What we learned today, Tuesday 10 December
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories:
The Reserve Bank has kept its key interest rate unchanged at 4.35%, leaving stressed borrowers to wait until at least February for relief.
Queensland Labor has decided to back the Crisafulli government’s “adult crime, adult time” laws, which discriminate against children and violate human rights.
Peter Dutton has said if he is elected next year he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences, arguing that to fly the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags would be “dividing our country unnecessarily” and sending a “confusing message”.
The Indigenous Australians minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, says the opposition leader is “unfit to be prime minister” after the flags pledge.
Anthony Albanese made brief remarks to a packed crown at the Addas Israel synagogue in Melbourne, saying he’ll speak to leaders about steps forward.
An abortion gag motion passed Queensland parliament, with all 50 LNP MPs present voting to ban any debate on abortion for four years.
A Queensland man has been charged by counter-terrorism investigators after he allegedly threatened criminal damage at a community centre in Caulfield.
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher has announced he will not run for re-election at the next federal election.
A Qantas flight bound for Adelaide was forced to return to Brisbane shortly after takeoff due to an issue with the landing gear brakes.
Updated
Women’s despair after losing contraception class action
Women who suffered debilitating pain and bleeding after a permanent contraceptive device was implanted say they are disappointed a judge found it did not directly cause their symptoms, AAP reports.
Victorian supreme court justice Andrew Keogh handed down his decision on Tuesday, marking the end of a five-year class action against Bayer Australia and five other companies.
The class action, led by Victorian Patrice Turner, claimed women suffered harm as a direct result of the Essure device being implanted into their bodies.
Turner underwent a hysterectomy at 32, five years after the permanent contraceptive device was inserted into both of her fallopian tubes.
She claimed she suffered severe pelvic pain and heavy uterine bleeding, which resolved after she underwent the major abdominal surgery.
Turner and the 1,400 class action members alleged Bayer Australia and the other companies involved in Essure’s design, manufacturing and marketing breached a duty of care.
But Justice Keogh found their claims could not be made out. The judge was not satisfied they established the Essure device caused inflammation, and subsequent pain and abnormal bleeding in women.
Justice Keogh also noted while the device could migrate, be expelled from the fallopian tube or leech metal into the body, the risks were small and often associated with the insertion process.
He did not accept there was a risk the device would break down once inside the body.
Updated
Deutsche Bank first to shift prediction of first RBA rate cut after ‘dovish’ decision
As we noted in an earlier post, CBA’s prediction of a February RBA bank cut was the only one among the top four banks, but it might not be so lonely for long.
Deutsche Bank’s Phil Odonaghoe must be a keen reader of this blog – or perhaps he read the same entrails/tea leaves or other divining pointers as we did.
Anyway, Odonaghoe now thinks the RBA will cut the cash rate in February by 25 basis points to 4.1%, rather than at the May board meeting. And that early move will make it possible to squeeze four cuts into 2025 of that size, instead of three he had been tipping for next year prior to today.
He said Michele Bullock had added to the “dovish tone” of the RBA’s statement during her presser that the board would be keenly watching data over “the coming month or so”.
“While the governor also indicated on numerous occasions a reluctance to provide forward guidance and emphasised a heavy reliance on upcoming data, that very specific timeframe reference to upcoming data is important,” Odonaghoe said.
Guess we’ll find out soon enough (18 February, to be precise), whether Deutsche Bank (and CBA) are correct or not.
Updated
Katies to close amid restructure of indebted owner
All Katies stores across Australia will shut by mid-January as part of a major restructure of its indebted owner, fashion and apparel company Mosaic Brands, that will cost hundreds of retail jobs.
The Mosaic receivers, KPMG, said today that about 480 store employees will be affected by the closure of 80 Katies stores, plus an additional 80 outlets across the Millers, Rivers, and Noni B brands.
“The decision was made following a review of the performance of Katies as a brand, and the wider store network,” KPMG said in a statement.
“The stores identified to close have been loss making resulting in the decision to close them in January.”
The changes mean the Katies brand will disappear from Australian retail after almost 70 years.
Administrators are still seeking to sell Mosaic Brands, which collapsed under heavy debts in October. It had already started winding down well-known labels including Rockmans, Autograph and Crossroads.
As we mentioned earlier, Queensland parliament has today been banned from debate on abortion.
This came after the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, moved without notice that the state parliament ban the introduction of any bill amending the state’s abortion laws.
Here’s a video capturing the debate:
If you’re looking for a quick catch-up on the news, here’s our top stories for the day:
Updated
Queensland government’s decision to gag debate on abortion for four years ‘lawful’ but ‘odd’
The University of Queensland law professor Graeme Orr says the state government’s decision to gag debate on abortion for four years is “lawful” but “a bit silly”.
Under a motion passed today, parliament’s standing orders now do not permit debate about Queensland’s abortion laws, or any amendment to them.
“This is lawful,” Orr said. “But this is quite odd. Only two weeks back, the government asked parliament to adopt the sessional orders for this term.”
He added:
The motion is largely symbolic: political showmanship.
It tells Queensland the intention is to brook no debate about changing the Termination of Pregnancy Act. And, by falling in line with the motion, there’s enough LNP backbenchers committed to shutting off such debate.
In theory this procedural order can be waived in future, by ‘leave’ of the House. But the government is also signalling it wouldn’t give such leave.
The motion does not prohibit an MP asking about the issue in question time, or a parliamentary committee inquiring into abortion practices, he said.
Updated
More on the RBA not considering a rate cut at board meeting:
While the markets viewed the RBA has taken a dovish tone to inflation, the governor, Michele Bullock, has suggested we might need to take a chill pill.
Importantly, the board did not consider a rate cut (or hike) at this week’s meeting, Bullock said.
Now we might get a surprisingly weak CPI figure for the December quarter on 29 January but it would take a bit of budging if a rate cut was not even assessed this week.
It means the board had only considered the “hold’ option for three meetings in a row – and it usually has a look at least before leaping.
We could get a nasty geopolitical surprise by the next board meeting, on 17-18 February.
“We have another problem,” Bullock said, if inflation turns out to be stronger than anticipated.
Updated
RBA governor says board ‘did not consider’ cutting cash rate
Asked by Guardian Australia’s Peter Hannam if the RBA had considered a case for lowing interest rates, the bank’s governor, Michele Bullock, said it didn’t.
“We did not consider an interest rate cut,” Bullock said, adding that the board had considered what had transpired since the board’s previous meeting and what was appropriate.
She later said it was too early to tell if there will be a rate cut in February.
I honestly don’t know if we’re going to be cutting in February. We’re going to be looking at the data and be data-driven.
Updated
Staying with the RBA governor, Michele Bullock, she has said the change in wording in the bank’s statement was deliberate and the board wanted to convey their opinion is evolving as the data does.
In recent previous statements the bank had declared it was not “ruling anything in or out”, a phrase that had implied another interest rate rise in this cycle was possible. Those words were not part of the new statement on Tuesday.
Bullock said:
We’re not saying that we won the battle against inflation yet, but we are saying that we got a bit more confidence that things are evolving as we think in our forecasts. We’ve got to be aware that things might move in either direction but I think that’s what people would expect of us.
Updated
Michele Bullock says RBA needs to see ‘more progress on underlying inflation’
The Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, is speaking now about keeping interest rates unchanged for the ninth meeting in a row at 4.35%.
Bullock said:
The board needs to be confident that inflation is moving sustainably towards the target and, for this to occur, we need to see more progress on underlying inflation coming down from today.
The RBA’s job, our mandate is to keep inflation between two and 3% and to aim at the midpoint 2.5% … We want to bring inflation down in a way that doesn’t cause a spike in unemployment. That’s the balancing act we are trying to get right and it is a challenge.
Updated
There is no evidence that an arson attack on an Islamic school’s bus was racially or politically motivated, South Australian police say.
The empty bus was parked outside the driver’s house on Sunday night when it was set on fire just before midnight.
Channel Seven reported “fears” the Sunday night attack “may have been racially motivated”. Channel Nine reported the incident had “raised fears” it was a racist attack, but that the bus driver, Errol Koch, believed it was mere stupidity.
Footage showed extensive damage to the yellow school bus, which belonged to IQRA College. Crime scene investigators believe the fire was deliberately lit but that the nature of the attack “indicates it may have been an opportunistic attack, rather than premeditated”. SA police said in a statement on Monday:
Investigations into a suspicious school bus fire in Reynella overnight have so far not identified any evidence to indicate it was racially or politically motivated.
A neighbour reported the voices of youths were heard in the vicinity at the time of the incident with investigations ongoing to confirm this.
Channel Nine reported that the bus was outside Koch’s house. He said it was “a random attack” and that he would hate for people to think it was racially motivated. “It’s very strange for something like this to happen,” he said.
Senator Fatima Payman earlier compared the situation to the Melbourne synagogue fire, which is being treated as an act of terrorism. She said on Instagram there were “two acts of arson, two acts of hate, but two very different responses” and said Islamophobia was “ignored, downplayed or dismissed”.
In a statement, the Islamophobia Register Australia, which tracks Islamophobia in Australia, criticised Liberal senator Dave Sharma’s claim that Islamophobia was “fictitious”.
