What we learned today, Wednesday 5 July
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today – thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s biggest stories:
The prime minister Anthony Albanese says it is “unacceptable” for Hong Kong authorities to place bounties on two democracy advocates based in Australia, and says he is disappointed at the move.
The minister for water, Tanya Plibersek, has requested an assessment of the Murray-Darling Basin water recovery plan – which was set to be completed by next June.
A magistrate has berated prosecutors for allowing the police officer accused of Tasering a 95-year-old grandmother not to appear in person before court.
The United Nation’s weather agency has declared that the world is now in an El Niño.
An interim report by the ACCC, the consumer watchdog, found childcare centres had raised fees between 20% and 32% from 2018 to 2022 – dramatically outpacing inflation.
In a speech at the National Press Club, the Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney, cautioned Australians against becoming “polarised” by the no campaign “making false claims”.
A bus driver and a passenger are in a stable condition in hospital after a bus carrying more than 10 people crashed through two houses on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula after it was hit by a cement truck.
A court has heard Seven Network chair Kerry Stokes’s private company, ACE, stood to benefit financially if Ben Roberts-Smith won his war crimes defamation trial, in line to claim 15% of any damages the former soldier was awarded.
Mining company gets ‘slap on the wrist’ for water theft
A major petroleum and coal mining company has been spared prosecution for unlawfully using hundreds of millions of litres of water from a river in rural NSW during one of the worst droughts in the state’s history, AAP reports.
Japanese energy giant Idemitsu was found to be unlawfully collecting and using the water at its Boggabri coalmine in north-eastern NSW following an investigation by the state’s water regulator.
Anti-mining collective Lock the Gate Alliance alerted the Natural Resources Access Regulator of the violation in 2021, saying the water should have been diverted around the mine into the local creek system.
The regulator confirmed Idemitsu had acted unlawfully but said the parties settled to an enforceable undertaking negotiated with the company itself.
The regulator on Wednesday confirmed the terms of the undertaking, including an agreement to pay $54,000 in compensation.
Other terms include $15,000 to cover the regulator’s investigation costs and quarterly surface water reporting until 2027 and consultation with the local Indigenous community about the impact of past water take.
Boggabri farmer Sally Hunter, whose family endured significant hardship during the drought, said the decision not to prosecute was totally unacceptable.
She said the “slap on the wrist” response only encouraged coal mining companies to commit serious environmental crimes without the risk of serious penalty.
Updated
More electric car price cuts in Australia as sales soar
Australians will have three electric vehicle options under $40,000 after another automaker dropped the price of its next-generation car in the country, AAP reports.
GWM revealed plans to cut $4000 from the asking price of its Ora electric car on Wednesday, just weeks after the vehicle began arriving in the country.
The reduction will put the vehicle’s price tag $1100 higher than the cheapest electric car launched in Australia, the BYD Dolphin, and $1000 more than its nearest rival, the MG4.
The price cut also arrived as Australia recorded its highest sales for electric cars, with the vehicles representing 8.8% of all new models sold in June, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
Updated
'Different metrics' behind decision not to declare El Niño despite UN call, BoM says
The Bureau of Meteorology said it hasn’t yet declared an El Niño event following the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation’s declaration due its different metrics.
Though the Pacific Ocean has reached a temperature to confirm an El Niño event, the Bureau said a shift in the tropical atmosphere had not yet been confirmed.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s climate manager Karl Braganza today said there was a 70% chance of El Nino in coming months.
Some agencies have declared El Niño, so why hasn’t @BOM_au? Different countries have different metrics for declaring the event. Pacific Ocean temps have reached El Niño levels, but there hasn't been a confirmed shift in the tropical atmosphere.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 5, 2023
More info: https://t.co/1nonfXDqKy pic.twitter.com/f1yO1UOM03
Updated
Kerry Stokes’s private company could benefit financially if Ben Roberts-Smith won war crimes defamation trial, judge says
Seven Network chair Kerry Stokes’s private company, ACE, stood to benefit financially if Ben Roberts-Smith won his war crimes defamation trial, in line to claim 15% of any damages the former soldier was awarded, a court has heard.
The details emerged in a judgment delivered in a Sydney court during a legal dispute over who will bear the costs – expected to run to tens of millions of dollars – of the long-running defamation action.
Pause in interest rate hikes no salve for mortgage pain
More mortgage holders are failing to stump up for their monthly repayments with numbers likely to climb even after the Reserve Bank paused interest rates this month.
The central bank’s four percentage points of interest rate hikes and the high cost of living has already nudged up the number of borrowers 30 days in arrears, albeit from relatively low levels.
Moody’s analysts Helen Liu and Alena Chen expect to see mortgage delinquencies (when borrowers are more than 30 days late on their payments) “rise moderately” as higher interest rates drive up the cost of servicing loans.
They wrote in a report:
Borrowers who took out mortgages at very low interest rates in the few years before the RBA started its monetary tightening cycle pose a particular risk.
Updated
Donald Trump Jr’s Australian speaking tour delayed
A speaking tour from the son of former US president Donald Trump has been delayed, the tour promoter announced on Wednesday.
Donald Trump Jr was to speak at events in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, kicking off this Sunday, however Turning Point Australia announced on Wednesday that “due to unforeseen circumstances” the shows would be postponed.
The organisation said the dates will be rescheduled in the coming days and ticket holders should keep their tickets.
Tickets for the event ranged between $89, $295 for a meet-and-greet, right up to $2,500 for a private dinner.
The event was set to also bring Brexiteer Nigel Farage to Australia. Liberal senator Alexander Antic was also due to appear at the events.
Farage appeared on Sky News’ Paul Murray Live to promote the tour in recent weeks.
Guardian Australia has sought comment from Turning Point Australia.
Updated
Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi, has called for free early learning “no matter your postcode, bank balance, or background”.
It comes a report by the consumer watchdog, commissioned by the government ahead of its cheaper childcare reforms kicking in next week, found childcare fees increased between 20% and 32% from 2018 to 2022.
