What we learned; Wednesday 25 September
That’s a wrap on the blog for today, but first let’s revisit the big events of the day:
Australia is expected to add 7GW of renewable capacity this year.
Victoria police renewed the search for the remains of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.
Anthony Albanese said “we need to do more” to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
Amanda Rishworth said there was no plan to change negative gearing in housing policy after reports Labor requested modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
A bronze tribute to the Matildas was unveiled outside Suncorp stadium in Brisbane.
Penny Wong called on China to play a “constructive role” at the UN.
Jason Clare says a deal has been reached to fully fund Tasmanian public schools.
Twelve Singaporean soldiers were injured during a training accident in Australia.
The PM did not rule out negative gearing changes.
The annual inflation rate fell to the lowest since 2021, at 2.7%.
Macquarie took “full responsibility” after receiving a fine for ignoring suspicious trading.
The BoM app tested a tsunami warning in Australia.
Vanguard was hit with a record ‘greenwashing’ fine.
A teenager lost his motorcycle licence 24 hours after receiving it.
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright will face a trial three years after a helicopter crash.
Penny Wong warned Lebanon “cannot become the next Gaza”.
Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather challenged Labor to “think about what Gough Whitlam was able to do”.
A Sydney man was charged for allegedly stranding his wife in Pakistan.
The live news blog will be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
Israeli-Australian group backs government’s move to protect aid workers, calls for ceasefire
The New Israel Fund Australia, which supports a two-state solution and opposes the occupation of Palestine, says it is “deeply concerned at the continued exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, and urges restraint from both sides to avoid further death and destruction”.
Their statement released today goes on:
Since Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on 8 October, life has been incredibly challenging for residents in Israel’s north who were forced to evacuate and are still living in temporary accommodation.
Israel has the right to defend itself from continued rocket fire and the international community must condemn such attacks as have prior United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Yet, as this war continues, innocent civilian lives are being lost. Since Israel’s bombing of Lebanon began on Monday, at least 50 children have been killed. The violence in the region has already claimed too many lives and these ongoing exchanges will only incur further bloodshed.
As seen over the past year, hostages have been returned en masse only as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. So too in this latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, diplomacy to forge a political solution is the best path to safety and security for all.
… NIF welcomes the Australian government’s efforts to protect aid workers internationally and to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. But more must be done to ensure that no further civilian lives are lost.
We call on all parties to the conflict in the region to exercise maximum restraint to bring about a ceasefire and hostage deal that saves lives.
Updated
‘I am not the treasurer,’ says prime minister
Anthony Albanese has unsurprisingly been quizzed on negative gearing in his media appearances this afternoon.
Appearing on ABC Radio Sydney, the PM confirmed he had not asked Treasury to examine potential changes.
He went on:
The department, like all departments, look at various things at various times. Is this government policy or government request to examine potential policy announcement? No it’s not.
Asked about the fact he’d answered the question over requesting the study on his own behalf but not about whether the treasurer had, Albanese replied:
I am not the treasurer.
Updated
Coalition weighs in on negative gearing rumours
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, also weighed in on negative gearing rumours on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing this afternoon.
Taylor says he is not aware of any statement by Jim Chalmers or Anthony Albanese which has ruled out for ever any examination of negative gearing deductions on investment properties.
Taylor says the government “have a vision of housing which is very different from ours” – because he is claiming a potential tax on housing would decrease supply:
They don’t like the idea that a plumber or a carpenter should be able to buy a couple of houses and do them up and rent them out and eventually sell them to someone who wants to own the home. That is not their picture, the picture has always been for the big investment funds to own thousands of houses and that is clearly where Labor is heading right now, not just with these policies but with a range of other policies.
Taylor says “you tax more of something, you get less of it”.
Updated
AFP Det Acting Insp Emmanuel Tsardoulias said exit trafficking was an insidious and often underreported criminal offence.
Exit trafficking can involve a person using coercion, deception or a threat, to organise or facilitate another to leave Australia.
No one has the right to force or deceive anyone to leave Australia, or to prevent them from returning against their will.
We want victims to know the AFP is here to help them and that their safety and wellbeing is our primary concern when we are investigating these matters. Each case is handled with compassion and great care, and the victim’s needs are always paramount.
Updated
Sydney man charged for allegedly stranding wife in Pakistan
A western Sydney man has been charged for allegedly exit trafficking his wife to Pakistan using deception.
A woman came to the Australian federal police (AFP) alleging her husband had left her in Pakistan without documentation after the family travelled overseas together from Australia.
The 29-year-old man allegedly deceived the woman about the purpose of travel, telling her they were going to go to Pakistan to see her family. The AFP said in a statement:
The woman agreed to the trip, and the man, she and their two children flew to Afghanistan in July, 2023 for a holiday, then continued to Pakistan.
While travelling, it will be alleged the man retained control of the family’s tickets, passports, visas and other travel documents.
The AFP will allege, after the family arrived in Pakistan, the man told the woman he was going back to Afghanistan to visit friends. However, in September 2023, the victim found out he had returned to Australia alone.
The AFP worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) to ensure the woman and her children were able to safely return to Australia.
During the Human Trafficking Team’s Operation Kisurra, officers executed a search warrant at the man’s Auburn home.
The AFP then arrested the man today and charged him with one count of exit trafficking of a person from Australia by using deception for which the maximum penalty is 12 years’ imprisonment.
The man was expected to appear before Burwood local court today.
Updated
Tax system says ‘you are a mug’ if you don’t have an investment property, Eslake says
One in five taxpaying Australians have an investment property, because the tax system tells us “you are a mug if you do not”, the economist Saul Eslake says.
Eslake has told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:
Yes, there are in the sense that almost 20% of taxpaying Australians have an investment property. That is an extraordinarily high proportion by international standards – and one of the reasons why they have an investment property is Australia’s tax system, almost uniquely among developed countries, says you are a mug if you do not. If you have enough cashflow to absorb interest costs being higher than your net rental income, our tax system allows you both to defer and permanently reduce the amount of tax you would otherwise have to pay on your wage and salary or other income, and so almost a fifth of taxpaying Australians do it, which means there are a lot of votes in keeping it and there are potentially a lot of votes to be lost in arguing it should be abolished, except that opinion polls suggest a growing proportion of Australians – one suggested a majority of Australians – now see that abolishing or curtailing negative gearing might be one way, not the sole solution, but one way of addressing Australia’s growing housing crisis.
Updated
‘Think about what Gough Whitlam was able to do’: Greens MP's challenge to Labor
Max Chandler-Mather has urged the government to “think about what Gough Whitlam was able to do” and be more ambitious in attempting “real reforms”.
The Greens’ housing spokesperson has told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:
We need public housing and what better way to fund it than giving slightly less money to property speculators and investors and a bit more to public housing?
The other element of fixing the housing crisis is the government needs to start to build public housing the way it used to, making it available to lower- and middle-income people, that’s a crucial component.
We are willing to negotiate. We think that is the best outcome by phasing out this tax handouts for property investors. I’d be surprised if Labor would not want to spend that extra revenue but it has been a real struggle to get Labor to spend any money on public housing.
I think that is what has left a lot of people disappointed with this Labor government. Think about what Gough Whitlam was able do – hundreds of thousands of public homes, free university education, real reforms that changed people’s lives. They should remember the values that they say they represent, and start performing in a way that Labor governments used to in the past.
Updated
Chandler-Mather says the Greens want to “sit down” with the government again after the “good sign” on negative gearing:
We have said we are willing to negotiate and one of those areas is movement on phasing out these tax handouts. In the space of the week the government has gone from refusing to negotiate with the Greens to cracking under pressure and are requesting Treasury modelling on phasing out negative gearing and capital gains discount, which is a good improvement from last week when they decided they would try to ram through two housing bills that would make the crisis worse.
This is a good sign. Let’s sit down, be adults, look at different proposals. We have said we have a model that we took to the 2022 election. We understand Labor may not come to that model but we need some movement on those tax handouts because there are millions of people losing hope they will ever be able to buy a home, millions, not 0.2%, and they need help as well.
Updated
Greens hope negative gearing reports signal ‘a government concession’
As Treasury reportedly studies a housing tax, Max Chandler-Mather says the government is “cracking under pressure from the Greens”.
The Greens’ housing spokesperson has told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:
Hopefully this is a government concession the current position of tinkering around the edges and proposing two housing bills, that will drive up rents and house prices and potentially help no one, is not a tenable position and they are cracking under pressure from the Greens, who are pushing for a phase-out of negative gearing and capital gains tax discount.
