What we learned: Wednesday 7 August
And that’s where we’ll leave today’s blog, too. Here’s just some of what we learned:
Linda Reynolds has accused the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, of “seeking to silence” the former defence minister by denying her a chance to defend herself as the government worked towards a settlement with Brittany Higgins.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the defence minister, Richard Marles, have held annual talks with their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin in Maryland.
The Australian government has changed its travel advice for Bangladesh to “do not travel”.
Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the United States announced that their militaries will conduct a joint exercise in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone today and tomorrow.
A man will face court after allegedly stealing and selling unreleased limited edition Bluey coins from a Sydney warehouse earlier this year.
A new report into the health of the Great Barrier Reef shows it is resilient, but increasingly vulnerable to global heating.
Unions are pushing for 50c public transport fares in Queensland to remain when a six-month trial ends as the state’s transport-dominated election campaign ramps up
A man narrowly escaped an apartment fire in Sydney’s northern beaches, believed to have been caused by a faulty lithium-ion battery.
The three-term mayor of Maribyrnong council in Melbourne, Sarah Carter, has died at the age of 45.
Thanks so much for your company this evening. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning.
Updated
Day four of the defamation trial against Brittany Higgins by Linda Reynolds has concluded.
Reynolds will return to the witness stand on Thursday to continue cross-examination by Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC.
We’ll bring you the latest then.
Reynolds says she did not agree to keep confidential letters about Higgins’ civil claim private
Linda Reynolds says she never “agreed” to keep private two confidential letters relating to Brittany Higgins’ civil claims she leaked to a columnist at the Australian, a court has heard.
The two letters sent to Reynolds’ lawyer in June and December 2022 – both marked confidential and subject to legal professional privilege – outlined the proposed terms of Reynolds’ involvement in the civil claim.
Higgins settled a personal injury claim against the government on 12 December 2022. It was later revealed in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial the settlement amounted to $2.445m.
In the June letter, the commonwealth’s legal team requested all parties to keep details confidential.
In the December letter, Reynolds was instructed not to attend mediation with Higgins, make any public comment, and maintain confidentiality so the commonwealth would be in “best position to achieve a resolution”.
Reynolds asked Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC, to repeat her questions on a number of occasions when being asked whether she understood the meaning of legal professional privilege and the parliamentary business resources regulation.
The senator claimed she had some understanding but added the letters showed the federal government “wanted to lock me down”.
On the morning of 12 December 2022, the day of the mediation, Reynolds used her personal Gmail account to send the June letter to Janet Albrechtsen, a columnist at the Australian newspaper.
Reynolds told the court she had never “signed” the letter and therefore was not subject to its confidentiality clause.
Young disputed this, pointing to the regulations and passages within the letters instructing her not to.
“What was top of my mind was the fact that I was not going to sign [it],” Reynolds said. “I hadn’t signed an agreement to be locked down.”
Albrechtsen and another journalist published an article on the Australian website, dated 14 December 2022.
Updated
Victoria makes hospital funding deal adding $1.5bn
The Victorian Labor government has struck a deal with the state’s hospitals to top up their funding to the tune of $1.5bn.
Fears were growing in June with hospitals worried that they would have to close beds, delay elective surgeries and sack staff as the state government worked to rein in post-pandemic health spending in the face of its post-Covid debt.
At the time, several major hospitals confirmed they had imposed hiring freezes ahead of submitting their annual budgets to the health department.
On Wednesday afternoon, a government spokesperson confirmed the funding increase, saying:
We know our hospitals have just seen their busiest year on record – that’s why we’re giving them the funding they told us they needed. We’ve worked with hospitals to develop their final budgets – making sure that every dollar prioritises patient care.
We’re expecting more announcements related to this matter tomorrow.
Updated
Three charged after riot following stabbing of priest and bishop in Western Sydney in April
Three people were convicted on Wednesday in relation to riots that occurred outside Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley in April.
AAP reports that Chantelle David, 28, had attended mass at the church to pray for her dead uncle when Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Isaac Royel, a priest, were stabbed.
