What we learned, Friday 25 October 2024
With that, we’ll end our live coverage of the day’s news.
Here’s a summary of the main news developments:
Technology company WiseTech Global enjoyed a double-digit surge in its share price on Friday after its embattled founder, Richard White, stood aside, creating a circuit breaker to weeks of damaging news.
The Queensland Liberal National party leader, David Crisafulli, has walked back his campaign promise to resign if crime victim numbers do not reduce under a government led by him, claiming on Friday that he was referring to per capita rates, and not the overall number of victims.
No-grounds evictions have been outlawed in New South Wales with the passing of new laws designed to rebalance power between the state’s 2.2 million renters and their landlords.
A high-profile Sydney man has been found not guilty on two counts of rape, with a jury unable to reach a verdict on three other rape charges.
An “amorous couple” accused of causing major flooding and the evacuation of two Victorian train stations has been arrested.
A sacked Melbourne Victory women’s coach has been jailed and may be deported after raping a woman who screamed for him to stop.
Thanks for reading – have a pleasant evening.
Updated
Police find body amid inquiries into missing man
Police in New South Wales have located a man’s body after an extensive search in the Hawkesbury region on Friday, as a man remains before the courts charged with murder.
Authorities allege Edwin Dobbin, 82, was shot dead some time after he disappeared from south-west Sydney in late September. Nearly a month later, detectives charged a 67-year-old man with killing Dobbin and disposing of his body.
The accused killer, who police said knew Dobbin, was arrested at a home in Smithfield yesterday after allegedly telling authorities conflicting accounts of the elderly man’s disappearance.
After the arrest, police began searching a semi-rural property north-west of Sydney, where they believe Dobbin’s body is buried. Authorities said they would continue the search for his remains today.
The accused man was also charged with hindering an investigation into a serious indictable offence and the unlawful disposal of a corpse. He was refused police bail and is due to appear at Fairfield local court today.
Two missing persons appeals were issued for Dobbin after he was last spotted at Leppington, about 80km from where the search for his body was taking place, early on the morning of 25 September.
On Friday afternoon police said that while the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be Dobbin.
A postmortem examination will be conducted to confirm the cause of the man’s death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Updated
Australia and UK announce new climate and energy deal
Australia and the United Kingdom have struck a new deal to tackle climate change and collaborate on energy initiatives at a meeting between the nations’ leaders.
Anthony Albanese met with Keir Starmer for the first time on the sidelines of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Apia, Samoa.
The climate and energy partnership was announced on Friday, focusing on the “accelerated” development of renewable energy like offshore wind and green hydrogen through shared cooperation.
A joint statement referenced no specific initiatives, instead focusing on net zero emissions targets set by both nations.
Starmer said Australia and the UK shared many things in common. He said:
This partnership underscores our commitment to powering up the UK with clean energy projects that will benefit communities across the country.
Together, we’re delivering better futures for our two countries, whether that’s through protecting our national security with projects like Aukus or delivering on our net zero commitments.”
Albanese said:
This partnership will ensure we maximise the economic potential of the net zero transition, and build on our long-standing cooperation on international climate action and shared commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
We share a vision for a modern and transformed Australia-United Kingdom relationship, which delivers tangible benefits and prosperity to both our nations and the Indo-Pacific.”
Other discussions between the two leaders revolved around the Australia-UK free trade agreement, security and stability across the Indo-Pacific and negotiations for a bilateral treaty announced in September to develop the SSN-Aukus submarine for both nations.
The biennial meeting is being hosted by the Samoan prime minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, and is expected to focus heavily on regional security and tackling climate change.
King Charles addressed the gathering on Thursday.
– PA
Updated
Reserve Bank posts annual loss of $4.2bn
The RBA’s own finances aren’t that rosy, at least on paper.
It clocked up another annual loss of $4.2bn, mostly because its liabilities increase along with the cash rate but the returns on many of its assets remain fixed at the record low rates of 2020 and 2021. Still, that shortfall was better than the $6bn lost in the previous year.
It also has negative equity of $20.4bn, or about 15.3% more than for the 2022-23 year. Positive equity is not forecast until about 2030 (and a lot can change before then):
RBA posts another annual loss of $4.2bn, leaving net negative equity of $20.4bn. The bank projects its equity will eventually recover to be positive by about 2030 (barring more market meltdowns, presumably). pic.twitter.com/9uzaxlxFCZ
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) October 25, 2024
“Negative equity does not affect our operations or ability to perform our policy functions, but the Reserve Bank Board considers it important that the RBA’s capital be restored over time,” the governor, Michele Bullock, said in a foreword to the report.
The RBA has historically paid a lot of profit to governments – a tradition we don’t expect to see revived for a while.
As for the bit borrowers probably care about, Bullock indicated interest rate cuts aren’t likely to come in a rush (short of some major calamity, presumably).
She said:
Inflation remained high in 2023/24, and we expect that it will take another year or two before it is sustainably back to the Reserve Bank Board’s target of between 2 and 3%.
[The RBA board] recognises the challenging task it faces in bringing inflation back to target in a reasonable timeframe while preserving as many of the gains in the labour market as possible”.
Inflation figures for the September quarter, though, will land next Wednesday. A benign set of numbers (not out of the question) will stoke hopes of interest rate cuts before the RBA gets to sign off on another annual report.
Updated
RBA governor’s remuneration tops $1.25m
The Reserve Bank has released its annual report for the 2023-24 year, with the usual array of titbits.
The tabloids may jump on the remuneration details to contrast with mortgage-holders’ pain. Michele Bullock, who became governor about one-quarter of the way into the financial year, collected a base salary of $811,108 for the time spent at the top.
That came on top of $179,098 earned as deputy governor for part of the year. All up, including superannuation and her package being “inflated by her accrued long service leave being revalued” after her promotion, Bullock’s remuneration totalled $1,262,215 – or about 52% more than she earned a year earlier.
That package was also a touch over 10% more than her predecessor, Philip Lowe, earned in his final year before being punted. Lowe’s final months, during the 2023-24 financial year, generated him remuneration of $261,940.
It looks like a lot of money, but it pales against the income of many top CEOs – and probably quite a few people who are good at kicking or hitting balls – and the RBA is arguably Australia’s most important financial institution. (Please send any correspondence to the RBA.)
Updated
Cannabis crop worth $26m set alight in Victoria
More than $26m worth of cannabis has been destroyed after Victorian police arrested five people in one of the state’s largest drug busts of its kind.
Major Drug Squad detectives and local police swooped on a rural property in Leongatha South, in the state’s south-east, where they uncovered 6,525 cannabis plants.
The discovery inside several commercial-sized hothouses on Tuesday included cannabis seedlings through to mature-sized plants, weighing 1.7 tonnes in total.
The bust was “one of the most significant and complex” hydroponic cannabis set-ups the force had seen in recent times, Victoria police Acting Inspector Leemara Fairgrieve said on Friday.
“There were various other buildings on the property so in various locations within that property there was pretty much plants everywhere,” she told reporters.
It took more than 15 officers three days to dismantle and remove all the plants from the property, with water, electricity and dams part of the well-co-ordinated and methodical set-up.
“It’s a long time and a very dirty and smelly job ... it’s a really hard, arduous job for the members and then at the end, all of the items were destroyed out at the property,” Fairgrieve said.
AAP
Updated
WiseTech stock surges after CEO stands down
Technology company WiseTech Global enjoyed a double-digit surge in its share price on Friday after its embattled founder Richard White stood aside, creating a circuit breaker to weeks of damaging news.
