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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Cait Kelly and Emily Wind (earlier)

Australia urged to show ‘true climate leadership’ as Pacific Islands Forum begins – as it happened

Murray Watt X (Organization) Australia Gerard Rennick United States ASD Anthony Albanese Catherine King LNP Richard Marles
Pacific leaders attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on Monday.
Pacific leaders attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on Monday. Photograph: Ben Mckay/AAP

What we learned – Monday 26 August

And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Thank you for spending part of your day with us. Before we go, let’s recap today’s headlines:

We will be back tomorrow to do it all again! Until then, stay safe.

Updated

Australia urged to 'show true climate leadership' as Pacific Islands Forum begins in Tonga

Hello from Tonga, where the Pacific Islands Forum has held its first day of events. At one of the side-events today, civil society groups called on the Australian government to “show true climate leadership” and be “true allies of this region”.

Joseph Sikulu, the Pacific managing director of 350.org, said at a press conference this afternoon:

As both a Tongan and Australian, it’s important for me to see the Albanese government show true climate leadership.

Sikulu acknowledged that Australia had contributed $100m to the Pacific Resilience Facility – a new regional-led fund to help communities prepare for increases disasters – but added that Australia was “still actively approving new fossil fuel projects, exacerbating the climate crisis and increasing the burden of recovery faced by the Pacific”.

Rufino Varea, the regional director of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said Australia wanted to present itself as a climate leader and to co-host a future climate summit in partnership with the Pacific:

However, true leadership must not merely be aspirational; it must be actionable. To date, Australia has expanded gas production instead of aligning its practices with the urgent needs of the Pacific. This does not reflect the leadership we need.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is due to depart Sydney tomorrow and arrive in Tonga in the evening.

Updated

Tasmania prepares for destructive winds and severe weather

Tasmania’s SES is encouraging people to be prepared and informed with the potential for damaging and locally destructive winds to hit the state this week.

Acting SES assistant director Cheryl Ames said the severe weather is expected to develop early Tuesday morning and may continue throughout the week:

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Warning for statewide damaging winds, with the potential for locally destructive winds.

Wind gusts around 100 km/h are possible in the north, with gusts around 110 km forecast for the rest of the state.

From Tuesday morning wind gusts are likely to reach around 125 km/h in elevated terrain and parts of the east coast between Swansea and Orford, before easing later in the evening.

Updated

‘We need a Senate inquiry’ into development on Murujuga in the Pilbara, traditional custodian tells committee

Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper has appeared at a public hearing for the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country bill.

In early 2022, Cooper made an application to protect Murujuga, in the Pilbara, from further industrial expansion under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. She is still waiting for a decision.

I am heartbroken, devastated and furious that our governments continue to allow Woodside, Perdaman and Yara to destroy our sacred rock art, our songlines and our precious marine sanctuaries.

I have now been waiting more than two years for a Section 10 application I filed in early 2022 under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.

In those two years the development on Murujuga has continued unimpeded, and there has been irreversible and irreplaceable damage to my Ngurra. We are still waiting for any protection for our cultural heritage.

As far as I am concerned, we have now exhausted every form of process and now we need a Senate inquiry.

Updated

Uber drivers to stage protest this afternoon at Sydney domestic airport

Hundreds of Uber drivers went offline this morning, with a protest also planned this afternoon in response to the pay cuts that were announced in July.

Drivers say the changes to how fares are calculated will slash driver pay by up to 17% in some areas, creating a median pay cut of 8.4% in the city and airport area, where most Uber trips originate.

At 5:30pm today drivers plan to protest in the Sydney domestic airport private hire vehicle holding area.

Updated

Workers to down tools in solidarity with CFMEU

From AAP: Workers will down tools in solidarity with the CFMEU as it moves to challenge external administration in the courts.

Rallies will take place in capital cities on Tuesday after the union’s construction arm and all associated branches were taken over following allegations of criminal links and corruption.

While people have a democratic right to peaceful protest “the taking of unprotected industrial action is not lawful”, a spokesperson for the CFMEU administrator said.

“The CFMEU is no longer involved in organising any protest tomorrow,” they said.

Updated

Syphilis cases spiking in Queensland and affecting unborn babies

An outbreak of a treatable sexually transmitted disease has led to a dramatic rise in the deaths of unborn babies, AAP has reported.

Doctors fear more congenital syphilis fatalities are likely in Queensland, sparking calls for an increase in sexually transmitted infection screenings to bring it under control.

Syphilis cases are spiking in Queensland and affecting unborn babies after an outbreak in the state’s north-west, Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ hospital said.

Four babies died in 2023 from congenital syphilis, when an infant is infected with the disease in the womb by their mother.

Obstetric medicine and infectious disease specialist Jill Parkes-Smith:

It is likely we will see more deaths if something doesn’t change

I have already seen more deaths from congenital syphilis than I ever expected to see when I became an infectious diseases physician.

We have more here on the rise of STIs from Natasha May:

Updated

Many thanks for joining me on the blog today – it’s been a busy one! Cait Kelly will be here to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage into this evening. Take care.

Strike Force Juneau to investigate fatal shooting of Tarek Ayoub

Homicide squad detectives with NSW Police have launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of a man in Parramatta this morning.

The well-known organised crime figure Tarek Ayoub, known as the “angel of death”, was gunned down in an alleged “execution-style murder” in Sydney overnight in what police believe is the first organised crime-related murder in the city in six months.

He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. A second crime scene was set up in nearby Granville, where a stolen sedan was found alight about 3.45am.

Detectives with the state’s homicide squad have commenced Strike Force Juneau to investigate the shooting.

As investigations continue, detectives are treating both incidents as linked.

Police are appealing for information about two men seen leaving the scene of the alleged arson on A’Beckett Street in a dark coloured SUV.

Anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

BoM warning for damaging winds

The Bureau of Meteorology has published a severe weather update, looking at the damaging wind sweeping parts of southern Australia:

Updated

Zomi Frankcom’s family has ‘every right to be disappointed’ in report into her death, Mehreen Faruqi says

Deputy leader of the Greens, Mehreen Faruqi, says that the family of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom – who was killed in an Israeli airstrike – has “every right to be disappointed” in the report into her death.

The ABC reported that her brother, Mal Frankcom, has called for those responsible for her death to be prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

In a statement, Faruqi argued that the report into Frankcom’s death, commissioned by the federal government, “was missing evidence, contained feeble explanations and let Israel completely off the hook”.

We will only uncover the facts and details with an independent investigation. If there is nothing to hide, let’s have a war crimes investigation. Zomi’s family deserves real answers and the perpetrators must be held to account.

Updated

Condition update on those involved in Engadine crash and alleged stabbing

Police also provided a condition update on those involved in yesterday’s crash and alleged stabbing in Sydney’s south.

A 48-year-old woman – who was a passenger in the Jaguar – was found with multiple wounds. She remains in St George hospital in a stable condition.

A 67-year-old man suffered a laceration to his abdomen. He also remains in St George hospital in a stable condition.

The female driver of the Lancer, aged 20, suffered a broken wrist.

The male police officer and the male passenger in the Lancer have both been released from hospital.

The 58-year-old man, who was been charged, remains in a stable condition under police guard at Liverpool hospital.

Updated

Man charged following alleged stabbing and crash in Engadine at weekend

A man has been charged following the alleged stabbing and crash in Sydney’s south yesterday.

Four people, including a police officer, were injured after a driver involved in the Engadine car crash allegedly stabbed his passenger before lashing out at witnesses who tried to help.

A 58-year-old man, who was allegedly running from the crash scene, was taken into custody with the deployment of a Taser.

He remains in a stable condition under police guard at Liverpool hospital. Police said that following investigations, a 58-year-old was today charged with a number of offences, including:

  • cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder domestic violence related;

  • wound person with intent to resist/prevent arrest;

  • reckless wounding;

  • dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - drive manner dangerous;

  • fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm;

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm;

  • affray;

  • hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty

He was refused bail to appear before Sutherland local court today.

Updated

Continuing from last post

Jordan van den Lamb says he is concerned to see the government spend billions on submarines while hundreds of thousands of homes sit empty.

He has also flagged Australia’s response to the conflict in Gaza, the “gutting” of the NDIS, the number of First Nations people dying in custody, and tax handouts for the ultra wealthy as key issues he wants to address.

Australia is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, but the wealth is increasingly concentrated among those at the top. I want to help turn that around by joining with others to organise and fight for a better society here in Australia, and for a better world.

The Victorian Socialists want to double the land tax on properties vacant for more than six months of the year and seize properties for use as public housing if vacant for more than two years without a good reason.

The next election will be on or before 27 September 2025.

Updated

Rental advocate purplepingers to run for Senate at next federal election

Rental advocate Jordan van den Lamb, aka purplepingers, has announced he will be Victorian Socialists’ lead Senate candidate in the next federal election.

Van den Lamb has built a huge following over social media, posting videos about terrible rental standards and poor behaviour from landlords and agents. In a statement, he says:

I’m running for parliament because we need change. Landlord profits are at record highs, banking sector profits are at record highs.

Meanwhile, the lines for community food banks are longer than we’ve ever seen, and homelessness support services have reached a breaking point. This is a failure that we need to address urgently.

But the current parliament of landlords keep passing laws that increase the value of their own investment properties at the cost of those who live in the houses they hoard.

More to come in a moment.

Updated

Climate Council welcomes expert panel on monitoring methane emissions

Earlier today we flagged that Australia’s chief scientist, Cathy Foley, had been appointed by the federal government to lead an expert panel on making the monitoring of emissions into the atmosphere, such as methane, more accurate.

This has been welcomed by the Climate Council, with the head of policy and advocacy, Dr Jennifer Rayner, stating that cutting methane pollution is “our best chance to slow dangerous warming this decade”.

Properly measuring Australia’s outsized methane pollution is the crucial first step in making companies cut it … The new committee needs to do this work quickly so that we can get on with the essential next step of making fossil fuel companies cut the methane that is pouring out of their coal and gas mines and processing facilities, and threatening our kids’ futures.

Rayner said that every sector in the economy needed to slash climate pollution, particularly the agriculture sector, “which is also one of the most vulnerable to the extreme weather and unnatural disasters that come with a changing climate.”

If agriculture is not going to be brought into the emissions reporting scheme that already covers most other sectors, we need another clear plan to accelerate measurement, reporting and action on methane from industrial-scale farms.

Updated

Lia Finocchiaro says her cabinet will be finalised in the coming days.

This is making sure we’re prioritising the most important issues first, which is why I sat down with the police commissioner, the police association and the chief executive, to make sure this is a whole of government response. Because it’s not just about police, this is about all agencies doing everything they can to deliver a safer Territory.

Updated

Finocchiaro asked about Declan’s Law and parliament timetable

Q: You say that Declan’s Law will be ready for the first week of parliament. Have you turned your mind to when parliament will start sitting?

Lia Finocchiaro says she is working through this.

We’re looking at mid-to-late October for parliament. I don’t want it to be too delayed, but need to make sure we’ve got all the reform ready in place to go.

Declan Laverty, 20, was fatally stabbed while working at a Darwin liquor store in the suburb of Jingili last year.

The CLP says Declan’s Law – a bail amendment bill – is part of its plan to “reduce crime through early intervention, addressing the root causes and real consequences for repeat and serious offenders”.

