What we learned today, Friday 31 May
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening, and this working week. Here’s what we learned today:
Anthony Albanese declined to comment on the guilty verdict handed to Donald Trump, saying Australia is “not a party to these court proceedings”.
The Australian federal police commissioner told Senate estimates of a “highly concerning trend” of youth being radicalised online through others or through self-radicalisation.
The prime minister essentially accused conservative media of campaigning against his government through coverage of the administrative appeals tribunal overturning visa cancellations.
The federal government announced a further $31m in assistance for Ukraine to help meet its power and humanitarian needs.
The government also announced the first round of green loans for households promised as part of a $1bn commitment in last year’s federal budget.
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fell fractionally – by 0.5% – last year, according to the latest federal government data.
The mining magnate Gina Rinehart gifted a portrait of herself to the National Portrait Gallery, but there appear to be strings attached.
The Australian Electoral Commission published its draft proposed redistribution of seats in Victoria (losing a seat) and Western Australia (gaining one).
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, called on the embattled Townsville mayor, Troy Thompson, to resign, for “the good of the city”.
Queensland wants other states and the federal government to back a decision to ban carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin.
The NSW government announced it would fast-track planning proposals for social and affordable housing.
NSW detectives charged a 23rd person for their alleged involvement in the Wakeley riots last month.
The Western Australian police force and the state’s country health service apologised to the family of Ms Dhu, a young Aboriginal woman, for the circumstances leading to her death in 2014.
The Victorian health department is urging those planning to travel to make sure their vaccinations are up to date, as an increasing number of returning travellers are presenting with measles and mpox.
The US consulate in Melbourne and the offices of several members of parliament have been targeted in acts of vandalism.
E-scooter riders in Melbourne have been warned they will no longer be given leniency after hundreds were caught riding on footpaths and without helmets.
Thanks so much for your company this week.
Updated
Question to AFP chief morphs into a bit of light Canberra-bashing at Senate estimates
The ACT senator David Pocock has asked the Australian federal police in Senate estimates about its retention rates, but it has somehow morphed into a bit of light Canberra-bashing.
In the AFP’s 2022 staff survey, 16% of those surveyed said they planned to leave the AFP, with 9% of them indicating they wanted to leave the AFP to work elsewhere, and 3% saying they wanted to work in another law enforcement agency or jurisdiction.
The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, said there were some retention challenges, such as attractive incentives offered by the Queensland police service, but said the size of the force was “holding”:
I mean, their offer is $26,000 cash to join them so that’s pretty enticing, you know, and it’s Queensland with the weather. If you’re based down here [in Canberra], it’s not as great. And you know, what is it? Queensland’s great one day, better the next.
Pocock asked why the ACT doesn’t have many police officers but Kershaw insisted that’s a decision for the ACT government:
They buy the services from the AFP. So, we’ve encouraged them to buy more, which I think that’s occurring – more than likely … they are the ones that determine those numbers.
Updated
Commonwealth DPP grilled over David McBride case in Senate estimates
Earlier this afternoon, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) fronted Senate estimates.
Raelene Sharp KC, who was appointed in December 2023, was asked about the office’s dealings in the prosecution against the former army lawyer David McBride.
McBride pleaded guilty to three charges in November after the court upheld a commonwealth intervention to withhold key evidence the government argued had the potential to jeopardise “the security and defence of Australia”. The charges included stealing commonwealth information and passing that on to journalists at the ABC.
In May, McBride was sentenced to five years and eight months in jail.
The Greens senator David Shoebridge attempted to table correspondence between McBride’s lawyers and the CDPP about some grievances about sentencing submissions leading up to the May date.
Shoebridge quoted from the CDPP’s email to the Australian defence force – which was not immediately tabled due to being marked private and confidential – which allegedly asked the department to identify a deponent “confident in speaking to how damaging the disclosure of these documents were to the ADF”.
The email also allegedly noted the evidence “is very important and it will likely determine the type of sentence that McBride receives”.
Shoebridge said:
This was seeking not a fair and impartial witness; this was seeking a hired gun from defence, wasn’t it?
Sharp rejected the characterisation, saying it was a “request for a statement of fact in relation to the matter”.
The Greens senator pointed out McBride’s team also requested notes from a meeting with a proposed witness but the CDPP said there hadn’t been any taken.
Sharp conceded the process was “incorrect”:
In relation to the failure to take notes, that was incorrect and notes should have been taken of the conference.
Updated
Harassment of politicians on the rise, AFP commissioner says
The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, has warned reports of harassment, nuisance, offensive and threatening communications against Australian politicians have increased by 160%.
In his opening statement to Senate estimates, he said there had been 279 reports in 2020-21. This financial year, it had jumped up to 725 reports.
Kershaw said it was a “testament” to his law enforcement officers that there had not been an incident where a politician needed to be saved from serious harm or death.
Kershaw said:
Threats against parliamentarians are a threat to democracy and we are starting to plan our response given a federal election will be held within a year.
Updated
AFP ‘highly concerned’ about youth being radicalised online, Senate estimates hears
The Australian federal police commissioner, Reece Kershaw, is appearing before Senate estimates on this fine Friday evening.
In his opening statement, the commissioner outlined a “highly concerning trend” of youth being radicalised online through others or through self-radicalisation:
We are concerned about the activity identified online, as well as what is happening in the real world, including violence in schools, such as planning possible attacks on students and teachers, and the production of explosives or possession or use of weapons.
Kershaw said early intervention was prioritised as monitoring suspicious individuals was resource-intensive. For example, one adult under an extended supervision order between 26 August 2022 and 21 January 2024 required 80 staff members and 10,300 operational hours.
Kershaw said there were 25 high-risk terrorism offenders due for release within the next five years.
Updated
Student jailed for up to 20 years for murder of girlfriend
A Chinese international student who fatally stabbed his girlfriend at least 75 times in a “rageful” attack inside her Sydney apartment has been jailed for up to 20 years, AAP reports.
Weijie He, 24, killed 19-year-old Liqun Pan with two knives and a hammer in her Wolli Creek flat on June 27, 2020, before attempting to kill himself.
He pleaded guilty to the murder in October 2022, after a long period of rehabilitation due to multiple severe injuries sustained in the suicide attempt.
On Friday, NSW supreme court justice Julia Lonergan jailed He to a maximum of 20 years with a non-parole period of 13 years for the “extremely violent” attack.
Justice Lonergan said in handing down the sentence:
He clearly intended to kill her, this is very serious offending.
Police found Ms Pan in the foetal position in a pool of blood with dozens of stab wounds, the court was told. There were also strangulation injuries and defensive wounds to the hands of the victim, whom Justice Lonergan said must have been in “abject terror” during the “unimaginable” chase and struggle.
Weijie He’s heavy use of the drug nitrous oxide – hundreds of canisters were found at the crime scene – could mean he was in a transient delusion at the time, but if so it only marginally reduced the conduct’s seriousness, Justice Lonergan said.
He had coercively controlled Ms Pan over two years including getting her to sign a contract that insisted she get rid of acne, not go to bars or clubs and always have him as the background of her phone, the court heard.
“There’s no sign of remorse,” Judge Lonegran said of the man, who is now confined to a wheelchair and received the sentence in Mandarin via a translator.
The judge said she took into account the hardship He would have in jail given his numerous disabilities as a mitigating factor on sentence.
The impact of the killing on the victim’s family, who came from a small village in rural Guangdong province, had been “crushing and immeasurable”, the court was told.
With time served, He will be eligible for parole on 19 January 2034.
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
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Labor, Greens respond to emissions data
A bit more on the emissions data mentioned a few minutes ago, and how it is being interpreted.