Shares jumped almost 20% before retracing to trade at the $113 mark by early afternoon, representing a 14% rise.
WiseTech announced after the market closed yesterday that White would stand down as chief executive “with immediate effect”.
After a short period of leave, White will return in a consulting role for a 10-year term with the title “founder and founding CEO”. His $1m annual pay packet will remain unchanged.
The company has started a search for a new CEO.
White has been under extreme pressure after weeks of damaging revelations about his personal life.
The company’s shares were trading at as high as $137 at the start of the month before the revelations spooked shareholders.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Garry Sherriff said in a note today that the leadership transition represented a “positive circuit breaker”.
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on today’s blog. Elias Visontay will take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care and enjoy your weekend.
Updated
Stolen antique guns found after being made operational
Part of a horde of antique handguns stolen from a community-run museum has been recovered after the weapons were modified to become operational, AAP reports.
Police searched a property in Nowra on the NSW south coast this morning and seized more than a dozen firearms as well as 10,000 rounds of ammunition. They also took custody of a 3D printer and printed firearm parts, $64,700 in cash, 2.3kg of cannabis, and a buggy and two motocross bikes believed to be stolen.
Two men, aged 25 and 29, were arrested and each charged with more than 20 firearms offences. Police believe six of the seized guns were stolen from the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in August. The men were refused bail to appear before Nowra local court today.
Three other men were arrested and charged with the theft in September, when they were accused of stealing 27 commemorative guns from the museum for a profit-driven heist. The weapons included one from the 1700s and a pistol gifted by the Sultan of Oman.
Detectives were told the handguns, worth more than $200,000, could be made operational with modifications. Some of the guns might have been sold to “unwitting” members of the public, police said previously.
People would not face prosecution if they turned in the weapons to a registered firearms dealer or police station, investigators said. The six guns seized in the latest raid had all been made operational, while another eight stolen weapons remain unaccounted for.
Updated
Map of areas with severe heatwave warning
As we flagged earlier, there are heatwave warnings in place for parts of the NT, WA and Queensland today. The Bureau of Meteorology has published this video, demonstrating which areas are impacted:
#Heatwave Warnings are in place for parts of the #NT, northern #WA & north-west #Qld. High fire dangers are forecast in these states over the coming days. Extreme fire dangers for NT's Northern Barkly today & #SA's Eastern Eyre Peninsula tomorrow.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) October 25, 2024
Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/EFy8hV9Sn2
Victoria police provide update on fatal truck crash
Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill addressed the media earlier this afternoon after a truck crashed into a house in regional Victoria and left two dead.
He said the truck went through the front bedroom of the house, which is currently quarantined due to some asbestos issues.
It appears both victims were in the front bedroom at the time. At least one, I believe, was sleeping at the time. The other one doesn’t appear to be.
Hill said a number of vehicles were on the road when this occurred and called triple zero after being “witnesses to the traumatic events that occurred this morning”.
It’s a pretty dead-straight road. There’s no reason for vehicles to swerve, unless they’re overtaking. But how and why and what was going on inside the truck that caused the collision is something we will just have to look at over time.
Updated
‘Stay informed’ fire warnings for Queensland communities amid increased danger rating
Earlier we flagged there was a high fire danger rating for large parts of Queensland today. The state’s fire department has issued “stay informed” warnings for three communities:
Mutchilba (near Mareeba) between Algoma Road, Mareeba Dimbulah Road and Springmount Road
Canaga (near Chinchilla) between Southern Boundary Road, Davis Road, Woods Roads, Blowers Road and Pit Road
Dalby between Wilds Road, Warrego Highway, Newtown Stephen Road, Duncans Road and Ritters Road
The department said there is no immediate danger for these communities, but they should say informed “because conditions could change”.
Updated
Miles taking questions ahead of tomorrow’s Queensland election
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, took some questions from reporters on the Gold Coast earlier, ahead of tomorrow’s election. He was asked to respond to today’s Newspoll, showing that Labor was gaining momentum:
I think what we’ve seen is a continuing trend across the polls that, as Queenslanders get more of a chance to see and learn about [LNP leader] David Crisafulli, the more questions they have, the less they like him. That’s what has been borne out here.
If Labor is unsuccessful at the polls this weekend, would Miles stay on as opposition leader? He responded that these are “questions for Sunday and beyond”.
Miles also repeated earlier comments throughout the day that Labor doesn’t intend to do any deals with the Greens and Katters:
The LNP can’t make the same commitment. They have … a preference deal with the Katters already, they have a deal with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Imagine how madcap that coalition would be – David Crisafulli, Jarrod Bleijie, Robbie Katter and Pauline Hanson. That’s what they’re proposing.
Updated
Qantas avoids board spill
Qantas has avoided a spill of its board of directors, after investors voted in favour of its proposed executive pay plan.
A spill resolution would have been put to vote had investors voted down the remuneration plan at today’s annual general meeting in Hobart, after investors delivered a spectacular rejection of the pay deal at last year’s AGM in what was seen as a protest of a series of scandals that led to the early exit of former CEO Alan Joyce.
However, the remuneration report resolution has received overwhelming support. The improved sentiment from shareholders has come amid a more than 60% rise in share price since last year’s AGM.
Despite avoiding the damaging second strike against executive pay, Qantas’ new board chair, John Mullen, faced a series of questions from frustrated investors who felt that the leaders and directors of the company who remain from the tumultuous Joyce era had not sufficiently explained why they allowed certain decisions to be made.
Mullen also defended against a suggestion from an investor that Joyce’s final pay packet – which had already been cut by $9.3m following a review which found considerable harm was done to the Qantas brand under his tenure – should be clawed back even further to just his base salary.
A resolution to allow new CEO Vanessa Hudson to participate in Qantas’ long-term incentive program – which include long-term bonuses on top of base pay for meeting KPIs – was also supported.
Updated
Defence Net Zero Strategy released
The Defence Net Zero Strategy has been unveiled, setting out “practical and sensible” ways of reducing the environmental impact and carbon emissions of the government’s largest landholder and energy user, Pat Conroy has said.
As AAP reports, the defence industry minister said this includes using more renewable electricity, changing to lower-emission fuels, increasing energy efficiency, and investigating carbon sequestration on defence land.
The challenges arising from climate change are recognised in the National Defence Strategy and defence is taking action … Action on climate change is part of the defence mission to defend Australia and its national interests.
The defence secretary, Greg Moriarty, said the sector must demonstrate leadership in the transition away from fossil fuels and develop its own energy production capabilities, which would also boost national energy security.
Alternate energy sources that are wholly generated in Australia through sovereign capabilities are highly attractive to defence.
The strategy was described as the “first step” in maintaining capability and interoperability, while contributing to the federal government’s decarbonisation commitments.
But conventional fossil fuels were expected to remain part of the military’s energy mix beyond 2050, albeit at a reduced proportion, it said.
Updated
Save the Children Australia welcomes $10m in aid for Lebanon but urges more
Save the Children Australia has welcomed the government’s announcement of a further $10m in humanitarian aid for civilians in Lebanon (see earlier post for more details).
In a statement, its head of humanitarian and global programs Melanie Book said the $10m is a “welcome further step” towards helping a country “already stricken by a severe humanitarian crisis driven by economic collapse and political instability, even before the recent escalation of the conflict”.
Children in Lebanon have felt the crushing anxiety of war for months, and now their worst nightmare has become a reality, with 2,467 people killed, including 127 children, since October last year. 1.2m people, representing 20% of the population, including 420,000 children, have been displaced in recent months.
Save the Children is urging the government to bring its total commitment to $20m in humanitarian relief to Lebanon, “in line with like-minded countries”.
