What we learned today, Friday 23 August
This is where we’ll wrap up the blog for today – but first, a quick recap:
In a win for transgender rights, federal court justice Robert Bromwhich found that Roxanne Tickle had been discriminated against when she was barred from using the “women-only” social media app Giggle for Girls.
The peak bodies for doctors and lawyers say they are concerned about the increasing politicisation of youth justice reform, including steps to walk back existing commitments to raise the age of criminal responsibility in some jurisdictions.
The Albanese government has placed the construction and general division of the CFMEU and all of its branches – including the Western Australian and ACT branches – into administration.
South Australia has notched up its hottest winter day on record, with Oodnadatta in the state’s north hitting 37.7C at 2pm ACST.
The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef remains one of “future deterioration” largely due to climate change, despite coral reef habitats improving in some areas.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit New South Wales, causing windows to smash and a chimney to fall over.
Australia will take charge of an international mission to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea for the first time.
Biosecurity New Zealand has temporarily suspended all Australian tomato imports after the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two South Australian growing properties earlier this week.
Tabcorp has been fined $4.6m for allegedly breaching its regulatory obligations on several occasions.
Updated
Great Barrier Reef faces climate-fueled ‘deterioration’ – report
The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef remains one of “future deterioration” largely due to climate change, despite coral reef habitats improving in some areas.
The 2024 Great Barrier Reef Outlook report, released today and the fourth in a series of five-yearly reports on the reef’s health, found warming oceans and severe tropical cyclones are compounding other threats such as crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, poor water quality and some fishing practices.
While coral habitats and seagrass meadows have improved, the reef’s capacity to regenerate will be compromised by climate-driven threats. It said management initiatives, such as controlling the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, had helped protect the reef’s biodiversity.
The report also found humpback whale populations had continued to recover, but turtles, seabirds, sharks, rays and sea snakes remained in “poor condition”.
The Reef Authority’s chief executive, Josh Thomas, said:
Ecosystems across the world are facing urgent and present threats from a warming climate. Global, national and local action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is vital.
We will continue to work with traditional owners, partners and communities to build ecosystem resilience to support the reef’s future.
Updated
Ex-NSW police officer charged with domestic violence
A former New South Wales police officer has been remanded in custody after being charged with a number of domestic violence-related offences that were allegedly carried out while he was in the force.
Last year, officers from the from professional standards command began investigating reports alleging the officer had committed domestic violence offences between 2022 and 2023.
The 58-year-old officer worked in the state’s north-west metropolitan region – which takes in parts of western Sydney and the Blue Mountains – when the offences are alleged to have occurred.
“The man is no longer employed by the NSW police force,” police said in a statement.
On Thursday, police searched his home following inquiries, seizing his electronic devices.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with intentionally recording images without consent etc (DV) and intentionally distribute intimate image without consent.
The former officer was refused bail and remanded in custody. He will appear before court on 5 September.
Updated
Family court ‘keeps women unsafe’ and is used against them, inquiry hears
Family violence workers have told a parliamentary inquiry the family court system is “keeping women unsafe” and is being weaponised by perpetrators to subject victims to further harm.
The inquiry heard examples of perpetrators using the threat of family court proceedings to keep women in abusive relationships, including to instil fears they will be bankrupted or lose access to children.
In one case cited by Domestic Violence Advocacy Australia, the threat of family court was repeatedly used by a man to keep control of his wife, who he had beaten and raped. She told DVAA she was terrified by the prospect of family court proceedings because they risked giving her husband unsupervised access to the children.
More on this story here:
Updated
Fine slashed after legal win over ferry pony deaths
The operator of the Bass Strait ferry Spirit of Tasmania will pay a drastically reduced fine over the deaths of 16 polo ponies on a voyage after a legal win, AAP reports.
The horses, which were travelling in a converted shipping container, were discovered dead in Victoria after sailing north following a tournament in Tasmania in January 2018.
The ferry’s operator, TT-Line, was in March 2023 convicted and sentenced for 29 animal welfare breaches and fined $75,000.
It will now pay $4,000 after winning a supreme court appeal and having the most serious charge, relating to management likely to cause unjustified pain and suffering, set aside.
The original sentencing magistrate said the container, which was carrying 18 horses, was inadequately ventilated and the animals that died were incorrectly doubled-stalled.
The magistrate also said the company did nothing to check whether the horses were individually stalled, as per requirements, when they “squarely” had an obligation.
Supreme court judges who assessed the appeal ruled evidence did not establish any causal link between double-stalling and the horses’ deaths.
Updated
Rex sale on track despite managers’ call for more time
Embattled airline Rex could find a new owner in the coming month despite administrators heading to court to appeal for a lengthy extension on their time in charge, AAP reports.
Several weeks after entering voluntary administration, the debt-laden regional carrier will remain under the watch of EY Australia for another three months.
The airline’s administrators went to the federal court on Friday to ask for their convening period to be extended out to no later than 25 November. The initial administration period was slated to end on 27 August.
Rex’s fleet of Boeing 737s operating between major metropolitan centres was grounded after management of the airline was handed over, but regional flights remain in the sky.
In court, lawyers for Rex argued the extension should not be viewed as delaying a sale and binding offers were set to be made in mid-September.
Barrister Daniel Krochmalik told the court:
That’s the timing the administrators hope to achieve, but it’s not set in stone for obvious reasons – they want to create the competitive tension.
Non-indicative offers had already been made, the court heard.
Updated
Sex discrimination commissioner welcomes Tickle v Giggle ruling
The sex discrimination commissioner has responded to today’s landmark ruling that tested the meaning and scope of the Sex Discrimination Act.
As Daisy Dumas reports, transgender woman Roxanne Tickle sued a women-only social media app for alleged gender discrimination and has been awarded $10,000 plus costs, after a judge found she had been indirectly discriminated against.
Dr Anna Cody said the commission was “pleased this case has recognised that every individual, regardless of their gender identity, deserves equal and fair treatment under the law”.
Gender equality means equal treatment for people of all genders, including trans people. Sex and gender identity are interconnected, not mutually exclusive, and access to justice for one group does not come at the expense of another, but rather strengthens our collective commitment to equality and justice for all.
We must continue to recognise the worth and dignity of every person and reject the harmful stigmas and stereotypes that cause discrimination. No one in Australia should face exclusion or discrimination based on sex or gender identity, and we will continue to stand with trans communities and advocate for the rights of all women, including women who are trans.