When an angry mob gathered outside the church demanding the stabber be released, David joined them, swore and spat at officers, flipped them off and complained when she was pepper-sprayed, according to court documents.
Police estimate about 2,000 rioters damaged police vehicles, threw projectiles at the church and used weapons such as fence palings, ladders, bricks and rocks to attack officers.
David has pleaded guilty to gathering with others to threaten violence or cause fear, joining an unlawful assembly and hindering or resisting police. On Wednesday, she was convicted at Fairfield local court and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and 30 hours of community service.
A second rioter, Issa Haddad, was convicted on Wednesday and handed a three-month jail sentence to be served in the community for his role in the riots. Outside the Wakeley church, he had called for the teenager who stabbed Bishop Emmanuel to be brought out as an “eye for an eye”, telling police officers to shoot the boy.
Appearing by video link from jail as his mother and girlfriend watched in court, he was also sentenced to a two-year community corrections order for filming in court and attacking a journalist outside Fairfield courthouse after a hearing in May.
Manea took into account Haddad’s intellectual disability as well as his genuine remorse for his actions.
A third rioter, Christian Dib, attended Fairfield courthouse on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to behaving in an offensive manner in a public place and joining an unlawful assembly. The unemployed tradesman was caught on police body-worn camera yelling offensive remarks at officers, including racially charged comments to an officer of Asian heritage.
Prosecutors withdrew a third charge of using or threatening violence to cause fear that was initially levelled against the Villawood man. His matter has been adjourned for sentencing on 18 September.
Police charged 40 people over the riot and a 16-year-old boy with a terrorism offence over the stabbing, which they allege was religiously motivated.
Updated
Reynolds denies accusation she apologised for ‘lying cow’ comment on Higgins to reduce legal risk
Linda Reynolds has denied claims she only apologised for her “lying cow” comments against Brittany Higgins to reduce her legal risk, a court has heard.
The cross-examination of Reynolds by Higgins’ defence lawyer, Rachael Young SC, started on Wednesday and has focused initially on the senator’s alleged comments against her former staffer’s appearance on Network 10’s The Project.
Young said Reynolds directly apologised for those comments on 5 March and only after being threatened with defamation action by Higgins’ lawyer.
Reynolds said by 2 March, the day before the comments were published by media but after her office had been requested to respond to the claims, she was fearful of losing her job as defence minister.
“Fearful is an understatement,” Reynolds said, adding she had been “completely and utterly turned into, as Mr Bennett put it, a villain ... it was overwhelming.”
Reynolds denied Young’s assertion that she only apologised to Higgins to prevent further legal action.
Reynolds said a quick resolution was a step toward starting to “get better” as she had been on medical leave for poor health. Keeping her job as defence minister was also “one of many reasons” to resolve the matter as “dealing with this [legal] matter” was awful, she said.
The senator agreed, when asked by Young, that she had told a medical professional at the time the process with Higgins had been “deeply unfair”.
Updated
Experts express doubt over Labor’s build-to-rent scheme
The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, has taken another swing at the Labor government’s build-to-rent plans after a Senate committee heard multiple experts expressing doubt that the scheme would result in housing for low-income families, and may actually increase rents.
Labor’s proposed build-to-rent legislation was sent to the Senate Economics legislation committee in June after the Coalition and the Greens teamed up to delay the bill. Anthony Albanese dubbed the unlikely team-up the “no-alition”.
The Senate committee heard today from representatives of the Property Council, the Housing Industry Association, experts from RMIT and Treasury officials (among others) on the government’s proposed legislation
Francesca Muskovic, the national policy director of the Property Council, told the committee that the current bill had some “technical issues” that “restrict application of any concessional rate”:
Virtually no build-to-rent platform in Australia would be able to access it, so based on the way the bill is drafted at the moment, we don’t think any additional build-to-rent apartments would be produced over and above business as usual unless those technical provisions are addressed.