Australia’s response supports an increased international effort for the country, including the pledges made overnight in the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty, convened in Paris.
However, we note with concern that the $1bn pledge goes towards not just humanitarian aid, but also military support. We strongly reiterate the need for an immediate ceasefire to ensure safe humanitarian access, to stop the conflict from escalating further, and prevent further suffering, particularly of children.
Updated
Government accelerates ‘world first’ national targeted skin cancer screening
The government is accelerating the development of a “world first” national targeted skin cancer screening roadmap led by the Australians of the Year, professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer.
Using the $10.3m investment announced today, the Melanoma Institute Australia will research risk-based and cost-effective national screening approaches, including improving skin cancer data collection for the Australian Cancer Database in close collaboration with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
In 2028 the Institute will deliver a report to the government with all the evidence about screening and guidance on how Australia might implement a national targeted skin cancer screening program.
The health minister, Mark Butler, said the program would be a “world first,” but its management would be more difficult than other national cancer screening programs:
We want to make sure we’ve got the research and the foundation right, because this is going to be a more tricky program to roll out than the population-wide programs we have, for example, in cervical cancer or in breast and bowel even though there are some age arrangements around that. This will be more targeted. We don’t have a program around the world simply to take off the shelf and import.
Prof Anne Cust from the Melanoma Institute said this would be the “world first high-quality, targeted screening program”.
In Germany they do have some population skin cancer screening, but it’s not actually taken up particularly well at the population level, and it’s not a targeted program.
Long said the way researchers will identify who is high risk will be multi-factorial – age will be only one of many risk factors considered:
Some of the common ones are red hair colour, people with lots of moles on their body, people with a family history, people that have had other types of skin cancer. These are the types of risk factors that we’ll be looking at, also genetic risk factors too.
Updated
Health minister not inclined to approve large increases to private health insurance premiums
The health minister, Mark Butler, says he isn’t inclined to approve large increases to private health insurance premiums, indicating the next increase will be “well below CPI” inflation.
Asked at a press conference this morning about whether the government would allow insurers to hike premiums on their customers by large amounts, the minister said it wouldn’t be fair in a cost-of-living crisis. The government approved only a 3% rise this year, after insurers had asked for a much higher raise. Butler said:
Earlier this year, I approved a private health insurance premium increase that was substantially below the going inflation rate. The insurers had asked for premium increases on average of 6% or more.
I ended up approving, after a process of discussion with them and asking them to sharpen their pencil, an increase of slightly more than 3% well below CPI, and certainly well below the increases happening elsewhere in the insurance sector. And I intend to take that approach again over the coming months.
Butler said he was conscious of needing to ensure “a viable private health insurance industry and private hospital sector” – before adding “but I’m also very focused on patients and members on insurance funds to ensure that their cost-of-living is not overly impacted by any increase in insurance premiums over the coming months.”
But the minister did concede that the NSW government’s changes to its health insurance levy could have an impact on people in that state:
It is a matter that is still, as I understand it, going through the NSW parliament. But if that law passes, which probably we expect it will, that will have an impact on the state of NSW, and I think it’s important to bear that in mind.
Updated
More details on Monday’s 3G network shutdown
Telstra and Optus will begin shutting down their 3G networks on Monday, and are warning customers if they have incompatible devices they may be cut off.
Around 53,000 devices will potentially stop connecting to the networks once the switch-off starts, down from around 740,000 at the start of this year.
Telstra announced yesterday that from 12.01am on Monday it will block all devices that can only call Triple Zero on 3G per a government mandate. Optus began blocking some of these devices last month.
Telstra’s shutdown will begin in Tasmania, with the rest of Australia completed by 4 November.
The two companies have offered tens of thousands of free phones to customers in financial hardship in a bid to get the remaining customers off 3G.
People can SMS 3 to 3498 to check if their device is affected.
Rural health alliance CEO discussing 3G shutdown on Monday
The CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance, Susi Tegen, just spoke with ABC TV about the 3G shutdown on Monday.
Tegen said elderly people in regional areas rely on the 3G and their telephones “for safety and security” with some devices not compatible with 4 or 5G:
[This is] potentially leaving them with their device in a risky situation where they can’t ring triple zero, or if they have alarms or cardio-monitors or oxygen systems which may be impacted … they may have no one else to support them if there is need.
Tegen noted that Telstra had provided low-cost telephones, but isn’t sure what the uptake has been.
In the end, rural, remote and regional Australia deserves the same coverage the people in the city again. Just because they live out of the postcode region, why should they receive less services? We need to ensure there aren’t as many blackspots and the 4G take-up is as high as it can be.
Updated
Body of woman found on property at Gunnedah
In New South Wales, police will address the media this afternoon after a woman’s body was discovered in Gunnedah.
As we reported earlier, police located the body at a property this morning after reports of a concern for welfare. She is yet to be formally identified, however is believed to be aged in her 50s, police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Gunnedah police station where he is helping police with their inquiries. Police believe the man and woman were known to each other.
Chief inspector Michael Wurth will appear outside Gunnedah police station at 1.30pm – we’ll endeavour to bring you updates here.
Updated
PM says you can’t ‘flick a switch and act immediately’ on climate
Anthony Albanese is asked about pressure on his own government at the conference, with suggestions from Pacific leaders that Australia is not doing enough on emissions.
Yesterday, the Tuvalu prime minister released a report blaming Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom for producing 60% Commonwealth nations’ carbon emissions, despite accounting for just 6% of the population.
Albanese says he had “positive discussions” with Pacific leaders.
They recognise that the challenge of climate change doesn’t mean you can flick a switch and act immediately. We need to make sure energy security is prioritised to make sure that we have that support going forward … the feedback from Pacific leaders has been very welcoming of Australia’s leadership in the Pacific with climate action.
Albanese backs strong comments from King Charles that climate change poses an “existential threat”, suggesting he is correct about “the responsibility we have to future generations”.
In most parts of the world, with few exceptions, climate change is above politics. We are seeing the impact of climate change, recognised by scientists around the world. One of the first world leaders to recognise the challenge of climate change and the need to act was Margaret Thatcher.
Updated
Albanese says Australia supports Pacific’s global leadership on climate action
Anthony Albanese says Chogm comes at an “important time”, noting it is the first time it’s been held in the Pacific.
The Pacific is a global leader in climate action. Australia supports that leadership. The meeting with the prime minister of Samoa and other Pacific partners was about galvanising action in our region. It will be front and centre of the next two days of deliberation.
Albanese says Australia and the UK are “old friends” and “partners”, noting this is the first time he has met Starmer face-to-face since he became the Labor leader.
He announces new grants on the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership Program, the first formal bilateral announcement with the incoming government.
We today discussed importantly our new climate and energy partnership we will deliver on. We have a common view about the challenge but the opportunity as well that climate change action represents.
We are both on the path to net zero through the transition and we see that as an opportunity for new industry and jobs and a new industrialisation of our respective countries … There is a real opportunity for us to develop technologies together to make a difference as well as look at co-operation in climate finance. The new partnership will allow us to explore co-operation in all these areas.
He says he and Starmer also discussed Aukus – with the foreign affairs ministers and defence ministers of both countries to meet in December.
Updated
PM addresses media at Chogm
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is addressing the media at the sidelines of the opening of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa.
He confirms he had a bilateral meeting with the Samoan prime minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, this morning, followed by a meeting with the prime minister of the UK, Keir Starmer.
Climate change has been on the agenda at Chogm, placing pressure on Australia, with King Charles using his visit to highlight the existential threat of the fossil industry and the inequality of the climate crisis’s impacts.