Updated

Incoming NT chief minister suggests boot camps as possible consequence for young offenders

Question to Lia Finocchiaro: Indigenous legal groups have said just locking more people up is going to create more career criminals and that doesn’t reduce crime. They’re asking instead for more diversion programs. Is there any chance you’ll go back on any of your “lock them up” policies?

Finocchiaro says “it’s important to hold people accountable for the crimes they’re committing, but to put them on a better path going forward”.

That’s why we’re lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 10 so that young people can be held accountable and that appropriate consequences for their age are delivered, such as boot camps.

This is important work that needs to be done and there do need to be more diversion options for our courts. But importantly it’s not just about dealing with young people or offenders once they’re already committing crimes, this is about making sure we give kids every opportunity in life to succeed. That’s why our focus on getting kids to school is a very important part of our plan to reduce crime.

Updated

Lia Finocchiaro: ‘whole of government response to law and order must be started immediately’

There is much work to do, and the days and weeks ahead will be busy. But our priorities are very clear – this will be a very stable transition, we want to make sure that Territorians and our public service are part of that change and understand the direction of the CLP government going forward.

It’s very, very important to me and to my entire team that we steadily fix the direction of the Northern Territory. But that our public service and particularly our police and our whole of government response to addressing law and order is something that must be started immediately.

I have full confidence in our ability to deliver on all of our commitments to Territorians and I look forward to serve them. It’s an honour and a privilege to stand here as chief minister-elect and under our government we look forward to delivering on reducing crime, rebuilding our economy, and restoring our lifestyle.

Updated

Incoming NT chief minister Lia Finocchiaro will also hold police portfolio

The incoming chief minister of the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro, is speaking to reporters from Darwin.

The Country Liberal party said it would get to work tackling crime after its resounding win in the Northern Territory election at the weekend.

Finocchiaro said police commissioner Michael Murphy would continue in his role “to drive change and support in our police force”.

She said she met with NT police association president Nathan Finn this morning.

I made it very clear to both … that our police have my full support. I will honour the commitment to make sure that as chief minister, I will also hold the police portfolio, so that community safety is the number one priority of our government and our police know they will be supported.

Updated

Severe weather warnings for damaging winds in Victoria, Tasmania

Much of southern Victoria will be hit with severe winds today, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing this warning earlier:

A similar severe weather warning has been issued for Tasmania, with damaging locally destructive winds forecast across the state:

MSO board: ‘the past few weeks has been a difficult experience for many of our people’

Continuing from our last post, here is what the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra board said in its statement:

We want to ensure protocols are in place that are fit for purpose for an organisation of the MSO’s profile and the role it plays within the community. Recognising the need to restore confidence in the MSO, we needed a respected musician to lead this review and were pleased Peter [Garrett] accepted our invitation.

The Board recognises the past few weeks has been a difficult experience for many of our people. There is a clear understanding that we need to learn from these events to ensure the MSO is best positioned to continue offering world-class cultural experiences for our valued audiences. The appointment of Peter, supported by KPMG, will provide confidence to our musicians, our people and wider community that we are serious about the process.

We thank the musicians, management and employees of the MSO and our artistic family for their dedication and commitment to their roles as we seek to come back together in serving our audiences.

Updated

Peter Garrett to lead independent review into Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

An independent external review into the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has been announced after it cancelled the performance of an acclaimed pianist who dedicated a piece to slain journalists in Gaza earlier this month.

MSO’s managing director, Sophie Galaise, has also left the organisation, it has been announced. The orchestral leader, Richard Wigley, has been appointed strategic adviser to lead the management team with immediate effect.

Musician and former federal arts minister Peter Garrett has been appointed to lead the review, supported by firm KPMG Australia. A statement said that Garrett would “evaluate MSO’s policies, procedures and processes and cover protocols around freedom of speech and artistic expression on stage”.

Garrett said that “if we get this right, the review may also serve a broader purpose for others who will inevitably face similar challenges”.

The MSO board said it would provide more information on the review, including the terms of reference, as the details are finalised, and that it is “committed to sharing the high-level findings”.

We’ll bring you more from the MSO board’s statement in a moment.

Updated

Reactions to government’s aviation white paper: ‘much more to achieve’

The director of RMIT’s aviation academy, Lea Vesic, has responded to the government’s aviation white paper, handed down just earlier today.

In a statement, Vesic called for a stronger vision to meaningfully reform aviation in Australia:

The federal government’s aviation white paper seems to reactively address systemic problems in the aviation industry, rather than presenting a robust vision for its future.

Although attention has been rightly focused on market competition and consumer rights, there is much more to achieve in reforming the industry.

Importantly, the government needs to meaningfully address skills demands by empowering training providers to meet industry needs in the long term, rather than relying on industry to deliver short-term solutions.

Here’s our full story from Paul Karp and Elias Visontay for all the details on the white paper:

Updated

Bunnings execs face grilling over competition as cost of living bites

Bunnings will be grilled on how it treats suppliers with a spotlight on increasing corporate competition to lower prices as Australians struggle with the cost of living.

As AAP reports, senior executives from the major hardware chain have been recalled to appear before a Senate inquiry that examined supermarkets to increase competition and put downward pressure on prices at the checkout.

Bunnings will need to explain why it should not be covered by the industry’s code of conduct, given it sells more and more grocery-type items.

Nationals senator Ross Cadell, who sits on the committee, said:

We’re looking anti-competition, at pressure and influence on suppliers and treatment of smaller guys. They sent some PR spinners to the inquiry instead of people with answers, so we want to see where that leads.

There was no date for the hearing but it was set to be held before Christmas, he said.

The government announced a mandatory code of conduct for how supermarkets treat suppliers, with fines of up to $10m for breaches, but Bunnings argued it should not be covered due to the broad range of non-grocery items it sells.

