What we learned; Thursday 23 January
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the day’s main stories:
Australian police forces have formed a coordinated group to deal with hate crime, as a second person was charged with an alleged attack at a Sydney synagogue and a war of words erupted between the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
Bruce Lehrmann will seek a judge-only trial as he seeks to defend himself against two charges of rape, a Toowoomba court heard.
The LNP has denied the former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that a decision has been made on Brisbane’s Olympics athletics venues.
About 650 retail workers will lose their jobs after receivers were unable to find a buyer for clothing and footwear brand Rivers.
Labor and the Coalition blame each other for a continuing slump in school attendance.
Myer shareholders approved a merger with Premier Investments apparel brands in Australia, which include Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti and Jacqui E.
NSW police are investigating a serious assault in Sydney’s inner west that left an off-duty police officer unconscious.
Hot days and nights are forecast until the end of the week for much of Australia, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland.
Enjoy the rest of your evening, we will see you again tomorrow.
Updated
Tennis Australia declines to return serve on reporters
The Australian Open has not been drawn on its on-court interviewers after Ben Shelton launched a volley of criticism over the way the reporters treat tennis players.
The American player blasted on-court interviewers for being “disrespectful” and for their “negativity” after defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday.
Referring to on-court interviews conducted by John Fitzgerald, Roger Rasheed and James Sherry, Shelton said in a post-match press conference that he was “a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters”.
Tennis Australia, which oversees the Australian Open and employs the reporters, declined to respond to Shelton’s criticism when contacted by Guardian Australia on Thursday.
All three interviewers are understood to be “world feed” reporters chosen to work at the Australian Open by Tennis Australia. The world feed is the live broadcast package as sold to third-party broadcasters.
Channel Nine, which has exclusive broadcast rights to the grand slam tournament, is understood to make requests via Tennis Australia to use its own talent on court, such as Jim Courier and Jelena Dokic. None of the reporters singled out by Shelton are employed by Nine.
Coverage of the grand slam in Melbourne made headlines earlier this week after Novak Djokovic said comments made on air by the Channel Nine broadcaster Tony Jones insulted him and made a mockery of Serbian fans – an incident that Shelton suggested was not isolated.
Jones issued an apology to Djokovic after the veteran broadcaster’s comments led the 10-time Australian Open champion to boycott further Nine interviews.
The Czech player Jiri Lehecka and veteran tennis champions Boris Becker and Chris Evert took to X to agree with Shelton after the press conference.
Updated
LNP denies decision has been made on Brisbane Olympic venues
The LNP has denied the former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that a decision has been made on the Olympics athletics venues.
The former Labor leader skewered both her own successor Steven Miles and the new government for the decision to abandon her plan to hold the athletics at the Gabba.
The finance minister, Ros Bates, denied her claim that the government’s 100-day review “has actually already decided it’s going” to instead hold the Games at Victoria Park.
“Labor had 1,000 days. There are expert people on that panel. So it’s about time that the politicians got out of the way and had the people who actually know what they’re talking about work out how we’re going to deliver all of this infrastructure,” she said.
Bates said Palaszczuk “just basically went after Steven Miles” and said “he didn’t have a plan”.
On Thursday afternoon, the shadow treasurer, Shannon Fentiman, said the government had to decide between decide whether they were going to “build new stadiums, or are they going to help Queensland families?”
“If they’re going to build a new stadium, they’re going to have to find extra billions and billions of dollars that is going to have to come at the expense of cuts.”
Updated
Australian police forces form coordinated group to tackle hate crime
An Australian police commissioners’ communique has been released after their meeting today to discuss a “recent rise in antisemitism and prejudice-motivated and hate crime incidents in some communities”.
It says the commissioners agreed to form a group with deputy commissioners from each jurisdiction to “ensure a formal forum for collaboration on this issue”.
The communique said:
The group will meet monthly to share information and intelligence and, where appropriate, use existing national arrangements to assist with both active investigations and proactive operations that may transcend state borders. While each agency is well equipped to deal with matters in their jurisdiction, the sharing of intelligence and information is invaluable and Australian agencies have used this approach for many years with great success.
Commissioners discussed the unique role police play in making the diverse communities of Australia feel safe through high visibility policing, direct community engagement and robust investigations. Commissioners agreed there has never been a greater need for law enforcement agencies to focus on the core role of policing – to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and to ensure community safety and that all communities feel safe. This is the foundation Australian policing is built on.
Ongoing engagement with the Jewish community, as well as the many diverse communities that call Australia home, will continue to be prioritised by all jurisdictions.
Commissioners strongly denounce antisemitism and condemn prejudice-motivated and hate crimes of any kind, which threaten the unique cultural fabric of Australia.
Updated
Driver jailed for crash that killed five people
A driver has been locked up for five-and-a-half years after being warned by police about a dangerous intersection before he drove through it and killed five people, AAP reports.
Minutes before one of the deadliest crashes in Victoria’s history, in April 2023, two officers told Christopher Joannidis about the roads in Strathmerton.
“We’ve had nine killed on it in the last 18 months, basically because people don’t see give way and stop signs,” a police officer told him, in a video played to the county court in November.
But the 31-year-old man did not heed this warning.
He crossed over three sets of rumble strip and ignored give way signs as he drove from Labuan Road on to the Murray Valley Highway.
Joannidis’s Mercedes-Benz sedan crashed into a Nissan Navara ute with five people and a dog inside, pushing it into the path of a truck towing two trailers of milk.
The ute’s driver, Deborah Markey, 62, her dog Sophie and four farm workers from Taiwan and Hong Kong staying at her home – Zhi-Yao Chen, Pin-Yu Wang, Wai Yan Lam and Hsin-Yu Chen – were all killed instantly.
Joannidis, who pleaded guilty to five counts of dangerous driving causing death, had his bail revoked when he faced the county court in Melbourne in November.
Updated
Funding boost, long-term reform needed for mental health sector, expert says
A significant lift in funding and long-term reform will be needed to avoid future worker shortages and provide critical mental health services, the incoming head of the sector’s peak body says.
AAP reports that as a pay dispute drives almost two-thirds of NSW’s public hospital psychiatrists towards resignation, the crisis in Australia’s largest health system has fuelled calls for greater national action.
Former royal commission into defence and veteran suicide head, Dr Peggy Brown, was announced as the new chair of Mental Health Australia on Thursday and said state and federal governments needed to work more closely together to improve outcomes.
The NSW crisis should spark discussions about the mental health sector’s long-term needs, rather than forcing a quick fix that might not stand the test of time, Brown said.
The risk is discussions will occur to get over the hump of a crisis, but that the opportunity might be lost to actually have those important conversations.
The mass resignations in NSW – building on existing and widespread vacancies in the public system – have spurred state officials to lean on private sector psychiatrists while drawing on other health workers, such as psychologists, GPs and nurses to fill gaps.
Brown said it was widely known that there were systemic issues with services in other states and territories.
Any overhaul of service delivery needed to be done over time, not on the run during a period of crisis, she said.
Updated
Aboriginal people given access to restricted WA government files in bid to track family history
Aboriginal people in Western Australia will be able to access records, usually kept from the public eye, to find out more about their family history, AAP reports.
The restricted government files, which are closed to the public because of their sensitive nature, span from 1886 to 1972, and include information on births, family history, relatives, and medical records.
Research experts from Aboriginal History Western Australia can help people access these records, and will be travelling across the state’s south-west to host free family history sessions.
They’ll travel, alongside the state library of Western Australia’s Storylines team, to Collie, Manjimup, Margaret River, Busselton, Bunbury and Eaton, helping families begin the journey of researching their family history.
