What we learned: Monday 27 May
And that’s where we’ll leave you this Monday evening. Here’s a summary of what we learned today:
Human rights groups are urging the Albanese government to denounce the opposition leader’s criticism of the international criminal court and warnings Australia could withdraw from an international treaty against genocide and war crimes.
Palestinian officials have asked for Australia’s help in “building vibrant democratic institutions” and fighting corruption, as part of talks aimed at meeting the Albanese government’s conditions for recognising Palestine as a state.
WA premier Roger Cook has said the state will pass “toughest gun laws in Australia” after a shooting in Perth over the weekend in which a mother and daughter were killed.
Administrators for grounded budget carrier Bonza have been given a two-month window to try to sell the airline.
Optus has lost an appeal to keep secret a Deloitte report into the 2022 cyber-attack on the company .
The federal court has given Network Ten, Lisa Wilkinson and Bruce Lehrmann another three weeks to sort out a costs deal in an attempt to save spending more on a court-appointed referee.
Students at the pro-Palestine encampment at the Australian National University have been told to relocate by 12pm tomorrow or risk “further action from ACT police”.
Victorian police detectives are appealing for public assistance after Melbourne’s biggest Jewish school was vandalised with antisemitic graffiti last week.
A memorial to Major Mitchell in Castlemaine, central Victoria, has been defaced, with a sign stating “we don’t commemorate other mass murderers in Victoria”.
Regional property prices have soared to record highs as Australia’s housing crisis continues.
A 41-year-old man and 12-year-old girl have died after a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney’s west overnight.
A man has died after being pulled from the surf on the NSW south coast.
We’ll be back again bright and early tomorrow with all the day’s news, live.
Thanks so much for your company.
Updated
‘Like a moving stage’: Brisbane commuters surprised by impromptu ‘train rave’
Commuters on a Sunday evening train were surprised when the Brisbane suburban service was transformed into an ad hoc rave by a local DJ.
Kyel 925, from NO. ONE NETWORK and Liquid Steele Sessions, said the group had been heading from a gig with a media trolley on the Shorncliffe line from Fortitude Valley at about 6.30pm when they had the idea.
They picked an empty carriage, to avoid annoying people who didn’t want to be involved, set up a portable speaker and laptop and started playing some tunes.
Read more about it here:
Updated
Australian leaders offer condolences to PNG in wake of landslide that has buried thousands of people
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, and the Australian high commissioner to PNG, John Feakes, have all offered Australia’s condolences to PNG’s government after the devastated landslide which has buried an estimated 2,000 people.
Richard Marles said earlier today Australia was assisting on the ground and stood ready to respond in any way PNG deemed necessary after the landslide in the north of the country, which has affected at least six villages at Multika in Porgera-Paiela District in Enga Province.
A spokesperson for Dfat said Australian defence force personnel were on site on 26 May to make assessments at the landslide area, using assets already in the country.
The spokesperson said:
Australia’s High Commission in Port Moresby is in close contact with PNG authorities, UN agencies and NGOs, for further assessments of needs on the ground. Australia stands ready to respond to requests from the PNG Government and these agencies.
There’s more on the disaster here:
Updated
Student protesters vow to remain at ANU encampment and call for snap rally
Student protesters at the Australian National University have vowed to remain on camp until tomorrow, defying requests from university management to disband by 12pm.
In a statement published on social media, Students for Palestine Canberra called on supporters to return to the campus at 10.30am Tuesday for a snap protest to reinforce the encampment.
On Monday morning, ANU management issued the encampment with an “immediate and non-negotiable” order to vacate, threatening to call in the Australian federal police if they didn’t comply.
In response, about 100 people showed up to form a barricade around the camp, and management delayed the deadline for students to pack up camp.
The statement from the students said:
The police have issued a move on order which comes into effect at 12pm tomorrow … please come down and spread the word. We continue to demand that ANU disclose and divest.
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Federal aged care minister echoes Covid-19 concern
The federal aged care minister, Anika Wells, has echoed the caution from the chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, about Covid among elderly people, saying “it’s never been more important to get vaccinated for Covid-19”.
In a statement, Wells said:
We know there is fatigue across the community when it comes to Covid-19 and vaccination, but Covid-19 is still a very real risk for older people and we must do all we can to protect them.
Whether you live in aged care, work in aged care, or visiting a loved one in aged care, now is the time to get vaccinated. The benefits are undeniable – the vaccines are free, safe and effective and will protect you, and those around you, from serious illness.
Wells said the government was “strongly recommending people aged 75 and over to get a Covid-19 vaccine every six months”:
If you’re 65 and over, or you’re severely immunocompromised, you should also consider getting a Covid-19 vaccine every six months.
Not only is it free to get vaccinated, it’s also easy. You can book an appointment with your GP, pharmacist, community health centre or Aboriginal health service.
If you live in aged care, all you need to do is ask a staff member at your home to arrange for a pharmacist to come and vaccinate you from the comfort of your aged care home.
Updated
Chief medical officer worried about aged care Covid vaccination rates
The federal chief medical officer has raised alarm at “disappointingly low” Covid vaccination rates in aged care, urging residential providers to protect their residents against a coming winter wave as infection rates spike in nursing homes.
Prof Paul Kelly has written to the board chairs of residential aged care providers. In the letter, shared by the Department of Health today, Kelly raises concern about “the rise in Covid-19 and influenza cases in aged care”.
He writes:
As we enter the 2024 winter period, it is imperative that your aged care services remain alert and take action to protect older people (and your staff).
Vaccination remains the best line of defence in reducing the risk of serious illness and death of aged care residents for both Covid-19 and influenza. However vaccination rates in residential aged care remain disappointingly low.
Federal health department statistics show, as of last Friday, 3,687 active Covid-19 cases were reported in 416 active outbreaks in residential aged care homes nationwide – an increase of 47 outbreaks, 37 deaths and 3,572 new cases from the week before.
As of 8 May, only 43.2% of residents nationwide had received a Covid booster dose in the previous six months. Flu vaccines reduced hospitalisation risk by 68%, and Covid vaccines reduced hospitalisation by up to 77%, Kelly wrote:
Covid-19 vaccinations are free and recommended every 12 months for people aged 65 and over and every 6 months for people aged 75 and over and adults who are severely immunocompromised.
Kelly added that current Australian Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation guidelines had removed the requirement to wait for six months after a Covid-19 illness to get a booster:
The influenza vaccines are free under the National Immunisation Program for people aged 65 years or over. Atagi guidelines allow both vaccines to be administered on the same day.