Updated

Qantas offering business class change or refunds after first-class price error

Qantas has responded to the news it accidentally sold around 300 first-class fares to the US for just $4,300 return, 85% less than the usual price.

In a statement, a spokesperson said:

Unfortunately, this is a case where the fare was actually too good to be true.

As a gesture of good will, we’re rebooking customers in business class at no additional cost. Customers also have the option of a full refund.

The fares were sold on August 22 on flights due to a coding error.

Updated

Bodies of two missing men located near crashed motorbike

The bodies of two men were located near a crashed motorbike in New South Wales earlier today.

Officers located the bodies of two men near the crashed motorbike at Harrington about 9am.

The bodies are yet to be formally identified but are believed to be those of two men – aged 20 and 21 – who were reported missing from Taree last Tuesday.

A crime scene was established and an investigation into circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area, as Harrington Road is expected to remain closed for several hours.

Updated

King says competition important in face of airline duopoly

Asked if the airline duopoly should be broken up, Catherine King responded it is “challenging”:

What we’re trying to do is get as much competition as we possibly can, bearing in mind we are a small market.

If you look at comparable countries, to have two airlines both in Virgin and Qantas, but also in the low-cost carrier in Jetstar is important, and we have an issue that we’re dealing with in terms of regional aviation as well.

That is, for a small market like ours, it is unusual. What we have to try and do as a government is to keep that competition, make sure we still continue to have a national carrier which is Qantas – 51% of it has to be owned by Australian interests, Virgin does not have a constraint on it – at the same time trying to make sure that we have better deals for customers, and that is the balance we’re trying to strike here in [this] aviation white paper.

Updated

Catherine King sets timeframe for airline policy implementations

Asked about the timeframe for implementing the white paper, Catherine King said a number of initiatives would take time but the consumer and disability rights are front of mind for her.

I will put an interim ombudsperson in my department in the immediate term to start drafting the charter of rights. That will happen in the next day or so.

They will be able to receive complaints as of next year and we will introduce legislation next year. There’s a consultation paper out and I look forward to people contributing … about what the charter of rights should look like, with are the reasonable penalties, how do you enforce those, all those issues as we work through the consultation process.

If the government doesn’t win the next election, will these reforms go ahead? King responded:

I’m sure at the next election if someone wants to change and withdraw those rights, then that will be a matter of contest and debate for all of us.

Updated

King: decision on increase of Qatar flights will be made ‘through the usual way’

Q: In the interest of competition, will the government reconsider its decision to block Qatar’s request for more flights?

Catherine King:

In terms of bilateral air services, what the white paper does is it outlines a range of factors again in these bilateral country-to-country agreements that are under consideration.

I was pleased to be able to see and make the decision to increase flights for Turkey Airlines … Vietnam Airlines will be making an announcement tomorrow out of Western Sydney International Airport which again will be a gamechanger when it comes to competition.

We want to keep ahead of capacity, there are a number of airlines I would like to see who have already granted rights, I want to see those airlines bringing their capacity back into the country as well. I have a number of countries, including Qatar, that are performing at the moment and will consider those through the usual way.

Updated

Transport minister on recruiting

Catherine King was also asked what the government can do to address a shortage of air traffic controllers. She responded:

We have a number of initiatives that are part of the white paper about recruiting across the aviation sector. It is not just air traffic controllers, we need more pilots, we need more cabin crew, we need more people who are involved in the services sector – both customer service and the under wing services as well …

One of the things that we are doing [with] Jobs and Skills Australia is looking at those specific measures to bring in air-traffic controllers, make sure that young people who are looking for careers to see this as a viable option as well as improvements to Airservices Australia as well.

Updated

Catherine King fields questions on aviation white paper

The transport minister Catherine King is taking questions on the aviation white paper from reporters.

She is asked what customers pay for, “when you have thousands upon thousands of people who are inconvenienced every week at Australian airports because the flight is cancelled or delayed?” King responded:

Which is is exactly why we have asked first airlines to be much more transparent and show cause, what is the cause of delays.

There are forces that are beyond their control. Last night I was delayed getting out of Melbourne because there was a significant weather event. If it is because there has been overbooking or there is something that has occurred that is not reasonable, it will be up to airlines to explain that but also where consumers seeking a refund, compensation or seeking a credit or a flight … this ombudsman scheme will provide opportunities for that to occur.

Updated

More on the newly-released aviation white paper

The white paper notes difficulties with competition because airports are “natural monopolies” and overseas airlines show “minimal interest in establishing new Australian carriers” to compete with Virgin and Qantas.

The government will attempt to improve competition by reforming slot management at Sydney airport, opening competitive appointments to the role of slot manager to more effectively enforce slot rules and better handle conflicts of interest.

The government has asked the productivity commission to inquire into economic regulation of airports, considering further changes to slot rules such as a stricter “use it or lose it” rule and a limit on the period for which slots can be “grandfathered”.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission already conducts pricing of domestic airlines, but could be asked to monitor pricing negotiations at Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Western Sydney airports.

The government is considering changes to aeronautical pricing principles to specify that pricing agreements between airports and airlines should not be anti-competitive.

Updated

Aviation white paper released by federal government

The flying public in Australia will gain improved rights to seek refunds and remedies from airlines and to complain to a new aircraft noise ombudsman.

The Albanese government has released its aviation white paper, committing to 56 initiatives to improve the fairness and accessibility of a sector dominated by the Qantas/Virgin duopoly.

In addition to a new aviation industry ombudsman to enforce a passenger rights charter which could include cash compensation for cancelled or delayed flights, the government has committed to establish an aircraft noise ombudsman.

That office will conduct independent investigations into handling of complaints by Airservices Australia, which will be stripped of that responsibility due to “potential for conflicts” that “can undermine public confidence”.