The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said renewable energy generation on the east coast market had increased by 25% since Labor was elected two years ago and that, unlike the previous coalition government, the ALP was “not relying on a global pandemic and drought for emissions reduction”.
Bowen said:
The Albanese government’s energy plan is the only one supported by experts to deliver the clean, cheap, reliable and resilient energy system that Australians deserve.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, cut the numbers another way. He said the data showed that pollution had risen slightly since Labor came into office (there was a small increase last year, partly due to a rebound after Covid-19 shutdowns, before a small drop this year).
Bandt said a “massive long-term rise in gas pollution” – an increase in emissions from production of liquified natural gas for export – was “putting a safer climate out of reach”:
At this rate, Labor won’t even meet its own unscientific climate targets, let alone what is needed to tackle the climate crisis.
You can see the report here.
Updated
Australia's greenhouse gas emissions fell by less than 1% last year
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fell fractionally – by 0.5% – last year, according to the latest federal government data.
The December quarterly emissions update says 432.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide were released across the country last calendar year. It was 2.4m tonnes less than in 2022.
The cut was mostly due to a drop in pollution from electricity generation due to solar and wind energy replacing some coal and gas generation.
But the drop was partly cancelled out by a jump in emissions from transport – mostly from cars – and a smaller rise in pollution from agriculture.
Officials said national emissions were 29% lower than in 2005. The Albanese government has set a legislated target of a 43% cut by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.
Scientists, analysts and climate campaigners say Australia should be making deeper, faster cuts for the country to play its role in meeting the goals of the landmark Paris climate agreement, including trying to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
As always, the statistics can be cut in various ways.
Nearly all the fall in Australia’s emissions since 2005 is due to changes in land use and forestry leading to an increased estimate of the CO2 being stored in the landscape. This change has not been driven by climate policy.
Emissions from the rest of the economy – mainly burning fossil fuels – are down only 3% since 2005.
Updated
Rinehart’s attempted portrait gift revealed in Senate estimates – video
A little earlier we brought you the news that Gina Rinehart is trying to gift a portrait of herself – that she appears to approve of – to the National Portrait Gallery, but it seems to come with some strings attached.
We heard about it all in Senate estimates this afternoon. Here’s some video of that exchange.
Updated
Half of Collins class submarine fleet currently out of service for repairs, estimates hears
The coalition has jumped on evidence in Senate estimates today that three Collins class submarines – half of the fleet – will be out of action for repairs and intensive maintenance.
The government-owned firm ASC confirmed that one Collins class submarine was undergoing “full cycle docking” at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia, another one had arrived at Osborne but remained in navy control pending an imminent handover, and a third submarine was undergoing “intermediate docking” in Henderson, Western Australia.
The coalition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Simon Birmingham, asked whether there was now an increased risk of delays to the more extensive work needed to extend the life of the Collins class submarines (to keep them going until the Aukus nuclear-powered submarines enter into service).
Stuart Whiley, the ASC chief executive, replied:
No, I don’t don’t believe so, no.
Birmingham later issued a statement saying it was “disturbing that the Albanese government had allowed this major disruption to the Collin Class fleet that would have significant ramifications for Australia’s national security”.
Birmingham said:
New problems in Collins and delays in availability should be sending alarm bells through the Albanese government but instead they’re just shrugging their shoulders at news that half of Australia’s submarine fleet will be out of the water until at least Christmas.
The government must get on top of these delays so as not to endanger the Collins Life of Type Extension (LOTE) program and ensure continuity of submarine capability prior to Aukus deliveries of nuclear-powered submarines.
Updated
Nearly 80% of referrals to Nacc dismissed since opening
The federal government’s new anti-corruption body has told Senate estimates it had dismissed 78% of its referrals at the triage stage since opening its doors in July 2023 because they “did not involve a commonwealth public official or did not raise a corruption issue”.
In his tabled opening statement, the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief executive, Philip Reed, confirmed the watchdog had received 2,955 referrals in the 11 months up to 19 May, closing 2,312 referrals.
Reed said there have been 22 preliminary investigations, and 21 corruption investigations, including six joint investigations. Charges have been laid and an arrest made in one of the investigations.
The powerful body also revealed it had executed 25 search warrants, 8 applications for telephone intercept warrants and another 8 for surveillance device warrants.
Interestingly, the Nacc revealed it has also issued nine directions to agency heads and 81 public servants to produce documents or information to aid its investigations.
Two private hearings across two investigations, involving a total of 12 witnesses, had also been undertaken.
Reed said:
It is rapidly maturing as an independent commonwealth entity with the mission to enhance integrity in the commonwealth public sector by deterring, detecting and preventing corrupt conduct involving commonwealth public officials through education, monitoring, investigation, reporting and referral.
Updated
Guzman y Gomez to list on ASX and open new stores
Mexican-themed fast food chain Guzman y Gomez will debut on the stock exchange next month with a valuation of $2.2bn and aggressive plans to boost its store numbers.
The Sydney-based burrito specialist has 210 stores, with the majority located in Australia, which are a mix of corporately-owned and franchised restaurants. It has a small number of outlets in Singapore, Japan and the US.
Steven Marks, the founder and co-chief executive, said today he wanted that store network to increase to more than 1,000 restaurants over the next two decades.
The chain will trade under the “GYG” ticker on the ASX from 20 June. It is offering stock through an initial public offering at $22 per share, which will be used to fund the growth strategy.
GYG opened its first restaurant in 2006 in Sydney.
It is the second major well-known brand to recently detail its plans to become a public company, with Chemist Warehouse preparing to trade on the ASX later this year, pending various approvals.
Updated
Gina Rinehart gifts portrait of herself to National Portrait Gallery
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has gifted a portrait of herself to the National Portrait Gallery, but there appear to be strings attached.
Senate estimates heard today that the gallery was processing a deed of gift made by Australia’s richest woman, and it was indeed an approved portrait of herself.
But it appears there may have been a hitch.
The gallery’s director, Bree Pickering, told the hearing:
There were some conditions that came along with that gift that meant those conditions are currently under negotiation.
Because of those conditions, we haven’t been able to formally accept … the work into the collection.
She declined to detail what the conditions were, as they were currently under negotiation, but indicated it was to do with the way the work would be displayed.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked:
No swimmers have written to you?
Updated
Before we get back to the hard news, here’s some pretty pictures from the past month:
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Stephanie Convery will be here to guide you through the rest of today’s rolling coverage. Take care, and have a great weekend.
Ananda-Rajah ‘now in a state of political limbo’ after Higgins abolition proposal, political academic says
Dr Zareh Ghazarian, a politics lecturer in the school of social sciences at Monash University, has responded to the Australian Electoral Commission’s proposal to abolish the Labor-held seat of Higgins.
In a statement he said:
The proposed abolition of Higgins has significant political implications. This was a seat that was once a Liberal Party stronghold, and was won by the Labor Party for the first time in 50 years at the 2022 election.
The current Labor MP, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, is now in a state of political limbo as she may have to find another electorate to contest, or try her luck in the senate. It also means that Labor’s achievement in 2022 by winning this seat will be short lived and the party will be down one seat in Victoria if the proposal was to be adopted.
Updated
Severe weather expected for eastern states over coming days
The Bureau of Meteorology has published a severe weather update about the cold front and rain band that is continuing to sweep across the country:
Severe Weather Update: Cold front and rain band continuing to sweep across Australia. Video current: 1:30pm AEST 31 May 2024. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/zRDyTkK7iC
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) May 31, 2024
Updated
NSW to fast-track planning proposals for social and affordable housing
A promise to halve planning times for social housing could help NSW meet its share of national home-building goals, AAP reports.
