter Marles’ office
As the protest at Richard Marles’ office approaches the four-hour mark, one protester has captured a video showing a contingent of public order response team officers entering the building:
A large contingent of public order response team (PORT) have entered the building. pic.twitter.com/Hauuhib00z
— Matt (@MattH093) November 1, 2023
Updated
Business groups still opposed to closing loopholes bill
In recent days, the Albanese government has managed to dilute opposition to its closing loopholes legislation, with a concession to remove a penalty for employers who “misrepresent” a job as casual. The Australian Hotels Association and Pharmacy Guild have welcomed the changes.
Today a large group of business bodies said they remain opposed to the bill, including the Business Council, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group, small business organisers, Master Builders, Minerals Council, National Farmers Federation, restaurant and catering, and Australian Resources Energy Employer Association.
In a joint statement they said:
Australia’s leading employer organisations continue to urge the government to go back to the drawing board on its proposed workplace relations reforms, rather than tinkering at the edges of poorly drafted legislation.
What we are seeing now is simply an attempt at trying to patch a sinking boat with a post it note. We are unconvinced that reported changes by the government will fix what is a fundamentally flawed bill. We are yet to see any detail and there remains significant unanswered questions regarding what is reportedly proposed by the government.
They said there was “insufficient evidence to support such drastic and unwarranted legislative changes” and that “ad hoc amendments will simply add to complexity”.
Police at Marles office protest
Victorian police have also provided a brief statement on the anti-Zionist Jewish protest taking place at defence minister Richard Marles’ Geelong office:
Police are currently at a protest in Geelong on Brougham Street.
There will be a highly visible police presence in the area to prevent breaches of the peace and to ensure community safety.
Updated
Marles says first concern about office protest is wellbeing of staff
Defence minister and deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, has just released a statement on the anti-Zionist Jewish protest being held at his Geelong office currently.
(We reported about this just earlier in the blog).
In the statement, he said he is aware of protests inside his Geelong office and his “first concern is for the safety and wellbeing” of his staff:
While I am currently travelling overseas for official meetings in my capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the abuse and destruction of property or goods is not acceptable.
Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in Australia’s democracy. It is important that as this occurs, it is done so safely and appropriately.
Updated
Albanese confirms discussion with Israel’s Netanyahu
Further to the previous post, we can now confirm Anthony Albanese spoke with Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, earlier today. It came after Albanese’s call with Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, last week.
Albanese didn’t mention the call in his press conference earlier today. Asked about Israel’s bombing of a refugee camp in Gaza in a strike against a Hamas leader, Albanese said in the Sydney media appearance that he hadn’t seen that report.
The PM said:
The tragedy that we are seeing in the Middle East, Hamas’s terrorist activities horrified the world and we remain very concerned about humanitarian issues in Gaza. We continue to urge for all civilians to be protected, for the international rule of law to be applied.
We say that Israel has a right to defend itself, but how it defends itself matters and we want to see all innocent lives protected. Every life matters. Every Israeli, every Palestinian. Innocent people have been impacted by this in Israel and in Palestine. And we are concerned about humanitarian issues.
Albanese went on to say he continued to advocate for Australian citizens in Gaza to be allowed to move to safety, and raised Australia’s concern about the conflict potentially spreading further in the region - noting the government’s message for Australians in Lebanon to leave now if they wished to leave.
Updated
Albanese speaks with Netanyahu
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has spoken with Israeli’s PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli media outlets.
We’ve contacted Albanese’s office for comment.
Haaretz, one of Israel’s major news services, reported that Netanyahu’s office had confirmed “he had spoken throughout the day with several world leaders and updated them on the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip.” Netanyahu was reported as speaking with Albanese, along with Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, and the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak.
Haaretz reported:
Netanyahu also thanked the leaders for their support for Israel and told them that ‘Israel’s war against Hamas-ISIS is a war for the entire enlightened world’.
The federal Coalition has criticised Albanese for several days after the PM said he had not been able to lock in a call with Netanyahu.
In Washington DC last week, Albanese responded to a reporter’s question about the efforts to secure a call, saying:
Mr Netanyahu has pressures on which at the top of the list is not the discussion with the Australian prime minister. We understand the pressures which are there. But we have a request for a calling.
Updated
Protesters occupy defence minister’s electoral office
A group of anti-Zionist Jewish activists have led a protest inside the Geelong office of defence minister Richard Marles, protesting the government’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.
The protestors appear to still be there, having occupied the office for more than three hours. Videos from the protest show police surrounding the office building, with protestors raising banners reading “stop the genocide” and “not in our name”.
Cops have entered the building and are assessing the situation. The loudness of the singing intensifies! pic.twitter.com/wLrm5IE5cV
— Matt (@MattH093) October 31, 2023
A number of protestors have also secured themselves by their necks in the office’s reception using bicycle locks and are refusing to leave, their statement says.
The group is demanding the government withdraw diplomatic, economic and military support for Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestine.
They are also calling on Marles to condemn Israel’s “devastating bombardment of Gaza and the West Bank”.
Jewish demonstrator Nevo Zisin said:
I condemn the use of Jewish grief and trauma as justification for committing a genocide against another people. The ongoing occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people goes against my Jewish values.
Noemie Huttner-Koros, a Jewish artist and writer, added:
As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, I refuse to let Israel’s far-right government weaponise our grief, pain and fear for the purpose of war crimes, invasion and genocide. We want to show Jewish people in the diaspora that we can speak up. Jews and Palestinians can and do live together. I see it as my ancestral duty to fight for justice, peace and liberation for all.
Marles’ office has been contacted for comment.
Updated
Dwelling approvals sank in September, just when we could do with more housing
The property market is pretty tight around the country, with prices back to or above record levels, PropTrack and CoreLogic said today. (Here’s the article in case you missed it.)
One way to ease the strain is adding more supply (even the IMF noted that today). Unfortunately, the latest dwelling approvals didn’t point that way.
The numbers do bounce around, it’s true, but the 4.6% fall in approvals (seasonally adjusted) was worse than the 2.5% increase that economists had tipped. In August, they rose 8.1%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said today.
Daniel Rossi, ABS’s head of construction statistics, said:
Approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses fell by 5.1%, following a 10.1% rise in August.
Approvals for private sector houses dropped 4.6%, following a 7.2% bounce last month.
There was a bit of a range across the nation, with approvals down 11% in WA, 10.5% in New South Wales and 8.9% in Victoria. On the other hand, they jumped almost 35% in Queensland and more than 18% in Tasmania.
The value of total building approvals fell 4.9%, after a flat result in August, with new residential buildings off 3.6%.
Maree Kilroy, a senior economist for Oxford Economics Australia, has analysed today’s Building Approvals data. Maree said they expect national dwelling commencements to slide below 150,000 this financial year.
“There is movement on the housing policy front but planning lags mean it will take until the back half of the decade to see an activity boost,” she added, perhaps a bit pessimistically.
Updated
Chanel Contos is still speaking at the National Press Club. We’ll bring you the latest here on the blog, but in the meantime we recently published an in-depth article with her touching on similar topics she is raising in her speech.