Updated
Burney shares throwback for World Teachers’ Day
Today marks World Teachers’ Day and politicians across the divide have marked the occasion with sharing memories to social media – including Labor’s Linda Burney.
Burney has shared a photo from 1978, when she began her career as a teacher, and said:
A lot has changed since then, but one thing has not: how hard our wonderful teachers work every day. Let’s give a big thank you to all the teachers and educators who give our children the best start in life!
Happy World Teachers’ Day!
— Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) October 24, 2024
In 1978 I started my career as a teacher
A lot has changed since then, but one thing has not: how hard our wonderful teachers work every day.
Let's give a big thank you to all the teachers and educators who give our children the best start in life! pic.twitter.com/xXaEoI6CYF
Updated
Qantas to give $1,000 ‘thank you’ payments to staff
Qantas has promised to give employees $1,000 as it seeks to repair relations with staff.
The Qantas chief executive, Vanessa Hudson, said at the annual general meeting today that the payment would be made to non-executive employees “to say thank you”.
The company has emerged from a bruising period for its reputation and is facing a hefty compensation bill expected to exceed $100m for its decision to illegally sack almost 1,700 baggage handlers in 2020.
The airline recently published an independent report into its governance that found there had been alack of board focus on non-financial issues, employees and customers.
Updated
Just under 1.4m have voted early for Queensland election
The Electoral Commission of Queensland has provided an update on pre-polling across the state before tomorrow’s election.
The total number of early votes is just under 1.4m, after roughly 150,000 people cast their votes in pre-poll yesterday.
Today is the last day of early voting. More than 3.68m Queenslanders are enrolled to vote in Saturday’s election.
Updated
More than 100 LGAs don’t have access to long day care centres
More than 100 local government’s across Australia do not have access to long day care centres (LDC) and there is a shortage in lower-socioeconomic areas, according to a new report from Mandala and the Front Project.
Most LGAs without LDC services are in rural communities, while the ACT has the greatest amount of supply relative to its population aged 0-6 years old – with 43 places in LDC services per 100 children. Conversely, Tasmania and Western Australia only have 23 places per 100 children.
The more advantaged and metropolitan areas in Australia are also those that have the greatest access to LDC centres and the sector is increasingly being dominated by large for-profit providers who charge higher fees, the report found.
The Front Project’s chief executive, Caroline Croser-Barlow, said if the government focuses its childcare reforms solely on increased subsidies, it would only make the problem worse:
If you simply pump money into the market via subsidies without conditions beyond regulatory compliance, what you will get is a market increasingly dominated by large for-profit providers. And the research tells us these large for-profits generally provide lower-quality education, worse workforce conditions and higher prices.
All the focus of our debate is around subsidies but, no matter how they’re calibrated, subsidies alone mean sleepwalking into a market we don’t want.
Updated
Severe heatwave warnings in place for parts of Queensland, NT and WA
There are a number of fire and heatwave warnings in place across the country today.
In the Northern Territory, there is an extreme fire danger warning in place for Barkly North, with Fire and Rescue advising:
Extreme fire dangers are forecast [today] due to very hot and dry temperatures, combined with fresh east to southeasterly winds during the late morning and into the afternoon.
This comes as a heatwave warning is in place for the Daly, Tiwi and Arnhem districts across the territory. The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures could reach the low 40s inland, with severe heatwave conditions set to persist into next week.
A severe heatwave warning is also in place for parts of far north Queensland, including over the Cape York Peninsula – building further over the weekend and into next week.
In Western Australia, a severe heatwave warning is also in place for the Kimberley, Pilbara and North Interior districts. Conditions are expected to persist into the weekend, impacting Port Hedland.
🌡️ Hot temperatures with Severe Heatwave warnings for the Kimberley, Pilbara and North Interior today.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) October 24, 2024
⛈️ An afternoon thunderstorm possible in the Goldfields.
☀️ A taste of summer next week for western and southern parts.
Find your forecast: https://t.co/0mJfdX5yUY pic.twitter.com/Rbti4w5oU2
Search for missing senior’s body as murder charge laid
A semi-rural property is being searched for the body of a missing elderly man on the same day his accused killer appears in court for the first time, AAP reports.
Police allege Edwin Dobbin, 82, was shot dead some time after he disappeared from southwest Sydney in late September. Nearly a month later, detectives charged a 67-year-old with killing the elderly man and disposing of his body.
The accused killer, who police said knew Dobbin, was arrested at a home in Smithfield yesterday after allegedly telling authorities conflicting accounts of the elderly man’s disappearance.
Following the arrest, police began searching a semi-rural property in the Hawkesbury region, northwest of Sydney, where they believe Dobbin’s body is buried. Authorities said they would continue the search for his remains today.
The accused man was also charged with hindering an investigation into a serious indictable offence and the unlawful disposal of a corpse. He was refused police bail and is due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today.
Two missing-person appeals were issued for Dobbin after he was last spotted at Leppington, about 80km from where the search for his body was taking place, early on the morning of 25 September.
New Qantas chair pledges to resolve future issues ‘quickly and ethically’
The new chair of Qantas, John Mullen, struck a conciliatory tone in his opening remarks at the company’s annual general meeting in Hobart today, as the airline seeks to avoid a repeat of last year’s tense exchanges. Mullen told shareholders that:
There is no pretending that last year was anything other than a very difficult year for Qantas.
You have our absolute commitment to learn from the past, correct mistakes quickly and ethically if they occur, and ensure that we earn the trust and respect of all of our stakeholders, from government to customers to employees and to everyday Australians.
The airline will be hoping to avoid a second strike to its remuneration report today, after shareholders delivered one of Australia’s largest ever protest votes against executive pay at last year’s meeting.
Last year, the meeting erupted with shareholders shouting “shame on you” at the board’s chairman, Richard Goyder, who has since stepped down.
Shareholders are expected to ask questions today about the fallout of a string of scandals that included a $100m penalty for selling thousands of tickets for cancelled flights.
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Man arrested after woman’s body located in regional NSW
A man has ben arrested after a woman’s body was located on a property in north-central New South Wales.
About 8.20am this morning, police located the body of a woman at a Gunnedah property after reports of a concern for welfare. She is yet to be formally identified, however is believed to be aged in her 50s, police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Gunnedah police station where he is helping police with their inquiries. No charges have been laid.
Police believe the man and woman were known to each other.
A crime scene has been established which will be forensically examined by specialist police, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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Miles continues challenge to visit 36 seats in 36 hours
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, is continuing his challenge to visit 36 seats in 36 hours before tomorrow’s state election.
He began the challenge yesterday at Maroochydore, sharing a photo to X from each stop along the way – including Caloundra, Pumicestone, Bancroft, Sandgate, Bulimba and the final stop of the day, Clayfield.
36 seats in 36 hours. Let’s go! #qld pic.twitter.com/oiEm7sIFMp
— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) October 23, 2024
This morning, he is on stop number 20 at Murrumba – his home seat.
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King dodges calls to directly address slavery and legacy of colonialism in Chogm speech
Just earlier, King Charles addressed the summit of Commonwealth leaders in Samoa, dodging calls to directly address slavery and the legacy of colonialism in the Commonwealth.
During his speech to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, which is being attended by Anthony Albanese, Charles said he understood that “painful aspects of our past continue to resonate” but asked Commonwealth leaders to “reject the language of division”.
None of us can change the past but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.
The king has faced calls to reckon with Britain’s colonial past, with many African, Caribbean and Pacific nations wanting this summit to commit to a discussion on the topic of reparatory justice, and discussion of financial compensation for slavery.