NSW needs to deliver 377,000 more homes over the five years to mid-2029 in order to meet a national target of an extra 1.2m extra houses.
The NSW government today announced it would fast-track planning proposals for social and affordable housing, in conjunction with council-by-council housing targets and incentives already announced.
Rezoning proposals from NSW housing agencies will be accelerated via a new team within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to manage applications.
Development assessment times for social and affordable housing would be cut in half by the changes, the government said, with the shift freeing up councils to focus on the assessment of local development applications.
There were more than 57,000 applicants on the NSW waitlist for social housing in March amid a dire shortage of available public and private dwellings.
Nearly 300 previously uninhabitable, vacant social houses had been restored and made available for tenants with funding from the federal $2bn social housing accelerator pool.
But new housing approvals remain well below the figure of 75,000 extra homes needed each year for NSW to meet its five-year target, with fewer than 45,000 homes cleared statewide in the year to April.
Updated
‘They’d be wearing it, and hurting’: AAT registrar on visa controversy
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal is up at Senate estimates. The Coalition has asked registrar Michael Hawkins about the morale of AAT members after “attacks” from the immigration minister and prime minister on how they have implemented ministerial direction 99 on visa cancellation. Labor objected, rejecting that characterisation.
Hawkins responded that Labor’s Murray Watt had said that decisions of AAT members “are on them”. He said:
He’s absolutely right, we are accountable, and responsible for our decisions. We take that oath, we take it seriously. To make the correct decision, or where there is more than one, the preferable decision.
Hawkins, as a former member, said that members worry about “denying someone the opportunity to come to Australia”, and the risk of harm if they are sent back to their country, or that “there might be an unfortunate circumstance” if they are allowed in or to keep their visa.
Hawkins said members do “worry about it” and those referred to in the media about decisions they made in line with the law would “be wearing it, and they’d be hurting”.
Updated
Friday afternoon is upon us, which means one thing: time to get stuck into the Weekly Beast:
Earlier, Paul Karp brought us news that the Australian Electoral Commission has proposed to abolish the Melbourne seat of Higgins, as part of its draft proposed redistribution of seats in Victoria and Western Australia.
Higgins is held by Labor MP Michelle Ananda-Rajah.
Responding to the news, her fellow Labor backbencher Sally Sitou tweeted in support:
My friend Michelle Ananda-Rajah is one of the hardest working Federal MPs that I know.
My friend Michelle Ananda-Rajah is one of the hardest working Federal MPs that I know ❤️
— Sally Sitou MP (@SallySitou) May 31, 2024
Updated
Jack Black sends video message to Melbourne high school performing ‘School of Rock’
Everyone’s favourite fake music teacher, Jack Black, has sent a message of support to a Melbourne high school after discovering students would be performing his hit film, the School of Rock, as a musical.
Black is soon to be in Australia touring as part of his comedy rock duo, Tenacious D, which prompted Ringwood secondary college to lobby the star to attend one of their performances.
In a video, distributed by the ABC, Black told the school he was “touched” by the invitation but would be too busy “rocking” with previous commitments.
“Oh my god, Ringwood secondary college, are you kidding me?” he cried, before bursting into high pitched song.
You’re doing School of Rock? I love it, so touched … so moved.
You know it’s been 20 years since I made that movie, as you can tell by my beard, my old man beard, and it’s still my favourite movie I ever did. I love that you guys are gonna rock it, I wish I could come see it, but unfortunately I’m going to be rocking.
But I just wanted to remind you that there’s no way you can stop the School of Rock.
Updated
Carbon capture ‘unlikely to make a substantial contribution’: Miles
Steven Miles also said carbon capture technology wouldn’t be required for the state’s transition to net zero emissions.
Meanwhile the federal government has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the technology over a number of governments and for many years.
Miles was asked if the decision to ban it in the basin was the final nail in the coffin to the idea of using it to decarbonise coal-fired power stations:
I’ve thought for a long time that CCS is unlikely to make a substantial contribution to our decarbonisation efforts. We are very confident of our pathway to 75% [carbon reduction emissions] by 2035. And it does not require carbon capture and storage.
If in the later years towards 2050 when we’re aiming for net zero emissions there are industries that can’t be abated, well, that’s something that can be considered then. We don’t need to be risking our Queensland environment now on a technology that … we don’t require to achieve our decarbonisation goals.
The ban only applies in the Great Artesian Basin, not the entire state, leaving open the potential for carbon capture in other parts of the state.
Miles said if the technology can be proven to be safe and effective “then it may play some role” in helping to decarbonise other technologies like concrete.
People are free to continue to investigate that technology. There’s very few places around the world where it’s been proven to be appropriate.
Updated
Queensland premier calls for federal intervention in Great Artesian Basin
Queensland wants other states and the federal government to back a decision to ban carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin (Gab).
The premier, Steven Miles, today announced the government would introduce legislation banning the process anywhere in its part of the basin:
The basin also sits under NSW, the Northern Territory and South Australia, and there are concerns harm caused in one jurisdiction could spread into others.
Asked if he wants Tanya Plibersek to step in to ban it in other states, Miles said he’d “welcome the support of the Australian government, not just to ensure that what we put in place here is rigorous and effective, but also to ensure that the other parts of the basin are protected”.
Now that we’ve made this decision, we will convey it to the other states and to the Australian government and ask them to support us to ensure that the entire basin is protected. But this is very strong action from the Queensland Government to protect the parts of the basin that we can legislate over.
Updated
Jetstar investigating after plane experiences steering issue
Jetstar says no one was injured after a plane veered from the runway at a low speed and on to the grass.
In a statement, Jetstar said this was due to “a steering issue” occurring after the plane landed in Christchurch, New Zealand.
There were no injuries to passengers or crew. The aircraft was towed to the gate and all passengers disembarked.
We’re working with Airbus and relevant authorities to investigate what happened.
We understand this may have been a difficult experience for our customers and we thank everyone onboard for their cooperation.
Flight JQ225 had taken off from Auckland.
Updated
Further charges laid as part of Wakeley riots investigation
Detectives have charged a 23rd person for their alleged involvement in the Wakeley riots last month.
Police believe about 2,000 people descended on a church in Wakeley, smashing police vehicles and injuring a number of officers, following the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, which was live streamed.
Officers executed a search warrant in Chifley at 6.30am this morning, where they seized electronic devices and arrested a 36-year-old man.
He was taken to Maroubra police station and charged with rioting, and three counts of destroying or damaging property during public disorder.
The man was refused bail to appear before Waverley local court today.
Queensland premier calls on embattled Townsville mayor to resign
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has called on embattled Townsville mayor Troy Thompson to resign, for “the good of the city”. He told a press conference today:
It’s hard to imagine how it’s in Townsville’s best interests for him to remain as mayor. I’d urge him to seriously consider what’s in the best interests of the city – that he said he cared about, when he ran for election.
Miles’ comments come after Thompson claimed on a Current Affair last night that he had forgotten the details of his military career due to more than 100 concussions.
During the council campaign earlier this year, Thompson made a number of claims about his military record, including that he served with the SAS, which he admitted are false to A Current Affair.
A number of organisations including the Crime and Corruption Commission are currently investigating.
Updated
Parliamentary inquiry recommends Queensland government mandate food and grocery code of conduct
A parliamentary inquiry into supermarket pricing has handed down a series of recommendations to the Queensland government, including one to make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory.
The Queensland supermarket pricing select committee was established in March to investigate cost-of-living concerns with rising supermarket pricing.
In its report tabled today, the committee made eight recommendations including for the state government to investigate establishing an office of the Queensland Farmers’ Commissioner to publish comparative data on supermarket pricing and act as “a central point of contact” for the state’s agricultural and horticultural producers.
