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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Antoun Issa

Afternoon Update: Possible secret graves at Stolen Generations institution; one dead in WA shooting; and 48 species added to threatened list

The old Kinchela Aboriginal Boys’ Training Home, where an estimated 400 to 600 Aboriginal boys between the ages of five and 15 were incarcerated under the policies of the Stolen Generations.
The old Kinchela Aboriginal Boys’ Training Home, where an estimated 400 to 600 Aboriginal boys between the ages of five and 15 were incarcerated under the policies of the Stolen Generations. Composite: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/KBHAC

Good afternoon. A new, disturbing revelation has come to light – the possibility of secret graves on the grounds of one of the most violent and abusive institutions of the Stolen Generations era.

Ground-penetrating radar has detected “high priority anomalies” at Kinchela Aboriginal Boys’ Training Home on the north coast of New South Wales. Those signal patterns in “other contexts have proven to be human burials”.

Survivors are calling on the NSW and federal governments to urgently fund further searches of the entire property. Read survivor accounts of the violent abuse suffered at the institution.

Top news

Transport minister Catherine King said the treatment of Australian women subjected to body searches in Doha played a role in the decision to block additional Qatar Airways flights.
Transport minister Catherine King said the treatment of Australian women subjected to body searches in Doha played a role in the decision to block additional Qatar Airways flights. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
  • Catherine King in spotlight over Qatar Airways | The transport minister said the treatment of Australian women subjected to bodily inspections at Doha airport in 2020 was “a factor” in rejecting the Qatari request for extra flights to Australia. King also said she consulted with federal colleagues ahead of the controversial decision appear, which appeared to contrast with comments made by trade minister, Don Farrell. “I can’t say that I specifically had a conversation with her, but I’m aware her department made it clear they were dealing with this issue and going to make a decision,” he said.

  • One dead in WA shooting | Police are negotiating with an armed man outside of Kellerberrin in Western Australia, after revealing this morning they were hunting an individual allegedly involved in a shooting incident that left another man dead. “The situation is still unfolding. Residents in the area are advised to remain alert,” police said.

Anthony Albanese meets with China’s premier Li Qiang in Jakarta on Thursday.
Anthony Albanese meets with China’s premier Li Qiang in Jakarta on Thursday. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
  • Albanese holds ‘constructive’ talks with Chinese premier | The prime minister met Li Qiang on the sidelines of the East Asia summit in Jakarta. Albanese said the talks were “positive” and covered a range of issues, including China’s economic outlook, Taiwan and the fate of Australians detained in China.

  • Father charged in fatal Sydney crash | The father of a man arrested over a crash that killed a Sydney brother and sister has been charged with helping to cover up his son’s alleged crime.

  • Inquiry into sexual abuse at Melbourne school | The inquiry into historical child sexual abuse at Beaumaris primary school in Melbourne’s south-east will investigate allegations at 18 other state schools where the same teachers also worked.

A sand sculpture at Puri, India welcomes Joe Biden ‘to Bharat’ ahead of the G20 summit at Puri is seen at the Bay of Bengal Sea’s eastern coast beach for G20 summit to welcome to Bharat as it is created by sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik for visitors’ awareness at Puri, 65 km away from the eastern Indian state Odisha’s capital city on the eve of his arrival to India to join G20 summit. India Joe Biden G20, Bhubaneswar - 06 Sep 2023
A sand sculpture at Puri welcomes Joe Biden ‘to Bharat’ ahead of the G20 summit in India. Photograph: NurPhoto/Shutterstock
  • India or Bharat? | As India prepares to host the G20 summit this weekend, state-issued invitations sent to world leaders using the word “Bharat” have ignited rumours that Narendra Modi’s nationalist government might plan to phase out the country’s English name.

  • Mexico set for first female president | Mexico will almost certainly have its first female president in 2024, after the governing Morena party and the opposition coalition both chose women as their candidates.

People attend a funeral ceremony of Ayed Abu Harb, 21, killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the West Bank on 5 September. Israel’s mechanisms for controlling the Palestinians, from restrictions on movement to placing them under military law, match the old South Africa.
People attend the funeral of a 21-year-old killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the West Bank on 5 September. Israel’s mechanisms for controlling the Palestinians, from restrictions on movement to placing them under military law, match the old South Africa, said a former Mossad head. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
  • Israel imposing apartheid, says former Mossad chief | Tamir Pardo joins a growing number of prominent Israelis to compare the occupation of the West Bank to South Africa’s defunct system of racial oppression. Pardo’s views will have added impact because of the high regard for Mossad in Israel.

  • Apple shares fall after China iPhone ban | China has reportedly banned officials at central government agencies from using or bringing iPhones and other foreign-branded devices into the office. The development prompted Apple shares to fall 3.6%.

In video

Stolen Generations – survivors of Kinchela boys’ home share their stories

Roger ‘Pigeon’ Jarrett and Richard ‘Bear’ Campbell spent their formative years in one of the most violent and abusive institutions of the Stolen Generations era — Kinchela Aboriginal Boys’ Training Home near Kempsey, NSW. They spoke with Guardian Australia about their experience – watch the seven-minute video.

What they said …

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe.
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe has made his final public comments. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

***

“Raising interest rates and tightening policy can make you very unpopular, as I know all too well. This means that it is easier for an independent central bank to do this than it is for politicians.” – Philip Lowe

Lowe used his final public remarks as governor of the Reserve Bank to defend his decisions and past controversial comments.

In numbers

Stat for Afternoon Update - landscape

The Australian Conservation Foundation said the new listings highlighted the urgent need for environmental reform. “Australia has a woeful track record when it comes to protecting our unique animals and plants.”

Before bed read

The real-world picture of approving coalmines and other fossil fuel developments in an age of climate crisis is more complex than just zero-emissions alternatives.
The real-world picture of approving coalmines and other fossil fuel developments in an age of climate crisis is more complex than just zero-emissions alternatives. Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

Approving new coalmines while pledging climate action is an untenable position – and the Albanese government knows it, writes our climate and environment editor, Adam Morton.

Daily word game

Screen Shot 2023-02-24 at 1.10.21 pm

Today’s starter word is: TIG. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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