The day that was: Saturday 12 November
We are going to close this blog now. Thanks for your company, comments and correspondence today. As we go, a brief summary …
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has announced a permanent “joint standing operation” to target cybercriminal syndicates. The 100 officials, drawn from the Australian federal police and Australian Signals Directorate, “will show up to work every day with the goal of bringing down these gangs and thugs … a standing body within the Australian government which will, day in, day out, hunt down the scumbags who are responsible for these malicious crimes against innocent people”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is in Cambodia for the Asean summit, where he has met with the Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, pledging more material support and also announcing an increased engagement with south-east Asia.
The Majestic Princess cruise ship – with more than 800 Covid-positive people on board – docked in Sydney. Guests and crew were allowed to disembark: the cruise ship’s parent company says strict protocols were adhered to.
South Australia has been lashed by storms. Wild weather has been forecast for NSW, and in Victoria there are threats of flash flooding and new river peaks predicted for Sunday.
Until next time – stay safe and enjoy the weekend!
Updated
The first two weeks of royal commission hearings into robodebt sought to answer a central question: how did the unlawful welfare scheme happen?
Updated
AFLW semi-final delayed due to stormy weather and lightning in Adelaide
The AFLW semi-final between Adelaide and Collingwood has been delayed due to lightning and heavy storms as uncertainty grows over whether the match can be completed.
The match was initially delayed by 30 minutes from the scheduled start time of 3.40pm on Saturday due to lightning within 10 kilometres of Unley Oval in Adelaide, but was able to get under way during a break in the weather.
The Crows and the Magpies played out the opening term before dark clouds and heavy storms returned in the dying seconds of the quarter.
With lightning again seen nearby during the first break, the match was delayed by a further 20 minutes, with uncertainty growing over whether it can be played in full on Saturday.
After the initial 30-minute delay it took the Crows just 17 seconds from the first bounce to kick the opening goal, after surging the ball forward for Eloise Jones to score from 20 metres out for a flying start.
The Crows were made to work harder for their second goal, even after locking the ball in their forward 50, until Lisa Whiteley took a diving mark deep in the pocket and overcame a tricky breeze to kick truly.
The Crows led the Magpies 2.1 (13) to 0.2 (2) when the game was again paused at quarter-time.
Updated
A public health message from the Victorian Department of Health:
A high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma has been forecast for the Northern Country and North Central districts on Sunday, 13 November 2022.
The combination of forecast extreme grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm with strong winds means there is a chance a large number of people may develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time.
All other districts have a moderate risk forecast tomorrow, including the Wimmera, Mallee, South West, Central, North East, West & South Gippsland and East Gippsland regions.
Health and emergency services are monitoring the situation closely and are ready to respond.
A high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma has been forecast tomorrow in parts of Victoria. There is an elevated risk to people with asthma and hay fever.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) November 12, 2022
For up-to-date information and advice visit: https://t.co/RxySW33wyn pic.twitter.com/yAe0tK88xm
People in high-risk areas with asthma or hay fever, or who experience wheezing, breathlessness, a feeling of tightness in the chest or a persistent cough, should have their reliever medication with them at all times tomorrow, and avoid the wind gusts before the storm by going inside and closing their windows and doors.
People who have asthma or seasonal hay fever should review the asthma first aid steps.
People should call Nurse on Call on 1300 60 60 24 or see their local doctor if they require medical advice.
There are around 50 GP respiratory clinics across Victoria offering free respiratory care. Face-to-face and telehealth appointments are available and some clinics are open at night and on weekends.
For information on clinic locations and operating hours, visit: GP Respiratory Clinics
Call 000 immediately if someone is not breathing, if their asthma suddenly becomes worse or is not improving, or if the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever puffer is not available.
For up-to-date information, visit the VicEmergency website or download the VicEmergency App.
Updated
Experts believe the crime rhetoric in some WA community Facebook groups may be leading people to take the law into their own hands. Lorena Allam and Sarah Collard report:
Updated
‘Ukraine will always remember this support’, says country’s foreign minister of Australian aid
AAP reports from Phnom Penh:
Bushmasters have become the most popular Australian brand in Ukraine as the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, commits an additional 30 vehicles to the fight against Russia’s invasion.
But the Ukraine foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has flagged support with energy infrastructure will be crucial to help his nation through the coming winter months.
Albanese met with Kuleba in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the Asean summit.
The prime minister said after discussions with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Australia would commit a further 30 Bushmasters, taking the total to 90.
“We’re very proud that this is making a substantial difference to the defence of your people … Be assured of Australia’s ongoing support and our admiration for your struggle,” Albanese said.
Australia has also sent 70 Australian defence force personnel to the UK to provide training assistance to Ukrainian soldiers.
Kuleba told the prime minister the armoured vehicles have become a symbol of Australia’s political and economic support to his nation.
“Bushmasters became the most popular Australian brand in Ukraine,” he said.
“Ukraine will always remember this support that the people in Australia extended to us.
“We will definitely prevail and when victory comes, it will be our joint success.”
But as Ukraine enters its winter months, Kuleba asked Australia and other nations present at the summit for help with energy needs. He said radiators in apartments are cold and buildings are experiencing long blackouts because of Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Transformers, generators, spare parts for the electricity grid. These are very technical things and they are all of humanitarian purpose,” he said. “This is humanitarian aid, they have nothing to do with military aid.”
Albanese told Kuleba he would take the request to his government to consider how Australia could support Ukraine further.