Faruqi said:
We need the government to have a bolder vision with the political will to truly put children families and educators first, instead of offering them crumbs and expecting them to be grateful.
We need an #ECEC system where every child has access to free early learning, no matter their post code, bank balance or background. pic.twitter.com/QkFzbxgSCb
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) July 5, 2023
Speers takes on ‘expanded role’ at ABC
Insiders host David Speers will have an “expanded role” in the ABC’s political coverage, taking on the new role of national political lead, the ABC has announced.
Speers said:
It’s terrific to have the program that’s all about the nation’s politics now based right in the centre of the action.
On Sunday, Insiders will be broadcast from a new Canberra studio for the first time.
The promotion of Speers, who will anchor political coverage, alongside Laura Tingle, comes after the ABC removed the role of national political editor and made Andrew Probyn redundant.
But the ABC insists the two moves are unrelated. The statement said:
This announcement is a separate initiative to the ABC’s recent proposed changes to the Canberra bureau and across ABC news, designed to increase our capacity to serve digital as well as broadcast audiences. Consultation on those proposals is continuing.
Updated
Seven’s loss as Ben Roberts-Smith legal bill looms
Seven Network and Kerry Stokes’ private firm have been ordered to hand over documents sought by three media organisations looking to hit them with additional costs of Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation defeat, AAP reports.
Justice Anthony Besanko ordered Seven and Australian Capital Equity hand over invoices that show the involvement of their lawyers in the hotly contested litigation with a 110-day hearing ending last year.
Seven and ACE unsuccessfully argued the documents merely revealed how often the lawyers sat in on the hearings and would not show that the firms had any control or management of how the war veteran ran the lawsuits.
The two Stokes-backed firms financially supported the Victoria Cross-recipient through the litigation via loan agreements.
After their defamation win in the federal court last month, Nine-owned publishers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald plus The Canberra Times are seeking their legal costs which are estimated to be more than $25m in total for all parties.
Mr Roberts-Smith has already agreed to cover the legal bills as well as paying additional indemnity costs after 17 March, 2020 when the three media companies made an offer to resolve the proceedings.
He is resisting calls that he pay indemnity costs before that date, however.
The bid against Seven and ACE is also for indemnity costs, which are orders typically granted in lawsuits that are frivolous, hopeless or doomed to fail.
Justice Besanko dismissed Mr Roberts-Smith’s lawsuits finding on the balance of probabilities that reports he engaged in war crimes while deployed in Afghanistan, including his involvement in the unlawful murder of four unarmed prisoners, were substantially true.
Roberts-Smith has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Updated
‘Well publicised’ matters referred to federal corruption watchdog
On Monday we reported on the first sitting of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which by Sunday had received 44 referrals and five phone calls.
The Nacc has just provided an update that by close of business on Tuesday it had received 186 reports had been submitted via the webform at nacc.gov.au and the intake team had taken 116 calls.
“Approximately 60 of the referrals relate to matters well publicised in the media,” it said in a statement.
The commission won’t provide these figures daily but will provide a further update early next week.
Updated
Dutton says Hong Kong’s arrest warrants for democracy advocates ‘unacceptable’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has backed the government’s response to Hong Kong’s decision to issue arrest warrants for eight democracy advocates around the world, including two based in Australia.
The pro-democracy advocates were named by Hong Kong police on Monday as being wanted for alleged breaches of the city’s sweeping national security law, with rewards of HK$1m (A$191,000) offered for information leading to their arrest.
The Hong Kong chief executive, John Lee, vowed yesterday to pursue the eight individuals “for life” and China’s foreign ministry accused Australia, the US and the UK of “providing a safe haven for fugitives”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said this morning that the developments were “just unacceptable” and he was “of course disappointed” by the announcements.
Dutton, speaking to reporters earlier today, offered bipartisanship on the government’s response. Dutton said:
Well, I endorse the comments made by the prime minister, and this is one of those issues where the government and the opposition should stand together.
It’s completely unacceptable that Australians should be tracked down, or hunted down in this sort of conduct and I’d support the words of the prime minister in relation to this issue. It’s a very serious issue, and it’s been taken seriously by the government and we endorse it on that basis.
Updated
Bodies found in two burnt-out cars a coincidence: police
Police believe the discovery of human remains inside two burnt cars in Sydney hours apart is just an eerie coincidence, AAP reports.
A body was found slumped in the driver’s seat of a partially burnt-out Ford Fiesta in the city’s west early on Tuesday morning. A few hours earlier, skeletal remains were uncovered in the rear of a Toyota RAV4 in the south.
Supt Craig Middleton acknowledged the cases were of similar circumstances but said police did not currently have any information to connect the two deaths.
Middleton said today:
We’re keeping a very open mind and we’re exploring all the avenues.
Updated
Circling back to the Brazil team arriving in Australia for the Women’s World Cup with a tribute to Iran protesters.
Our video team has pulled together footage of the tribute:
Uninsured Lismore homes stay mud-caked and unrepaired
A lack of insurance is preventing hundreds of Lismore residents from repairing their flood-damaged homes as government financial help remains frustratingly out of reach for many, AAP reports.
A recent canvassing of homes in the flood-battered regions found more than half were uninsured when the disaster struck in early 2022.
Last month, community outreach group Resilient Lismore conducted a survey of 295 households and found many were just scraping by with limited access to a working bathroom or kitchen.
Resident Jenna Breeze, who lost her home in the floods, said many people were trying to make it through the winter without a hot shower, or with five minutes of warm water from a camp shower
Resilient Lismore is calling for the government to release more funding to enable retrofits and give people access to basic amenities in the short term.
Updated
Brazil’s squad landed in Australia for the Women’s World Cup on a plane that paid tribute to the Iran protests – images of Mahsa Amini and incarcerated Iranian footballer Amir Nasr Azdani are painted up the plane’s tail.
“No woman should be forced to cover her head,” reads the lettering on one side of the plane.