Updated
Hello, I’ll now be with you until this evening.
Many thanks for joining me on the blog this Friday, I’ll hand over to Jordyn Beazley for the afternoon, she’ll continue to bring you the latest. Take care, and enjoy your weekend!
Updated
Seismologist says ‘not unusual’ for earthquakes to occur near coalmines
Senior seismologist Dr Hadi Ghasemi from Geoscience Australia has provided an update on the 4.8 magnitude earthquake near Denman in New South Wales earlier today.
He said more than two aftershocks were felt following the initial earthquake – the first was magnitude 3.3, followed by a magnitude 2.9.
There is always a possibility that aftershocks could continue for the weeks to come, but as a general rule of thumb, the largest aftershocks tend to occur [after the main earthquake].
The epicentre is around 10km from the nearby Mt Arthur coalmine. Dr Ghasemi said it wasn’t unusual for earthquakes to occur near mines, as they were near fault lines.
The fault lines provide the passage for the fluids to go through them and deposit valuable minerals, but the same process can also increase the likeliness of earthquake occurrence.
He said there had been more than 150 seismic events in the area over the past 20 years, but this was the largest one.
Updated
South Australia sets new winter heat record
South Australia has notched up its hottest winter day on record.
Oodnadatta in the state’s north hit 37.7C at 2pm ACST. The state’s previous top August maximum temperature of 36.5C was set in the same town on 12 August 1946.
Adelaide raced up to 24.4C just after 2pm, more than 8C above average.
Updated
Thousands still without power near earthquake epicentre
We flagged earlier that around 2,500 people near Muswellbrook were without power following today’s earthquake.
According to Ausgrid’s outage map, power has not yet been restored for those customers in Muswellbrook, Denman, Jerrys Plains, Bureen and Bengalla.
Earlier it was expected the power would return this afternoon, but the website now says: “Assessment underway – restore time to come”.
Updated
‘That was epic’: hardware store shares photo of shelves after quake
Hardware store Lavis Mitre 10 in Muswellbrook, near the epicentre of today’s earthquake in New South Wales, copped a decent shaking today.
It shared a photo of its shelves following the 4.8 earthquake just after midday, and said:
Well that was epic wasn’t it?! We hope everyone across the community is ok!
Updated
New Zealand suspends Australian tomato imports
Biosecurity New Zealand has temporarily suspended all Australian tomato imports after the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two South Australian growing properties earlier this week.
Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director general Stuart Anderson said in a statement:
We met this afternoon with our counterparts in Australia, where they provided an update on their work to respond to the detection of the tomato virus.
Australia is taking steps to respond to the matter, including continuing to trace material. As this tracing work continues, and out of an abundance of caution, we are extending our restrictions by temporarily suspending imports of tomatoes from Australia. We will review this in seven days.
This means temporary suspensions are now in place for tomato imports from all Australian states.
Anderson said so far tracing had not shown any affected material in Queensland.
The virus causes yellowing and deformity in the host plants, but has no impact on human health.
Updated
Australia to command Red Sea protection task force
Australia will take charge of an international mission to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea for the first time, AAP reports.
The defence department today announced Australia would assume command of Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153) from October for six months.
Established in April 2022, CTF 153 focuses on maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. The Albanese government was criticised last year by security experts for declining a US request to deploy a warship to protect maritime security in the Middle East.
Australia will maintain its contribution to the combined maritime force, which was strengthened last December in response to Houthi attacks, the Australian defence force has said.
The chief of joint operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said the role demonstrated the nation’s commitment to international rules.
Australian defence force command of CTF 153 is a significant milestone in our commitment to maritime safety and security.
We proudly work alongside 44 other member nations in the combined maritime force to support freedom of navigation and free, fair and open trade, and the international rules‑based order.
Updated
More on medical and legal peak bodies’ concerns on youth justice reform
Continuing from our last post: The Law Council president, Greg McIntyre SC, said it was unacceptable Australia had one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world and that the imprisonment rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were a national shame.
Governments need to take meaningful steps towards raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to ensure all children in Australia have the best start to life with equal opportunities to grow and thrive.
The Australian Medical Association and the Law Council said in their statement that they were concerned about the increasing politicisation of youth justice reform, and that the “tough on youth crime” stance in states and territories needed to be reframed to a position that was informed by the available evidence and human rights, focusing on child health, emotional wellbeing and supporting alternatives to custody.
Measures which divert an offending child away from the criminal justice system are proven to be far more effective at keeping communities safe by reducing the chances of repeat offending.
Updated
Doctors and lawyers concerned about politicisation of youth justice reform
The peak bodies for doctors and lawyers say they are concerned about the increasing politicisation of youth justice reform, including steps to walk back existing commitments to raise the age of criminal responsibility in some jurisdictions.
Today the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Law Council of Australia have released a joint statement backing the recommendation of the national children’s commissioner to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, after commissioner Anne Hollonds released a landmark report on Tuesday:
The AMA and the Law Council submissions during consultation on the report called for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 14 years in all jurisdictions, and for better justice reinvestment and support for community-led diversion and support programs for young people.
The AMA president, Prof Steve Robson, said prison should not be a rite of passage for any child.
The medical evidence is clear. Incarceration harms children mentally and impairs their physical development. Most children in prison already come from backgrounds that are disadvantaged. These children often experience violence, abuse, disability, homelessness, and drug or alcohol misuse.
More to come in a moment.
Updated
Post-quake power outage in Muswellbrook
According to Ausgrid’s current outages chart, some 2,500 customers are without power following the earthquake near Muswellbrook.
The outage is affecting 2,506 customers in Muswellbrook, Denman, Jerrys Plains, Bureen and Bengalla. The outage is listed as a minor outage.
Updated
Windows blown in and fallen chimney reported after earthquake
The State Emergency Service has received 21 calls reporting minor infrastructure damage, following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake near Muswellbrook just after noon.
A spokesperson said a building in Muswellbrook had had its windows blown in, and there were reports of a chimney that has fallen off a dwelling in Maitland.
The SES is proactively contacting dam owners in the Hunter region to ensure the integrity of dams.
At this stage, there had been no reports of major infrastructure damage or injury.