Read more here:
Updated
Weak consumer sentiment hits sales at Kathmandu and Rip Curl owner
A “challenging sales environment” has left Kathmandu and Rip Curl owner KMD Brands with an 11% drop in sales in the 2023-24 financial year, AAP reports.
Group sales by the outdoor equipment and surf clothing brand owner fell to NZ$979m (A$901m), with the group attributing the downturn to weak consumer confidence.
On Wednesday, the KMD Brands CEO, Michael Daly, said despite Rip Curl and Oboz Footwear hitting record sales last year, all brands under the umbrella were facing headwinds due to the economic landscape.
We continued to experience the effects of weakness in consumer sentiment. Sales were 11.2% below last year’s record result and decreased for all three of our brands.
The New Zealand-based company reported a NZ$48m (A$44m) slump in its net profit after tax, with Kathmandu being the biggest loss contributor with a 14.5% decrease in sales.
KMD Brands passed on paying shareholders a dividend this cycle and shares in the company fell 2.1% on Wednesday. Year to date, its shares have fallen 35%.
Updated
Primary school students taken to hospital after accident at end of term performance
Three primary school students have been taken to hospital after a piece of equipment fell during an end of term performance at a south-west Sydney public school. Guardian Australia understands the students were hit by falling lights.
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said:
Earlier today, a piece of equipment fell during an end of term performance and injured 8 Barramurra Public School students, as well as two members of the audience.
The school immediately contacted emergency services and provided first aid to those injured.
Three students have been transported to hospital with minor injuries, while the remaining students and audience members were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics on-site.
A spokesperson for NSW ambulance said they were called at midday with 10 people requiring ambulance assistance or assessment, including one adult and nine children.
The spokesperson said the injuries of all 10 people were minor, but three children required transportation to hospital. Two were taken to Westmead hospital and one to Campbelltown.
SafeWork is investigating the incident and the school is providing support to students, staff and families, the Department of Education spokesperson said.
Updated
If you want to read more about exactly what happened earlier today when the Bureau of Meteorology’s app tested tsunami warnings, Daisy Dumas has the full story for you:
Number of Victorians waiting for alcohol or drug treatment surges
The number of Victorians waiting for some form of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment has nearly doubled since 2020, a new survey shows.
The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association’s (VAADA) seventh sector demand survey found 4,615 people were waiting for treatment on any given day, based on asking 38 service providers across the state between June and July 2024.
This number is 93% higher than the September 2020 result of 2,385 people on the daily waitlist.
Chris Christoforou, the chief executive of VAADA, says the increasing backlog means many are denied service at a “critical point of their help-seeking journey”.
Demand for support from alcohol and other drug issues continues to rise across Victoria. Our members regularly express concerns regarding unmanageable demand for treatment in a constrained environment. The 2024 waitlist numbers demonstrate that many Victorians are denied service when they are at a critical point of their help-seeking journey, which is unsatisfactory.
Christoforou said VAADA’s figures align with those released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with this demand likely driven not only by stressors emanating from the pandemic but more broadly anxiety related to the cost of living, the lack of readily available AOD supports and the ease of access to alcohol.
It is always best to invest early to reduce long-term demand and costs. This includes keeping people out of more expensive acute health and justice-related interventions. An increase in AOD capacity will result in a significant saving to the government through reducing demand at the tertiary end of the service system.
Updated
Best inflation result in years but Chalmers may not get much thanks
Normally a big drop in inflation would be a signal that interest rate cuts aren’t far behind.
The Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, though, has already told us she (and the RBA board) will look through any “temporary” price falls. By this point, Bullock is thinking government handouts take the sting out of various costs.
In the case of electricity, $300 from the federal government will be spread over four instalments for every household. Queenslanders collected a neat $1,000 from 1 July, while those in Tasmania received $250 and those out west in WA got $200 (with another $200 due after 1 January.)
Those rebates helped lower electricity bills by a record 17.9%, the ABS said.
“Excluding the rebates, electricity prices would have risen 0.1% in August and 0.9% in July,” said Michelle Marquardt, the ABS’s head of prices statistics.
As we queried in our RBA rates analysis yesterday, though, is the RBA correct that the rebates are so “temporary”?
Probably yes for the states (at least in Queensland and Western Australia, which have elections soon) but what about the commonwealth? It’s hard to believe the major parties won’t offer some repeat of the rebates for the coming year at least.
One other point about those lower power bills. Given the scale of the rebates, some households really will be $275 better off by 2025, as Labor promised before the May 2022.
It has kept rather quiet about that promise after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent global energy markets haywire. Perhaps they might be able to say, “well, they did fall $275 after all”, at least compared with last year.
Updated
Saturday Paper amends robodebt article
The Saturday Paper has amended an article four days after it was condemned by its own senior reporter as an “unethical” and “misleading” defence of one of the robodebt bureaucrats.
Robodebt reporter Rick Morton lambasted his editors for publishing a defence of one of the robodebt bureaucrats by columnist Christine Wallace, who had been friends with Renée Leon for 40 years.
Wallace wrote that she and many public service officials believed the robodebt findings against the “widely admired former secretary of the Department of Human Services, Renée Leon” were “unjust”.
Morton posted on social media that Wallace’s analysis was “garbage revisionism” and its publication a “betrayal” of the Saturday Paper’s reporting.
Editor Erik Jensen has not commented on the furore.
On Wednesday the website substantially amended the copy and added an editor’s note which said: “This piece was modified on September 25, 2024, to clarify the taskforce’s finding that Renée Leon misled the ombudsman.”
Updated
Penny Wong warns Lebanon ‘cannot become the next Gaza’
In a strengthening of its language, the Australian government has warned that “Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza” and says “civilians are being killed by Israeli strikes”.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, also called on Australian citizens in Lebanon to “leave now” and to not wait for a preferred flight route but to “take the first opportunity” to depart the country.
Wong said:
Civilians are being killed by Israeli strikes and it is women and children who are paying the highest price.
The global community is clear, this destructive cycle must stop. All parties must show restraint and de-escalate.
What has happened in recent days only makes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza even more urgent.
Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza. And the violence in Gaza must end. Hostages must be released and aid must flow.
Wong said she knew there were “so many people in Australia who have relatives, friends and family in Lebanon, and this is obviously a very stressful situation for them”.
She said there were flight cancellations and disruptions and “there is a risk Beirut airport may close for an extended period”.
Wong said:
Australians in Lebanon must leave now.
Updated
The AEU Tasmania president, David Genford, says unless 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is spent on schools, governments cannot truthfully say they have funded schools according to need.
The failure to deliver even the bare minimum funding required to educate most Tasmanian kids to the minimum standard is not a winning announcement.
It is an abject failure of the government. This is a cloak-and-dagger deal that will rob this generation of Tasmanian children of the education funding they need.
Updated
Union condemns Tasmanian school funding deal, saying it will ‘lock in inequity’
The Australian Education Union (AEU) says a joint announcement today by the Tasmanian and federal governments will fail to deliver its promised full funding to public school students and will instead “lock in inequity” across the next decade.
Its federal president, Correna Haythorpe, said while details were scant, there was an estimated shortfall of almost $260m between 2024 and 2028 for Tasmanian public schools.
The figure is estimated based upon a Coalition-era loophole that allows state governments to claim 4% of their required funding on things not related to school costs – such as capital depreciation and regulatory bodies. The clause remains part of the bilateral agreement agreed to today.
Haythorpe says:
The supposed ‘full funding deals’ that the Albanese government has struck have been shown to have fallen short of what is needed to reach 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
This accounting trick will deny public schools up to $1,062 per year per student by 2029. This will remove $49.4m of funding from public school classrooms in Tasmania in 2024 alone, and will continue to rise every year to $54.6m in 2028, resulting in a total of almost $260m in underfunding.
Updated
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright to face trial three years after helicopter crash
Three years after a tragic helicopter crash that killed his friend, Outback Wrangler Matt Wright will face trial on charges related to the accident investigation, AAP reports.
After a pre-trial hearing today, the Northern Territory chief justice, Michael Grant, set an eight-week trial beginning on 7 July 2025.
The Netflix television series celebrity pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice after the crash that killed co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson in 2022.
The single charge relates to alleged behaviour in the aftermath of the crash in West Arnhem Land, where pilot Sebastian Robinson was also seriously injured.