In other measures to combat noise, Airservices Australia will collect more information on aircraft movements and noise impacts, publishing quarterly reports on noncompliance with noise abatement procedures.

Pilots will also be asked to fly “considerately” with new guidance on minimising noise impacts in residential areas – a potent political issue in inner-city seats, including three Brisbane electorates won by the Greens from Labor and the Coalition at the 2022 election.

Updated

Government moves to protect Rex Airlines regional slots at Sydney Airport until March 2026

The transport minister Catherine King is speaking to the media, providing an update on the administration of Rex Airlines.

She said her department had been engaging closely with Rex administrators since the process began.

Today I am also directing the slot manager at Sydney Airport to suspend the application of the ‘use it or lose it’ test on Rex regional slot holdings for the current and upcoming scheduling season.

This will protect Rex’s NSW regional slots at Sydney Airport until late March 2026.

As the administration process continues, the government of course remains absolutely committed to supporting our regional communities to ensure that they stay connected to our major capital city destinations and I’ll provide any further updates as they come to hand.

The minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, has already arrived in Tonga for the forum and shared these photos earlier this morning. He wrote on X:

Honoured to be back among friends in the Pacific family. Great to reconnect with Tonga’s Health Minister, the Hon Siale Akau’ola.

Looking forward to progressing our shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.

Updated

Pacific Islands delegates suggest Tongan earthquake is reminder from nature

Here’s some more information on the Tonga earthquake, via AAP:

Epicentred about 200km north of Nuku’alofa, delegates at the Pacific Islands Forum felt a long, rumbling tremor as well as aftershocks during proceedings.

There have been no immediate reports of damage or tsunami threats issued.

“I thought I was just hungry, but no, it was an earthquake!” French Polynesia’s president, Moetai Brotherson, joked.

The earthquake was nothing new for the region, which regularly encounters natural disasters at scale. In 2022, Tonga and the region was struck by a tsunami from the huge Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai undersea volcanic eruption.

Brotherson suggested today’s earthquake was almost fitting, given the PIF summit’s theme of “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki”:

These natural disasters are reminders from nature that we are so tiny. They command us to look at our resilience and the capacity that we can develop together.

More than 1,500 delegates are expected in Nuku’alofa this week for the five-day summit.

Updated

Tonga earthquake revised to magnitude 6.6

Just circling back to earlier news of the earthquake in Tonga, where the Pacific Islands forum is kicking off today.

The earthquake was a magnitude 6.6, revised from earlier reports. There is no tsunami threat to Tonga.

Updated

Police say associate of Tarek Ayoub is assisting with inquiries but not accused of any wrongdoing

Police said the person who Tarek Ayoub was visiting in Parramatta is assisting police with inquiries. He is not accused of any wrongdoing.

We are not saying this person had any connection to the murder, but it is obviously a line of inquiry to make.

How the people responsible for the shooting knew that Mr Ayoub was going to be there, they are all part of the lines of inquiry we have to make …

Updated

Police on Parramatta shooting: ‘too many suspects, too many motives’

Asked about Tarek Ayoub’s recent activities, the police officer said there were “too many suspects, too many motives”:

He was a person who was very well-known for being involved in organised crime links and associations. Very well-known to police. Many investigations where his name had popped up for violent offences and investigations.

The list of suspects will be long and the reasons why he may have been killed will also be just as long.

Police are appealing to the community for information in relation to the shooting this morning.

As I emphasise, this was targeted. There is no longer any other threat to members of the community. We are putting in a significant response so we can identify that, but we need the help from the community.

Updated

Police speak to media following shooting in Parramatta

New South Wales police are speaking to the media about a fatal shooting in Parramatta this morning at around 3.30am.

The officer said a person was found to have been shot multiple times in a car park, already deceased. He alleged it was a targeted shooting.

He was already deceased and there was nothing we could do in relation – from the emergency responders.

Fifteen minutes later, police were alerted to a vehicle that had been burnt out in Granville and investigators are looking at potential links between this and the shooting.

The man has been informally identified as 29-year-old Tarek Ayoub from Yagoona – a “well-known organised crime associate and underworld identity”:

This was a targeted shooting. It was a well-known criminal identity, long history of violence. To the fact that he was known in the underworld circles as the Angel of Death, that was a nickname that was provided to him.

Police said he was visiting an associate at Parramatta when he was shot down in a “execution-style murder”:

When I say multiple times, it was a large number of shots [that] had been fired at the victim. More than one gunman has then left the scene and that is when we are looking at the links between this burnt-out car in Granville.

Updated

Chief scientist to lead new methane emissions body

Australia’s top scientist is set to head a task force on monitoring the country’s methane levels, AAP reports, as part of an emissions reduction push.

The chief scientist, Cathy Foley, has been appointed by the federal government to lead an expert panel on making the monitoring of emissions into the atmosphere, such as methane, more accurate.

The taskforce will look at new approaches to measure the amount of methane being released to ensure climate change data is accurate.

The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said the panel’s work would be critical as part of work to reduce emissions.

Methane is among the world’s most powerful greenhouse gases. It is essential that our measurement approaches continue to improve, based on sound science and expert analysis …

By listening to the expert advice, we are ensuring Australia remains a world leader in emission estimation, which is crucial to delivering emissions reductions as well as unlocking our potential as a renewable energy superpower.

Updated

Magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Tonga Islands ahead of Pacific Forum

The Bureau of Meteorology says there is no tsunami threat to Australia following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Tonga Islands.

As Daniel Hurst reported earlier, the Pacific Islands Forum is beginning in Tonga today.

Anthony Albanese is due to arrive in Tonga tomorrow and is expected to try to secure support for a proposal for Australia to help train Pacific police officers.