Brazil’s squad lands in Australia for the Women's World Cup on a plane that paid tribute to the #IranProtests, featuring images of #MahsaAmini and incarcerated Iranian footballer #AmirNasrAzdani. #WomanLifeFreedom #زن_زندگى_آزادى pic.twitter.com/tNuOyOsDrv
— Jonathan Harounoff (@JonathanHaroun1) July 4, 2023
Updated
Thanks Rafqa for taking us through today! I’ll be with you until this evening.
That’s all from me today – thanks for sticking through a busy morning of news!
Handing over to Jordyn Beazley, who will roll the blog into the evening.
At her National Press Club address, our political reporter Josh Butler asked Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney about the fallout from the voice debate, including the mental health impact on Indigenous people.
Butler asked: “How do you pick up after the referendum and heal whatever divisions have opened up to this debate?”
Burney said:
We are very conscious of the issues around mental health … We’ve already seen some fairly unsavoury things. But I say these things to you that the yes campaign is going to be positive, it is going to be respectful and it is going to be absolutely about the issues that affect First Nations people. It will not be about selling division. I can assure you.
We have made a $10m commitment in the last budget because of the issues that we understand could come.
I have met with all the crisis lines … That will be a continuing discussion. I have met with the eSafety commissioner about what is possible online and the way in which we will monitor that. So those things have been done productively and will committee to be done.
Updated
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) has received more than 300 referrals since its weekend launch, AAP reports.
That number is up from 44 online referrals, which Nacc commissioner Paul Brereton announced in his first speech on Monday
There have now been 186 reports submitted online and 116 phone calls.
About 60 of the referrals related to “matters well publicised in the media”, the commission said.
Brereton warned on Monday against inappropriate referrals, saying he would not hesitate to make public statements calling out unfounded claims.
The commission’s job is to stamp out corrupt conduct involving commonwealth officials, including ministers, parliamentarians and their staff. It will also investigate the conduct of public servants and government contractors.
The commission can determine what to investigate without a referral, and will decide whether to investigate matters referred to the commission. Anyone can refer a matter.
Updated
Two taken to hospital after bus crash
Two people have been transported to hospital after a bus smashed into two houses on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Victoria Police said a cement truck collided with the bus on Safety Beach on Wednesday morning at about 11am.
Police said a 44-year-old driver and a 17-year-old male passenger have been transported to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Paramedics also treated a second passenger at the scene.
The truck driver, a 32-year-old man, is uninjured and assisting police with enquiries.
The Safety Beach properties were unattended at the time of the bus crash.
A Country Fire Authority spokesperson confirmed 10 people were on board the bus and no one was trapped.
A Peninsula Health spokesperson confirmed both the bus driver and teenage passenger are in a stable condition.
Updated
A Victoria State Emergency Service spokesperson says volunteers were called to the scene of the Mornington Peninsula bus crash “due to several suspected entrapments”:
Our VICSES Sorrento Unit volunteers were requested to attend the scene of a bus crash near Safety Beach, due to several suspected entrapments.
Our VICSES volunteers have been on scene since 11:20am and are working with Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers to extricate patients, to deliver into the care of Ambulance Victoria paramedics.
VICSES Sorrento Unit volunteers remained on scene to assist with propping the structure for safe removal of the bus, by heavy haulage.
Updated
At least one of those injured in the Mornington Peninsula bus crash has been transported to Frankston hospital.
Peninsula Health confirmed a 17-year-old male was in a stable condition at the facility.
Updated
An update from the Mornington Peninsula bus crash:
According to multiple news reports, the bus reportedly hit two houses, and at least two people have been taken to hospital.
Linda Burney condemns ‘Trump-style’ politics of voice no campaign
Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney condemns the no campaign against the voice referendum for its “Trump-style politics” at the National Press Club.
Do not let the no campaign get their way with using Trump-style politics in Australia. Do not let them divide us.
Burney says the no campaign is “post-truth”:
Its aim is to polarise, to sow division in our society by making false claims including providing advice to government would somehow impact the fundamental democratic principle of one vote, one value. A claim designed to mislead.
The minister’s scathing criticism were not in the prepared speech distributed to media last night.
Updated
Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney reaffirms the voice will work “in a practical way” at the National Press Club. “Practical, practical, practical,” she repeats.
“It’s about linking out of the local decision-making and local knowledge with the policymakers and government,” she says, outlining an example of a local community identifying a problem with low school attendance:
The community identifies that this is a challenge and wants to explore local solutions to improve school attendance. So the community approaches. They were positive on the voice, and raises this issue with them. The voice then has the power to make recommendations on how to improve school attendance at the local community level to government and the parliament.
Updated
SES working to ‘extricate patients’ from Victoria bus crash
Looking away from Canberra to Victoria, where a bus has crashed near Safety Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
Sorrento Unit SES volunteers are working alongside partner agencies to remove patients and “propping the structure to safely remove the bus”:
VICSES Sorrento Unit volunteers are currently attending the scene of a bus crash near Safety Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) July 5, 2023
Our volunteers are working alongside our partner agencies to extricate patients, and assist with propping the structure to safely remove the bus. pic.twitter.com/JCgJehUDe7
Updated
'How much longer do we have to wait?’ Linda Burney asks in plea for constitutional voice
There is a need for the voice, because “for far too long governments have been making policies for Indigenous Australians, not with Indigenous Australians”, Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney tells the National Press Club.
“We need a voice to change that.”
The idea of constitutional recognition through a voice is what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have asked for, “not the government,” Burney says.
122 years after the Australian constitution was formed, more than 80 years since William Cooper had his petition, 35 years since the Barunga statement, 30 years since Keating’s Redfern speech. Sixteen years since John Howard promised a referendum for recognition, 15 years since the apology, 13 years since the expert panel on constitutional recognition, and six years, everyone, since the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The question must surely be asked. How much longer do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to wait for recognition? When will we finally resolve this unfinished business?
Updated
Indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney is due to address the National Press Club on the Indigenous voice to parliament in five minutes.
This year we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver constitutional recognition through a Voice.
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) July 4, 2023
It's a chance for us to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.
Today at the National Press Club I'll talk about why it's needed and how it will help improve lives. pic.twitter.com/ZxKU3RnulD
We will bring you updates here – stay tuned.