Updated
SES responds to reports of minor damage after earthquake
New South Wales police said emergency services had received “multiple reports” of the earthquake near Muswellbrook just after 12pm.
Police said State Emergency Service crews are responding to reports of minor infrastructure damage, but that there have been no reports of major damage to infrastructure or buildings, and no reports of injury.
Dam owners in the region are urged to ensure that dam integrity has not been affected. Any reports of damage or injury should be made to local relevant authorities.
Updated
More than 2,500 ‘felt reports’ logged with Geoscience Australia
The NSW Rural Fire Service says there has been no reported injuries following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake near Muswellbrook.
More than 2,500 “felt reports” have now been logged with Geoscience Australia.
Did anyone feel an earthquake? Geoscience Australia has detected a 5.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred near Muswellbrook, to the north west of Newcastle. There has been no reported injuries, but if you require assistance in a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000). pic.twitter.com/PjPYyXScD1
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) August 23, 2024
Updated
A social media user in Scone, north of Muswellbrook in New South Wales, said the earthquake earlier today caused their walls to crack:
Well that was the first time I’ve really felt an earthquake!! The house shook, the walls cracked. Wild! pic.twitter.com/EcNvVCzTTb
— Anna (@AnnaKEdwards) August 23, 2024
They wrote:
Well that was the first time I’ve really felt an earthquake!! The house shook, the walls cracked. Wild! … It was scary, honestly. The noise was crazy.
Woman in Muswellbrook said ‘whole house rattled’ during earthquake
AAP has some more details on the NSW earthquake, which was felt over an area spanning hundreds of kilometres from south of Sydney to the mid-north coast.
A woman in Muswellbrook, about 20 minutes’ drive from Denman, said there were multiple shocks from around midday. She told Sydney radio 2BG:
There were two [and it was] not just a tremor, it was a massive earthquake. The whole house rattled, and then about half a minute later, it rattled again.
I actually thought it was my new kitten knocking down some things.
A man more than three hours’ drive away at Cranebrook in western Sydney also felt multiple shocks, but said the earthquake “wasn’t massive”.
Queensland mine directed to suspend use of all heavy vehicles following fatal accident
Queensland’s mining regulatory has directed Byerwen coal mine to suspend the use of all heavy vehicles after a fatal accident yesterday.
As Andrew Messenger reported, a mine worker at Byerwen was killed when a 200-tonne truck allegedly ran over a light vehicle yesterday afternoon, the mining union said. It was the second death at the central Queensland mine in a month.
The chief executive of the serious incident investigation unit, Rob Djukic, said the move effectively stops most operations at the mine:
QCoal has chosen to suspend operations at the mine, but we’ve taken this extra step to ensure activities involving heavy vehicles cannot take place until our inspector is satisfied that it is safe to do so.
We need to allow the mine to continue with some activities because it would be unsafe if it were to cease operating suddenly. We haven’t ruled out further action so our inspectors will continue to assess the site in the coming days.
Djukic said it was “disheartening and concerning to see a second fatality in less than a month at Byerwen”.
We want to assure affected workers, friends and families that we are conducting a thorough investigation and are committed to taking appropriate action.
Updated
NSW earthquake revised down to 4.8 magnitude
Geoscience Australia is now reporting that the earthquake near Muswellbrook, NSW just over an hour ago was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake.
It was earlier reported as being magnitude 5.
There have been more than 2,300 “felt reports”.
We’ve detected an #earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 at 12:01pm in Denman, NSW. If you need assistance, contact your local emergency services. Complete a felt report at https://t.co/SwE72tIkSv pic.twitter.com/cWqdgTSeAP
— Geoscience Australia (@GeoscienceAus) August 23, 2024
Updated
Humpback whale tangled in Sydney Harbour now swimming freely
Members of the rescue team that disentangled a humpback whale from Sydney Harbour this morning just spoke to the media.
They said whales don’t usually hang around the harbour too long before heading back out to sea, so the outcome has been a positive one:
We did have our maritime vessels tracking that whale, whale even after it was freed, and it did head safely out the heads and pointed itself south. So hopefully heading back down to where it was intended to go in the first place.
Shane Davie, the principal manager for NSW Maritime, said an exclusion zone was maintained around the whale the entire time the disentanglement team was “delicately freeing it”.
The whale is not being tracked with a satellite tracker at this point, and is swimming freely.
It did leave the harbour last night, and we saw it come back in this morning. So fingers crossed it continues on its way, and now that it has been disentangled, hopefully it continues south.
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand in codeshare agreement
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have announced their new codeshare agreement has been authorised by regulators in each country.
The agreement means customers of Virgin Australia – which only operates services into Queenstown in its post-pandemic slimmed down form – will be able to directly book Air New Zealand flights into Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The codeshare means Virgin customers can earn loyalty points on Air New Zealand flights.
Alistair Hartley, the Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer, said “the regulators’ endorsement reflects the strong consumer benefits the partnership will unlock, including greater value, choice and loyalty rewards for travellers across the Tasman”.
The authorisation of the agreement bolsters Virgin’s position at a time of flux for Australian aviation.
The government’s white paper for the industry is expected to be released imminently, as the sector looks to recover from the collapse of budget carrier Bonza and Rex’s jet operations on major city routes, developments which the competition watchdog this week warned could lead to Qantas, its budget carrier Jetstar and Virgin Australia capitalising on their market dominance and increasing air fares.
Updated
Master Builders welcomes CFMEU external administration
The chief executive of Master Builders Australia said it welcomed the government’s move to appoint an external administrator for all branches of the CFMEU construction and general division.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, made the announcement earlier today.
Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said in a statement that this was “a critical first step in getting the building and construction industry on the road to meaningful cultural change.”
Master Builders applauds the bipartisanship approach at federal and state levels to clear the way for the administrator, Mark Irving KC, to hit the ground running.
This culture has existed for decades and has stifled productivity and increased the cost of construction at the expense of the community, taxpayers, jobs and small business.
We all, whether as employers, workers or union members, deserve to work in an industry that is lawful, safe and free from corruption, coercion, bullying and intimidation.
Updated
More than 1,800 earthquake reports after a magnitude 5 tremor hit NSW Hunter region
According to Geoscience Australia, there has been more than 1,800 “felt reports” from people who felt the earthquake near Denman, NSW, along the east coast.
The felt reports have been lodged from as far south as Canberra, and as far north as Armidale. People also reported feeling the earthquake as far inland as Dubbo.