The king did not directly address colonialism or slavery but, in a seeming nod to the subject and the legacies of inequality left in their wake, said:
It is vital … that we understand our history to guide us to make the right choices in the future. Where inequalities exist … we must find the right ways and the right language to address them. As we look around the world and consider its many deeply concerning challenges, let us choose, within our Commonwealth family, the language of community and respect and reject the language of division.
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Crisafulli makes final Queensland election pitch
David Crisafulli also made an election pitch to voters, who will go to the polls tomorrow, and said:
The choice of the next election is very clear, and that is a choice between a majority LNP government … or a minority Labor government propped up by the extreme Greens at one end of the state and the chaotic Katters’ at the other end. Think about what that means for you and the parliament.
Earlier, the Labor leader, Steven Miles, ruled out deals with minor parties to form government, and said he was “campaigning for a majority government”.
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Crisafulli commits to implementing Daniel’s law at Walk for Daniel
The Queensland opposition leader, David Crisafulli, is speaking to reporters from Caloundra before tomorrow’s state election.
As Andrew Messenger reported earlier, Crisafulli has spent the morning at the 20th Walk for Daniel – held by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, in honour of the young murder victim.
The opposition leader told reporters that, if elected, the LNP would enact Daniel’s law – to see the formation of a public child sex offender register:
[The family has] been campaigning for that for more than a decade and it is time … I can assure [that] if government changes, we will not let you down. Daniel’s law will be law and that will be a great honour for a special little boy and a great legacy to keep Queensland kids safe.
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Further $10m in aid for Lebanon
The Australian government has announced a further $10m in humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected civilians in Lebanon.
In a statement from the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the international development minister, Pat Conroy, the ministers note about 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Emergency shelters have been overwhelmed and humanitarian workers killed.
Australia’s assistance would be delivered through UN partners to “address immediate and emerging needs, including access to food, shelter, healthcare and other critical services”, the statement said.
Since 7 October the government has committed $94.5m in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and Lebanon and “to respond to the refugee crisis in the region worsened by those conflicts.”
Australia has been clear in its call for ceasefires in both Lebanon and in Gaza. We continue to call for all parties to uphold international law and protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
The ministers also reiterated calls for Australians not to travel to Lebanon.
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King Charles opens Commonwealth heads of government meeting
King Charles has just begun the opening address at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa. He said:
I have met remarkable people in every conceivable walk of life and learned a great deal from so many proud cultures and traditions. All of this has given me an unshakeable faith in the special nature of our Commonwealth and the extraordinary value it holds. This is a family of countries, of organisations and of people. All nations are equal in this unique and voluntary association.
We’ll bring you the highlights from his speech shortly, so stay tuned.
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Cricket Australia scraps lifetime leadership ban on David Warner
Cricket Australia (CA) has scrapped the lifetime leadership ban on David Warner that was controversially handed down after the Newlands ball-tampering incident, AAP reports.
The suspension had been the last remaining sanction in place from the “sandpapergate” saga, of which Warner was considered the architect.
An independent three-member review panel unanimously determined Warner met the criteria to have his ban overturned after the former Test opener lodged an appeal with CA.
The decision paves the way for Warner to hold a formal leadership role with the BBL’s Sydney Thunder this summer.
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Police officer charged over outback home invasion
A police officer will face court over his alleged role in the theft of $100,000 cash from an elderly man during a home invasion in the outback town of Lightning Ridge, AAP reports.
The senior constable, 36, is one of two men charged over the break and enter on the 78-year-old’s residence in NSW’s north-west on 3 October. The pair allegedly forced entry to the home and tied up the occupant before threatening him and stealing the cash, police have said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital after sustaining arm and leg injuries in the robbery before being released.
The off-duty officer and his alleged co-offender, 51, were arrested after searches on two homes in the Lake Illawarra area, south of Sydney, yesterday. The location is about 750km south of where the alleged crimes took place.
Local police investigated the incident, but it was referred to the NSW Police Professional Standards Command after the officer was identified as one of the alleged culprits.
Both men were charged with aggravated breaking and entering, and committing a serious indictable offence. They were refused police bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today.
Police said the employment of the officer, who was based in the southern region, was under review and investigations were ongoing.
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Man under guard in hospital after shots fired at police
A man is in hospital under police guard after officers fired shots at a property in regional Victoria when coming under fire while attempting to search for weapons, AAP reports.
Detectives went to the Dumbalk North home in Gippsland to execute a firearms warrant about 1.30pm yesterday when a man believed to live there fired shots, Victoria Police say.
Officers then returned fire, the force said. A 56-year-old man was found injured at the property several hours later when it was deemed safe for police to approach the property.
News footage from the scene showed armed police walking around the property as other officers blocked off surrounding roads.
The man was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and remains under police guard. No police were injured, and no charges have been laid over the incident.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact investigators.
Photos from the Chogm opening ceremony
Here are some photos filtering through from the opening of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa:
Two people dead after truck smashes into house
Two people have died after a truck crashed into a house in regional Victoria, AAP reports.
The truck veered off the Princes Highway and crashed into a home at Tower Hill near Warrnambool after 7am this morning. Two people who were inside the house died at the scene, with police yet to formally identify their bodies.
The male truck driver was taken to hospital where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. No charges have been laid over the incident.
Detectives from the major collision unit are on their way to the scene of the crash, which is about three hours drive from Melbourne.
Anyone with information about what happened or relevant footage is being urged to contact police.
Clare and Ley weigh in on Chalmers calls for ceasefire amid global inflation fight
As Karen Middleton reported earlier, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will today reiterate calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East, warning that any escalation represents a threat to the international economy and will make the fight against inflation harder.
The education minister, Jason Clare, was on Sunrise earlier and weighed in on the matter:
I think almost every country in the world now, from the US to the UK to the Kiwis to us, to, you know, almost every country I can think of is calling for an end to the war. We want an end to innocent people being killed in the Middle East, whether it’s in Gaza or now in Lebanon. Fundamentally that’s what’s most important. We all see that death and destruction on our TV screens.
I think the point [Chalmers is] making is, it has an economic impact. Whenever there’s a war it has an economic impact. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has done that. We’re now seeing evidence of that here too in terms of oil prices.
The deputy opposition leader, Sussan Ley, was also on the program and argued this is “smoke and mirrors” from Chalmers:
He’s suggesting that the inflation that we’re seeing at home is because of factors overseas. The problem is that the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand are all seeing inflation come down.
Updated
Queensland Fire Department issues warning amid high fire danger rating
The Queensland Fire Department says that much of the state will reach a high fire danger rating today – with some reaching extreme.
It said that in these conditions “just one spark to start a fire which can spread quickly into a significant bushfire”, and issued this warning:
If you live in an area with heightened conditions and you are planning on slashing, mowing or using machinery around vegetation, please reconsider or plan to take extra precautions.
If work does need to happen, make sure you have water on hand to immediately extinguish any small fires and have someone supervising to ensure any danger is spotted early.
On smoke-affected roads, please slow down and take care to keep yourself and our crews safe while they work to contain fires alongside the roadway.
Early this morning, communities around the Barkly Highway at Cloncurry – between Powerhouse Road, Flinders Highway and Round Oak Road were issued a “prepare to leave” warning.
PREPARE TO LEAVE - Barkly Highway (Cloncurry) - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 5:54am Friday, 25 October 2024
— Queensland Fire Department (@QldFireDept) October 24, 2024
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/CMqxEjaVXa pic.twitter.com/0hJcuiPwNb
Couple accused of flooding train stations arrested
An “amorous couple” accused of causing major flooding and the evacuation of two Victorian train stations has been arrested, AAP reports.