In the supreme court in Darwin, the senior crown prosecutor Steve Ledek said charges currently before the Darwin local court would also be added to the indictment and explored at trial. Ledek also said a surveillance device held by the prosecution has now been provided to the defence.
It is expected the prosecution will call 125 witnesses.
Wright’s barrister, Frank Merenda, explained a subpoena issued to the NT police commissioner, Michael Murphy, and NT police needed to be reissued after several mistakes in the legal requirements of that document.
Wright’s counsel said the subpoena would be refiled in accordance with the court. The matter is scheduled for pre-trial hearing on 25 October.
Updated
Teenager loses motorcycle licence 24 hours after receiving it
An 18-year-old man has lost his motorcycle licence less than 24 hours after receiving it when he was caught allegedly riding at more than 180km/h in a 90km/h zone.
At about 5.45am today, police observed the Queanbeyan man overtaking a car as he entered on to the busy Monaro Highway in Canberra. He continued to accelerate, allegedly reaching a peak speed of 182km/h.
When he was stopped by police, it was found the rider had held his NSW provisional licence for less than 24 hours.
The motorcycle was determined to be not roadworthy due to a near bald rear tyre.
His right to ride and drive in the ACT was immediately suspended and his motorcycle was seized. He was charged with driving dangerously at speed, exceeding speed of 45km/h and riding an unsafely maintained vehicle.
He will face the ACT magistrates court today.
Updated
Ageism remains a barrier to Australians ageing well, advocates say
Elsewhere, today’s National Press Club address has been all about ageism – the stereotyping and mistreatment of people based upon age.
The age discrimination commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald, and World Health Organization consultant Dr Marlene Krasovitsky have appeared together ahead of the federal government’s release of the national plan to respond to the abuse of older Australians.
Krasovitsky told the room that data tells us we’re living longer, healthier lives – but ageism remains a barrier to ageing well.
Ageism is pervasive. It’s acceptable, it’s normalised. And it is underpinned by powerful stereotypes and unquestioned assumptions which lead to exclusion, marginalisation and inequity.
Ageism is all around us, in big structural ways, like discrimination in the workplace, or elder abuse, but also in everyday ways, like making older people feel invisible … and the way that older people are stereotyped in media and advertising.
Fitzgerald said within 20 years, the population over 65 in Australia would be about nine million – double today’s figure.
We have a chance to plan. We have a chance to do things differently. We have a chance to shape Australia in a way that doesn’t see ageism become the racism and sexism that’s entrenched within the Australian population today.
Updated
Vanguard hit with record ‘greenwashing’ fine
Vanguard has been fined almost $13m after it misled investors with “greenwashing” claims for one of its investment products, according to the corporate regulator.
The federal court issued the fine today after the investment manager earlier this year admitted to breaching the law by making false and misleading claims.
The issue related to screens applied to its “ethically conscious” bond index fund that failed to remove exposures to various industries, including fossil fuels.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) deputy chair, Sarah Court, said:
This is an important decision and the penalty imposed is the highest yet for greenwashing conduct. It is essential that companies do not misrepresent that their products or investment strategies are environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ethical.
The size of the penalty should send a strong deterrent message to others in the market to carefully review any sustainable investment claims.
The term “greenwashing” describes misleading claims made about a product’s environmental and sustainable credentials.
Vanguard said in a statement it accepted the court’s findings.
A spokesperson said:
Vanguard apologises to its clients for these errors, which were unintentional. Vanguard acknowledges the importance of accurate product and marketing information in helping consumers to make informed investment decisions.
Earlier this year, Mercer Super was ordered to pay an $11.3m penalty in separate greenwashing proceedings.
Updated
BoM apologises for confusion caused by test tsunami warning
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a media release apologising for confusion that a test tsunami warning has caused Australians and reiterating there is no threat to safety.
The Bureau of Meteorology today issued test posts on the BOM Weather app between 11am and 12pm AEST. This was planned as part of the transition to new tsunami early warning system software.
The Bureau acknowledges and apologises for any confusion that this test may have caused. The test warnings were sent to the BOM Weather app for various locations. The test warnings were cancelled immediately after they were issued.
There is no tsunami threat to Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) September 25, 2024
The Bureau issued test verification posts on the BOM App between 11AM-12PM AEST on Wednesday 25 September 2024 as part of the transition to the new tsunami early warning system software.
More info at: https://t.co/e6wa42JFjZ
The BoM said testing was important to help prepare and plan for real-life tsunami threats – which, again, we do not currently have.
The Bureau is part of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) and this is operated 24 hours a day to detect, monitor, verify and warn of any tsunami threats to the coastline of Australia and its offshore territories.
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre is the national authority and provides the most accurate tsunami warning information for Australia.
Updated
The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Solomon Islands ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in New York this morning, bringing to 73 the number of countries that have ratified it. Supporters of the treaty include 11 Pacific island states. Sierra Leone has also now ratified the TPNW.
The acting director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Australia, Jemila Rushton, said it was “time for Australia to demonstrate it is serious about regional peace and security, and for Labor to make good on its promise to sign and ratify the TPNW in government”.
Rushton said:
Today’s ratifications reaffirm that nuclear weapons have no place in our region, or in our defence policies, and should make Australians ask why our government remains at odds with the vast majority of our neighbours.
Anti-nuclear campaigners urge Australia to follow Indonesia and Solomon Islands in joining treaty
Two of Australia’s nearest neighbours, Indonesia and Solomon Islands, have joined the treaty imposing a blanket ban on nuclear weapons, prompting campaigners to call on the Albanese government to follow suit.
Australia would likely face pushback from the US on any moves to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which imposes a blanket ban on developing, testing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons – or helping other countries to carry out such activities.
The US embassy in Canberra has previously warned that the TPNW “would not allow for US extended deterrence relationships, which are still necessary for international peace and security”.
That refers to Australia relying on American nuclear forces to deter any nuclear attack on Australia – the so-called “nuclear umbrella” – even though Australia does not have any of its own atomic weapons.
Prior to coming to government, Anthony Albanese championed the need for the Labor party to “take a step towards” the elimination of “the most destructive, inhumane and indiscriminate weapons ever created”.
The Labor party platform says that an ALP government “will sign and ratify” the TPNW “after taking into account” three factors including the need to ensure an effective verification architecture and the need to work to achieve universal support. The Albanese government has not yet done so.
Updated
Protesters stop coal train after Labor approves three mine expansions
In New South Wales, nine climate protesters have stopped a coal train headed to the Port of Newcastle in opposition to the federal government’s approval of three new mining projects yesterday.
The protesters jumped on top of the train this morning, unfurled a banner and began shovelling coal off the top.
Rising Tide, the group behind the move, said in a statement that the three projects – Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri thermal coal project to 2066, Mach Energy’s Mount Pleasant thermal coal project to 2058 and Yancoal’s Ashton coal project to 2064 – would create 1.4bn tonnes of emissions.
We are extremely outraged, and we are not going to stand for it.
A spokesperson for the NSW police force confirmed that at about 10am today police were called to a rail corridor near River Road in Sandgate after reports of an unauthorised protest.
Officers attached to the Newcastle city police district are now on the scene, and inquiries into the incident are ongoing.
Updated
Chalmers is asked about the stage-three tax cuts, which Labor overhauled earlier this year to benefit Australians earning less than $150,000. It was decried by the Coalition as a broken promise – a line they are already pushing with negative gearing becoming, once again, a subject of debate.
Labor took negative gearing reform to the 2016 and 2019 elections, but ultimately scrapped it.
Chalmers says he’s proud of the changes the party made to tax cuts “because it meant that every Australian taxpayer get a tax cut, not just some”.
We explained our rationale and our reasoning for that at the time … the changes to stage three at the beginning of this year meant that more people got a bigger tax cut to help with the cost of living. We are proud of what we did and we were upfront and we explained the changes that we have made, and I think the public have recognised that we are trying to do the right thing.
He repeats the government has a housing policy, and negative gearing reforms are “not in it”.
I could not have been clearer today. We have a housing policy, it is costing the budget $32bn … it is not unusual for governments to get advice from time to time from departments on issues which are in the public domain.
Updated
Negative gearing reforms ‘not in’ housing policy, Chalmers says
On to questions, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is asked, unexpectedly, about whether Labor is considering negative gearing ahead of the next federal election. He says the real story today is inflation, and its “substantial moderation”.
We’ve got a housing policy and that is not in it. And we have made that clear today.