Global instability, energy shortages and inflation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are key issues for Albanese as he embarks on his nine-day overseas trip.
Updated
Australia stands with Ukraine against Russia's illegal invasion. Wonderful to meet with @DmytroKuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister at the ASEAN summits in Cambodia to discuss Australia's contribution, including the extra 30 Bushmasters helping defend Ukraine's sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/ij5dXTzKxB
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 12, 2022
PM appoints former Macquarie Bank boss Nicholas Moore as special envoy to south-east Asia
Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has used his opening remarks at the Asean-Australia summit to reveal Labor will appoint a new special envoy to south-east Asia, the former Macquarie Bank boss and company director Nicholas Moore, to drive what the prime minister has characterised as a “comprehensive south-east Asia economic strategy” between now and 2040.
Continuing the courtship of the region that the government has been focused on since winning the election in May, Albanese used Saturday’s address to underscore Australia’s commitment to Asean partners and to regional values, which he characterised as “the cherished ideals of peace, freedom, social justice and economic wellbeing”.
In a clear reference to geo-strategic tensions – meaning China’s aggression in the region – Australia’s prime minister said the challenge was to uphold those values in a “complex and changing world”. Albanese said Australia remained committed to a rules based regional order with Asean partners at the centre of that peace and security. “Working in close consultation, we can forge a more secure and sustainable future,” Albanese said. “Where international law and norms are upheld, and disputes are resolved amicably through diplomacy and dialogue”.
“With confidence in our cause, let us affirm the great founding vision of this institution, and carry it forward into a new era of peace and possibility”.
As I noted on the blog earlier this morning, Asean lacks a unified approach to the rise of China in the region, and the group often faces criticism for that.
At the same time as holding the Asean group close, Australia is also attempting to execute a delicate diplomatic rapprochement with Beijing even though many irriants remain in the bilateral relationship.
In the lead-up to summit season there has been speculation Albanese could meet the Chinese leadership at some point during the next week, either here in Cambodia or at the G20 in Bali.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, who will meet the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in Bali, has touched down in Phnom Penh this morning.
Updated
Jim Chalmers on G20 and B20 summits: ‘opportunity to forge deeper international collaboration’
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is travelling to Indonesia today to attend the G20 joint finance and health ministers meeting, and to accompany the prime minister to the B20 Summit from 12 to 14 November 2022.
It is summit season for government leaders around the world. Chalmers said the suite of meetings “come at a critical time for the global economy and our region, and provide an important opportunity to discuss global conditions and forge deeper international collaboration”.
The global economy faces significant challenges including from Russia’s war in Ukraine, a global energy and cost of living crisis, and the most synchronised global monetary tightening in recent decades – with a heightened risk of recession across major advanced economies.
These global challenges will be key issues at the G20, in addition to climate change and future pandemic preparedness.
I will take the opportunity to strengthen bilateral relationships with key strategic partners and engage with members of the global business community at the B20 Summit.
The B20 is a meeting of business and commercial interests, allied to the G20 summit.
Updated
Flooding update from the NSW State Emergency Service
The NSW SES is working to resupply a number of communities isolated by flooding in Collarenebri, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga, Brewarrina and parts of Bourke.
SES assistant commissioner Nicole Hogan said this was a very complex and evolving situation.
“The size of the area is about 40,000 square kilometres – more than half the size of Tasmania,” she said.
“Roads have intermittently been cut for several weeks now, with resupply missions needing to take place by airplane to regional depots, before being loaded onto helicopters and finally transported by vehicles and boats to the desired recipients.
“With renewed flooding expected, we anticipate this remote outreach will need to continue for some time. We are conducting regular flights to ensure the 5000 or so isolated residents receive the essential foods, medicines, mail and essentials they need.
“As the flood water recedes we hope access will improve, however if people are in need of resupply they should get in touch with the NSW SES.”
During the current ongoing flood campaign:
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) November 9, 2022
👉32,283 Calls to SES State Command Centre
👉13,018 Requests for Assistance
👉494 Flood Rescue Activations
Thank you NSW SES members, partner agencies, and communities for going above and beyond, saving lives and protecting communities. pic.twitter.com/ILv4kAxU3K
Meanwhile, NSW SES volunteers have been busy in Condobolin as major flooding continues on the Lachlan River.
Volunteers have been active assisting the community with door knocking, sandbagging and conducting flood rescues.
Hogan said the NSW SES was bracing for declining weather conditions over the next 48 hours.
“Through Sunday and Monday we are prepping for a large amount of rainfall as a result of severe storms which are predicted to come through the state which unfortunately could lead to renewed riverine flooding and dangerous flash flooding.
“The NSW SES is urging residents to not drive or play in flood waters. The risk of flooded roads poses a very dangerous risk in already flood affected communities where rivers are full and all additional water will run off and cause some areas to flood very quickly,” she said.
For the last 24 hours NSW SES have performed five flood rescues and received 145 requests for assistance.
Updated
Victory will be a ‘joint success’, says Ukraine’s foreign minister
During their conversation, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has told the Australian prime minister he understands that everybody in the world wants this war to end – the Ukrainian people most of all.
But he says Russian aggression makes peace impossible at this point in time. “The war goes on,” Kuleba said. Ukraine’s foreign minister then made a moving observation:
Ukraine will always remember this support the people of Australia extended to us. We will definitely prevail and when victory comes it will be a joint success.
Updated
Anthony Albanese meets Ukraine foreign minister in Cambodia
Australia’s prime minister has just opened Saturday’s program with a meeting with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who is in Phnom Penh at the invitation of the Cambodian government.