You can read that, from Neha Kale, below:
Updated
Yes23 director Dean Parkin has told voice supporters that “the work cannot stop here” after the referendum defeat, encouraging backers to keep working towards justice for First Nations people and flagging discussions on next steps on Aboriginal affairs policy.
Parkin, leader of the yes campaign group, will address supporters in a virtual town hall meeting next Monday to debrief after the 14 October referendum loss - which will include discussion of “the ways we can keep progressing”.
He said in his email today:
The outcome was not what we were hoping for. When I wrote to you on referendum night, I encouraged everyone to take the time to rest and heal before finding a way to recommit to continuing the work towards First Nations justice.
This is because the work cannot stop here, and the result doesn’t take away from everything we achieved along the way.
Parkin and fellow high-profile yes campaigner, filmmaker Rachel Perkins, will address supporters next week. Parkin wrote:
I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts on what we achieved, how we shaped the national conversation and some of the ways we can keep progressing this at our virtual Town Hall on Monday 6 November.
You may have started seeing statements from Indigenous leaders, communities and organisations in recent days. They show that the discussion of where to go next has started but will be ongoing. Our communities and our leaders need time to consider where we are and to map the way forward.
Give us the time we need to reflect and discuss. But be ready to join us on the next part of the journey towards truth and justice when pathways become clear.
Updated
Chanel Contos details ‘pyramid of rape culture’
At the press club, Chanel Contos said talking about consent education was “mind blowing” for her and her peers because the behaviours that constitute indecent assault and sexual assault “were so incredibly pervasive we didn’t even recognise them as an anomaly”.
A useful way to understand how this culture of rape is perpetrated is to understand what is known as the pyramid of rape culture.
Imagine an actual pyramid or the shape of a triangle. Think about the bottom layer of this pyramid made up of sexist attitudes, rape jokes and victim blaming. This props up the next layer of the pyramid that hosts acts such as image-based abuse, stalking and coercion, that then enables the acts that sit at the point of the pyramid, like sexual assault, to occur.
Letting behaviours at the bottom of the pyramid like cat calling, locker room banter and groping go unchallenged provides a solid foundation on which more severe forms of sexual assault are normalised.
• 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
• Lifeline 13 11 14
Updated
Sexual consent campaigner Chanel Contos speaks at National Press Club
Founder of Teach Us Consent and chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s youth advisory committee, Chanel Contos, is addressing the National Press Club today.
As part of her Teach Us Consent campaign she launched a petition for holistic, age appropriate consent education to be mandated in the Australian curriculum.
It’s now been signed by nearly 50,000 Australians, and almost 7,000 people have posted their testimony of being sexually assaulted while of school age in Australia.
A year later, she took the petition to a meeting with all of Australia’s education ministers:
… They unanimously agreed to mandate consent education from kindergarten, every year until year 10.
Updated
Victorian government releases 240 annual reports
The opposition leader, John Pesutto, is holding a press conference to criticise the government’s decision to dump 240 annual reports in one day.
He told reporters it was an attempt to “prevent proper transparency and scrutiny”.
Pesutto also slammed the government for not releasing 40 reports on time. He said:
[These include] Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority, amongst others.
Here’s the full list:
More than 240 documents have been tabled in Victorian parliament today but 40 are missing: pic.twitter.com/bfSsEqCPF1
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) November 1, 2023
Updated
Queensland premier says bushfire emergency is ‘far from over’
Conditions fuelling bushfires in Queensland have eased, but the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says the state of emergency “is not yet over”.
At 6.30am this morning there were 76 active bushfires. In the Western Downs, 58 structures were damaged and the state says 387 homes have been saved due to firefighting efforts.
About 80 firefighters from Victoria have arrived in Queensland to assist.
Palaszczuk said:
This emergency is far from over.
Although the loss of property in these fires is significant, 387 homes have been saved.
This is a tribute to our firefighters and the communities who continue to follow their directions.
There is no doubt these combined efforts have saved lives.
For those who have lost everything, the arms of Queenslanders are wrapping around them.
Updated
Kerr claims top Asian award
Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been named the best women’s footballer in Asia in a ceremony in Doha.
The accolade comes a day after Kerr finished second in voting for the Ballon d’Or, the award for the best player in the world, behind Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí.
Kerr is just the third footballer to win the Asian Football Confederation’s major women’s prize more than once, after also claiming the crown in 2017.
The Matildas take on Taiwan in Perth tonight in their third Olympic qualifier.
Updated
Albanese backs Israel’s ‘right to defend itself’
Anthony Albanese has again reiterated that Israel has a right to defend itself amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas, but has warned how it defends itself matters.
Overnight, Israeli airstrikes destroyed apartment blocks in Gaza and killed dozens of people at a refugee camp in the northern area of the besieged strip. The Israeli military said the strike had targeted a key Hamas commander.
Hamas officials said more than 50 people were killed and more than 150 people were injured as a result.
Albanese said the government remained “very concerned about humanitarian issues” in Gaza and continued to call for civilians to be protected under the international rule of law.
He said:
We say that Israel has a right to defend itself but how it defends itself matters. We want to see all innocent lives protected. Every life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian.
Updated
Politicians call for action on ‘national crisis’ of violence against women
A recent spate of violent deaths has politicians calling for better support for women and a national approach to tackling the scourge, AAP reports.
About 50 women have been killed in Australia this year, five of them in the past 10 days.
The deaths spanned the nation with women found dead in Perth, Bendigo, Canberra, Sydney, the Hunter region and Aldinga beach in South Australia.
One of the most high-profile deaths was that of 21-year-old high school water polo coach Lilie James, whose body was found with horrific head injuries in the gymnasium toilets at a Sydney private school on Thursday.
A joint statement from Liberal MP Bridget Archer, Labor MP Alicia Payne and Greens spokeswomen on women Larissa Waters urged governments to tackle the root causes of violence against women and children, and transform harmful social norms that can lead to femicide.
They also called for more funding for frontline services that provide help to women escaping violence:
Governments at all levels must continue to prioritise this issue with funding and leadership, and each of us must drive the cultural change we need to end the epidemic of violence against women in our communities.
The acting opposition leader, Sussan Ley, also said things needed to change:
This is a national crisis and we are not talking about it enough. With more and more women being killed, questions must be asked about what is being done.
We must move past despair and anger and take greater action, because the violence has not slowed and the killings have not stopped.
• 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
• Lifeline 13 11 14
Updated
‘Quite clearly’ issues with Coalition-era citizenship-stripping laws: PM
Anthony Albanese earlier addressed the high court ruling against Coalition-era laws allowing ministers to strip Australian citizenship from convicted terrorists.
Algerian-born convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika was successful in his bid at the high court on Wednesday, arguing the laws were unconstitutional.
Former home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, cancelled Benbrika’s citizenship in 2020 shortly before Benbrika’s jail sentence was due to expire.
Albanese said the federal government will “examine the ruling and respond appropriately” in time.