Treasury looks at all kinds of treasury options all of the time. It is not unusual for the public service … to examine issues that are being speculated about in the public or in the parliament. That is how a good public service operates.
Chalmers goes on to say “we have already got a housing policy”.
We know from today’s inflation figures that we have taken some of the sting out of rents, but rents are still too high and that is because we don’t have enough homes and our motivation throughout this has been to build more homes for Australians … if our political opponents cared about housing, they would vote for our policies in the Senate but instead, in their characteristically destructive way, the Greens and the Coalition are teaming up to prevent more homes being built.
Updated
More details on the trip:
The main purpose is to cochair the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue with the chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. That will happen tomorrow. Our relationship with China is full of complexity and opportunity. We recognise that a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers and businesses, investors and our country more broadly.
That is why just in the last week in the context of these meetings in China, I have consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China-facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, Bluescope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, the Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, the University of New South Wales, GrainCorp, and I will also be consulting with the Business Council of Australia.
We believe dialogue and engagement gives us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these really important links and our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must but always engage with Australia’s national interest.
The Strategic Economic Dialogue hasn’t been convened since 2017 but our government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it and I will be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese government during my two days of engagements as well.
We recognise that there is a lot at stake and a lot to gain from a more stable economic relationship with China. We’ve got a big opportunity to make sure that both countries benefit from the complementarity of our economies while always protecting Australia’s national interest.
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Chalmers says his trip to China will be another step towards stabilising the relationship
Chalmers is also giving a preview of his upcoming trip to China – the first trip by an Australian treasurer in seven years.
He says the key influences slowing the economy right now are the inflation data he has been discussing today, the impact of the rate rises as well as global economic uncertainty – particularly when it comes to the Chinese economy.
We’ve seen a weakness in the Chinese economy which obviously has consequences for us. We are not immune from weakness in the Chinese economy and that is why it is so important that over the next two days I will be meeting with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.
This is another really important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China. This will be the first visit to China by an Australian treasurer in seven years. It will be part of the Albanese government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re-establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.
Updated
Chalmers says the Albanese government’s cost-of-living policies are “an important part of the story but not the whole story here”.
We expected headline inflation to come down. We have also seen underlying inflation come down considerably as well and that is a very good thing. Our policies are a factor here but they are not the only factor.
If you look at rents, they went up 6.8% in the year to August, but without increases to rent assistance, they would have increased by 8.6%. Electricity prices fell 17.9% in the year to August but without the energy rebates, they would have decreased 2.7%.
But the story here goes beyond the government does make policies which are helping in the fight against inflation. Whether it is rent, energy rebates, our cost-of-living policies are an important part of the story but not the whole story here. We are seeing right across a number of measures of inflation, including underlying inflation, that it has come off considerably in the new numbers that we see today.
Updated
Latest inflation figures ‘very heartening’, Chalmers says
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is now also responding to inflation figures he says are “welcome” and “heartening” numbers:
The new inflation numbers for August show that headline and underlying inflation both went down substantially. Headline inflation went down from 3.5% to 2.7%. This is less than half the 6.1% we inherited and it is now less than a third of its peak.
Trimmed mean inflation went down from 3.8% to 3.4%, the lowest in more than 30 months. If you exclude volatile items, it went down from 3.7% to 3%. Non-tradable inflation, what others call homegrown inflation, went down from 4.5% to 3.8% and services inflation went down as well. These are very welcome, very encouraging and very heartening numbers.
Updated
Taylor is blaming the last two years of the Albanese government for Australians’ standard of living being “smashed”:
We have now seen six consecutive quarters of negative GDP per capita, six consecutive quarters of household recession at exactly the time when we have seen a rapid escalation in Australian households’ cost of living. They are paying much higher mortgage costs, higher prices for everything they buy and we are seeing taxes being paid at a much higher level than they were two years ago.
The result of all of that is we have seen Australians’ standard of living smashed in the last two years, a disastrous outcome for Australian households and indeed around a 9% reduction in real disposable incomes in the last two years.
Australia remains close to the back of the pack in dealing with our core inflation. Our core inflation is higher than every other advanced country, peer country, in the world other than the UK, and that is not one I would be wanting to compare myself with just now.
Updated
Australians are no closer to seeing an interest rate cut, Taylor says
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, is responding to the monthly data released earlier today showing CPI rose 2.7% in the year to August.
Taylor says Australians are no closer to seeing an interest rate cut:
We need to see a sustainable reduction in prices if we are to see an interest rate cut and the restoration of standard of living for Australians that we all want to see.
… Prices, on average, have risen by now 10% since Labor came to power. Ten per cent more for the average Australian household but for working families the cost of living has gone up now by over 18%. That is 18% that Australian households we know are struggling to find.
And we know are also impacting the cost of doing business and we are seeing record levels of insolvencies right now.
Updated
Assange to address Council of Europe in first public comments since release
The WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is due to speak in public for the first time since his release from jail.
Assange, who was reunited with his family when he arrived in Australia after reaching a plea deal in June, is due to fly to the French city of Strasbourg to make his first detailed public remarks.
He is scheduled to address the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 1 October. The Council of Europe is an intergovernmental organisation that aims to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
WikiLeaks said in a press release that Assange would “give testimony before the committee, which will also hear the findings that his imprisonment was politically motivated”.
Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, tweeted that the event would be “an exceptional break from his recovery” because the Council of Europe had invited him to provide testimony regarding his case and its wider implications.
Assange’s brother, Gabriel Shipton, also tweeted that Assange would be “addressing the public for the first time since 2019”.
Updated
Pesutto reached out to Credlin for advice, defamation trial hears
Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, reached out to the Sky News host Peta Credlin to provide advice to his new chief of staff in early 2023 as he attempted to “bring the party together”, the federal court has heard.
Pesutto has returned to give evidence today in the federal court defamation case brought against him by the ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming.
During Pesutto’s cross-examination by Deming’s lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou SC, Pesutto said he rang Credlin in January 2023 and asked her to help his new chief of staff, Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez, to set up his office. Pesutto said he “may well have” and did not dispute the suggestion.
On becoming leader, I was reaching out widely to as many in the party as I could … I recognised Mrs Credlin had served in senior roles.
I was reaching out broadly to bring the party together.
Pesutto said Pintos-Lopez found the meeting with Credlin “constructive”.
Deeming is suing Pesutto for allegedly falsely portraying her as a Nazi sympathiser after she spoke at the Let Women Speak rally held on 18 March that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. Pesutto rejects this allegation.
Updated
There seem to be way more smoke and vape shops. What’s going on?
If you live in a major city in Australia, you have probably noticed there are a lot more tobacconists around than there used to be.
Yet the smoking rate has been in constant decline, now sitting at 8.3%.
So what’s going on: are there actually more smoke shops? How many? Is this due to the skyrocketing rates of vaping? And how has the government’s crackdown on vape imports affected things, if at all?
Nick Evershed has the data:
Updated
Labor ‘cracking under pressure’, Greens’ Chandler-Mather says
The Greens are conducting a victory lap over reports that Labor will not rule out negative gearing, with its housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, arguing the party is “cracking under pressure”.
The Greens last week moved to delay a vote on Labor’s housing bill, after repeatedly calling for significant changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) discounts.
Chandler-Mather says:
The party of Labor landlords is cracking under pressure from the party of renters.
After pretending it was impossible, all of a sudden under pressure from the Greens, millions of renters finally have some hope, as Labor is actively considering changes to negative gearing and CGT.
Labor went from refusing to negotiate with the Greens on negative gearing and CGT, to actively considering changes.
As it stands, Labor’s Help to Buy scheme will drive up house prices and may help no one. We’re glad to see Labor has finally come to their senses and is getting serious about working with the Greens on a housing policy that will actually tackle the scale of the crisis.
Updated
BoM app tests tsunami warning in Australia
Meanwhile, if you’ve seen a “test” tsunami warning for Australia on the Bureau of Meteorology app, don’t worry.
They’re just testing the tsunami early warning system and, apparently, it’s working.
The Bureau is testing the tsunami early warning system for Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) September 25, 2024
Please be advised that between 11AM-12PM AEST on Wednesday 25 September 2024, we will issue a **TEST** post. Please disregard this post.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued test verification posts on the BOM App between 11AM-12PM AEST on Wednesday 25 September 2024 as part of the transition to the new tsunami early warning system software. There is no tsunami threat to Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) September 25, 2024
Updated
Macquarie 'takes full responsibility' after fine for ignoring suspicious trading
Macquarie has responded to the fine imposed by the corporate regulator after the investment conglomerate allowed clients to conduct suspicious trades in electricity markets.