Updated

Water minister backs tap as PFAS inquiry launched

The discovery of “forever chemicals” in Sydney’s drinking water has not turned federal minister Tanya Plibersek off the tap, as she backs an inquiry into the potentially cancer-causing substances.

As AAP reports, the parliamentary probe will examine the environmental, economic and health impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively known as PFAS chemicals.

It comes after Sydney Water found the chemicals in drinking-water supplies in quantities that fall within Australian guidelines but well outside tighter US standards.

Plibersek, the water and environment minister, said the inquiry would also examine why the US tightened their standards in 2024. She told Sunrise earlier:

We have to be cautious with PFAS and related chemicals and that’s why I have banned the importation of a whole lot of chemicals in this class from 1 July next year. It’s why we’re doing the drinking water guideline review that the health minister has brought forward.

Melbourne Water and Western Australia’s Water Corporation say testing of their water sources found no samples of the chemicals above Australian standards.

Updated

ASD deputy to take over as head of defence and cyber spy agency

Australia’s key cyber defence agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, will have a new chief from 6 September, with the current deputy, Abigail Bradshaw CSC, announced as its new director general this morning.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said in a written statement that Bradshaw would succeed the incumbent, Rachel Noble PSM, who has held the position since 2020 and was the first woman to head up the agency.

Bradshaw has been Noble’s deputy and head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre for the past four years, has held senior roles across the federal public service and served in the Royal Australian Navy.

Albanese said:

At a time of increasingly complex geostrategic challenges, Ms Bradshaw’s expertise in both cyber and national security matters will be critically important in leading ASD to continue protecting our nation.

He and Marles thanked Noble for overseeing the expansion of ASD’s intelligence capabilities in recent years.

Bradshaw said ASD would remain focused on supporting the Australian Defence Force, collecting foreign signals intelligence, conducting “cyber offensive operations” and “protecting Australians from cyber threats”.

Updated

Delays at Brisbane airport amid industrial action and fog

Delays are occurring at Brisbane airport this morning as more than 30 electric and service workers strike for 24 hours in protest of wages and conditions.

​Action by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union members – employed by Alstef Group, the baggage handling firm at Brisbane airport – will impact on luggage movement. Commuters are being urged to plan ahead and expect delays.

​This morning, a number of flights were estimated to depart later than scheduled, according to the airport’s website, with 12 flights listed as delayed.

Thick fog this morning also caused delays, with aircraft temporarily prevented from landing. In a post to X, the airport said a number of aircraft had been diverted to other airports. About an hour ago the fog began lifting and flights were landing, the airport said.

Updated

Renegade senator Rennick to ‘stir the pot’ after LNP defection

AAP has some more details on Queensland senator Gerard Rennick’s defection from the state Liberal National party to sit as an independent.

The renegade Queensland senator who sits with the Liberals says he can accomplish more from the cross bench after becoming a pariah within the party.

Rennick became known for his stance against vaccine mandates during the pandemic and withheld his vote in protest when the Coalition was in power, which angered many within the party.

While he does not regret his stance, he says it pigeonholed him and stripped the focus from the other issues he went into parliament to pursue:

I want to stir the pot and get off the whole … vaccine shit, I didn’t intend to become a cheerleader for the vaccine stuff.

Change could not be sparked from within the major parties, Rennick said, adding he only decided in the past fortnight to quit the LNP.

You go to Canberra, you’re not doing anything. If I stayed in the party, I couldn’t push these ideas, this way I can generate a conversation on the issues.

An internal email to LNP members from President Lawrence Spingborg said the party had been informed of the senator’s decision:

People make their own decisions for their own reasons. Our hardworking team will not be distracted from focusing on the priorities of Queenslanders.

Updated

Catherine King fields more questions on aviation white paper

The transport minister, Catherine King, has been making the round on breakfast programs this morning as the government unveils its aviation white paper. We had more on this earlier in the blog, here and here, if you missed that.

She was asked: how quickly passengers could get their money back if and when the scheme is up and running?

She said it would be “pretty much immediate” for customers who haven’t got the service they paid for:

That refund should be immediate and that will be part of developing the legislation for the scheme. What the timeframes are and the battle that people have had to go through, particularly post-Covid to get the service that they have paid for, has been frustrating for many people and often people give up and say we will write off the money, and it is often a lot of money and it is difficult for people.

We expect the scheme to be up and running as soon as it can.

Updated

Damaging winds lashing parts of New South Wales until this afternoon

Speaking of damaging weather, strong wind gusts appear to be making their way across parts of New South Wales today.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a cold front crossed the state last night, with damaging wind gusts likely over the Illawarra, south coast, Goulburn and Katoomba – plus elevated areas such as Thredbo.

Conditions are expected to ease by Monday afternoon, the Bureau said.

The Illawarra Mercury reported that trees have been brought down along roads in Woonona and Figtree in Wollongong, with the wind threatening to send a trampoline flying.

In the south-east, damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/h are likely until this afternoon. For alpine peaks above 1,900m, peak gusts up to 125km/h are possible.

Some notable gusts recorded overnight and this morning include:

  • 128km/h wind gust at Thredbo at 7:47pm.

  • 119km/hr at Cabramurra at 11:56pm.

  • 96 km/hr at Nowra at 01:19am.

  • 93 km/hr at Moss Vale at 12:43am.

  • 96 km/hr at Shellharbour Airport with 66 km/h mean wind speeds at 06:26am.

Updated

Thousands without power following Victorian storms on Sunday

Continuing from our last post: According to Ausnet – which covers the eastern half of Victoria – 3,000 customers are without power following yesterday’s storms.

Partnered with the Citipower stats, that’s almost 3,700 customers affected.