Updated
Defence minister says Australia ready to assist PNG after disastrous landslide
A little earlier today, the defence minister, Richard Marles, again spoke about the natural disaster that looks to have caused the death of thousands of people in the Enga province of Papua New Guinea.
A landslide has caused absolute devastation in a remote village in the country’s north.
Marles said Australia stood ready to assist, if called upon by the PNG government:
Our heart goes out to the people of Papua New Guinea and those in Enga province in the highlands, who have just experienced the most appalling disaster. We are very anxious about the numbers around the death toll which continue to rise.
From the moment this occurred on Friday, we’ve reached out to the Papua New Guinean government, offering our assistance in whatever we can do, but also specifically talking about what kind of assistance we might be able to provide, we have actually provided assistance in getting officials from their disaster response centre to the place of the incident over the course of the weekend. And we’ll continue to work very closely with the Papua New Guinean government about how best we can provide assistance over the coming days.
Marles said Australia had people on the ground through the existing defence cooperation program, and if PNG asked for more assistance, it would be provided:
PNG is a close neighbour, is a country with whom we have the closest of relationships, and we have offered whatever support we can provide in terms of dealing with this disaster, and will continue to work with the Papua New Guinean officials as to how best that can be done.
Updated
ANU says university working with police to ensure ‘safe removal of people’ from protest encampment
As we noted earlier, student protesters at the Australian National University (ANU) have until 12pm tomorrow to disband their encampment or risk disciplinary action and arrest, as university management ramps up its response to the ongoing occupation.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for ANU said it was working with ACT policing to ensure the “safe removal of people” from the current encampment.
The spokesperson said:
The encampment participants have asked for additional time to vacate the Kambri lawn. Participants have until 12pm AEST tomorrow, Tuesday 28 May 2024, to leave the encampment to ensure the safe clearing of the encampment.
The University’s expects encampment participants to follow directions from police. Police directions are enforceable under law. Failure to comply with a reasonable direction from ANU, or police, could lead to potential disciplinary action under the University’s code of conduct.
The spokesperson said the university’s initial direction was about safety for the community, adding “no one has been told not to protest”:
The university has proposed alternative sites for protest.
Updated
Human rights groups urge Albanese to denounce Dutton's criticism of ICC
Human rights groups are urging the Albanese government to denounce the opposition leader’s criticism of the ICC and warnings Australia could withdraw from an international treaty against genocide and war crimes.
In a letter sent on Monday, the Australian Centre for International Justice, Human Rights Law Centre and Amnesty International said Peter Dutton’s threats “undermine Australia’s commitment to international law and promote a culture of impunity”.
Following the ICC chief prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants against the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his defence minister, along with three Hamas leaders, Dutton called on Anthony Albanese to “put pressure on the ICC to make sure that they reverse this terrible decision”:
Then I think the next steps in relation to what you would take beyond that – I’m very open to [cutting ties with the international criminal court]. I don’t rule it out.
The letter, addressed to Albanese, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, and the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, cautions any threats to pressure the ICC could violate laws.
The letter said:
Acting upon such threats impedes accountability and could violate laws established to safeguard against the interference and obstruction of the court’s administration of justice. We call on you to condemn such remarks in the strongest terms. Only two states have previously withdrawn from the Rome Statute, leading to a discernible setback in efforts to combat impunity worldwide and advance universal ratification. Mr Dutton’s suggestion of such withdrawal by Australia undermines Australia’s reputation and standing on the global stage as an advocate for the rule of law and international justice.
Updated
Perpetrator was known to police but domestic violence-related matters not reported, minister says
Papalia said Friday’s perpetrator was known to police due to his ex-wife approaching them for assistance on 31 March, as she was intending to leave him the next day following “a series of domestic violence-related matters”. Those matters, however, had not been reported to police.
Papalia said the objective of the laws is not to remove all firearms from the community, but to make the community safer:
We’re not going to the point of removing all firearms from the community. What we are absolutely focused on, and unashamedly, we’re focused on reducing the number of guns in the community that will make people safer.
Updated
WA police minister says laws that enabled shooter’s firearms licences are ‘inadequate’
The premier has passed the mic to the WA minister for police, Paul Papalia. He notes what he says are some facts about the incident on the weekend.
Papalia says:
Firstly, the murderer was a licensed firearm owner with no prior convictions. He legally held 11 firearms on a recreational shooters’ licence. He owned two handguns on a collector’s licence and he was also authorised to collect ammunition under an ammunition collectors licence.
The current laws that enabled these licences are inadequate.
Under WA’s proposed laws, the possession of a firearm would be conditional on public safety, Papalia says. The government also plans to eliminate recreational firearm licences, and impose numerical limits to only allow possession of five firearms.
The WA government is in the process of toughening its gun laws, but the incident over the weekend has prompted them to consider further tightening.
Updated
WA premier says state will pass ‘toughest gun laws in Australia’
The WA premier, Roger Cook, is speaking live now about the shooting in Perth over the weekend, in which a mother and daughter were killed.
Cook begins by acknowledging that the WA police investigation into the incident is ongoing, and notes there will be a coronial inquest.
Cook continues:
Firstly, as a community we all need to do more to tackle the root causes of family and domestic violence. This was a crime motivated by family and domestic violence. As a society, we need to do better to put a stop to family violence.
That’s why this government is investing more than $400 million towards family and domestic violence prevention and response, and we will keep looking at every option to tackle this devastating crime across our society.
And secondly, this just highlights the need to finally sort our gun laws out once and for all. There is no reason a person living in Mosman Park should be able to legally own 13 guns. It’s hard to fathom one man, 13 guns legally owned right in the suburbs of Perth.
Our firearm reforms are before the parliament right now. They will be debated in the Legislative Council tomorrow. They will be the toughest gun laws in Australia. And I’ve asked the police minister to closely review what happened on Friday to see if there’s any further changes that we can make to make these laws, even tougher.
Updated
Coalition vows to undo changes to character test for restoring visas
The Coalition has vowed to unwind changes Labor made to the character test for visa cancellations, which make it easier for non-citizens to have their visa restored if they have significant ties to the Australian community.
The Australian newspaper has been reporting on the criminal history of some non-citizens who have had their visa cancellations overturned.
The Albanese government is so far standing by ministerial direction 99, the new rules that were introduced to reflect a “commonsense” approach that those with significant ties to Australia should not be deported to countries where they lack community links.
After an agreement between Anthony Albanese and then New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, in July 2022 Andrew Giles signed off on the new rules in January 2023.
Under the new rules, the strength, nature and duration of ties to Australia are considered alongside four other “primary considerations” including protecting the community and “whether the conduct engaged in constituted family violence”.