The earthquake was felt at the strongest intensity in and around Muswellbrook, according to the map.
Updated
ABS to begin delivering results of general wellbeing survey in 2026
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will begin efforts to deliver the results of its first general wellbeing survey in 2026 as part of a relaunched dashboard showing 50 indicators covering health, security and prosperity.
Launched last year by the Treasury, the Measuring What Matters dashboard will now be managed by the ABS to offer more up-to-date insights on a broad range of areas, such as overall life satisfaction, climate change challenges, acceptance of diversity and trust in institutions.
The data itself draws from a variety of sources, including the ABS and other government-run surveys as well as data from private organisations.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and the assistant competition minister, Andrew Leigh, said the renovated dashboard was an interim step to inform a more comprehensive federal government statement every three years.
The ministers conceded there were “still too many holes in this data, and some of it is still far too old”.
The ABS will also begin work to deliver its first general social survey measuring overall wellbeing with the first results set to become available from 2026.
Updated
Several aftershocks follow Denman earthquake
The Seismology Research Centre has says several aftershocks have occurred after the earthquake near Denman, NSW.
It said the largest aftershock occurred at 12.15pm, at a magnitude of 2.7.
Updated
The Bureau of Meteorology has said there is no tsunami threat after the magnitude earthquake felt near Denman, NSW.
No #tsunami threat to Australia from #earthquake felt in Denman, NSW (magnitude 5.0 near Denman, NSW). See https://t.co/Tynv3ZQpEq. pic.twitter.com/0iuJFYY9AM
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 23, 2024
Updated
The magnitude 5 earthquake, which just hit near the Wollemi national park in Denman, was felt in Sydney.
My colleague, who is based in the Sydney suburb of Petersham, said she felt her bed shake. Her mother, who lives near Newcastle, saw the cabinet doors shake.
There have been reports on X that the earthquake was also felt in Bondi.
Sydney earthquake just scared the shit outta me I can’t believe this pic.twitter.com/IKkgOT2G8k
— ash 🎬 (@_ash_mac) August 23, 2024
Updated
Part of NSW hit with magnitude 5 earthquake
Part of New South Wales was hit with a magnitude 5 earthquake just moments ago.
Geoscience Australia has reported the earthquake hit the Wollemi national park at a depth of 10km.
Region: Denman, NSW
— EarthquakesGA (@EarthquakesGA) August 23, 2024
Mag: 5.0
UTC: 2024-08-23 02:01:59
Lat: -32.38, Lon: 150.81
Dep: 10km
For more info and updates, or if you felt this earthquake, go to https://t.co/83Rhrbpg6A
Updated
Electrical Trades Union urges NSW premier to revoke CFMEU administration legislation
A union has written a letter to the NSW premier, Chris Minns, calling on the government to revoke the recently passed CFMEU administration legislation, and expressing concern at what a future Liberal government could do to the trade union movement under the new laws.
The NSW parliament passed the law last week, granting the government powers to appoint an administrator to the state’s branch of the CFMEU.
The NSW/ACT branch of the Electrical Trades Union wrote in the letter, seen by Guardian Australia, that the legislation was “undemocratic” and “rushed through” and there was no “meaningful” consultation with the trade union movement.
The union also expressed concern at comments made by the Liberal party that “many more administrators will be appointed in the next decade”, pointing to comments made by Damien Tudehope – the Liberal leader in the legislative council – that the “Electrical Trades Union might be the next one in our sights”.
The union’s state secretary, Allen Hicks, wrote in the letter to Minns:
It is deeply disappointing to see this precedent set by the party of the trade union movement.
This sort of legislative intervention has never been used to respond to misconduct of employers in Australia – the double standard is glaring and deeply unjust. The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of our democracy … The CFMEU deserves their day in court. Natural justice and procedural fairness must apply.
We are concerned about the potential impact on tens of thousands construction workers who have not been alleged to have engaged in any criminal activity but whose hard-fought wages and conditions will be at direct risk by this legislation.
It comes after the national leadership of the Rail Tram and Bus Union this week sent a letter to the federal industrial relations minister, Murray Watt, saying the federal CFMEU administration legislation passed on Monday could embolden employers and compromise workplace safety.
Updated
Two volunteer firefighters injured in Queensland grassfire
The commissioner of the Queensland Fire Department, Steve Smith, said two volunteer members were injured at a grassfire near Kingaroy yesterday afternoon.
One volunteer was airlifted to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with burns, while the second received treatment for minor burns at Kingaroy hospital and has been released.
Smith said he and RFSQ acting chief officer, Ben Millington, spent time with the family at hospital last night and are extending their support.
Our strong focus right now remains on the injured volunteer members and supporting their families and crew. QFD is investigating the matter. The family has requested privacy at this difficult time.
Updated
Occupational Therapy Australia CEO responds to NDIS changes
The chief executive of Occupational Therapy Australia, Samantha Hunter, has responded to the new NDIS reforms, which passed both houses of parliament yesterday.
Hunter said the changes leave NDIS participants with “uncertainty about their therapy and support funding”, as well as leaving the OT profession “reeling” amid existing workforce shortages, price freezes and increasing costs to service providers.
This further uncertainty and lack of specific changes and timelines exposes the scheme to market failure and, according to disability advocates, has the potential to place the people it purports to serve at the risk of harm.
We have repeatedly advocated for more consultation and collaboration of the allied health sector in the proposed reforms.
Occupational therapists are fundamental to a successful NDIS, and therapists who are fundamentally important in the lives of people with a disability have been largely locked out of these discussions. You cannot re-design a system relying on allied health professionals without giving them a voice.
Updated
Whale freed from entanglement in Sydney Harbour
Jessica Fox, the second vice-president of volunteer rescue organisation Orrca, has just confirmed the humpback whale caught in Sydney Harbour has been freed.
The humpback whale was tangled in ropes and buoys attached to its tail, and was between Middle Head and North Head in the harbour earlier this morning.
We’ll bring you the latest on this as more information becomes available.
Thousands of ambulance workers caught in super stuff-up
Thousands of Victorian ambulance service staff were paid the incorrect amount of superannuation for more than six years, AAP reports.
Three days after Ambulance Victoria’s chief executive resigned amid a protracted pay dispute, an external review has revealed about 3,000 employees were affected by payment errors between July 2017 and December 2023.