But the prime minister added there was “quite clearly” a problem with the powers legislated under the Coalition government.
Quite clearly, there was an issue with the former government’s legislation, which is what this ruling relates to.
Updated
Australian Medical Association welcomes ‘real commitment’ to general practice
Australia’s peak medical body has welcomed the tripling of the incentive for GPs to bulk bill vulnerable patients, which comes into effect today.
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Prof Steve Robson said the decision announced in the budget was evidence of the government’s real commitment to providing more support for patients who need to see a GP.
The doctor’s lobby had campaigned for the extra funding for many years, as numbers of bulk billing GPs has declined drastically across the country.
Robson said:
This significant investment, equalling $3.5 billion over five years, is the starting point for improving the sustainability of general practice in Australia.
But we know more work can be done. We will continue working with the government on developing new programs and initiatives that strengthen primary care and ensure GP-led care is affordable and accessible for all patients.
Mark Dreyfus grieving the death of wife Deborah
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has revealed the attorney general’s wife Deborah has died. Albanese told reporters in Sydney that Mark Dreyfus had informed him his wife of 44 years passed away last night.
Albanese said:
People would be aware that Deborah had suffered, for a long period of time, illness, and that has meant that Mark was absent from some period in parliament, but continued to fulfil his duties as the attorney general of Australia.
Mark informed me that he and Deborah’s children were there as she passed away peacefully last night. I gave my sincere condolences on behalf of the government on behalf of the Labor party and on behalf of Mark’s, many friends and family for this very sad loss after a very long and difficult illness, where Deborah showed enormous courage and fight for a considerable period of time.
This week is a sad time. Mr Dreyfus will be taking leave as attorney general from today. I’ve encouraged him to return to work only when he is able to do so. This is a time in which he should be allowed to grieve with his family and I ask that his privacy and the privacy of his family be respected, which is why I’m making this public statement here today.
Updated
A group of zero waste advocates gathered outside the Sydney Cricket Ground today to protest the 2023 Energy from Waste Conference.
The advocates are calling for an end to energy from waste incinerators in NSW. They argue that waste incinerators are “the most expensive and polluting way to manage waste”, relying heavily on fossil fuel based materials such as plastic.
We're out the front of the SCG this morning letting delegates going into the 2023 Energy from Waste Conference know that we don't want dangerous waste incinerators in our communities! @SueHigginson_; @janebremmer pic.twitter.com/PokEpsYeOK
— No more incinerators - Eastern Suburbs (@No_Incinerators) October 31, 2023
In a press release sent from the office of NSW Greens MLC Amanda Cohn, campaign manager for No More Incinerators Chris Hanson said companies who peddle waste to energy incinerators as clean and sustainable “are wolves in sheeps’ clothing”.
These companies claim the only material they want to burn is ‘unrecyclable, residual waste’, however the reality is very different, as once any recoverable material is shredded it can never be recovered and recycled.
It is not in incinerator companies’ interests to attempt to recover any plastics or other fossil fuel-based materials as this would reduce the amount of fuel available for the waste to energy incinerator. Incinerators kill off any attempts to recover materials for recycling as their demand to fuel increases.
Seven Network fined for broadcasting gambling ad in morning
The Seven Network has been fined after broadcasting a gambling ad during live sports coverage and within prohibited hours.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority said the ad was broadcast on the streaming platform, 7 Plus, during live coverage of an NFL match in December 2022.
Current rules ban gambling promotions during live sporting coverage between 5am and 8.30am, including five minutes before and after the game.
Acma chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, said the media watchdog imposed the maximum penalty possible of $13,200. Here’s what she said in a statement:
The ACMA expects broadcasters to have robust systems and processes and associated assurance mechanisms in place to support compliance with these laws.
According to Acma, Seven said the breach was an isolated incident and that it had tightened its oversight to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Here’s O’Loughlin:
Seven has told us that the measures it has in place are adequate to ensure future compliance and it does not need to do more. Following repeated breaches by Seven, we will continue to closely monitor their compliance with the rules to make sure that is the case.
Updated
Abuse survivors ‘win for justice’ after high court decision in Catholic church case
Lawyers representing abuse survivors have welcomed the high court’s decision against the church’s use of permanent stays, saying it shows such tactics must only be used as a last resort.
The church has been using permanent stays routinely in cases where paedophile clergy have died or where other evidence is not available, effectively arguing survivors’ delays in coming forward has left it in an unfair position.
The high court ruled the use of permanent stays in cases that were not exceptional threatened to bring justice into disrepute.
Shine Lawyers’ Nicholas Kitchin said the high court had put a stop to the church’s tactics. He told the Guardian:
Survivors of abuse have learned today that they have the support of our nation’s highest Court. We strongly encourage survivors to continue coming forward to seek justice for the abuse they suffered as children.
Ross Koffel, managing principal of Koffels Solicitors and Barristers, told the Guardian:
It’s certainly a win for justice and a win for the plaintiffs in terms of preventing the institutions using an aggressive legal technique to avoid liability.
Our clients will be very relieved. We’ve been waiting to file in a whole variety of cases, and we have a whole lot of stay applications on foot. So the court may take a different view when they are now heard.
Updated
IMF won’t say how much higher interest rates should go in Australia
As per our earlier post, the IMF has just released its latest assessment of the economy (see here), with a recommendation that interest rates will have to go higher to rein in inflation.
Abdoul Wane, the IMF’s mission chief, has just completed a media briefing where he expanding on the report’s conclusion.
Wane, perhaps wisely, doesn’t say how much higher interest rates will need to go in Australia, saying “what is needed exactly will depend on the psychological effects of rate hikes that will not be captured by our models”.
Inflation expectations should not become “de-anchored”, Wane says, which is also a mantra we hear often from the Reserve Bank.
On the IMF’s models, Wane said inflation only returns to the RBA’s target band by the first quarter of 2026, or slightly later than the RBA has been saying. The RBA’s August estimate had inflation dropping to the top end of the 2%-3% target range by mid-2025.
Then again, the IMF has been talking to the RBA (with Wane in Sydney today with his team) and we’re due to get the central bank’s updated forecasts in full on 10 November.
Although the inflation outlook from the IMF uses “expectations from the market” that early 2026 timing “is not very far from what the RBA has in mind”, Wange said.
Has the IMF let a cat out of the bag? We’ll probably find out next Tuesday when we expect the RBA will be explaining why its cash rate had to be hoisted another 25 basis points to 4.35%.
Updated
US to accelerate delivery of Blackhawk helicopters to Australia after Taipans grounded
The US Pentagon has announced it will accelerate the delivery of Blackhawk helicopters to Australia to replace the Taipans that were grounded after two recent crashes.
In July, the crash of an MRH-90 in Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre saw all MRH-90s grounded:
US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin said:
The future of our relationship, and especially our defense cooperation, looks brighter than ever. We share a vision with our friends across the Indo-Pacific of a region that is free, open and secure. And we’re committed to making that vision a reality.
Deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles said Australia is “enormously grateful” to the US for speeding the delivery of the Black Hawks.