A water pipe and fire sprinkler at Melbourne Central station were damaged on the night of 10 October, causing extensive flooding to several platforms and triggering the automatic evacuation of both that station and nearby Flagstaff.
The pair have since been arrested and interviewed, Victoria police said.
A Ringwood man, 30, was remanded in custody over unrelated matters. He is expected to be charged with offences including criminal damage, public nuisance, wilful damage and interfering with fire apparatus.
A St Albans woman, 32, was released pending further inquiries.
The flooding was initially believed to have stemmed from an act of vandalism but the transport infrastructure minister, Danny Pearson, had said investigations found another cause. He said on 16 October:
I’ve been advised that Metro [Trains] have reviewed the CCTV footage and it would appear that an amorous couple in a stairwell dislodged the sprinkler. Perhaps a stairwell may not be an appropriate place to find yourself in after dinner.
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Miles says Crisafulli can’t promise no change to abortion laws while also allowing conscience vote
Earlier, the Queensland LNP leader, David Crisafulli, told ABC News Breakfast that there would be “no change to abortion laws” and accused Labor of running a scare campaign (see earlier post).
Steven Miles was asked to respond to this on the program, and said Crisafulli had “not been able to give a straight answer to that question at all during this campaign”.
I think media outlets have added up, that they’ve asked him more than 160 times, and the fact is that’s just a promise he can’t deliver.
The Katter party will move a private member’s bill that would give the state the power to force a woman to stay pregnant if she didn’t want to be. We know that nearly all his MPs and candidates would vote for that bill because he’d give them a conscience vote.
Queensland women have to ask themselves – are you absolutely sure that there would be no change to your right to choose? If you’re not absolutely sure, then change is a risk you can’t afford.
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Miles defends government spending before Queensland election
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, made the rounds on breakfast television this morning and also spoke with ABC News Breakfast (we brought you his comments on the Today Show here).
Miles was asked if he had given thought to potential economic impacts of “splashing all this cash around” in the lead-up to the election – with election promises on a free school lunch program, re-establishing a publicly owned power retailer and building state-owned petrol stations.
Miles said the state could afford this because “our economy is strong and because we made tough decisions, like increasing those coal royalties”.
The LNP opposed that, but we believe that when coal companies are making super profits, Queenslanders deserve to get a fair share of that.
We will return to surplus in 2026-27. We’ve just come out of two record surplus years and so this is really saying to Queenslanders that, in this period of time where we know inflation and higher interest rates are really crunching on them, that we can afford to support them because we have that strong economy and really low unemployment.
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Queensland LNP leader spends final morning before election at Walk for Daniel
The LNP leader, David Crisafulli, has spent the final morning before Queensland election day at the Walk for Daniel, on the Sunshine Coast.
The event is held by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, in honour of the young murder victim. It is in its 20th year.
He was joined by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, the Queensland governor, Jeannette Young, and thousands of ordinary people wearing red shirts.
Updated
Albanese and Starmer meet for first time since latter took office
Anthony Albanese has met with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa. It was the first meeting between the two PMs since the election of the Starmer government.
A joint statement said the leaders discussed the Australia-UK relationship, considering whether the two nations could “step-up their work together to meet common challenges and to realise new opportunities.”
Conversation topics included climate change and energy, with the PMs agreeing to enhance bilateral cooperation on this via the Australia-UK Climate and Energy Partnership.
Grant recipients were announced under the joint hydrogen innovation partnership program, which will support six projects focused on industrial decarbonisation.
The leaders discussed gains under the free-trade agreement, also discussing defence and strategic cooperation to ensure “the Aukus partnership delivers for the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
They reaffirmed commitment to negotiating a bilateral treaty to develop the SSN-Aukus submarine for both nations, along with an approach that “sets the highest non-proliferation standards” and centres “peace, stability and prosperity”.
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Shorten says Thorpe protest won’t help Indigenous Australians
The NDIS minister Bill Shorten has condemned independent senator Lidia Thorpe’s protest against King Charles as attention seeking that would not materially help the circumstances of Indigenous Australians.
Thorpe shouted in protest at the king during his parliamentary reception on Monday, demanding a treaty with Indigenous Australians and declaring him “not our king”:
Shorten told Nine’s Today show this morning that Thorpe was “just seeking attention”.
This is a person who thinks that performative yelling is going to extend the life expectancy of First Nations people – it won’t. This is someone who thinks that swearing at the king is going to see more Aboriginal kids finish school – it won’t. This doesn’t help the health or job outcomes of First Nations people. It’s pressure group tactics.
Shorten said Thorpe was squandering “the privilege of being in the Senate” by resorting to “look-at-me tactics”.
Speaking on the same program, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, raised concerns about whether Thorpe was properly sworn into the Senate, after Thorpe raised doubts by highlighting that she had mispronounced part of it and then backtracked and said she had simply misspoken.
Constitutional expert and Sydney University professor emerita Anne Twomey has said Thorpe signed the required documentation to join the Senate and that was the key.
Updated
Man charged with domestic violence murder in Sydney
A man has been charged with domestic violence-related murder in western Sydney following an alleged fatal stabbing of a 64-year-old man, AAP reports.
The 34-year-old man, known to the deceased, was denied bail and is set to face Parramatta Local Court this morning.
Emergency services were called to a home on Layton Street, Wentworthville at 6.30am yesterday. Police officers found a man who had allegedly been stabbed in the neck.
Paramedics were present but the man died at the scene. A 60-year-old woman at the property was not injured in the incident. Police have established a crime scene.
Carr criticises government handling of Gaza conflict
Wrapping up the interview, Kim Carr also argued that Labor’s handling of the conflict in Gaza hasn’t been good enough – and the country is “deeply divided” now.
Now, I know the polls will tell you that most people don’t care much about it, but those that do care about it are highly concentrated – and they’re concentrated in the particular electorates.
And I think there is a deep, deep concern in those electorates about the issues that have now been well over a year in terms of the current war in Gaza, which of course go back way beyond the circumstances of the current conflict.
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Aukus 'regrettable' and 'undermines national sovereignty', Carr says
Kim Carr argued that the Labor party has learnt “all the wrong lessons” from the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard time.
He said the party caucus isn’t ensuring a “proper questioning” of government direction, or assessment of policy options – pointing specifically to the Aukus submarine deal with the US and UK:
The decision we’re taking, for instance, on submarines, is one that I think is to be regretted. It is a proposition which I think shows that we’ve adopted a project that actually was promoted by the conservatives, and so the conservatives are ruling from beyond the grave, particularly [Scott] Morrison’s attitude. So I think the submarine program is essentially unaffordable, undeliverable and undermines our national sovereignty.
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Carr says Labor can’t rely on ‘identity politics’ base but should fulfil ‘historic mission’ to represent whole country
Continuing his ABC RN interview, former Labor senator Kim Carr argued there has been attempts by conservative media to “delegitimise the Labor party.”
Asked how Labor can appeal to suburban workers – and if Peter Dutton is doing a better job at this – Carr said a return to “humanist universalism” is needed, explaining it as:
Our commitment to social justice, to economic equity, economic prosperity, to human rights – and we need to do so in a manner which we don’t neglect the fact that the country is more diverse, and it is open to a whole range of different views.
We simply can’t rely on … an identity politics base, in terms of relying increasingly on self-isolating grievance groups, race or ethnicity, on gender and sexual orientation. We need to be able to appeal more broadly across the community to ensure that the Labor party fulfils its historic mission to represent the whole country, but particularly people that are disadvantaged by life circumstances.