Some superannuation guarantee contributions were underpaid while others were overpaid due to wage code errors. The Victorian Ambulance Union said in a bulletin:
Please be aware that this error is in no way the fault of the workers in the AV payroll department. Once again this highlights the need for AV to invest in proper payroll systems, readable payslips, and enough payroll staff to handle the growing workload.
Underpayments were below $1,000 for most employees. The money owed, plus 10% interest a year, has been sent to the tax office and will be passed on to staff’s nominated superannuation accounts, Ambulance Victoria said in a statement.
We want to apologise to those who have been impacted by this wage code error and we have started the process to repay staff members whose superannuation has been underpaid.
This impacts employees who are members of accumulation superannuation funds, which is primarily our corporate and casual/surge workforce.
The service said the error had been resolved and that it won’t seek to recover overpayments.
Updated
Foreign trio charged with smuggling people by sea
Three foreign nationals have been charged with conspiring to collect and conceal a group of asylum-seekers who landed in Western Australia, AAP reports.
A man aged 26 and two women, 54 and 32, are expected to appear before court in Sydney today after being arrested on Thursday, with each facing one count of conspiracy to conceal non-citizens.
If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison for the alleged people-smuggling venture in early April.
Australian authorities describe non-citizens arriving by boat as unauthorised maritime arrivals, and about 95 have been held in offshore detention on Nauru in recent months.
Police in April found a missing member of a group of asylum-seekers who had become separated in a remote area of the Kimberley region, not far from the Mungalalu-Truscott airbase.
Updated
Inquiry hears of information sharing problems between family and magistrates courts
Circling back to the parliamentary inquiry into domestic violence orders (see earlier post), which has heard of deep problems sharing information between the family court – where family law disputes are heard – and magistrates courts, where intervention orders are sought to protect women’s safety.
Terese Edwards, the chief executive of Single Mothers Families Australia, told the inquiry there had been a “long-standing recommendation” to develop a live dashboard that would allow magistrates and courts to have comprehensive information about all court proceedings before them.
She said the technology already existed. The current gaps in information sharing meant courts were operating oblivious to the detail of family violence orders or child protection orders.
I don’t understand why it’s still so complex. There has been a recommendation, a longstanding recommendation, for some time to have a live dashboard that would have all the [information from] every system before the court, live and updated information on [apprehended violence orders]. Also, the gap means that child protection orders are often missing and, in those child protection orders, they can be the voice of the child or professional who’s made a safety determination upon that child.
Updated
Judge finds Roxanne Tickle victim of indirect gender discrimination
In a win for transgender rights, federal court justice Robert Bromwhich found that Roxanne Tickle had been discriminated against when she was barred from using the “women-only” social media app Giggle for Girls.
Bromwich found that Tickle was a victim of indirect gender discrimination, but not direct gender discrimination. The judge needed to be satisfied on one of those pathways to find that the discrimination was unlawful.
In court this morning, he explained that direct gender identity discrimination is by reason of a person’s gender identity, while indirect gender identity discrimination is when a condition has the effect of disadvantaging a person.
He said that the evidence did not establish that Tickle was excluded from Giggle “by reason of her gender identity, although it remains possible that this was the real but unproven reason”.
Instead, the indirect discrimination case succeeded because Tickle was excluded from the use of the Giggle “because she did not look sufficiently female”.
Updated
Severe weather warning for strong winds north of Melbourne
A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued for parts of Victoria from this evening, with a trough forecast to cross Victoria tomorrow morning.
Locations which may be affected include Mount Dandenong, Apollo Bay, Yarra Glen, Bacchus Marsh, Dargo, Gelantipy, Mount Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller and Omeo.
Strong winds averaging 50-60km/h and damaging gusts of 90km/h are forecast to develop tonight, into tomorrow morning.
Winds are expected to ease about the Otways and Central District by mid-Saturday morning, then ease about eastern districts during the afternoon.
Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) August 22, 2024
Stay informed: https://t.co/T05ONtwAm3
Issued at 5:07 am Friday, 23 August 2024.
For people in parts of Central, East Gippsland, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and South West Forecast Districts. pic.twitter.com/LImx6FLHt9
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Chalmers further outlines proposed changes to government override powers
Taking questions from reporters, Jim Chalmers outlined what powers the government is seeking to change when it comes to the RBA. He said:
As it stands right now, the parliament can override decisions of the independent Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank review proposed we get rid of those powers to enhance the independence of the Reserve Bank.
Some of the Coalition members of a parliamentary committee indicated their opposition to that change, and so what we’ve tried to find is a way that accommodates all of these views and we think the best way to do that is maintaining the override power that parliament has, but to limit to emergency circumstances and not just differences of opinion.
And so we have drafted some amendments that will give effect to that.
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Chalmers says government prepared to limit its override powers on RBA to emergency situations
Jim Chalmers said the government is “prepared to limit the parliament’s override powers to emergency situations, to rare instances”, after conversations with the opposition regarding RBA reform.
We have also been prepared to accommodate the opposition view when it comes to the make-up of the new monetary policy board. So under the arrangements I proposed to the opposition in the interests of getting a deal, I have proposed everyone on the current Reserve Bank board would go on the monetary policy board unless they write and indicate a willingness to go on the government board instead.
The Reserve Bank governor has made clear her views. She would like to see some continuation and experience on both boards, but I have been prepared to make the proposal to the opposition in good faith.
Chalmers said his goal is to legislate changes before the end of the year.
The ball is now in the shadow treasurer’s court. We will see if he can carry his colleagues on these important issues. I don’t want to negotiate with him through the media. I’ll negotiate with him directly, as I have been doing in good faith. I think it is time to end this dragging for too long so we can get cracking from the start of next year.
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Chalmers on RBA reforms: we want this to ‘endure after changes in governments’
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking to the media from Brisbane.
Speaking about the RBA review and reforms to the Reserve Bank, Chalmers said the government wants any changes to “endure after changes in governments”, which is why a bipartisan approach was taken.
I have decided the most important thing we can do to land these reforms is make sure the major parties come together in the spirit of bipartisanship so we can get cracking on these important changes.
The Reserve Bank governor supports these changes, the government’s proposed these changes in good faith after an independent review and we need the Coalition on board.
Chalmers said he has had three face-to-face meetings with the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, and has arranged three briefings with the department and review panel.