This is something that we really appreciate, and is again, an example of America standing up in a moment which we really need it.
Updated
Thunderstorms possible in bushfire-hit areas of NSW and Queensland
Thunderstorms and damaging winds have been forecast for parts of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
This comes as firefighting agencies from both NSW and Queensland battle bushfires either side of and along the border.
⛈️Thunderstorm forecast: severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging wind gusts are likely between Bundaberg and Dalby, and possible between Rockhampton and Toowoomba. Thunderstorms unlikely over the Gold Coast and Brisbane CBD. Warnings if needed: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/HJAme5pw5v
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) October 31, 2023
Isolated thunderstorms are likely about the northern ranges this afternoon and evening, severe storms are not expected. Keep an eye on the radar https://t.co/qCaxz5XrWI pic.twitter.com/GgWQbRXdKa
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 31, 2023
Updated
(Continued from last post)
The high court said the church’s use of permanent stays must also be considered in the new legal context, in which parliaments had acted universally to remove time limits on survivors bringing abuse claims.
Parliaments did this in recognition that delays - on average, 22 years long - were common in historical abuse cases.
Chief justice Susan Kiefel and justices Stephen Gageler and Jayne Jagot wrote:
In this new legal context, the Diocese’s contention that any trial of the proceedings would be necessarily unfair must be rejected. As the Diocese acknowledged that its case for a permanent stay for abuse of process was based only on necessary unfairness of a trial and not undue oppression or unfairness otherwise, no permanent stay is justified. The proceedings must go to trial.
Updated
Only ‘an exceptional case’ justifies granting a stay, high court judges say in Catholic church decision
Back on the high court decision against the Catholic church, for a moment.
The Guardian has previously revealed the church is seeking permanent stays – or a permanent halt of a survivor’s case – routinely in cases where paedophile clergy have died.
In their decision, chief justice Susan Kiefel and justices Stephen Gageler and Jayne Jagot said that only “an exceptional case justifies” the granting of a stay. They said any other use of stays would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
If a court refuses to exercise its jurisdiction to hear and decide cases in other than exceptional circumstances and as a last resort to protect the administration of justice through the operation of the adversarial system, that refusal itself will both work injustice and bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
Updated
‘I have raised Dr Yang’s case before’: Albanese on writer detained in China
Anthony Albanese has been asked about the plight of detained Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun.
Dr Yang’s children wrote to the PM and pleaded he negotiate their father’s release in Beijing this week, telling the prime minister his situation is critical and their father risks “being left to die”:
Albanese said “every case is different” but he received the letter (which he claims was sent to the media before him), and has responded to the family this morning.
I raised Dr Yang’s case before when I met with president Xi [Jinping], I raised [his] case when I met with premier Lee in Jakarta just a couple of months ago at the Asean summit, and of course we always raise the interests of Australians.
Albanese repeated his line on China that “we will cooperate where we can, we will disagree where we must [and] we will engage in our national interest”.
As to the specifics of his reply to Yang’s family, Albanese said:
I approved a draft this morning to go to the family who wrote to me, just indicating that I had raised the issue previously and that we will always raise these issues and make representations on behalf of Australians
We are very sympathetic and understand the concerns that they would have for their father, and for this Australian who has been detained now for a long period of time.
Updated
Prime minister Anthony Albanese is speaking from Sydney, where he is touting the government’s move to triple the incentive of bulk billing.
(We had this earlier on the blog here).
Albanese said he will be attending the funeral for former governor-general Bill Hayden later this week. Hayden has been labelled the ‘architect of Medicare’, and Albanese paid credit to this:
This was not a bipartisan thing, this was a Labor initiative. Bill Hayden deserves absolute credit for the work that he did, and the Hawke government deserves credit for entrenching this as part of the system.
Survivor who took on Catholic church ‘relieved and delighted’ by high court decision
Lawyers for GLJ, the survivor who took on the Catholic church and won in the high court this morning, say she is “relieved and delighted” at the outcome.
The high court allowed her appeal against the church’s tactic of using a permanent stay to thwart her attempt at compensation, relying on, among other things, the death of the paedophile priest alleged to have abused her.
Here is the full statement from GLJ’s lawyers, Ken Cush and Associates:
The High Court has today held that GLJ, an alleged victim of childhood sexual abuse, should be allowed to proceed with bringing her case before the Court to be heard and determined. GLJ is obviously extremely relieved and delighted and would like to thank the Court and her legal team for assisting her to this outcome.
GLJ hopes this landmark decision will also be able to help others right across Australia to bring their claims before Courts despite of the Catholic church again seeking to mount technical legal defences to their claims.
GLJ is hopeful that this decision combined with the learnings and recommendations from $343,000,000 Royal Commission about the damage done by childhood sexual abuse will mean the Catholic church will take this opportunity to reflect on the morality of its continuing to mount these technical legal defences.
Updated
Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika wins high court battle for Australian citizenship
The high court has ruled another part of the Coalition-era citizenship-stripping laws invalid, after a successful appeal by convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika.
Benbrika, an Algerian-born cleric, was convicted of terror offences in 2005 and was due for release in 2020, but has since remained in detention under a controversial post-sentence detention regime.
Just before his sentence was due to expire in 2020, Peter Dutton cancelled his citizenship using recently introduced changes to Australia’s citizenship laws. The laws gave broad power to the then home affairs minister to revoke a person’s citizenship after they were convicted of a terror offence.
Benbrika argued that the laws were not constitutional in that they gave the minister powers that should be reserved for the judiciary – namely, the power to punish someone for criminal conduct.
His lawyers argued:
The fact that a court determines some, though not all, of the facts and circumstances that are relevant to engaging the power … does not deny that the minister has purportedly been authorised to punish a person by way of involuntary deprivation of citizenship.
The high court agreed in a judgment delivered this morning, finding that section 36D is invalid. The ruling could have broader consequences for others stripped of their citizenship using the same powers and will force the government to enact reforms.
Last year, the high court struck down another part of the Coalition-era powers giving the minister the power to strip Australian citizenship from dual citizens in cases where there was suspicion of terror offences.
The high court found those powers gave the minister a role in adjudging and punishing criminal guilt, something that should be reserved only for courts.
That decision restored the Australian citizenship of Delil Alexander, a Turkish citizen who was assessed to have joined Islamic State.
Updated
Greens senator for NSW David Shoebridge has reacted to the overturning of the GLJ case as an “important win for survivors”.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
This is such an important win for survivors - overturning the dreadful GLJ case that froze out so many survivors from valid claims for compensation for child sexual abuse - let’s unfreeze all those cases now so justice can be done.
Catholic church loses high court battle over use of paedophile deaths to stop abuse cases
The Catholic church has lost a landmark case over its controversial use of the deaths of paedophile priests to thwart survivors’ attempts at justice.
The high court has delivered a significant blow to the church’s use of permanent stays in historical abuse matters, where it has sought to argue that delay, the death of perpetrators, and the loss of records render it unable to receive a fair trial.