If you did deal with the technical provisions you might still see some uplift, but it wouldn’t get you as far as the 105,000 homes that we have suggested you could get if you took on board some of these suggestions from the Property Council, [Community Housing Industry Association] and National Shelter.
Separately, Dr Megan Nethercote from RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research told the committee:
Most build-to-rent operators openly concede there will be a rental premium on their products of some 10% to 20%… The build-to-rent model is designed around securing increasing rents.
Chandler-Mather said on Wednesday afternoon that the build-to-rent plan would “create a powerful class of corporate landlords”:
Millions of renters are suffering, crying out for real relief from Labor and all this cowardly government can offer is more tax handouts to developers to build expensive apartments they already planned to build.
The new housing minister should take this chance to come back to the drawing board and negotiate a real plan with the Greens that includes a nationwide freeze and cap on rent increases, [a] phase out of tax handouts for property investors and a mass investment in public housing.
Updated
Court shown series of messages between Linda Reynolds and Bruce Lehrmann’s then barrister
The Western Australia supreme court has been shown a series of text messages sent between Liberal senator Linda Reynolds and Bruce Lehrmann’s then barrister Steven Whybrow in the lead up to the 2022 criminal trial in the ACT.
The documents, which were subpoenaed by the defence yesterday and delivered to both legal teams this morning, showed interactions between the two over a period between 1 June 2022 and 31 December 2022.
In one message, pointed to by Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, the former defence minister texted a picture of herself and employees of the space agency in a jacket. Higgins was allegedly seen wearing the jacket after she left Reynolds’ office after being allegedly raped by Bruce Lehrmann.
The court heard on Wednesday morning Whybrow and Reynolds had a pre-trial meeting in July 2022. Whybrow had allegedly raised whether Reynolds’ jacket had been placed in a “seconds bin”. Reynolds told Bennett on Wednesday she believed she had lost it.
Another text message in the thread, not referred to directly by Bennett, showed Whybrow texted the senator on 23 September 2022: “Hang in there...karma comes to those that wait”.
On 6 October 2022, when the criminal trial had begun, another text message showed Reynolds texted a picture of Higgins in a white outfit to Whybrow, followed by another picture of Kate Middleton in a similar outfit.
Reynolds told the court on Wednesday afternoon the text was “probably a little catty”, conceding she might have been “overly sensitive” about Higgins imitating Middleton’s attire. The hearing continues.
Updated
CFMEU national secretary says ‘your union is here to stay’ as organisation considers legal advice
The CFMEU’s national secretary, Zach Smith, has posted a new update to members on the Fair Work Commission application to appoint external administrators to most of its branches.
In a post to Instagram and Facebook, Smith said the union is still “considering advice from our legal team” and has sought further information from the Fair Work Commission, which it will meet later this week, to decide on a response.
The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, had given the Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union until Friday to agree to the appointment of administrators after accusations of criminal misconduct and bikie links, or the government would legislate to appoint them.
Smith promised a “considered response” that would be “in the best interests of CFMEU members”, promising that new workplace pay deals will continue to be negotiated and signed and the new industry agreement in Victoria with 5% annual pay increases will be rolled out.
Smith said that the Master Builders and “other bosses’ groups” had used the public controversy to attack wages and conditions using “unpublished reports, dubious sources claiming cost blowouts and time delays”. He said:
There is no evidence base for these figures. It is a bare naked attempt to pay construction workers the bare minimum ... Your union, the CFMEU is here to stay.
Smith said the union had recovered $22m in unpaid wages, unpaid super contributions and contributions to industry funds.
Updated
Child’s hands allegedly burned after touching plasma globe at Questacon
The federal department that runs Questacon could be fined up to $1.5m after a child’s hands were allegedly set on fire during a visit to the Canberra museum.
The nine-year-old was seriously burned after allegedly interacting with a hands-on exhibit at the National Science and Technology Centre in July 2022.
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has been charged with breaching health and safety laws after a Comcare investigation found a spark from a plasma globe ignited the alcohol-based hand sanitiser used by the child.