We want to make sure the independent Reserve Bank is above and beyond partisan politics and what has guided us at every stage of trying to land these important reforms … I believe we have our differences, myself and Angus Taylor, but in this instance I think he has the right instincts and the right intentions.
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Inquiry probing weaknesses of family violence order system
Federal parliament is currently investigating the weaknesses of the family violence order system, including the links between court proceedings and increased risk of violence and harm.
At an inquiry hearing this morning, the Australian Institute of Family Studies research manager, Dr Rachel Carson, said its research suggested reports of physical and emotional abuse tended to increase alongside increased engagement with court processes.
So, for example, taking physical abuse, approximately 27% of families or participants in the [AIFS study] indicated that they were experiencing physical abuse. That increases to about 39% when they’re engaging with lawyers, and that increases again to 38% when they’re engaging with courts.
The National Women’s Safety Alliance executive director, Katherine Berney, said the current system of DVOs had significant gaps and that family violence orders are often undermined by conflicting parenting orders or ineffective enforcement.
Orders must be more than just legal mechanisms. They must offer real protection. There must be a commitment from all sides of government, law enforcement and the courts, to build a system that truly protects the Australians who need it most.
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Orrca provides update on whale rescue in Sydney Harbour
Jessica Fox, the second vice-president of volunteer rescue organisation Orrca, has just provided us with an update on the humpback whale entangled in Sydney Harbour.
She said Orrca members are at headlands around Sydney taking observations on what is occurring.
NSW national parks large whale disentanglement teams are on the water – they have two small boats with the whale, and crews on mother ships around the whale, Fox said.
Maritime services are assisting to keep the area clear for first responders.
The whale has been behaving quite erratically. It does seem to be tiring … This could all be over in two minutes, but it could also continue throughout the rest of the day.
Judge finds transgender woman discriminated against when barred from app
A transgender woman who sued a women-only social media app for alleged gender discrimination has been awarded $10,000 plus costs after a judge found she had been discriminated against in a landmark decision that tested the meaning and scope of the Sex Discrimination Act.
Roxanne Tickle, a transgender woman from regional New South Wales, sued the women-only social media platform Giggle for Girls and its chief executive, Sall Grover, claiming she was unlawfully barred from using the app in 2021 after the firm and Grover said she was a man.
This morning, federal court justice Robert Bromwich said the respondents considered “sex” to mean the unchangeable sex of a person at birth.
These arguments failed because the view propounded by the respondents conflicted with a long history of cases decided by courts going back over 30 years. Those court those cases established that on its ordinary meaning, sex is changeable.
He found that indirect gender discrimination took place when Tickle “was excluded from the use of the Giggle app because she did not look sufficiently female.”
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Rescue operation underway to disentangle whale in Sydney harbour
Rescue crews are currently working to rescue a humpback whale from Sydney harbour.
The whale was spotted near Bradleys Head this morning and a rescue operation resumed. The whale is currently directly between Middle Head and North Head in the harbour.
A spokesperson with volunteer rescue group Orrca was just livestreaming on Facebook and said drone footage captured yesterday was able to help the team create a plan to disentangle the whale today.
A lot of planning and a lot of prep work has gone in overnight when light … no longer allowed for us to be out here and on the water with this whale.
She said it could take minutes, or hours, to disentangle the whale from ropes and buoys attached to its tail.
We’re very fortunate today to have calm seas in Sydney harbour. There’s very little wind and, fortunately, all the other vessels in the area have been very, very, very good in keeping away and allowing an emergency first response.
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More from AAP on the ‘what is a woman’ legal case
The court was told Sall Grover had persistently misgendered Roxanne Tickle in media interviews and across hundreds of posts about the case made to her 93,000 online followers.
Tickle’s lawyer, Georgina Costello, said her client had received an “enormous” amount of online hate as a result of Grover’s actions.
The continued, deliberate misgendering of her cannot detract from the fact that she is a woman.
Costello told the court Tickle had undergone gender-affirming surgery and hormone treatments, identified as a woman with her family, friends and at work, and used women’s change rooms and shops in women’s clothing departments. Tickle said:
Up until this instance, everybody has treated me as a woman.
It is the first time the federal court has heard a case alleging gender identity discrimination.
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Judgment in 'what is a woman' legal case
A landmark gender-identity case will deal with the question of who can legally claim to be a woman after a transgender user was barred from a female-only app, AAP reports
A federal court judge in Sydney will today deliver his judgment in Roxanne Tickle’s lawsuit against the Giggle for Girls app and its founder Sall Grover.
Tickle has claimed $100,000 for alleged discrimination based on her gender identity and the same sum again for aggravated damages.
The latter is based on an online campaign allegedly waged against her by Grover largely on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Tickle was blocked from the Giggle app in September 2021 on the basis of her gender, despite a birth certificate listing her as female, the court was told during a series of often-heated hearings in April.
The court was told Grover created the Giggle app as a “safe space” for women to interact with each other, free from male patterns of online violence.
Giggle’s barrister Bridie Nolan argued Tickle was a man so it was lawful to exclude her from the app because of provisions in the Sex Discrimination Act.
She told Justice Robert Bromwich the court was faced with the impossible task of determining whether a person was a woman based on their “psychological state” and having undergone surgery to remove their reproductive organs.
This case is the ‘what is a woman case’.
More to come in a moment.
As Paul Karp reported earlier this week, construction union members are “angry” and there is a “strong sentiment” among many to disaffiliate from the Labor party, the CFMEU’s national secretary has warned.
You can read the full story below:
Attorney general places CFMEU into administration
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has released a statement confirming the construction and general division of the CFMEU and all of its branches – including the Western Australian and ACT branches – would be placed into administration.
Dreyfus said he “decided it is in the public interest”, with the general manager of the Fair Work Commission appointing Mark Irving as administrator.
Dreyfus said in a statement that the administration of the CFMEU would take effect immediately.
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Tabcorp responds to $4.6m fine for allegedly breaching its regulatory obligations
Earlier, we reported that Tabcorp had been fined $4.6m for allegedly breaching its regulatory obligations on several occasions (if you missed that, you can read our earlier post here).
Tabcorp has released a statement, saying it acknowledges the fine handed down by the VGCCC today:
The harm minimisation measures in place by Tabcorp at the time did not meet community or regulatory expectations. Nor did it meet the expectations that current management expect of the company and its people.