A Macquarie spokesperson says:
Macquarie takes full responsibility for all aspects, particularly given its important role as gatekeeper and the largest market participant facilitating clients’ activity in electricity futures in Australia and New Zealand.
Macquarie has implemented remediation actions to ensure that issues with monitoring for suspicious orders are escalated and actioned appropriately and is continuing to work on areas for further improvement.
Updated
As expected, electricity prices were lower, thanks to those government rebates, falling a hefty 17.9% from a year earlier.
Automotive fuel also sank 7.6%.
Renters, though, don’t have much relief, with the annual increase at 6.8%, modestly lower than previous months.
The CPI numbers were much as expected, with the dollar and stocks not budging much.
The underlying inflation rate that the RBA looks at, the trimmed mean, was 3.4%, down from 3.8% in July. That was the lowest since February 2022.
Updated
Annual inflation rate falls to lowest since 2021 at 2.7%
Australia’s headline consumer price index has fallen to its lowest in three years, helped by government energy rebates, the ABS has just reported.
The 2.7% annual rate for August was in line with economists’ expectations of 2.7% and the 3.5% annual clip in July.
Read more here:
Updated
Firefighters’ union accuses Ibac of ‘four-year witch hunt’
As we reported earlier today, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (Ibac) published a report uncovering five separate alleged instances where MFB employees – now working for Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) – accessed or disclosed information without authorisation between April and May 2018.
It said the staffers allegedly involved were motivated to misuse MFB information to further the interests of the UFU and its secretary, Peter Marshall.
But in a statement, the UFU said the report was a “four-year witch hunt”, which ultimately made no finding of corruption against the union or Marshall.
The union accuses Ibac of using “deeply intrusive practices such as extended phone tapping of all phone conversations not limited to those that were work-related, physical surveillance, raids, the seizing of property including personal items and legally privileged documents, and coercive hearings”.
It said Marshall was subjected to two days of examination by Ibac’s former commissioner, Robert Redlich, and “was not once presented with the accusations against him or the union and given no opportunity to answer them”.
Marshall called for an investigation into Ibac itself. He said:
There were regular leaks of confidential information that led to hundreds of news items since 2019. It is ironic that an organisation supposedly investigating the inappropriate use of information, took no steps to investigate the improper use of its confidential material to the media. No other coercive body has had anywhere near the same level of leaks.
Updated
Macquarie fined for ignoring suspicious energy market trades
Macquarie has been fined after ignoring repeated warnings from the corporate regulator that its clients were involved in suspicious trades in electricity markets, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission said today.
The trades occurred during a period of volatile energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Asic said that Macquarie breached market integrity rules on 50 occasions during 2022 by permitting three of its clients to place suspicious orders.
The regulator said the orders may have intended to “mark the close”, which is a trading technique designed to manipulate a favourable settlement price by making a large trade shortly before the market closes.
The Asic chair, Joe Longo, said:
The consequences of manipulating energy markets can have a detrimental flow on impact to supplier funding costs, and in turn energy prices. This can lead to higher energy bills for consumers who are already struggling with the cost of living.
The regulator said it contacted Macquarie on six occasions over concerns about volatility in energy markets or suspicious trading by its clients, but the investment bank failed to respond.
It has been fined $5m.
Macquarie was contacted for comment.
Updated
‘A week like no other’: AFL grand final fever is cooking in Melbourne
AFL grand final fever is cooking up in Melbourne today with the city’s annual four-day Footy Festival kicking off in Yarra Park.
The tourism, sport and major events minister, Steve Dimopoulos, joined the AFL CEO, Andrew Dillon, today to launch the festival. More than 250,000 fans are expected to flock to Melbourne for this week’s events.
For the first time, the festival will go into the night with live music and dinner served up by signature Melbourne restaurants Easey’s, Hella Good and Pinchy’s.
Dillon says:
Grand final week in Victoria is a week like no other. The build-up, the anticipation, and there are plenty of activities for fans to get involved, highlighted by the free Footy Festival starting in Yarra Park and the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade on Friday.
Updated
Tasmanian school funding deal a long time coming, Wilkie says
The independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie has cautiously welcomed today’s announcement that the state and federal government have reached a deal to fully fund public schools by 2029, while noting it’s been a long time coming.
Since the Gonski reforms set up the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) in 2011, I have consistently advocated with successive federal governments to adopt 100% funding for public schools.
However, this is only a modest investment from the federal government. They are only increasing their funding for Tasmanian public schools by 2.5% to 22.5% and requiring the state government to cover the remaining 77.5%. Moreover under the agreement, schools will still not be funded to 100% of their SRS until 2029.
I’m sure most teachers and parents would hold concerns that this is far too long when our education system is struggling now. The truth is that this should have happened more than a decade ago.
Updated
Young woman accused of stabbing her grandmother granted bail
A young woman accused of attempted murder by stabbing her grandmother has been granted bail after her solicitor offered multiple conditions and mental health monitoring upon her release, AAP reports.
The 21-year-old allegedly attacked her 63-year-old grandmother on 17 May 2023 in a home they shared in the town of Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.
Bella-Rose Currie Shields has been in custody for more than 16 months, including five months in a secure mental health ward, and on Tuesday applied for bail in the supreme court in Brisbane.
Justice Thomas Bradley handed down his decision on Wednesday and said the seriousness of the charge against Shields called for a large number of bail conditions.
In my view, the risks associated with the applicant’s release on bail can be ameliorated to an acceptable level … she has demonstrated that her continued detention is not justified.
Shields’ solicitor, Natalie Keys, had previously told Bradley her client’s mental health had improved while in custody.
She’s certainly doing well. She’s obtained employment in the kitchen. It’s a position of trust using knives and that’s not done if there’s still a substantial risk.
Updated
The Greens have had a not-so-subtle dig at the federal government over reports in Nine papers today that it had requested Treasury modelling on negative gearing and capital gains concessions policies.
First they mock you, then they fight you, then they adopt your policies pic.twitter.com/qGHK2hWBV8
— Barbara Pocock (@BarbaraPocock) September 25, 2024
The prime minister today said the federal government intended to fix housing supply by getting its existing legislation through the Senate. But he fell short of explicitly ruling out any changes to negative gearing.
Ibac uncovers ‘problematic workplace culture’ at former Metropolitan Fire Brigade in report on alleged leaks to union
Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog has uncovered a “problematic workplace culture” at the former Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), during which confidential information was allegedly leaked to the United Firefighters Union (UFU) and its secretary, Peter Marshall.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (Ibac) on Wednesday released its investigation into the allegations of leaks, dubbed Operation Turton.
It uncovered five separate instances where MFB employees – now employed by Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) – allegedly accessed or disclosed information without authorisation between April and May 2018, amid the long-running firefighters dispute.
This included accessing email accounts of executives and a PowerPoint presentation that the investigation stated was subsequently shared by Marshall with the then minister for emergency services, Lisa Neville.
Ibac said those involved in the alleged leaking of information were “largely driven by a desire to further the interests” of UFU and its secretary:
These incidents were facilitated by a workplace culture where employees did not trust management and did not believe them to be acting in the best interests of the organisation or its employees.
Parts of the UFU and Marshall’s response to Ibac’s findings were included in the report. They said the report was “not suitable or appropriate to be published” and “was not realised or credible, but unsubstantiated and one-sided”. They said the incidents at the centre of the report were “trivial”.
Ibac did not accept this view and made four recommendations to FRV to address what it said were “long-standing and systemic corruption risks”.
Updated
Perhaps we’ll get a big core inflation drop for August, but the RBA is really holding out for the quarterly CPI figures. These land on 30 October, handily in time for the RBA’s next rates meeting on 4-5 November.
After Bullock stated the board did not “explicitly” consider a rate rise this week (we think for the first time since March), markets shifted their bets. Investors reckon there’s about a one-in-four chance of a rate cut in November and about a two-in-three prospect of one in December.
After the RBA's hold yesterday (and Gov. Bullock saying the board did not 'explicitly' consider an interest rate rise), markets are betting there's about a two-in-three chance of a pre-Christmas rate cut. (Via ASX) pic.twitter.com/rALXT3uB9e
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) September 24, 2024
A “Santa” rate cut present, in other words, may yet be under that Christmas tree.
Anyway, watch out for those CPI figures right here at 11.30am AEST, sharp.
Updated
CPI to drop to three-year low but will the RBA ignore?
The Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, tries to avoid “forward guidance” on where interest rates will be in the future but she doesn’t seem to mind offering a bit of statistical soothsaying.
In a slightly awkward timing sequence, the RBA dropped its latest verdict on interest rates a day before the release of data on the subject the central bank is most fussed about: inflation.
The ABS’s monthly consumer price index will almost certainly show a steep dive in the headline number at least. Economists expect the annual pace will slow to 2.7% from 3.5% in July.
That sounds good (and would be the largest month to month decline since May 2023), bringing CPI down to its lowest since August 2021’s 2.5% rate. Expect rental price growth to slow and fuel prices to drop.
The RBA, though, views the headline rate as volatile and subject to one-off or “temporary” changes, such as big energy rebates from governments.
For that reason, it focuses on the “trimmed mean” or core inflation. In July that came in at 3.8% and anything lower than that (which is likely) will put it at the lowest since at least March 2022 – before the RBA rate hikes began.
But the RBA wants to see that measure drop within its 2%-3% target range and look like staying there before it can confidently embark on interest rate cuts, as Bullock made clear yesterday.
Updated
Albanese says the government will “take on” big businesses to tackle cost-of-living concerns, when prices are artificially deflated or increased.
People out there are under financial pressure and they’re looking for value … so when they go into a supermarket and see ‘special’ or ‘prices down’ they trust that is the truth.
It’s not the truth if the supermarket has increased the price by $1.50 and a month later put it down by $0.50 … that is a breach of trust, it’s a breach of faith, Australians are rightly angry about it and my government is taking action.
The prime minister says it is “extraordinary” that under the Coalition there was only a voluntary code of conduct, trusting businesses to act appropriately.
Updated
Asked if Albanese would rule out changes to negative gearing, he replies:
What our government is considering is fixing housing supply by getting our legislation through the Senate.
He refuses to confirm whether Treasury has been asked to do any modelling on it, seeming to imply they float around at whim.
Treasury I’m sure do a range of proposals, policy ideas … I want a public service that is full of ideas.
Updated
PM does not rule out negative gearing changes
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking live in Launceston now, hailing a new urgent care clinic he has announced for Tasmania to avoid overcrowding emergency units at hospitals.
Straight away, he is asked about those Nine reports on negative gearing.
I’ve seen those reports and what we do is we value the public service … I’m sure the public service are looking at policy ideas, that’s because we value them.
We have our housing policy, it’s out there for all to see … it’s currently being blocked by a No’alition of the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens.
Updated
Twelve Singaporean soldiers injured during training accident in Australia
A training mishap during military drills in Australia ended with 12 Singaporean soldiers in hospital, according to Singapore’s defence ministry, which blamed the incident on an armoured vehicle that “rear-ended” another.
Thousands of Singaporean troops have been dispatched to Australia for Exercise Wallaby, one of the city-state’s largest overseas training exercises.
Singapore’s ministry of defence said a Hunter armoured fighting vehicle had “rear-ended another while moving back to base” at Australia’s Shoalwater Bay training facility on Tuesday night.
The ministry said 12 “servicemen sustained non-serious injuries and they have been transported to the hospital”.
They are currently being treated or recovering well.
Singapore’s army called for a “safety pause” so that it could “remind drivers to maintain proper distance”.
The unilateral war games take place under a longstanding agreement between Australia and Singapore, which lacks the landmass to train its military at scale.
– AFP
Updated
Schools funding deal ‘delivering for young Tasmanians’ – premier
The premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff, said additional funding would flow to Tasmanian schools from 2025 – with up to $300m more funds going to the public system to the end of the decade.
We have been transforming Tasmania’s education system over the past decade, and this funding partnership is the next step in delivering for young Tasmanians.
The education minister, Jason Clare, described it as a “massive day” for public education in the state.
This agreement means that all schools in Tasmania will be fully funded and that funding will be invested in reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.
I look forward to working with all states and territories to properly fund our schools and build a better and fairer education system for all Australians.
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT and South Australia are still holding out for the federal government to increase their funding share by 5%, not 2.5% as is currently proposed. We’ll see if today’s decision moves the dial.
Updated
PM hails ‘landmark agreement’ on Tasmania school funding
Meanwhile, we have more details on the announcement this morning that Tasmania has reached an agreement with the commonwealth on school funding.
Both governments have signed on to the Albanese government’s proposed funding agreement for all public schools in Tasmania to 100% of the schooling resource standard (SRS), making Tasmania the third state or territory to adopt it.
Remaining states have until the end of the month to sign on, or fall back on the past agreement. Currently, the commonwealth provides 20% of the SRS for Tasmanian public schools. This will now increase to 22.5% by 2029.
The Tasmanian government will increase its contribution to 77.5% of the SRS by 2029, to cover the remaining 2.5% gap. Currently, no public schools in Australia, except for schools in the ACT, are at the full and fair funding level.
Anthony Albanese said he wanted to make sure that “every student in Australia, no matter where they live and learn, receives every opportunity”.
Today’s landmark agreement means every public school in Tasmania will be fully and fairly funded. This is a national priority that can only delivered when the commonwealth and state and territory governments work in partnership.
That’s why my government has put $16bn in extra funding for public schools on the table – the biggest ever increase in commonwealth funding to public schools.
Updated
Man escapes NT custody
In the Northern Territory, police are seeking public assistance to locate a 38-year-old man who escaped from correctional services.
The man fled from the Alice Springs CBD about 3.20pm yesterday, NT police say.
Alice Springs police are investigating his whereabouts and urging him to return to custody immediately.
Updated
Treasurer hoses down negative-gearing change speculation
We’re waiting for the prime minister to front a press conference in Tasmania, where he’s due to appear any minute, and where we expect he’ll get some questions about reports in the Nine newspapers that the government has asked Treasury to model potential changes to negative gearing.
We’ve got in a statement from treasurer Jim Chalmers’ office, which is looking to hose down the suggestions – but doesn’t categorically rule it out of being part of future plans.
“Our housing policy is clear. It doesn’t include that change,” a spokesperson for the treasurer said.
We have a broad and ambitious housing agenda and we could be building more homes if it wasn’t for the divisive politics of the Greens and Coalition.
Chalmers has his own press conference around midday, which we’ll also bring to you later.
Updated
Jason Clare says deal reached to fully fund Tasmanian public schools
In big education news, the education minister, Jason Clare, has announced the federal government has reached an agreement with Tasmania to fully fund public schools.
BREAKING: Today we’ll sign an agreement to fully fund all Tassie public schools.
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) September 24, 2024
Clare is in Tasmania alongside the prime minister today, who earlier told ABC radio that education and health would be on the agenda.
We will bring more details of the agreement soon, but it brings Tasmania on board with Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
You can read more about the negotiations here:
Updated
Penny Wong calls on China to play 'constructive role' at UN
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has delivered her opening remarks to a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the United Nations general assembly in New York.
Senator Wong said the rules, norms and standards of the UN charter that both countries had committed to were “clearly under great strain”.
Whether through the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, untold deaths of civilians and aid workers, and climate change – these are just some of the threats to our security and stability … It is in all of our interests for China to play a constructive role in the international system that is inclusive and representative.
We both understand the points on which we disagree won’t simply disappear if we leave them in silence.
We have discussed these issues in all of our meetings, and so it will come as no surprise that today will also be an opportunity to discuss human rights, trade impediments, consular matters, the rights and freedoms of those who live in Australia, our expectations around safe and professional military conduct, and our strategic and security interests.
Wong said the pair would also discuss areas of “shared cooperation and mutual benefit” – including trade and economic issues, education and the transition to net zero.
Updated
Penalties toughen under NSW domestic violence laws
Abusers who persistently and deliberately breach court orders meant to prevent them tormenting others will face increased penalties as part of changes to NSW domestic violence laws.
Using technology to track another person’s activities has been explicitly defined as stalking, among other changes. Parents granted sole custody of a child will also be able to apply to change the child’s name.
The reforms passed NSW parliament on Tuesday and are among a number of changes in recent months targeting domestic and family violence.
New categories for breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders (ADVOs) have been introduced, providing for increased penalties in the case of persistent or deliberate breaches. Persistent breaches carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The order allows police to monitor high-risk offenders, and courts to impose any conditions considered appropriate to prevent them engaging in domestic abuse. It could include tightened reporting requirements, restrictions on using social media and dating apps, and notifying police when commencing a new relationship.