The pair had a warm conversation. Anthony Albanese characterised Russia’s conduct as “outrageous” and “reprehensible” and “illegal” and he outlined Australia’s recent military assistance and contribution to training Ukrainian forces in the UK.
Albanese, who is in Cambodia for the Asean summit, said the people of Ukraine could be assured of Australia’s ongoing support during the war, and the Ukrainian foreign minister quipped the Bushmasters (which are the Australian military vehicles supplied in the conflict) had become “the most popular” Australian brand in his home country.
The foreign minister said he understood the world wanted the conflict to end, but Ukraine was grateful to Australia and other global partners for the sustained assistance.
Updated
New flood warnings have been issued in New South Wales.
⚠️UPDATE: MAJOR #Flood Warning for the #Murrumbidgee, with RENEWED MAJOR FLOODING possible at #Gundagai from Monday with forecast rainfall. MODERATE FLOODING possible at #WaggaWagga, #Tumut also. Details and updates: https://t.co/BHWwKlycb6; follow advice from @NSWSES #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/PgTaG0Odmi
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) November 12, 2022
Here is a view on the weather system sweeping across country from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Showers and thunderstorms are developing across central and eastern Australia today, increasing and becoming heavy across Qld, NSW and Vic on Sunday.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) November 12, 2022
⚠️Severe Thunderstorm and Severe Weather Warnings are current.
Latest forecast and warnings https://t.co/PxMY44eB6b pic.twitter.com/qMqjwymIa4
Australian men’s basketball team pulls out of Iran game over safety fears
Basketball Australia has cited player safety concerns for its decision to withdraw the men’s national team from an upcoming World Cup qualifier in Iran.
Following the defeat of Kazakhstan that sealed their spot in next year’s tournament, the Boomers had been due to travel to Tehran and meet Iran on Tuesday (AEDT).
Instead, the side will return to Australia and await instructions from FIBA as to whether the match will be rescheduled elsewhere.
“Basketball Australia have conducted a thorough risk assessment in conjunction with relevant authorities and as a result we will not be sending any teams into Iran at this time,” a statement read.
A series of protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly violently arrested by the country’s Guidance Patrol in September for failing to wear her hijab properly. She died in custody three days after falling into a coma.
Currently, Iran is one of 19 countries to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians not to travel.
“Protests continue around the country and there’s been an increase in the number of foreign nationals arrested,” DFAT’s advice reads.
“Medical evacuation may be difficult. If you’re in Iran, we recommend you leave. Airlines may cancel or reduce their operations to and from Iran at short notice.”
A representative said Basketball Australia had informed FIBA of its safety concerns prior to the current round of qualifiers.
Basketball Australia said they would not have travelled to Iran regardless of whether they had defeated Kazakhstan to confirm their spot at the World Cup.
The decision to withdraw will not affect Australia’s qualification for the World Cup, set to be held across Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines from August next year.
Australia have won all nine of their games on the road to the World Cup and are currently set to play Bahrain and Kazakhstan in February for the sixth round of qualifiers.
FIBA has been contacted for comment.
- AAP
Expanded voting options available for those caught in Victorian floods
The Victorian Electoral Commission has announced additional voting options ahead of the state election for those still grappling with recent floods.
The VEC has released a list of “designated areas” where residents will be able to access telephone-assisted voting.
Voters who have been displaced by floods are will be eligible to vote will be able to call the VEC’s telephone assisted voting service from 19 November.
Voters will also be able to vote in person at any early voting centre or election day centre in Victoria. Postal votes will also be available with applications available on the VEC website.
People who have been displaced by flood and have been about to return can use the VEC’s online Voting Centre Locator to see if their regular voting location is available, or whether it has had to be relocated.
Voters are advised to check the list as new areas may be added based on consultations between VEC and the Emergency Management Commissioner.
The electoral commissioner, Warwick Gately, said telephone-assisted voting was only for people who had been displaced by flooding.
Telephone assisted voting is available primarily for people who face significant barriers to voting in person or by post, including blind and low vision voters, those with a physical disability and, now also, those flood-affected voters who cannot get to a voting centre from Saturday 19 November to 6pm on Saturday 26 November.
If you are flood-affected and you are still able to access the internet and receive mail, please apply online for a postal vote to conserve the telephone voting service for those with no ability to receive mail or travel to a voting centre.
A mobile voting team will also visit the Mickleham Centre for National Resilience on Thursday 17 November to take votes from Victorians who have been temporarily relocated to that location.
There will also be an election day voting centre at the Elmore Athenaeum Hall in Elmore, in close proximity to the Rochester Temporary Village (Elmore).
Flood-affected voters who qualify for telephone assisted voting, can call 13 57 23 from Saturday 19 November up to 6pm on election day (Saturday 26 November) to register to vote by phone.
Updated
Queensland government investigating allegations water contamination kept secret
The Queensland government is seeking an update from the independent regulator after revelations that dangerous levels of toxic chemicals have been found in groundwater near a site contaminated by Linc Energy.
Linc Energy was fined $4.5m following contamination caused by a joint-venture with CS Energy that involved setting fire to underground coal seams to generate gas.
The Australian reported that leaked documents from Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science showed cyanide and benzene had been detected in April last year, but land owners appear not to have been told.
The documents reportedly describe the extent of the contamination as “currently unknown”.
The minister for communities and housing, Leeanne Enoch, was asked about the incident while speaking to reporters on Saturday but declined to provide any detail, saying the environment minister was seeking an urgent briefing.