The Storylines archive holds more than 12,000 photographs and other documents relating to Aboriginal people in the state.
The Aboriginal History WA community education officer Duane Kelly said these sessions are a great starting point for Indigenous people to know and understand more about their history.
Kelly said Aboriginal History WA, which is part of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, also has a number of truth-telling projects, which will be highlighted at the family history sessions.
The truth-telling projects focus on institutions like missions and orphanages or other subjects like Aboriginal trackers, or the extent of Indigenous involvement in agricultural and pastoral leases in the state.
Updated
Anti-corruption watchdog charges 28 more people over alleged bribes to register Victorian builders
Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog has charged a further 28 people as part of its investigation into allegations the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) accepted financial bribes in exchange for registering builders.
The state’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (Ibac) on Thursday afternoon announced it had charged one VBA employee and 27 people who were building registration applicants or allegedly helped facilitate building registration applications for other people.
“These charges are in addition to six people who were charged as part of Operation Perseus in 2024, including two VBA employees, two building registration applicants and two other people involved in the alleged corrupt conduct,” Ibac said.
You can read more on that story here:
Updated
Here’s the full story on the news we brought you earlier about Splendour in the Grass not returning in 2025:
Continued from previous post:
An autopsy confirmed Quairney had died from a heart attack and her nausea and vomiting were early signs of her heart failing.
Jamieson found St Vincent’s had missed Quairney’s diagnosis but she commended the hospital on its response in the years after her death.
The coroner recommended St Vincent’s and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine consider adopting Quairney’s story as a case study to highlight the importance of comprehensive assessments and identifying atypical heart attack symptoms in women.
A St Vincent’s spokesperson told AAP the hospital was reviewing the report and would formally respond to the court on the recommendation.
Updated
Coroner finds Victorian woman’s death could be case study for how to diagnose heart attacks
Heart attacks can present differently in women so it’s important health practitioners and patients learn the signs before it’s too late, experts say.
AAP reports Sheila Marion Quairney, 68, presented to Melbourne’s St Vincent’s hospital on the evening of 2 April 2023, with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and pain in her upper abdomen.
She died hours later from a heart attack that was misdiagnosed as an adverse reaction to codeine.
Victorian coroner Audrey Jamieson found St Vincent’s had failed to consider and identify that Quairney was experiencing a heart attack during her admission.
The 68-year-old had gone to the hospital’s emergency department a day after she fell and struck her ribs while using a stationary bike.
She had taken pain medication including codeine but her pain increased, and the nausea and vomiting began.
Quairney’s vital signs and breathing were normal when she first presented at the hospital and two clinicians determined her symptoms were likely caused by an adverse reaction to codeine.
But her condition deteriorated and she went into cardiac arrest while she was having an intravenous cannula inserted.
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Nino Bucci will bring you the rest of our rolling coverage this afternoon. Take care.
Hot weather to continue for much of country until end of week
Perth is forecast to reach 40C again today, after multiple hot days in a row.
The Bureau of Meteorology said warm days and nights would continue until the end of the week for much of Australia, particularly Western Australia and Queensland.
In Queensland, the bureau said, it would be hot again today and tomorrow.
Warm days and nights will continue until the end of the week for much of Australia, particularly in #WA and #Qld. #Perth is forecast to reach 40°C again today after multiple hot days. In Qld, it will be hot again today and on Friday.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 23, 2025
Latest forecasts: https://t.co/ijl11onM2A pic.twitter.com/W9EBWY7riQ
Updated
Minns thanks NSW police for ‘dogged work’ investigating Newtown synagogue attack
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has released this statement after the arrest of a second man who was allegedly involved in the targeting of a Newtown synagogue:
I want to congratulate NSW Police for their dogged work investigating the Newtown Synagogue attack. NSW Police has now arrested 10 people under Strike Force Pearl, and investigators are not done yet.
Updated
Second man charged in relation to alleged targeting of Newtown synagogue
A second man has been charged for allegedly attempting to set a synagogue in Sydney’s inner west on fire earlier this month and vandalising it with swastikas, NSW police have confirmed.
It comes after another man – Adam Edward Moule – was charged for allegedly playing a role in the incident, with the man due to appear before Downing Centre local court for a second time this afternoon.
Police have said the second alleged offender, a 37-year-old man, was arrested today at a hotel on Pyrmont Bridge Road. They said the man was Tasered before being taken to Day Street police station.
Police said of the alleged incident, which occurred on Georgina Street in Newtown:
Initial inquiries revealed two people attended the synagogue earlier that morning and allegedly spray-painted graffiti on the building and fence, while also attempting to light the premises on fire.
The 37-year-old man is the tenth person to be charged under Strike Force Pearl, which was set up to investigate alleged hate crimes with an antisemitic focus across Sydney.
Updated
Thousands watch as ‘Putricia’ the corpse flower blooms in Sydney
There are now more than 7,000 people tuned into the “Putricia” live stream, watching the iconic corpse flower finally (finally!) bloom at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens.
True fans will already be familiar with some of the slang that has developed in the chat, but for those just joining us, here’s a little explainer for you:
WWTF – We Watch The Flower
TFWU – The Flower Watches Us
WDNRP – We Do Not Rush Putricia
BBTB – Blessed Be the Bloom
Just minutes ago, some people could be seen bowing to Putricia, as dozens file through Palm House in groups, taking selfies and catching a glimpse (and sniff) of the plant in all her glory.
The comment section is filled with people guessing when Putricia might reach full bloom, questioning how bad the smell currently is, and how long the queue is to see her. One fan wrote:
I am dressing as Putricia for Mardi Gras.
Updated
All Rivers stores to close, triggering 650 job losses
About 650 retailer workers will lose their jobs after receivers were unable to find a buyer for clothing and footwear retailer Rivers.
The receivers, KPMG, said today that the remaining 136 Rivers stores will close by mid-April, in the latest fallout of the collapse of fashion and apparel company Mosaic Brands.
Several former Mosaic brands, including Katies, have already been wound up. KPMG restructuring partner David Hardy said:
Unfortunately, a sale of Rivers was not able to be achieved. This means the receivers have made the difficult decision to wind down this iconic Australian brand.
Mosaic collapsed under heavy debts in October, prompting the end of well-known labels including Rockmans, Autograph and Crossroads, amid upheaval in the retail sector marked by changed buying practices.
KPMG said it was working on a transaction for the remaining Mosaic brands, including Millers and Noni B.
Updated
Man charged for allegedly impersonating fire and emergency services officer in WA
Western Australian police have charged a man for allegedly impersonating a Department of Fire and Emergency Services (Dfes) officer.
In a statement, police alleged the man attended a Kewdale truck stop on 14 January while wearing overalls and a helmet with Dfes embroidery.
He allegedly got into a parked Holden Rodeo utility, which was marked with reflective signage and stickers which depict a Dfes vehicle.
Police will allege that as the vehicle travelled on Baldwin Street, the man activated red, white and blue flashing lights and audible sirens installed on the car.
On Monday, arson squad detectives apprehended the man at a residence in Belmont. During a search of the property, detectives allegedly located and seized the imitation Dfes equipment and clothing, including the Holden Rodeo utility.
A 60-year-old man from Forrestfield is due to appear before the Perth magistrates court on 19 February, charged with impersonating a public officer.
Updated
Measles alert for western Sydney
NSW Health has advised people to stay alert for signs and symptoms of measles, after a confirmed case was infectious while in the greater western Sydney area.
The individual had recently returned from Vietnam, NSW Health said, where there is a large measles outbreak. They were not infectious while on their flight.