The register said there had been a 600% increase in reported incidents of Islamophobia over the past year and that “lived experiences ... demonstrate that Islamophobia is not only real but also escalating to unprecedented levels, posing a serious threat to the safety of Muslims”.
Police asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
No one from the school was available to comment, but a spokesperson told The Advertiser it was a “shock” and that the school was reassessing its security measures. The spokesperson also said he did not believe it was a targeted attack but was not ruling it out.
Updated
Chalmers claims RBA board ‘gaining some confidence that inflationary pressures are declining’
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has just spoken about the RBA keeping interest rates unchanged for the ninth meeting in a row at 4.35%, leaving stressed borrowers to wait at least until February before they get some relief.
Chalmers said that the government had made substantial progress in the fight against inflation, and was trying to do so without slowing the economy. He said that progress was reflected in the RBA’s statement today.
In recent previous statements the bank had declared it was not “ruling anything in or out”, a phrase that had implied another interest rate rise in this cycle was possible. Those words were not part of the new statement on Tuesday.
Chalmers told reporters:
The statement makes it clear that the board is gaining some confidence that inflationary pressures are declining.
My job as treasurer is to focus primarily on the fight against inflation, to do that in a way that doesn’t ignore the very substantial risks to growth. We are making progress on that front but we know that people are still under very substantial pressure and that’s why rolling out our cost of living help is so important.
Updated
RBA says ‘risks remain’ but fewer look to be on the ‘upside’ for inflation
We noted that markets were pretty clear in their interpretation of today’s RBA verdict: an interest rate cut is coming a bit sooner than they predicted prior to 2.30pm AEDT.
The RBA being the RBA (and no longer dabbling in “forward guidance” after the previous governor, Philip Lowe, got torched) says that while it is confident inflation inline with recent forecasts “risks remain”.
Indeed, “geopolitical uncertainties remain pronounced”, the bank said in its statement. (An understatement given Trump 2.0, Syria, South Korea, France, etc.)
But most of those risks appear to be loading up on the “too cold” rather than “too hot” side of Goldilocks’ porridge. “While underlying inflation is still high, other recent data on economic activity have been mixed, but on balance softer than expected in November,” the bank said.
GDP growth (which we’ve learnt since the bank’s November forecasts) has been weak, the RBA noted. “There is a risk that any pick up in consumption is slower than expected, resulting in continued subdued output growth and a sharper deterioration in the labour market.”
There remain “upside” risks that could stall the slide in inflation. We’ll get more of a sounding from the RBA governor, Michele Bullock, shortly. Perhaps the CBA, alone among the big four banks to forecast a February interest rate cut, might not be so lonely for long. Let’s see.
Updated
Hi there, I’ll bring you the news until this evening.
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today – Jordyn Beazley will be here with you for the rest of the afternoon. Take care.
Dutton issues statement after Fletcher announces he won’t re-contest election
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has issued a statement after the Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher announced he would not re-contest the next election.
Dutton said Fletcher had served his constituents “with commitment and courage” over 15 years, and that he is “a man of superb character”.
Paul was a loyal and trusted minister under the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments … Paul has been a trusted part of my leadership team, and I am incredibly grateful for his loyalty – not only to me but to all of his Liberal colleagues.
In his maiden speech, Paul said he wanted to be ‘a voice for rational policymaking’ which recognises the reality ‘that the prosperity we enjoy today is not guaranteed but needs continual work’. Paul has been a voice of reason in the Liberal party and a man whose intellect and hard work has unquestionably bettered our nation.
My best wishes to Paul, his wife, Manuela, and their sons, Gabriel and Hugo.
Updated
Australian greyhound welfare advocates welcome NZ ban on greyhound racing
Australian greyhound welfare advocates have welcomed today’s announcement that greyhound racing would be banned in New Zealand – saying it is only a matter of time until Australia follows suit.
New Zealand’s racing minister Winston Peters said the decision was “driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” following three critical reviews of the industry and a high number of race injuries he described as “unacceptable”.
According to the NSW regulator Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, the NSW injury rate is 42.33 per 1000 starters, compared to 25.17 per 1000 as stated in this year’s GRNZ annual report.
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) said that in the FY23-24 racing season, 13 dogs died on NZ racetracks. So far this year, 124 greyhounds have died on Australian racetracks (according to its analysis of stewards’ reports).
Kylie Field, the NSW director of the CPG, said the news of NZ’s ban was a tremendous boost for animal welfare:
The government of New Zealand has recognised that greyhound racing can never be reformed and is inherently dangerous. The only way to protect greyhounds is to shut down the industry.
Numerous reviews and inquiries in Australia have shown that greyhound racing is plagued by deaths and injuries on and off tracks, animal cruelty, doping, a rehoming crisis, and poor regulation.
The number of dogs being killed and maimed on Australian tracks is unacceptably high. It’s only a matter of time before greyhound racing ceases in Australia. The industry is suffering from a large downturn in wagering and has posted significant financial losses.
Field said after NZ shuts down its industry, only four countries will have greyhound racetracks – and Australia must follow NZ “for the sake of the greyhounds.”
More on the VCE exams cheat sheet bungle
The acting VCAA chief executive, Marcia Devlin, said analysis conducted by an expert advisory panel concluded 25 of the 65 examinations either had “sufficient changes made to them or the published material was such that no advantage could be obtained from it”.
She said of the remaining 40 exams where students might have had prior online access to questions there were a small number of “anomalous results” for 69 students across five exams: business management; legal studies; product design and technologies; philosophy and visual communication design.
She said there was no evidence of a “coordinated behaviour” to access the cheat sheets and the students were not marked down. Devlin said:
While we can’t undo the error that has occurred, I hope that on results day, we’ve been able to restore some of the trust that’s been lost by ensuring the hard work of the VCAA students are reflected in results that are fair and accurate, with no student disadvantaged by the VCAA error.
No marks deducted from VCE exams despite release of de facto ‘cheat sheets’
No marks have been deducted from VCE exams despite the release of de facto “cheat sheets” weeks before they were sat.
The education minister Ben Carroll held a press conference to confirm the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has completed the marking and analysis of the 2024 VCE examinations.
The results were provided to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) on Friday to allow the centre to process university offers.
Carroll said 65 of an overall 116 VCE exams had been affected by a “publishing error”, which saw the release of questions weeks before the tests were sat. This was an increase of nine affected exams since his last update in November.
The questions – either identical or very similar to those in the final exams – were contained in VCAA sample cover pages, which contained hidden text in seemingly blank sections.
Change of RBA stance noted by investors
That change of stance has been noted by investors. They sent the Aussie dollar skidding about a quarter of a US cent to US63.83c, while stocks pared their losses by a bit too, to be 0.2% lower for the day. (Lower interest rates hurt the dollar versus other currencies and improve corporate profits, all other things equal.)
Updated
Underlying inflation remains too high: RBA
The Reserve Bank has removed its “hawkish” bias, dropping its previous words that it was “not ruling anything in or out” – wording that implied it might yet need to hike its interest rates again in this cycle.
The RBA said in its statement:
Sustainably returning inflation to target within a reasonable timeframe remains the board’s highest priority.
While headline inflation has declined substantially and will remain lower for a time, underlying inflation is more indicative of inflation momentum, and it remains too high.
Still, “the board is gaining some confidence that inflation is moving sustainably towards target”.
Updated
The RBA leaves interest rates on hold for a ninth consecutive meeting
As expected the Reserve Bank has keep its key interest rate unchanged at 4.35%, leaving stressed borrowers to wait at least until February before they get some relief.
The RBA board’s decision means 2024 was one of stasis as far as the cash rate was concerned. The most recent move was a rate hike in November 2023 – the 13th in a series that began in May 2022.
The board still wants to see more proof that inflation will settle “sustainably” within its target range of 2%-3%. (In the September quarter, the CPI was 2.8% but underlying inflation was 3.5%.)
The risk is that the central bank will leave its first cuts too late to prevent a jump in unemployment with the overall economy still fragile. GDP growth in the September quarter was only 0.8%, the slowest annual pace since the 1990s recession (excluding the Covid-era contortions).
Updated
Inflation expectations ebb towards lowest in more than three years, survey finds
We’ll get the Reserve Bank’s interest rate verdict shortly, with a ninth hold in a row likely (as we noted earlier today).
The RBA has said it wanted to be sure inflation expectations (what people think prices will do) should remain “anchored” before it could rule out any more interest rate increases.
In that light, today’s weekly survey of consumer sentiment by ANZ and Roy Morgan is a bit interesting (excuse the pun) – you can see a graph showing receding inflation expectations here. The survey has noted a 0.5ppt drop in the past fortnight, with the gauge near its lowest since Aug 2021.
It’s only a weekly survey, but the public had tended to be pessimistic about inflation. That pessimism looks to be ebbing and giving the RBA room to move – even if that first cut might not be for another meeting or two.
Anyway, look out for the RBA decision here shortly.
New Zealand regulator sues Woolworths and local rival over grocery pricing
New Zealand’s competition watchdog says it is filing criminal charges against Woolworths and its local rival Pak’nSave over allegations they engaged in inaccurate pricing and misleading specials.