Updated
UN declares worldwide El Niño
In case you missed it, the United Nation’s weather agency has declared that the world is now in an El Niño.
#ElNiño is a natural climate pattern associated with warming ocean surface temps in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. But it takes place in the context of a climate changed by human activities.
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) July 4, 2023
WMO declares onset of El Niño conditions: https://t.co/lF4HUL5ZZK pic.twitter.com/dpg5CaOprc
For Australia, El Niño events increase the risk of drought, heatwaves, bushfires and coral bleaching.
You can read more from Graham Readfearn here:
Updated
RBA rate rise peak might not be that far off after Tuesday’s pause
In the wake of yesterday’s decision by the Reserve Bank to leave its key interest rate unchanged for only the second board meeting since it began hiking rates last May, attention has naturally turned to what they might do at the next meeting, scheduled for 1 August.
According to the ASX’s interest rate tracker, the chance of an August rate rise is less than 50:50. (Other measures put it more like 60:40.)
After yesterday's RBA rates pause, investors were rating the odds of an August cash rate increase at 43%. By October, the market implies a 25bp rise to 4.35% is a certainty. (Source: @ASX ) pic.twitter.com/NwGgBUR1gh
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 5, 2023
By this measure, the RBA may only have one more 25 base point rise to come before it reaches the peak of this cycle.
As we note in this piece, though, there are reasons (about 715,000 over two years) to think one more rate rise might be optimistic:
One clue why the RBA might be encouraged to be patient is that inflation is starting to decline in many parts of the world (as we noted over the weekend here).
Overnight, the OECD reported consumer price inflation across their group of 33-odd relatively rich nations declined from an average 7.4% in April to 6.5% in May. That was the lowest level since the end of 2021. (Australia’s went from 6.8% to 5.6%, the lowest since April 2022.)
Importantly, energy inflation is now going the other way, with costs down 5.1% in May from a year ago after increasing at a 0.7% annual pace in April. Food inflation, while still high, was also on the decline.
While those trends are the friends of inflation-fighting central banks they are not so matey for resource-based exporting nations such as Australia. What’s good for rates won’t be so great for government royalties and tax revenues in our case.
Updated
25% increase in sales for new cars and trucks
Despite supply issues, sales of new cars and trucks are surging – with sales of zero and low-emission vehicles continuing to grow, AAP reports.
124,926 new vehicles were delivered in June, a 25% improvement since last year, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said.
It was the best June result since 2018, and improved demand for the first half of 2023 by 8.2%.
Battery electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid models made up 16.6% of the market.
The chamber’s chief executive, Tony Weber, said the continuing sales growth was encouraging:
The end of the financial year has traditionally been a strong month for vehicle sales.
Indications from our members are that demand for new vehicles remains solid, but the supply is not yet at a point to meet this demand.
To put it simply, if we could have landed more vehicles, this would have been a record June result.
Updated
Tasmania national laggard for freedom of information refusals
A new analysis is damning of the state of Tasmania’s freedom of information regime, finding it to be the worst in the country.
The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) on Wednesday released analysis showing Tasmania had the highest rate of FOI refusals, that its system was unacceptably slow in responding to requests, and made vast numbers of errors.
The analysis shows Tasmanians are the most likely to have an FOI rejected of any jurisdiction. It also shows 70% of FOI refusals in Tasmania are later overturned after review by the ombudsman.
The EDO has recommended a series of reforms to improve the culture of transparency and the quality of FOI assessments, while reducing delays and narrowing the reasons the government can use to withhold information.
The EDO’s managing lawyer for Tasmania, Claire Bookless, said:
Our investigation has found the Tasmanian Government is the most secretive in Australia, and this has serious implications when it comes to the realm of environmental law.
Successive governments in Tasmania have denied or delayed access to information that citizens need to participate in environmental decision making, which is an essential part of any healthy democracy.
Updated
Exclusive: First Nations people experiencing increased discrimination in the workplace, data says
First Nations people have experienced increased levels of harassment and discrimination in the workplace this year, according to early data from Diversity Council Australia’s upcoming Inclusion@Work Index.
Six in 10 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers experienced discrimination and/or harassment in the workplace in 2023. That is a 9% increase since 2021.
Looking at everyday experiences, half of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers reported sometimes, often or always being ignored by people at work (compared to less than a quarter of non-Indigenous workers).
Almost half reported sometimes, often or always being left out of a work social gathering (again compared to less than a quarter of non-Indigenous workers).
Increased discrimination and harassment in the workplace makes heavier the cultural load on Indigenous Australians that comes with the voice to parliament debate heating up, Nareen Young, professor of Indigenous policy at UTS’ Jumbunna Institute, says:
While the voice seeks to provide further opportunities for First Nations communities to share their experiences within governance systems, organisations and society at large have taken this opportunity to add an increased cultural load on Indigenous peoples, employees, friends and family members.
It appears through the racist social media campaigns on our devices during the day, the challenges to our identity as Indigenous peoples on the news at night and it suffocates us in our dreams.
Updated
ACT DPP Shane Drumgold extends leave as report into Lehrmann trial due this month
The ACT’s director of public prosecutions has extended his leave as the territory’s chief minister awaits a report into the high-profile Lehrmann trial, AAP reports.
Shane Drumgold will continue his leave until August 30, while Anthony Williamson SC will continue to act in the role.
ACT chief minister Andrew Barr is awaiting a report due to be delivered this month following an independent inquiry into how the justice system handled Bruce Lehrmann’s criminal trial.
Lehrmann was accused of raping fellow Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins at Parliament House. Higgins alleges she was raped inside a ministerial office by her then-colleague after a night out in 2019. Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and denies the allegations.
The independent inquiry has been headed by former Queensland Supreme Court judge Walter Sofronoff.
Prosecutors dropped the charge against Lehrmann over fears about the impact of a second trial on Higgins’ mental health, after the first trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.
Updated
NSW government accused of breaking election promise over public sector wage caps
The New South Wales shadow minister for health, Matt Kean, has accused the Minns government of breaking an election promise to the state’s health workers, urging premier Chris Minns to resolve the standoff with the Health Services Union.
