What we learned; Monday 14 October
It’s time to start winding down our live news coverage for the day. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy:
NSW state MP Alex Greenwich has been urged to restore protections for LGBTQ+ school staff in his equality bill.
A year on from the failed voice referendum, Murray Watt said the government had the “guts” to see the voice proposal through despite the polls, while Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price bemoaned a lack of change on the ground.
NSW may look to other states’ bans on Nazi salutes in a quest to remove any ambiguity in laws around the display of hate symbols in public.
The Australian government has told Israel that targeting of any United Nations staff or facilities in Lebanon must end.
A third executive is to depart Nine Entertainment after a tumultuous year in which allegations of predatory behaviour in newsrooms were aired.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, is looking forward to welcoming King Charles to the state later this week.
The MP Peter Khalil’s office was allegedly criminally vandalised overnight. The Labor MP said a substance with an “unbearable stench” had been poured into the premises.
Bruce Lehrmann is unemployable and may only be able to make money from OnlyFans, his lawyer told federal court – but he “had his day in court” and should be denied an appeal against his defamation finding, the court also heard.
And finally, a duo of baby seagulls on Collins Street in Melbourne has given the famed peregrine falcons at nearby 367 Collins a run for their money.
Thank you, as ever, for joining us today. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning.
Updated
Australia tells Israel ‘targeting or intimidation of UN personnel’ in Lebanon is unacceptable
Australian government officials are also understood to have made representations to Israel’s government, both in Canberra and Tel Aviv, calling for the same outcome.
UNIFIL, the UN mission in Lebanon, claimed two Israeli tanks destroyed a gate and forcibly entered a base in the country’s south. Five peacekeepers have been injured since Friday.
A spokesperson for the UN secretary general said overnight that “UNIFIL personnel and its premises must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in a statement to Guardian Australia, said it was “deeply concerned by the escalation of conflict between Israel, Hizballah and Iran.”
“We condemn Hizballah’s recent drone strikes on Israel. We continue to call for a ceasefire and for all parties to show restraint, de-escalate and comply with UN security council resolutions,” a Dfat spokesperson said.
“We have made clear to Israel that any targeting or intimidation of UN personnel and facilities in Lebanon is unacceptable and must cease.”
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, said on X on Friday:
We reiterate our strong support for the essential role played by UNIFIL in upholding regional peace.
The Australian Defence Force has deployed 12 personnel to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation, whose activities are spread across Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The government does not comment on how many are in each specific country.
A defence department spokesperson said “all personnel assigned to the Middle East region are safe and accounted for.” They added:
The Australian Defence Force continually revises force protection measures for its personnel deployed across the Middle East region. For operational security reasons, Defence does not comment on the nature of force protection measures.
Updated
A look ahead to tomorrow’s weather in New South Wales, where unsettled weather is forecast – and to the national picture, which is more mixed. Here are the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest updates:
Here's a look at your forecast for tomorrow (15/10), #NewSouthWales.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 14, 2024
For the latest forecasts and warnings visit our website https://t.co/gxn1SdIsYY or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/uh1FFRbe8W
National Weather Forecast: Stormy in the south-east, hot inland and in the north. Video current: 1:30pm AEDT 14 October 2024. Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/3eeD0ooUZh
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) October 14, 2024
Man dies after being swept off rocks
A man has died near Coffs Harbour on New South Wales’ mid-north coast today, NSW Police said.
Emergency services were called to Broom Head lookout, south of Yamba, at about 12:30pm after reports a man was washed into the water.
Police said the man was found unresponsive and could not be revived despite the efforts of emergency crews and witnesses.
He is believed to be in his mid-50s and has not yet been formally identified.
A crime scene has been established as police investigate the incident. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Updated
Albanese condemns Coalition nuclear plan in Queensland election campaign
The prime minister has lent his weight to Queensland premier Steven Miles’ campaign as the state’s election race unfolds.
Speaking about the Coalition’s plans to build nuclear power stations in Australia, Anthony Albanese said:
What I certainly hope is that Steven Miles is elected premier of Queensland, and that’s what I want to see happen, because that’s a way of making sure that this nuclear fantasy, which is completely un-costed and they won’t say where it will be … One of the spots is in Newcastle, that in recent months has had a fair bit of activity under the ground.
I mean, you don’t build a nuclear power station in an area that has been subject to a major earthquake in Australia, in Newcastle, where many people lost their lives and which has seen recent seismic activity as well. They don’t have a proper plan here.
Updated
Man found dead south of Brisbane
A 32-year-old woman is assisting police with their investigations after a man was found dead in a home in Browns Plains, south of Brisbane, this morning.
At around midday, emergency services were called to a Basie Court address after a 72-year-old man was found unconscious and not breathing, Queensland Police said. He was declared dead at the scene.
It is believed the man and woman were known to each other, police said.
A crime scene has been established while police investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Updated
Over to Afternoon Briefing, where MP Peter Khalil has detailed the alleged criminal damage to his office overnight. The site is still an active crime scene.
The Labor MP is, in the words of the ABC’s Greg Jennett, the Prime Minister’s hand-picked special envoy for social cohesion.
Khalil said the alleged vandalism was “unacceptable under the law and morally repugnant as well.”
No-one should have to go to their place at work and face this kind of actions, the people that live here should not face this at all. It’s completely unacceptable morally and legally and needs to be called out.
I will defend Australians’ rights to disagree, to have differences. The vast majority of protest, whether it be on any issue, has been peaceful.
Forms of violence, including threats, vandalism, attacking people based on their identity or background, were unacceptable, both legally and morally, he said.
I’m somewhat exasperated by those who think it is OK to do this. It puts people in danger, my staff in danger. Staff who work around the clock to help people and give them a better life …it’s also shutting down the office and not allowing us to process the work around visas.
He said the action had forced him to shut the office, disrupting visa processing, preventing him from meeting refugees and asylum seekers today and “putting a stop on democratic practice and it needs to be called out through the law.”
Victoria Buchan to leave Nine Entertainment after 15 years
Nine Entertainment’s communications chief Victoria Buchan will leave the company at the end of November, becoming the third executive to depart in a tumultuous year in which allegations of predatory behaviour in newsrooms were aired.
Buchan follows chief executive Mike Sneesby and news director Darren Wick out the door ahead of the release of an independent review of the culture of its newsrooms.
Nine has acknowledged “alleged inappropriate behaviour and broader cultural issues” in its television newsrooms.
Acting chief executive officer Matt Stanton said during her 15 years Buchan made a significant contribution to the company, working with Sneesby and former leaders David Gyngell and Hugh Marks and managing the successful merger with Fairfax.
“While this year has been more challenging than most, I’ve enjoyed the ride since joining Nine back in 2010,” Buchan said in an email to staff.
“We’ve come a long way since those days. I’m looking forward to some family time over the summer and then getting stuck back into some projects or opportunities to work in the industry I love and know so well.”
Updated
Pub company fined over underage gambling
Australia’s largest pubs operator will cough up $177,000 for repeatedly flouting underage gambling laws, AAP reports.
An underage teenager was allowed to gamble on multiple occasions at five Melbourne pubs from September 2022 to October 2023, Victoria’s gambling watchdog said.