In one case, a New Zealand-born man – referred to as CHCY – was given his visa back in March despite being found guilty of nine counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and two counts of rape in relation to his stepdaughter.
The AAT “found that CHCY’s strength, nature and duration of ties to Australia as a primary consideration, weighs in favour of revocation of his visa cancellation as he has lived here for 21 years”.
The tribunal said CHCY had “violated the expectation that he be a law-abiding citizen” and would ordinarily lose his visa, but restored it due to his “particular circumstances and those of the victim”. The government believes this indicates the fact the victim had moved to New Zealand was the decisive factor, not the new rules.
On Monday the shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan, said the Coalition “will, on day one as a priority, rescind that Andrew Giles ministerial direction, if we are elected at the next election”.
Tehan said the case of CHCY shows the ministerial direction “is clearly failing”:
The person who committed this crime … came to this country as a 16-year-old. He’s not an Australian citizen … We don’t owe him anything. He has breached trust with the Australian community. He is not a citizen and that is why he should be deported.
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said the decision was by an “independent tribunal”.
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, I’ll hand over to Stephanie Convery to guide you through the rest of today’s news. Take care.
The Bureau of Meteorology has shared a national weather update, forecasting a wet and windy front due to sweep across the country:
National Weather Update: Wet and windy front to sweep across Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) May 27, 2024
Video current: 12:30pm AEST 27 May 2024.
For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/6rSlavDRyf
Palestinian official says Australian support for statehood ‘should not be lip service’
Palestinian officials have asked for Australia’s help in “building vibrant democratic institutions” and fighting corruption, as part of talks aimed at meeting the Albanese government’s conditions for recognising Palestine as a state.
Ireland, Spain and Norway are due to formally recognise Palestine tomorrow, and while the Australian government no longer sees recognition of Palestinian statehood as a step that can only be taken at the very end of a peace process, it has signalled it is unlikely to follow the three European countries in the short term.
The head of the general delegation of Palestine to Australia, Izzat Abdulhadi, said he would be prepared to meet Penny Wong to “listen to her ideas about how we can really have a more bold reform agenda”. He told Guardian Australia:
We listen to our partners … If you support the establishment of a Palestinian state, it should not be lip service. You should provide something to realise and materialise this slogan, by helping, actually on the ground, to build the Palestinian institutions.
You can read the full interview with Abdulhadi below:
And here is what Wong had to say in regards to a Palestinian state last month (more details here):
Updated
Watch: pro-Palestine encampment at the Australian National University
Here’s a video from the Australian National University’s pro-Palestine encampment, where student protesters were earlier chanting “we shall not be moved”.
We reported earlier that students had voted overwhelmingly to stay at the camp, but the university has since warned if they do not relocate by 12pm tomorrow, they could risk “further action from ACT police”.
Two-month window granted for sale of grounded airline Bonza
Administrators for grounded budget carrier Bonza have been given a two-month window to try to sell the airline, AAP reports, as thousands of creditors sweat on the outcome.
Leave was granted by the federal court today to extend the deadline to find a buyer until 29 July, after a judge was told the failed carrier’s airline licence would probably form its most valuable asset. A second creditors’ meeting will be held in that period, after an initial meeting on 15 May.
Several parties are reportedly interested in bailing out the cash-strapped airline, which went into administration with debts of about $110m.
Barrister James Hutton SC, representing administrators Hall Chadwick, told the court that keeping the company out of liquidation would likely give creditors a better outcome:
In the event that the company is put into liquidation, advances will be made that will cover some but not all of the employee entitlements.
If the company went into liquidation, employees might be entitled to retrenchment payouts but it was possible they might not be able to recoup their superannuation entitlements, the court heard.
Customers with forward bookings were treated as contingent creditors, taking the total number of creditors to 58,428. Justice Ian Jackman said customers might be able to retain bookings for future flights if the airline continued operating.
Creditors were told at their first meeting that the airline owed nearly $77m across two loans, almost $16m to trade creditors and another $10m to landlords.
Other debts include more than $5m owed in staff wages and annual leave entitlements, and $3m to government authorities such as the Australian Taxation Office.
Updated
Students at ANU pro-Palestine camp directed to relocate by 12pm tomorrow
Students at the pro-Palestine encampment at the Australian National University have been told to relocate by 12pm tomorrow or risk “further action from ACT police”.
According to a video posted by student newspaper Woroni, a pre-recorded voice message from the university was played to students, which stated:
This notice is to inform you that you are directed to vacate this area by 12pm tomorrow … Your current position is situated within the primary fire evacuation zone for the Kambri precinct.
If you wish to continue, you are to relocate to the grassed area beyond North Road in front of the engineering building. Non-compliance with this direction by 12pm tomorrow may result in further action by ACT police.
Updated
More details on the 70 social homes next to Waterloo metro station, via AAP
NSW housing minister, Rose Jackson, says the 70 social housing units will be for women fleeing domestic violence and age pensioners:
This development is emblematic of our government’s approach to building world class public transport right next to the kind of quality housing we know Sydneysiders need to live in.
Here at Waterloo, our government is leaning into the idea that transport and housing can and should work together.
It isn’t enough just to say we want density ... it’s got to be quality, it’s got to be linked to transport and there’s got to be social and affordable housing so that people can live in our increasingly unaffordable city.
Updated
NSW premier says new metro and social housing a blueprint for future Sydney
A redevelopment project in inner Sydney providing affordable housing at a major transport hub has been hailed as emblematic of state government plans to transform the city, AAP reports.
Construction of a metro station at Waterloo, about three kilometres south of the city centre, is complete and ready to welcome passengers within months when the line opens.
A nine-storey residential project next to the station includes 70 social homes in addition to extra affordable dwellings for frontline workers and privately owned accommodation.
Premier Chris Minns says more social and affordable housing integrated into existing public transport networks will bring Sydney into line with other major global cities:
That’s how great cities around the world have grown sustainably - not just building infrastructure, not just building homes, but building wonderful communities. You have to do the two things at the same time, build public transport infrastructure and put new housing on top of it.
Updated
Brisbane airport train travel could be subsidised by Queensland government
The cost of travelling to Brisbane’s domestic and international airport terminals on the privately operated train service could be subsidised by the Queensland government, AAP reports.
The state’s 50c public transport trial won’t apply on trains to and from the airport as the Brisbane Airtrain has a monopoly, following a deal signed in 1998.
However, transport minister Bart Mellish says the government has submitted an offer to Airtrain operators to lower fares during the trial. A return paper ticket from Brisbane’s Central Station to the airport costs $41.80 on the private service.