Ausnet says there are 27 current outages, stretching from Wodonga in the north to Kardella in the south.

Updated

We flagged earlier that the Victorian State Emergency Service had received 422 requests for assistance after huge hailstones and damaging wind gusts swept the state yesterday.

According to CitiPower, there are still hundreds of power outages following on from yesterday’s storm.

687 customers remain without power, from as far north as Castle Donnington near Swan Hill down to Beeac and Heywood in the south.

Updated

Watt congratulates CLP on Northern Territory win and ‘we take notice of election results’

Murray Watt was also asked about the Northern Territory election results at the weekend, where the Country Liberals achieved a resounding win:

Asked if he was worried about the two federal Labor seats in the Northern Territory, Watt responded:

I congratulate the new CLP government in the Territory for a very convincing win. That was a message about the kind of policies that people want. When there’s an election at state and territory level you take note of that.

But it would be fair to say there was a clear focus on local Territory-based issues. We take notice of election results and listen to what it means for federal politics as well. I’m looking forward to having some discussions with some of my Northern Territory colleagues about what the implications are.

Updated

Murray Watt details the new right to disconnect laws

Employment and workplace relations minister Murray Watt spoke with ABC News Breakfast earlier on the new right to disconnect laws.

He was asked a hypothetical: if you get what you reckon are unreasonable phone calls and emails from your boss, the prime minister, at the end of today, you’ll be following the letter of the law too? Watt responded:

For someone like me, I’m pretty well paid, there’s an expectation in my job I am on call. That’s very different to a very junior employee at the ABC or anywhere else. Who, you know, I would hope they’re not being contacted after hours – but it probably does happen.

Watt said that emergency situations were different, but for “run of [the] mill” issues that could wait until the next working day, bosses should wait until then.

We all get emails and phone calls like that from our boss about things that can actually wait until the next work day, [so] they should wait until the next work day so people can enjoy their private lives, enjoy time with their family and friends, play sport or whatever they want to do after hours, without feeling like they’re chained to the desk at a time when they’re not being paid because that’s just not fair.

Updated

King says ombudsman may allow for consumer rights charter on compensation

Q: The competition watchdog had recommended that carriers be fined for canceling flights and made to compensate passengers like Europe does, but the government instead is opting for an ombudsman – why?

Transport minister Catherine King said the ombudsman scheme allows for the development of an aviation customer rights charter – “so it may well be that the [scheme] does recommend or does insist that the an airline does have to pay refund plus compensation”:

What we’re trying to do is make sure that there is consistency about … the contracts people are entering into, and that they have a clear pathway to enforce their rights when they’re not delivered with the service.

And the bottom line is, if people don’t get the service that they are expecting, then customers deserve to get their money back, or they deserve to get an equivalent service. And that’s really not what’s been happening when it comes to the consumer space.

Updated

Transport minister details new aviation white paper to be released today

As Elias Visontay reports, the government will today release its much-anticipated aviation white paper.

Under the reforms, an ombudsman will police how airlines treat customers and enforce a passenger rights charter to ensure timely refunds and possibly cash compensation for delayed and cancelled flights. You can read more of the details below:

The transport minister, Catherine King, was on ABC AM radio just earlier and said the white paper was the result of two years of work to examine how aviation in Australia can be set up for the next 20 years.

We know there have been significant problems, and obviously leading into Covid and now post-Covid as we’re in that recovery phase, both with the challenges that many airlines are facing, the collapse of Bonza and obviously Rex being involuntary administration.

But also we know that the customer experience has been very poor through that period as well, which is why part of the white paper has focused significantly on, how can we make sure that the rights that consumers have around refunds, around delivery of service can actually be met by our airlines – whether that is Qantas or Virgin or our international [airlines].

Updated

Investigations under way after alleged theft of non-fuctional guns from museum

An investigation is under way after a museum in Lithgow, in the NSW Central Tablelands, was allegedly broken into overnight.

NSW Police officers were told three people had allegedly broken into the museum about 3.30am and stolen a number of non-operational firearms – worth an estimated $200,000 – before leaving the scene in a Toyota Landcruiser.

The three people were dressed in black clothing and had their faces covered, police allege.

About 5.25am police found the SUV on fire at Bathurst, which is believed to have been stolen from Nowra. The vehicle was destroyed.

A crime scene was established at both locations and police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Updated

Right to disconnect laws come into place from today

From today, the new “right to disconnect” laws come into place, meaning employers can’t punish workers who refuse to pick up the phone out of hours. But as Tory Shepherd reports, they still can, under certain conditions:

The Australian Services Union welcomed the changes, following a campaign by the union, with assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske labelling the changes a “necessary safeguard”.

Our survey revealed that 70% of workers reported regularly performing work outside their agreed working hours and almost two-thirds had been contacted about a work-related matter despite being off sick, on holidays, or another form of leave.

Half felt their careers will be negatively affected if they do not take calls and/or monitor emails outside of work hours.

The right to disconnect will apply to employees in medium and large businesses from today, while it will start for employees of small businesses in 12 months’ time.

Greens say housing crisis requires bravery and vision, not ‘tinkering around the edges’

Continuing from our last post: Max Chandler-Mather described the agreement as “collective failure to act” with “devastating consequences”. He wrote:

You had the power to free millions of renters from the pain and stress of future rent increases, instead you threw renters to the free market wolves and the consequences have been devastating.

The Greens want all rents to be frozen for residential tenancies at the current weekly amount of rent for a period of two years. The rent freeze would apply to the property, not the specific tenant or lease. Chandler-Mather said:

As you are meeting on Tuesday I urge you to think about the fact that collectively, you are one of the few groups of people with the actual power to solve this crisis. It will take bravery, vision and a bold plan, not more tinkering around the edges.