The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group-run venues involved were the Albion Charles Hotel in Northcote, Cramers Hotel in Preston, Doncaster Hotel, Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown and Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel.
Separately, an eight-year-old child with an adult was not stopped from entering the poker machine area of Laverton’s Westside Taverner, another venue operated by the company.
The adult was spoken to by staff and asked to leave, before the incident was reported to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.
The operator pleaded guilty to 24 charges in Melbourne magistrates court, which ordered it pay a $177,500 fine plus $45,000 in costs to the watchdog.
All venues have a legal and social obligation to protect children from gambling, the regulator’s chief executive, Annette Kimmitt, said.
“It is well established that minors who gamble are more likely to experience severe harm from gambling as adults,” she said in a statement on Monday.
“We have zero tolerance for operators that flout the law, especially when children are involved.”
Updated
GP training aims to help bridge the city/country medicine gap
GPs in the country need to be prepared for all sorts of scenarios their metropolitan counterparts may not necessarily face, including limb injuries from dangerous farm tools, poisoning, electrocution, quad bike rollovers and snake bites.
This Wednesday GPs training in western NSW will receive training to better prepare for all these scenarios with an event run by the peak body for GPs (RACGP) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service south eastern section.
Associate professor Kerrie Stewart from the RACGP hoped the event would help trainees – some of whom had never been on a farm before – better understand injuries and health issues unique to rural areas.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service chief medical officer, Dr Shannon Nott, said standard GP training doesn’t always prepare trainees for the “real difference between medicine in the bush and metro communities”.
Updated
Sydney thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding, BoM warns
The Bureau of Meteorology was spot-on with its earlier predictions of thunderstorms for parts of New South Wales this afternoon.
As thunder rumbled over Sydney, the bureau issued another alert, warning of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in Sydney’s metropolitan area and parts of Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes forecast districts.
Flash flooding may affect Sydney’s city centre and east.
The SES is on alert.
⚠️ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING issued for #Sydney.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 14, 2024
A thunderstorm likely to produce HEAVY RAINFALL that may lead to flash flooding is moving over the city and eastern suburbs.
Details: https://t.co/YirEXV8NvB pic.twitter.com/imWeneC3QK
Storms are firing up across parts of NSW.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 14, 2024
Just a reminder that if you require storm assistance call the NSW SES on 132 500 and Triple Zero for life threatening emergency.
🎥 storm moves across Picton in the Southern Highlands a short time ago. pic.twitter.com/V15ESYFVrU
Updated
Thanks for joining me on today’s blog, I’ll handover to Daisy Dumas who will continue bringing you the latest this afternoon. Take care and have a great evening.
Here’s the full story from Adeshola Ore on the alleged vandalism of Labor MP Peter Khalil’s Melbourne office:
Anti-Nazi laws could be ‘straightened out’ after rally
NSW may look to other states’ bans on Nazi salutes in a quest to remove any ambiguity in laws that ban the display of related hate symbols in public, AAP reports.
About 50 people attended a white supremacist rally in the small Murray River town of Corowa on Saturday, sparking calls for NSW to join other states in explicitly banning the Nazi salute.
It is a criminal offence in NSW to knowingly display a Nazi symbol in public without a reasonable excuse. The state does not have a specific ban on gestures such as the heil Hitler salute, although people have successfully been prosecuted over the act.
Premier Chris Minns said he believed the Nazi salute was covered by existing laws but vowed to strengthen them if necessary:
If there’s any ambiguity, we will straighten it out, because I’m not going to allow racism, anti-Semitism, or some kind of remembrance of this horrific period in human history.
Minns said the conduct of people at the rally, which featured a neo-Nazi banner, was “completely obnoxious.”
I think the people who participated in those rallies have brought shame on themselves and their families. This is not a reflection on the vast majority of people that live in NSW, who are committed to anti-racism.
No arrests were made at the rally but investigations continued, police said yesterday.
The New South Wales RFS says storms are beginning across parts of the state, sharing this video from Picton in the Southern Highlands this afternoon:
Storms are firing up across parts of NSW.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 14, 2024
Just a reminder that if you require storm assistance call the NSW SES on 132 500 and Triple Zero for life threatening emergency.
🎥 storm moves across Picton in the Southern Highlands a short time ago. pic.twitter.com/V15ESYFVrU
Earlier, the Bureau of Meteorology said there would be an “outbreak” of showers and thunderstorms across much of eastern Australia from today until Wednesday – particularly for parts of central and southern NSW.
PM expected to join campaign trail on first day of voting in Queensland election
Anthony Albanese is expected to join premier Steven Miles in a joint press conference this afternoon, as polls open for the Queensland state election.
Miles told the Guardian that, if reelected, he’d execute the provisions of the state’s nuclear ban legislation to call a plebiscite on the federal opposition’s power plan.
He speculated that it might take place at the next federal election, to save people voting twice.
Queensland is the LNP’s strongest state holding 21 of 30 lower house electorates.
The prime minister and Miles – both of Labor’s left faction – are reportedly close friends. Albanese launched his successful campaign for the seat of Mount Coot-tha in 2015, his first successful run for office.
Miles started the day spruiking yet another cost of living promise, free school breakfasts for every student at a state school in Queensland. He held a panel discussion with experts on the policy at the Queensland University of Technology.
The first Queenslanders cast their ballots at 8am this morning, with polls open until 6pm on Saturday, 26 October.
NSW premier looking forward to welcoming King Charles to state
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, is looking forward to welcoming King Charles to the state later this week.
Minns said there would be “lots of community activity and lots of engagement with the public”. Speaking on Monday, Minns said:
Whether you’re a republican or a royalist, whether you want change or not, he’s a visitor to our country, he’s our head of state and he’ll be warmly received.
Minns added that while he was personally a republican, that NSW would “roll out the red carpet for him, make sure that he feels welcomed”.
Greens leader condemns alleged vandalism of Khalil’s office
Leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, said his party condemns the alleged vandalism of Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office.
Bandt wrote on X that protests “must always be peaceful and non-violent.”
Everyone should feel safe at work, and we wish Peter Khalil and his team well after this [alleged] vandalism overnight.
Presale begins for Oasis 2025 reunion
Tickets for 90s rock band Oasis for the 2025 reunion tour went on pre-sale for fans at midday for Sydney and Melbourne shows in October.
Unlike much of the controversy in the United Kingdom, there isn’t dynamic pricing on the tickets in Australia, meaning demand has not pushed up the prices as it did with Green Day last month.
Punters can expect to pay between $183.28 to $407.57 plus a $9.90 handling fee for the Melbourne show, while for the Sydney show, prices are between $187.39 and $411.67 plus an $8.95 handling fee.
The Sydney price includes public transport to and from the event.
Updated
Photos of alleged vandalism to Peter Khalil’s office
Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office has provided these photos of the alleged vandalism to his electorate office in Melbourne:
Red paint can be seen thrown across the building’s signage and walls. One graffiti tag reads “land back”, and another reads “glory to the martyrs”. An inverted red triangle can also be seen spray painted on the building.
Khalil says ‘the stench was so unbearable’ after alleged vandalism
Victorian Labor MP Peter Khalil has told Guardian Australia about the alleged vandalism at his Melbourne electorate office.