People who attended Family Doctors Berala (co-located with Berala Pharmacy and 4Cyte Pathology) on 18 January from 10am to 11.15am should watch for the development of symptoms, NSW Health said.
The South Western Sydney local health district’s director of public health, Dr Mitchell Smith, said:
Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that starts on the head and face, then spreads to the rest of the body.
It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after being exposed, so it’s important for people who visited this site at that time to look out for symptoms up until Wednesday 5 February. If you experience symptoms please call ahead before visiting your doctor.
Updated
Shareholders approve Myer deal to buy Just Jeans, Portmans
Myer shareholders have approved a merger with Premier Investments apparel brands in Australia, which includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti and Jacqui E.
The merger received approval from more than 96% of votes cast, according to the results of Myer’s extraordinary general meeting held today. The vote was also widely supported by Premier Investments shareholders at a separate poll.
The transaction involves Premier shareholders receiving Myer stock, which will give Premier chairman Solomon Lew control of just under one-third of Myer shares.
The transaction comes at a challenging time for retailers including Myer, which recently reported lower profits and sales as customers grappled with rising living costs, prompting the department store operator to discount its fashion brands.
Updated
Sydney Botanic Gardens will remain open until midnight as ‘Putricia’ blooms
The Sydney Botanic Gardens have confirmed they will remain open until midnight tonight, as “Putricia” begins blooming.
As we mentioned just earlier, the corpse flower has well and truly begun blooming, starting to unfurl a few hours ago. There are now more than 5,000 people watching along on the livestream:
The Botanic Gardens confirmed in the chat it would remain open until midnight. If you scroll back through the livestream, you can see the changes over the past few hours.
Updated
Federal minister backs Allan’s comments and says people have had ‘enough of division’
The federal transport minister, Catherine King, was also at the press conference and said she “wholeheartedly agreed” with the Victorian premier’s comments.
You would have seen the prime minister responding to similar questions. And we’re not going to have a running commentary every single day on what the president of the United States says and does.
We think very firmly in this country that I think everyone has had enough of division, enough of people feeding and trying to engender hatred, whether it be antisemitism or on issues around gender equality. We’re getting on with the business of government.
Updated
Allan says there is too much ‘US-style division coming to Australia’
Jacinta Allan has also rebuffed a question regarding Donald Trump’s executive order rejecting recognition of transgender people in the United States government departments.
Asked how many genders there were by Sky News reporter, Simon Love, she responded, “Really?” and went on:
I’ll say this in a broad sense, we are seeing too much US-style division coming to our country, and it’s the responsibility of leaders to call it out and not respond to it and stand up for their communities.
Every Victorian should have the right to practise their faith, whatever that faith may be, and do so safely and to love who they love and to be who they are. That’s what’s important here. What happens in the US, happens in the US. What we should be focused on here is saying enough of that US style division.
We’ve had enough hurt. We’ve got enough division. We don’t need to add to that with this sort of tokenistic behaviour. We’ve got to focus on supporting people to be who they are, to love who they want to love, and to practise their faith, whatever their faith may be.
Updated
Allan says Dutton should stop using antisemitism as 'political weapon' after he criticised her response
Circling back to Victorian premier Jacinta Allan’s earlier press conference, where she responded to comments Peter Dutton made yesterday – describing her response to antisemitism as “disgraceful” compared to the NSW premier, Chris Minns.
(Minns, funnily enough, said he was looking to the Victorian government’s legislation as he works to combat hate speech in his state).
The premier urged Dutton, and “any Liberal who wants to use this issue as a weapon”, to “stop”.
We are seeing enough hurt and division around the country as a consequence of this conflict overseas that they should stop. And if Peter Dutton is fair dinkum about working with communities, about working with governments around the country on this evil of antisemitism, he would tell his Victorian Liberal colleagues to support the bill that is in the Victorian parliament right now.
So stop using this as a political weapon. Stop using this as a political tool and look at what we are doing here in Victoria.
She said the Victorian government had banned the Nazi symbol and salute and introduced anti-vilification legislation to parliament that puts hateful speech, antisemitic speech, into the Crimes Act, which will lead to tougher penalties.
I’d encourage Peter Dutton to pick up the phone to his colleagues here in Victoria and tell them to get on and support this bill.
Updated
Police say footage of brawl ‘confronting and distressing’
Supt Despa Fitzgerald said she had reviewed footage of the brawl and it was “very confronting and distressing”.
It’s only snippets of CCTV footage that we’re still putting together to get a better understanding of the duration of the initial interaction.
Updated
Police say without witnesses providing CPR, ‘something more serious’ could have occurred
Continuing to address the media in Newtown, Supt Despa Fitzgerald said there was a couple who rendered CPR at the scene “and I thank them dearly for what they did”.
Because the officer was unconscious for some time and without their assistance, we may be talking about something more serious …
I’m not a medical expert, but if they weren’t there and provided CPR, anything could have happened.
Updated
Family of injured off-duty police officer ‘distressed’
Supt Despa Fitzgerald said she had spoken with the family of the off-duty officer who was more severely injured, and they were “distressed”.
[They are] obviously distressed to have to come to a hospital to give support to their son at this time, thinking that, you know, their son was going out for a night out, and this ended up occurring.
Updated
Injured officer discharged from hospital will be interviewed about alleged Newtown assault
Supt Despa Fitzgerald said the two off-duty officers had been watching a concert before walking along Enmore Road towards King Street in Newtown, where “some sort of argument has [allegedly] taken place”.
That has not been confirmed as the officers who were injured have not been interviewed, due to the medical conditions that they’re undergoing at the moment, and the medical attention that they’re receiving.
She said the injured officer who had been discharged from hospital would be interviewed later today.
My understanding from reviewing some CCTV footage today [is] that the three males that police want to speak to were involved in some sort of heated discussion amongst each other – and that’s also from witnesses – and the two off-duty officers were walking by, and somehow, some conversation, it appears, has taken place, and then the [alleged] assaults on the two off-duty officers has occurred.
Updated
Police say they have ‘positive lines of inquiry’ into alleged Newtown assault
Yasmin Catley said there were three unknown alleged offenders who police were looking for. She urged anyone who knew anything to come forward.
It’s a very busy area where this [alleged] offence occurred. We know that there will be dashcam footage, CCTV footage, indeed, people with their cameras, videoing. Anything you have will be valuable for the police to use in the event of evidence.
Supt Despa Fitzgerald said police had “positive lines of inquiries” and had spoken with various witnesses overnight.
Updated
Police and police minister front media after off-duty police assaulted in Sydney brawl
Supt Despa Fitzgerald, commander of the Inner West Police Area command, and the NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, are speaking to reporters about an alleged serious assault of off-duty members in Newtown overnight.
Catley said the off-duty officers were enjoying a vibrant part of Sydney, and “now have an officer who is still in hospital, as we speak, in a stable but very serious condition and undergoing further tests”.
I would like to thank those bystanders that were there, that offered assistance, and in particular those that rendered medical assistance until the ambulance arrived …
We have such gratitude for you coming in and helping those officers who were injured, particularly that officer with those crucial injuries. These are really life saving events that took place by them, and we are so thankful.
Updated
State government working on timeline to support Lost Dogs’ Home to relocate – Allan
On the prospect of the Lost Dogs’ Home being forced out of its North Melbourne home without the cash for suitable new premises, as reported in The Age this morning, Jacinta Allan said this would not happen.
She said the government, which was planning to acquire the land to make room for housing and commercial development as part of the new Arden precinct, would support the Lost Dogs’ Home through the process. She said work on acquisition hasn’t begun yet.