Can I just say this, this was – this whole piece with Linc Energy, this was one of the most rigorous investigations in the independent regulator’s history. The company was successfully prosecuted and was fined some $4.5m as a result of that.
Certainly the independent regulator to date has found no contaminants from Linc’s activists but of course the minister, as she has already made clear, will be seeking some urgent briefing on that matter to make sure all that information is made clear.
So from my understanding the independent regulator has been providing property owners the results of water monitoring on their properties.
Enoch said she believed landowners were notified about the results of groundwater testing on their property but did not know whether the results from neighbouring properties were shared.
She also would not be drawn on questions about whether the government avoided making news of the contamination public to avoid the risk of litigation.
What I can say is that this work is and has been the most rigorous investigation and the independent regulator, making it clear – an independent regulator – have been in conversation with property owners and the minister will get the information from the department.
Updated
Queensland state government on alert as fourth Covid Wave looms
The Queensland minister Leeanne Enoch says the state government is watching and waiting as fourth Covid wave looms.
Enoch praised the work of Queensland health workers to date and said the state had invested heavily in building capacity to deal with future waves.
“Obviously we have absolutely stood out amongst the pack over the entire time of dealing with Covid,” Enoch said.
Enoch said the government is taking advice about any further actions that may need to be taken.
Updated
Queensland website to provide ‘single source of truth’ for those moving into aged care
Queensland’s government has announced a new government website to help seniors and their families compare options for retirement living in the state.
The website will serve as a tool to allowed users to compare services, facilities and locations.
Speaking to reporters outside Southern Cross Care facility on Saturday, minister Leeanne Enoch described the website as a “single source of truth” for those who needed help to “navigate the system”.
“When people decide to think about moving to a retirement village, there’s quite a great deal of stress about that – all the usual things involved with taking that next step in life.
“It can be quite confusing.”
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the website was part of her government’s commitment to providing better services.
I love our great lifestyle - it's why so many people want to retire in Queensland. Our seniors and retirees have given so much to Queensland. We want to provide great security and certainty for seniors considering retirement village living.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 11, 2022
Updated
If you’ve been following the parliamentary tussle over the Albanese government’s workplace reform package this week, you will have clocked some interesting divergences between the progressive forces in the 47th parliament.
If you’ve missed it, let’s catch up quickly. Labor’s efforts to implement multi-employer bargaining to boost wages growth hasn’t won universal approval. The case study confirms progressivism in this parliament runs along a spectrum from centre-right to centre-left to hard left.
There’s a very old proverb in Australia: money runs Sydney and the unions run Melbourne. This is a gross generalisation, and the whole notion feels pretty antiquated in the modern economy, but I remembered it this week when the Melbourne teal independents – Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel – voted with the government on the second reading of the industrial legislation, while the Sydney contingent opposed the policy.
For more analysis on how the new parliament is shaping up, read the full story for Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy.
Billion dollar hospital redevelopment on the cards if Victorian Liberals win election
The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne would undergo a $2.4 billion redevelopment if the Coalition wins the upcoming Victorian election.
An extra 150 beds and a new hospital wing would be created, with construction set to begin in its first term.
The revamp includes more operating theatres, greater intensive care capacity, extra car parks and an updated emergency and trauma centre.
The hospital pledge is the Coalition’s single biggest election promise and Liberal Leader Matthew Guy expected it would take more than five years to complete.
Liberal health spokesperson and former midwife Georgie Crozier used to work at The Alfred and described the facilities as “crumbling”.
“A hospital that is not fit for purpose, it is not up to scratch in the 21st century. That is Labor’s failure, that is Daniel Andrews’ failure,” she said.
Jason Hennessey attended the press conference with the Liberal leadership and explained his wife Kylie, who had a brain tumour, had to travel to Adelaide to get a specialised MRI scan because the machine at the Alfred was broken.
Hennessey said there was a three month wait before his wife could get the scan at another Melbourne hospital.
“If we had to wait three months, my wife would have died,” he said.
Guy reiterated his health spending plan was possible because if elected he would shelve stage one of the $35 billion Suburban Rail Loop project from Box Hill to Cheltenham.
The Coalition will preference the Greens over Labor at the November 26 poll, which it hopes will mean the government could lose up to three seats.
So far the Coalition has committed funds to more than 20 hospitals, $125 million to triple zero and plans to recruit an extra 40,000 nurses.
Heath has become the dominant issue in the 2022 campaign, after pressures on the system were highlighted through the pandemic.
- AAP
Renewed flood warnings across parts of New South Wales.
⚠️ #NSW Flood Watch updated: RENEWED FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES NORTH WEST, CENTRAL WEST AND SOUTH WEST INLAND RIVERS FROM SUNDAY. See https://t.co/zC5B0mWcBb for updates and warnings. Follow advice from @NSWSES #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/wnUyJBwys9
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) November 12, 2022
⚠️⛈️ Severe Weather #Warning for heavy rainfall developing from Sunday morning issued for parts of southeastern inland NSW. Flash flooding possible. Locations in warning area include #Yass, #Albury, #Tumbarumba, #Tumut, #Khancoban and #Holbrook.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) November 12, 2022
Details: https://t.co/nv5gCaHGGE pic.twitter.com/6PypF5YiBK
Updated
New climate modelling suggests South Australia will grow hotter, more arid
South Australia is in for hotter days and more of them, less rain but with heavier falls, and more severe fire conditions as the world’s climate warms, AAP reports.