It comes as the state’s health workers are threatening to escalate industrial action from Monday if the state government does not come to the table with an increased pay offer by Friday.
The Minns government has offered a 4% pay rise to public sector workers as part of its election promise to abolish wage caps set by the previous government.
But the Health Sectors Union is seeking a 6.5% pay increase, inclusive of super, or a flat increase to base rates, and for health workers to get the full benefit of salary packaging.
Kean said:
Labor can’t deliver on their promise to the HSU and health workers because they have no way to pay for wage increases. Despite telling the people of NSW that any wage increase would be offset by productivity gains, it’s now evident that it will cost the budget at least $2.5 billion over the next four years, if not more.
Before the election Minns said he would sit down at the table, but he is missing in action, and it is the people of NSW who are paying the price, with industrial action potentially impacting access to health services from next week.
Updated
Australian citizens and Hong Kong advocates targeted by crackdown
Albanese’s comments follow the Hong Kong chief executive, John Lee, vowed yesterday to pursue the eight individuals “for life”. Lee also alluded to plans to carry out ongoing monitoring of the group.
Two people based in Australia are among the eight pro-democracy advocates named by Hong Kong police on Monday as being wanted for alleged breaches of the city’s sweeping national security law, with rewards of HK$1m (A$191,000) offered for information leading to their arrest.
Those targeted include the Australian citizen Kevin Yam, a lawyer who lived in Hong Kong for 20 years before returning to Australia last year, and Ted Hui, a pro-democracy figure who is on an Australian bridging visa.
Yam, who has criticised the crackdown on dissent and erosion of judicial independence in Hong Kong, told Guardian Australia on Tuesday: “I owe it to all the friends and fellow activists who are currently in jail and are largely silenced not to shut up.”
Hui, a former Democratic party MP based in Adelaide, has also said that the bounty showed western democracies that China was embracing “extreme authoritarianism”.
Late yesterday China’s foreign ministry hit back at Australia, the US and the UK for criticising the arrest warrants, saying Hong Kong issues were “purely China’s internal affairs and brook no meddling by any external forces”.
Our latest news wrap is here:
Updated
PM says move to arrest Australian-based Hong Kong advocates 'unacceptable'
The prime minister Anthony Albanese says it is “unacceptable” for Hong Kong authorities to place bounties on two democracy advocates based in Australia, and says he is disappointed at the move.
In his round of television interviews this morning, Albanese also vowed to continue speaking out about human rights in China despite the broader effort to “stabilise” the diplomatic relationship. He specifically renewed calls for due process for the Australian citizen Cheng Lei, who has been detained in China since 2020 and whose verdict in a closed national security-related trial has been delayed multiple times.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, had previously said the Australian government was “deeply disappointed” by the arrest warrants announced by Hong Kong authorities on Monday, and she promised to ensure free speech was protected.
In a hardening of the Australian government’s rhetoric on the matter, Albanese told Nine’s Today show this morning:
It’s just unacceptable. We are concerned about the announcements overnight that have been made. We will continue to cooperate with China where we can, but we will disagree where we must - and we do disagree over human rights issues. We continue to raise issues such as Cheng Lei’s unacceptable detention without proper processes being in place, and we will continue to put those arguments.
Over on ABC News Breakfast, Albanese said he was “of course disappointed” by the Hong Kong announcements and once again brought up Cheng’s case unprompted:
We do disagree that someone like Cheng Lei, a journalist, is still held in China, without proper process at all …
This decision overnight is an example of where Australia and China do have different approaches to these issues – and we’ll stand up for our values.
Updated
Man arrested for murder of 17-month-old baby in South Australia
A Glenelg North man was arrested last night for the murder of 17-month-old baby, Ronan Davies, according to SA police.
Ronan was found to have severe head and other internal injuries, police say.
He was taken to the Women’s and Children’s hospital in Adelaide by the SA ambulance service at 6pm on Wednesday 7 June. That day, Ronan was returned to his father by a friend who was caring for him. When the father could not rouse Ronan he called paramedics, police say.
The baby died from these injuries two days later.
“It will be alleged the arrested man inflicted the injuries upon Ronan while in his care on the afternoon of Wednesday 7 June, prior to returning him to his father,” police say.
“The 30-year-old Glenelg North man has been charged with murder, refused bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.”
Updated
Peter Dutton challenges the voice: fact-checked
Ahead of minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney’s address on the voice to parliament, expected in two hours, opposition leader Peter Dutton addresses the press on Sky News.
“Linda Burney is trying to pretend the voice is one thing when it is actually another,” he says. “Australians aren’t stupid.”
Dutton says the voice will be made up of “24 elites” who “aren’t going to represent the views … in Indigenous communities”.
He also says:
You can’t legislate … an act of parliament to undo whats in the constitution.
We don’t want to … change our whole system of government
Our political reporter Amy Remeikis has fact-checked claims like this that Dutton has made to challenge the voice in the past, so I’ll leave this here:
Last week, when Liberals leader Peter Dutton announced his party would not support the voice, he made a number of claims about the Indigenous voice referendum. We asked @AmyRemeikis to fact check the speech: pic.twitter.com/6HPXNdt65z
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) April 11, 2023
Updated
Australia’s last letterpress newspaper prints final edition
Australia’s last letterpress newspaper, the Don Dorrigo Gazette, has launched its final edition after 113 years.
“In a changing world with internet and social media we cannot compete. This has been a killer of many other newspapers that have closed, and some move to digital only versions,” the paper’s final edition states.
“Within 10 years, there will likely not be any newspapers printed.”
Updated
Police appeal for information after human remains found in burnt-out car in Sydney
NSW police are appealing to the public for information after human remains were discovered in a burnt-out car south of Sydney.
Just after midnight yesterday, emergency services were called to Waterfall Flat Carpark where a Toyota RAV4 was alight.
The blaze was extinguished by crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service. Upon an initial inspection of the vehicle, skeletal remains were located inside.
A crime scene was established and forensically examined by specialist police. The remains are yet to be formally identified.