Now, the acquisition processes around the Arden precinct are yet to get under way, so we have the time and we’re continuing to work with the operators of the Lost Dogs’ Home …
The acquisition process has not commenced.
The premier said she understood it was a “disruptive process” but the home would be supported to “find a new home”.
We’re working on a timeline that will support the Lost Dogs’ Home to be able to find a new home.
Updated
Allan ‘disappointed’ police pulled out of Pride March after not being allowed to march in uniform
Jacinta Allan was then asked about another event – the Pride March – after it was decided by organisers that police could not participate in uniform, leading them to pull out of the event.
Allan said she would be marching in the event, but was disappointed police wouldn’t be able to in their uniform:
Equality is not negotiable here in this state. Everyone should have the right to be who they are, pray to their God and practise their faith, and to love who they love, and they should be able to do that respectfully and freely. So I am a bit disappointed.
I am disappointed that these issues have not been able to be resolved because there will be many members of Victoria police who will have wanted to have attended in uniform, both to show their support for the community, but also as members of the community who are proud to be who they are within the Victorian community. So it is disappointing … but this is an outcome that has been resolved between Victoria police and the Midsumma organisers.
Allan says people can ‘find space in hearts and heads’ to recognise 26 January a difficult day for some
Earlier in the week, the First People’s Assembly held a press conference to encourage people to abstain from celebrating on 26 January and urging Victorians to sign a petition calling for Australia Day to be changed.
The press conference led to criticism from the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, who said the taxpayer-funded body should not be calling for people to attend rallies or protests.
However, Jacinta Allan said the assembly was an elected body independent of government. She went on:
How they choose to conduct themselves is a matter for them, but I think it is important to remember that Australia Day … for some it is a difficult day. And I think we can all find space in our hearts and in our heads to respect that, to understand that.
Respect also goes both ways. We’ve got to make sure that for those who want to acknowledge the day in their own way, have the space to do that, and also those who want to go and participate at Australia Day events also have the opportunity to do so.
The premier was quick to add that she has been attending official Australia Day events for the “last 30 years”.
Updated
Allan says police have ‘powers and resources they need’ for weekend protests
Circling back to Victorian premier Jacinta Allan’s press conference in Werribee:
She was asked about the upcoming protests on Sunday – both to mark Australia Day and the weekly pro-Palestinian protests that occur in Melbourne’s CBD – Allan said police have the “powers and resources they need” to handle anything that occurs.
I want to be clear that I support the right to peaceful protest. I think many Victorians support that fundamental principle of the right to protest, but the right to protest peacefully.
What is testing the public’s patience is this behaviour at particular locations and a particular set of behaviour by some protesters. What I’ve been advised by Victoria police, is that in terms of any protest activity on this coming weekend that [they] will be there in large numbers.
Should any protest activity turn violent, they have the powers to arrest, they have the powers to move on people. But it shouldn’t come to that.
Sydney corpse flower ‘Putricia’ appears to be beginning to unfurl
We have movement!
For all the eagle-eyed fans watching the livestream of Sydney icon “Putricia” – AKA the corpse flower expected to bloom at the Botanic Gardens any day now – you may have noticed that over the past hour, her leaves have begun to unfurl.
Her loyal fans in the comment section of the livestream have certainly noticed, too. It might end up being a false alarm, but there’s currently about 3.4k people tuning in for the action – you won’t want to miss this:
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Jacinta Allan spends third day in Werribee ahead of upcoming byelection
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has spent a third day this week in Werribee, in Melbourne’s west, ahead of a byelection on 8 February.
Today, she was joined by the federal minister for infrastructure, Catherine King, with the duo announcing $333.5m to upgrade two major roads in the area: the Werribee Main Road and Princess Freeway interchange and Ballan Road in Wyndham Vale.
The duo said the funding would improve connectivity and safety, as well as save time for drivers. According to the 2021 census, 52.5% people in the electorate use their car to get to work.
Allan said:
This is going to see those multiple benefits that will reduce congestion on local streets, provide capacity and room for growth, and also too, it’ll see a substantial saving in travel times of up to 10 minutes a day for motorists to go in and out and around the Werribee community.
We’re delivering on these local connections, because that’s what the community has told us they want to see – that ongoing investment in local road projects that join up and provide for those direct connections for where people want to go.
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Labor tips $2bn in green bank amid Trump cloud
The federal government will tip an extra $2bn into the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) in an attempt to harness private capital to turbocharge the renewables transition.
As flagged earlier, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and climate change minister, Chris Bowen, announced the investment today, which the government expects to unlock $6bn in private finance for clean energy projects.
The CEFC – otherwise known as the nation’s green bank – invests in clean energy projects to help support the transition and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The latest investment comes amid widespread uncertainty about the impact the new US president, Donald Trump, will have on the global shift to net zero.
Trump has already signed an executive order to withdraw the US – the world’s second largest emitter – from the Paris climate agreement, as he promises to unleash fossil fuel production under his “drill, baby, drill” agenda.
In a statement announcing the CEFC investment, Bowen insisted the world was shifting to net zero:
That means there are big opportunities and big benefits for Australia, so long as it acts now to make the most of demand for clean energy and inputs globally. We’re getting on with the changes needed to make the most of Australia’s natural comparative advantage, having some of the best sun, wind, and critical mineral resources in the world.
The Investor Group on Climate Change’s chief executive, Rebecca Mikula-Wright, welcomed the additional $2bn for the CEFC.
We support greater public and private investment to accelerate Australia’s shift to clean energy because an orderly, fair and well-planned transition to net zero emissions delivers the best possible outcome for IGCC members’ beneficiaries.
Updated
Splendour in the Grass cancelled for second year running
The Splendour in the Grass festival will not return in 2025, organisers have announced.
In a post to Facebook, organisers said they needed “a little more time to recharge” and would come back “bigger and better” when the time is right:
The rest of the festival team have still been busy cooking up some awesome new things for music lovers in Australia, but Splendour needs a little more time to recharge and we won’t be back this year.
Think of it as a breather so we can come back even bigger and better when the time is right. Lots of other huge events on the horizon so keep an ear to the ground in the coming months – we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on!
Last year, Splendour was cancelled due to “unexpected events”, organisers said at the time.
The festival had been held annually since 2001, and in the North Byron parklands in Yelgun, New South Wales, since 2013. In previous years it has attracted 50,000 festivalgoers, with headliners including Coldplay, Lana Del Rey and Childish Gambino.
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NSW police to speak to media about alleged assault of off-duty officers
We’re expecting Supt Despa Fitzgerald, the commander of Inner West police area command, to speak to the media in the next hour or so about an alleged serious assault of off-duty members in Newtown.
You can read more on that story here:
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Antoinette Lattouf v ABC case headed to trial
The ABC will defend its decision to sack casual Sydney radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf in a federal court trial listed to start on Monday 3 February.
Lattouf was removed by ABC management after sharing a post from Human Rights Watch alleging Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. The ABC had reported on the Human Rights Watch claim.
The ABC strongly denied the dismissal was the result of outside pressure on the broadcaster after revelations of a campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists to have her dismissed.
Witnesses called to give evidence include former ABC chair Ita Buttrose, the outgoing chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, and the outgoing managing director, David Anderson.
Lattouf was taken off air three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023 after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war, which the ABC said was a breach of editorial policy.
The Fair Work Commission found Lattouf was sacked, paving the way for the journalist to pursue an unlawful termination case.
The ABC had argued at the commission that Lattouf was not sacked because she was paid for the full five days of her contract.
Mediation between the two parties held late last year failed.
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Labor and Coalition blame each other for continuing slump in school attendance
The federal education minister says the former Coalition government is to blame for falling school attendance, with new data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) showing rates are still languishing at pandemic lows.