The forecast by the state’s department for environment and water is based on the likely effects of climate change obtained by modelling different greenhouse gas emission scenarios
The concerning projections indicate increases in maximum, minimum and average temperatures, and a decline in average annual rain despite a greater frequency of extreme falls.
They have been issued as a summary of likely changes in the decades ahead to key variables such as temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, days of severe fire danger and sea level rises.
Acting climate minister, Joe Szakacs, says the data will be used by government, business and communities to prepare for change.
“These projections reinforce why the state government declared a climate emergency and why South Australia can’t afford to wait any longer on real climate change action,” he said.
“They further highlight the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through our hydrogen jobs plan, which will accelerate SA’s renewable energy industry.”
The modelling’s mid-range scenario is representative of a global temperature increase of between 1.9C and 2.9C by 2100, while a high-range scenario represents a 3.6 to 5.0C increase.
Statistical tables for Adelaide and nine regional South Australian towns, along with statewide maps, provide an in-depth analysis on projected climate variables to 2030, 2050 and, for the first time, 2090.
Szakacs said the figures provided the best information available to help plan for the future.
“The time for climate change action is now and it is incumbent upon us all to support businesses and the community to adapt and reduce emissions,” he said.
SA’s deputy premier and climate minister, Susan Close, is currently attending the UN’s Cop27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Updated
Here is the joint statement on the new cybersecurity taskforce that was announced earlier today.
Joint standing operation against cyber criminal syndicates established #auspol pic.twitter.com/GT5W6qo534
— Political Alert (@political_alert) November 12, 2022
Updated
Victorian Electoral Commission rejects independent candidate how-to-vote card
A community independent for a high-profile Melbourne seat is threatening court action over a dispute about her how-to-vote card design, AAP is reporting.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has told Brighton candidate Felicity Frederico her design for the 26 November state election is not permissible as it has blank boxes next to other candidates.
“Your district HTVC must not include any visuals of blank boxes next to candidate names,” a VEC candidate services officer wrote in an email to Ms Frederico.
“The reason for this is that it may induce a voter to vote 1 for you, but not number all the remaining boxes. This would mislead the voter to cast an informal vote.”
Frederico is attempting to prise the south-east Melbourne seat from Liberal MP and shadow cabinet minister James Newbury, who holds it on a notional margin of 0.5% after an electoral boundaries redistribution.
The former Bayside mayor quit the Liberal party after losing a preselection race against Newbury last year.
Under Victoria’s Electoral Act, how-to-vote cards must indicate the order of voting preference for all listed candidates or a statement that a number must be placed against each candidates name.
The Act states that the commission must refuse to register a how-to-vote card if it is likely to mislead or deceive an elector.
Frederico’s preferred design directs voters to “place a 1 in this box, then number all other boxes”.
She says the VEC’s interpretation of the legislation is wrong, with a similar design used by teal independent Monique Ryan during her successful campaign for the federal seat of Kooyong in May.
“I want an open ballot because, as an independent, I want voters to choose who their preferences go to,” she told AAP on Saturday.
How-to-vote card submissions for parties and candidates open on Monday, the same day as early voting begins across the state.
Designs must be registered with the VEC in order to be distributed on election day but it is not required at early voting centres.
Frederico plans to submit two designs on Monday, including one as a back up that does not mention any other candidate on the ballot.
“I will definitely consider legal action if my preferred how-to-vote card is not registered,” she said.
The VEC has been contacted for comment.
Updated
Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of South Australia along with the risk of large hail.
⚠️A Severe Thunderstorm Warning ⛈️has been issued for damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall for the Lower & Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, West Coast, North East and North West Pastoral districts. Latest warning: https://t.co/5wxFrWeCue pic.twitter.com/DR8YtZth4K
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) November 11, 2022
Similar warnings have also been issued for parts of Queensland’s southern interior.
⛈️Saturday forecast: thunderstorms ongoing in western QLD and the southern interior. Severe thunderstorms possible with damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall. Severe thunderstorms in the far southwest may also produce large hail. Warnings if needed: https://t.co/FBmpsIoqYW pic.twitter.com/kEo4pfyrbu
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 11, 2022
Severe weather warnings have also been issued for parts of eastern Victoria.
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING for HEAVY RAINFALL
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) November 11, 2022
For people in North East and parts of East Gippsland, Northern Country, North Central, Central and West and South Gippsland Forecast Districts.
Stay informed: https://t.co/U2WKNwpsM4 pic.twitter.com/uCSaDp49oA
O’Neil is asked about the Majestic Princess cruise ship that docked in Sydney overnight.
New South Wales Health is the lead agency for managing how they are going to assist the passengers and deal with this embarkation on a case-by-case basis.
I would say that there are regular protocols and plans that have arisen out of the Ruby Princess.
She also said “the role of border forces supplementary to the lead on health issues”.
Back on the new taskforce, O’Neil says a permanent standing committee will be formed to oversee the partnership between the Australian Signals Directorate and the AFP.
Updated
Dreyfus is asked whether Australia is considering expelling Russian diplomats. He says the Australian government is “looking hard at Russia’s diplomatic profile in Australia and all options remain under consideration”.
However:
Our preference is to maintain diplomatic channels but diplomatic profiles must always be consistent with our national interest.
On whether the AFP can reasonably expect to go after those responsible in Russia, O’Neill says Australia needs to change its “mindset”.
I think we need to shift away from the mindset here that the only thing that needs success is having someone behind bars. There is an enormous amount that can be done which doesn’t look in that exact direction.