He said his staff had arrived at work on Monday morning to find the office vandalised. He said this included an inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Hamas to denote Israeli military targets, spray painted on the building.
His staff also noticed an unknown substance had been pumped into the office via a hole that was drilled in:
The stench was so unbearable that staff immediately closed the door, and five hours later still feel overwhelmed and sick from the intensity.
This behaviour is unacceptable. I have always supported peaceful protest as a fundamental part of our democratic society.
But when that behaviour escalates into actions that harm people, as it has today, then that is not protest. That is unacceptable both under the law and morally, and it needs to be called out.
Khalil said his staff had a right to be safe at work and reiterated his support of peaceful protests.
Updated
Liberal senator says ‘targeting’ of Peter Khalil’s office ‘totally unacceptable’
Liberal senator and shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, says the “continued targeting” of Labor MP Peter Khalil’s electorate office and staff is “totally unacceptable.”
As we flagged just earlier, police said paint was sprayed on the MPs electorate office in Melbourne, and alleged offenders poured an unknown liquid through the door.
Paterson wrote on X:
The perpetrators of this intimidating and dangerous behaviour must feel the full force of the law.
‘Outbreak’ of showers and thunderstorms across eastern Australia this week
The Bureau of Meteorology says there will be an “outbreak” of showers and thunderstorms across much of eastern Australia from today until Wednesday – particularly for parts of central and southern NSW.
An outbreak of showers and thunderstorms are forecast to impact much of eastern Australia from Monday until Wednesday this week, particularly for parts of central and southern #NSW
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) October 14, 2024
Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/jlOoTZL1iF pic.twitter.com/3E2bkVqvgY
Tasmanian Police deploy drones to ‘hooning hotspots’
Tasmanian Police have charged two people for dangerous driving after they were monitored by police drones and then arrested by officers.
Sergeant Andy McShane said police deployed drones to Rose Bay and Montagu Bay “to covertly monitor known hooning hotspots, and detect and remove unsafe motorists from the roads”.
A 17-year-old motorcycle rider with a learner licence was allegedly detected dangerously conducting a burnout and high-speed wheel-stand, police said, and will appear in court this month for serious traffic offences.
An 18-year-old driver was also found allegedly dangerously conducting a prolonged burnout. Police said his vehicle has been clamped for a month, and he will appear in court on summons for several driving related charges.
McShane said it is “pleasing to see that drones are assisting police to detect and remove unsafe motorists from our roads” and that police will “continue to deploy drones across the state, to assist in investigations, and detect and deter unsafe motorists and those who commit anti-social behaviours.”
Lehrmann is unemployable and may only be able to make money from OnlyFans, his lawyer tells federal court
Justice Wendy Abraham has reserved her decision on whether to make Bruce Lehrmann pay a $200,000 surety ahead of an appeal.
Before the closure of proceedings in the federal court Lehrmann’s lawyer Zali Burrows said Lehrmann was on Centrelink payments, was unemployable and had no possibility of paying the surety.
Mr Lehrmann is arguably, probably, Australia’s most hated man. You cannot imagine the worst type of defamation against someone [other than] being called a rapist.
The only shot he’d probably ever have in making money is by going on Only Fans or something silly like that.
But other than that, they know that he cannot come up with this.
Updated
Police issue warning over ‘romance scams’ after woman loses $200k
Cairns police have issued a warning about “romance scams”, after a 60-year-old woman lost $200,000 to a scammer who established an online connection with her.
Police said that “romance scams” typically begin with a scammer sending an unsolicited request or message through social media via a fake profile, that can appear genuine.
The scammer might encourage communication on a different platform and build a story over time – such as being deployed overseas and unable to access their own funds.
Detective acting inspector Cindy Searle said scammers aim to manipulate victims by establishing trust before requesting money. She said victims of romance scams “are not at fault”, and the people behind them are “well practised”.
A scammer may ask you to send money. They may ask you to send cash in packages, make an online transfer either in cryptocurrency or funds, or even open accounts they can access.
Before making any transactions think about what you really know about the person. If you have not met them in person, you can’t be sure they are who they say they are.
Updated
Aussie shares hit two-week high, creep towards record
The local share market has gained ground, AAP reports, hitting its highest level in two weeks and creeping towards another all-time high.
At midday AEDT the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 22.8 points, or 0.28%, to 8,237.3, while the broader All Ordinaries was up 22.5 points, or 0.26%, to 8,514.0.
Five of the ASX’s 11 sectors were higher and five were lower, with consumer staples basically flat. The heavyweight mining sector was up 1.1%, with BHP up 0.9%, Fortescue climbing 2.3% and Rio Tinto adding 1.7%.
All of the big four banks were higher as well, with CBA up 0.6%, ANZ adding 0.7%, Westpac climbing 0.5%, and NAB rising 0.3%.
WEB Travel Group – formerly known as Webjet Limited – had plunged 31.7% to a nearly two-year low of $4.80 after the business-to-business marketplace for the travel trade downgraded guidance provided just a month and a half ago.
Seek was up 1.4% to $25.32 as the job-search platform said it had entered into exclusive talks to acquire Xref, an ASX-listed HR and recruitment tech company. Xref shares soared 55.7% to 21 cents, not far from Seek’s tentative figure of 21.8 cents.
The Australian dollar was buying 67.32 US cents, from 67.41 US cents at Friday’s ASX close.
Police investigating alleged criminal damage to Labor MP’s office in Melbourne
Victoria Police is investigating alleged criminal damage to Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office in Brunswick.
In a statement, police said paint was sprayed on the Sydney Road building and a door was damaged between 2am and 9am this morning.
Police said the alleged offenders poured an unknown liquid through the door, and no one was inside at the time.
According to the ABC red paint was used, with “land back” and “glory to the martyrs” written along the walls. Khalil, who is the government’s special envoy for social cohesion, told the ABC it “smells like an abattoir and it’s hard to breathe near by it”.
Police said anyone with information or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Updated
Queensland Labor begins day with panel discussion on school lunches policy
Queensland premier Steven Miles has started the first week of voting with a panel discussion with experts on Labor’s free school lunch policy.
He was joined by education minister Di Farmer, QUT expert Danieele Gallegos, as well as Justine Caine from Diabetes Australia, Diona Maxwell from First Bit and FareShare, and Mica Projects CEO Jaryn Walsh.
There were few additional details of the policy announced, but Miles and Farmer defended the policy against claims the money would be better spent filling a gap in Commonwealth funding of the state school system. Miles said:
We think we can do both, but we also think this is important to core education outcomes. And there’s a lot of evidence that says that. There is currently a disagreement between the states and the Australian government what their share should be ... we want to see the Australian government contribute.
Miles said he’d been developing the policy virtually the entire 10 months he spent as premier. The policy assumes an uptake of about 76%.
So that assumes that most families will take it up every day, but some might optimally have it one or two days a week.
Vocus to acquire TPG’s fibre network assets for $5.25b
Vocus Group has agreed to buy the fixed-line fibre networks from TPG Telecom for $5.25bn, AAP reports.
The acquisition will almost double Vocus’s fibre network, to more than 50,000km of owned or leased fibre connecting close to 20,000 buildings across capital cities.
