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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Josh Taylor, Caitlin Cassidy and Martin Farrer

Flood warnings issued for Murray River in South Australia – as it happened

Gareth Train Stacey Train Kevin Gallagher Liz Truss Police Terrorism
Houseboat walkways underwater at Manum in the Riverland region of South Australia
The South Australian SES says there is a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas of Tailem, Jervois and Wellington as the Murray River rises. Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP

What we learned today – Saturday, 17 December

We are going to wrap up the live blog for today.

Here’s what made the news on Saturday:

We will be back again tomorrow with all the latest. Until then, enjoy your evening.

Updated

SA SES is reporting that the ADF has deployed four high clearance vehicles to support the flood response.

Coles recalls 11 spinach products

Coles is recalling 11 products containing baby spinach in response to the contaminated spinach issue that has led to severe illness for more than a dozen people.

The products include baby spinach, lettuce spinach, family baby spinach, roast pumpkin, feta and walnut salad, chicken BLT salad bowl, and egg and spinach pots that have use by dates between 17 December and 23 December.

Updated

Katharine Murphy’s last political column for the year is here, and it’s the perfect Saturday arvo read.

With that, I will pass you on to the capable hands of Josh Taylor. Enjoy your evenings.

The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, is over in Montreal for the Cop15.

The goal of the global summit is to negotiate and pass a framework on biodiversity, to halt and reverse the decline of nature.

Updated

Wieambilla shooting victims remembered at Gabba Test

The Test teams of Australia and South Africa have paid tribute to the two Queensland police officers and a local resident who were shot dead in a horrific attack in rural Queensland, AAP reports.

The two sides wore black armbands and a minute’s silence was observed before the first Test at the Gabba, in tribute to police officers Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, along with local man Alan Dare.

Queensland police members were on hand at the tribute to their late colleagues – which was broadcast around the globe – and there were tears of grief over the loss of loved and valued members of the community.

Presenter James Sherry addressed the sell-out crowd, saying:

Earlier this week our nation was shocked and saddened by the tragic events that occurred in Queensland’s Western Downs.

Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends, the colleagues and all of those grieving the tragic deaths of Queensland police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and Mr Alan Dare of the Wieambilla community.

The crowd burst into a round of applause before observing the minute’s silence.

Updated

Victoria marks 150th anniversary of public education

The Victorian government has sealed five time capsules to commemorate the 150th anniversary of public education. The capsules will be reopened in 2072.

On this day 150 years ago, Victoria was the first state in Australia – and one of the first in the world – to make education free, secular and compulsory to all children after the passing of the Education Act.

Each capsule includes current and historical digital and physical items including photos, videos, prep bags and learning curriculums.

Updated

A-League fans stage walkout over finals relocation decisions

Fans are continuing to display their displeasure at the A-League decision to sell three years of grand finals to Sydney.

This is from today’s Wellington verses Adelaide game:

Updated

Bogong moth numbers starting to recover

The bogong moth population has started to bounce back after nearing extinction but the insect’s future remains fragile, a new report has found.

The Australian Conservation Foundation interviewed a number of scientists who collect data on bogong moth populations, finding that experts agree the numbers have increased this season, likely thanks to the deluge brought on by three consecutive La Niña years.

Updated

Bushfire warning south of Perth

Over in Western Australia, parts of Kwinana, south of Perth are being urged to evacuate as a fire approaches.

A bushfire watch and act warning has been issued for people near Rockingham Road to the coast, including local camping grounds, in parts of Hope Valley, Henderson and Naval Base.

There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is approaching in the area and conditions are changing.

The fire started near the intersection of Rockingham Road and Lussky Road in Hope Valley.

Updated

55th anniversary of Harold Holt’s disappearance

On this day 55 years ago, the prime minister went for a swim and was never seen again.

And now there’s a swimming pool named after him.

Updated

Men arrested over alleged drug trafficking plot

Two Taiwanese men have been arrested over an alleged plot to bring $45m worth of meth into Australia. The drug was to be hidden in 3D printers.

The Australian federal police assistant commissioner, Pryce Scanlan, said the syndicate was involved in more than 30 methamphetamine importations into Australia in 2020 alone:

This particular organised crime syndicate has caused significant harm to the Australian community for a number of years.