I won’t go into the specifics but this term disruption is what we’re here to talk about. And this joint standing operation is not simply responding to crime, they will be hunting these gangs where ever they are around the world and the their activities, we’re going to hack the hackers.
Updated
Clare O'Neil says Australia is waking from a 'cyber slumber'
O’Neil says cybercrime is a global problem and is the No 1 crime of concern for law enforcement globally.
I think what we’re seeing in Australia is that we’re waking up from a cyber slumber that we’ve been in. When I look at previous years, you saw in 2020, 2021, major attacks which are quite similar in nature to Optus and many bank happened in countries around the world.
Dreyfus is asked about relations between Russia and Australia and whether this may affect the attempt to track down those who stole the Medibank data.
He says the AFP will work with international partners that includes Interpol. He calls on “all countries” to assist in the elimination of this type of cybercrime.
Russia remains a member of Interpol and [it is] doubly appropriate that Russia do all that it can to ensure that people who are within its borders are not engaging in this kind of criminal activity.
Updated
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, is speaking now about how this new partnership will work. He says the government is doing all it can to “limit the impact of this awful criminal act”.
The AFP has been working day and night, scouring the internet and no criminal online sites to identify those who are buying and selling personal information, personal identification information.
Dreyfus says a government bill will be introduced and he called on “all parties” in the Senate to support its bill so it can be “passed without delay”.
Updated
O’Neil says the new taskforce will not be a reactive organisation but will be set up to “hack the hackers”:
Today we are putting cybercriminals on notice. The joint standing operation will not simply be responding to crimes as they affect Australians, they will be hunting these gangs around the world and disrupting the activities of these people.
The smartest and toughest people in our country are going to hack the hackers. From now on cybercriminals will be a constant and enduring target for our agencies to disrupt and they will be working closely with the international partnerships that these two organisations have.
Updated
Clare O'Neil announces 'new model of policing' to combat cybercrime
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has announced a “new model of policing” following the Medibank hack.
You are entitled to keep information about your health, whatever it is, completely private. It doesn’t matter who you are or what that information might be, that is your right. And it has been stolen from you by Russian thugs. Our message today is that those thugs should watch out.
O’Neil says a new partnership will be formed between the Australian federal police and the Australian Signals Directorate.
This will be through a joint standing operation against cybercriminal syndicates. Around 100 officers around these two organisations will be a part of this joint standing operation, many of these officers will be physically colocated working from the Australian Signals Directorate.
This is the formalisation of a partnership, a standing body within the Australian government which will, day in, day out, hunt down the scumbags who are responsible for these malicious crimes against innocent people.
Updated
The attorney general, Mark Dreyus, and the cybersecurity minister, Claire O’Neil, are about to give a press conference on the Medibank breach.
We’ll bring you the latest when it gets underway.
Updated
Majestic Princess passengers told not to take public transport
The Majestic Princess has docked in Sydney’s Darling Harbour and is currently allowing passengers to disembark.
Special measures have been put in place to ensure passengers who have contracted Covid-19 remain isolated from healthy passengers as they leave.
All passengers must wear masks and will be required to follow special measures as they re-enter the community, for example those infected are being told not to take public transport.
When disembarkation takes place the cruise ship will then be disinfected and will take on new passengers before shipping out later today.
Updated
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security Clare O’Neil will hold a media conference in Melbourne on the latest developments regarding Medibank, 10:30AM #auspol
— Political Alert (@political_alert) November 11, 2022
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Noor Bari says the situation unfolding with the Majestic Princess is serious for more reasons than many believe.
She says that despite cruise line companies upgrading their HEPA/UVC air intake systems, a critical number of cases on board can quickly overwhelm the limited facilities on board.
As you can see, some cruise ships have put effort into upgrading their systems.
— Noor Bari (@NjbBari3) November 11, 2022
Problem is, when you have 800 cases of disease on board, that is a HUGE viral load to clean. Lot of energy required. Difficult to clean it all.
This includes staff that are responsible for medical assistance on board. Cruise ships have a mini hospital on board with a tiny complement of staff (compared to on land). COVID-19 could easily knock out those staff.
— Noor Bari (@NjbBari3) November 11, 2022
Noor says allowing the passengers to disembark will allow them to be absorbed by the local health system rather as the risk cases may become serious grows if people are kept aboard the ship.
However the decision to allow the passengers to disembark is not being well received in some quarters.
They’re all disembarking!
— Rick (@colonelhogans) November 11, 2022
Covid-negative passengers on the luxury cruise ship Majestic Princess, which docked at Circular Quay this morning with about 800 Covid-positive travellers on board, have begun to head home.
Remember when Sydney locked down because of one Covid positive taxi driver? 800 fresh positives from a cruise ship are walking the same Sydney streets - unmasked. Thanks NSW Health - great job.
— Bevoir (@Bevoir3) November 11, 2022
Free pads and tampons to be distributed in public institutions across Victoria
Daniel Andrews’ government says it will expand a program to supply free pads and tampons in public places.
Victoria already provides free pads and tampons in public schools but will now spend $23m to expand the scheme.
Under the plan 1,500 dispensing machines will be installed at 700 public sites including public hospitals, courts, Tafes, public libraries, train stations and major cultural institutions such as the State Library of Victoria and the Melbourne Museum.
The minister for women, Natalie Hutchins, said the price of these items builds up over a woman’s lifetime and the program would help would ensure “basic dignity”.
“We’ve already made tampons and pads free in schools, we’re going a step further to ensure women have the basic dignity they deserve,” Hutchins said.