The deal includes a submarine cable from Sydney to Guam along with TGP’s wholesale residential broadband assets, which includes fibre in major capital cities, plus Ballarat, Mildura, and Geelong.
TPG – whose brands include Vodafone Australia, iiNet and Internode – expects the transaction to result in net cash proceeds of $4.65bn to $4.75bn, money it will use on yet-to-be-determined business investments.
Under the deal, Vocus has agreed to supply network services to TPG for at least 15 years at a fixed fee of $130m a year.
TPG shares were down 0.9% to $5.045 late this morning. Vocus used to be listed on the ASX but was taken private by Macquarie Asset Management and Aware Super in 2021.
Collins Street welcomes baby seagulls, giving falcons a run for their money
A duo of baby seagulls on Collins Street in Melbourne are giving the famed peregrine falcons a run for their money.
Two peregrine falcon chicks hatched on top of 367 Collins Street earlier this month, witnessed by more than 1,000 viewers on the building’s rolling live feed.
As Caitlin Cassidy reports, peregrine falcons have treated the ledge as home for more than three decades, but cameras, and the mundanity of Covid-19 lockdowns, made them a social media phenomenon.
But now, the Environment Protection Authority of Victoria has shared images of two baby seagulls just nearby, near its training rooms at 664 Collins Street. The EPA wrote on X:
Move over 367 Peregrine Falcons. We have our very own seagulls!
Move over 367 Peregrine Falcons. We have our very own seagulls!
— Environment Protection Authority Victoria (@VicGovEPA) October 14, 2024
Spotted from our training rooms at 664 Collins St. pic.twitter.com/XyPV3nB0Cs
Updated
Greens accuse Queensland Labor of adopting ‘numerous Greens policies’
The Greens MP for Brisbane, Stephen Bates, has accused the state Labor government of adopting “numerous Greens policies” or floating them in the media.
He said this “shows the power that comes from threatening the two party system”, with Labor’s free school meals policy “a prime example of this”.
Bates wrote on X:
When debating a universal school meals program, then education minister Grace Grace in 2021 said, “The Greens have not one skerrick of evidence to suggest that this affects children in schools today.” Flash forward and now it’s a Labor election policy.
The longer the two party system reigns, the worse outcomes we get, and the realm of what’s possible continues to shrink. The continuing and cementing existence (and political threat) of The Greens in QLD politics has already shifted the Overton window.
This comes as the Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather also accused Labor of stealing a number of Greens policies, including 50 cent fares, an electricity retailer and the free school lunches.
As Andrew Messenger reported, premier Steven Miles warded off allegations of plagiarism at yesterday’s election campaign launch:
Updated
Greens senator pushes for First Nations truth and justice commission
The Greens senator Dorinda Cox says it is important governments don’t “walk away from First Nations justice” on the one-year anniversary of the voice referendum.
In a post to X, she said it had been “a difficult year for First Nations communities” and that “many are looking for action and want to see a renewed focus on implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart”.
The Greens have a bill before Parliament right now to establish a Truth [and] Justice Commission, which we need to progress to get to Treaty. We are the only Commonwealth nation without a Treaty with its First Peoples.
This was Labor’s election promise, they mustn’t break it. The Greens will keep fighting for First Nations Justice both in [and] out of Parliament.
Updated
Minority Liberal premier backs embattled deputy
Tasmania’s Liberal premier has thrown his support behind his under-fire right-hand man who appears set to be forced out of cabinet by parliament, AAP reports.
The deputy premier and treasurer Michael Ferguson has copped increasing heat over the bungled roll-out of two new Bass Strait ferries, prompting him to drop the infrastructure portfolio in August.
The yet-to-be-delivered $900m Spirit of Tasmania ships are over budget, behind schedule and new wharfs for the vessels won’t be ready for their arrival. The state’s Labor opposition has flagged moving a no-confidence motion in Ferguson when parliament resumes tomorrow.
Independents David O’Byrne and Kristie Johnston, and the Jacqui Lambie Network’s Andrew Jenner, have said they’d back a no-confidence motion. With Labor’s 10 votes and five from the Greens, it means the motion would succeed.
Under parliamentary convention, Ferguson would have to resign from cabinet or premier Jeremy Rockliff would have to send him to the backbench. Rockliff told reporters he had full confidence in Ferguson, but he would respect the will of parliament:
He has already accepted responsibility for the Spirit of Tasmania situation when he relinquished his responsibility as infrastructure minister. [But] should there be a no-confidence passed ... then Mr Ferguson will be resigning and then going to the backbench.
Lehrmann ‘had his day in court’ and should be denied appeal against defamation finding, Wilkinson’s lawyer says
Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyer has told the court he has not been served a bankruptcy notice, although one was attempted on his mother.
The statement contradicts an earlier claim by Matt Collins KC for Network Ten, that Lehrmann was served with a bankruptcy notice on 8 August.
The court has adjourned while Lehrmann’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, reads Ten’s submissions on the bankruptcy notice.
Before the break Sue Chrysanthou SC, for Lisa Wilkinson, said Lehrmann has “had his day in court” and should not be given a second chance:
He came to this court by choice.
He came here pleading his first imputation as one of rape. He did so having escaped the criminal process.
He chose to enter the fray. He walked over the line and asked this court, knowing the likelihood that my client in Network Ten would plead truth; he made that decision, and that’s a factor against the arguments that he would make on public interest.
Updated
Thunderstorm warnings in NSW
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning New South Wales residents that severe thunderstorms are likely from this afternoon and over the next few days. The affected areas may experience damaging wind, heavy rain and hail:
Thunderstorms are forecast across NSW for the next few days. Today, Severe Thunderstorms may develop about central & S parts, incl. W Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra, central & S Tablelands, slopes & plains. Risk of damaging wind, heavy rain & hail. Warnings: https://t.co/UqlGxUsuBw pic.twitter.com/arRt5sRjzk
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 13, 2024
Updated
Warning sounded on inevitable bird flu pandemic
It’s a case of when, not if, a deadly bird flu pandemic arrives in Australia, the country’s top medical expert is warning.
As AAP reports, chief medical officer Paul Kelly says Australia is the only continent without the H5N1 strain, but it’s coming. He told reporters in Canberra:
It’s really when, not if, this arrives, and we’ve seen in other parts of the world, whilst there has been rather mild human disease so far, this virus is changing very quickly.
This is about us getting ahead of the curve ... Australia does have a moat and we know how to use it, so the fact that we’ve had time to actually see what’s happening elsewhere is really important.
Kelly reiterated a bird flu outbreak would not lead to human health issues, but would spread in the same way as other influenza viruses.
The Albanese government has announced an extra $95m to prepare for the potential arrival of the strain in Australia. We have more details on this earlier in the blog here.
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Lehrmann was served bankruptcy notice in August, court told
Bruce Lehrmann was served with a bankruptcy notice on 8 August, the federal court has heard.
Network Ten has asked the court to make an order for security for costs ahead of the hearing of any appeal of the defamation finding. The former Liberal staffer lost the defamation case he brought against Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
The interlocutory hearing before Justice Wendy Abraham today is hearing from counsel for Lehrmann, Ten and Wilkinson on the matter of costs.