Tabcorp has since taken significant steps to improve customer safety, including re-structuring the safer gambling team, which has led to an increase in customer interventions.
We are also introducing new technology to detect changes in customer behaviour faster so we can intervene sooner to protect customers from gambling harm.
Tabcorp will continue to work collaboratively with the VGCCC to support the important work they do to keep the community safe.
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Asked about the new changes, Jordan Steele-John acknowledged a lot of conversation was occurring about what the NDIS should or shouldn’t fund.
Many of your listeners might be wondering why something like a white good should be funded under the scheme, maybe a washing machine.
Now, nobody’s arguing that your regular run-of-the-mill washing machine should be funded by the NDIS. The reality is, though, that there are really specific, bespoke, hi-tech washing machines, for example, that connect with a deaf person’s assistive hearing technology to inform them when their drying is complete, enabling them to live independently.
Now that’s the kind of unique, specialised piece of white good that should be funded and, under the previous law, we could negotiate – we could make that case, and if a bureaucrat said no, we could review and we could ultimately take it to the administrative appeals tribunal.
This bill that’s just passed removes that ability by creating a government-approved list of yes and no products.
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Jordan Steele-John says NDIS spending being viewed through ‘a disgraceful lens’
Host Patricia Karvelas asked if the NDIS was “ballooning in a way that was becoming unsustainable”.
Jordan Steele-John said governments at all levels have “a lot of levels at their disposal” and pointed to areas he thinks the federal government could reduce spending, such as Aukus or fossil fuel tax subsidies.
This is actually, I think, quite a disgraceful lens that we are applying to the NDIS that we wouldn’t apply to, say, Medicare. I don’t think the Liberal or Labor government in 2024 would get away with making the case that Medicare was financially unsustainable, so we needed to cut people’s supports.
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Greens disability rights spokesperson says community feeling ‘betrayal, pain and fury’ amid NDIS funding changes
As Sarah Basford Canales reports, NDIS minister Bill Shorten has defended a new law outlining what supports those on the NDIS can access, saying those claiming the changes are the “end of the world” are wrong.
The final law, after nearly 100 amendments, will change the way participants receive plan budgets and give more powers to the head of the agency in charge of the scheme to prevent top-up payments on a participant’s budget.
A list, which is still under consultation, will outline which items and supports can be accessed under the scheme and which ones cannot.
Greens senator and spokesperson for disability rights, Jordon Steele-John, was speaking with ABC RN earlier about this. He said “nobody in the community is arguing that the NDIS is not in need of reform”, but that there is an expectation the government would not make cuts.
Those were our expectations, and the bill passed that through the Senate yesterday because of a deal with the Liberals by the Labor government, in fact cut $14.4bn, and that is in addition to the removal of those rights and protections and values. That is why there is such a sense of betrayal, pain and fury in the community this morning.
David Anderson says there is ‘a good case’ for next ABC managing director to be a woman
David Anderson was asked to give advice to his replacement and said because it is such a visible role “anybody coming into it will know what they’re buying into” and committing to with it.
My advice to them would be to always, always see the bigger picture. Always relate this back to purpose and performance. Always be thinking about staff at the ABC, because everybody in this place walks through the door with a commitment, and they’re solidly aligned to the purpose of the place … There are many distractions that come here and, you know, just to stay focused on the things that matter.
Asked if the next managing director of the ABC should be a woman, Anderson replied “I think there is a good case for that”.
I certainly think that there is case for consideration. Of course, you want the best person for the job, but should really be – It is a record that needs correction there … I think you want to see a history that includes women in the CEO role.
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Anderson says vote of no confidence from staff didn’t inform decision to resign
Host Patricia Karvelas asked about a vote of no-confidence motion passed by unionised staff against David Anderson in January, and whether this had an impact on his decision to resign.
He responded that there isn’t one thing contributing to the decision.
People will hold various opinions and perceptions about how well you’re doing … At times, people will not agree with a decision you make or a direction that you’re taking, and people are entitled to do that. So no, that didn’t form part of my thinking.
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David Anderson says ABC used as ‘a political football’
Asked about comments from Laura Tingle that he had acted as “a punching bag” for the national broadcaster and this would take a toll, David Anderson said “I think we all are”.
I think the ABC is often targeted for a great many things … I appreciate Laura’s advocacy. I think any one element of the ABC is certainly criticised politically. We are used a bit as a political football from time to time.
In this six years he’s been in the job of managing director, Anderson agreed the role has intensified over time.
Senate estimates is a unique experience for which I will take time to reflect on when I get to the other end of my last appearance, whenever that may be … I don’t think the ABC should ever shy away from being held to account.
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Speaking to ABC RN, David Anderson said he first started to think about leaving the ABC “months ago”, probably around the Christmas break.
I will always talk about [the ABC’s] importance to the Australian people. I have a unique perspective in this role. It is an honour and a privilege to hold it. I haven’t taken it lightly. I’ve taken it very seriously.
I feel quite proud of the job I’ve done over the six years, and I’ve got a lot of lovely messages from across the ABC yesterday. But, you know, the ABC is an institution. I’m just a custodian in this role, and I just feel it’s time to hand it on to someone else.
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David Anderson says it was ‘the right time for me’ to resign from ABC
The ABC managing director, David Anderson, is speaking with ABC RN after yesterday’s announcement of his resignation.
As Amanda Meade reported yesterday, Anderson has resigned a year into his second five-year term after a 35-year career at the public broadcaster, but said he would remain in the role until the new year.
Anderson told ABC RN this morning that it is “the right time for me”.
And I think the right time for the ABC. It is something I had thought about now for months, and went away on leave, spoke to [ABC chair] Kim [Williams] a lot. Kim tried to get me to change my mind. [I] came back from leave with it, certain in my mind that I was making the right decision.
We’ve got a long lead time for the board to find a new managing director, and I’ve been asked to and I agreed to stay on until that person starts, which could very well be April next year.
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Rescue operation continuing for entangled whale in Sydney harbour
A rescue operation is continuing to free an entangled whale in Sydney harbour.
Volunteer rescue group Orrca said on Wednesday that three separate humpback whales entangled in rope or buoys had been sighted in New South Wales – one travelling north towards Byron Bay, one towards Evans Head and another around Newcastle.