The data, released yesterday, found school attendance rates from Years 1-10 were 88.3% in 2024, down slightly from 88.6% in 2023 and sitting well below 91.4% in 2019.
The percentage of students with above 90% attendance was 59.8% in 2024, down from 61.6% in 2023.
Jason Clare said the poor trend was a result of the previous government’s national school reform agreement, which “didn’t contain the necessary reforms or targets”.
School attendance began trending down under the Liberal party from 2015. The Liberal party was happy to hand over a blank cheque, I’m not. That’s why the reforms and targets included in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement are so important. Four jurisdictions have signed on to this agreement which includes a target to increase the student attendance rate to pre-pandemic levels. The government is continuing to work with other jurisdictions.
The shadow education minister, Sarah Henderson, said Labor had “failed to implement meaningful reforms to lift attendance”.
While the government has adopted the Coalition’s call for explicit instruction and other evidence-based teaching methods, Jason Clare has failed to detail how teachers will be sufficiently supported in the classroom, ignoring … recommendations for a national behaviour curriculum.
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Sydney’s cult hero “Putricia” yet to begin blooming
Although she was expected to begin blooming days ago, Sydney’s resident corpse flower, “Putricia”, is keeping us on our toes.
The corpse flower at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden has become a cult hero in the capital city – and for people around the world, thanks to a YouTube livestream with a very active chat, and thousands of people routinely watching at any given moment.
Sydneysiders are able to line up each day and catch a glimpse of the amorphophallus titanum plant for themselves, from 8am to 6pm each day until the bloom ends.
You can read all about the phenomenon below, thanks to Rafqa Touma:
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Experts named for national council on university governance
The CEO of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Melinda Cilento, will chair the federal government’s expert council on university governance, tasked with cracking down on hefty executive pay packets and corporatisation in the sector.
Education ministers have today announced their government-nominated representatives on the council, which will make recommendations to the government on university governance and campus safety.
The council was a key recommendation of the federal government commissioned universities accord, which found entrenched noncompliance with staff payments and a failure by management in their responsibilities as employers.
Also appointed was trade unionist, human rights and climate action advocate Sharan Burrow AC and mergers and acquisitions lawyer Bruce Cowley.
University Chancellors Council, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Governance Institute of Australia, the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, the Law Council of Australia, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and Universities Australia will also have representatives on the council.
The education minister, Jason Clare, said the National Tertiary Education Union and National Union of Students would nominate an expert to act as a bridge between the council and the wider community, playing a “strong and active role”.
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Lehrmann seeking judge-only trial in Toowoomba
Bruce Lehrmann will seek a judge-only trial as he seeks to defend himself against two charges of rape, a Toowoomba court has heard.
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More on police investigation into alleged Newtown assault
Police are seeking to identify the three unknown men – the first described as being of Māori/Pacific Islander appearance and around 20-30 years old, with short curly black hair, wearing a white T-shirt, and dark blue jeans.
The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 20-30 years old and wearing a tan colour vest, tan colour cargo pants and black sneakers.
The third man is described as being of Māori/Pacific Islander appearance, around 20-30 years old with long brown curly hair, long sleeve black strip flannelette shirt, grey track pants and black slides.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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Police investigating after off-duty officers attacked in Sydney's inner west
NSW police are investigating a serious assault in Sydney’s inner west overnight, that left an off-duty police officer unconscious.
Police responded to a brawl on Enmore Road in Newtown just after 11pm last night and found the 25-year-old man unconscious on the roadway.
An off-duty nurse performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital, police said, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Police were told the injured man and a second man, both off-duty NSW police officers, had been walking along Enmore Road when they approached three unknown men arguing with each other. Police alleged in a statement:
The two off-duty officers were assaulted with one of them knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked to the head. The three men ran from the scene prior to police arrival.
The second man, also aged 25, suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, but has been discharged. Police have established a crime scene and are conducting an investigation.
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WA police investigating after cars allegedly stolen with infants inside
Western Australian police are investigating after an unknown man allegedly stole two vehicles which had infants inside.
Police allege that about 3.50pm yesterday, the man approached and stole a white Kia Sorento sedan on the Great Eastern Highway in West Kalgoorlie. Two infants were inside at the time, but were located safe and well by police shortly afterwards.
Police alleged the man also stole an orange Kia Sportage in Somerville about 4.05pm, and one child was inside the car. Shortly after, the child was located safe and well by police.
Both vehicles have been recovered but the man remains outstanding, police said, urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
The man is described as being around 160cm tall, of slim build and dark complexion, wearing black track suit pants, a black hoodie, and carrying a white clutch bag.
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Severe thunderstorms temporarily ease around Gold Coast, but could redevelop
Severe thunderstorms around the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim in Queensland have temporarily eased – but the Bureau of Meteorology says they could redevelop.
The situation is being closely monitored and further detailed warnings will be issued as necessary.
A 93km/h wind gust was observed at Gold Coast airport at 8.52am, the Bureau said.
⚠️⛈️ UPDATED Severe Thunderstorm Warning for people in parts of Gold Coast and Scenic Rim Council Areas.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 22, 2025
DAMAGING WINDS possible. Forecast to affect Coolangatta and waters off Tweed Heads by 9:15 am
Details: https://t.co/vYLHCna3or pic.twitter.com/caTMgbWIkT
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Catley says police will be out in Sydney amid Australia Day protests and rallies
Taking questions, Yasmin Catley weighed in on the rallies and protests scheduled for Australia Day weekend in Sydney.
She said NSW police already had arrangements in place, and any events would be “policed properly”.
What we say is, you can protest in this city, but you must protest within the framework of the law, and you must do it safely and peacefully, and that is what the police expect. If you don’t, expect to be arrested.
Sydney’s Invasion Day rally and march will begin from 10am at Belmore Park in Haymarket.
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NSW police minister urges road safety ahead of Australia Day weekend
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, is speaking to reporters in Sydney ahead of the Australia Day weekend.
She urged people to stay safe on the roads, because “the roads will be absolutely packed”.
We’re expecting people out in large numbers. Remember those safety messages – do not speed, wear a seat belt, do not drive distracted. If you are thinking about using your mobile phone, put it in the boot.
We see so many accidents because people are distracted. Do not, under any circumstances, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you do, police will be out, they will be out patrolling, and you will be caught, and you are likely to lose your license. And please make sure, if you are fatigued, take a rest.
Humanitarian organisations call for $50m funding to help Gaza
Twenty-five of Australia’s humanitarian organisations have penned an open letter urging the federal government to take further action to address the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
The organisations – including the Australian Council for International Development (Acfid), Save the Children, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Caritas and Oxfam – are calling for an initial surge of $50m in humanitarian assistance, amid the temporary ceasefire.
The statement said the delivery of essential assistance on the ground is “urgently needed to address a widespread electricity, healthcare and sanitation crisis across Gaza [which] also continues to be on the brink of famine.”
Acfid’s humanitarian and public engagement lead, Naomi Brooks, said:
Australia and the international community must step up now to prevent further devastation. We remind the international community that this deal is divided into three phases. We will continue to advocate that each phase be implemented fully. We must not and will not be silent until this happens.
You can read the joint statement in full here.
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Chris Oliver-Taylor announces departure from ABC
ABC executive Chris Oliver Taylor has confirmed he will step down from his role as the ABC’s first chief content officer.
The announcement came after Guardian Australia revealed last night that Oliver-Taylor had resigned following a substantial downgrading of his job by ABC chair, Kim Williams.