Mellish told ABC radio Brisbane:
This is a really strange contract ... that was entered into more than 20 years ago. It is a privately run service so we can’t direct them to set the fares as we can with the rest of the network.
I’ve made an offer to Airtrain, we’ve been in discussions with them for a while to reduce fares to the airport. We’re keen to work with the Airtrain operators to see what we can do to drop fares.
The government will offer to subsidise fares to and from the airport for a period of time, with discussions likely to continue in the next few weeks, he said.
Updated
NSW decision on greater gliders ‘a roadmap to extinction’, environment groups say
Environmental groups say they are losing confidence in the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) following a backflip on protection for the endangered greater glider.
According to a statement from the WWF, trees with hollows occupied by greater gliders – identified by sightings of gliders entering or leaving – are supposed to be protected by 50m exclusion zones. Gliders typically leave their hollows in the first hour after sunset, but the EPA has said only the first search of the night must start within 30 minutes of sunset.
Additionally, trees where a greater glider is seen on a branch but not entering or leaving a hollow will be protected with temporary 25m exclusion zones. The WWF says:
A 25 metre exclusion zone is not effective protection and the wording of this new rule appears to exclude acceptance of greater glider sightings by community members.
Eight environmental groups have lashed the decision of the EPA in a statement, with WWF conservation scientist Dr Kita Ashman stating:
If the purpose of the new 25m buffers is to protect gliders and their habitat it falls incredibly short. It provides 0.2 hectares of protection for a species that needs 2 to 3 hectares.
Wilderness Australia operations manager Andrew Wong labelled the decision “a roadmap to extinction for the greater glider”. Nature Conservation Council NSW CEO Jacqui Mumford said:
If the EPA continues to prioritise the timber industry over protecting threatened and endangered species, then the greater glider’s fate is sealed.
Similar conversations around the greater glider’s future are occurring in Victoria, as we reported earlier in the blog here and here.
Updated
Police appeal for witnesses after Melbourne Jewish school vandalised with antisemitic graffiti
Victorian police detectives are appealing for public assistance after Melbourne’s biggest Jewish school was vandalised with antisemitic graffiti last week.
Police said an external wall of the Burwood school was vandalised with an offensive message in block paint some time between 9pm Friday and 12pm Saturday.
No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police said investigators have been in regular contact with the school since a report was made and “understand that this incident has been extremely difficult for the school community”.
There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic sentiments or behaviour.
Police will be speaking to residents at nearby properties and canvassing local CCTV footage as part of its investigation. Any witnesses or people with information are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles was asked about the incident earlier this morning ahead of a visit to the school, and said:
I think all of us have been really confronted with the level of antisemitism that we are seeing in the last few months. It’s a level that I can’t remember in my lifetime, and it’s really important that Australians are standing with the Jewish community today.
Macnamara MP Josh Burns shared an image of the graffiti over the weekend to X, saying there is “no excuse for targeting Jewish schools, businesses or institutions”.
Updated
Australians recount ‘scary’ experience onboard flight from Doha to Dublin that hit turbulence
Earlier, we brought you news that some Australian passengers were onboard the latest flight to hit extreme turbulence, this time while flying over Turkey.
Here are some of the full interviews with passengers, recounting their experience onboard:
Updated
ANU students resist order to pack up pro-Palestine camp, saying 'We will not be moved'
Student protestors at the Australian National University’s pro-Palestine encampment are resisting orders to move on, despite the police and security presence.
Student newspaper Woroni has reported that students voted overwhelmingly to stay at the encampment, and are taking legal advice on their rights and obligations.
The students had begun to pack up their camp on ANU’s Kambri lawns, complying with directives, but held a rally around the camp and are now refusing to move out.
In a video posted to Instagram, an encampment spokesperson said:
The police have come and told us that we need to leave ... We will not be moved. We will be staying in Kambri.
Updated
Photos from the pro-Palestine encampment at Australian National University
Some new photos have been rolling in from AAP of the pro-Palestine protest at Australian National University.
As we reported earlier, campus security has directed the students to vacate and, following this directive, around 100 supporters have rallied next to the camp.
Updated
Woman charged after alleged domestic-violence stabbing
A woman has been charged over an alleged domestic violence-related stabbing in the NSW Lake Macquarie region last night.
About 11.20pm last night, police were called to a home in Wyee following reports of a domestic incident.
Officers found a 67-year-old man with head injuries and a stab wound to his torso. He was taken to John Hunter hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A crime scene was established and a short time later a 65-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Toronto police station, where she was charged with causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with the intent to murder (DV).
She was refused bail to appear before Toronto local court today.
Updated
Man dies after being pulled from surf on NSW south coast
A man has died after being pulled from the surf on the NSW south coast.
Just after 8.45am today, emergency services were called to Seven Mile beach at Shoalhaven Heads, following reports a man was unresponsive in the water.
Members of the public commenced CPR before paramedics arrived, however he was unable to be revived.
The man is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 60s.
Officers have commenced an investigation and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
Updated
‘Plenty of misinformation’ about rock-climbing in Victoria, minister says
Victorian budget estimates continue, and Steve Dimopoulos is asked by Labor MP Mathew Hilakari about rock climbing locations in the state – to which he replies there are plenty, despite “plenty of misinformation” after some closed due to their identification as traditional cultural areas. This includes Castle Crag in the Arapiles, which has been closed since 2020.
Dimopoulos says:
In the Grampians [Gariwerd] national park, there are 103 designated climbing areas ... that includes 11 bouldering areas, which is what people seek to do, three licensed tour operator designated areas are available for bookings. Fifty areas have been identified as special protection areas.
In Mount Arapiles state park, most of the 3,000 established routes are currently available for those wishing to climb. Three thousand. This notion that somehow we’re forbidding people climbing rocks in this beautiful state is just not true and not backed up by the facts.
He says it is important to pay respect to cultural heritage sites, as you would in other parts of the world.
Dimopoulos says:
When I go to the Parthenon in Athens ... I don’t seek to go behind the barriers of that and climb on the actual structure, because I respect the civilisation that represents, its international cultural heritage. I respect civilisation that rests on these lands. There’s rock art there from a culture far older than the Greeks - we should respect that.
To have bolts and all this paraphernalia that comes with rock climbing on those sensitive areas – we should respect that just as much as we respect the Parthenon and the Acropolis and just as much as we respect Mona Lisa in The Louvre. These are important cultural heritage sites, we should be proud of them. But within that frame, there are still 3,000 established routes to climb in Mount Arapiles and 103 in the Grampians national park.