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Carr argues that Labor lacks policy ambition
Kim Carr told ABC RN that Anthony Albanese has “faced difficult circumstances” as prime minister but the current predicaments facing the government are “quite predictable”.
He said that Labor had got into office on the basis of a “small target strategy” and that “many people don’t seem to be able to identify the ambition that’s needed to actually transform the country”.
It was disturbing to read recent polls that showed that most people couldn’t identify the key issues that the government was pursuing. A third of people said they couldn’t even remember the tax cuts, and so I’m worried that we have not shown the appropriate level of ambition in terms of seeking to advance a Labor agenda which attracts support rather than that repels it, and that actually ensures that we don’t adopt a censorious tone towards those people who disagree with us.
In terms of the next election, Carr believes “the Labor project is in trouble” and “we do need to be able to move more effectively to avoid minority government”.
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Carr says Labor made ‘error of judgment’ in pursuing voice referendum on the back of low primary vote
On the Indigenous voice referendum, Kim Carr argued that Labor “made an error of judgment” going ahead with the vote “when we understood just what the historical pattern was when you lost bipartisanship”.
He said that Labor went into the referendum campaign “out of spirit of hubris”, forgetting that the primary vote for Labor in 2022 election was the lowest since 1934.
We didn’t have this grand alliance to call back on. We, in fact, had just got in with a lower vote in 2022 than we got in 2019 and I think we made assumptions about how we could turn that around, particularly given the reactionary position that it was being taken by the Liberals, by the National party, which – of course – was playing up these huge divisions that occurred In the country in terms of the polarisation of political attitudes.
Carr said “of course it was proper that we seek the basic justice for Indigenous people” but “we want to make sure we don’t set back the cause”.
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People who need government most turning to the right in ‘disturbing’ trend: Carr
Former Victorian socialist left leader and senator Kim Carr has been speaking with ABC RN about his book – reflecting on 50 years of membership with the Labor party.
Asked if Labor is losing touch with its blue-collar base – as he argues in his book – Carr said it was “disturbing” that Labor’s vote seems to be “going up in more affluent areas and going down in areas that are more socially disadvantaged”.
But this wasn’t unique to the Labor party, he said, arguing that people who need the government the most are moving to the right, around the world:
This decoupling, if you like, is common in countries in Europe and England [and] in the United States, that the traditional form of representation through social democracy has seen that people that are better educated, better off financially, more affluent and [with] better life circumstances are turning to the left, whereas people that actually need governments the most are turning to the right. And that’s a disturbing development from my point of view.
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Rudd and Gillard had a secret deal, Carr claims in new book
“If we won the 2007 election, which we did under Kevin’s leadership, he would remain as prime minister for two terms and in the third term Julia would take over. That was the agreement that had been struck [in my flat].”
This is how Kim Carr lays out his account of what he claims was a secret deal between Labor’s “dream team”, in his new memoir, A Long March. Carr details how their agreement fell apart – alleging Gillard used “tricked-up” polling paid for by the mining industry to justify breaking the pact.
Paul Daley has the whole, gripping yarn below:
Carr is speaking with ABC RN now – we’ll bring you the latest in a moment.
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No-grounds eviction ban passes in NSW
A long-awaited ban on landlords evicting tenants for no reason passed the NSW parliament last night, AAP reports, along with other changes hoped to rebalance the nation’s most expensive rental market.
More than 2.2 million tenants have been waiting for the overhaul after Labor and the Coalition went into the 2023 state election promising to ban no-grounds evictions.
The NSW Tenants’ Union chief executive, Leo Patterson Ross, said the threat of eviction made tenants hesitant to ask for repairs or negotiate rent hikes:
This is the single most significant change we can make to residential tenancies law, as without protection from unfair eviction in place we can’t rely on other parts of the law to function properly.
The Homelessness NSW CEO, Dominique Rowe, said the changes should relieve some pressure on homelessness services, which more than 68,000 people turned to for help every year.
One of the main causes of homelessness is eviction from private rentals, so anything we can do to reduce evictions will keep people in housing and take pressure off our homelessness services.
However, more social housing needs to be built, with 58,000 on waitlists for up to five years. The housing minister, Rose Jackson, said the changes to tenancies were straightforward and reasonable.
There are millions of renters in our state … for those millions of people they have a reasonable expectation the rental market will provide them with safe and secure housing.
Opponents to the bill expressed concerns it made investment less attractive and would not help increase housing supply.
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Miles says he won’t make deals with minor parties to form government
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, also spoke with the Today show before tomorrow’s election.
After Annastacia Palaszczuk resigned last December, Miles has had 10 months to prove he deserves a four-year term in his own right. He said that, in this time, he has “shown Queenslanders that I am pretty different”:
We increased those coal royalties and use them to deliver cost of living relief to every single Queenslander, as well as a comprehensive plan for healthcare, for housing and for community safety. And I’m saying to Queenslanders that if you want to see more of what I’ve done these last 10 months, give me a mandate in my own right tomorrow.
After comments from the opposition leader, David Crisafulli, that Labor was doing deals with the Katters in the regions, Miles ruled this out:
No, there’ll be no deals with the minor parties to form government … I’ve given that commitment. I’m campaigning for a majority government, that’s my goal.
Miles argued the Katter party “put the LNP in quite a bind – but it was a bind of their own making” regarding the private member’s bill on abortion:
[The LNP was] trying to hide their position and Robbie [Katter] really just forced them to come clean with Queenslanders. And we know that means that most of them – almost all of them – believe that women should be forced to stay pregnant when they get pregnant. And I think that’s something that a lot of Queenslanders don’t agree with.
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Chalmers links Middle East conflict to inflation fight
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has weighed into debate over the Middle East conflict, telling global financial counterparts in Washington DC that any escalation represents a threat to the international economy and will make the fight against inflation harder.
In a speech to G20 economic and finance ministers and other senior leaders gathered for meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Chalmers has directly linked the now-multi-front Middle East conflict to the fate of the economy, internationally and at home.
The global economy is uncertain and the global outlook is unsettling.
The treasurer warned that any escalation of the conflict risked entrenching inflation problems worldwide:
A broader war could put upward pressure on oil prices, prolong the fight against inflation and threaten the soft landing that we all seek. In seeking ceasefire and de-escalation, we are focused on the human catastrophe but there are economic consequences too. We know that more bloodshed is one of the biggest threats to the global economy. None of us will escape the economic consequences of an escalating war in the Middle East.
The speech is Chalmers’ most direct public intervention on the economic impact of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and the associated conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He pointed to a 10% spike in oil prices within weeks of the conflict expanding in October and said the uncertainty about the situation had increased demand for safe-haven assets and pushed the price of gold up by 48%. Chalmers warned that a soft landing was assumed “but not assured”.
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Dutton and Shorten weigh in on Queensland state election
The federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, both spoke with the Today show earlier from Queensland, before the election.
Shorten was asked if he’s worried by polling that Queensland could soon be LNP territory after nearly a decade. He said it was up to voters, and that Labor leader Steven Miles had “surprised people [by] running a very active campaign.”
He’s focused on the issues which affect Queenslanders: housing, health, cheaper transport and of course tackling youth crime. So we’ll find out soon enough who’s going to win.
Shorten said he was “surprised” to see abortion raised through the campaign, and that it “seems like someone in the LNP swallowed the Trump playbook, and we don’t need that sort of division in this country”.
Dutton said it was “always going to be a tough race” and argued, as David Crisafulli did just earlier, that the Labor party’s able to “sandbag seats”.