The premier, Daniel Andrews, said the program would break down taboos and help with the cost of living.
Pads and tampons aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity – and women should be able to get them wherever they are. We’re making them more readily available, and we’re saving women money, too.
Having access to pads and tampons during mensuration is about providing basic dignity. It breaks down the taboo and shame of periods and provides women with cost of living relief.
Updated
More flood warnings for Victorian communities
Communities in Victoria are bracing for another potential flood emergency, as New South Wales authorities warn residents to prepare for a “dangerous” wet weekend.
Victoria’s north-eastern areas are expected to face the brunt of the state’s flood threat on Sunday, with widespread showers and storms expected to cause moderate to major flooding.
The state’s north-east is forecast to receive between 60 millimetres and 90 millimetres of rain on Sunday.
The rest of the state will be under threat from heavy rainfall and large hailstones, while parts of Melbourne and Riverine communities could also experience flash flooding.
As of Friday evening, more than 40 flood alerts remained in place across the state, with a major flood warning for the Murray River.
It’s feared water could rise to about the same level as the devastating 1975 floods in low-lying areas along the Murray such as Mildura, Robinvale, Boundary Bend, and Wakool Junction.
The Hume Dam is already at 96% capacity, prompting authorities to release 95 gigalitres per day.
Cooler air will start to extend across Victoria into next week, leading to colder temperatures in Melbourne and snow returning to some of the state’s alpine peaks.
Forecasters expect above average rainfall in Victoria to persist for another six to eight weeks.
Across the border in NSW, authorities on Friday warned flood-prone communities to brace for a dangerous 72 hours, with widespread rainfall and thunderstorms expected across the state.
Some towns could experience flooding similar to levels seen in previous weeks, according to the State Emergency Service.
Major flood warnings remained in place on Friday for the Barwon, Darling, Macquarie, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray, Bogan, Namoi, Narran, and Culgoa rivers.
The emergency service cautioned people to watch out for landslips and falling trees, with some areas expecting flash flooding from short bursts of rain.
The federal government’s one-off disaster recovery payment scheme was extended to another five NSW local government areas on Friday.
People living in Cootamundra-Gundagai, Forbes, Liverpool Plains, the Snowy Valleys, and Upper Lachlan are now eligible to apply for $1000 per adult and $400 per child.
- AAP
Updated
Russian embassy hits out at Australia over ‘politicised' statement on cyberattack
Russia has responded to allegations by the Australian federal police that a group of Russian cybercriminals were responsible for the Medibank hack.
The Russian embassy said Australian law enforcement had not contacted Russian law enforcement agencies before making the announcement in a statement published to its Facebook page.
The AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw claimed that those responsible for the Medibank Private data breach “are in Russia’. For some reason, this announcement was made before the AFP even contacted the Russian side through the existing professional channels of communication.
We encourage the AFP to duly get in touch with the respective Russian law enforcement agencies.
Fighting cybercrime that adversely affects people’s lives and damages businesses demands a cooperative, non-politicized and responsible approach from all members of the world community.
For more on how Australia’s biggest health insurer fell victim to mass data theft, check out this feature by Guardian Australia’s tech reporter, Josh Taylor.
Updated
Amazon plan to deliver 500 million packages a year by drone
The world’s largest online retailer has pledged to deliver 500 million packages each year by drone from 2030.
The Australian executive in charge of Amazon’s air division says it’s one of the only ways to get parcels to customers “in under an hour”.
The company revealed its delivery plan in Boston on Friday, also showing off its latest drone design – a model called the MK30 – that promises a bigger delivery area, quieter operation and the ability to fly in the rain.
But Amazon will have competition in the air if it expands drone deliveries to Australia, with Google claiming an early advantage in the country and signing up a new partner this week.
Amazon Prime Air vice-president David Carbon, an Australian and former Boeing executive, said many pundits had dismissed drone deliveries as “science fiction”.
However, the company was advanced in its plans to deploy a fleet of delivery drones and drop parcels weighing up to 2.2kg outside homes in crowded areas.
“We want to deliver packages in under an hour and we will deliver packages in under an hour to suburban areas,” he said. “We want to scale. That’s why I say we want to send 500 million packages by the end of the decade and (serve) millions of customers. That’s what we’re designing for and that’s where we’re going.”
Amazon showed off a redesigned and fully electric MK30 at Friday’s Delivering the Future event, with six propellers, a removable battery, a smaller and lighter body than its last model, and claims of safe delivery in “light rain”.
But the company will test firstly with its older MK27-2 model, with services set to roll out in rural California and Texas this year.
Carbon said Amazon was working closely with aviation regulators to ensure safety in suburban areas but pending approval, planned a much wider rollout for its air deliveries in the US and potentially Australia.
Amazon would face competition if it launched in Australia, however, as Google offshoot Wing has been operating drones in parts of the country since 2017.
It currently delivers for Coles, Boost Juice, Roll’d and Chemmart in Canberra and Logan, in southeast Queensland, and last week signed a partnership with DoorDash to offer deliveries from a third-party app.
- AAP
Updated
All guests aboard cruise ship will be allowed to disembark despite Covid-19 status
A cruise ship with one in five passengers sick with Covid-19 has docked in Sydney Harbour this morning.
The Majestic Princess is carrying 4,000 passengers – 3,000 passengers and 1,000 staff.
New South Wales Health is scrambling to manage the situation, declaring the risk level on the ship as tier 3.
The New South Wales government website describes the tier 3 risk setting as a “high impact to vessel”.