Lehrmann is unemployed and has no apparent means to pay the lump sum cost order of $2m which Ten has been granted.
Sue Chrysanthou SC, for Wilkinson, says Lehrmann’s grounds for appeal that he was not given procedural fairness is not valid:
And at no point, at no point was there any complaint about how we put the case, or that it took the appellant by surprise, or that it somehow departed from the pleadings, or that it somehow wasn’t available on the pleadings.
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Seven Australian sailors graduate from US navy nuclear power school
The first seven Royal Australian Navy sailors have graduated from the US navy nuclear power school, according to a statement from Defence.
Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond, Australia’s navy chief, said the sailors would now move on to the nuclear power training unit and this “takes [Australia] closer” to operating a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) in the early 2030s, as part of Aukus.
The nuclear power training unit “trains officers, enlisted sailors, and civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines” in the US navy’s nuclear fleet, Defence said.
The director general of the Australian Submarine Agency, Vice-Admiral Jonathan Mead, said:
We are well on our way to developing Australia’s SSN capability.
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ACTU secretary says she 'doesn't go out much' amid CFMEU stoush
The secretary of the ACTU, Sally McManus, says she has “two black belts”, doesn’t go out much and has had to change her routine due to security concerns – and this is the “price to pay” for taking a stand against the CFMEU.
Speaking on ABC RN earlier this morning, McManus was asked about concerns she expressed during her last interview on the program, and whether anything had changed?
She said within the construction industry there are some people who have “infiltrated the union that are not good people”:
They are, at the moment, worried that their business model has been disrupted, and that doesn’t make life great for those of us who are standing up to it.
Asked if she has had to put on extra security, McManus said:
I’ve got two black belts … I don’t go out much, I’ve had to change my routines, I live between different places. That’s life unfortunately at the moment, because we’re standing up to those people, and there’s a price to pay for that.
McManus said police have been helpful, and “hopefully over time, that’ll get better, but we’re not walking away from what’s got to happen”.
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Australians supported live shows in record numbers last year
Australia’s live performance industry reported record levels of attendance last year, in its first full year of operation without any Covid-19 disruptions or restrictions.
The 2023 ticket attendance and revenue report from Live Performance Australia shows revenue was $3.1bn and ticketed attendance reached 30.1m – the highest recorded attendance and revenue since the report commenced in 2004.
New South Wales accounted for the highest market share of revenue at 33.3% and tied with Victoria for the highest attendance (30.6%). The two states accounted for 64.7% of all live performance revenue and 61.2% of attendance.
LPA’s chief executive Evelyn Richardson said despite the strong results “there continues to be real pressures on many of our performing arts organisations”.
All categories are managing significant increases in their operating costs with limited scope to pass these on to audiences through higher ticket prices. For many, a ‘full house’ now means just breaking even, leaving little scope for reinvestment in new productions or rebuilding of financial reserves …
Government needs to step up public investment in our small to medium not-for-profit and national performing arts organisations, as well as incentivise more private investment through LPA’s proposal for a live theatre tax offset.
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Ten’s lawyer argues some of Lehrmann’s appeal grounds are ‘hopeless’
Matt Collins KC, for Network Ten, says some of Bruce Lehrmann’s appeal grounds are “faintly arguable” but the first two are “hopeless”.
In an expanded appeal of his defamation loss, Lehrmann argues Justice Michael Lee should not have ruled that Network Ten had proven its substantial truth defence.
The amended appeal reads:
The justification case found had not been pleaded … had not been the subject of submissions … and had not been put to the relevant witnesses contrary to the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice.
In an interlocutory hearing in the federal court today Collins has told Justice Wendy Abraham that “all of those propositions are wrong as a matter of fact”.
Lehrmann is not in court today for the hearing and has sent his apologies via his lawyer, Zali Burrows.
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Bruce Lehrmann not in court for appeal hearing
Bruce Lehrmann is not in court today for an interlocutory hearing in his appeal and has sent his apologies via his lawyer, Zali Burrows:
Your honour, I’d like to mention Mr Lehrmann doesn’t mean any disrespect by not being present today but he is watching the proceedings electronically.
Appearing for Network Ten, Matt Collins KC has told the court the network’s costs for the defamation case are estimated to be $3.1m and Ten sought and obtained a lump sum cost order in the sum of $2m.
The former Liberal staffer lost the defamation case he brought against Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, with Lee finding last month that on the balance of probabilities Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins on a minister’s couch in Parliament House in 2019.
He is appealing that decision and Network Ten is asking the former Liberal staffer to put up $200,000 in security for costs ahead of the appeal.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty at the criminal trial of the matter which was aborted due to juror misconduct.
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Wilkie says government ‘avoiding Indigenous issues’ after voice referendum
Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie has claimed the Albanese government is “avoiding Indigenous issues” a year after the unsuccessful voice referendum, urging Labor to get “back on the front foot” in addressing yawning gaps in social indicators between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The Tasmanian politician said in a media statement this morning:
It’s been one year since the unsuccessful Voice Referendum and the federal government still seems to be avoiding Indigenous issues. Indeed according to the latest Productivity Commission report, only five of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and some are even going backwards.
There has been an abysmal lack of progress by a succession of Australian governments, with a range of policies and programs that have consistently failed Indigenous people and communities.
The government has so far flagged no plans today to mark the one-year anniversary. There remain questions over whether Labor still remains true to its commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its agenda of voice, truth and treaty. Some Indigenous advocates for the voice referendum have since conceded that the failure of the vote has made that Uluru statement agenda very difficult or potentially impossible to realise.
Wilkie continued:
It’s time for this government to get back on the front foot, listen to and empower First Nations people to make decisions about their lives and needs, and get serious about funding and delivering frontline services.
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Reconciliation Australia says referendum loss strengthened will to ‘work harder and better’
Twelve months on from the failed voice referendum, Reconciliation Australia says an opportunity to “reset” the relationship between First Nations people and the Australian electorate was rejected.
In a statement on the anniversary, Reconciliation Australia says the result caused disappointment and hurt for many in the Indigenous community and their supporters.
A year ago the Australian electorate rejected an opportunity to advance reconciliation and reset relationships between the Australian state and First Nations peoples,
On 14 October 2023 the Voice to Parliament referendum failed, causing disappointment and hurt in the hearts of First Nations people and their allies across the continent.
Reconciliation Australia said while the campaign turned ugly at times, they are focusing on the millions who voted in favour:
This was starkly illustrated in the ignorance and racism that characterised a large amount of the public discourse during that time.
But it is also true that, despite a huge misinformation campaign, six million Australians voted yes.
They said despite the loss they are strengthened in their will to “work harder and better” for the reconciliation effort.
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‘Still a future’ for Indigenous voice in constitution, Thomas Mayo says
Indigenous leaders remain confident Australia will enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament in the constitution, one year on from the referendum defeat.
As AAP reports, the Indigenous campaigner Thomas Mayo – who was among the leading yes vote advocates – said constitutional change could still take place down the track, despite the defeat. He told ABC Radio:
There’s still a future that includes Indigenous people in the constitution. Sure, in reality it’s not going to happen again for a while.