The Commerce Commission said in a statement today that the major supermarkets were well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right. The commission’s deputy chair, Anne Callinan, said:
Shoppers should have confidence that the price they see will be the price they pay, and specials really are special.
Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials, and we’re not satisfied with the continuing issues we’re seeing across the industry.
The regulator said the charges will be filed separately against Woolworths’ New Zealand business, and two Pak’nSave stores.
New Zealand has a highly concentrated grocery sector dominated by Woolworths-owned stores and those tied to Foodstuffs, which includes Pak’nSave.
Woolworths said in a statement it would review the legal proceedings once they were filed. A Foodstuffs spokesperson said that while errors are relatively rare, the company agreed that any inaccurate pricing was unacceptable:
We’re working hard to ensure that the price customers see on shelf is always what they pay at checkout, and that all specials offer clear savings.
In Australia, Woolworths and rival Coles are being sued by the competition regulator over allegations they misled consumers by offering “illusory” discounts. The supermarkets are defending the claims.
More of PMs comments at Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne
More from Anthony Albanese’s remarks at the Adass Israel synagogue, after TV cameras broadcast more of his remarks. The prime minister said the government would pledge support to restore the synagogue after the arson attack, which is being treated by police as a terror incident.
Albanese said the Australian community needed to come together and unite:
I also want to commit, on behalf of my government that I lead, into doing what we need to do to restore this synagogue, including providing whatever support is necessary financially to make sure that those who perpetrated this evil crime do not receive any benefit and indeed get the message that Australia is not a country that will tolerate such an act.
He was with Josh Burns, the local Labor MP and member of the Jewish community. Burns said he was “amazed with the bravery and stoicism that’s been displayed by the Adass Israel congregation”, praising the Jewish community for coming together and showing kindness after the attack.
A local Jewish leader spoke at the brief press conference to say he was grateful that Albanese had attended the synagogue, thanking the PM for his visit.
Albanese called the arson attack “an act of terrorism, it was fuelled by antisemitism, and it was stoked by hatred”.
We’re a country that needs to come together and unite. One of the things that we spoke about inside with the community leaders was the fact that people have come to Australia because we are a country that is peaceful. We are a country that respects people of different faiths and are enriched by our diversity here.
The PM finished his brief remarks by saying he would meet with community leaders to “discuss practical steps forward”.
Updated
Ed Husic says it is ‘ridiculous’ to suggest Islamophobia is not a problem
Just moments before the prime minister made some short remarks at the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, the science minister, Ed Husic, spoke to Sky News.
The western Sydney Labor MP has been one of the most vocal ministers against Islamophobia after claims by opposition members that only antisemitism has risen in Australia since the 7 October attack on southern Israel.
Husic said the suggestion that there is not also a problem with Islamophobia was “ridiculous”.
So, should we turn a blind eye to Islamophobia? Is that what the Coalition is saying? Because the Coalition has frontbenchers who have said Islamophobia is not a problem, like, which is just ridiculous … I mean, there was an incident in New South Wales, as you may be familiar, where a bomb was placed on the car of a person who had displayed, outside their home, a Palestinian flag. That matter had been taken up subsequently by police. Now that is equally bad, I would say, [and] is an issue that should get attention as well.
Last night, the shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, criticised Anthony Albanese on Sky News for calling out both antisemitism and Islamophobia, saying it was a “moral failure”.
You don’t need to call out Islamophobia when there’s been an instance of antisemitism. The Jewish community is the only community whose experience of racism can’t be called out in isolation, at least by our prime minister. He always has to balance that against other communities, and I think that is an abrogation of leadership and it’s a moral failure.
Updated
Faruqi slams Coalition MPs for playing down or dismissing Islamophobia
The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi has slammed members of the Coalition for playing down or outright dismissing Islamophobia in recent days, saying it was “despicable.”
Coming after New South Wales senator Dave Sharma called Islamophobia “fictitious” yesterday, Faruqi said it was imperative that racism, in all its forms, be tackled.
She called on Labor to fully fund and implement the recently launched anti-racism framework, launched by the Australian Human Rights Commission in late November:
It’s despicable that Liberal MPs keep denying and ignoring Islamophobia in this country. We know racism is rife in this country ever since colonisation, with First Nations people facing the brunt of that racism and discrimination, but so do other communities of colour, Muslim communities and Jewish communities as well.
And what we have to do about that is actually tackle the core of why racism exists in this country and the recently launched national anti-racism framework needs to be fully funded.
The Labor government needs to commit to all the recommendations of that framework if we really are to start to tackle and eliminate racism in this country, which should be a top priority for us.
Updated
Queensland police allege threats made towards Jewish community centre in social media post
Circling back to earlier news that a Queensland man has been charged by counter-terrorism investigators, after allegedly threatening criminal damage at a community centre in Caulfield.
In a statement posted on their website, Queensland police have alleged that threats were made towards a Jewish community centre in Victoria in a “social media post”. They said:
Everyone in Queensland has a right to feel safe and the QPS remains committed to community safety and engaging with people from across our culturally diverse society to help foster relationships and build upon platforms for community engagement.
As a result of a recent legislative change in Queensland, instances of serious vilification and hate crime are now a criminal matter. Where instances of hate or vilification are reported to police, investigations will be undertaken to prosecute those responsible.
Updated
Greens announce candidates for two Labor-held western Sydney seats
The Greens have announced two candidates to run in two Labor-held western Sydney seats, in the hopes of capitalising on discontent surrounding how the government has handled the war in Gaza.
Poet and author Omar Sakr will be running in Jason Clare’s seat of Blaxland, while Liz Tilly will be running in Andrew Charlton’s seat of Parramatta.
Sakr said he felt “compelled” to run for the seat and against the Labor government because it “refuses to sanction Israel.”
I’m sick and tired of successive Labor and Liberal governments treating my community with contempt and hostility. I’m sick and tired of the racism levelled against my community being, if not ignored than tolerated or trivialised.
Both candidates were announced by Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, who said that discussions on preferences were ongoing, with an announcement due closer to the next election.
Updated
Albanese makes brief remarks to packed crowd at Addas Israel synagogue
As we just reported, Anthony Albanese has appeared at the Addas Israel synagogue in Melbourne, giving quick doorstop remarks in front of a packed crowd before being whisked into a car without taking questions.
Our reporter was at the scene, and we’ll bring you more shortly, but in brief remarks televised, Albanese said the government wouldn’t tolerate antisemitism:
We’ll continue to unite as a country. I’m going to now meet with the community leaders to discuss practical steps forward, but I thank them for the welcome here today.
Appearing with local Labor MP Josh Burns, Albanese spoke briefly in front of the crowd before getting into the car to leave the scene, in what appeared to be a somewhat tense scene. Burns had asked the crowd to step back so the PM could speak; Albanese’s security team yelled for the crowd to step away from his car so it could drive away.
Televised video of the scene captured members of the crowd yelling that Albanese hadn’t taken any questions.
Updated
Isolated heckling as PM visits Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne
While the prime minister has been welcomed at the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, there was some isolated heckling as he stepped towards a microphone after touring inside.
“Time to resign,” yelled one bystander. “M.I.A,” yelled another. “Off to Kooyong to play tennis, mate?” said another.
The heckles were isolated and were silenced by community leaders who welcomed Anthony Albanese.
Some at the synagogue told Guardian Australia they were upset the prime minister hadn’t visited the synagogue until today. Others were frustrated the attack was not declared a likely terrorist incident until yesterday.
Updated
Contraceptive device did not harm women, judge finds
A contraceptive device did not directly cause chronic pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding in women, a judge has found.
As AAP reports, Victorian supreme court justice Andrew Keogh handed down his decision today, marking the end of a years-long class action against Bayer Australia and five other companies.
The class action, led by Victorian Patrice Turner, claimed women suffered harm as a direct result of the Essure device being implanted into their bodies.
Turner underwent a hysterectomy at 32, five years after the contraceptive device was inserted into both of her fallopian tubes. She claimed she suffered severe pelvic pain and heavy uterine bleeding, which resolved after she underwent the major abdominal surgery.
Turner and the other class action members alleged Bayer Australia and the other companies involved in Essure’s design, manufacturing and marketing breached a duty of care.
Justice Keogh found Turner and the class action members could not make their claims out. He said he was not satisfied they established the Essure device caused inflammation, and subsequent pain and abnormal bleeding in women.
The case went to trial in the Victorian supreme court in 2023. The contraceptive device was discontinued by Bayer for commercial reasons in 2017.
Updated
Abortion gag motion passes Queensland parliament
The abortion gag motion has passed Queensland parliament.
All 50 LNP MPs present voted to ban any debate on abortion for four years.
Labor and the Katter’s Australian party voted against the motion.
The motion passed with just 30 minutes of debate.
Updated
Qantas flight makes emergency landing in Brisbane
A Qantas flight bound for Adelaide was forced to return to Brisbane shortly after take-off due to an issue with the landing gear brakes.
Pilots were notified of a park brake indication issue on flight QF1929, but the brakes did not fail. Video footage from on board shows people in the brace position, with flight crew shouting “stay down, heads down”.