We suspect they were operating long before we started monitoring them and were involved in multiple other drug trafficking plots targeting Australia.

The gateway used by this syndicate to import drugs into Australia is now closed.

Updated

Murray River to peak at SA border over Christmas

The South Australia SES has projected the dates the Murray River is expected to peak as the water moves downstream from New South Wales and Victoria.

First to peak is Renmark about 24 to 31 December. Berri is expected to peak between Christmas Day and 5 January.

Next is Waikerie, expected to peak between the beginning of the new year and 12 January, followed by Swan Reach between 5 January and 16 January. The Murray Bridge is expected to peak between 6 January and 17 January.

The SES said:

At the South Australian border, after a brief period of flattening, the river continues to rise as we move towards the anticipated flood peak around Christmas 2022.

Forecast peak water flows remain in the 190GL/day to 220GL/day range reaching South Australia by the end of December. Observed water levels through the SA River Murray are consistently higher than expected for the river flow being reported.

Under the River Murray flood warning framework, a major flood threshold was defined at 200GL/day on the basis of expected impacts at that flow. Given the water levels are expected to be higher at many locations than was anticipated for a 200GL/day flow, the threshold for an emergency warning to be issued has been met.

Communities along the length of the river should prepare for flooding in low lying areas. A number of locations have already been evacuated and several watch and act – prepare to evacuate warnings remain in place for a number of communities.

Updated

SES issues flood warnings for low-lying areas along Murray River in SA

Residents on the Murray River in parts of South Australia are being urged to prepare to evacuate as the river continues to slowly rise.

An emergency warning is in place for the Upper River Murray and Lower River Murray, with peaks expected by the end of December.

Late this morning, a flood watch and act message was issued for low-lying areas between Tailem Bend and Wellington.

Crescent, Mypolonga, Murray Bridge, Swanport and Tailem Bend are also under watch and act warnings.

The SA SES said:

There is a high risk of flooding for low lying areas of Tailem Bend, Jervois and Wellington, due to rapid river level rises in the River Murray, that may threaten your safety.

Regardless of your property’s ability to withstand flood impacts there is a chance you may become flooded or isolated. If you remain in the area you may become trapped without water, power and other essential services.

You should now prepare to evacuate. If the situation worsens it may not be safe to leave. It may be too dangerous for emergency services to assist you.

Parts of the Murray River aren’t expected to peak until mid-January.

Updated

The prime minister has made a friendly and non-specific post on social media in support of Australian products.

I presume he will be filling his Christmas stocking this year with Tim Tams, comically large jars of Vegemite and Fosters.

A-League fans protest against decision to move finals to Sydney

In the world of Sokkah, football fans are beginning to protest the Australian Professional Leagues’ controversial decision to sell hosting rights for the next three men’s and women’s grand finals to Sydney.

This was the Newscastle v Brisbane game last night:

Updated

If you’re a bit confused about the Albanese government’s energy price relief plan, my colleague Peter Hannam has this handy explainer for you.

Updated

Mayors announce support for voice to parliament

New South Wales Inner West mayor, Darcy Byrne, has announced 37 mayors from across the country have joined together to support the Uluru statement from the heart.

They say they support the voice to parliament, and local councils must play a role in the coming months to inform the public about what a constitutionally recognised voice would look like. The mayors have proposed community forums where Indigenous voices will be given a platform to be heard in the debate before the referendum.

Mayors on the list include:

  • Chris Homer, Shellharbour council (NSW)

  • Anna Reynolds, Hobart city council (Tasmania)

  • Ben Ramcharan, Nillumbik Shire council (Victoria)

  • Lisa Lake, Cumberland council (NSW)

  • Kenrick Winchester, Queanbeyan-Palerang regional council (NSW)

  • Danny Gibson, City of Launceston (Tas)

  • Dylan Parker, Randwick city council (NSW)

  • Maree Statham, Lithgow city council (NSW)

  • Tony Bleasdale OAM, Blacktown city council (NSW)

  • Peter Castaldo, Banyule city council (Victoria)

  • Zoe Baker, North Sydney council (NSW)

  • Donna Davis, City of Parramatta (NSW)

  • Michael Kerr, Douglas Shire council (Queensland)

  • Andrew Zbik, Lane Cove council (NSW)