We don’t always get things right in a democracy. If we accepted the ‘no’ answers that we got about equal wages or about our right to vote as Indigenous people ... things would be worse today.
Because more than 60% of young people voted ‘yes’ between 18 and 24, that tells me that we’ve got a future, and what we tried to do last year will be achieved.
Megan Davis, one of the architects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, said once it became clear the referendum was unlikely to win public support, it should have been delayed. But Mayo said despite the polls, the government was right in pursuing the referendum:
I don’t think it was a mistake and the reason is because ... we would still be wondering if we didn’t do it. We had to press on, because it might not have been another chance.
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Here’s a look at the national weather forecasts across Australia’s capital cities, from the Bureau of Meteorology:
Here's today's forecast around Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) October 13, 2024
For the latest forecasts and warnings, visit our website https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/wLW6Pv7iC6
Woman charged after single vehicle crash left 14-year-old boy dead
A woman has been charged following a single vehicle crash in western NSW yesterday that left a 14-year-old boy dead.
About 8.30am yesterday, emergency services were called to the crash on Barrier Highway at Cubba, about 25km west of Cobar. Officers found a car had left the roadway and rolled.
A passenger, a 14-year-old boy, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
The driver, a 23-year-old woman, was uninjured and taken to Cobar District Hospital for mandatory testing.
She was later taken to Cobar Police Station and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, given conditional bail to appear before Cobar Local Court on 27 November.
Bruce Lehrmann defamation case back in court
The Bruce Lehrmann case is back in court today as Network Ten asks the former Liberal staffer to put up $200,000 in security for costs ahead of the appeal.
In May, Lehrmann was ordered to pay most of Ten’s legal costs from his failed defamation suit because the court found he brought the case on a “knowingly false premise”.
Lehrmann’s lawyers will ask the court to delay the enforcement of costs order.
Ten’s application says Lehrmann is unemployed and without significant means to pay its costs and the network could be saddled with the bill.
Last month Lehrmann was given extra time to refile the grounds of his appeal against his defamation trial loss to Network Ten and presenter Lisa Wilkinson, after he missed court-set deadlines.
Lehrmann has widened his appeal grounds to argue Justice Michael Lee should not have ruled that Network Ten had proven its substantial truth defence.
Lee said Lehrmann should pay almost all of Ten’s and Wilkinson’s costs on an indemnity basis, except when it came to the failed qualified privilege defence argument, where the network would receive regular costs.
Justice Wendy Abraham will conduct the interlocutory hearing in the federal court in Sydney, and the proceedings will be live streamed on the federal court YouTube channel.
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Labor falls behind Coalition in Newspoll
The Coalition has taken the lead over Labor on a two-party-preferred basis in a Newspoll first since the Albanese government came to power, AAP reports.
The Coalition is leading Labor 51-49, eight months out from the next election. The lead has been generated by a shift in preferences from minor parties, however, with voter support for the Coalition and Labor remaining unchanged from the previous poll in September.
Albanese’s approval ratings fell to the lowest level since becoming prime minister, suffering a three-point fall in his satisfaction rating to 40% and a three-point rise in dissatisfaction to 54%. His net negative approval ratings also dropped to minus 14, a point lower than his previous worst.
The two party leaders are equal in their overall approval ratings, but Albanese’s disapproval rating is higher than opposition leader Peter Dutton’s – 54% to his 52%.
In the head-to-head contest over who would make a better prime minister, Dutton remained on 37%, but Albanese retained his lead at 45%, despite losing a point.
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Miles on Palaszczuk missing campaign launch: ‘She was invited, but this was my campaign launch’
Steven Miles was also asked why the former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk didn’t attend the campaign launch yesterday.
Miles said she was invited, as were “all of our former premiers… but they’re all busy people and they have to make decisions”.
She was invited, but this was my campaign launch. I was there in my own right, and I’m campaigning in this election to get a mandate to do the kinds of things that I have been outlining, things like expanding GP clinics, bulk-billing and free lunches for school kids.
He was asked whether Palaszczuk has the “irates with you?” Miles said no, and “I don’t think you should read too much into it”.
This comes after another former premier Peter Beattie – who was in attendance – said it was sad Palaszczuk didn’t give Miles more time to establish himself as premier. Miles responded to this:
I’ll leave the commentary to other people but I reckon I have given it a pretty good shake with the 10 months that I have had, and I’m taking pretty comprehensive plan to this election that I hope Queenslanders will endorse …
There’s not much use thinking I can rewrite history. You know, what’s happened has happened. I played the hand I have been dealt and I have worked pretty hard at it.
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Queensland premier says school lunch program will reduce stigma for kids without food
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, spoke with ABC News Breakfast this morning as early voting in the state election kicks off this morning.
He spoke about the free school lunch plan he unveiled yesterday for state school students from prep to grade 6 – and said:
I had so many teachers tell me that they bring extra food to work every day to feed kids who aren’t sent to school with food. There’s a real stigma around that for those kids and this will make sure that we can be confident every one of our primary school students is getting a decent nutritious lunch.
Miles was asked about criticism from the Association of Principals, who said there would be logistical difficulties for remote schools not having tuck shop facilities to roll this out. The premier said it is at these remote schools the program is “most important”.
We have been building up towards this. We have been expanding our school lunch and breakfast programs, we have been appointing paid school food coordinators throughout the year. We have a lunchbox task force that has been helping us to expand those programs.
Miles also hit back at economic concerns and said there is “no evidence this will have an impact on inflation”.
Updated
Man shot in Melbourne CBD this morning
Victoria police have confirmed a man was shot in the Melbourne CBD earlier this morning.
As we flagged just earlier, a man was found injured near the intersection of Spencer and Lonsdale streets about 3.30am.
Victoria police have now said it is believed the man sustained a suspected gunshot wound to the upper body.
The 26-year-old Cairnlea man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
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Threatening note left at bakery run by Jewish TV chef ‘Fast Ed’
Jewish TV chef Ed Halmagyi says a threatening note was shoved under the door of his Sydney bakery yesterday.
In a post to Instagram, he shared an image of the note – reading “Be careful” – and said this was “Being Jewish in Sydney, 2024 edition”.
The chef, better known as “Fast Ed”, appeared on Better Homes and Gardens for 20 years and operates Avner’s Bakery in Surry Hills. He wrote on Instagram:
This note was shoved under the door of our bakery overnight. But the fact is, it’s hard to be intimidated by inner-city middle-class Cosplay Radicals who graduated primary school without their pen licence.
Police were called to the Bourke Street business about 3pm on Sunday, after becoming aware of offensive graffiti sprayed on the walls. The force said:
Police have been told a man also received a written note containing an alleged threat when he arrived at the business the same morning.
Police said they are investigating the incident and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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Spender backs calls for raising small business threshold to 25 workers
The Independent MP Allegra Spender says she backs the calls from business to change the definition of small business to be up to 25 workers, up from 15.
She said this would “make it easier for small and young businesses to grow” and wrote on X:
It’s time to look at IR not through politics, but how it balances protections for workers with increasing wages through productivity.
We need to look at models, such as in Denmark, that provide strong social safety nets as well as flexible working arrangements. And start by simplifying awards, getting the PC to assess the impact of IR on productivity, and increasing the rate of jobseeker.