The sanitiser had been supplied by Questacon and the child suffered burns to their hands and wrists.
Read the full story here:
Updated
Dutton’s ‘cavalier attitude’ to climate crisis would do ‘enormous damage’ to Australia’s Pacific relationships, says Conroy
The Albanese government argues the Coalition’s “regressive and reactionary approach” to the climate crisis would damage Australia’s attempts to repair relationships with Pacific island countries.
The federal government minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, made the comments in Sydney this afternoon as he delivered his first speech about the region since he was promoted to cabinet in last week’s reshuffle.
Conroy told the McKell Institute it was wrong for the opposition leader to refuse to commit to Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target and to take a “cavalier attitude” to climate change:
There is so much wrong with Peter Dutton’s regressive and reactionary approach to climate change.
But one aspect that has not received enough attention is the enormous damage it would do to Australia’s Pacific relationships.
Conroy said the Albanese government’s more ambitious climate policy had “helped unlock” a new era of engagement with Pacific nations.
Dutton has committed to net zero by 2050 but has refused to commit to the 2030 target Australia has already enshrined in domestic legislation and formalised under the Paris agreement.
Updated
Reynolds’ lawyer considers adjournment request after defence tenders documents
The defamation trial against Brittany Higgins in the WA supreme court has resumed.
Linda Reynolds was due to be cross-examined but the defence has tendered a bundle of documents, mostly media articles and a subpoena ACT government document handed to Higgins’ team this morning.
Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, is contemplating requesting a short adjournment to consider some of the documents.
Updated
Corruption watchdog charges two Victorian building authority workers
Two employees of the Victorian Building Authority have today been charged with criminal offences after the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) conducted searches of several premises.
The charges relate to the alleged assessment of builder registrations in exchange for a financial benefit, IBAC said in a statement.
The investigation continues.
Updated
Police find alleged bandit with Bluey limited edition ‘dollarbucks’
NSW Police have been speaking to the media about the alleged theft of $600,000 worth of limited-edition Bluey coins (what a sentence that is) we mentioned earlier.
Commander of the state crime command’s robbery and serious crime squad, Det Supt Joseph Doueihi, said the coins were advertised for sale online after being allegedly stolen.
Doueihi continues:
We conducted a search warrant at a location in Sefton on Wednesday, the 31st of July this year. At that location, we recovered about 189 Bluey coins. Our investigation at that stage identified that person that was selling those coins was a legitimate coin collector and had innocently come into possession of those items.
Further investigations identified a 47-year-old male from a Westmead address that was involved in the theft. We will allege that this particular male was an employee of the Secure Storage facility at the time of the theft.
We will allege that this particular male facilitated the movement of those coins into an area that is not secured within that storage facility, and then facilitated the theft of those coins. That 47-year-old male was arrested this morning when a search warrant was executed at his residence in Wetherill Park today, with the assistance of Raptor officers. He has since been arrested for a number of offences and will appear before Parramatta local court later on today.
The coins were meant for general circulation and manufactured for that purpose by the mint.
Police did not ask the public to surrender any found Bluey coins – “It’s in circulation now, and that’s no issue to us” – but requested anyone who had information about where bulk quantities were stored to contact Crimestoppers.
Updated
Thanks for joining me on the blog today, Stephanie Convery will be here to take you through the rest of our coverage. Enjoy your evening!
Union argues ticketless parking fines spare inspectors violence from aggrieved drivers
Earlier today, we brought you news that ticketless parking fines had exploded in use in NSW, with some councils refusing calls to alert drivers immediately that they’ve been fined. You can read more on that here.
AAP now has more details, with the United Services Union arguing that reducing the need for windshield tickets had spared parking inspectors from aggrieved drivers’s frequent violence.
The union’s general secretary, Graeme Kelly, told ABC Radio:
We’ve seen some really violent attacks, including broken bones, femurs, arms, where people have gone into a violent rage as the parking officer writes out the ticket.
He questioned whether the noted rise in infringements indicated rangers no longer had to let motorists off to avoid violent confrontations and said, “I think you’ve noticed an uptick in tickets because they feel more confident now.”