  • Christina Curry, Bayside council (NSW)

  • Nick Katris, Georges River council (NSW)

  • Michael Whelan, Bass Coast Shire council (Victoria)

  • Clover Moore, City of Sydney (NSW)

  • Isabelle Tolhurst, Borough of Queenscliffe (Victoria)

  • Rhys Williams, City of Mandurah (WA)

  • Tony Jack, Roper Gulf regional council (NT)

  • Nuatali Nelmes, City of Newcastle (NSW)

  • Khal Asfour, Canterbury Bankstown (NSW)

  • Keri Tamwoy, Aurukun Shire council (Queensland)

  • Dylan Parker, Randwick city council (NSW)

  • Charlie Sheahan, Cootamundra-Gundagai regional council (NSW)

  • Mark Greenhill, Blue Mountains city council (NSW)

  • Des Hudson, City of Ballarat (Victoria)

  • Jay Suvaal, Cessnock city council (NSW)

  • Stephen Allan, Bellingen Shire council (NSW)

  • Sarah Carter, Maribyrnong city council (Victoria)

  • Kevin Beatty, Cabonne Council (NSW)

  • Paula Masselos, Waverley council (NSW)

  • Jason Hamling, Orange city council (NSW)

  • Peter Scott, Cook Shire council (Queensland)

  • Hon George Gear JP, City of Melville (WA)

  • Darcy Byrne, Inner West council (NSW)

Updated

Thunderstorm warning for north-east coast from BoM

Updated

Wong welcomes Japan’s security strategy

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has welcomed Japan’s release of its national security strategy:

Australia will work together for a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

The strategy confirms Japan’s foreign affairs minister will “strive to improve the security environment surrounding Japan” by “steadily strengthening the Japan-US alliance, coordinating with like-minded countries and others including further promoting efforts in pursuit of realising a free and open Indo-Pacific and engaging in diplomacy with neighbouring countries and regions”.

More on Japan’s defence plans from the Guardian’s Tokyo correspondent Justin McCurry:

Updated

Blue Mountains line to close following train derailment

The main western rail line through the Blue Mountains west of Sydney will be closed for repairs from tomorrow for at least five days following a freight train derailment on Wednesday.

The NSW minister for regional transport and roads, Sam Farraway, said maintenance crews were on site undertaking inspections along a 10km section of track:

The track in both directions is impacted. It is expected more than 15,000 sleepers will need to be replaced, 120 broken rails fixed and electrical work undertaken to restore signalling along the entire section of damaged track.

The adjacent undamaged track will remain open to diesel trains until Sunday morning, which will keep goods and commodities moving while final repair plans are being established.

Further closures are expected over coming weeks to repair “significant damage” to track infrastructure due to Wednesday’s derailment between Lawson and Linden.

Buses will replace trains between Katoomba and Springwood, while an intercity train will operating hourly services between Sydney and Springwood in both directions.

Trains will run every two hours between Lithgow to Katoomba in both directions. Bathurst services will terminate at Lithgow with buses replacing trains in both directions to Blacktown. Hourly train services will run in both directions between Mount Victoria and Katoomba.

From Monday, Dubbo XPT services will be replaced by coaches in both direction between Sydney and Bathurst.

Updated

Woolworths salads recalled in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria

A food recall notice has been issued for two salads sold at Woolworth stores across New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland and Victoria.

The 290g chickpea falafel salad and the 270g chicken cobb salad have been recalled due to “potential contamination with unsafe plant material”.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand said:

Food products containing unsafe plant material may cause illness if consumed. ​

Consumers should not eat this product and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.​

Updated

Man charged with attempted murder over Brisbane balcony fall

A man has been charged with attempted murder as Queensland police seek the extradition of two other suspects from NSW after a man was critically injured in a balcony fall in Brisbane, AAP reports.

Police say a 37-year-old Southbrook man fell six metres from a sixth-floor apartment block balcony on to the balcony below at Spring Hill about 5.10am on 5 December.

He was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital in a critical condition.

Police on Thursday arrested a 35-year-old man at Mermaid Waters and charged him with counts of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, break and enter, stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear again on 13 February.

A 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were taken into custody in NSW on Friday and are expected in court for an extradition hearing.