Earlier this year, a Guardian investigation found that the church was now routinely using permanent stays in cases where perpetrators have died, either to defeat active claims before the courts or to low-ball survivors in settlement negotiations. The tactic is causing profound harm to an already vulnerable group.
Critics say the tactic is immoral, given the church’s own role in delaying justice for decades, which included hiding abuse complaints from law enforcement and destroying or deliberately not keeping records.
Survivor groups also say the tactic is at odds with the intent of Australian parliaments, which all removed time limits on bringing civil claims in recognition of the significant barriers to survivors coming forward.
One survivor whose case for compensation was permanently stayed, GLJ, asked the high court to intervene and allow her case to proceed. GLJ alleges she was abused as a 14-year-old by Lismore priest Father Clarence Anderson.
Anderson died in 1996, well before GLJ’s complaint, and the Lismore diocese argues it is put in an unfair position, unable to properly investigate the allegation or mount a defence. The church says it was “utterly in the dark” over whether the abuse occurred.
But GLJ’s lawyers say church had held evidence about his abuse of other children from 1971, the year of his defrocking, and had ample opportunity to investigate his conduct more broadly in the 25 years prior to his death.
The high court allowed GLJ’s appeal and set aside orders staying her civil claim.
Updated
Tasmania has also enacted its fire permit period, starting today for northwest municipalities:
The Fire Permit Period for North-West Municipalities has now started - this means from 2am today Fire Permits are required across the state until the end of the 2023-24 bushfire season.
— TasALERT (@tasalert) October 31, 2023
For more information or to apply for a free Permit, contact .@TasFireService on 1800 000 699 pic.twitter.com/3xwscBVPdV
Fire permits were declared for southern Tasmania on 3 October, and northern Tasmania on 21 October.
Updated
Four-metre great white shark spotted after surfer fatally attacked in SA
A 4.2 metre great white shark was spotted in the water just after a man disappeared at a popular South Australian surfing spot yesterday, AAP reports.
Emergency services are continuing to search for any trace of the 55-year-old man who was surfing at Granites Beach, south of Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, when he was attacked on Tuesday morning.
It is the state’s second fatal attack in six months.
The man’s surfboard is all that remained of the attack, witnesses said.
Local surfer Jeff Schmucker was just about to get into the water when he heard the commotion. He told ABC radio today:
All the kids were on the rocks waving at me and yelling and I knew there was something wrong well before we even got there.
Schmucker, who has worked as a commercial fisher in the area for decades, jumped on his jetski and rode to the spot where the man had been surfing. After a moment, a 4.2 metre great white appeared, he said, which he followed for a while as it circled:
I’ve seen many great whites in my fishing career. It just rammed home events over the last 20 or 30 years.
There’s too many sharks to actually think that surfing is anywhere near safe on the west coast.
Updated
IMF says Australia’s economy ‘resilient’ but should raise interest rates further
The International Monetary Fund has delivered its report card on the Australian economy, and the results are generally positive but there’s more work to be done. (Perhaps a ‘B+’?)
The economy has been “resilient”. GDP growth continues to slow to 1.25% in 2024 but unemployment remains low and the country’s fiscal deficit has improved faster than in other advanced nations.
On the less positive side, while inflation has peaked, its decline is “slow” and core inflation – stripping out volatile movers – remains “sticky”. And that means higher interest rates, with a bit of help from governments, are needed.
The IMF recommends “further monetary policy tightening to ensure that inflation comes back to the target range by 2025 and minimize the risk of de-anchoring inflation expectations,” its report said.
In that context, continued coordination between monetary and fiscal policy is key to securing more equitable burden sharing.
In other words, the Reserve Bank should not have to do all the work.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, though, says the IMF “has backed the Albanese government’s responsible budget management and highlighted our targeted policies to address cost-of-living pressures”.
The independent assessment supports the government’s strategy of banking the majority of revenue upgrades when the inflation challenge is most intense.
Updated
Meanwhile in Victoria, the fire danger period will be begin for just four municipalities from 20 November, including:
• City of Greater Geelong
• Borough of Queenscliffe
• Surf Coast Shire
• Golden Plains Shire
The Fire Danger Period (FDP) will begin 1am Monday 20 November 2023 for the following municipalities.
— cfa_updates (@CFA_Updates) October 31, 2023
Make sure you know what you can and can't do during the Fire Danger Period. Visit https://t.co/n2njaRokRg pic.twitter.com/nTgmKOlQlY
NSW helped out when Wallangarra lost power during fires, mayor says
Southern Downs mayor Vic Pennisi said Wallangarra lost electricity and this highlighted the cross-border issues affecting fire-affected communities.
He explained that Wallangarra in Queensland and Jennings in New South Wales are separated by just one street:
We provide water to Wallangarra and Jennings, and at one stage, they were telling us that we couldn’t provide water to New South Wales, but we’ve been doing it for a long time.
Pennisi said backup generators got up and running, and started producing water “pretty quickly”:
So they didn’t completely run out. The reservoir was getting horribly low, but we were able to kick those generators in and keep that water flowing so to speak.
Updated
Southern Downs mayor on families who lost homes: ‘I can’t begin to imagine what those people are going through’
The Southern Downs regional council mayor, Vic Pennisi, has just spoken to ABC News about the bushfires at Wallangarra in Queensland.
He said that four homes have been lost in Wallangarra, but the “danger at this point in time has passed”.
People are beginning to move back into their homes which is great. We did have to evacuate Wallangarra and there was about 50 people left in the little community hall there overnight.
Pennisi said his heart goes out to those who have lost their homes:
You know, that your home is your castle. You’ve got so many family memories in there – photos, all those sorts of things. So I can’t begin to imagine what those people who have lost their homes are going through at the moment.
Updated
‘Bushfire danger period’ now in place across all of NSW
The bushfire danger period is now in place for all of New South Wales:
The Bush Fire Danger Period is now in place for all local government areas around New South Wales, including along the southern border. If you’re planning on using fire on your property, you’ll need a permit. For more information, visit the #RFS website: https://t.co/sypRwkwhvK pic.twitter.com/ic6YFRRXOn
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 31, 2023
What this means is that a fire permit is required for all burning activities while the bushfire danger period is in place.
The statutory bushfire danger period typically runs from 1 October to 31 March, but it can vary due to local conditions.
If you’re planning a burn on your property you need to alert the RFS beforehand, and can do so using the online form available here.
You can read more information about permits and the bushfire danger period here.
Updated
Australian writer detained in China should be high priority for Albanese visit, Birmingham says
Circling back to shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham’s earlier interview on ABC RN:
The Liberal senator said that prime minister Anthony Albanese should raise the case of detained Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun “as one of the highest priorities” when he visits China.
Birmingham noted Dr Yang has spent “more than four years detained by China without any transparency around the nature of his charges and with continuous delays”, and this is taking “an enormous toll on him and his family”.