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Optus signals it may seek to suppress parts of cyber-attack report
Earlier we mentioned Optus had lost an appeal over keeping secret a Deloitte report into the 2022 cyber-attack in the full federal court this morning.
In response, an Optus spokesperson said the company respects the decision and is considering its position, but indicated it may seek to have parts of the report suppressed under confidentiality orders.
The spokesperson said:
Our priority is ensuring our customers have ongoing confidence in the integrity of our cyber defence systems.
In this regard, Optus will consider our next steps which may include seeking confidentiality orders relating to elements of the report that we believe are key to the ongoing protection of our customer data and our systems from cyber criminals.
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Burney and McCarthy say ‘fight for justice and rights’ will continue as Reconciliation Week begins
It was a “difficult 2023 for many First Nations people”, Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney says, after the defeat of the Indigenous voice referendum.
The minister says “the fight for justice and the rights” of Aboriginal people will continue to mark the start of Reconciliation Week. Assistant minister Malarndirri McCarthy said again that reconciliation is “unfinished business” in Australia.
The ministers said the government was “calling on everyone to reflect on the significance of this year’s theme: Now More Than Ever.”
The theme of the week takes on particular significance following last year’s 60-40 defeat of the voice referendum. Burney and McCarthy said:
Following a difficult 2023 for many First Nations people – Now More Than Ever is a reminder to all of us, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will continue.
Reconciliation requires us to understand our history, recognise the injustices of the past and work towards a better and more just future.
Burney:
Now more than ever, it’s time to make progress towards reconciliation.
Now more than ever, the next generation of young Australians can grasp the opportunity to move this country forward to a more united future.
McCarthy:
Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians to embark on. As Patrick Dodson said, reconciliation is the ‘unfinished business’ of Australia.
Each of us has a part to play in advancing this journey and I urge every Australian to consider how to work together to create a reconciled country that takes pride in 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and connection to country.
Updated
Forest protest outside Victorian environment minister’s office
A group of forest protesters has held a demonstration outside Victorian environment minister Steve Dimopoulos’s electorate office in Oakleigh – about the very issue just raised at estimates.
Protestors say they are frustrated at a lack of action from Dimopolous on “stealth logging” in Victoria’s national parks, conducted within his own department by “fire management”.
Recently a 2.85m tree, estimated between 200 and 300 years old, was felled and a dead endangered greater glider found nearby.
Protesters held numerous signs about the issue, while a person dressed as a dead greater glider laid on the ground.
You can read more about the issue below:
Updated
Victorian budget estimates hears about death of endangered glider after fire management logging
Back at Victorian budget estimates, where the chief fire officer of Forest Fire Management Victoria, Chris Hardman, is being asked by Greens MP Aiv Puglielli about the discovery of a dead greater glider in an area where the department was felling trees.
Hardman said the death of the glider, an endangered species, was “regrettable”:
We do have experts that evaluate the habitat values of the trees, but also one of the primary things that we do is the overarching protection of the environment ... One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is large fires that impact significantly, all animals, all species and the ecosystem itself [of] plants and animals. So the work that we do, yes, it does have an impact on a specific tree or an animal and we do everything we can to mitigate that risk ... I think that the overarching level of protection that we provide outweighs the risks associated with doing the work.
Asked if FFMV had any further information on the glider’s death, Hardman replied:
We found that the greater glider suffered a blunt force trauma on the back end of the animal so we can’t say how the animal was killed.
The environment minister, Steve Dimopoulos, went on:
The very nature of this work is to prevent a million greater gliders dying through fire.
Updated
Network Ten, Wilkinson and Lehrmann given another week to sort out costs deal
The federal court has given Network Ten, Lisa Wilkinson and Bruce Lehrmann another three weeks to sort out a costs deal in an attempt to save spending more on a court appointed referee.
Wilkinson’s barrister showed his frustration at what he said was Ten’s apparent reluctance to come to an agreement, after the network was ordered to pay part of the presenter’s legal costs.
“There’s just an ongoing reluctance to pay us anything,” Michael Elliott SC told the court.
Ten’s barrister, Zoe Graus, said the network did accept there were undisputed costs which “are recoverable by Ms Wilkinson”.
Justice Michael Lee encouraged the parties to come to an agreement over at least some of the costs to prevent a lengthy process with a referee which would result in more legal fees:
I don’t want people throwing good money after bad and having referees going down the path of preparing detailed reports when it’s a completely futile exercise.
The parties have been ordered to return on 21 June.
Brief encounter: failed pub robber wearing underpants on head on the run, police allege
A man’s alleged attempt to rob a Melbourne pub while armed and wearing underwear on his head has hit the skids, AAP reports.
The man allegedly wore a makeshift disguise, demanded cash and threatened a staff member with a firearm at a Port Melbourne hotel in the early hours of Wednesday.
Staff couldn’t access any money, and police allege the man fled empty-handed. No one was injured and police patrols failed to find the man.
Police have released CCTV footage in a bid to identify the alleged culprit.
The vision shows the man wearing dark material draped around him like a cape and dark-coloured underpants on his head. He tripped and fell while allegedly fleeing the scene.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
ANU students begin to dismantle pro-Palestine encampment
Pro-Palestine protesters have begun to pack up their encampment at the Australian National University (ANU) after campus security directed them to vacate, as we reported earlier.
Students rallied around the camp as they folded up tents, posters and furniture, with some sitting and linking arms to protest university management’s orders. The protesters drummed on upturned buckets and chanted:
We are the students. We won’t be silenced. Cut the ties now, now, now, now.
Around 100 supporters rallied next to the camp after encampment organisers took to social media asking for supporters and legal observers to reinforce the camp’s numbers this morning.
Security staff handed campers the direction to vacate earlier this morning and have crowded the entrances to the camp. A security officer told the protesters:
We have the majority of our personnel here, it’s time to start taking down tents … if they’re not taken down in an orderly manner, we will assist.
The camp had started to pack up after being directed to vacate but the process slowed after the rally began.
Police officers have joined campus security around the encampment, after the university warned it would call in the Australian federal police to enforce compliance. ACT police confirmed that no arrests had been made and officers were present in a monitoring role.
Updated
Was illegal dumping to blame for contamination of Victorian parks?
Asked whether it is still the EPA’s belief that illegal dumping was to blame for the contamination, Lee Miezis replied:
We did look at 59 mulch producers in Victoria that use recycled timbers when the New South Wales incident was first announced [and] assessed the presence of asbestos in mulch production. We also looked at contamination controls in those sites. 53 of those 59 were found to have good contamination controls in place. Six required improvement and those improvements have since been made, so we were able to quickly rule out that that mulch was the source of contamination.