BREAKING: Qantas Flight QF1929 has been forced to make an emergency landing at Brisbane Airport.
— 4BC Brisbane (@NewsTalk4BC) December 10, 2024
Passengers were told 'Stay down, heads down' as the fight landed in Brisbane.
More: https://t.co/krqOMhTADh pic.twitter.com/pcK8crcv8B
A Qantas spokesperson said in a statement:
A flight from Brisbane to Adelaide returned to Brisbane shortly after take-off due to an issue with landing gear brakes. The aircraft landed normally and is being checked by engineers.
We understand that this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we thank them for following the instructions of the crew.
We are working hard to get customers on their way as quickly as possible. We will follow up with all customers to provide our support.
The aircraft landed safely, with priority landing into Brisbane airport and emergency services on standby. The aircraft will be checked by engineers before it returns to service.
Updated
‘Extraordinary scenes’ at Queensland parliament after ambush abortion gag moved
Debate has continued on the ambush abortion motion in Queensland parliament.
There was absolutely no notice of the move before it was sprung on the house by the premier after question time. David Crisafulli said his motion “ends” a “disgraceful” “US-style scare campaign” during the election campaign.
Abortion dogged the LNP during the election campaign with the party never detailing how it would meet that promise. Crisafulli never ruled out a conscience vote on the issue; many MPs including him have declared their opposition to some forms of abortion. He said:
I said from day one it was not part of our plan. I said there will be no changes. And despite that – Labor knew this – and despite that, the social media tsunami, the grubby phone calls continued unabated. They spent millions of dollars on a disgraceful scare campaign.
The opposition leader, Steven Miles, said the move was “extraordinary”.
Mr Speaker, these are extraordinary scenes. I thought I’d never seen anything as extraordinary as what they did at the last sitting. But this, with no notice, no discussion, no advice to the media that it was even coming, such a grubby, grubby treatment [of a serious issue].
Updated
Queensland man charged after allegedly threatening criminal damage at Caulfield community centre
A Queensland man has been charged by counter-terrorism investigators after he allegedly threatened criminal damage at a community centre in Caulfield.
Queensland police have issued a statement confirming a 52-year-old Holland Park man was arrested on Saturday night after a “threat of criminal damage to a community centre in Caulfield” on Sunday.
He was subsequently charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, police said, and is due to front Nanango magistrates court on 16 January.
The threat against the community centre in Caulfield came just two days after the separate and unrelated firebombing at the nearby Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, which Victoria police yesterday declared a terrorist attack.
Victoria police said there was nothing to indicate the incident is linked to the synagogue fire in Ripponlea and the investigation into that matter remains ongoing.
Updated
Prime minister arrives at Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has arrived at the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
A large cohort of Melbourne’s Jewish community, including Labor MP Josh Burns, welcomed Albanese outside the synagogue, which still has police tape surrounding it.
Community leaders told people at the synagogue not to heckle the prime minister before he arrived.
Updated
Queensland premier introduces motion to ban any amendment to abortions laws
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has moved that the state parliament ban the introduction of any bill amending the state’s abortion laws.
The issue persistently dogged the LNP leader during the election campaign.
Crisafulli moved that the house:
Orders that A) no bill or amendment seeking to amend the termination of pregnancy act 2018 is allowed to be introduced. B) No motion or amendment seeking to have this house express its views on the termination of pregnancy act 2018 is allowed to be moved, and 2 the speaker is to rule out of order any bill, motion or amendment that offends the order in 1.
Crossbench MP Robbie Katter has repeatedly vowed to reintroduce the party’s “babies born alive” bill, which regulated abortion providers.
If successful the motion would effectively gag parliament on the issue.
Updated
Kean issues statement after Fletcher announces he won’t re-contest election
Former NSW Liberal MP Matt Kean says that Paul Fletcher’s service to the nation has been “extraordinary”, as he announces his departure from politics.
Earlier this morning, Fletcher said he would not run for re-election at the next federal election. In a post to X, Kean responded to the news and said:
Paul Fletcher is one of the best people you could ever meet in public life. Intellectually brilliant, full of integrity and devastatingly effective. His service to the community, the Liberal party and our Nation has been extraordinary.
Kean, who was a powerful figure in the NSW Liberals’ moderate faction, resigned from politics in June this year and is now chair of the Climate Change Authority.
As Josh Butler reported earlier, Fletcher was in line to be the Coalition’s leading moderate after the retirement of Simon Birmingham.
Burney hits out at Dutton for stance on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
The Former Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney has hit out at Peter Dutton on his stance on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has said earlier that he would take down the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags before press conferences or speeches, if elected prime minister.
Burney has said on Instagram that Dutton is known as “the man who walked out on the apology to the Stolen Generations.”
The former minister, who held the portfolio from 2022 to earlier this year, wrote:
This is the man who gave no support to the Referendum. He refuses to offer bipartisan support on all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and justice issues. What else can you expect from a man like him?
The prime minister began holding press conferences in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in 2022, after he was elected.
Updated
Magistrate says Alan Yazbek ‘no Nazi lover’ as restaurateur escapes conviction for displaying swastika
Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbek has escaped conviction after displaying a Nazi swastika at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Magistrate Miranda Moody did not record a conviction against the 56-year-old on Tuesday instead handing him a 12-month conditional release order in the Downing Centre local court. The magistrate said:
This man is no neo-Nazi or rightwing extremist. He is no Nazi lover.
Yazbek was “deeply remorseful” for carrying the handmade sign, Moody said.
In sentencing, the magistrate took into consideration reference letters from a number of people including multiple Jewish friends of Yazbek. She said the high-profile restaurateur had suffered significant extra-curial punishment.
“He has paid a very high price for his foolishness,” Moody said today, citing abusive letters and his decision to step down as co-director of Nomad Group after his arrest.
More on this story here:
Updated
New Zealand to shut down greyhound racing industry
New Zealand will shut down greyhound racing after concluding “the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals”.
AAP reports that the NZ racing minister, Winston Peters, announced the decision today after a number of reviews into the industry, with clubs and tracks to be closed by the end of 2026. He said:
This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs.
A 2021 report found that 923 dogs were euthanised in the previous four years, with no reason given for about half.
New Zealand is one of a handful of countries which allows greyhound racing – including Australia, the US, UK, Mexico and Vietnam.
In a statement today, Peters said racing clubs had made “significant progress” towards welfare improvement, “the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals”.
Part of the transition task will be finding homes for an estimated 2900 racing greyhounds.
Updated
Business confidence jumps to highest in almost two years
As the nine members of the Reserve Bank board go through their final deliberations ahead of the 2.30pm AEDT rates decision, NAB has released their latest monthly survey of business sentiment and conditions.
Perhaps a little surprising to those who focussed on the admittedly disappointing September quarter GDP numbers, business confidence is actually quite upbeat. In fact, it’s now back to around the long-run average levels and it is now at its highest since early 2023.
Only construction and retail posted retreats, with sentiment otherwise on the rebound (see chart).
Business conditions, meanwhile, tracked sideways at “an around-average level”, NAB said. Outside mining, conditions were strongest in the services sector – which makes up most of the economy.
Cheery news, too, on the prices front, with labour and purchase costs both easing further in the month. NAB said:
Overall, the survey continues to paint a picture of resilient activity levels in the economy and a trend easing in price and cost pressures.
Capacity utilisation remains on the high side but that too declined “a relatively sharp 0.7 percentage points”, so that’s also heading in the right direction.
The RBA, though, will probably view these numbers as confirming what they were probably planning to do anyway: leave interest rates on hold for a ninth meeting in a row.
Remember to check back here in just over two hours for the RBA rates decision.
Updated
Indigenous Australians minister says Dutton ‘unfit’ to be PM after flag comments
The Indigenous Australians minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, has responded to opposition leader Peter Dutton’s earlier comments that he would take down the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags before press conferences or speeches, if elected prime minister.
On Instagram, McCarthy said Dutton is “once again proving himself unfit to be prime minister” and that he is dividing Australians “once again”.
She said that the Australian Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flags were proclaimed flags under the Flags Act 1953 on 14 July 1995.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is the oldest continuing culture in the world, and I believe all Australians should take great pride in that.
Updated
Jacinta Allan announces business council to provide her with direct advice
The Victorian premier has also announced a “business council” who she says will provide her with direct advice. The council includes:
Andrew Dillon, AFL chief executive
Andrew Irvine, National Australia Bank chief executive
Anthony Pratt, chairman of Visy
Mark Mentha, co-founder and partner at KordaMentha
Mike Schneider, Bunnings CEO
Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Penny Fowler, chair of the Herald and Weekly Times and the Good Friday Appeal
Prof Sharon Pickering, vice-chancellor at Monash University
The council will be chaired by Ahmed Fahour, former Australian Post CEO who is now the head of Tim Gurner’s property group.
Updated
More on the Victorian government’s economic statement
Continuing from our last post, the economic growth statement focuses on four themes – “open doors, cut red tape, build new skills and reach every community” – and five priority sectors: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical research, circular economy, digital technologies and agribusiness.