The senator added:
The government should be making clear that in terms of the aspiration of stabilising relations between Australia and China, it will not be possible for Australians to believe those relations have been fully stabilised whilst an Australian citizen continues to face detention…
Speaking more broadly on Albanese’s upcoming visit, Birmingham said the PM should also raise the imposition of trade sanctions, regional stability in South China Sea, and “global concerns that have been raised by the ACA chief about cyber espionage and ongoing human rights uncertainty in Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere”.
Updated
‘Dump day’ looms in Victoria with government to release dozens of annual reports
At Victorian parliament this morning journalists are bracing for what has become widely known as “dump day” – when the government releases a bewildering number of annual reports all at once.
Last year the government released more than 250 reports on 20 December, its final sitting week of the year. It followed a period of caretaker mode before the election.
At the time, the opposition described the move as an attempt to avoid scrutiny.
Thankfully this year, we’re getting them earlier and spaced out over a couple of days but we’re expecting at least 150 reports to be released by the end of the sitting week.
The reports cover a range of government bodies including the state’s integrity agencies, hospitals, emergency services and the judicial system.
Updated
Firefighting efforts focused on NSW-Queensland border communities
The acting assistant commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Rob Bonniwell, provided an update on the bushfires to ABC RN just before.
As others have already touched on this morning, he reiterated that firefighting efforts are focused on the NSW-Queensland border communities of Wallangarra and Dalveen:
We’re doing everything we can to be able to contain those fires. We’ve got multiple aircraft and multiple trucks, and we’re making sure that our communities are well informed.
Queensland firefighters are also focusing efforts on a bushfire at Goodwood, just west of Bundaberg:
We are really being stretched across the landscape.
Updated
Update from the NSW RFS: 27 uncontained fires burning
There are 89 fires burning across the state, with 27 not yet contained.
According to the RFS website eight of these fires are burning at a “watch and act” level, meaning there is a heightened level of threat, conditions are changing and people need to start taking action.
These include:
• Scrub Road, Tenterfield (monitor conditions)
• Benders Creek and Branch Creek south of Tenterfield (monitor conditions)
• Maryland Cullendore Road, 60km north of Tenterfield (monitor conditions)
• Sawyers Creek in Donnybrook State Forest, in the Tenterfield LGA (monitor conditions)
• Frost Road, Woodside, Mole Station Road, in the Tenterfield LGA (reduced threat)
• Ogilvie Drive, Tabulam, 50km northeast of Tenterfield (reduced threat)
• Christies, in the Tenterfield LGA (leave now)
• Glens Creek Road, Nymbodia, 25km southwest of Grafton (monitor conditions)
As of 8am, there are 89 fires burning around NSW, with 27 not yet contained. There are currently 9 fires burning at a 'Watch and Act' level. It's important you monitor the changing conditions and stay up-to-date through Hazards Near Me and #RFS website: https://t.co/SwFG8PzKTA pic.twitter.com/V3Fap44CZK
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 31, 2023
Updated
Search for missing fisherman on Queensland’s Fitzroy River
The search for a missing man continues today after a boat failed to return from a fishing trip in central Queensland last night, AAP reports.
Police say the alarm was raised about 9.20pm last night after three men in a 5.3 metre tinnie failed to return from a fishing trip in The Narrows on the Fitzroy River.
A search and rescue helicopter spotted two of the men on a beach at 3.10am today.
Authorities are continuing to search for the third man.
Updated
Simon Birmingham says ‘loss of innocent lives does occur in wars’ as he backs Israel
Simon Birmingham is again pressed on whether the world will accept continuing civilian deaths of such a scale amid the Israel-Hamas war.
He told ABC RN there will “no doubt” be huge scrutiny in relation to this conflict:
Indeed, arguably, Israel has faced disproportionate scrutiny around human rights issues compared with many many other challenges right around the world.
I fully expect that many more qualified than me will seek to assess in terms of the laws broken by Hamas, issues in terms of how this conflict and war unfold, but we shouldn’t be drawing any type of moral equivalence between Israel, in their efforts to try to remove a terrorist actor who initiated this conflict in such …
(He was cut off before finishing that sentence).
Birmingham said he “dearly wish[es] not to see any child face the loss of their life in war torn situations”, but “there is also the reality that the loss of innocent lives does occur in wars”.
How those wars are fought is important and in this case, why the war is being fought should not be forgotten by anybody in terms of that need to remove a terrorist entity like Hamas.
Updated
Birmingham: ‘Removing Hamas from power is a prerequisite for ensuring Israel doesn’t face the type of attacks again’
ABC RN host Patricia Karvelas:
1,000 children are dying a week, is that acceptable?
Liberal senator Simon Birmingham:
It’s a tragedy, Patricia, it’s a tragedy and the loss of innocent lives, be they Palestinian lives, Jewish lives or any other lives, it’s always a tragedy.
It’s hard to comprehend in terms of the heartbreak that has been caused by Hamas’s actions and consequent actions to remove Hamas from power. But removing Hamas from power is a prerequisite for ensuring that Israel doesn’t face the type of attacks again in the future, and a prerequisite for Palestinian people’s having a chance of peace, a chance of leadership that could engage in negotiations that we would all wish one day in the future to see Israelis and Palestinians able to live peacefully side by side.
Updated
Simon Birmingham says Israel ‘fully entitled’ to wage war on Hamas
Liberal Senator and shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham spoke to ABC RN earlier about the Israel-Hamas war.
Asked about comments made by foreign minister Penny Wong that the world will not accept continuing civilian deaths, Birmingham replied that “tragically, there are civilian deaths that occur as a result of war”.
And the war to remove Hamas from a position in which it was able to strike Israel and undertake the appalling terrorist attacks of October 7, which saw the single largest death toll of Jewish people in a day since the Holocaust, is a war that Israel is fully entitled to wage and to see Hamas disabled and removed from the capacity to undertake such strikes in the future and to repeat those sorts of terrorist atrocities.
Birmingham added that Israel needs to engage in war in ways that “seek to minimise the loss of civilian lives as much as possible”, and “continue to “target the Hamas infrastructure capabilities and people as much as possible”.
Updated
Keating says he is not a fan of ‘groupthink’ after declining to sign ex-PM statement on Israel-Hamas war
Paul Keating has spoken to the Australian Financial Review on his decision not to sign a joint statement from all living ex-prime ministers of Australia on the Israel-Hamas war.
Keating said he has never been one to subscribe to “groupthink” and the first draft he saw was too “sharp”, or biased, and he thought it needed more balance.
According to the AFR, the statement was the brainchild of former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and was originally drafted by the Zionist Federation of Australia before Malcolm Turnbull rewrote the statement.
Keating then told Turnbull his efforts were ultimately pointless because as a “general statement of principle” in his 27 years out of office he has never participated in joint actions with ex-PMs.
I can do better than groupthink.
Updated
New Zealand to help fight bushfires in Australia, Murray Watt says
Emergency management minister Murray Watt said the arrival of Victorian firefighters in Queensland today will provide some much-needed relief.