As investigations continue, Strike Force Krautz has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police are now seeking assistance from members of the public who may have been in the vicinity of the Royal National Park or travelled along the Princes Highway between Engadine and Waterfall between 6pm and midnight on Monday, they said in a statement.
Anyone with dashcam footage of or information about a dark-coloured Toyota RAV4 is urged to call Sutherland police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Three Australian universities to set up campuses in Indonesia
The minister for education, Jason Clare, farewelled Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo after announcing that Western Sydney University, Deakin University and CQ University will set up campuses in Indonesia.
An honour to farewell Indonesian President @jokowi this morning.
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) July 4, 2023
The announcement yesterday that three Australian universities will set up campuses in Indonesia is great news for our two countries 🇦🇺 🇮🇩 pic.twitter.com/HkABUy4sH6
Updated
Public hearing into food security in Australia being held tomorrow in Sydney
The Agriculture Committee will be holding a public hearing in Sydney tomorrow at 10.00am in NSW’s Parliament House.
The hearing will be part of the inquiry into food security.
The Agriculture Committee will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, 6 July, 10.00am-12.40pm, as part of the inquiry into food security, in the Macquarie Room, Parliament House, Sydney. https://t.co/MGoAMIDIs8 pic.twitter.com/DeBLkWm2sE
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) July 4, 2023
Updated
Uber invests in delivery rider safety kits following high injury rates
Uber will offer more than 150,000 delivery riders high-visibility safety gear as part of a $17m investment, AAP reports.
The rider kits will include a vest, rain jacket and food delivery bag, along with a phone mount, bike light and reflective panels. From today, they will be given to new and existing bicycle, motorcycle and scooter riders across Australia and New Zealand.
Changes by Uber to improve rider safety follows the deaths of five delivery riders in 2020, and reports of high injury rates.
Uber Eats Australia’s general manager, Bec Nyst, said:
We believe that providing easy access to high-quality and highly visible (protective) gear can enhance safety while delivering on Australian and New Zealand roads.
We also want to raise awareness of the importance of high quality and comfortable safety equipment and encourage Aussies and Kiwis who commute on two wheels to embrace the use of high-vis safety gear.
The company consulted with 40 delivery riders on the design of the products and used SGS Australia to ensure they met safety standards.
Updated
People forced to sell properties because of mortgage stress in Sydney’s west
In the mortgage stress belt of Sydney’s west, residents and businesses can no longer make payments to keep their properties.
Guardian Australia reporter Mostafa Rachwani spoke to people who are being forced to sell their homes and businesses because of it.
You can read the full story here:
Updated
You get a question! And you get a question!
We want to hear your questions on Australian politics!
Shoot them our way at australia.podcasts@theguardian.com (or reply to Paul Karp’s tweet below):
This week Guardian's Australian Politics podcast is doing an Ask Us Anything episode.
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) July 4, 2023
Do you want to know about the NACC? Voice? Joko Widodo visit? Anything else?
Please send us questions by reply to this tweet or email australia.podcasts@theguardian.com#auspol
Updated
Water minister questions if basin plan can be delivered on time
The minister for water, Tanya Plibersek, has requested an assessment of the Murray-Darling Basin water recovery plan – which was set to be completed by next June, including “whether the plan can be delivered on time” after she says “major elements” of the plan were “left to drift or actively sabotaged by the Liberals and Nationals”.
I wanted to give you an update about the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) July 4, 2023
Over the last year it has become clear that major elements of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan were either left to drift or actively sabotaged by the Liberals and Nationals. pic.twitter.com/OtTZutijm6
There were water recovery programs wrapped in brown tape, delayed projects, and unaccredited water resource plans.
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) July 4, 2023
A year from the deadline, I’ve asked for an honest assessment of the legacy we have received, including whether the Plan can be delivered on time. pic.twitter.com/DrxYQa2Jb5
Plibersek assures commitment to delivering the water recovery plan:
We are committed to delivering the Plan in full – to make sure we have a healthy and sustainable Basin in the future for the communities, industry and environment that rely on it.
Updated
Warning from BoM after heavy rain on Brisbane roads
Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology urges drivers to “take care on the roads” in Brisbane’s west, after 15 to 30mm of rainfall since 9am yesterday.
Areas of fog around #Brisbane this morning, mainly in the west, after 15 to 30 mm rainfall since 9am yesterday. Take care on the roads!
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) July 4, 2023
Some blue sky giving us a peek of the waning gibbous moon too. Evening high tides will decline this week following the recent full moon 🌝 pic.twitter.com/nfpSKIdjQs
Updated
Montague Island given dual name to honour Indigenous cultural significance
The iconic Montague Island off the NSW south coast is now called Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve.
The island is a significant ceremonial area and resource-gathering place – and the dual Indigenous name is in honour of the cultural significance of the island to the Yuin people, AAP reports.
The renaming process was initiated by the traditional owners and announced by the NSW environment minister, Penny Sharpe:
The Aboriginal name will sit alongside the non-Aboriginal name and I look forward to seeing Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve become widely and commonly used.
Yuin elder Uncle Bunja Smith said the new name would delight all elders and tribespeople:
From mother mountain Gulaga, came the two sons – Najanuka and Barunguba.
We know this because it is in our stories and our songs.
I pray that the spirit of this sacred place touches the hearts of the wider south coast community and all visitors who may come.
Updated
Albanese outlines how most of budget surplus has been ‘banked’ to reduce inflation
On ABC News Breakfast, Anthony Albanese was asked about the upward revision of the surplus to $19bn – and whether the government could offer more cost of living relief.
The prime minister didn’t rule it out, but hinted the surplus will be banked to reduce inflation.
He said:
Well, we’ll always examine what we can do. But just on Saturday, when July 1 kicked over, we saw cheaper childcare come in. We saw paid parental leave be extended. We saw a tripling of the Medicare bulk billing rate so that more Australians, 11 million Australians, can see a doctor for free. We saw the funding for Medicare urgent care clinics so that more people can get access to a doctor. We saw energy price relief, a $3 billion plan between the commonwealth and state and territory governments to take that pressure off energy price increases as well. We saw all of those measures come in just over a week ago. But we’ll continue to examine what we can do.