The body would also administer mediation under industry codes and possess powers to lodge complaints and act on behalf of Queensland suppliers with supermarkets and wholesalers.
Another recommendation was for the state government to provide shoppers with education about “the benefits of purchasing so-called ‘ugly’ or imperfect, non‐premium produce” and their consumer rights.
Updated
More details on vandalism targeting offices of Labor MPs
AAP has more details about the pro-Palestine graffiti protests targeting the offices of several Labor MPs and the US consulate in Melbourne.
Pro-Palestine activist groups have proclaimed today a “national day of action against Labor MPs” and will stage protests throughout the day, including at the office of federal Labor MP Peter Khalil in Coburg.
Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside a defence conference hosted by the Australian British Chamber of Commerce before marching through the Melbourne CBD. Some carried dolls covered in a red substance.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, was concerned for the safety of those working in the offices and told reporters in Ballarat:
By all means protest and protest peacefully, but do not see the conflict in the Middle East bring conflict to our streets. It would not advance any cause in any way to see people going about doing their work feeling unsafe. It also will not change the course of the conflict in the Middle East.
The office of federal attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, on Main Street at Mordialloc was smeared in red paint, obscuring signage and several windows, with the offices of the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, and Victorian state politician Kat Theophanous also targeted.
Shorten spoke out against the protests earlier, as did the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong (read more here).
Updated
AEC proposes to abolish Labor-held seat of Higgins in Melbourne
The Australian Electoral Commission has today published its draft proposed redistribution of seats in Victoria (losing a seat) and Western Australia (gaining one).
The redistribution proposes to abolish Higgins, a seat held by Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah:
#breaking the Australian Electoral Commission has proposed to abolish Higgins, the inner Melbourne seat held by Labor's Michelle Ananda-Rajah#auspol pic.twitter.com/nWu0Bfy92v
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) May 31, 2024
AEC commissioner Tom Rogers said:
Under the proposal some significant changes would occur, with the boundaries of Victorian divisions being amended to accommodate the decrease. 38 of the existing 39 division names would be retained with the Division of Higgins to be abolished.
Voters from Higgins would be spread to Chisholm, Hotham, Kooyong, Macnamara and Melbourne.
It looks bad for Labor, losing a seat and spreading its voters out to seats that are Greens (Melbourne), Labor (Chisholm, Hotham, Macnamara) or independent (Kooyong) held. But it might have downstream effects we’re not aware of yet.
In Western Australia, the AEC is proposing a new division of Bullwinkel named in honour of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre and a prisoner of war for three and a half years.
Western Australian police apologise to family of Aboriginal woman who died in custody in 2014
The Western Australian police force and the state’s country health service have apologised to the family of Ms Dhu, a young Aboriginal woman, for the circumstances leading to her death in 2014.
In 2016, a coroner found Dhu was subjected to “unprofessional and inhumane” treatment by WA police that was “well below the standards that should ordinarily be expected” before her death in custody.
In a joint statement released today, WA police and the country health service said:
We are truly sorry for the circumstances of Ms Dhu’s death and recognise the significant impact her passing has had on her family and her community.
This apology is made following a mediation process that concluded in March 2024. Other than this apology, details of the conclusion of the mediation process remain confidential.
The 2016 coronial report recommended that WA should end the practice of jailing people for unpaid fines and introduce a mandatory custody notification scheme in the wake of Dhu’s death.
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Labor MP says government must stand against China’s ‘effort to intimidate the Taiwanese’
One of the Australian MPs who attended last week’s inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, says the Australian government must stand against China’s “effort to intimidate the Taiwanese”.
Labor MP Luke Gosling made the remarks in a speech to parliament last night:
As a fellow democracy and an island of 23 million people, Taiwan’s future is a matter of direct concern to Australia. Australia and Taiwan share an interest in a rules-based, open, inclusive and stable Indo-Pacific region.
We support peace in the Taiwan Strait and oppose any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally.
Shortly after the inauguration, China deployed warplanes staging mock attacks against Taiwan, in an effort to intimidate the Taiwanese. The PLA sent forces to the north, south and east of Formosa, encircling the island as it had previous drills. This is a spectacle that the Taiwanese people are used to, but it is clearly not in line with the peaceful status quo.
Australia has a longstanding and bipartisan one-China policy, but we must continue to reject attempts at coercion wherever they occur in our Indo-Pacific region.
Beijing regards the a self-governed democracy as an inherent part of Chinese territory and has not ruled out taking it by force, and has called on Australia and other countries not to “interfere”.
Updated
Pedestrian dies after allegedly being hit by vehicle in Orange
A pedestrian has died after allegedly being struck by a vehicle in the NSW Central Tablelands.
About 9.20am this morning a pedestrian, believed to be a woman in her 30s, died after allegedly being struck by a vehicle on Forest Road in Orange.
The driver will be interviewed later today, NSW police said in a statement.
Officers established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has CCTV/dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
There’s plenty of news about this morning, but an article you really don’t want to miss is this piece from Calla Wahlquist on Barnaby Joyce’s new boots:
The Nationals MP has been attending parliament without his habitual RM Williams boots in protest against the owner, whose company is building wind and solar developments across NSW and Queensland.
But Joyce’s choice of replacement is … not necessarily one that signals disdain for renewable energy. You’ll have to read the full story for all the details – I for one never knew that cowboy boots could be so political!
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Albanese says ties across Tasman still strong despite difference of opinion on direction 99
Just earlier, we brought you news that the New Zealand PM, Christopher Luxon, had expressed “grave concerns” to Anthony Albanese over changes to a ministerial directive, known as direction 99.
(You can read more on that here.)
At his press conference just before, Albanese said ties across the Tasman are still strong despite the difference of opinion on the direction:
I’ve got a good relationship with prime minister Luxon, I’ll be hosting him [in Australia] in a short period of time.
We have a good relationship. We had a good chat yesterday. Australia makes our decisions in our national interest.
- from AAP
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Wong declines to comment on Trump’s guilty verdict
Moving to international news, Penny Wong was asked to weigh in on former US president Donald Trump’s guilty verdict.
Asked how the election of a convicted felon may impact Australia’s relationship with the US, Wong responded:
You wouldn’t expect the prime minister of Australia to engage in commentary about legal processes on another country, including our most important strategic partner and ally, and I won’t.
The United States of America is our most important strategic partner, we have a relationship that goes back decades and an alliance which is enduring. We have a friendship and we have a very strong relationship across people and institutions and that will continue.
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Penny Wong was asked about calls for the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, to resign and responded:
He has a very difficult portfolio and I think he is doing an excellent job in very difficult circumstances. Obviously we have seen the reports of Peter Dutton releasing some 1,300 people, 1,300 offenders, while he was in the same portfolio. So I would make the point this is a challenging area of policy.
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Penny Wong responds to pro-Palestine protests at Labor MP offices
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, is speaking to the media from Adelaide, and was asked to comment on pro-Palestine protests targeting Labor MP offices with graffiti today.
She said that “in this country workers have the right to be safe” and stated that the protests “go beyond peaceful protests”.
We have a right to peaceful protest in this country, but we should rightly condemn protests which are violent and which are hateful and aggressive.
She called on the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, to condemn the protests, which included “smashing windows”.
It’s not acceptable in this country. I understand and I share the depth of concern, the depth of feeling that Australians have about what is occurring in Gaza and what is occurring in Rafah. And I have made, on behalf of this country, very strong statements, as has the prime minister …
But the depth of the feelings that people have does not justify, in this country, a resort to violent protests and Adam Bandt should act as a leader and make that clear.
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Albanese accuses ‘cheer squad’ for Coalition in media of campaign on visa cancellations
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has essentially accused conservative media of campaigning against his government through coverage of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturning visa cancellations.