Oliver-Taylor told staff in an email:
After recent discussions with the managing director and reflecting on my ongoing conversations with the ABC Board and the Chair across many months, I have decided to make a difficult decision and move on to new opportunities outside of the ABC.
With a new MD, a renewed Board and what I think is a very positive and hopeful future, the ABC is in great shape to continue its vital role as the pre-eminent public broadcaster in Australia.
There is sadness in this decision but also pride and excitement with the slate that will roll out across 2025 and in future years.
Late last year Williams moved responsibility for the ABC radio networks into a stand-alone audio division, removing part of Oliver-Taylor’s empire.
His last day at the ABC will be 28 February but his responsibilities will be taken over immediately by the head of screen content Jennifer Collins.
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Strike force established to investigate death of four-month-old baby at hospital
NSW police have established a strike force to investigate the death of a baby in a central north hospital earlier this week.
On Tuesday, officers were notified of an injured four-month-old boy at Gunnedah hospital. He was transferred to the John Hunter hospital, where he passed away later that evening.
The local police district, along with the state crime command’s homicide squad and child abuse squad, established Strike Force Monier to investigate the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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Hundreds of calls to NSW SES after damaging winds lash coast
The NSW State Emergency Service received 340 calls for assistance overnight, as strong winds lashed Sydney, the Illawarra and Hunter regions.
A spokesperson said most calls related to fallen trees and leaking roofs, with the busiest units being Sutherland (25 jobs), Gosford (15), Ku-Ring-Gai (13), Bankstown and Maitland (both 12).
Yesterday, the SES warned of a vigorous southerly wind change along the south coast, that was moving northwards rapidly – reaching Sydney in the middle of the afternoon, and Newcastle by early evening.
Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts of more than 90km/h were forecast.
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S&P warns against spiralling state government debts
Ratings agency S&P says state governments are racking up larger budget deficits as spending on public services, election sweeteners, interest repayments and infrastructure costs increase.
Every rated Australian state reported a larger cash deficit last financial year, according to the agency. S&P analyst Martin Foo said:
Tight election races in some states have seen ministers of all political complexions – perhaps wary of the global wave of anti-incumbent sentiment – put budget discipline on the backburner.
We believe the quality of financial management is fading. Most states pledge to stabilise debt, but only at some vague point in the future.
State governments around the country are grappling with increased budgetary demands due to a cost-of-living crisis and increasing population. At the same time, there are demands for spending restraint to help avoid triggering another surge in inflation.
As budget debts rise, state governments must also spend more in interest repayments. S&P says resource-rich Western Australia has more “fiscal leeway” than other states as it benefits from elevated global commodity prices.
The agency projects gross debt across Australia’s eastern states will triple from 2019 levels to reach $785bn by 2027.
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Victoria police ‘extensively planning’ for rallies on Australia Day
Victoria police says it has been “extensively planning” for community events and rallies on Australia Day this weekend.
Police said they are “well prepared” for all major events, with a “highly visible presence throughout the entire CBD to ensure they can occur safely.”
An Invasion Day rally is expected to begin at Parliament House in Melbourne at 10am, and march to Flinders Street. Police said:
There will be a number of traffic management points in place across the city so we ask that people be patient, plan their journey and allow extra travel time.
A smaller, pro-Australia Day protest is planned outside Melbourne Park, and is not expected to crossover with the Invasion Day rally. Less than 10 people attended last year’s protest.
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Extra cash for green bank in renewable energy push
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation – which financially backs green projects – will receive a $2bn top-up from the federal government as it continues to separate itself from the opposition’s nuclear push.
AAP reports that federal ministers believe the extra funding should unlock $6bn of private investment and help lower household energy prices. The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said:
The world is shifting to net zero … there are big opportunities and big benefits for Australia, so long as it acts now to make the most of demand for clean energy and inputs globally.
Meanwhile, [opposition leader] Peter Dutton’s only answer to how he’d make things better is to throw this opportunity away, cancel the programs and the projects that are working to make Australia better right now, and wait 20 years to build the world’s most expensive form of power.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation invested more than $4bn in local projects in 2024 to facilitate $12bn in private investment, which the government said supported more than 4,000 jobs.
Since it was established in 2012, the corporation has invested nearly $18bn for an estimated emissions savings of more than 160m tonnes.
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Federal government takes on $50m Rex debt
The Albanese government has announced it will acquire $50m of debt from the largest funder of embattled airline Rex.
With Rex’s future still uncertain just shy of six months after it entered administration and ended its jet services between metropolitan cities, the government today announced the move which it hopes will bolster the chances the now solely-regional airline will be saved.
By acquiring the $50m of debt from Rex’s largest creditor, private equity firm PAG Asia Capital, the Australian government will become the principal secured creditor of Rex and will seek to become a voting member of the Committee of Inspection.
In a joint statement from the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, and the transport minister, Catherine King, the pair said acquiring the debt was “an important step to prevent an adverse outcome for regional communities, such as liquidation, and ensure the continued connectivity of Australia’s regional and remote communities”.
Whilst the accelerated initial sale process undertaken by the Administrators in mid-2024 did not find a suitable buyer for the airlines’ regional operations, the Government continues to work closely with the Administrators through the extended convening period.
After it grounded its 737 jet operations and entered administration at the end of July, administrators have since revealed the carrier had been weighed down with $500m in debt.
PAG Asia Capital had provided $150m for Rex’s short-lived expansion into jet operations between major cities, with the private equity firm also providing further funding since the airline entered administration to continue its core regional turboprop services. The federal government has also provided a commercial loan of up to $80m to ensure Rex’s regional services continued throughout administration.
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Rubio declares strong support for Aukus, quelling uncertainty over deal’s future
Continuing from our last post: The Greens’ announcement came after the foreign minister, Penny Wong, discussed the Aukus agreement during her first meeting with new the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in Washington.
Any uncertainty about the fate of Aukus under the second Trump presidency has largely subsided, with Rubio declaring his strong support for the deal during his Senate confirmation hearings.
Speaking after the meeting, Wong said she had a “very positive discussion” about Aukus with her new US counterpart:
I think it’s been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around Aukus, which is why the government is so committed to it.
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Abandoning Aukus would save $73bn this decade: Greens
Abandoning the Aukus pact would free up $73bn in the federal budget over the next 10 years, according to costings the Greens will use to pressure Labor redirect funds from nuclear-powered submarines to cost-of-living relief.
The Greens will today announce a policy to pull Australia out of the trilateral security pact and renegotiate the Australia, New Zealand and United States (Anzus) treaty.
The Albanese government and the Coalition are firmly behind Aukus, meaning there is no realistic prospect of Australia withdrawing from the deal. The federal government plans to acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines under the agreement, at a cost of up to $368bn through to the mid-2050s.
Parliamentary Budget Office costings, commissioned by the Greens, showed that abandoning the deal would save the budget $73.4bn this decade.
The Greens’ foreign affairs spokesperson, Jordon Steele-John, said that money could be used to fund cost-of-living relief, including adding dental and mental health to Medicare.
The Australian community are calling out for immediate cost of living relief, meanwhile, this Labor government seems intent on nuclear submarines.
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Swastikas graffitied on billboard advertisement for Nationals candidate in NSW central west
The federal Nationals candidate for Calare, Sam Farraway, has shared an image to social media showing swastikas drawn on a billboard promoting his candidacy in Orange.
Farraway wrote in a post to Facebook he hoped those responsible would “cop the full force of the law”.
Far right extremism and neo-Nazism has no place in our country.
Disappointing to find it in our backyard in the central west, a region that is home to many people, races and cultures which is what makes it such a great place to live and work.
Police confirmed they were investigating the incident, which was located on billboards at Orange about 11am on Tuesday.