Updated

Greens housing spokesperson calls for ‘bold plan’ to solve housing crisis

The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chander-Mather, is urging state and territory ministers to take “bravery, vision and a bold plan” to solve the housing crisis at a joint meeting tomorrow.

In a letter written to the country’s housing ministers on Friday, the first-time MP for Griffith said the leaders should “finally act” and implement a national freeze and cap on rent increases. He also called for the construction of 710,000 government built homes.

The new housing minister, Clare O’Neil, said the meeting in Western Sydney would ensure the states and territories were “working together to build the homes Australians need”:

Homes for renters. Homes for first home buyers. Homes for the most vulnerable in our community. More homes for Australians, as fast as we can.

In his letter, Chandler-Mather criticised the ministers for a national cabinet agreement made in 2023 which gave the states and territories a “new home bonus” of up to $3bn if they help reach an updated target of 1.2m new homes over five years.

The agreement also provided uniform national standards on renters’ rights, limiting rent increases to once a year and requiring a “genuine reasonable grounds for eviction” for termination mid-lease.

More to come in a moment.

Updated

Pacific Islands Forum begins in Tonga today

The climate crisis and regional security are on the agenda as the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) begins in Tonga today. Pif is a regional grouping that brings together Australia, New Zealand and 16 other Pacific members.

Tonga is hosting the weeklong leaders’ meeting. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is due to arrive in Tonga tomorrow and is expected to try to secure support for a proposal for Australia to help train Pacific police officers.

The secretary general of the United Nations, António Guterres, travelled to Tonga to try to rally support for much more rapid action on the climate crisis. The key talks among the leaders of Pif members are expected to be held later in the week.

For more details, see this preview piece from Saturday:

Updated

‘May take a while’: Maggie Beer recovering after fall

Celebrity chef Maggie Beer is recovering in hospital after falling at her home in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, AAP reports.

The 79-year-old suffered “a couple” of bone fractures and related injuries, her family said on social media.

Thankfully Col, her husband, was there and she is now in the excellent hands of her doctors who are confident she will make a full recovery. It may just take a little while.

Beer’s family also apologised on her behalf that she won’t be able to attend a number of events and public engagements.

More than anything else, Maggie hates letting people down.

Beer is a chef, food author, restaurateur and food producer and has led an ongoing campaign to improve food quality in aged care homes.

Victorian SES responds to 422 requests for assistance amid wild weather

The Victorian State Emergency Service responded to 422 requests for assistance after huge hailstones and damaging wind gusts swept the state yesterday.

Most requests were in relation to downed trees, with 230 requests received, and 123 requests on building damage. The SES said on X:

Great job to all of our volunteers responding today.

Updated

Exclusive: NSW government appoints expert forestry panel

The New South Wales government has appointed an expert panel as it develops a plan for the state’s forestry industry that balances environmental and sustainability concerns with the expected demand for timber from housing and construction.

The NSW government has announced that Peter Duncan would chair the Independent Forestry Panel, with Prof Mary O’Kane and Mick Veitch also sitting on the panel that has been tasked with leading consultation on a forestry industry action plan.

The panel will consult a range of stakeholders including the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities, local government, business and related industries, tourism and scientific experts and the federal government.

The plan will address the sustainability of current and future forestry operations; the environmental and cultural values of forests, including threatened species; community demand for timber products, particularly as relates to NSW housing, construction, mining, transport and retail.

It will also address the future of softwood and hardwood plantations and the continuation of private native forestry in helping meet timber supply needs; carbon and biodiversity benefits; and the greenhouse gas emission impacts of different uses of forests and assessment of climate change risks to forests.

Tara Moriarty, minister for regional NSW, said:

We need both trees and wood and we must strike the right balance for communities and our environment in regional NSW. Timber is a crucial part of our everyday lives, with timber needed for community and government priorities such as housing, transport infrastructure, electricity distribution, and freight transport.

Updated

Queensland senator quits LNP to launch his own party

Senator Gerard Rennick will begin to register his new political party after quitting the LNP yesterday, AAP reports.

The senator told the Sydney Morning Herald that he would establish the Gerard Rennick People First Party and planned to start the registration process today. Senator Rennick said while he was unsure of how long he will be in the Senate, he added:

I’d rather use that time to talk about really important issues rather than just play tiddlywinks.

The senator was kicked off the LNP’s federal election ticket in July and his attempts to appeal due to alleged “gross irregularities” with the process were rejected.

Senator Rennick is keen to introduce inquiries on issues such as increasing the tax-free threshold to $40,000, addressing how childcare support is structured and looking at a public bank financed by quantitative easing. He told the SMH:

After learning how the Senate works I know a bit about how it works that we can get these inquiries up and going.

Senator Rennick said the decision was nothing against Liberal leader Peter Dutton. The senator raised eyebrows during the Covid-19 pandemic when he questioned the efficacy of vaccines and mandates.

Updated

Welcome

Good morning, and welcome back to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.

An investigation is under way after a fatal shooting in Parramatta this morning, shortly after 3.30am at Harold Street. Paramedics treated a man who died at the scene. A crime scene has been established, to be examined by specialist forensic police.

NSW police were also called to reports of a car fire about 3.45am in Granville. Officers found a sedan alight, which had been reported stolen. Police have established a crime scene and commenced investigations, with two men reportedly seen leaving the scene in another vehicle.

Police said it is unknown if the two incidents are connected, but the fire is being treated as suspicious.

Meanwhile, Queensland senator Gerard Rennick will begin to register his new political party after quitting the LNP. As AAP reports, he announced yesterday that he was leaving the party to bring “bread and butter” issues into public debate ahead of the next federal election, which is due by May 2025. We’ll have more on this in a moment.

See something that needs attention? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.

Let’s get started.

Updated

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