If you’re just joining us – we’ve covered the government response to these calls, as well as the opposition and union responses, earlier in the blog.
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Man allegedly assaulted and car stolen from Eastern Beaches home
Police allege a man was assaulted before a car was stolen from a home in Sydney’s Eastern Beaches overnight.
About 11.10pm yesterday, a 65-year-old woman was approached by two men, who allegedly broke into a home at Matraville.
One of the men allegedly assaulted a 70-year-old occupant, causing injuries to his head and hands, before the men allegedly drove away in a blue Subaru XV after taking keys.
The 70-year-old man was treated by paramedics and taken to Prince of Wales Hospital in a stable condition. An investigation has been commenced, and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Ley says white supremacists demonstrating in Corowa ‘should be held accountable’
Circling back to Sussan Ley’s interview on ABC RN: She was asked about an incident in her electorate at the weekend, where police had to break up a group of white supremacists demonstrating in the town of Corowa on the Murray River.
Ley said she was “appalled” to see the group try to use Corowa as “the latest backdrop in that campaign to sow division and spread hate.”
Now they were rightly sent away, and they are rightly condemned … But I really want to say how proud I am of my community, because they’ve … called these people out, they’ve said to their face, ‘just go away and get off the street’.
They use a small town to try to get a big national headline, and we don’t want them back.
Asked if anyone should have been arrested, Ley said police would be “looking at any possible laws or breaches that these people have made, and they’ll be tracking them down even now”.
They’re hiding their identities. That’s what they do, these isolated minorities. They need to be called out, found out, and if there’s anything that they can be charged with, I know they will be.
I want maximum pressure on these people. We cannot and we should not tolerate this sort of activity, but it was shocking …
Ley said their words were “pretty awful, and it shouldn’t be repeated anywhere, and they should be held accountable”.
Updated
Police investigating after injured man found in Melbourne’s CBD
Victoria police are investigating after a man was found injured in Melbourne’s CBD early this morning.
Officers were called to the intersection of Spencer and Lonsdale streets about 3.30am where the man was found. He is yet to be formally identified, and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
3AW reported that a section of Spencer Street was shut down, and Lonsdale Street closed eastbound, amid the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Sussan Ley won’t confirm if Coalition supports change to definition of small business
The deputy opposition leader, Sussan Ley, was also asked about calls to change the definition of small business to include up to 25 workers, while speaking with ABC RN.
She responded:
I’m not getting ahead of the discussion we will have in our party room and with colleagues about a range of matters to do with any piece of legislation.
Watt had said the opposition was in favour of this change – are they? Ley repeated her previous answer:
We will run this through our normal party room processes when legislation appears, not via conversations on breakfast radio.
But there won’t be legislation, host Patricia Karvelas said, as the government is against this. Does Ley think it is a good idea?
She said she hopes the government looks at proposals from the Business Council and that “they do turn [it] into something that we consider seriously through the parliament.”
ACTU secretary says it’s ‘wrong in principle’ to have different workers’ rights depending on size of business
The secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Sally McManus, has been speaking with ABC RN about the call to raise the definition of small business from 15 to 25 employees, as we just flagged just earlier.
Asked if she would campaign for any increase, even if it was up to 20 from the current 15, she responded that the union “already, on principle, [doesn’t] like the fact that there are two sets of rights for workers just depending on how big your workplace happens to be”.
We just think that’s wrong in principle. It’s been the case for quite a while now that there have been these small business exemptions, and it’s not been some big thing we’ve campaigned about.
But I’ve got to tell you, we don’t think it’s right in principle, and it’s sort of a dodgy way of being able to take rights off workers by saying, ‘Oh, we’re just going to increase the limit for small business’, because it just means that all of those workers just lose rights – and you can do so, and make it sound like you’re being fair.
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Price says yes campaigners need to ‘let go’ and ‘accept result’ of Voice referendum
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was also asked about comments from yes advocate and Uluru Statement from the Heart architect Megan Davis, that there is still a lot of grieving amongst Indigenous Australians.
Price said “it’s no surprise that there’s still grieving taking place” but “it’s not what I’ve picked up”. She argued that yes campaigners need to “let go” and “accept the result”.
… because Australia has made that determination, and move forward, because there are marginalised Indigenous Australians whose lives need to be impacted in a positive way right now.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on Voice referendum, one year on
The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, was on ABC News Breakfast earlier on the first anniversary of the Voice referendum.
Price was a leading no vote advocate, arguing at the time there were better ways to improve the plight of Indigenous Australians. 12 months on, can she point to any alternative methods that have succeeded?
She argued the Albanese government hasn’t “implemented any methods to improve the circumstances or change the things on the ground.”
We have been calling for an inquiry into statutory authorities for the last 18 months, which we believe need to be looked at closely because of their failures to ... well, not all statutory authorities, but some, in terms of their failures of how they’re supposed to serve the interests of those that they are supposed to represent.
And this has been ongoing now and something that the Albanese Government has continued to ignore. But those voices – especially of Traditional Owners – that I have been speaking to, are growing louder, with more concern. And, really, there is a need to fix the structures that currently exist, and it begins with an inquiry.
Murray Watt on the government’s review of workplace relations laws
Murray Watt was asked about calls from employers to change the definition of small business from 15 to 25 employees – will he do it?
“No, we won’t,” he said, arguing this would “make it easier for small and medium sized businesses to be able to unfairly sack workers” by losing their unfair dismissal rights.
There’s no evidence at all that current laws led by the Albanese government are stifling businesses from employing people. In fact, we’ve actually created nearly 1 million jobs since coming to office a bit over two years ago … So unfortunately, for some of the leading business groups calling for this, the evidence of what’s going on in the economy just doesn’t back up their wish list.
The business community also wants the government to revisit multi-employer bargaining and same job, same pay legislation – will the government’s review of workplace relations laws look at this?
He argued the laws already introduced by the government “have actually delivered exactly what we said they would – higher pay, more secure jobs, reducing the gender pay gap, delivering safer workplaces and more equality in the workplace”.
Watt also said the government was “very willing to have industrial relations as a key battleground for the next election”.
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Watt says government had ‘guts’ to see voice proposal through despite polls
The employment and workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, spoke with ABC RN earlier and was asked about the voice referendum, one year on.
He recognised today was “going to be a pretty painful day for First Nations Australians” and said there were “a lot of hopes invested” in the voice proposal.
One of the lessons that we took is that it’s really pretty much impossible to undertake constitutional reform in this country without bipartisan support. We saw that,w prior to Peter Dutton and the Coalition opposing the voice, support for the voice was actually quite high, and that whittled away as soon as we saw the opposition take a position against it.
Host Patricia Karvelas asked why the government didn’t go to Indigenous leaders and say, “we don’t think we can win this”, when the polls were showing a defeat?
Watt said the PM and the government as a whole wanted the proposal to be led by First Nations people, and “we didn’t think it was appropriate to ignore their wishes, either at the beginning of the campaign or as the campaign went on”.
We see a lot of criticism of the government and the prime minister lately about not taking enough hard decisions and not being bold enough. This was a pretty bold thing to do, and it demonstrated the conviction of the prime minister and the conviction of the government that we were prepared to take on a difficult issue and see it through to the end.