After last week calling out some media as a “cheer squad” for the Coalition, Albanese has connected that piece of media criticism with recent coverage of serious criminals being given their visas back. Most of this has been led by the Australian newspaper.
Albanese said:
In spite of some of the simplistic reporting by the Coalition cheer squad, [the ministerial direction 99] is a complex document that is subject to legal processes. And the [AAT] has overturned decisions by ministers and by departments consistently. It’s not a rare occasion, in social security, in migration, in all of these matters, and then the appeals go through to ... they’re subject to legal appeal.
If you’ve got something specific about a clause, I’m happy to answer it, but if not then I suggest people go and have a read of what the directions are. And have a look at the consistency which is there. The pretence which some of the Coalition’s actions are based on suggestion there is something new which is not, in fact new, there is nothing new with section 501 [character cancellations].
We’ve kept it there, completely. There’s nothing new about the AAT overturning decisions by ministers and by departments. We have the rule of law in this country and that’s something that from time to time when Peter Dutton was a minister he might have found an inconvenience - but he had to comply with the law as well.
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Tensions across ditch flare in PMs’ phone call
New Zealand’s leader has expressed “grave concerns” to prime minister Anthony Albanese over changes to a controversial Australian immigration direction, AAP reports.
Immigration minister Andrew Giles announced he would update a ministerial directive, known as direction 99, after several tribunal decisions used it to allow foreign nationals who had been found guilty of serious crimes to avoid having their visa cancelled.
The directive, which prioritised a person’s connections to Australia among other factors, was created following concerns from New Zealand’s government of mass deportations of Kiwi citizens who had closer ties to Australia.
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon told reporters he had spoken with Albanese on the issue yesterday and indicated concerns with the changes:
I have said to him that we regret that decision that they have taken to modify ministerial direction 99. All I can do at this point is raise in very clear terms our grave concerns about the change to that policy.
It’s not fair that we get deportees coming back to New Zealand that have got very little connection, or no connection, to this country, that’s not right.
Luxon said Australia’s prime minister assured him that a common sense approach would remain regarding the direction. Albanese told parliament yesterday that Australia had created the ministerial direction out of its own needs.
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Albanese reluctant to comment on Trump’s guilty verdict
Anthony Albanese has declined to comment on the guilty verdict handed to US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying Australia is “not a party to these court proceedings”.
The prime minister said the election of a US president was for the people of the US to decide. He noted that he had “a close relationship” with President Joe Biden, but said the alliance relationship was “between nations” not just between individual leaders.
I’m not about to comment on a court case over there that doesn’t involve Australians.
We would probably object to a New Zealand PM or a US president or a German chancellor or a French president telling us how he should conduct our political system …
I wish the United States well.
Despite his reluctance to comment, Albanese acknowledged: “This will be no doubt the global story of the day.”
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Victorian travellers warned of measles and mpox as Queensland records biggest ever cluster
The Victorian health department is urging those planning to travel to make sure their vaccinations are up to date, as an increasing number of returning travellers are presenting with measles and mpox.
Ten measles cases have been reported in Victoria this year – five from returned overseas travellers and a further five linked to those cases.
Meanwhile, there has been a local outbreak of mpox cases reported in Victoria this year, which were acquired from overseas travel.
The state’s chief health officer, Dr Clare Looker, said mpox case numbers in Victoria this year were “greater than [those for] the whole of last year”.
This comes as Queensland reported 10 locally acquired cases of mpox this month in the state’s biggest ever cluster.
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‘There’s a line and you don’t cross it’: Shorten on pro-Palestine graffiti
At a doorstop interview earlier, NDIS minister Bill Shorten was asked about apparent pro-Palestine protest graffiti at a number of buildings today, including Labor MP offices and the US consulate in Melbourne.
Shorten told reporters:
People have got a right to feel strongly about the distressing scenes in Gaza and in Israel. But there’s a line and you don’t cross it. The idea that you say you’re protesting for peace by being violent is like burning books for literacy. It’s just rubbish.
You know, if these protesters who have this sense that their cause is so special that they’re allowed to break the law in Australia, that’s just rubbish. It’s threatening coercive bullying, illegal conduct. And at a very pragmatic level, even if you just separate the fact that what they’re doing is illegal, who do they think they’re persuading?
And what worries me is the sort of arrogant, minority, dictatorial view that somehow they think that they’re above the law. That’s exactly the direct opposite of social cohesion in Australia.
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Minister urges MediSecure to notify people affected in cyber-attack
Two weeks since electronic prescriptions company MediSecure revealed it was a victim of a ransomware attack, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, is calling for the company to disclose to people who have had their personal information obtained.
O’Neil said she had asked, through the national cyber security coordinator, to clarify what information had been taken from the records, and notify those affected. She said it had taken “an unacceptably long time for MediSecure to provide clarity on the details of data that may have been stolen from them in the recent data breach”. She said:
At this stage, we do not know the extent of the breach. However, people who may be affected need to be equipped with that knowledge so they can take appropriate precautions.
MediSecure was the custodian of private medical information of Australians. I’ve outlined to MediSecure my clear expectation that they get to the bottom of this incident, and communicate that to the public. The public would reasonably expect more regular updates on the progress of that process.
MediSecure’s last statement on its website on 24 May said it was aware the data set had been posted on the dark web, and urged people not to access the data. The company said it was “urgently” working to notify those affected.
Guardian Australia has attempted to contact MediSecure but the company has not responded.
The national electronic prescription system is not affected by this breach as the contract is with another provider.
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Fears for missing hiker on Northern Territory trail
Police are continuing an intense search of the Northern Territory’s Larapinta Trail for a 64-year-old man who’s been missing for 10 days, AAP reports.
Victorian man Alistair Thomson began hiking alone on the trail west of Alice Springs on 13 May and hasn’t been heard from since 21 May, when he sent a text saying he was planning to go to Hugh Gorge the following day.
Search and rescue members, police, local volunteers and Parks and Wildlife formed part of a full-scale search team on Wednesday. Helicopters and other aircraft have also been called in to help.
Thomson is reportedly an experienced hiker and authorities believe he left with “adequate” food and water.
Acting sergeant Christopher Grotherr encouraged any members of the public who might know anything about Thomson’s whereabouts to get in touch with authorities.
This is a large coordinated response between a number of agencies and volunteers, and I want to acknowledge and thank the efforts of all involved so far as we continue our search. We are unable to conduct such operations without their invaluable assistance.
The Larapinta Trail is 223km and runs along the West MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia, with its eastern end at Alice Springs.
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Indigenous communities facing increased ‘overt and covert’ racism after referendum
Continuing on from our last post: Katie Kiss told estimates that “we need to move beyond the ever building pile of reports and recommendations and actually move to some action that result in better outcomes for our people”.
And that includes addressing the unfinished business of implementation of the outstanding recommendations of the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody, the Bringing Them Home report, and Productivity Commission reports, but also the 30 years of social justice and Native title reports that have gone effectively unanswered.
Stewart asked about the aftermath of the referendum. Kiss said Indigenous communities were experiencing an increase in racism, both “overt and covert”, since the referendum. She raised concern about mis and disinformation during the campaign.
Kiss said truth-telling was a necessary step to continue:
We need to have some national-focused dialogue around what that looks like, and help to build on the conversations currently happening at the state and territory level, but also ensure that those processes are secured going forward so they’re not subjected to challenges by political pressure.
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New commissioner will advocate for truth, treaty and voice, estimates hears
Continuing to advocate for the Uluru Statement’s agenda of truth, treaty and voice will be high on the agenda for the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, she has told senate estimates.