Orrca said in a post to social media:
The behaviour of entangled whales can be unpredictable and they can change directions of travel. As such we are asking for anyone who can get out on headlands between Newcastle and Tweed Heads to please keep a lookout for these whales.
The Daily Telegraph reported that a whale was spotted about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon in Sydney harbour, and rescue efforts would resume this morning.
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No disruptions to major airlines amid planned industrial action
It’s understood that there are currently no impacts to flights at Sydney airport amid planned industrial action.
According to reports, more than 50 plane refuellers have called a 12-hour strike at Sydney airport to protest against pay disparity and a lack of full-time employment after six months of negotiations.
Ampol Aviation services 16 airlines, including Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar, and the work stoppages are scheduled to occur between 1am-5am, 7am-11am and 6pm-10pm today.
However, it is understood that contingency plans are in place to keep scheduled flights going, and at this stage there are no disruptions to Qantas or Jetstar.
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Victorian gambling regulator fines Tabcorp $4.6m
Tabcorp has been fined $4.6m for allegedly breaching its regulatory obligations on several occasions.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission alleged in a statement that Tabcorp repeatedly breached the Wagering and Betting Licence and Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct between August 2020 and February 2023.
Commission chair Fran Thorn said it was the largest fine the Commission had ever issued to Tabcorp and “sends a clear message to the gambling industry that this kind of [alleged] behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The Commission is alleging Tabcorp sent direct marketing material to customers six times between October 2022 and February 2023 despite customers opting out of this.
It also found Tabcorp allegedly failed to minimise the potential for gambling harm through inadequate training of employees, and allegedly failed to provide appropriate support to a customer exhibiting signs of distress or indicators of potential gambling harm.
Thorn said Tabcorp had been given clear instructions to improve its operations and prioritise gambling harm minimisation.
The directed transformation program is intended to future proof Tabcorp’s gambling operations to ensure it complies with the law.
We will be actively monitoring to ensure that the transformation program requirements are not only implemented quickly but are effective in ensuring ongoing compliance with the law.
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Great Barrier Reef education centre gets rebuild funds
The federal government has committed $100m to rebuild the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in north Queensland, after lobbying by the local community.
As AAP reports the Townsville aquarium, also known as Reef HQ, has been home to a reef education centre and a living coral reef.
The funding takes the total committed by the government to $180m and will allow work to begin to rebuild the facility, which was opened in 1987 by the then Labor prime minister, Bob Hawke.
The investment means the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will have a new purpose-built facility for reef education and be able to provide immersive experiences attracting domestic and international visitors, the government said. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said in a statement:
Like Bob, we want to create the Great Barrier Reef on land, making the reef accessible and affordable while spreading the reef conservation message and inspiring action to protect this spectacular natural icon. This funding announcement is an investment in the future of our precious Great Barrier Reef.
The project is expected to create more than one thousand jobs and give Townsville an economic boost worth millions of dollars.
Albanese is in Townsville today to attend The Courier Mail Bush Summit, alongside his state counterpart Steven Miles and federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
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Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off! I’ll bring you our rolling coverage this Friday.
As always, you can get in touch with any tips, feedback or questions via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s go.
As our top story reveals a development in the treatment of Gaza refugees, our Full Story: Newsrooom edition podcast looks at how Peter Dutton has been trying to exploit the issue.
He has accused the government of bringing people in from the Gaza “war zone” and “not conducting checks and searches on these people” – claims not wholly true. But what is really driving this divisive debate?
Today Bridie Jabour talks to our editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, and the head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, about why Dutton is dominating political discourse with distractions.
And here is Karen Middleton’s story revealing the changes to visa rights.
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Queensland overturns UN youth detention principle
Queensland parliament last night passed legislation overturning a United Nations principle protecting children in detention.
The community safety bill amends the principle of “detention as a last resort” for children, among a swathe of other changes. The principle will remain for adults.
The Queensland Law Society said the change creates “a vexed situation that is both bizarre and inappropriate and undermines the objectives of the Youth Justice Act”.
The police minister, Mark Ryan, told media yesterday that the legislation only clarified the existing law:
There is no restriction any more on courts using detention if it is in the interest of community safety, and if that increases the number of people in custody, then that is in the interest of community safety.
At the end of the day, we have to ensure that people are protected from offenders, and if that means the best way to protect them from offenders is by using detention that should be used.
All 47 Labor and 32 Liberal and National MPs voted for the bill, with just six crossbenchers voting against. Seven MPs were absent.
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Senate backs two key pieces of climate legislation
The Albanese government has won support in the Senate for two pieces of climate-related legislation that it says are central to its promise to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
One was the creation of a net zero economy authority, which has been promised to help manage the country’s transformation from a dirty to a clean economy. The other was climate disclosure legislation, which expands the information big companies must provide about the risk the climate crisis poses to their business and what they will do about it.
Both pieces of legislation passed with the support of the Greens and five independent crossbenchers. The Coalition was opposed.
In a statement, Anthony Albanese and the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the net zero authority would help with the zero emissions economic transition, “whether it is retraining and redeploying workers in traditional energy industries or cutting red tape in clean energy investment”.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the disclosure laws would “support more investment in cheaper and cleaner energy and help companies and investors manage climate risks”.
The laws, which have been welcomed by climate and major investor organisations, were amended in the Senate and have to return to the lower house, but their passage is assured when parliament returns next month.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and before Emily comes along I’ll be running through some of the top morning stories.
The federal government has extended work rights and Medicare access to some visa-holders from Gaza and Israel as it prepares to shift those who arrived on visitor visas since the 7 October attacks on to bridging visas. Amid attacks from the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, about visa for Gaza refugees, the government issued a regulation on 5 August without any announcement which extended Medicare access to people holding two subclasses of bridging visa E who had already been granted work rights. More coming up.
The Albanese government has won support in the Senate for two pieces of climate-related legislation that it says are central to its promise to reach net zero emissions by 2050. One was the creation of a net zero economy authority to help manage the transformation from a dirty to a clean economy, and other is will oblige companies to disclose more information about their climate impact. More details coming up.
A judgment is expected today in the so-called “what is a woman” legal case in which transgender woman Roxanne Tickle has claimed $100,000 for alleged discrimination by the Giggle for Girls app and its founder, Sall Grover, based on her gender identity. Tickle has claimed the same sum again for aggravated damages. We have more details coming up and will bring you the outcome as it breaks.
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