It also includes several initiatives:
A 10-year plan to unlock industrial land
$20m industry development fund, “Yes to International Students” fund, $10.9m package for small and medium size businesses, $10m for regional Victoria infrastructure, $7m for tourism sector
A new investment coordinator general position to “ensure agencies, regulators and statutory authorities meet all required approvals deadlines”
Speed up Environmental Effects Statements and shorten timeframes for “wind farms, mines, gas projects, water projects, road and rail”
Remove planning permits for outdoor dining on public land, streamline liquor and planning approvals
Increase waste-to-energy cap to 2m tonnes per annum, then to 2.5m
Updated
Victorian government releases economic statement
The Victorian government says it will halve the amount of regulators in the state as part of its plans to cut red tape and save businesses $500m by 2030.
The premier, Jacinta Allan, and treasurer, Tim Pallas, announced their economic growth statement at an event at the Investment Centre this morning, which includes a plan to cut the number of regulators from 37 to 18 in the next five years.
Allan told the crowd of business people:
Today, I can announce that we will be cutting the number of regulators in this state by half. It will mean Victoria has the lowest number of regulators of any state in the nation. Because regulation should be a guardrail to customers not blockers to business ... We have to do better to save business and confusion and frustration for all of this red tape.
The plan to cut the regulators will be published next year.
The growth statement says this measure, among others, will “slash the regulatory burden for businesses to the tune of $500m” by “reducing duplication, speeding up and digitising application processes and removing unnecessary permits”.
Updated
Fletcher was in line to be Coalition’s leading moderate after Birmingham retirement
As we just flagged, veteran Liberal MP Paul Fletcher says he’s not running for re-election at the next poll. The member for Bradfield was in line to be the Coalition’s leading moderate after the retirement of Simon Birmingham.
Fletcher’s seat faced a stiff challenge from independent Nicolette Boele in 2022, who is running again at the next poll. Fletcher has been railing against the “Teal” community independent movement recently, but claims “the local mood is discernibly different from 2022” when the Coalition was turfed from government and half a dozen blue ribbon Liberal seats fell to climate-focused independents.
In a statement this morning, Fletcher listed a number of achievements he is proud of:
Outcomes I am pleased to have helped deliver include the eSafety Commissioner, the Mobile Black Spots Program, Western Sydney Airport, the News Media Bargaining Code and new funding and tax offsets for TV, movies and digital games. Most of these Labor has continued and sought to claim credit for since coming to government: the closest you get to praise from your opponents in this game.
Fletcher thanked his family for their support, and said he was retiring after 15 years as local member.
Updated
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher announces he will not run for re-election
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher has announced he will not run for re-election at the next federal election.
In a statement, Fletcher said it had been a “privilege” to serve as the MP for Bradfield, as well as a parliamentary secretary, minister and cabinet minister between 2013 and 2022, and as a senior opposition frontbencher since May 2022.
Last week I marked 15 years as member for Bradfield. Renewal is healthy, for people and institutions, and now is the right time to hand over the baton.
I expect some outstanding people will put themselves forward to be the next Liberal candidate for Bradfield, and to serve the people of Bradfield with energy and commitment. That Liberal candidate, once chosen through our party processes, will have my full support.
I will continue to serve my constituents in Bradfield for the balance of this parliamentary term.
Fletcher said that “while we will take nothing for granted in the campaign, the local mood is discernibly different from 2022” and he would keep working for the election of a Dutton Liberal government.
Two years ago political commentators wrote off our chances of coming back any time soon; thanks to Peter Dutton’s focus and leadership, the next election is now extremely contestable.
Fletcher said he would return to the private sector once his term ends and he has taken some time for travel and rest.
Updated
Bridge booze plan OK with Brisbane council
Brisbane city council has approved changes to the lease of the Story Bridge Adventure Climb that would allow the company to seek a permit from alcohol regulators to serve booze.
In a special council meeting – called only to discuss the matter – lord mayor Adrian Schrinner hit back at the “ludicrous debate and discussion” around the alcohol proposal which he characterised as “wowser stuff”.
I’ve heard some commentators talking about people barfing off the bridge. Well, I don’t know whether they can handle their alcohol or not, but after a single drink I don’t imagine people are barfing of the bridge.
Artemus Group, which runs the climb and also a brewery at the bottom of the bridge, has said their plan would keep climbers below the legal driving limit by serving a single beer or champagne for a toast to customers who scale the peaks of its steel trusses that rise 80 metres above sea level. The mayor said:
We’re not talking about opening a bar on top of the bridge. We’re not talking about having bar flies sitting up there leering into people’s windows.
Labor, Greens and an independent councillor raised concerns with how the issue was being managed and that the bridge itself was deteriorating but, in the end, the motion passed 16 votes in favour with six abstentions.
Updated
Flowers left at Adass Israel synagogue as Israel’s ambassador to Australia visits site
Members of the public have been leaving flowers and well-wishes at the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, the site of a terror arson attack on Friday. Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, visited with religious leaders at the site this morning.
Here are some photos that were taken just earlier:
Updated
Heatwave warnings current for NSW, Queensland and WA
Heatwave warnings are currently in place across parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, maximum temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s are forecast across parts of Queensland. Severe heatwave conditions peaked early this week over central parts of the state, and are expected to contract to northern parts of the state later in the week.
In Western Australia, severe heatwave conditions are expected to gradually move southward over the coming days, then extend to the east midweek.
And in NSW, severe heatwave conditions have peaked and are expected to ease from today.
⚠️🌡️ Severe Heatwave Warning for #Gascoyne, #CentralWest, #LowerWest, #GreatSouthern & #CentralWheatBelt districts.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) December 9, 2024
Areas of severe heatwave conditions will gradually move southward, then extend to the east mid-week.
Details: https://t.co/IHMcXDPrFU pic.twitter.com/BFDVlVjsId
Updated
Guardian Australia readers share stories of Australia’s housing affordability crisis
Guardian Australia readers have shared how the housing crisis has affected their work, relationships, household, health and wellbeing – with almost every one of the 160 respondents describing their despair and desperation as, at best, they tread water and, at worst, live in their cars.
Daisy Dumas has the full story below, looking at how deeply the housing crisis is reshaping the way people live:
Updated
Australia travel warning for Jews across the world
Earlier, we flagged that the Simon Wiesenthal Center had issued a travel advisory telling Jews not to travel to Australia.
AAP has more details on this: Jews or Israelis considering travelling to Australia are being told to “exercise extreme caution” after the arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue was declared a likely terrorist attack.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organisation, issued the warning this morning, Australian time. The travel advisory is “a result of the failure of Australian authorities to stand up against persistent demonisation, harassment and violence against Jews and Jewish institutions in Australia”.
The centre sent a letter to Australia’s US ambassador, Kevin Rudd, to tell him of its decision.
Israel itself has a level 2 threat on Australia advising travellers to increased precautionary measures since the fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea.
Australia, meanwhile, has told its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Updated
What makes an e-bike non-compliant?
Just circling back to our earlier post, about the parent fined after their children were found riding e-bikes following a prior warning.
Queensland police said that ‘Operation Zappo Stoppie’ targets the illegal use of electric motorcycles and non-compliant electric bikes in the Noosa area.
For an electric bike to be legally used on the road without needing to be registered, it has to have an electric (not petrol) motor which can assist the rider, but must be predominantly powered by the pedals.
As Queensland Transport explains:
If your bike’s electric motor can help up to speeds in excess of 25km/h without cutting off, it is non-compliant. If your bike has non-functioning pedals that do not propel the bike, it is non-compliant. If you can twist a throttle and ride your bike using the bike’s motor power only, without using the pedals, it is non-compliant.
Updated
Mark Levy to replace Ray Hadley in 2GB morning slot
Nine Radio’s Sydney station 2GB has announced veteran broadcaster Mark Levy will replace Ray Hadley in the mornings slot in 2025.
Hadley is walking away two years earlier than he planned after a 43-year broadcasting career and a record run of 20 years without losing a ratings survey.
Levy has worked at 2GB for 17 years and currently hosts Wide World of Sports. He said:
As a young kid I grew up listening to the talkback kings and to be taking over a time slot that’s been owned by a mentor and a friend for the last 20 years is something I am excited about and extremely honoured to do.
I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and I can’t wait to speak to our loyal listeners every morning about the issues affecting them in what’s shaping up as an important election year.
ABC staff pen angry letter to board regarding presenter changes
ABC radio management has shown no understanding of the vital role of public broadcasting and recent presenter changes have trampled on audience trust, staff have said in an angry letter to the ABC board.
In a letter seen by Guardian Australia, journalists say the decision to remove Sydney presenters Sarah Macdonald and Simon Marnie was made without consultation or explanation. The strategy to improve ratings has not been communicated, apart from that it needs a refresh, and staff are bewildered and concerned.
You can read more from the exclusive story below:
Australia lags Europe, US on car pollution
Research from the National Transport Commission shows Australians drive some of the dirtiest vehicles in the world – but new vehicles were producing less pollution than older models, even though they were often bigger than the cars they replaced.
As AAP reports, the commission found vehicle pollution dropped by 5% in Australia during 2023, fuelled by the adoption of more electric and hybrid vehicles. The fall came after five years of modest emission reductions, commission chief executive Michael Hopkins said, during which it appeared progress had stalled.