Updated

Scott Morrison and the pain of robodebt

Scott Morrison was clearly a man on a new mission in January 2015.

“Just like they won’t cop people coming on boats, they are not going to cop people who are going to rort that system,” Morrison said of the social security system he was now responsible for.

Speaking on Sky News, the new social services minister volunteered a phrase he would come back to regularly over the next few weeks.

So there does need to be a strong welfare cop on the beat and I will certainly be looking to do that. I want to make sure this system helps the people who most need it.

The next morning, 22 January, the Sydney Morning Herald reported what it called Morrison’s warning to “would-be dole bludgers, disability support pension rorters and terrorists who want to wage war while on government benefits”.

Updated

‘Australia needs to step up’ at Cop15: Hanson-Young

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is at the Cop15 in Montreal. Also present is the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek.

Hanson-Young told the ABC this morning:

This summit is so important … this is the Paris agreement for nature, because we are right on the cusp of losing critical habitat and parts of nature that will never be able to be restored and wildlife that will go extinct forever.

So we do need to pull out all stops … When it comes down to money and the struggles for those developing countries, the poorer countries, those who are more vulnerable, they really need more help.

And there is a role for Australia to play here. We are a wealthy country in comparison to many others. We have a wealth of scientific and research expertise … Australia needs to step up, show some more ambition and put money on the table to help alongside other countries that have already done that.

Updated

Mother of boy killed by car pleads with drivers to be careful

A four-year-old boy who loved dinosaurs continues to inspire his determined mother’s child road safety campaign nine years after he was fatally hit by a car on the NSW central coast.

Michelle McLaughlin’s urgent message is that this festive season could be the most hazardous for young pedestrians in recent years as families flock to holiday spots following three years of lockdowns, fires and floods.

Her son Tom was hit and killed on the first day of a family holiday at MacMasters Beach on 6 January 2014 after a car driver failed to see the small boy on the road verge.

McLaughlin, an experienced nurse from Sydney, said she knew straight away her son had suffered a catastrophic head injury.

Devastated by the loss of her “amazing little boy”, she and husband David set up the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to campaign for improved child road safety.

The foundation has teamed up with the University of NSW to gather more data on child road deaths and devise measures to drive fatalities down.

Road fatality figures show land transport crashes are a leading cause of death for Australian children aged one to 14 and between 2012 and 2021, 422 children aged under 15 died in crashes, with 28% of them pedestrians.

Prof Ann Williamson, from UNSW’s Transport and Road Safety Research Centre, said holidays are a risky time for young children.

They’re in places you don’t expect kids to be. In holiday locations and at holiday times kids can be everywhere.

– From AAP

Updated

Police officer pays tribute to gunned down colleagues

A policewoman who survived the deadly shooting at Wieambilla has paid tribute to the victims at a candlelight vigil, AAP reports.

Constable Keely Brough stood with members of Queensland police at a memorial in Chinchilla on Friday night, honouring constables Matthew Arnold, Rachel McCrow and resident Alan Dare.

The trio were gunned down during an ambush at the Queensland rural property, about three hours west of Brisbane, on Monday.

Brough and her colleague Randall Kirk escaped the ordeal with minor injuries.

Killers Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train died in a subsequent firefight with heavily armed tactical officers.

Hundreds of people held candles at the gathering on Friday and lined a street to form a guard of honour for police and ambulance officers.

Queensland assistant commissioner Charysse Pond read out a message from Arnold’s family, thanking members of the public and police for their support.

A fundraiser for the widow of Dare had raised more than $77,000 by Saturday morning.

A funeral service with full police honours will be held in Brisbane for the fallen officers on Wednesday.

Updated

US asks for extradition of Daniel Duggan

The US government has sent an extradition request for former marine pilot Daniel Duggan, who is accused of breaking American arms control law by training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers.

Trent Glover, a lawyer for the US government, told a Sydney local court on Friday:

The US has made a formal request for extradition for Mr Duggan.

Australia’s attorney general has until 25 December to make a decision, under a bilateral extradition treaty.

Outside the court, Duggan’s lawyer Dennis Miralis said Australia should oppose extradition, because there was no equivalent Australian law to the charges contained in the 2017 US indictment:

Australia does not have an arms embargo on China, Australia has not sanctioned China, therefore the extradition should fail on the basis it does not meet the requirements of dual criminality.