City of Sydney – which issues 5200 parking fines a week, almost all paperless – said it had recorded a 33% reduction in aggression and abuse directed at staff since switching to the digital system.
It was reviewing the government’s request for more “transparency and fairness” but endorsed the status quo, with a spokesperson saying:
The system provides motorists with more information about the infringement, as well as follow-up actions available. It ensures the motorists are notified even if tickets go missing or are damaged by weather.
Updated
With some upsetting content in the news today, remember to ask for help if you are struggling.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
Updated
Doctor shortage concerns raised over push for age health check
A push to roll out mandatory health checks for older doctors must strike a balance between protecting patient safety while also keeping medics in the shrinking workforce, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners [RACGP] says.
As AAP reports, doctors would be required to undergo a health check every three years from their 70th birthday and every year after turning 80, under a Medical Board proposal.
In the past eight years, official complaints and concerns about doctors aged 70-80 rose 130% and soared 180% for those aged over 80, the regulator said. Overall, complaints about doctors grew during that time but increased by 63% for those under 70.
The RACGP president, Nicole Higgins, said it was essential patients knew they could trust the health system but also pointed out the nation was in the grips of a healthcare workforce shortage – with a shortfall of almost 2500 general practitioners that was expected to more than double by 2033.
There must be a balance. The proposed focus on early detection of potential health issues is welcome in that it implies an approach that supports doctors’ heath, but it is absolutely essential any process is straightforward, not time consuming and focused on the health and wellbeing of doctors.
Updated
Reynolds-Higgins trial breaking for early lunch
Over in Perth, and we’re breaking for an early lunch after Linda Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, concluded his initial questioning of the senator shortly before midday.
Reynolds is expected to return to the witness stand for cross-examination by Brittany Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC, in the early afternoon Perth time.
The WA supreme court justice, Paul Tottle, said he’d been informed documents subpoenaed by the defence had become available. Young said on Tuesday afternoon the documents were described as containing text messages between Reynolds and Bruce Lehrmann’s then barrister, Steven Whybrow, in the lead up to 2022’s criminal trial.
Justice Tottle adjourned court until at least 1.30pm Perth time to allow both legal teams to review the documents and take instructions from their clients.
We’ll bring updates once the hearing returns.
Updated
Reynolds tells court she has put ‘everything on the line’ to tell her truth
Linda Reynolds has put “everything on the line” to tell her truth about her actions after the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins, a court has heard.
The WA supreme court was shown a post by Higgins, published on her Instagram story, in March this year as mediation between the parties began.
The post included an illustrated woman with the words, “I won’t stay silent so you can stay comfortable.”
Reynolds alleged the post was another attempt by Higgins to demonstrate to people online the senator was trying to “silence” sexual assault survivors.
Reynolds said she took particular issue with the reference to “comfort”.
I can assure you, taking these proceedings … putting my house on the line … to be here today, that just took the cake.
I have no words for it – it is gross, it is unfair … [I put] everything on the line to be here today, that ain’t comfortable.
Bennett concludes his questioning of Reynolds. Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC, is due to begin her cross-examination shortly.
Updated
Call for Chinese transparency as Pacific leaders to meet later this month
Australia is calling on China to be more transparent in the Pacific as the region’s leaders and foreign ministers prepare to meet.
As AAP reports, the Pacific minister, Pat Conroy, used an address to a public policy thinktank to draw a line in the sand over China’s involvement in policing the region. Beijing has struck a policing pact with Solomon Islands, and reports say uniformed police have been seen in Kiribati.
Conroy referred to Pacific nations rejecting a Chinese push for a regional security agreement in 2022, and told the McKell Institute today:
The region has also spelled out … that the security of the Pacific is the shared responsibility of the Pacific family.
He also called for Beijing to abide by calls from Pacific nations to ensure infrastructure projects funded by foreign aid are climate resilient and high quality.