There are a lot of cases on board (100 or more positive cases per 1,000 people) and/or the vessel is unable to maintain critical services due to staffing or resource shortages.
All guests will be allowed to disembark the ship but will be masked, regardless of their Covid-19 status.
At the start of the pandemic the Ruby Princess docked in Sydney with 2,641 passengers, leading to 28 deaths and sparking a mass outbreak of Covid-19 in Australia.
Updated
Greens plan to phase out soft plastics follow recycling collapse
More single-use soft plastics would be phased out of Victorian supermarkets under a strategy released by the Greens.
The nation’s largest soft plastic recycling program, REDcycle, was suspended this week over concerns items were not being properly processed, posing environmental and safety risks.
Users had been dropping off soft plastics at collection points for supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths, before it emerged millions of plastic bags were being stored in warehouses.
The suspension has spurred the Victorian Greens to call for a state-based plan.
It would include a ban on more single-use plastics, including fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic, and offer free heavy-weight plastic bags, coffee cups and takeaway containers.
A working group would be established to set procurement targets for the use of soft plastics in certain infrastructure projects, $150 million to boost recycling capacity and $100,000 for more water bubblers.
Victorian Greens MP Ellen Sandell blamed the suspension of the REDcycle program on a lack of ambition from governments.
People have shown they’ll go out of their way to do the right thing by taking their soft plastics to supermarkets for recycling.
It’s governments who now need to step up their action by phasing out incessant plastic and making the recycling system work.
- AAP
Now we’ve covered off Saturday’s logistics in Cambodia, let’s cover off the talking point of the moment. One of the focal points of this trip is whether or not Australia’s prime minister will meet the Chinese leadership either in Phnom Penh (it would be the Chinese premier if it happens here), or later, in Bali. Xi Jinping will go to the G20, and reports suggest he’ll meet the US president, Joe Biden, there.
If we see a meeting between Albanese and the Chinese leadership this week, it will be a big deal. It would be the first contact at leader level since 2019. But the short answer to this “will they or won’t they” question is we still don’t know whether or not there will be dialogue. The diplomatic signalling points to some sort of encounter – a bilateral meeting, or perhaps a “pull aside” (this is an unofficial chat in a corridor during the daily orienteering around the summit). But Australian officials certainly aren’t speculating, so we will have to wait and see. If the conversation happens, Albanese has signalled pressing for an end to costly sanctions on Australian exports will be front and centre. We expect Albanese will catch up with Biden over the coming days.
Albanese to meet Ukrainian foreign minister
Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, has sent this briefing on what to expect from Anthony Albanese’s summitry in Cambodia today:
Good morning from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, where Anthony Albanese is kicking off his first day of the November summit season. Australia’s prime minister will attend the Asean-Australia summit in Cambodia on Saturday, and the East Asia Summit on Sunday before heading for the G20 in Bali, and the Apec summit in Bangkok.
The prime minister will begin Saturday’s program with a meeting with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who is in Phnom Penh at the invitation of the Cambodian government. Albanese will express Australia’s strong support for the people of Ukraine. Albanese will then meet the summit host, the prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen. It’s not their first conversation. Albanese and the Cambodian prime minister met for the first time in the late 1980s when Albanese was a young political staffer. The two leaders recalled this encounter during a recent conversation. Late morning local time, Albanese will deliver his opening remarks at the summit, before rolling into meetings with the prime ministers of Vietnam and Laos.
This cluster of international meetings comes as the world is battling an inflation shock, an energy crisis caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and rising geo-strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region. If Asean is a new concept for you, this grouping was first formed in 1967. The founding partners were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. The group has expanded over time. The East Asia Summit has 18 members – the 10 Asean nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) – plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
Just a couple of other contextual things. Asean is often criticised for a lack of strategic policies and coherent leadership. Decision-making happens by consensus and the group lacks a unified approach to the rise of China in the region, and human rights abuses in Myanmar. These points of friction will be front and centre over the coming days. This Asean group sits at the epicentre of escalating great power competition (by that, we mean the geostrategic contest between China and the US) and Australia talks a lot about Asean “centrality” when we articulate our foreign policy. China’s line in the region is the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US erodes Asean centrality. While Australia invests a lot in relationships with Asean countries, we are also pursuing other security agreements in our region which pull us further into the orbit of the US – such as the revived “Quad” group, and the Aukus partnership with the US and the UK.
Welcome
Good morning. Thanks for joining us for our Australian live news coverage.
The main political interest of the day comes from Cambodia where Anthony Albanese is kicking off a week-long schedule of diplomacy at the Asean-Australia summit in Phnom Penh. His first engagement is a meeting with Ukraine’s foreign minister, who has been invited by the Cambodian government ahead of the G20 in Bali next week. The prime minister will then meet the summit host, the prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen. He will then make a speech to the summit a bit later in the morning. Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, is with the PM and there’s a full update coming up from her.
The cruise ship Majestic Princess docked in Sydney this morning at about 6am with around 800 passengers infected with Covid-19. It has been on a 12-day voyage to New Zealand. It is the biggest single outbreak since the Ruby Princess cruiseliner arrived in Sydney in April 2020. It comes as Covid infections are exploding across Australia in a fourth wave of the virus driven by Omicron variants.
Albanese isn’t the only government member attending a summit this week as the climate minister, Chris Bowen, is due to arrive in Egypt for the second week of the Cop27 summit. The US president, Joe Biden, addressed the gathering overnight and warned that the world faced a “pivotal” moment in the fight against climate change.