Kiss is appearing with the Australian Human Rights Commission at estimates for the first time. Labor senator Jana Stewart, a Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman, is asking about her priorities in the role – Kiss said that a “key priority” for her was progressing the three pillars of the Uluru statement.
Kiss said increasing access to justice, youth justice reforms, land justice reform and pushing for action on long-outstanding reports into deaths in custody and child removals were also top of her agenda.
Kiss said one of her main goals in the role was to “provide advocacy and guidance on the implementation of the three pillars of the Uluru statement from the heart, voice treaty and truth.” She told the senate:
While we may have lost the referendum and been defeated in that, those pillars still stand are still relevant to achieving better outcomes for our people.
The voice referendum last October was defeated by a 60-40 margin. It is unclear whether the Labor government remains committed to the Uluru statement. The government has repeatedly declined to confirm whether it remains committed, or whether it plans to advance issues like treaty, truth and the Makarrata commission at the federal level – noting that states are the ones moving forward with treaties already.
US consulate and MPs' offices in Melbourne vandalised
The United States consulate in Melbourne and the offices of several members of parliament have been targeted in acts of vandalism, AAP reports.
Victoria police say red paint was thrown at the offices from 4am this morning and have vowed to “thoroughly” investigate the incidents.
The building housing the US consulate general on St Kilda Road was covered in red paint and several foyer windows were smashed.
Graffiti outside the building included the phrases “Free Gaza” and “glory to the martyrs”.
Police are also investigating vandalism at offices on Main Street at Mordialloc, Hall Street in Moonee Ponds and High Street, Northcote.
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Circling back t0 Labor’s $31m aid boost for Ukraine
Earlier, we reported that the Albanese government had announced a further $31m in assistance for Ukraine to help meet its power and humanitarian needs.
The announcement comes amid pleas for an urgent shipment of coal, AAP is reporting, which was not included in the package.
Kyiv has previously requested the coal shipment as Russia bombards its power plants with missile and drone strikes.
Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham has said Australia’s responsiveness to Ukraine’s requests should be swift, not “drawn out and delayed”.
Ukraine’s request for coal gathered dust in Australia through one long, cold winter and the Albanese government needs to explain how this funds transfer is preferable to giving the actual coal that Ukraine asked for.
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SES responds to 170 calls for help after damaging Victorian winds
The Victorian State Emergency Service says its volunteers have responded to more than 170 requests for assistance since midday yesterday, due to damaging winds overnight.
The Bureau of Meteorology had earlier warned of a “vigorous cold front” over far eastern Victoria. Damaging winds about the north-east ranges were expected to peak with 100km/h gusts throughout this morning and into the afternoon, over the highest terrain.
A 124 km/h wind gust was recorded at Falls Creek at 2am, and 79mm of rain was recorded in the six hours to 4am at Mount Hotham.
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Liberal senator accuses human rights watchdog of failure on antisemitism
Barely 20 minutes into the Australian Human Rights Commission’s evidence to Senate estimates, and the hearing has already suspended after Liberal senator Sarah Henderson accused the body of a “shocking failure” to more forcefully condemn antisemitism.
The AHRC president, Rosalind Croucher, said the commission had been focused on all human rights and discrimination effects of the war in Gaza and the aftermath of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks, including effects on both Jewish and Palestinian communities.
Henderson, the Victorian Liberal, asked numerous questions about the AHRC’s activities since 7 October, including its public responses. She asked several times why the AHRC hadn’t distributed media releases specifically condemning Hamas, the 7 October attacks or the wave of antisemitic incidents in Australia.
Croucher said the AHRC’s statements had focused on the effects on the Australian community at large, raising concerns about racism and discrimination broadly.
Henderson moves to asking if the AHRC plans to put out a statement condemning Hamas’ terrorist actions on 7 October.
Croucher says they do not plan to. She says she respects the “earnestness” in which Henderson is asking her questions, but notes that the AHRC has been “focused on the domestic impacts” of the war in Gaza.
Croucher:
We’re not the adjudicator of situations internationally ... our principal focus, our mandate, is on communities in Australia.
Henderson countered that it was a “shocking failure” of the AHRC to not condemn Hamas more forcefully. Labor senator Nita Green, the committee chair, stepped in to ask Henderson to not interrupt Croucher as she answered.
Henderson began questioning whether “the Jewish community does not matter” – which was met with Green trying to call Henderson to order again, then quickly suspending the hearing.
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Fog ‘rapidly clearing’ at Brisbane airport after flight delays and diversions
Brisbane airport said thick fog across the city was causing “‘pea soup’ conditions” at the airport, with visibility on the runway down to 300 metres.
But in the last half hour the fog has begun “rapidly clearing”, it said.
As we reported earlier, thick fog across the city prompted a road warning from the Bureau of Meteorology for dangerous conditions, also causing flight delays and diversions.
In an update just earlier, Brisbane airport said “flights have been able to depart all morning” and while some services have landed, 10 flights were diverted:
Gold Coast: 5
Sydney: 3
Sunshine Coast: 1
Cairns: 1
A number of aircraft were in holding patterns earlier, waiting for conditions to improve. But roughly 25 minutes ago the fog was “rapidly clearing” and flights were landing, the airport said.
Fog in Brisbane this morning pic.twitter.com/aOqinsFH6i
— Cat (@TheCityCat) May 30, 2024
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‘Categorically untrue’ to claim Australia changed migration laws at NZ request, Labor says
Moving to domestic politics, Jason Clare was asked about the ongoing immigration debate and whether the government changed its migration laws after a request from New Zealand.
The education minister said this assertion was “categorically untrue” and told Sunrise:
The opposition asked the prime minister this question yesterday and he said that it was untrue.
New Zealand asked for us to repeal section 501 of the Migration Act and we refused to do that. The change that we have made is to make it easier for Kiwis who live in Australia to become Australian citizens and that’s led to about 20,000 Kiwis becoming citizens over the last 12 months or so.
But the suggestion that’s been made that there was some change made to the direction because of New Zealand is not correct.
You can read this piece from Paul Karp below for more context on the issue:
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Australia’s ties to US ‘strong’ after Trump verdict, MPs insist
Even more reactions are flowing to news that former US president Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.
Education minister Jason Clare told Sunrise that it was “the biggest news in the world that’s happening right now”.
We haven’t seen anything like this before. Obviously, we need to now wait and see what the sentence is that the judge will hand down. But I’m reticent to comment on court proceedings in another country or to say anything about the domestic politics of the United States. Obviously, it’s a decision for the American people to make later this year about the next president.
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley, also appearing on the program, was hesitant to comment on the matter but said: “The relationship we have with the US is more important and bigger than any one individual, any one leader or any one government.”
Clare said he agreed with that “100%”, stating:
You know, the US is our closest ally and irrespective of who the president is, or the prime minister is or which party is in office, the ties that bind our two countries together are strong and everlasting.
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Greens say Trump verdict reason to reconsider US relationship, including Aukus
Greens leader Adam Bandt says the Donald Trump verdict is reason to reconsider Australia’s relationship with the United States, “including Aukus”.
In a post to X just earlier, reacting to the guilty verdict, Bandt wrote:
The jury in New York just confirmed what we all know: Donald Trump is unfit to be president and would be a disaster for the USA, Australia [and] the world if he is elected again. Every day a new reason for Labor to reconsider Australia’s relationship with the US, including Aukus.
The jury in New York just confirmed what we all know:
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) May 30, 2024
Donald Trump is unfit to be President and would be a disaster for the USA, Australia & the world if he is elected again.
Every day a new reason for Labor to reconsider Australia’s relationship with the US, including AUKUS.
The Greens have long been critical of the Aukus pact.