He also praised the cross-border cooperation between Queensland and NSW firefighters:
Yesterday, we saw New South Wales aircraft used to help put out some of the fires just over the boarder near Queensland. We have now got reinforcements coming in from Victoria and in the next few days we’ll actually welcome some of our friends from New Zealand who are going to provide relief as well.
I guess that’s one of the upsides of these situations, is that you do see the best of the Australian character with people helping each other out and we really thank all of the states for helping out no matter where the events are occurring.
Updated
‘We do need to be careful not to tire people out’: Murray Watt on fires and crews
The emergency management minister, Murray Watt, just spoke to ABC News Breakfast from Brisbane about the bushfire situation.
He was asked about concerns about resources becoming stretched. Watt said there is “no doubt” a level of fatigue among firefighters at the moment:
Frankly, I have seen that in many different part of the country over the last 18 months, just the sheer workload that both paid and volunteer … fire personnel have had to go through.
But it even goes beyond that to local governments, other state government officers as well. So many Australians have been really pitching in to help each other over the last couple of years that we do need to be careful not to tire people out too early in the season.
Updated
Queensland fire crews ‘really appreciate’ the help from NSW
NSW RFS commissioner Rob Rogers and QFES deputy commissioner Mike Wassing both spoke to the Today show earlier this morning to provide an update on joint cross-border firefighting operations.
Firefighters from both states have been working together to battle the Wallangarra bushfire near the border of NSW and Queensland.
Rogers said residents from both states were sheltering from fires at Jennings and Wallangarra last night:
There were fires coming from Queensland, but there was also fire in south of it in NSW that then was heading up to Jennings. It has been a really tough time for both firefighters and residents both sides of the border.
Wassing said QFES “really appreciate” the support from NSW to help teams battle the fires at Wallangarra:
We have had some damages there, but we are working closely with the local community and local relief agencies there. People are able to start coming home and some of those people were even able to do so last night.
Updated
Bridget Archer defends defying Dutton on royal commission vote
Earlier this morning, Liberal MP Bridget Archer spoke to ABC RN about her decision to cross the floor against Peter Dutton’s call for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.
(You can read more on this below)
Speaking this morning, Archer stood by her decision to cross the floor and said:
[It’s] worth pointing out that I have actually supported the Coalition on recorded votes on more than 800 occasions [so] proportionately, I’m supporting the Coalition 97% of the time.
I don’t believe that I have overused [the ability to cross the floor] but I use it when I think that it is the right decision to make.
After she crossed the floor, Dutton appeared on 2GB and said he had a private conversation with Archer on the matter. Responding to this, Archer said no private conversation took place:
I haven’t had a private conversation with him … I haven’t had a private conversation with Peter Dutton about any issue for some time.
He may have meant that he would have a conversation with me about it, I don’t know, [but] I stand by the decision that I made on that day.
Q: You’ve previously wrestled with whether you’ll stay in the Liberal party. How are you feeling about it right now?
Archer:
I believe that my place is in the Liberal party. I believe that they’re values that I joined the party for.
Updated
Mark Butler on nurses: ‘I want to see their potential unleashed’
Turning back to health minister Mark Butler’s interview on ABC RN, he was asked about a scope of practice review that is now under way for health services.
Announced earlier this month, the review will examine the barriers and incentives that health practitioners face working to their full scope of practice in primary care.
Butler spoke about the review when asked about Tasmania and regional Australia, where doctors can’t be found or their practices have shut, making quality care inaccessible.
Butler:
You’re right to say that right across Australia we’ve got a real problem with the supply of that workforce. This is a global issue that was really aggravated by the pandemic. There’s shortage of supply of workers, but an increase in demand for healthcare. We’re getting older, there’s more chronic disease, there’s legacies of Covid.
Butler said that at a time of “constrained supply and increasing demand”, healthcare workers should be able to operate at the top of their scope of practice, utilising all their skills and training:
There’s been this glass ceiling, particularly on nurses, that has not allowed them to utilise all of their skills and training that I want to see removed. I want to see their potential unleashed. That’s what this review is all about.
Updated
Fire truck rolls over in NSW with four people on board
The NSW RFS has confirmed that just after 4am this morning one of its firefighting tanks rolled over 10km south of Jennings in the Tenterfield LGA.
A spokesperson said there were four firefighters on board. They were all taken from the truck, with three being taken to hospital for observation.
They have since been discharged from hospital. The RFS said it will continue to provide support to these firefighters.
Updated
‘They’ll be returning to bulk billing’: Mark Butler on GP incentives coming into effect
The health minister, Mark Butler, spoke to ABC RN earlier as the tripling of bulk billing incentives comes into effect today.
As my colleague Natasha May reported earlier, the financial incentive general practitioners receive to bulk bill children, pensioners and other concession cardholders will be tripled.
The measure was one of the centrepieces of the May budget and comes into effect today accompanied by a $1.5bn indexation boost to Medicare payments.
Butler said that practices who had shifted from bulk billing – “which really they’ve been forced to [do] after a decade of cuts and neglecting the latest global cost of living shock” – are already making the change back:
They’ve said they’ll be returning to bulk billing, or many of them who are considering a change would stick with bulk billing, for those more than 11 million Australians.
That’s about 60% or more of the throughput of the average general practice. So it’s a huge boost in confidence and funding to a sector that I think is probably in its most powerless status been in the 40 year history of Medicare.
Updated
Conditions ‘far better’ for firefighters in Queensland today
QFES deputy commissioner Mike Wassing spoke to ABC News Breakfast just earlier on the developing fire situations across the state.
He said there were 80 fires burning in the last 24 hours. The main fire of note was the Wallangarra bushfire yesterday, which saw cross-border joint operations with NSW.
We have had some damage at Wallangarra including some homes, but [are] yet to confirm the detail about that. But residents were able to go home last night.
The other fire of note was at Dalveen, which was “very active overnight” due to dry and windy conditions.
That is a very large fire now. We got an emergency warning on that fire and that will be a focus for us today and in coming days.
Wassing said that today’s conditions are “far better” for firefighters in the south-west and south-east, but still volatile and somewhat unstable.
Turning to the Tara fire, which has claimed a life, burned 20,000 hectares and destroyed 53 houses in Queensland, Wassing said it is now in the “relief and recovery stage”.
We’re in this sort of transition phase from making sure that Tara remains contained, to now focusing our efforts and our resources on the Warwick Dalveen fire and the Wallangarra fire in the south-west.
Updated
NSW bushfires summary
And here is the latest on the bushfires across New South Wales.
There are “watch and act” warnings in place for the following locations, meaning there is a heightened level of threat, conditions are changing and people should take action now:
• Ogilvie Drive, Tabulam: a bushfire is burning in the Plains Station and Pagans Flat area, 50km northeast of Tenterfield. Reduced threat.
• Sawyers Creek, Donnybrook State Forest: a bushfire is burning in the Tarban, Woodside and Sunnyside areas, in the Tenterfield LGA. Reduced threat.
• Frost Road, Woodside, Mole Station Road in the Tenterfield LGA. Reduced threat.
• Scrub Road, Tenterfield. Monitor conditions.