The fact is that it’s time for a change in Queensland and law and order is out of control.
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Crisafulli questioned on prospect of Katter private member’s bill on abortion
David Crisafulli was also asked about the ongoing abortion debate in the state, after revealing this week he was pro-choice. So why did he vote against a move to legalise abortion in 2018?
Crisafulli responded that Robbie Katter had removed his private member’s bill on the matter and changed his position. However, as Ben Smee notes, some reports have claimed Katter had backtracked on introducing a bill which could lead to a conscience vote to wind back abortion access and rights – but a spokesperson for Katter said he made no such backtrack.
Crisafulli was pushed on this, with host Michael Rowland saying Katter has not specifically ruled it out. But Crisafulli responded:
Well, yes, he did. He did three days ago and, despite that, the government’s scare campaign continues.
He said “there will be no change to abortion laws and we have said that consistently and my team backed that position”.
The scare campaign on a sensitive issue that has been run, quite frankly, crosses the line, and we’re better than that as Queenslanders … There won’t be changes to abortion laws and Queenslanders need to know that.
For Ben Smee’s full analysis on this matter, you can read below:
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Queensland opposition leader responds to latest polling numbers
The Queensland LNP leader, David Crisafulli, has been speaking with ABC News Breakfast before tomorrow’s state election.
As Ben Smee reports, although the LNP has been leading in all the polls leading up to the vote, the latest numbers show the race tightening slightly:
Crisafulli said the election was “going to be really, really close” and commented on the likelihood of a minority Labor government beginning to emerge:
We’re hearing about deals being done with Katter in the regions and the Greens in the south-east.
Asked about the latest polling numbers, the opposition leader said this shows “how difficult change in government to my side of politics is in Queensland”.
What we’re trying to do is only happened a handful of times. We’ve got to try to win over a dozen seats, and we start a long way behind the eight-ball. We got a voting system that supports the Labor party being propped up predominantly by the Greens and swapping votes with the Katters’ in the regions. We’re up against it.
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Pacific pushes for rights in face of rising sea levels at Chogm
AAP has more details on the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, which occurs every two years and is being hosted in the Pacific for the first time – in Samoa.
Pacific island nations are pushing for more to be done to address rising sea levels, with the effects of climate change posing an existential threat to smaller island nations in the region.
The heads of 56 Commonwealth nations are taking part in the summit – including the prime minister, Anthony Albanese. It is the first Chogm King Charles and Queen Camilla are presiding over since taking the throne.
An opening ceremony will precede the official group photo today, and the king will then hold a reception for newly appointed heads of state before a broader reception for leaders and their partners later in the evening.
A more secretive leaders retreat will take place at a beach resort tomorrow.
The king will give his keynote speech around 9am AEDT. Albanese will also hold his first face-to-face meeting with the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, since the latter took office.
Updated
Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties – thanks to Martin for getting us started this morning. I’ll be with you through most of our rolling coverage today – as the Commonwealth heads of government meeting begins in Samoa, and Queensland gears up to head to the polls tomorrow.
As always, you can read out with any tips, feedback or questions via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s go.
Watt responds to Guardian investigation into tracking of employees in Woolworths-owned warehouses
The federal minister for employment and workplace relations, Murray Watt, has responded to a Guardian Australia investigation into how employees in Woolworths-owned warehouses are being tracked and timed. He says that while there may be benefits, new workplace technology needs to be managed in a way that “protects and respects” workers’ rights:
In some cases, there’s clearly a disconnect between employers’ expectations of what new technology can deliver and what is safe and sustainable for workers. At the end of the day, workers are entitled to safe workplaces and fair working conditions.
Workers told Guardian Australia they are under pressure to meet time standards they say are unfair and putting safety at risk. In response to the Guardian investigation, a spokesperson for Primary Connect – Woolworths’ supply chain arm – said the company was committed to ensuring its workplaces were safe and productive.
Watt said the government’s inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces will look at the impact of AI:
We need to ensure that automation-led management considers the circumstances of individual workers and doesn’t expose them to unsafe and unfair working conditions.
We need to make sure appropriate mechanisms are in place to bring unions and employers together to work collaboratively as we all grapple with the emergence of new technologies and their impacts in the workplace.
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Queensland election race narrows before tomorrow's vote
Our Queensland correspondent Ben Smee has been on the campaign trail with Steven Miles as he attempts to secure a fourth successive win for Labor in the Sunshine State.
He finds that although the premier started off a long way behind in the polls, he has learned to be himself on the stump and has weaponised abortion to attack his LNP opponent, David Crisafulli.
That Newspoll I mentioned at the top has the LNP ahead by four points overall – but if that narrows any more Crisafulli could find himself in a minority and dependent on independents such as the Katters’ to form a government.
Here’s Ben’s piece for all the details:
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NSW government launches LGBTQ+ advisory council
The NSW government has launched an LGBTQ+ advisory council, with its first task being to establish the state’s first inclusion strategy.
The council – made up of 16 members who will serve a two-year term – includes Ian Roberts, the first openly gay rugby league player, Nicholas Stewart from “Australia’s only out loud and proud LGBTQIA+ law firm” Dowson Turco Lawyers, and the Equality Australia chief executive, Anna Brown.
78er Robyn Kennedy, who will serve as co-chair, says the council’s work will “focus on ensuring that all LGBTIQ+ individuals in NSW are supported, respected and have their rights upheld”.
This is what our community has always stood for through our decades of advocacy and resilience.
Members of the council “will work closely with the NSW government to provide insights and recommendations on issues affecting LGBTIQ+ communities”, as put in a government media release.
The council’s first task will be to work with the government to develop NSW’s first LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy.
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Qantas says strikes will not lead to delays as AGM takes place in Hobart
Qantas has sought to reassure the travelling public that hundreds of its engineers putting down their tools today will not lead to delays or cancellations across the country, as the airline’s shareholders and executives meet in Hobart for the company’s annual general meeting.
Engineers from three unions voted in favour of taking industrial action, which will include two sets of four-hour stop works planned for today across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. Qantas has disputed the unions claim that the industrial action will cause disruptions for passengers during peak windows.
A Qantas spokesperson said “our teams have worked hard to put contingencies in place and we expect there to be no impact to our customers”:
We had a number of meetings with the unions prior to the industrial action. We want to continue to engage with them to find a way forward but they have chosen to take action. Our preference is to reach an agreement that includes pay rises and other benefits.
The industrial action coincides with Qantas’ AGM today, with union representatives also set to rally outside the hotel in Hobart where the airline’s shareholders and executives are gathering.
Today’s stoppages are the latest in a series by engineers since September, as unions have been in negotiations with Qantas seeking better pay and improved conditions.
Qantas’s engineering workforces comprise 2,600 employees, with only members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) able to take part in the industrial action.
While the three unions – which make up the Qantas Engineers’ Alliance – claim 600 engineers will take part in the action, Qantas believes just 400 are able to.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Emily Wind with the main action.
Written off as the state election campaign began, the Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has gone from underdog to attack dog with a combative stump performance which has put LNP frontrunner David Crisafulli on the back foot. But has he left it too late? A Newspoll published today suggests he has with the LNP ahead of Labor by 52.5% to 47.5% after preferences, converting to a two-seat majority. More coming up.
Qantas has sought to reassure travellers that strikes today will not lead to delays as the company’s AGM takes place in Hobart.
And King Charles, who yesterday took part in a traditional kava-drinking ceremony and was declared a “high chief” of Samoa, will turn to perhaps less colourful duties this morning when he gives the keynote speech at the official opening of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in the Pacific nation.
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