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Nearly 300 Melbourne riders fined in e-scooter blitz
E-scooter riders have been warned they will no longer be given leniency after hundreds were caught riding on footpaths and without helmets, AAP reports.
Officers fined almost 300 riders over a two-day crackdown earlier this month in Melbourne’s CBD and at major transport hubs.
Some 137 e-scooter riders were fined for failing to wear an approved helmet and 73 for riding on a footpath, which police described as “extremely dangerous”.
E-scooters can only be ridden on shared paths and roads with a speed limit up to 60km/h, but any scooter capable of exceeding 25km/h is restricted to use on private properties. They are permitted on a trial basis, with the state government due to introduce a permanent scheme from October.
Acting inspector Michael Tsaloumas said too many collisions had been caused by riders travelling on footpaths, with some suffering serious injuries.
Riders must adhere to the rules, including not riding on the footpath and wearing a helmet at all times. Those who don’t will be held to account and face significant penalties.
There is a larger conversation occurring around e-rideables and their use on pedestrian pathways, including in NSW:
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Shorten says he won’t fuel ‘outrage factory’ over immigration debate
Moving to immigration, Bill Shorten was asked about calls for home affairs minister Andrew Giles to resign – will he still be minister by the week’s end?
Shorten said “yes, he is” and added:
What’s happened here is that the minister has cancelled the visas of people he doesn’t think should be here in this country. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the court has overturned that and now he’s gone and cancelled them, and reviewing other decisions of the court.
Shorten said he was not going to “carry on in a sort of outrage factory”, after Karl Stefanovic suggested he was being too casual, and continued:
I don’t want these people here. The minister doesn’t want them. The prime minister doesn’t want them here. The court has disagreed, and now the minister has gone back and cancelled them again. So, I’m not going to run an outrage factory, because I don’t see how that helps keep us safe. And we’ve also said that the direction which the courts have been, in some cases using, we’re going to overhaul. So that’s appropriate.
For more context on this, you can read Paul Karp’s piece from earlier this week below:
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Dutton says Trump verdict will ‘reinforce views’ of those who hate or love ex-president
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has weighed in on the Donald Trump verdict while speaking on breakfast television this morning.
During his regular appearance on the Today Show, host Karl Stefanovic asked for his thoughts on the verdict – “What do you reckon, Pete? He just uses it to galvanise?”
Dutton said he was “spot on” and added:
You look back to 2016. He won no electoral votes in New York. He’s despised there. There’s obviously two tribes here, and the one tribe who detest him and hate him, and you saw some of the emotion in some of the interviews just then. And the other tribe love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides. And all it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps. But obviously it will make for an even more exciting election, I suppose, in November.
NDIS minister Bill Shorten (who appears alongside Dutton for an interview with Today most Friday’s) was asked whether it would affect Australia to deal with a future president who may be a felon? Shorten responded:
No, I think it’s - the American political system will throw up who they’ve got to throw up with. I think governments of both sides in Australia will deal with whoever the American political system elect … I think the alliance is stronger than that.
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Seven flights diverted from Brisbane airport amid heavy fog
Brisbane airport said fog was continuing to impact the airport, although some flights have now been able to land.
In its latest update on Facebook, the airport said:
[Seven] flights have been diverted to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Sydney. Flights are departing.
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Brisbane fog causes ‘dangerous’ road conditions and flight delays
Those in Brisbane have awoken to a thick fog over the city, with reduced visibility on roads and some aircraft not able to land at the airport.
Around 5am this morning, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that reduced visibility in fog would “make road conditions dangerous during Friday morning in the Brisbane area”.
The fog settled in shortly after 10pm last night and should begin improving over the coming hour, the bureau said.
Meanwhile, Brisbane airport said on Facebook that the thick fog was temporarily preventing aircraft from landing.
A number of aircraft are diverting to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast while others are in holding patterns as they wait for conditions to improve.
Here are some photos people have shared to X this morning:
Good morning from the #Brisbane river shrouded in #fog. Just possible to make out the rowers, cyclists & trees pic.twitter.com/gtoHQvsf0C
— Alison Rice PhD (@alison_mrice) May 30, 2024
Bit of fog in Brisbane….this oozes flight delay. 🤬 pic.twitter.com/9bn1khqpz1
— Tony B (@btony4214) May 30, 2024
Just a bit of fog in Brisbane this morning… pic.twitter.com/3Xl231HPuN
— nicholas (@nickjmb) May 30, 2024
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Queensland boosts funding to combat family violence
Domestic, sexual and family violence frontline services in Queensland will be bolstered by $118m in additional funding over the next four years, AAP reports.
The state government will provide up to $36m directly to service providers, with the remaining funding to be used in supporting the sector in implementing initiatives that address a growing issue in the Sunshine State.
A recent crime report showed breach of domestic violence orders had increased in Queensland by 255.2% over a nine-year period since 2013-14. More recently, breach of domestic violence orders have risen by 27.3% from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
Total funding since 2015 to combat domestic, sexual and family violence and improve women’s safety in Queensland is now $1.9bn.
Attorney general Yvette D’Ath says frontline services are under immense pressure following an alarming increase in reported rates of domestic and family violence:
This budget invests in services and staff to meet the increasing demand and support victim-survivors, whether it be by providing counselling or helping find emergency accommodation.
It will also help fund programs which will specifically try to break the cycle of violence through strategies targeting the people who use violence or are at risk of using violence.
Our overriding goal is to end all forms of domestic and family violence and protect all Queenslanders.
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Australian politicians react to Donald Trump guilty verdict
Making huge international news this morning, former US president Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.
Despite the jury finding Trump guilty on all 34 counts, Nationals senator Matt Canavan has instead labelled the decision “an embarrassing political witch hunt and one US trend we should not follow”.
He wrote on X:
Sad what has happened to the American “justice” system. An embarrassing political witch hunt and one US trend we should not follow. Let’s hope our judicial system is never politically weaponised like this. Take on your political opponents at elections not in the courtroom.
Meanwhile, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has tweeted: “The crook is guilty. Sometimes good things do happen to bad people!”
And while Victorian premier Jacinta Allan was speaking to ABC RN she reacted to the news, labelling the verdict “astonishing”.
This is quite another remarkable turn of events. Look, I’m not qualified to be a political expert in terms of what might happen next, but there’ll be questions. And at a time when we are seeing such significant global instability, how that plays out in streets, in towns and communities across the world, we need a strong and stable US, and I guess that’s really now for the American community to work through.
You can follow the latest on our separate live blog below:
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Q: The commonwealth government has funded frontline workers for all states and territories. You’re meant to have 28 new workers by 30 June. How many has Victoria got?
Jacinta Allan said she didn’t have the latest number this week but “it’s not far off that 28 number”. She told ABC RN:
The funding was made available to us here in Victoria towards the end of last year and we’ve been out recruiting in a tight labour market, as we know … They’re one part of the overall system reform that we have been working on since 2016.
So will Victoria make the 28 by 30 June? Allan repeated that “we’re working very hard to recruit people in a tight in a tight labour market”.
This is why the package we have focused on is about looking at what further legislative change we can [implement, with] a focus on changing culture and building stronger prevention responses, and also strengthening support for victims survivors.
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Premier expands on Victorian reforms targeting violence against women
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has been speaking with ABC RN about statewide reforms announced yesterday to tackle men’s violence against women, including lengthening family violence intervention orders and changes stalking laws.
She said:
The package we announced yesterday builds on the work we’ve done, but [also] focuses on a further change towards how we can continue to support community and cultural change and continue to build on providing support for victims survivors when they need it the most.
Allan was asked about criticism that extended orders could remove the checks and balances of the courts and worsen outcomes for victims who are misidentified as perpetrators by police – particularly affecting Aboriginal women.