The definition of stalking has been updated to keep pace with technology and now explicitly includes using GPS trackers or monitoring social media and other online accounts.
– AAP
Updated
Boy, 15, charged with murder after alleged stabbing in Melbourne shopping centre
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder following an alleged fatal stabbing at a Melbourne shopping centre yesterday.
Emergency services were called to an outdoor food court at Woodgrove shopping centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday, where they located a 16-year-old from Harkness, in Melbourne’s outer west, with life threatening injuries.
First responders attempted to provide CPR to the boy, but he died at the scene.
Victoria Police alleged there may have been an altercation between the victim and another male who fled the scene.
Investigators subsequently arrested the 15-year-old boy and he has been charged with one count of murder.
He will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
Updated
Bronze tribute to Matildas unveiled outside Brisbane stadium
A permanent tribute to the Matildas’ 2023 World Cup heroics has been unveiled outside Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium.
The bronze “bas relief” – a massive 5.5m x 2.1m plaque – depicts members of the Matildas celebrating the memorable quarter-final shootout victory over France.
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, said the recognition – the first permanent tribute to Australia’s women’s football side – would inspire more women and girls to get involved in football.
I, like so many Australians, was on the edge of my seat watching the Matildas make us proud during the Fifa Women’s World Cup last year. Suncorp stadium was the backdrop for so many of their sensational moments throughout the tournament, including the quarter-final win over France.
It’s fitting that now their success will be immortalised where the action happened.
The $330,000 bas relief was announced in March. But after its unveiling, some have found the tribute underwhelming – the Matildas had initially been promised “a statue” by the previous Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Updated
Australian’s arrest in Turkey ‘politically motivated’, Kurdish local leaders say
Kurdish community leaders have told the ABC the arrest of an Australian woman in Istanbul this week was “politically motivated”, rejecting claims she had any links to terrorism.
Cigdem Aslan, also known as Lenna Aslan, was detained by Turkish authorities as she tried to return home to Melbourne last week. The authorities accused her of conducting activities for the Kurdistan Workers’ party – a banned terrorist organisation in Turkey and Australia.
Mahmut Kahraman, the co-president of the Kurdish Democratic Community Centre of Victoria, said Aslan had no connection to the terrorist organisation and that he believed her arrest was politically motivated.
One hundred per cent lie, nothing is true. It’s definitely 100% [politically] motivated.
She [is] a single mum, [she’s] a hardworking woman and she raised almost two daughters alone and she’s a multicultural health worker. [She’s] concerned about human rights … whatever [the] Turkish government [is] saying [is] totally false.
She doesn’t have any connection with Kurdistan Workers’ party or any other organisations.
Updated
NSW centre launches ‘police accountability dashboard’
Redfern Legal Centre has launched Australia’s first police accountability dashboard to give the public comprehensive data about the use of state police powers.
The dashboard provides six years’ worth of New South Wales Police data from 2017 to 2023, with interactive statistics on strip searches, use of force and move-on directions, broken down by location, age and gender.
Supervising solicitor at RLC, Samantha Lee, said the dashboard was “another step towards ensuring the use of police powers is more transparent”.
Increased transparency around police powers leads to greater accountability in their use. The statistics tell a compelling story, highlighting the disproportionate use of police powers against First Nations people.
It’s timely, with this important story from Catie McLeod today:
Updated
Katy Perry says ‘a favourite Australian artist’ will join her in AFL grand final show
Important news for Katy Perry fans and/or footy fans.
Perry has just announced on Sunrise that there will be a surprise appearance during her performance at the AFL grand final on Saturday.
There’s going to be a surprise performance of a favourite Australian artist that I look up to. She is going to be singing a little bit with me. I’ll be singing a little bit with her.
Who could it be? Only time will tell. My bets are on Missy Higgins because she just released a [brilliant] new album and has been doing the rounds in the news.
After Perry’s new album received a one star review in the Guardian and pretty much everywhere, here’s hoping her performance at the MCG is just the boost she needs.
Updated
Rishworth says no plan to change negative gearing in housing policy
On to negative gearing, with reports in Nine Newspapers that Labor has requested modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, Rishworth said she wanted to be “really clear”.
We have got a very ambitious housing policy in front of us at the moment – $32bn of investment in increasing supply in housing, and a number of policies already under way. A number that unfortunately the Coalition and the against are blocking in the Senate … it is not our proposal to address or to add negative gearing to that. We’re getting on with the job...
Asked to confirm expert advice had been requested, Rishworth said: “Treasury does this sort of work.
Treasury does routine work all the time around different policies, different ideas.
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Rishworth and Hume at odds over inflation
Speaking of interest rates, the minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, appeared on Sunrise this morning alongside Jane Hume. She said the Reserve Bank’s decision was “not unexpected”.
We have seen no rate hike for almost a year and it shows that we are working towards our fight on inflation.
This is really, really important. And we are making sure that this absolutely our primary focus. And that’s why you have seen responsible budgeting, but also cost of living support that doesn’t add to the inflation challenge … we know people are doing it tough. That’s why we will keep working on it.
Hume disagreed:
It’s not imported from overseas, it is a problem with our domestic policies. And it’s sticky, meaning it’s not coming down fast enough … the government can’t just say we’re not making a problem worse. They have to tackle it head-on and particularly around tackling this growing public sector expenditure.
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The central bank’s good and bad news on interest rates – analysis
The good news is the Reserve Bank is all but done lifting interest rates. Less good news is that the central bank is also not about to cut them.
Those were probably the key takeaways from the RBA’s sixth board meeting of 2024 and the seventh since it last slugged borrowers with it’s last cash rate hike.
The nine members surfaced from their figurative bunker on Tuesday afternoon to remind everyone inflation remained “too high” and “persistent”.
Importantly, for the first time since March, the board did not “explicitly consider an interest rate rise” at the two-day gathering. That admission, by governor Michele Bullock, promptly sent the Australian dollar into a short swoon as investors erased lingering worries the RBA was seriously considering another a rate rise.
Read more analysis on yesterday’s decision from Peter Hannam here:
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Coalition accuses Labor of lying over negative gearing and capital gains tax
The reports have prompted a strong response from the opposition, with the opposition finance spokesperson, Jane Hume, accusing the Albanese government of “lying to the Australian people”.
She told ABC News Breakfast there was “nothing wrong with the government considering anything, but lying to the Australian people about whether they’re considering it is another issue entirely”.
As recently as last week, the prime minister was … saying that … questions on whether the government was considering [changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax concessions] were not very clever questions. Yet only this week, we find out there is some secret plan to look at negative gearing.
On Sky News this morning, leader of the opposition in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, said the Labor government was “saying one thing on tax policy but looking at doing another”.
Before the last election there were going to be no changes to stage-three tax cuts, no changes to superannuation changes, no tinkering with franking credits, yet they’ve done all of those things.
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Government seeking Treasury modelling on scaling back negative gearing – report
With cost-of-living on the brain, a senior Labor official has told the Sydney Morning Herald that the federal government has asked Treasury for a request for modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
The expert advice could canvass changes to concessions on capital gains tax, indicating Labor may be prepared to take ambitious housing policy to the next election.
The Greens have used Labor’s signature housing policy, a shared equity scheme called Help to Buy, to push for cuts to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. But in negotiations, the government has not budged.
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Albanese says 'we need to do more' to alleviate cost-of-living pressures
Next on to the cost of living, the prime minister acknowledges “we need to do more” to alleviate pressure on Australians.
We know people are under pressure and we know the supermarkets have been taken to court now by the ACCC for … having a lend of Australian customers, and we’ll take strong action against them. We’ve also mandated the code of conduct so customers are looked after.
Finally, Albanese is again asked who he’s getting behind in the Granny. He says he has to go for Sydney.
I’m actually a Hawthorn supporter, we’re a happy team at Hawthorn, we were pretty happy with the season but the Swannies, I think they’re a very good thing, they’ve been the best team all year.
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Funding standoff over Tasmania schools in focus as Jason Clare visits
Albanese says the education minister, Jason Clare, is also in Tasmania today to discuss getting the state’s schools to 100% of school funding.
He expects negotiations will be “really positive” with the state government.
The Tasmanian government is yet to sign up to the commonwealth’s proposal to increase public school funding by 2.5% – holding out for a 5% increase to 25% alongside Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
When I checked in with the state’s education minister, Jo Palmer, last week, she said the government was “investing more than ever before in education” and the federal government needed to “do more to support our students”.