Miralis has previously said the 54-year-old pilot will fight any extradition request, and resolutely maintains his innocence.

“He denies having breached any US law, any Australian law, any international law,” Miralis said.

He also argued the charges are “political”, an exception to extradition under the bilateral treaty.

Miralis said he had not seen the extradition request, but rejected the US indictment as “materially incorrect”.

Duggan was arrested in a rural town in October after returning from China.

The indictment, unsealed by a Washington district court a week ago, alleges “Duggan provided military training to PRC [People’s Republic of China] pilots” through a South African flight school on three occasions in 2010 and 2012, while he was a US citizen.

His alleged violation of an arms embargo also includes providing aviation services in China, evaluating Chinese military pilot trainees and instruction in landing aircraft on aircraft carriers.

He faces four US charges, including conspiracy to export defence services to China, conspiracy to launder money and violating the Arms Export Control Act.

– From Reuters

Updated

Police union calls for security review of officer safety

The police union has called for security to be reviewed amid concerns of reprisal attacks and officers holding genuine fears for their safety, according to Australian Associated Press, quoting sources.

There are reports about the videos posted by Gareth and Stacey Train voicing violent intent towards police. Gareth posted at least 12 videos online in the six weeks prior to the attack and some officers are named in the videos. The director general of intelligence agency Asio, Mike Burgess, is featured in two.

AAP says that in a video, posted on 8 December, Gareth Train names individual officers from Queensland and NSW including contact details, stations and phone extensions.

Updated

Big business attacks energy price cap plans

Big business hasn’t quite given up attacking Labor’s energy price cap plans. A day after Santos boss Kevin Gallagher attacked the scheme as like a “Soviet-style” policy, the AFR reports that “top chief executives have backed energy company complaints that the Labor government’s caps on gas prices will threaten the investment needed to fill looming supply gaps in the domestic market”.

Telstra boss Vicki Brady tells the paper: “Domestic gas prices need to be considered as part of an agreed and co-ordinated national approach to energy more broadly.

“Capping gas prices is unlikely to be effective unless it is part of a national strategy to address demand and supply issues, including the promotion of electrification and clean alternatives.”

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, called Gallagher’s criticism ”laughable”.

“I understand chief executives’ desire to maximise their profits,” he said on Friday. “That’s their job. We have a different job. Our job is to act in the national interest … to protect Australian industries, to protect Australians.”

And if you’re still not sure what’s going on, our economics editor, Peter Hannam, explains what it all means here:

Welcome

Morning everyone and welcome to our weekend news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer bringing you the news stories breaking overnight and looking forward to what will be coming your way today.

The Wieambilla shootings have dominated the week’s news and we have more weekend reading on the big story, with fears about how the activities of the Train family escaped the attention of authorities in the months before the attack. Gareth Train in particular posted frequently on conspiracy websites using his real name or thinly veiled aliases, according to our reporters Nino Bucci and Ben Smee. One former long-serving national security official tells them he is “utterly baffled” that other posts on publicly available websites were not on the radar of authorities.

Peter Dutton might have trouble remembering that the speaker is a woman, but he is on safer ground bashing the big social media companies for allowing extremists like the Train family a platform to spout their views. The Australian reports that he has accused the companies of a “complete abrogation of their corporate and social responsibilities” by providing the means for people like the Trains to spread disinformation about the government. “It is domestic terrorism and it’s on a huge scale; there are terabytes of data,’’ he said.

Woolworths said late last night that it was recalling two salad products over fears that they have become contaminated with “unsafe plant material”. Its chicken cobb salads and chickpea falafel salads dated 20 December, and 20 and 22 December respectively were sold in stores in Victoria, NSW, the ACT and Tasmania. The supermarket said “food products containing unsafe plant material may cause illness if consumed”. It’s not clear if it is connected to a recall on Friday of packaged baby spinach sold at Costco after dozens of people reported worrying symptoms, including hallucinations.

And talking of contamination, our colleagues in the UK have an exclusive story that traces of a suspected class-A drug were found at a government grace-and-favour home after parties attended by political allies of the former prime minister, Liz Truss. The white powder was discovered at the Chevening estate last summer in the days before Truss won the Tory leadership contest and became prime minister, according to sources.

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