NSW police said it “takes hate crimes seriously” and encourages anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.
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Thorpe says Australia can look at US as example of addressing PFAS contamination
Asked on ABC RN why the level of PFAS chemicals in drinking water in Australia is up to 400 times the level allowed in the United States, Lidia Thorpe said this is the question the Senate inquiry is asking.
We need to look at the US, talk to the US about their remediation and about their levels of PFAS in their water, and do what they do, because there is no acceptable level of PFAS in our drinking water. We should not be drinking poisonous water, and governments need to be honest about the situation to the community to keep people safe.
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Thorpe outlines impacts of PFAS contamination on Wreck Bay community
Senator Lidia Thorpe spoke with ABC RN earlier this morning amid the Senate inquiry into PFAS contamination, which she is chairing.
She spoke about the community of Wreck Bay in the Jervis Bay Territory, and how PFAS contamination in the community has affected locals:
Most members of that community have some type of illness related to PFAS, or they’ve lost family members to PFAS. We’re talking about children with rare cancers, we’re talking about eye cancers, we’re talking about breast cancers, and the community is completely devastated.
Whilst I was there, I watched a snake slowly die on the beach because the beach is so contaminated with the poisonous chemicals that it’s leaching into rivers, creeks, the ocean, and it’s poisoning people.
Thorpe called on the government to erect signage, letting people know the water is contaminated and the risks associated with swimming in it, or drinking it.
We have elders in this community buying bottled water out of their aged care packages …
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Palaszczuk says Brisbane Olympics has become ‘political football’ since she left office
Annastacia Palaszczuk said that “time is running out” to get everything in order for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Under the former plans that we put in place, it would have been completed by 2030. Now we’re going to be pushed right up to the line until 2032.
Asked if she thinks it is going to be a “stuff up”, the former premier said she thinks “everybody will get their act in order” – but “it’s going to need everybody sitting down around that table”.
If you go back to it, Scott Morrison and I, we agreed on who was going to be on the Olympic committee. We agreed on the funding. We secured the funding. And now it’s just become this political football.
She raised the Paris Olympics and how organisers incorporated the Seine into their opening ceremony, and said “we want to have that sort of legacy for Queensland”.
We all enjoyed the Sydney Olympics in 2000. We want Brisbane, Queensland 2032 to have such a big impact. But the time for fighting is over. I think everyone’s got to sit around a table and this has got to be sorted out.
You know, a lot of people may not have liked my plan, but people know that when I stood for something, I stood by it. I backed it in. I stared others down and I got on with the job. And at the moment, I’m not seeing that at all.
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‘When I left, we had a plan’ – Palaszczuk 'absolutely shocked' at state of 2032 Olympics preparations
The former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke with the Today Show earlier about the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games – asked how it has become “such a hot mess”.
Palaszczuk deferred to the current government and said that “when I left, we had a plan”.
We were sticking to the plan and the tenders would have been out now for the Gabba, and the planning and construction would have been [under way] …
The former premier said she was “absolutely shocked at the state of this” and that “everything’s getting unpicked”.
I often describe it as like, if you’re knitting a sweater and someone pulls a bit of wool, it’s all going to come untangled and everyone is pulling bits of wool off this sweater. And, you know, if I was at the IOC at the moment, I would be saying, ‘what is going on Brisbane?’
This is not just a Brisbane or Queensland games, this is an Australian games and everyone needs to pull together … There was a plan, there was a new norm, we had 80% of our stadiums and frankly, I’m pretty annoyed about how it’s turned out. It actually makes me quite sad as well. Something that I was so pleased with when we secured it for Brisbane and Queensland and Australia, an inclusive games, and now the athletes have been forgotten and it’s become this huge fight over stadiums, for goodness sake.
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Brandis holds up Chris Minns as example of showing leadership on antisemitism
Like Peter Dutton did yesterday, George Brandis has held up the NSW Labor premier, Chris Minns, as an example of how to respond to antisemitism, while criticising the Labor prime minister.
He accused Anthony Albanese of making “the situation worse” by having “been so behind on the issue”.
Frankly, the prime minister has not shown the character of national leadership on the issue of antisemitism that he should have shown. As an example, that Mr Minns in NSW has shown, and certainly that Mr Dutton and others in the opposition like Julian Leeser and Senator [James] Paterson and former politicians too, like Josh Frydenberg, have shown. Where was the national leadership in what has become a crisis in this country?
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Brandis says there is a ‘clear distinction’ between offensive and intimidatory speech
George Brandis was asked if it would be OK for someone in public to see a person of Jewish or Islamic faith and say something offensive to them about that faith?
He responded that it “all depends on the context”, but his point is there is a “clear distinction” between conduct that is intimidatory and conduct that is “merely offensive”.
For example, I’m sure a lot of Jewish people have been affected by some of the things said about Israel by members of the Islamic community in protest marches criticising [Israel’s attacks]. Now, that shouldn’t mean that those members of the Islamic community are prohibited from criticising Israel …
[What they’re not entitled to do is] intimidate, to cause fear, to cause them to be concerned about their own safety … that crosses a line and in reforming the law, both federal and state, it’s important to get that line right.
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Brandis defends 2014 'right to be bigots' comments amid NSW hate speech debate
George Brandis was asked about his infamous comments from 2014 amid a debate on the Racial Discrimination Act, with the host asking:
During a debate on the Racial Discrimination Act back in 2014 you famously said that ‘people do have a right to be bigots’, and that in a free country, people do have rights to say things that other people find offensive or insulting or bigoted. Do you still believe that to be the case?
Brandis responded:
I do believe that to be the case, because that merely describes a set of social attitudes and let me hasten to add, in saying that, I didn’t for a moment approve of that. It was merely an observation about the state of Australian law and what goes into being a free society …
We’re talking about threats of violence against Jewish people. We’re talking about the intimidation of Jewish people. We’re talking about causing fear among an important section of our population. And none of those social pathologies can be justified on the basis of freedom of speech.
Here is our article from 2014 on those comments he made:
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George Brandis on NSW hate speech law changes – ‘where do you draw the line?’
Former Liberal attorney general George Brandis has weighed in on the legislation changes flagged in New South Wales to respond to the recent spate of antisemitic attacks.
Speaking on ABC RN, he said the question was whether the current hate speech legislation is sufficient to deal with it – “and I think plainly it’s not … because the sanctions are not sufficient.”
I know, in NSW in particular, the Law Reform Commission has been looking at the NSW Crimes Act, particularly section 93Z which deals with this issue. Now, that is the section that criminalises [incitement] to violence on the basis of political or religious grounds, but there is a view – this is the view, evidently taken by the premier – that that needs to go further.
And the question, as always with law reform, is where you draw the line? How much further do you go?
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Chalmers defends government response to antisemitism
Jim Chalmers also defended Labor’s response to antisemitism while speaking on the Today Show.
The treasurer said the government has been trying to respond “in a way that brings people together rather than makes these divisions in our community”.
Host Karl Stefanovic said some of the measures announced this week, could have happened months ago. Chalmers said “we have been acting for some months now”.
[The measures this week] were additional measures. They were on top of some of the steps that we’ve already taken, the resources that we have been pouring into this challenge. And that’s because antisemitism is a disgrace. It is abhorrent.
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Chalmers continues breakfast TV rounds to defend Labor’s position in polls
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has been making the rounds on breakfast programs this morning – also appearing on Sunrise.