Watts said the government “deserve[s] points for having had the guts to see it through, especially given that was the position of First Nations leaders”.
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Alex Greenwich urged to restore protections for LGBTQ+ school staff in equality bill
The Independent Education Union of Australia’s NSW branch says it is “deeply concerned” about the state independent MP Alex Greenwich dropping protections for LGBTQ+ teachers, school staff and students from his equality bill – before cabinet today.
The union said that currently, non-government school employers can discriminate against school staff by terminating their employment because of their sexual orientation or transgender status – and expel students for the same reason.
Greenwich was reported in yesterday’s Sun Herald as dropping proposed protections for school staff pending a review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 by the NSW Law Reform Commission. But branch secretary Carol Matthews says there are “no guarantees this long-running review will recommend protections for teachers and school staff in faith-based schools.”
Nor is there any guarantee the NSW government will legislate recommendations arising from the review …
School employers have nothing to fear from modern community standards – they can still thrive without the need to discriminate. Changes to the Act could still allow religious schools to build communities of faith central to their ethos and character.
The union calls on Mr Greenwich to restore protections for LGBTQI+ school staff and students to his equality bill, and for the NSW government to implement full protections from all forms of discrimination in non-government schools.
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Gavan Reynolds to be sworn in as ABF commissioner
The former head of defence intelligence Gavan Reynolds will be sworn in as the Australian Border Force commissioner next month.
Reynolds said he would work closely with the government:
It is a privilege to lead the Australian Border Force and the dedicated people protecting the national asset that is our border. I look forward to working closely with the Department of Home Affairs and across Government to deliver prosperity, security and unity for Australia.
Reynolds spent his 40-year career with the Australian Defence Force (ADF), serving in roles including the Australian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, senior positions within the ADF and a deployment to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force.
He will take over from Michael Outram, who retires on 9 November.
A previous version of this post said Gavan Reynolds had already been sworn in. He will be sworn in on 10 November.
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The new Administrative Review Tribunal opens
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, will attend the inaugural ceremonial sitting of the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) today.
The ART will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in a major reform to Australian administrative law after concerns that the previous scheme had become inaccessible and unfair.
Dreyfus described the moment as “the most significant reform to Australia’s system of administrative review in decades” that will help “restore confidence in government.”
The new ART will be efficient, accessible, independent and fair for the tens of thousands of people every year who seek independent review of government decisions, such as whether they qualify for an age pension, are compensated for an injury they suffered while serving their nation or receive NDIS funding for essential support.
The Labor government previously accused the former Coalition government of stacking the AAT with supporters in a way that was undermining the institution, particularly in the wake of scandals such as the robodebt fiasco.
The long-awaited revamp to the process, which allows Australian’s to seek review of government decisions, has been in the works since Labor took office. A key feature of the new ART is a “transparent and merit-based selection process” for the appointment of members.
Among the reforms are a demand-driven funding model, greater harmonisation across different case types, mechanisms to escalate issues of significance and a new case-management system.
Staff who worked with the previous AAT have also been transferred to the new ART, along with all existing matters.
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Republicans to welcome king’s visit with ‘farewell tour’ T-shirts
The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) is launching a tongue-in-cheek media campaign ahead of King Charles’ visit to Australia, branding it the “farewell tour” of the British monarchy – claiming it is “time to give the royal wave goodbye.”
Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Australia from 18 to 23 October, with stops in Sydney and Canberra. The ARM points out it’s the first visit from a monarch in more than a decade, and say it’s time to “change the conversation” about the royals.
The unsuccessful Indigenous voice referendum, coincidentally a year ago today (14 October), has stalled momentum for potential constitutional change that would be needed for an Australian republic. The Labor government recently dropped its ministerial portfolio focused on the republic, and political observers theorise it will be some time before a future government proposes another referendum.
But the ARM is preparing to use Charles’s visit to draw attention to the republican push again. Their campaign is titled “monarchy: the Farewell Oz tour”, branded like the final tour of a rock band, with T-shirts and posters printed.
Think Elton’s Yellow Brick Road Tour and Farnham’s The Last Time. It’s time to Wave Goodbye to Royal Reign with Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour!
The group points to their own research showing 92% of Australians are open to becoming a republic, and that 60% of Australians say they’d prefer an Australian head of state to King Charles.
It’s time for Australia to say ‘thanks, but we’ve got it from here’. Expect to see big names leading our new conversation all over Australia as we wave goodbye to royal reign.
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Environment advocates welcome funding boost for bird flu preparation
Work by Wildlife Health Australia more than a year ago warned the consequences of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in native birds could be catastrophic. Environment organisations have been calling for additional funding for preparedness for the disease in wildlife for many months.
The announcement (see previous post) comes ahead of a meeting later this week of federal, state and territory environment and agriculture ministers to discuss preparedness for the deadly strain.
The Invasive Species Council’s advocacy director Jack Gough welcomed the extra funding:
This is incredible news. The Albanese government is finally investing a serious amount into preparation for what could be the worst environmental disaster in Australia’s history.
This level of funding will allow departments to get on with the job of properly preparing to save wildlife and stop extinctions if the deadly bird flu hits our shores.
We will not be able to stop this disease from arriving but we know that vaccination, carcass removal and stopping disturbance can reduce death rates and save species like Tassie devils, sea lions and black swans.
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Labor commits $95m to prepare for deadly bird flu
The Albanese government has announced an extra $95m to prepare for the potential arrival of a deadly strain of bird flu that has been catastrophic for wildlife globally.
Australia is the only continent that remains free of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza but the chance it will be detected increases during spring with the arrival of migratory shorebirds.
The rapid global spread of the strain has caused mass deaths of wild birds and some mammal species and had significant impacts for industries such as poultry.
The government is committing an extra $37m for initiatives to protect agriculture, including $15m to increase biosecurity response capability and surveillance and $10m for nationally coordinated communications to ensure communities are informed and protected.
The new investment also includes a major increase in funding of $35.9m for environmental measures to “accelerate protective action for threatened species and priority biodiversity”. A further $22.1m is for strengthening public health preparedness.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said:
I am particularly concerned about the potential impact on species already at risk of extinction and not well placed to cope with significant mortalities. This includes marine mammals such as the endangered Australian sea lion, and sea birds like the Christmas Island frigatebird, which has only one breeding site.
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Good morning and welcome back to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you through our live coverage for most of today.
The Albanese government has announced an extra $95m to prepare for the potential arrival of a deadly strain of bird flu that has been catastrophic for wildlife globally.
Australia is the only continent that remains free of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza, but the chance it will be detected increases during spring with the arrival of migratory shorebirds. We’ll have more on this from Lisa Cox in a moment.
The Australian Republican Movement is launching a tongue-in-cheek media campaign ahead of King Charles’s visit to Australia – from 18 to 23 October – branding it the “farewell tour” of the British monarchy. The movement is preparing to use Charles’s visit to draw attention to the republican push with a campaign titled “monarchy: the Farewell Oz tour”, branded like the final tour of a rock band with T-shirts and posters printed. Josh Butler will have more on this shortly.
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