The premier said the changes came as a result of extensively listening to victims, including representatives from Aboriginal service providers.
We heard very, very clearly … from victim survivors, and also to a number of other agencies, that there needed to be further reforms to family violence intervention orders [because] going back through a court system every six to 12 months is a re-traumatising experience for many victim-survivors.
And that’s why we are, if you like, introducing the presumption … the presumption will be why the family violence intervention orders should be shorter, not longer. That will still retain the oversight of the courts, which goes to that concern that’s been raised that you referred to earlier, but it is about keeping the victim-survivor front and centre and how we support them, and also keep the perpetrator in view and hold them to account.
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Similarly to injury hospitalisations, injury related deaths are more common in men than women, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s report found.
Injury deaths caused by contact with inanimate objects were over six times more likely among men than women.
Men were five times more likely than women to die by drowning, 3.8 times more likely to die from transport-related injury, and 3.2 times more likely to die from suicide.
Transport and suicide were also respectively the third and second most common cause of injury related deaths in 2021-22 after falls.
Men hospitalised with injuries more often than women, report finds
Men present to hospitals with injuries, and die from them, more frequently than women, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The report released today examined injuries in adult men aged 19 and over in 2021–22, finding that for every 100 injury hospitalisations among women, there are 118 for men.
AIHW spokesperson Dr Sarah Ahmed said:
This higher rate of injury can be explained at least in part by the fact that men are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours and activities.
For most causes of injury, men were more likely to be hospitalised with only intentional self-harm, and falls more likely to cause hospitalisations among women, the report found.
The below graph represents these rates, with the thickness of the bar representing the number of injury hospitalisations in men, with thicker bars showing higher numbers of hospitalisations for the cause:
The report found men were more than three times more likely than women to be hospitalised for injuries caused by contact with objects. About 80% of all object-related injury hospitalisations comprised contact with tools and machinery, contact with knives, glass and other sharp objects and contact with blunt objects such as doors, walls, trees, rocks and sporting equipment.
Men were also more than twice as likely to be hospitalised for injuries caused by transport accidents, which was the third leading cause of injury hospitalisation among men in 2021-22. Nearly 33,000 transport injuries were recorded, almost one in three of which affected motorcycle riders.
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Labor pledges fresh energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine
The Albanese government has announced a further $31m in assistance for Ukraine to help meet its power and humanitarian needs.
Amid the war in Ukraine, the government has unveiled more than $1bn in total assistance, including $880m in military support.
The new contribution includes $20m to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and $10m for emergency humanitarian funding to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to increase access to essentials such as water, food and shelter.
$1m will also be provided to improve services for people with disabilities in Ukraine, including those needing rehabilitation from war injuries, a statement said.
This comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Anthony Albanese earlier this week, informing the prime minister “about Russia’s ongoing efforts to expand the war and our pressing defense needs to counter the aggressor”, he wrote on X.
Foreign minister Penny Wong said the government was “unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
International development minister Pat Conroy added:
We are proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and provide further support in face of Russia’s deplorable aggression.
The Australian government remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine and contributing alongside partner nations so that Ukraine can end this conflict on its terms.
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More on the increased uptake of no-interest loans
NAB executive for sustainability Jessica Forrest said in a statement today:
Families who have never had to ask for financial help before are now seeking no interest loans, often to help pay for unexpected costs or cover the cost of replacing an appliance that has suddenly stopped working.
For some, meeting the increases in their everyday expenses like rent and groceries has meant there is no longer an emergency fund available to cover the unexpected costs that arise.
Eligibility for NILs was expanded in August 2022 to make them more accessible to low-income workers in the cost-of-living crisis. You can read more about NILs here:
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No-interest loans uptake on the rise
The number of Australians taking out no-interest loans to help manage cost-of-living pressures has increased by 19% in the past year.
New data from big-four bank NAB and charity Good Shepherd shows that from May 2023 to April 2024, more than $68m worth of loans was issued to Australians, up from $57m in the preceding 12 months.
More no-interest loans (NILs) were issued to people aged between 35 and 39 years old than any other demographic.
The NILs scheme is a charity-run, ethical microfinance option for low-income earners, set up as an alternative to predatory payday lenders, extortionate rent-to-buy programs, or buy now pay later.
The loans can be used to buy essentials like fridges and washing machines, to pay for medical bills, glasses, mobility aids, computers, rental bonds – and even cars and car repairs. They can’t be used for cash or debt repayments and the money goes direct to the supplier.
NAB is the primary financier of the NILs scheme, which Good Shepherd started in the 80s and now administers with a network of partner organisations, along with federal and state governments.
Household essentials were the main reason people sought a no-interest loan in the past year, followed by vehicles and transport-related costs.
Many people who access NILs are on income support, but the number of families using them now exceeds individuals, and the number of employed people seeking the loans has increased by 33%.
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‘Green loans’ scheme for solar, batteries and heat pumps to start
The Albanese government has announced the first round of green loans for households promised as part of a $1bn commitment in last year’s federal budget.
It said the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, sometimes described as the government’s green bank, would offer $60m in loans through a deal with fintech lender Plenti, starting on 5 June.
The loans can be used to support cheaper finance for rooftop solar panels and inverters, home batteries, solar hot water systems, hot water heat pumps, smart meters, electric vehicle chargers and efficient air conditioners. The government said people would be offered interest rate discounts of up to 3.34% a year if they signed up to a virtual power plant plan.
The 2023 budget commitment was to help about 110,000 households cut their energy bills through low-cost loans. The non-profit ClimateWorks Centre found households could save up to $1,690 a year through rapid efficiency upgrades, and up to $2,000 a year through full home thermal upgrades and electrification of appliances.
Some energy experts, including Rewiring Australia’s Saul Griffith, have called for a broader government support package to help more homes run on clean energy, including replacing gas in heating, cooling and hot water systems with zero emissions electricity.
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Millennials flee Sydney for regions amid high housing and living costs
Millennials are leading the exodus from capital cities to regional areas, AAP reports, continuing a trend that began during Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and has been fuelled by high housing and living costs.
People fed up with expensive rents and long commutes continued to abandon Sydney, accounting for more than two-thirds of those who moved to a regional centre in the 12 months up to the end of March.
The exodus of people from state capitals was no longer a “quirky flow-on” of the pandemic but a sustained societal shift, Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said.
People are voting with their feet and making a very conscious decision to live in regional Australia. With high house prices and cost-of-living pressures biting, many people are realising the regions can offer the lifestyle they want and the jobs they’re after – minus big city problems.
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast remains the most popular destination for people leaving a capital city, but further south, the Gold Coast is proving particularly popular with millennials.
Both are within 150km of Brisbane, while other desired destinations are also close to their nearest capital, with Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, another popular choice.
Greater Geelong and Moorabool, both within 100km of Melbourne, also made the top five most popular spots.
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Welcome
And happy Friday – I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be with you on our Australia news live blog today, after another parliamentary sitting week has wrapped up, though we may hear a bit from estimates later on.
Making news this morning: the Albanese government has announced the first round of green loans for households, promised as part of a $1bn commitment in last year’s federal budget. The loans can be used to support cheaper finance for rooftop solar panels and inverters, home batteries, and electric vehicle chargers, just to name a few. Adam Morton will have all the details for us shortly.
Millennials are leading the exodus from capital cities to regional areas, continuing a trend that began during Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and has been fuelled by high housing and living costs, AAP reports. The exodus of people from state capitals was no longer a “quirky flow-on” of the pandemic but a sustained societal shift, Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie has said. We’ll bring you more of her comments soon.
See something that needs attention on the blog? As always, you can read out via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s go!
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