From 2017 to 2021, Australia’s emissions intensity dropped by less than a per cent each year. But ... the emissions intensity of new vehicles sold in 2023 was down by five per cent compared to 2022, marking the largest percentage drop since our reporting began.
Light vehicles sold in 2023 produced significantly fewer emissions than the average of Australia’s vehicle fleet, the study found, cutting 28.5 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
But Australia’s lower vehicle emissions did not compare well to the rest of the world, with its average of 150 grams per kilometre for passenger cars and SUVs falling well behind European countries that registered an average of 107 grams. Norway scored top spot for emissions intensity, while Australia ranked behind Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.
But while car emissions decreased, the size of the average vehicle in Australia increased. The study found the average Australian vehicle had grown from a footprint of 8.3 metres square in 2003 to 8.8 in 2023, and the footprint of utes had grown even further, from 8.7 to 10.2 metres square.
Parent fined after children found riding e-bikes after prior warning
A parent in Queensland has been fined for allegedly letting his children ride e-bikes, after being given a prior warning.
Noosa police fined the 58-year-old Sunshine Beach man with two counts of permitting use of an unregistered motor vehicle, for allowing his 15 and 17-year-old boys to ride e-bikes after being previously warned.
Queensland police said that ‘Operation Zappo Stoppie’ targets the illegal use of electric motorcycles and non-compliant electric bikes in the Noosa area. From 1 July to 4 November, police have done 27 street checks identifying and warning 31 juveniles, issuing eight infringements and impounding three bikes.
Police have charged 24 people with 83 offences, and are continuing to investigate a further 18 incidents involving an additional 30 offences. Noosa Heads senior constable Danny Baker said Operation Zappo Stoppie does not include targeting electric scooters:
We frequently receive complaints from concerned community members about children riding electric motorcycles in ways that are not only dangerous to the rider, but also other road users and pedestrians and it seems unfortunately evident that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.
In some instances we’re also seeing young people who have been caught offending on e-bikes move to the use of even more powerful road registerable sports style motorcycles …
It’s shocking to see children as young as 12 riding bikes powerful enough to be considered a motorbike or vehicle that must be registered, insured and driven by a licence holder.
Baker said in the lead up to Christmas, he is asking parents to “think twice before buying an e-bike for a child that is not able or old enough to ride it legally”.
Updated
Community reels after methanol victims farewelled
The heartbroken families and friends of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones are preparing for life without them after the 19-year-olds were farewelled in separate services.
As AAP reports, almost 1,000 mourners congregated in colour at Beaumaris secondary college in Melbourne’s Bayside yesterday afternoon to pay tribute to Bowles. For many it was their second funeral in four days after saying goodbye to Jones at nearby Mentone girls’ grammar on Friday.
The pair died from methanol poisoning after falling ill while holidaying in Laos after consuming drinks in the tourist town of Vang Vieng last month. Bowles died in a Bangkok hospital on 22 November, a day after Jones died in another hospital in the Thai capital.
Family and friends formed a guard of honour after the funeral as the teenager’s coffin was slowly driven away from her old school. Beaumaris secondary college’s acting principal, Peter Bartlett, thanked people across Australia and overseas for their “love, support and compassion in the wake of the tragedy”.
“Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort for our family,” Bartlett said in a statement on behalf of Bowles’ parents Shaun and Samantha, and brother James, before the service.
Jones was farewelled in similarly emotional service attended by more than 1,000 community members at her old school on Friday. The school grounds were also filled with guests in colourful summer clothes, the way Jones’s family said she lived her life and how she would wish to be remembered.
Updated
Weather forecast across Australia
Here’s a look at the forecast across Australia’s capital cities today, from the Bureau of Meteorology:
Here's today's forecast around Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 9, 2024
For the latest forecasts and warnings, visit our website https://t.co/jlOoTZL1iF or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/i5lOYrVmmu
Updated
Google reveals Australian search trends for 2024
As AAP reports, tech giant Google released its snapshot of the Australian zeitgeist today, detailing the most popular terms and questions asked of its search engine during 2024.
Politics and sport dominated online queries for Australians, Google found, with the US election the top search topic of the year, followed by the Paris Olympics medal tally and results from the UEFA European Football Championship.
Perhaps helped by her Eras tour, Taylor Swift claimed the fifth-most popular search query in Australia and was also named the top global figure in Google Australia searches, besting US president-elect Donald Trump in second place and US vice-president Kamala Harris in fourth.
Among Australian public figures, Raygun, also known as academic and breakdancer Rachael Gunn, earned third spot on the list following her headline-grabbing performance and kangaroo-like moves at the Paris Olympic Games.
Freed journalist Julian Assange scored second place, with business entrepreneur John Singleton named as the most-searched Australian figure after suffering a personal tragedy during the Bondi Junction stabbing attack.
The crime, which claimed seven lives, ranked among the most searched news events of the year, in addition to the disappearance of Victorian woman Samantha Murphy, the Crowdstrike outage that disrupted computers and stores, and Cyclone Kirrily that hit Queensland early in the year.
Other search trends revealed Australians’ curiosity about words such as demure, made popular in a TikTok video, interest in do-it-yourself car maintenance and Halloween costumes and how to make Crumbl cookies and “oatzempic”.
Edgy entertainment choices such as the movie Saltburn and the TV series Baby Reindeer ranked highly in Google’s search trends, although Brisbane production Boy Swallows Universe, based on Trent Dalton’s bestselling novel, ranked in fourth spot.
Updated
Paterson responds to Burns' claim regarding press conference
Liberal senator James Paterson has responded to Josh Burns’ allegations on ABC RN this morning, not exactly denying the Labor MP’s claims about the press conference at the Melbourne synagogue on Friday.
Burns, who had lost his voice at the time, joined Paterson, several Liberal election candidates, and members of the Jewish community at the Ripponlea synagogue after it was the subject of an arson attack, now being treated as a terror incident. Burns claimed on RN that Paterson had agreed to read a statement on his behalf, because he had no voice, but that opposition leader Peter Dutton had intervened to stop Paterson from doing so.
We’ve contacted Dutton and Paterson’s offices for comment. In a statement to Guardian Australia, Paterson didn’t deny Burns’ series of events.
I feel very sorry that Josh Burns and his community have been abandoned by the Labor Party in the wake of this terrorist attack. But it is not the role of a Liberal frontbencher to act as a spokesman for a Labor MP. One of the many senior Albanese government ministers from Victoria should have been there to speak if Josh was not able to.
Paterson had been critical yesterday that no “single senior national security member of [the federal] cabinet has come to Melbourne to visit the synagogue to express their solidarity with the community” – noting neither the prime minister, defence minister, home affairs minister, attorney-general nor the foreign minister had visited.
Anthony Albanese said he would visit the synagogue this week. Labor sources also noted Bill Shorten, the government services minister, had visited on Friday.
Choice survey finds Coles and Woolworths have equal cheapest leg of ham
Consumer advocacy organisation Choice has released the findings of its latest supermarket survey, looking at the cost of a leg of lamb with the bone in ahead of the festive season.
Choice visited 104 supermarkets across the country in September, recording the prices of 14 items – plus the leg of ham. It found Coles and Woolworths came equal first for the best price of the latter. Choice CEO Ashley de Silva said:
Coles and Woolworths came equal first nationwide when we looked at the best price for a leg of lamb with specials. Coles and Woolworths both sold a leg of lamb at an average of $12.89 per kilo, while Aldi came in third place at $13.99 per kilo.
Even when taking specials out of the picture for the leg of lamb, Aldi still didn’t have the cheapest product. Without specials, Woolworths was still the cheapest, followed by Aldi, then Coles.
But for the 14 other grocery items, Aldi was cheapest.
Including specials, Aldi’s basket cost on average $50.63. Coles came in next at $66.18, followed by Woolworths at $69.17. IGA was the most expensive option with their basket costing $73.80.
Burns responds to travel advisory from Simon Wiesenthal Center telling Jews not to travel to Australia
Labor MP Josh Burns also spoke with ABC News Breakfast earlier, where he was asked about the Simon Wiesenthal Center issuing a travel advisory telling Jews not to travel to Australia. Burns told the program:
This has been a historic week for the wrong reasons and the declaration of a likely terror incident has real consequences, so that’s obviously had an impact in the centre’s advice.
My hope is that we’re able to get on top of this. All problems have solutions. All problems can be fixed. We have overcome antisemitism before and Australia has been a wonderful place for the Jewish community and I hope we get back to that as soon as possible.
Queensland Labor will pass LNP's ‘adult time, adult crime’ laws
Labor has decided to back the Queensland government’s “adult crime, adult time” laws, which discriminate against children and violate human rights.
MPs voted to “bitch and fold” on the legislation at a party room meeting at parliament yesterday afternoon. Party leadership then fled out an alternative exit to avoid appearing on camera.
The opposition leader, Steven Miles, said:
The Labor caucus will not stand in the way of increased maximum sentences for youth offenders. Queenslanders did not vote for laws that would put victims on trial. Queenslanders did not vote to end restorative justice, a process that is supported by victims groups.