• Glens Creek Road, Nymbodia in the Clarence Valley LGA, 25km southeast of Grafton. Monitor conditions.
• Christies, Tenterfield LGA. Leave now.
• Benders Creek, Branch Creek, south of Tenterfield. Reduced threat.
• Maryland Cullendore Road, Maryland, 60km north of Tenterfield. Monitor conditions.
And the following two fires are burning at “advice level”, meaning there is no immediate danger:
• Ulan Road, Cooks Gap in the Mid-Western LGA. Reduced threat.
• Ashglen in the Tenterfield LGA. Reduced threat.
Updated
Queensland bushfires summary: more than 1,000 firefighters battling dozens of blazes
Here is the latest on the bushfires across Queensland:
An emergency warning has been issued for Dalveen and surrounds due to multiple large, potentially deadly fires burning in the area.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service has warned residents of properties between the New England Highway, Warwick Killarney Road and Cullendore Road need to leave immediately.
The fires are expected to impact Morgan Park very soon.
There are “prepare to leave” warnings for the following locations:
• Maryland Cullendore Road (Dalveen)
• Rosenthal Heights and Morgan Park (Warwick)
• Obi Obi
• Colosseum
• Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Consuelo and Rewan
• Kogan
And there are “not safe to return” warnings for the following locations:
• Kinkuna and Goodwood
• Tara, Montrose North, Wieambilla and The Gums
• Colosseum and Mount Tom (near Miriam Vale)
As we reported earlier, more than 1,000 firefighters are battling about 80 blazes across the state. The main concern is the Tara fire west of Brisbane, with has claimed a life, burned 20,000 hectares and destroyed 53 homes in the past week.
Relief crews from Victoria and New Zealand are due to arrive in the state today to provide relief and extra capacity.
Updated
Good morning
And happy Wednesday. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be with you on the blog today. Many thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking things off this morning.
If you see anything that needs attention on the blog today, you can send me an email: emily.wind.casual@theguardian.com.
With that, let’s get started.
Tripling of bulk billing incentive comes into effect for GPs
From today, the financial incentive general practitioners receive to bulk bill children, pensioners and other concession cardholders will be tripled.
The measure was one of the centrepieces of the May budget and comes into effect today accompanied by a $1.5bn indexation boost to Medicare payments.
The government estimates the measure will benefit five million children under 16, and seven million pensioners and other concession cardholders – who together account for about 3 out of 5 visits to the GP.
The government is unable to dictate to GPs that they need to bulk bill – it is a decision for individual general practices to make but the health minister, Mark Butler, said GPs have already indicated they will:
Doctors’ groups have called this a ‘gamechanger’ and GPs right around the country have said this will help them maintain and even shift back to bulk billing.
In major cities, a doctor will get 34% more for a standard bulk billed consultation of under 20 minutes, taking the Medicare payment for eligible patients to $62.05, while in regional and rural Australia, a doctor will get about 50% more, taking the Medicare payment to between $72.80 and $81.10, depending on location.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said:
We’re delivering the biggest investment in Medicare in over 40 years, with more incentives for bulk billing and 58 new Urgent Care clinics across Australia.
Read more about the areas with the lowest rates of free GP care here:
Updated
NSW residents urged to 'remain vigilant' as blaze hits homes and spews spot fires
Residents have been warned to remain vigilant after several bushfires in northern New South Wales hit rural homes and spewed spot fires into an urban area, AAP reports.
Tenterfield, about 15km south of the Queensland border, was the epicentre of NSW’s firefighting efforts on Tuesday after seven blazes ignited to the town’s north, west and south.
But the alert level for the fire was downgraded early on Wednesday morning amid easing conditions.
The extent of property damage in the town of 4000 and its surrounds will likely remain unclear until fire grounds are made safe and building assessments can begin.
RFS spokesperson Victoria Quested said on Tuesday evening:
By no means should any resident be getting complacent, we need people to remain vigilant.
Fire crews still have a lot of work ahead of us.
On Tuesday evening, 88 fires were burning across the state, 31 of which were yet to be contained.
Updated
Fires threaten homes across Queensland as high temperatures and strong winds continue
Weary firefighters have been warned it may be days before they get a reprieve as blazes continue to threaten homes across Queensland, Australian Associated Press reports.
Relief crews from Victoria and New Zealand will start arriving on Wednesday.
Strong winds and high temperatures ensured extreme conditions on Tuesday, with more than 1,000 firefighters battling about 80 blazes across the state.
The major concern is the Tara fire west of Brisbane which has claimed a life, burned 20,000 hectares and destroyed 53 houses – four more than the black summer fires claimed across Queensland.
A fire in Dalveen, in the state’s south, prompted an emergency warning in the early hours of Wednesday for residents in the area between the New England Highway, Warwick Killarney Road and Cullendore Road to leave immediately.
A cool change is expected to move through the state over coming days, bringing showers and storms from Friday.
However QFES deputy commissioner Mike Wassing said:
Last time we got some storms through we got approximately 10 new fires from lightning.
It is probably two days before we get some sort of reprieve.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese flew into Queensland on Tuesday to pledge support, with federal government funding available through the disaster recovery payment and allowance.
He expected 42,000 claims to be made.
The Queensland government also offered financial assistance to affected families and primary producers before pledging $1m towards a bushfire appeal.
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ve got some of our overnight and breaking stories for you before my colleague Emily Wind gets settled in for the day.
Our exclusive top story today reveals that ports giant DP World has paid no tax in Australia despite generating revenue of more than $4.5bn over eight years. A new report by the union-backed lobby group Cictar says that DP World’s top Australian subsidiary may have “artificially reduced profits” to achieve the result. The ATO however says there can be “good commercial justification” for such cases.
Almost 40% of voters think Australia should withdraw from the US alliance if Donald Trump regains the presidency next year (43% disagree with that idea), and 47% believe the Aukus submarine alliance locks Australia in to supporting the US in an armed conflict. The findings today are part of an opinion survey undertaken annually by the United States Studies Centre of voters in Australia, the US and Japan. It comes as former Labor foreign minister Gareth Evans urged Australia to lobby the US to promise “no first use” of nuclear weapons, warning that global arms control agreements “are now either dead or on life support”.
Property prices have soared to record levels in several capital cities as limited supply and rising immigration more than made up for the dampening effect of higher interest rates. Two surveys show significant growth in Brisbane, Adelaide, and in Perth, where five areas have recorded annual gains of more than 15%, while prices in Sydney are 7.51% higher than a year ago.
More than 50 homes have been destroyed by the massive fire near Tara in Queensland, where weary firefighters are working in strong winds and high temperatures. And residents have been warned to remain vigilant after several bushfires in northern NSW hit rural homes and spewed spot fires into an urban area. Tenterfield, about 15km south of the Queensland border, was the epicentre of NSW’s firefighting efforts yesterday after seven blazes ignited to the town’s north, west and south. There is hope that a cool change will move through the region in the coming days, bringing showers and storms from Friday. We will have the latest on the fire situation for you coming up in the blog.