We want to continue negotiations with the commonwealth in good faith and we continue to seek funding of the school resourcing standard to 100%.
It’ll be interesting to see if the standoff changes today.
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PM says $120m for Tasmania heart centre is part of strengthening health sector
Over in northern Tasmania, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is appearing on ABC Radio regarding his announcement today of a $120m investment into a local heart centre.
It shouldn’t be the case that if you’re in northern Tasmania and you need this sort of assistance you need to cross the Bass Strait and go to Melbourne.
He says the government wants to “strengthen Medicare and strengthen the health sector” by taking pressure off emergency departments with specialised urgent care clinics.
If you get early treatment, you can save money as well as save lives.
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Matt Canavan cites Katy Perry in swipe at Greens
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has had a dig at both pop stars and political parties on breakfast TV this morning, declaring “Katy Perry would do a better job running our economy than the Greens”.
Canavan was on to discuss the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold interest rates steady yesterday, with the Greens urging the treasurer to overrule the decision and bring rates down.
I think Katy Perry would do a better job running our economy than the Greens. I mean, this is just insane. Like, I mean, there’s fundamental problems here and people understand that … people know that times are quite tough and all of us have had to tighten our own belts and sacrifice things because of that … It’s not easy to tell people, but in tough times there are no easy solutions.
Asked what Canavan was most excited to hear at Perry’s AFL grand final performance this weekend, he replied: “Roar is the only Katy Perry song I know, so I wouldn’t say I love it.
I probably won’t be screaming at top of my lungs if she sings it, but … bring over Oasis, that’s who I want to see.
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Queensland Labor backs new student accommodation at university
Meanwhile, in Queensland, the state’s deputy premier and treasurer, Cameron Dick, will front the media today to announce the Labor government’s support for a new 1,000-bed student accommodation development at the University of Queensland.
When announcing their controversial international student cap, the federal government indicated building additional student residences would be a measure that would allow providers to enrol students in excess of their cap.
We’ll bring you more on that announcement soon.
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Plibersek approves three coalmine expansions
We have more on environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s approval of three coalmine expansions on Tuesday from Graham Readfearn here.
In a step described by conservationists as reckless and “the opposite of climate action”, at least two of the mines, Narrabri and Mount Pleasant, will target thermal coal for export and burning in power stations.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the three projects, all in New South Wales, would generate more than 1.3bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in their lifetime.
Read more:
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Pharmacy guild urges people to seek their services amid doctor waiting times
One in 10 people are waiting more than three weeks for a doctor’s appointment, new data reveals, with the Australian Pharmacy Guild urging Australians to turn to their services for everyday health needs.
The president of the guild, Trent Twomey, appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning and said pharmacists were now providing short courses of antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs, vaccinations and prescriptions for hormonal contraception.
There’s a range of everyday common health conditions that are unnecessarily blocking up our emergency departments and contributing to those wait times to see our precious general practitioners.
We would love to see more GPs. Who doesn’t love their local family doctor? My wife and I and our children certainly do. But we all know how difficult it is to not only find one, find one that bulk-bills, but find one that hasn’t closed their books and can take an appointment. That’s not just in the bush, that’s in our major capital cities as well, whether it’s after 6pm or on a weekend, when your local pharmacy is open.
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Good morning and many thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking things off for us. I’m Caitlin Cassidy and I’ll be with you on the blog today. As always, you can reach out at caitlin.cassidy@theguardian.com or via socials.
Victoria police renew search for remains of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy
In March, a 22-year-old man was charged with murder in relation to the disappearance of Samantha Murphy, who vanished on 4 February.
Police said they undertook a “targeted search” in the Ballarat area on Tuesday as part of the investigation, with the search to resume this morning.
Murphy’s family have also been advised of the search.
Detectives from the missing persons squad as well as a range of specialist resources from across Victoria police, New South Wales police and the Australian federal police were involved in the search.
Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of enquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation. We are not in a position to supply further specific details of today’s operational activity at this time. Police ask that members of the public do not attend the search at this time.
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Google plans to expand AI use in search
The next question you ask Google could return with a detailed answer penned by artificial intelligence. The tech giant revealed plans to expand its Google Search AI Overviews product to Australia on Tuesday, testing whether the summaries it creates will encourage users to click on more links.
Google’s AI Overviews, which have been tested in the US since May, use the company’s generative AI tool Gemini to summarise search results for users.
The AI tool is commonly used to respond to open-ended or complex search queries, where it can summarise steps, research or suggestions on other websites, Google product search senior director Hema Budaraju told Australian Associated Press.
This could include tips on how to clean a couch, for example, or steps to solve a maths problem.
A very small percentage of users will see the AI overviews by default in their search results on a subset of queries where we believe these overviews make the results even more helpful.
The tool famously suffered errors in early testing when AI-generated summaries told users to add glue to cheese to make it stick on pizza and to eat one small rock a day. The dangerous advice was based on an old Reddit comment and a satirical news article, respectively.
University of the Sunshine Coast computer science lecturer Dr Erica Mealy said the mistakes highlighted the challenge of using a large language model to explain issues rather than to correct or suggest words.
– AAP
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Key event
‘The opposite of climate action’?
Yesterday the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, approved three coalmine expansions in a step described by conservationists as reckless and “the opposite of climate action”.
When Anthony Albanese’s government came to power in 2022 it declared that, after decades of disaster and neglect, the environment was going to be a top priority.
But more than two years later, and with a federal election looming, has anything changed?
Guardian Australia’s climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, speaks with Matilda Boseley in today’s Full Story podcast about whether Labor has walked its talk on the environment.
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Energy future under debate
The Australian Energy Market Operator has declared the national grid would remain reliable as it shifted from running on mostly coal to mostly renewables, but it would require planned investments in new generation to be delivered “on time and in full”.
Bowen said the Coalition’s proposal to limit investment in large-scale renewables and eventually build nuclear plants would ensure this did not happen.
[Opposition leader] Peter Dutton wants to stop renewable investment, tear up contracts for new renewable and transmission projects, and deliver expensive nuclear reactors in two decades’ time.
Dutton gave a speech on nuclear energy on Monday, but did not release new information about what the Coalition planned. He promised those details – including the expected cost for households and businesses and how the Coalition planned to prevent blackouts as ageing coal plants reached the end of their scheduled lives – before the next election.
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Data shows renewables ‘on track’ – Bowen
The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the data showed the national grid supplying the five eastern states was expected to run on 42% renewable energy this year. He said it showed its plan was “on track and building momentum”.
Dylan McConnell, an energy systems researcher at the University of New South Wales, said the data showed the transition to a cleaner power grid was progressing.
“There is this narrative that has developed that the transition has stalled and that’s demonstrably not true,” he said.
It is happening, it just needs to speed up.
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Australia expected to add 7GW of renewable capacity this year
Renewable energy investment and construction across Australia has rebounded beyond what had been forecast this year after slumping in 2023, but will need to accelerate further to reach the pace needed to meet the Albanese government’s goal for 2030.
Australia is expected to add more than 7 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity to the nation’s grid this year, up from 5.3GW last year, according to data released by the Clean Energy Regulator. The new capacity is split roughly equally between large-scale solar and wind farms and small rooftop solar systems, mostly on homes.
The regulator said final investment decisions were made on 1.8GW of new large-scale developments in the first half of the year.
This surpassed the 1.6GW in total commitments in 2023, when investment decisions crashed to the lowest level in years, in part due to a longstanding legislated federal renewable energy target reaching its capacity and uncertainty over when coal-fired power plants would close.
The Albanese government chose not to expand the legislated target, but has promised to underwrite 25GW of new large-scale solar and wind as it aims to have 82% of Australia’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to the rolling news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the headlines from overnight before my colleague Caitlin takes over.
A boost in renewable technology investment has been spruiked by the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, as evidence that wind and solar power in Australia trumps a plan for nuclear energy. The Clean Energy Regulator said yesterday that it was expecting an average of more than 40% of the energy grid to come from renewable energy in 2024.
Victoria police are launching another search this morning as part of their investigation into the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, who went missing in Ballarat in February.
Over the past three decades, Australia’s immigration system has come up with at least 25 different visa types to help people forced from their homes by humanitarian emergency, according to refugee advocates. This huge variation lays bare the complexities of the issue but also the iniquities. Read Rafqa Touma and Ben Doherty’s interview with Hassan Elhassan, a Sudanese-Australian working two jobs to support his family, who are denied much help despite fleeing a civil war:
More coming up.
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