Then as we undertook our investigations, the two main sources were either legacy contamination – so small amounts that were left in the ground, either from previous buildings or from previous industrial uses of site that were disturbed when landscaping works were being undertaken. Other sites where there were small amounts of illegal dumping … [we] are continuing to work with Hudson’s Bay, where about 15 of those 22 sites were found to continue those investigations, but to date, no charges have been laid for those particular issues.
EPA grilled on soil contamination in Victorian parks
Victoria’s final budget estimate hearings are being held today, with the environment minister, Steve Dimopolous, and his department heads being grilled by the public accounts and estimates committee.
Nationals MP Danny O’Brien is currently asking the chief executive of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Lee Miezis, for an update on the contaminated materials that were discovered at several parks in April.
Miezis says all but two of the parks have reopened after remediation works:
The EPA has inspected over 100 parks and reserves, we’ve confirmed small amounts – so less than a shopping bag – of bonded asbestos at 22 parks and reserves in seven local government areas.
Of those 22, 20 have been remediated – clean and reopened – with the final two expected to be reopened in the coming weeks.
The extended sort of period of time for those [parks] is because the cleanups being undertaken [are] part of broader works by the council.
Updated
Prime minister marks beginning of Reconciliation Week
Today marks the beginning of Reconciliation Week, which the prime minister has marked as “an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the profound contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to our nation”.
In a post to X, Anthony Albanese wrote:
In science and art, law and sport, and in their connection and care for this land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have excelled in every field and have enriched every facet of Australian life.
The truth of our history is that so often this extraordinary success has demanded courage against overwhelming odds. Be it the legacy of dispossession or the continuing challenge of economic and social disadvantage.
In Reconciliation Week, let us take inspiration from the work every generation has done to break down these barriers. William Cooper, Lowitja O’Donoghue, Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler, Eddie Mabo and so many more whose bravery, resolve and grace have moved our nation forward.
This week, and always, let us honour their legacy by renewing our shared determination to build on it. To continue the journey to Reconciliation, with faith in each other and hope for the future.
Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the profound contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to our nation. pic.twitter.com/1URpRCu3ci
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 26, 2024
Updated
Costs hearing continues at federal court
Justice Michael Lee has asked Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson to come to an agreement about the quantum of undisputed costs so that he can make an order for “partial costs recovery” for the Ten presenter.
The court heard that it is a complex process to go through the line items of legal costs as Ten and Wilkinson had separate legal teams but were both respondents. Lee said:
All I’d say to both the respondents, and Mr Lehrmann, is if the debate is going to be relatively academic, at the margins concerning costs, is it consistent with the overarching purpose for more money to be spent in relation to a reference process if there is a certain core amount of costs which are not disputed?
Wilkinson is seeking $1.8m in indemnity costs from Ten. The court has appointed an independent referee to determine the amount to be paid by each party.
“I can assure you life is too short for me to worry about costs disputes but I want to make sure it goes off to the referee in a way where it’s not going to go off the rails,” Lee said, before taking a short adjournment for the parties to discuss the matter.
Updated
Memorial to Major Mitchell defaced: 'We don't commemorate other mass murderers'
A memorial to Major Mitchell in Castlemaine, central Victoria, has been defaced, with a sign stating “we don’t commemorate other mass murderers in Victoria”.
According to an image on social media, the memorial has been covered in red paint, with the appearance of blood, and a sign has been placed on it, which reads:
On this day on May 27th 1836, a group led by Major Mitchell murdered 7 people in the Mt. Dispersion Massacre … We don’t commemorate other mass murderers in Victoria.
Except Major Mitchell.
We call for all monuments to Major Mitchell to be removed or alternatively a plaque that states the full history of what this man was responsible for including the murder of at least seven Aboriginal people on the Dhungala (Murray) River on May 27th, 1836.
Memorial near Castlemaine commemorating Major Mitchell covered with ‘blood’ this morning.
— Miki Perkins (@perkinsmiki) May 26, 2024
Sign says ‘we don’t commemorate other mass murderers in Victoria’. pic.twitter.com/FzvP3m7SSq
Updated
Lisa Wilkinson seeks $1.8m in costs for successful defence of Bruce Lehrmann defamation action
The federal court has heard Lisa Wilkinson is seeking $1.815m in indemnity costs for her legal defence in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case.
Justice Michael Lee is holding a case management hearing today to determine how much the legal costs for each party are.
Earlier this month Lehrmann was ordered to pay most of the media parties’ legal costs from his failed defamation suit on an indemnity basis because the judge found that he brought the case on a “knowingly false premise”.
The costs for all parties have been estimated to be between $8m and $10m for the 24-day civil trial which Lehrmann lost.
The court has adjourned to determine why some of the documents from Wilkinson’s team are not signed.
Updated
Curtin University students vow to continue pro-Palestine camp until management makes ‘serious concessions’
Student protestors at Curtin University have vowed they will not disband their encampment until management makes serious concessions after the student guild inked a deal to end their support for the camp.
Last week, Curtin released a statement confirming university leadership reached an agreement with the guild, which includes disclosing investments and ties with weapons manufacturers, foreign governments and the defence industry.
Key elements include reconfirming Curtin’s commitment to being inclusive of students of all faiths and ethnicities, tangible actions to increase transparency around how we uphold international humanitarian law and new training initiatives to improve disclosure to research students of funding sources.
We have been consistently clear that Curtin has no direct or indirect investments in manufacturers of weapons of war.
The Greens said the move was thanks to students who had camped out for 23 days and nights, while adding it was “disappointing” the university would not immediately cut ties with all weapons companies.
Protestors said they rejected the agreement with the guild, vowing they would remain on site until management upheld their demands – including labelling the ongoing attack on Gaza a genocide.
Updated
Optus loses appeal to keep report into 2022 cyber-attack secret
Optus has lost an appeal to keep secret a Deloitte report into the 2022 cyber-attack.
As part of a class action case brought against Optus by some of the 10 million customers who had their personal information stolen in the hack, the litigants are seeking access to the report commissioned by the mobile company after the attack.
Optus has argued that the report was commissioned for the dominant purpose of legal advice, but that was initially rejected by the federal court last year in part because it was referenced in a media release about Optus’s response to the attack.
Optus appealed, and the full federal court rejected the appeal today.
The telco can still appeal the matter to the high court. Optus has been approached for comment.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority also announced last week it had launched a federal court case against Optus over the 2022 attack, alleging Optus had failed to protect the confidentiality of its customers.