We do need to understand, of course, that if the government just splashed money around, that would put upward pressure when it comes to inflation, which would work counter to what the Reserve Bank is doing on monetary policy. And we need to make sure that fiscal policy and monetary policy work hand-in-hand, and that’s why we have banked most of the savings from the surplus.
But that’s why, as well, we announced when we were conscious about the surplus, the addition of $2 billion into public housing so that we could have that investment in a way that put that relief for the construction sector and the creation of jobs and economic activity when it was needed without putting pressure on inflation.
Updated
Big four firms donated $4.3m to major parties while government contracts increased 400%
The big four consultancy firms have donated $4.3m to Labor and the Coalition over the past decade – at the same time, the value of their contracts with government increased by 400%, analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity has found.
On ABC RN this morning, Patricia Karvelas asked minister for finance Katy Gallagher: “Should you stop taking donations?”
Gallagher thinks contracts awarded to consultancies is an issue seperate to the political donations those consultancies make:
I think there are two separate issues there … On donations, they should be made in accordance with laws and be disclosed and we’ve got some reforms coming around that.
The second issue is about the significant increase in contracts awarded and we do think that’s a problem … and we’re cracking down on it.
You can read about the calls to ban political donations from big consultancies, by Henry Belot, here:
Updated
Gallagher hopeful inflation will level out based on budget forecasts
The minister for finance, Katy Gallagher, is hopeful inflation will begin to moderate over the next 18 months.
“I think we should be prepared for the fact that the bank has a job to do, which is to ensure that inflation comes down and that it heads towards the target range, and certainly in our budget forecasts we expect that to happen,” she said on ABC RN this morning.
We do believe that inflation has peaked and that we will see moderation of that over the next 18 months.
Updated
Question of more interest rate rises ‘matter for the bank’: Katy Gallagher
Interest rates were paused at 4.1% yesterday – only the second time in the last 14 meetings they have not been raised, giving the central bank time to assess the state of the economy.
The minister for finance, Katy Gallagher, couldn’t confirm whether Australians should prepare for more interest rate rises in coming months on ABC RN this morning.
“The bank sets interest rates and it’s an independent institution ... It’s a matter for the bank,” she says.
It’s not unusual for them to indicate some forward guidance in their decision … in that sense they have provided some of that forward guidance about whether or not there may be further tightening of monetary policy.
Gallagher says the treasury does not forecast a recession.
I note in the decision of the bank yesterday that they have a line in there saying the board still expects the economy to grow as inflation returns to the 2 - 3% range.
Updated
No signs of missing Belgian woman in Tasmania after water searches
Specialist police search and rescue personnel conducted swift water searching at Philosopher Falls, Waratah, yesterday but uncovered no signs of missing Belgian woman Celine Cremer.
“Unfortunately today’s search efforts did not provide us with any further answers about Celine’s whereabouts,” Inspector Anthea Maingay said.
Cremer’s car has been in the Philosopher Falls car park since at least Tuesday, 20 June.
Last week, the police received expert medical advice indicating Cremer could not have survived the weather conditions she has been exposed to since then.
We are continuing to review the search effort so far to determine next steps, and our thoughts continue to be with Celine’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
Updated
Homicide probe established in Melbourne’s east after man found dead in Ringwood
A homicide probe is underway after the death of a man in Melbourne’s east, AAP reports.
At about 1.30am this morning, emergency services were called to a house on Felix Crescent in Ringwood.
The man’s body was found inside the home. He is yet to be identified.
The exact circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been established. Victoria police homicide squad detectives are investigating.
Updated
Albanese tells English cricket fans to ‘harden up’
Off the back of English prime minister Rishi Sunak claiming Australia contravened “the spirit of cricket” at the Ashes, Nine’s Today host Karl Stefanovic put a solution to prime minister Anthony Albanese:
“Is it time to revoke the visas of English elites like Piers Morgan?”
Albanese thinks “that would be a very harsh measure”.
Instead, he tells the English team and fans to “harden up”.
It is not surprising that Rishi Sunak is a little bit disappointed. I look forward to catching up with him at the summit that is being held for Nato next week. I’m sure that we will have good-hearted banter. It is an important relationship between Australia and the UK. But I think our cricketers are doing so well.
When I was learning to play cricket, as every Australian does at primary school, the nuns at St Joseph Camperdown put your bat in the crease. Stay in your crease. It’s not hard.
Harden up.
You can read more on the cricket controversy here:
Updated
Albanese ‘concerned’ about reports of arrest warrants issued for Australians by Hong Kong police
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says he is “concerned about the announcements overnight that have been made” on reports of Hong Kong police issuing arrest warrants for Australian citizens, on Nine’s Today program this morning.
We will continue to cooperate with China where we can. We will disagree where we must and we do disagree over human rights issues.
Updated
‘Good thing’ interest rates held at 4.1%
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says it “is a good thing” interest rates were paused at 4.1% yesterday, on Nine’s Today program this morning.
You have a two-speed economy. Some people doing it really tough. Then you have positive signs at the same time …
Record jobs growth of 465,000 jobs created in our first year. Inflation is going down and it is a good thing. It peaked at the end of last year. Those two measures are important, as is a surplus from the government that does make a difference to putting that downward pressure on inflation.
For me this isn’t about politics. This is about assisting people. I know what it’s like to do it tough. And I get that people out there are under pressure.
Updated
Albanese welcomes RBA pause on interest rate rises
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says he is “one of the millions of Australians” who welcomed the decision from the Reserve Bank yesterday, on Nine’s Today program this morning.
People are doing it tough out there … I am determined to work each and every day to provide whatever assistance the government can do. Whether that be the direct assistance in cheaper childcare, the tripling [of] the Medibank bulk billing incentive so people can see their doctor for free, or fee-free TAFE and all those measures to take pressure off cost-of-living.
As well, of course, managing the economy and producing a surplus in excess of $2.4bn to put that downward pressure on inflation.