The opposition will move amendments to ensure those clauses are appropriately scrutinised and are not rammed through after just two days’ consultation. David Crisafulli promised to listen to the experts, and the experts are calling for more time to properly examine the impacts of these laws.
The laws dramatically increase maximum sentences and eliminate restorative justice options for children as young as 10 convicted for any of 13 offences. Child murderers must be sentenced to life behind bars.
The government concedes it discriminates against children by limiting their “protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” among other problems. The laws will be debated all week before a final vote on Thursday.
Updated
Burns says Dutton playing ‘culture wars’ with Aboriginal flag decision
Josh Burns was also asked about Peter Dutton’s indication he wouldn’t display the Aboriginal flag at media conferences if he is elected as PM (see earlier post).
Burns said Dutton was “a guy who loves to divide”, and told ABC RN:
We have three official flags in this country, the Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag. I’ve always been proud to stand in front of all three of them.
I think that our country is is better for having a rich history, for recognising the history of the First Nations people. Certainly, you know, the Jewish community and Jewish community leaders have always stood proudly with First Nations people … And if Peter Dutton wants to play these sorts of culture wars, well, that shows what sort of prime minister he wants to be.
Burns says conversation on antisemitism can occur as standalone topic
During the interview, Josh Burns was asked about calls for weekly pro-Palestine protests should be curtailed – does he agree? The Labor MP responded:
Well, I don’t think the taskforce is to go after individual protests. I think the taskforce is to go after incidents of anti semitism. And you know, while I understand that there are frustrations, especially by businesses in the city who constantly get disrupted, I’m the chair of the Human Rights Committee and I will support people’s right to associate in this country.
What I don’t support is people’s right to preach hate, to go on our streets and chant antisemitic slogans, to chant antisemitism or any form of racism, that’s not acceptable, and I would hope that this taskforce would look at any incidents of antisemitism that happened either on our streets, online, or any threats to the Jewish community.
Burns also said that “I think we can talk about antisemitism as a standalone topic”, adding:
Clearly, the numbers of antisemitic incidents warrant a conversation about it and warrant action on it. Clearly, the incidents of escalation have warranted further government action [and] clearly what’s happened so far hasn’t been enough, and so, yeah, I think we can have this conversation on its own.
Updated
Burns says we need to ‘work together’ to ‘stamp antisemitism out’
Speaking about the antisemitism he has faced, Josh Burns said the worst was when his office was targeted – but online it is “constant, daily, dehumanising” rhetoric.
The Jewish community is the community that really wants to see peace. We want to live peacefully. And I think about the Adass [Israel] community that has been affected over the last week – this is a community that was a post-Holocaust community where they came to Australia looking for a peaceful place. They are a small, tight knit community who go about their business, who love this country …
[Ripponlea is] this fascinating, wonderful, mixing melting pot of our community. It’s something I really love about living in and representing McNamara. And so for me, antisemitism has been this daily barrage, especially online, of people just constantly trying to dehumanise or attack on the basis of who I am, and it’s pretty relentless, but I can deal with it.
What I’m more interested in is the fact that we work together. We stamp this out, you know, we return back to that multicultural place that I love and grew up in, and that I think Australia really stands for.
Updated
More from Burns on press conference incident
Continuing to speak with ABC RN, Josh Burns said he and James Paterson had spoken with each other about holding the joint press conference.
We agreed to do it together, and I’ve done things with the Liberal party … I stood up with Dave Sharma a couple of weeks ago, I stood up with Julian Leeser on your program …
For me, it’s not a partisan issue, this is my life. Antisemitism been the reality of my life. Every day I wake up to a barrage of antisemitism. My office was attacked. This is not political, and I thought it was really important to stand up with James.
Burns claimed Paterson told him that Dutton instructed him not to read his statement, and that Paterson was put “in a really difficult position.”
I was grateful for James who agreed to do it in the first place … but Peter Dutton wants to play these sorts of partisan games.
A member of the Jewish community agreed to read his statement instead, Burns said.
The Labor MP said he would continue to work with the opposition, and anyone across government, to tackle antisemitism.
If Peter Dutton wants to have a go at me, that’s his prerogative, and I don’t think it’s particularly productive. I’m actually interested in tackling this together, and I think it would be a really strong statement for us to put our partisan differences aside.
Updated
Burns claims Dutton instructed Paterson not to read out his prepared statement at press conference
Labor MP Josh Burns has been speaking with ABC RN, where he claimed Peter Dutton intervened in a press conference involving the shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, instructing him not to read out a statement he had prepared regarding the Melbourne synagogue attack.
Burns said he had lost his voice before the planned joint press conference with Paterson, claiming:
I felt OK, but I sounded terrible, and I agreed to do a stand up press conference with James Paterson, the senator for the Liberal party, and James agreed to read out a statement from me, because I thought it was really important there be a united front.
Unfortunately, right before we got on, Peter Dutton intervened and told James that he wasn’t allowed to read out the statement. Peter Dutton told James that he wasn’t allowed to read out my words.
I wanted to stand out with James and present a united front on this, and Peter Dutton decided that it was more important to play partisan games and to allow my words that I physically couldn’t speak to be read out. And I compare that with the leadership of the synagogue who have been working with people right across the political aisle, and have been heroic and stoic in the face of the most unimaginable pain …
I’m not interested in the partisan games or personal attacks. I’m interested in trying to help the community. I’m interested in supporting my community, supporting those who are affected by this, and also tackling antisemitism. That’s what I’ll continue to do.
Guardian Australia has contacted Paterson and Dutton for comment.
Updated
Shadow home affairs minister on Melbourne synagogue attack
The shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, said the Adass Israel community is “disappointed” more political leaders haven’t come to witness the scene of the synagogue attack.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast earlier, he said:
They do feel disappointed that more political leaders haven’t come and witnessed the scenes themselves and seen it. We’re now five days from this happening and the prime minister hasn’t attended, nor as any senior minister of the government. That’s an important show of solidarity and it’s reflective of the government’s priorities the prime minister has chosen to do other things, rather than do this.
Paterson argued that the “moral clarity in calling out this cancer of antisemitism” has been missing. Asked about comments from Asio chief Mike Burgess that he is concerned about tension and that political parties should come together, he responded:
We need to be measured and calm in our language, but it’s also the job of the opposition to hold a government to account for what they see as failings.
Was it appropriate for Peter Dutton to criticise Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns? Paterson argued “the Labor Party has stopped listening to Josh a long time ago”.
I don’t go to a Jewish community function without someone coming up to me, saying they’re a lifelong member of the Labor Party, but this time they won’t be supporting the Labor Party … because they feel let down.
McKenzie says she is ‘excited’ at prospect of restoring ‘primacy’ of Australian flag
Amanda Rishworth also responded to reports that Peter Dutton won’t display the Aboriginal flag at media conferences if he is elected as PM (see earlier post).
She said this was the “opposition leader trying to just create a headline again”.
I proudly go to schools, I present Australian flags, I present Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags … I think we can take a lot of pride in our history and the future of this country. I think this is Peter Dutton just doing what he knows how to do best – try and get a headline with no substance, no real policies about, for example, tackling cost of living or things that really matter to the Australian people.
Bridget McKenzie defended the move, and said:
That in no way denigrates the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, but [the flag] is the one thing that does unite us. Our common future, despite our different pasts, and so I’m excited to be part of a future Dutton government if we get that great privilege, and to restore the primacy of the Australian flag.
Rishworth accuses McKenzie of ‘playing politics’ with synagogue terror attack
On the Today Show earlier this morning, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie spoke about the synagogue terror attack in Melbourne, taking aim at the PM:
His flaccid response to the rise of antisemitism on our streets over the last 14 months has absolutely led us to the place we are in today, which is shocking.
But the minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, who was also on the program, said she was “disappointed to see Bridget just playing politics with this”. She listed measures the government had taken – including a police taskforce with Asio, AFP and local authorities, funding to support the Jewish community, the special envoy, outlawing of Nazi symbols and legislation to increase the penalties for hate crimes – and said:
We are better than that, and together we need to unite and not divide. And I am really disappointed to see Bridget just playing politics with this. People are exhausted of politics. The Asio boss said that we shouldn’t be using language that inflames the situation … So it’s time we all come together and make an unequivocal statement that this is just unacceptable.
Updated
ETU to protest CFMEU administration outside parliament today
Continuing from our last post, there will also be a rally outside parliament today, with the Electrical Trades Union and others protesting against the administration.
The ETU NSW ACT secretary, Allen Hicks, said:
The legislation is not just an attack on the CFMEU; it threatens the rights of all union members and the principles we stand for. These laws will set a legal precedent that will result in reduced safety standards, lower wages, conditions and rights for workers not just in the construction industry, but across the board.
If the federal government thinks that we’ll sit back quietly and allow politicians to systemically undermine everything democratic unions have fought for over the decades, they’re sadly mistaken.
High court to hear CFMEU challenge
The high court will today and tomorrow hear the former construction union officials’ challenge against the Albanese government’s law appointing administrators to run the union after accusations of criminal misconduct and bikie links.
The challenge was brought by sacked Queensland and Northern Territory construction secretary, Michael Ravbar, and former assistant secretary, William Kane Lowth. It argues that the law breaches the separation of powers and the implied freedom of political communication.