Health insurance company Medibank is also fighting against having to divulge a similar Deloitte report as part of class action over the ransomware attack it suffered in 2022, and has similarly argued it was commissioned for legal advice.
Updated
Man taken to hospital following smoke inhalation from ebike fire
A man suffering from smoke inhalation has been admitted to hospital following an ebike fire overnight.
Fire and Rescue NSW says the blaze broke out in a garage beneath a two-level block of apartments at Revesby, in Sydney’s south-west, around 1.15am.
Crews arrived on scene and found a man, believed to be in his 70s, suffering from smoke inhalation after trying to extinguish the fire himself. Firefighters contained the fire and doused the flames.
This comes amid growing concern over the rise in battery-related blazes, with lithium-ion batteries sparking four fires in a single day across NSW earlier this year:
Updated
ANU students ordered to disband pro-Palestine encampment or risk police involvement
Security at the Australian National University (ANU) have ordered pro-Palestine protestors to immediately disband their encampment or risk police involvement as students enter their fourth week occupying the site.
In a letter seen by Guardian Australia, ANU’s director of facilities and services division, Jeremy Matthew, advises students of an “immediate and non negotiable” directive to pack up and remove all tents and materials related to the camp.
Matthew advises there is a “serious safety concern” due to the camp being established in a primary fire evacuation zone for the Kambri campus.
The encampment’s continued presence in this critical area poses an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of our staff and students ... this order includes the power to issue eviction notices and, if necessary, to call in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to enforce compliance.
Earlier this month, a small group of students were advised to disband in meetings with management or risk disciplinary action:
Updated
Ukraine awaiting response on request for coal shipment
Australia is in discussions with Ukraine on how it can provide practical support, AAP reports, as the war-torn country awaits a response on its bid for an urgently needed coal shipment.
Circling back to Richard Marles’ earlier interview on ABC RN, the deputy prime minister was asked about reports that Ukrainian officials had appealed to the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, for coal to help meet its energy needs, as Russia targets its power plants with missile and drone attacks.
Marles said the government had given a response:
In all that we are doing, we are looking at how our support can be sustainable and ongoing, because we mean to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes Ukraine to resolve this conflict on its terms.
It also needs to be practical, and we are talking with Ukraine about how best we can do that.
From time to time, one item or another will end up in the media and it will gain attention, but what we’re doing is focusing on our conversation with Ukraine about how the support that we can provide can be done the most practical way.
Updated
Queensland 50c public transport trial about ‘forcing people to change their habits,’ premier says
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, spoke with the Today show earlier this morning about the state’s 50c public transport trial. You can read all the details about this below:
He defended the decision for it to be a six-month trial rather than an immediate, permanent change:
The idea of doing it for six months is really to force people to change their habits. The advice was that if it was a permanent change, people might put off changing the way they get to work, but if they know they need to use it while it’s there, that will have an extra incentive for people to change their habits. If enough people do, if it proves successful, then I hope we can look at continuing something like this.
Miles argued that an “unanticipated population surge driven by international migration” over the last few years had led to more cars on roads:
We need some time to catch up. And that’s why this initiative, we hope, will take enough cars off the road to ease that pressure.
Updated
Man charged over alleged taxi driver stabbing in Sydney’s south-west
A man is due in court today over the alleged stabbing of a taxi driver at Mt Pritchard last week.
A 41-year-old man suffered wounds to his left arm and thigh after picking up a fare from a motel at Cabramatta about 4.15pm last Friday.
The driver was taken to Liverpool hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while officers commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, officers arrested a 22-year-old man about 10pm yesterday at Moorebank after responding to reports of a robbery.
The man was taken to Liverpool police station and charged with reckless wounding. He has also been charged with the attempted robbery of a 34-year-old man in George Lane.
The man, from Casula, has been refused bail to appear at Liverpool local court today.
Updated
Coercive control ads target NSW’s multicultural communities
A NSW government ad campaign raising awareness of coercive control is being rolled out for multicultural communities ahead of laws that will criminalise domestic abuse in the state, AAP reports.
The government said the campaign for Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers was part of improving public understanding of coercive control among culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
In July, NSW will become the first Australian jurisdiction to outlaw coercive control, which is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them, according to the government.
The abuse will become a standalone offence punishable by up to seven years in jail under the new legislation, which was passed by parliament last year.
In announcing the new campaign, minister for women Jodie Harrison said coercive control was an “insidious abuse” that could be hard to recognise:
We also know that people from multicultural backgrounds are less likely to seek help due to cultural and language barriers, which is why we need to make sure our message is reaching them.
The advertising campaign, to start today, uses the image of a spider’s web to symbolise the interconnected pattern of behaviours which traps victims of coercive control, the government said.
Updated
Skilled migrants needed to ‘backfill’ jobs left open as workforces pivot to shipbuilding, SA premier says
Amid the migration debate spearheaded by opposition leader Peter Dutton, the South Australian premier said skilled migration “has to be part of the mix” when it comes to Aukus.
Peter Malinauksus told ABC RN that skilled migrants wouldn’t necessarily participate “in the submarine build itself” but would “back-fill” job shortages that open up when workforces pivot to shipbuilding:
… As we seek to ramp up the participation in nuclear submarine building, we don’t want that to hoover up skills from other manufacturers we’ve got in South Australia at their expense…
I think that’s something we need to think through very carefully as we start to see a policy discussion, if not debate, around migration in this country.
Updated
Malinauskas can’t ‘overstate the complexity’ of Aukus endeavour
Peter Malinauskas said his visit to the United States “unequivocally” confirmed what a massive challenge it will be to develop a workforce of 30,000 at the Osborne shipyard to build nuclear-powered submarines.
He told ABC RN this is the “single biggest industrial endeavour that has ever occurred in the history of our nation since federation”.
I don’t think I could possibly overstate the complexity of the task that is before us, simply because it is the most complex machine that has ever been built in human history.
Despite this, Malinauskas said “we are capable of doing this” and called on the other states to get involved in the effort “in earnest, starting effective immediately”.
And that is everything from developing the skills that are required at a vocational level but also the university level, but similarly making sure that we’re starting to upskill existing parts of the naval shipbuilding supply chain, amongst others who can participate in this process. And South Australia industry alone has got more than enough work on its hands for me to be able to say, as a premier, [it’s] time to sort of abandon the parochial nature of industrial policy we see between states around defence and instead invite everyone to lift their eyes and look what is important for the national effort in this regard.