Albanese says this “sends a message to the Reserve Bank … that we wants monetary and fiscal policy to work together.”
Updated
Queensland man in critical condition after accidental discharge of firearm
A man is fighting for his life after being accidentally shot in the chest during a pig hunting trip in outback Queensland, AAP reports.
A group of men were shooting feral pigs on private property at Cunnamulla, west of Brisbane, last night, when one was thrown from the rear tray of a four-by-four as the driver hit a bump, Queensland Police said.
His loaded rifle discharged as he hit the ground, hitting another man in his 50s in the torso.
The man was taken to Cunnamulla Hospital in critical condition with a severe chest wound. He was later airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Police have described the incident as an accidental discharge and said no charges had been laid at this stage.
Updated
Linda Burney outlines policy priorities for voice to parliament
The federal government will ask the Indigenous voice to parliament to give advice on four main policy areas: health, education, jobs and housing.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney will discuss these priorities in a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra later today.
Voting yes in the voice to parliament referendum is an “act of patriotism”, Burney says.
Her speech will set a stronger framework around the work and focus of the voice, after questioning from the Coalition about whether the body would weigh in on defence acquisitions or Reserve Bank decisions.
You can read more from Josh Butler here:
Updated
Kobayashi’s revolutionary hotdog eating technique
Rolling with the eating contest content, we have a fun fact delivered by the live blog’s all-knowing editor Nick Miller:
One of the greatest competitive eating champs of all time, Kobayashi, revolutionised the event in 2001 when he came up with a technique of snapping the buns in half and dunking them in water.
It enabled him to eat 50 hotdogs in 10 minutes, obliterating the previous world record of 25 which had stood for 90 years.
Updated
Australian dubbed ‘Don Bradman of hotdog eating’ after placing third in NY contest
After wolfing down 47 hotdogs in ten minutes in a New York eating contest, an Australian has been dubbed the “Don Bradman of hotdog eating”.
James Webb is a 34-year-old from Baulkham Hills, Sydney, who found himself placing third in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, overnight.
Nicknamed “The Don”, Don Bradman was an Australian cricketer, famous internationally as the greatest batsman of all time.
To be The Don of hotdog eating is quite the praise indeed.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has been running since the 1970’s.
The 2023 champion Joey Chestnut ate 62 (far behind his record of 76). Miki Sudo, winner in the women’s event, surprised herself – she thought she’d eaten 37, but had actually downed 39 and a half.
Updated
Thanks to Martin Farrer for manning the blog this morning.
Stick around for the day’s news! I’m Rafqa Touma, and I’ll be with you for the next few hours. If you see anything you don’t want the blog to miss, let me know @At_Raf_ on Twitter.
Updated
2.4 earthquake recorded in Pakenham, Victoria this morning
A (very) minor earthquake rattled Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs early Wednesday morning.
Geoscience Australia recorded it at a magnitude of 2.4, which is well below the level that usually causes any damage (and there are no reports of damage yet). It was centred on Pakenham.
Updated
Plibersek’s water delivery dilemma as Murray-Darling Basin plan failing
All elements of the Murray-Darling Basin plan were due to be delivered by June 2024.
But many of the complex elements of the plan are way off course, putting in jeopardy the health of the river system.
About two-thirds of the water identified in 2012 as being needed for the environment was to be recovered via buybacks. A final round of acquisitions 43.9GL through voluntary buybacks initiated by Plibersek should see that task almost achieved in August.
But most of the other elements of the plan – such as using water more efficiently in the river, or removing constraints or building projects to help river health – have failed.
These alternatives were pushed for by the big irrigation states, like Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
More buybacks could make up the shortfall for the environment however buybacks are very unpopular in rural communities.
The shortfall on the 605GL of water to be achieved via projects, known as the Sustainable Diversion limit projects, will be between 190GL and 315GL Plibersek says in her letter.
The other big failure is NSW’s progress on delivering detailed rules for sharing water between irrigators and other uses.
Updated
Plibersek working on new deadlines for Murray-Darling Basin plan
The federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has set the stage for the government to renegotiate new deadlines with the states to deliver on the Murray-Darling Basin plan when ministers meet in August.
In a letter to the authority’s chair sent yesterday, Plibersek makes it clear she intends to deliver on all the targets in the plan, which was due to be completed by June 2024.
“After a decade of denial and delay by the Liberals and Nationals, it’s clear the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is off track,” she said.
“We are committed to delivering the plan in full, but to do that, we need a major course correction. Over the last year it has become clear that major elements of the plan were either left to drift or actively sabotaged,” she said.
“There were water recovery programs wrapped in brown tape, delayed projects, and unaccredited water resource plans,” she said.
“A year from the deadline, this report will give us an honest assessment of the legacy we have received, including whether the plan can be delivered on time.”
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to the live blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll bring you some breaking overnight stories before my colleague Rafqa Touma takes over.
In a letter to the Murray-Darling Basin authority, the water minister, Tanya Plibersek, has revealed she may have to extend the life of the water recovery plan – which was to have been completed by June next year – in order to meet all its targets. The minister said major elements of the plan were “either left to drift or actively sabotaged”.
Voting yes in the voice referendum is an “act of patriotism”, with the advisory body to be asked to focus on “new perspectives to old challenges” in health, education, jobs and housing, the minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, will tell the National Press Club today. For her rallying call, she will use a deeply personal example from her own life: the death of a friend aged just 44 from serious health problems, saying his “Aboriginality condemned him to an early death”.
The pushback against consultancies such as PwC continues today as the Centre for Public Integrity thinktank says donations from the big four consultancy firms – PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG – should be banned after analysis showed they gifted $4.3m to Labor and the Coalition over the past decade. In that time the value of their government contracts increased by 400% and the centre says “well-resourced players … have an undue influence on the exercise of public power”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is being encouraged to cancel plans for a China trip over Hong Kong’s warrants to arrest democracy activists.
And in some happy news, in case you missed it yesterday evening, tennis great Ash Barty has announced the birth of her “beautiful boy”.
Updated