Asked if he is concerned Australians aren’t confident in Labor’s leadership, Chalmers again defended the party’s position in the polls and said:
There are a couple of opinion polls out this week, they said very different things about some of these sorts of questions. But frankly, we don’t need opinion polls to tell us that people are feeling very real and genuine pressure in their household budgets …
We know that people are still under that pressure, even though we’re making quite remarkable progress together as Australians when it comes to the economy overall. Inflation is down. Wages are up. Unemployment is low. So we’re making that progress, but it doesn’t always translate into how people are feeling and faring in the economy.
Here is the latest Guardian Essential poll, from earlier in the week:
Pro-Palestine protests should continue, McCarthy says: ‘they are part of our democratic way’
Asked about the future of the weekly pro-Palestinian protests across Australia, Malarndirri McCarthy said as long as they are respectful and peaceful, “they are part of our democratic way”.
It’s interesting, isn’t it? I mean, we are a democracy. Whatever the rally or protest is, we enable that. We allow that so long as it’s peaceful and respectful.
Police across every jurisdiction in the country know they have to be prepared. Rally organisers, whoever they may be, also know they need to consult to be able to have access to those streets. Come on, let’s be mindful that these rallies, so long as they are held in a respectful manner, in a peaceful manner, they are part of our democratic way.
She also denied the government had been slow to crack down on antisemitism – pointing to a number of measures Labor had legislated – and said host Karl Stefanovic was “only repeating what the Coalition is asking”.
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Malarndirri McCarthy says only poll that counts is election day, referencing 2019 election loss
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, spoke with the Today Show earlier – where she also fielded questions on the government’s measures to combat cost-of-living pressures ahead of this year’s election.
McCarthy said “I know it’s going to be tough” when asked about inflation, but said “Australians can see we are doing everything we can to bring it down”.
Host Karl Stefanovic said “I just don’t think they believe you”. McCarthy said the only poll that counts is the one on election day:
I think when I look at the polls, Karl – and I think I’ve talked to you about this over the years, you know, when we went into the 2019 election – every poll said we were going to win. The reality is, you have to work every single day right up – and the only poll that does really count, and I believe that especially after that loss, is the one on election day.
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Treasurer says Coalition tax-deductible staff lunches policy ‘a complete farce’
Jim Chalmers was asked to respond to the Coalition’s policy, allowing small businesses to have tax-deductible staff lunches, and whether this is good use of taxpayer money at the moment?
The treasurer responded, “of course not”. He described the policy as “a complete farce” and said:
After three years of opposition, this is the best they can come up with when it comes to economic policy … Peter Dutton and [the shadow treasurer] Angus Taylor want to provide taxpayer-funded long lunches and golf days for bosses, and I think that speaks to the difference between the two parties and the choice at the election.
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Chalmers confident in ability to navigate US policy changes with new administration
Jim Chalmers was also asked if he would push back against the US leaving the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization, when meeting his counterparts?
He said Australia’s American counterparts “understand the position that we take” and “that position is well known.”
We play an active role in the international community in multinational forums to advance these sorts of issues.
The treasurer said he wasn’t going to “engage in a sort of running commentary of the decisions that the new American administration takes”.
We expect changes in policy from this change in administration, we’re confident in our ability to navigate those changes. We’re well placed and prepared to work closely with the Americans because the partnership that we have is close.
Chalmers said Australia had done a lot of work to be “well placed and well prepared” to respond to the tariffs placed on Canada, Mexico, and potentially China – which could have flow-on effects to Australia.
We did a lot of work before the election on these sorts of scenarios. But again, you know, we’re confident in our ability to navigate these sorts of policy changes.
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Chalmers expects tight election, acknowledges ‘genuine pressure’ Australians are under
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, just discussed the government’s economic record while on ABC News Breakfast. He said it had been a year since Labor scrapped the stage-three tax cuts and that without this, “Australians would be much worse off”.
He was asked about the next budget, scheduled for March, and the fact opinion polls are not in Labor’s favour right now – could this be because the government hasn’t done enough on the cost of living?
Chalmers said the “whole government is completely focused on cost of living.”
It beggars belief that our opponents are focused on picking culture wars about all kinds of issues. The government, the Albanese government, the Labor government, has been very focused on the cost of living throughout. That’s why we have made substantial progress on inflation.
So why do you think the opinion poll trend is not your friend at the moment?
Chalmers said the polls reflect the “genuine pressures that people are under” and that when it comes to the “economy in aggregate”, progress “doesn’t always immediately translate to how people are feeling and faring in the economy and there’s a political element to that.”
Every election is tight in Australia. We expect this one to be very tight and you see that reflected in the polls.
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Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off. I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.
See something that needs attention? You can always can in touch via email – emily.wind@theguardian.com – with any tips, feedback or questions.
Let’s go.
Cybersecurity expert says ads for criminal behaviour on dark web ‘marketplace’
Alastair MacGibbon told AAP that once agencies knew where to look, tracking down culprits could be straightforward:
Can you get into those things though? Yes. Once you’re in and you’re watching these conversations and seeing these ads on these various forums, it can be easy.
As chief strategy officer at CyberCX, MacGibbon said he came across advertisements for criminal behaviours on the dark web “marketplace”.
We see people advertising for login credentials – even child sexual abuse for cash. So why couldn’t it be people interested in finding people who want to commit an act of violence for cash?
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Speculation over dark web role in antisemitic attacks
Foreign actors suspected of paying Australians to commit antisemitic acts for money could be lurking on the dark web and difficult to bring to justice, experts say.
Authorities are investigating whether overseas actors or individuals paid local criminals to carry out crimes including attacks on synagogues, the Australian federal police commissioner, Reece Kershaw, has revealed.
Cybersecurity expert Alastair MacGibbon told AAP it was no surprise the internet could be a breeding ground for criminals but catching perpetrators was complex, particularly if they were hiding out on the dark web. The former head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre said:
It is unfathomably big and dark out there … the equivalent of shining a torch in pitch blackness.
Payments were often made in cryptocurrency and conversations took place on encrypted platforms, making the job difficult for detectives. MacGibbon said:
If you and I could establish a place to communicate on the internet that only you and I know about, how does the third party then go and discover where those people are holding their illicit conversation and communication?
Read our explainer on what we know about the AFP investigation so far:
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US tennis star ‘shocked’ at Nine’s Australian Open coverage
As mentioned in the intro, the American tennis player Ben Shelton has had a pop at Channel Nine’s Australian Open coverage.
He was at the end of a press conference after beating the Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) when he opened up on the broadcaster for being disrespectful:
I’ve been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters. I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak [Djokovic], I don’t think that was just a single event. I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself.
There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, ‘Hey, [Gael] Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad’.
Here’s our report on his match and his comments.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the stories making headlines this morning and then Emily Wind will take charge.
The independent MPs David Pocock and Kate Chaney have urged the government to act immediately on deepfakes and disinformation, writing to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the special minister of state, Don Farrell, to call for “truth in political advertising” reform. The letter, seen by the Guardian, criticises Labor for excluding the crossbench on negotiations to cap political donations. That bill was being negotiated between Labor and the Coalition but was pulled by the government in the final sitting days of 2024.
Could overseas actors really be paying local criminals to carry out antisemitic attacks in Australia? The AFP certainly thinks it’s a possibility and an expert on cybersecurity has said the overseas actors could be lurking on the dark web to make contact with criminals. More coming up.
Alex de Minaur’s crushing defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner has killed home interest in the Australian Open but it’s the performance of the nation’s lead broadcaster, Channel Nine, that will be the focus of scrutiny now. Following on from Novak Djokovic’s spray at Tony Jones, the American Ben Shelton joined in the criticism of Nine’s tennis coverage in a news conference rant after his quarter-final win that accused the broadcaster of being “disrespectful” and “negative”. More coming up.
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