Updated
SA premier signs deal for state’s suppliers to supply Virginia class submarine program
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has recently returned from a visit to the United States where he signed a deal with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) – the biggest military shipbuilder in the US.
He described what the deal means in relation to Aukus:
We know that building nuclear submarines is going to take a national enterprise and a national effort, but our ambitions to be able to build these submarines domestically requires a supply chain and an industry that are capable of delivering the parts that are required.
Now, in order to be able to do that, I think as a first big step – we’ve got to see if we can’t participate in the nuclear submarine supply chain in advance of the … Aukus submarines construction commencing later this decade. So, what we’ve negotiated with [HII], that builds the Virginia class submarines, is an opportunity for South Australian suppliers to supply to the Virginia class program.
There are already 55 companies that are well advanced in that process to participate in the arrangement that we’ve negotiated with HII.
Updated
New information released as inquiries continue into Wollongong woman last seen 30 years ago
NSW police have released new information into the search for Pauline Sowry, who suspiciously disappeared from Wollongong 30 years ago.
Sowry, also known by her married name of Pauline Lawrence, was 49 years old when last seen by her family in the northern suburbs of Wollongong in December 1993.
Despite extensive investigations since then, her whereabouts remain unknown. A 2008 coronial inquest found she had died, most likely after an unconfirmed sighting in 1994.
A strike force was established in 2022 to re-examine her disappearance and in March this year, the state government and police announced a $500,000 reward for information.
As a result, police received information that Sowry was sighted south of Wollongong in a white 1968-model Holden HK Kingswood sedan, which was said to be in ‘pristine’ condition. Police released an image of a similar vehicle.
Anyone who recognises the vehicle, or knows someone who owned a vehicle fitting this description at the time of Pauline’s disappearance, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Updated
Regional rents and house values soar to all-time highs
Regional property prices have soared to record highs, AAP reports, as Australia’s housing crisis continues to hit across the nation.
Just three of the 50 non-capital city areas studied by CoreLogic haven’t posted a rent increase in the last three months, with 37 of those at record highs.
The data shows regional dwelling values and rent prices both hit record marks in the first quarter of 2024, rising at a faster rate than those in capital cities.
House prices went up at the fastest quarterly rate in two years, jumping 2.1% compared with 1.7% in the cities. And rents headed in the same direction, rising at 6.3% compared with 4.9% in the previous quarter.
CoreLogic Australia economist Kaytlin Ezzy said in a statement:
Housing affordability has continued to deteriorate through the start of 2024 for tenants and prospective home buyers alike.
After falling 5.8% between May 2022 and January 2023, regional home values have seen a slower recovery compared to capital city values but have now regained the losses from the downturn to reach a new record high.
NSW south coast area Batemans Bay had the biggest quarterly rent increase at 6%, with WA’s Bunbury (4.7) and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast (4.4) rounding out the top three.
Only Nowra-Bomaderry, Maryborough and St-Georges Basin-Sanctuary didn’t cop a rent increase.
Updated
Richard Marles also responded to reports of antisemitic graffiti at Melbourne’s biggest Jewish school, and said this has “no place in the country”.
He told ABC RN:
I think all of us have been really confronted with the level of antisemitism that we are seeing in the last few months. It’s a level that I can’t remember in my lifetime, and it’s really important that Australians are standing with the Jewish community today.
Marles is due to visit the school today.
Updated
Would Australia use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war efforts?
Richard Marles was asked about a deal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war efforts, which was pushed during a G7 meeting over the weekend. Marles would not disclose the amount of frozen Russian assets in Australia but said it is “considerably less” than what has been reported ($9bn).
Marles told ABC RN:
There are constitutional issues around simply seizing those assets and using them. But we have those assets frozen and … those steps come on top of significant sanctions that we have in relation to trade, increased tariffs on trade coming into the country from Russia, and Belarus, and that is a situation which constantly evolves and we continue to assess, so we are within the bounds of what we can legally do. We are looking at everything that we can do.
Updated
Australia ‘in conversation’ with PNG to provide support following landslide
The defence minister and deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is speaking to ABC RN about the massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, where more than 670 people are believed to have been killed.
Has the PNG government asked Australia for support? Marles said the government had been in conversation with PNG since Friday:
We’ve made clear to the PNG government what support we could provide, and the exact nature of the support that we do provide will play out over the coming days …
He said the location of the landslide was very remote, and Australia had “airlift capacity”.
There may be other equipment that we can bring to bear in terms of the search and rescue, and all of that we are talking through with PNG right now … it’s just now a matter of working out exactly what we can do in the context of this occurring in a very remote part of the country.
Updated
Australian passengers caught in new turbulent flight
Some Australian passengers were on board the latest flight to hit severe turbulence, this time a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin. Eight passengers have been taken to hospital after the flight experienced turbulence while flying over Turkey.
As Charlie Moloney reports, the incident occurred five days after a British man died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of people were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London encountered severe turbulence:
An Australian couple, speaking to Seven’s Sunrise, said:
The plane just seemed to … stop, which it didn’t, but then dropped, quite a severe drop … and it was a little bit worrying each time we felt turbulence again, I was hanging on a bit tight to my husband.
But it was a really, really scary [experience].
Another woman said, “It was so scary at the time, you just don’t know is this it or not”.
Updated
Two dead in multi-vehicle crash in Sydney
A 41-year-old man and 12-year-old girl have died following a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney’s west overnight.
Emergency services were called to reports of the crash on Milperra Road, in Milperra, about 7.40pm last night, where officers found a sedan and utility had crashed – with the sedan rolling and trapping the driver and passengers.
The 41-year-old man and 12-year-old girl, both backseat passengers of the sedan, died at the scene. A 10-year-old boy was taken to the children’s hospital at Westmead in a stable condition.
The male driver, a 52-year-old man, was also treated at the scene before being taken to Westmead in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the utility, a 19-year-old man, was treated for minor injuries and taken to Liverpool hospital for mandatory testing.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation launched. Anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Updated
Welcome
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 rolling coverage today.
Making news overnight: two people have died and a third is in a critical condition following a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney’s west. Police said a sedan and utility crashed at Milperra last night, with the sedan rolling and trapping the driver and passenger. Two backseat passengers of the sedan, a 41-year-old man and 12-year-old girl, died at the scene.
Australian passengers on board another turbulent flight have detailed their “scary” experience on board a flight from Doha to Dublin. A couple, speaking to Sunrise, said:
The plane just seemed to … stop, which it didn’t, but then dropped, quite a severe drop … and it was a little bit worrying each time we felt turbulence again.
We’ll have more on both these stories in a moment.
See something that needs attention? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or shoot me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