That is because the law “has an impugned purpose of limiting or preventing” the construction union from making political donations, incurring expenditure and engaging in political communication.
The plaintiffs cite the fact the prospective administrator, Mark Irving, guaranteed ahead of his appointment that the construction union would not make political donations. That statement, to the shadow workplace relations minister, Michaelia Cash, was discussed in parliamentary debates by the employment minister, Murray Watt.
In its defence, the commonwealth said the purpose of the law was to enable the construction division “swiftly to be returned to a state in which it is governed and operates lawfully and effectively in its members’ interests, for the ultimate goal of facilitating the operation of the federal workplace relations system”.
The commonwealth said the plaintiffs case amounted to attempting to “conjure up a constitutionally impermissible purpose” by examining legislators’ motives. It also argued that the way the administrator exercised the power was distinct from the law appointing him or her to take over the union.
More from AAP on test-fire of Tomahawk missile by Australian warship
Continuing from our last post, the chief of Navy Mark Hammond described the speed of the step taken as an “historic advancement”.
The enhanced lethality of our surface fleet is a critical and much needed assurance mechanism to ensure our continued access to the sea, which sustains our livelihoods. We are doing everything humanly and legally possible to optimise the Royal Australian Navy’s surface combatant fleet as quickly as possible.
Australian National University expert associate Jennifer Parker said the nation didn’t have any of these capabilities 12 months ago.
This announcement shows how hard the ADF and the navy actually worked to deliver what is a significant change in their missile capability ... in months, that is impressive. I honestly can’t think of a time in navy’s modern history where it has enhanced lethality by that much in a period of a couple of years.
The defence minister Richard Marles said the test firing demonstrated the strength of the US alliance.
By enhancing our own defence capabilities, and by working with partners, we change the calculus for any potential aggressor so that no state will ever conclude the benefits of conflict outweigh the risks.
‘History’ hailed as navy test fires 2500km missile
Dramatic vision captures the launch of a long-range missile capable of travelling almost 20 times further than other weapons in Australia’s arsenal, AAP reports.
Australian warship, the HMAS Brisbane, has test-fired a Tomahawk missile off the US west coast. Marking an “historic advancement” by the navy, this increases the strike range to 2500km – the same distance as Melbourne to Townsville.
The ageing Harpoon anti-ship missile has a range of just 124km. Tomahawk missiles are used to attack land targets and can take out critical infrastructure including airfields and runways. The defence strategic review, released in 2023, recommended fast-tracking the acquisition of long-range strike capabilities.
Australia is one of three nations alongside the US and UK to acquire and fire the missiles. The firing of this Tomahawk on 3 December follows launches of the naval strike missile and standard missile – 6 earlier in 2024, which also have greater ranges than the Harpoon.
The navy will acquire more than 200 Tomahawk missiles at a cost of $1.3bn. The missiles will be fitted to the three Hobart class destroyer warships and future Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to be delivered under the AUKUS partnership.
RBA set to cap 2024 leaving interest rates unchanged for a ninth meeting
The Reserve Bank board wraps up its latest meeting today and is universally expected to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%. That’s where it has sat since November last year, even as many of its overseas counterparts have been cutting their borrowing rates.
RBA governor Michele Bullock will follow the 2.30pm (AEDT) rates verdict with her standard media conference an hour later. The focus may well be on whether the central bank is tilting towards an early interest rate cut.
The last two board meetings have only considered leaving the cash rate unchanged, and so perhaps this month’s gathering will also include an assessment of whether there should be an interest rate cut. If there is such a consideration, expect a bit of hype around the possibility of the RBA kicking off 2025 with a rate cut when its board next meets.
Supporting such a weighing of alternatives was the unexpectedly weak September quarter GDP figures, out last week. These showed the economy growing at an annual pace of just 0.8%, or the lowest since the 1990s recession if you exclude the Covid lockdown-era contortions.
The RBA’s own forecast has GDP quickening to an annual pace of 1.5% by the end of 2024, a figure now unlikely to be reached unless December ends with a growth spurt.
More likely, the RBA will finally drop its impression that it might still be open to hiking the cash rate one more time to ensure inflation “sustainably” returns to its 2% to 3% target range. “Not ruling anything in or out” –Bullock’s mantra for the past year may finally be ruled out.
Bullock may also be keen to see how the Albanese government’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook shapes up. Will there be some big pre-election spending promises when Myefo lands (likely on 18 December)?
The quarterly inflation figures, for the December quarter, won’t be released by the ABS until 29 January – one of many reasons the RBA will be taking a wait-and-see approach.
Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us!
I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today. As always, you can get in touch with any tips via email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
Childcare costs soar
Expenses for families with a child aged younger than five are 27% higher than in 2021, according to research that shows they are suffering most from the cost-of-living crisis, Australian Associated Press reports.
While headline inflation has fallen to 2.8%, daily out-of-pocket childcare costs are still about $50 a child, analysis by Impact Economics and Policy shows.
This is further proof of the need for serious reform, including the $10-a-day out-of-pocket childcare fee cap the government is reportedly considering as an election promise, Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign says.
Under this model, a family paying $50 out-of-pocket a day with a child attending three days a week could save $120 a week, or $6240 a year.
Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill said:
Working parents continue to struggle financially while inflation starts to ease for other demographics.
This research is yet more evidence of the ineffectiveness of Australia’s current childcare model and the child care subsidy.
It’s clearly not working, because every time the government raises the subsidy, providers raise their fees and families see little to no savings. Families with young children need it now.
A month ago childcare was identified as the third fastest-growing cost in the consumer price index, behind insurance and tobacco.
The cost of childcare increased 10.7% in the 12 months to September.
Order restored on Rottnest Island
An “out of control gathering” was declared on Rottnest Island at the weekend after multiple complaints over a large amount of young people.
About 9.15pm on Friday, Western Australia’s police said they had received a number of complaints regarding juveniles gathering between Longreach and The Basin on Rottnest Island.
Upon attendance, police allege a large number of juveniles were seen drinking alcohol and displaying antisocial behaviour.
The officer in charge of Rottnest Island police declared the incident an “out of control gathering”, which allowed resources from the regional operation group (rog) to be deployed.
Police said order had been restored and larger groups had been moved from the beach, with most heeding directions. Additional resources were deployed at the weekend, with a small number of offences including assaults and disorderly behaviour subject to investigation.
Police said:
WA Police works closely with the Rottnest Island authority to provide early intervention and control measures for events involving large groups of people.
Swimming legend Dawn Fraser hospitalised after fall
Australian Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser is reportedly “stable” in hospital after a fall.
The 87-year-old sporting great was hospitalised last Wednesday and spent time in intensive care with broken ribs and a broken wrist, Seven News reported.
The ABC quoted a family friend saying Fraser had suffered a fall while at her daughter’s home on the Sunshine Coast, and had broken her hip and four ribs. She had surgery for a hip replacement and was already back up walking again after emergency surgery last Thursday, the friend said.
The CEO of Swimming Australia, Rob Woodhouse, said on Monday the body had heard back from Fraser’s family and understood she was stable. He said:
Dawn is an Australian living treasure – an icon of our sport – and we wish her a speedy, healthy and [full] recovery.
The family confirmed the injuries to media in a statement on Monday, saying her recovery was progressing.
The Australian Olympic Committee chair, Ian Chesterman, said Fraser was “an icon of Olympic sport and like so many Australians we are pleased to hear she is making good progress”.
Peter Dutton says he won't display Aboriginal flag at media conferences if elected PM
The opposition leader has confirmed that if he is elected next year he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences, arguing that to fly the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags would be “dividing our country unnecessarily” and sending a “confusing message”.
Speaking to Peta Credlin on Sky last night, Peter Dutton said he strongly believed Australia was a country “united under one flag”:
If we’re asking people to identify with different flags … we are dividing our country unnecessarily … I think the fact is that we should stand up for who we are, for our values as a country which is what we should do in Australia.
We should value and respect our heritage, and we should also speak a lot more about our migrant story, the incredible story of people who came here, particularly in the post-second world war period, with nothing, and have worked hard as trainees, as farmers, and they’ve educated their children. The next generation has done incredibly well … that’s the view I’ve taken.
According to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian flags include the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag and many ensigns used in defence and civilian organisations. The Aboriginal flag was first recognised as a national emblem by the former Labor leader Paul Keating in the 1990s and this has been upheld by subsequent governments.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories for Australia before my colleague Emily Wind will take over.
Peter Dutton has confirmed in an interview on Sky News that if he is elected next year he will only display the Australian flag at press conferences, arguing that to fly the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags would be “dividing our country unnecessarily” and sending a “confusing message”. We have more details coming up.
The Reserve Bank is widely expected to leave interest rates on hold after its monetary policy meeting today, marking more than a year of rates at 4.35% in a period that has heaped pain on households with high borrowing costs. It comes as a study released today finds that young families are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. More coming up.
The Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser has been taken to hospital after suffering a fall, according to media reports. The triple Olympic 100m freestyle champion broke several bones in the fall, the reports said, and was stable in hospital after surgery. More coming up.