China had played a vital role in Australia’s economic development, and Pacific nations should be able to “explore economic growth opportunities”, Conroy said.
But we expect this not to be accompanied by coercion and interference. China should be more transparent in the aid it is giving and should treat infrastructure projects as opportunities for the Pacific to grow local employment, skills and procurement.
Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers will meet in Fiji on Friday before leaders meet in Tonga from 26 August.
Updated
White House correspondent for NYT addresses National Press Club
David E. Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for the New York Times, spoke to the National Press Club in Canberra today about his fourth book – “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion and the Struggle to Defend the West.”
Asked about Washington’s views on Taiwan and whether we are heading towards conflict in the Taiwan Straits, Sanger responded that there were two options: “straight on invasion” or a “slow squeeze.”
The declaration by China that Taiwan is part of China … and thus a slow stranglehold. And the model here of moving slowly, but inexorably, is what happened in Hong Kong. Taiwan would be a very different and more complex issue, but if you did it that way, it might not create an immediate point of crisis the way an invasion would.
It would trigger the United States and its allies to debate whether or not they are going to go intervene. I think this is going to be the hardest issue in the future for the Australian-US relationship, because while Australia has signed up to Aukus and while it may play out over the next two decades – both in pillar one and pillar two of cooperation – I don’t get the sense, with all the expertise I have garnered from being here for four days, that Australia has fully decided whether or not it considers Taiwan to be part of its central and essential strategic interest.
Updated
Critical social media posts made Linda Reynolds feel like ‘punching clown on the fairground’
Linda Reynolds felt like a “punching clown on the fairground” by critical social media posts from Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz, a court has heard.
The Western Australian senator is suing Higgins over posts she claims damaged her reputation and were part of a planned conspiracy to harm her.
In particular, one Instagram story by Higgins in July 2023 urged Reynolds it was “time to stop” after media reported Reynolds would refer the personal injury settlement to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Reynolds said the post inferred she was continuing to harass Higgins, which she said continued the “pile on” against the former defence minister. Reynolds said she “felt like a punching clown on the fairground” who got punched down again and again and still popped back up smiling.
Earlier, the senator said she had felt “guilty” of needing support from friends and family over the last three and a half years as a result of the posts.
I feel guilty because as the MP, as the senator, I have to put on a brave face … then I go home, that’s the only place I can actually be a human being. These lies have damaged so many people’s lives … that’s why I’m here today.
Reynolds is expected to be cross-examined by Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC, later today.
Updated
‘Strike Force Bandit’ investigating alleged theft and selling of 63,000 unreleased Bluey coins
A man will face court after allegedly stealing and selling unreleased limited edition Bluey coins from a Sydney warehouse earlier this year.
Officers attended a warehouse in Wetherill Park on 12 July and were told 63,000 unreleased limited edition $1 Bluey coins had been stolen, worth more than $600,000.
The Royal Australian Mint unveiled themed $1 coins in early June, with a limited number made available on 6 June:
An aptly named “Strike Force Bandit” commenced an investigation, executed a search warrant at a Sefton property on 31 July and seized 189 of the unreleased coins.
Detectives also executed a search warrant at a Westmead home today and arrested a 47-year-old man. He was taken to Granville police station and charged with three counts of breaking and entering to commit a serious indictable offence. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta local court today.
Police will allege the man was an employee at a warehouse where he located and stole the Australian Mint packages from the back of a truck. Police will further allege the man sold the coins online hours after he stole them. They are now being sold online for ten times their face value.
Police said that “investigations under Strike Force Bandit continue”.
Updated
Reynolds accuses Dreyfus of ‘seeking to silence’ her over settlement with Higgins
Linda Reynolds has accused the attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus, of “seeking to silence” the former defence minister by denying her a chance to defend herself as the government worked towards a settlement with Brittany Higgins.
Reynolds told the WA supreme court this morning her lawyer had received a letter in December 2022 from Commonwealth lawyers instructing her not to attend a mediation hearing with her former junior staffer.
Higgins settled a personal injury claim against the government on 12 December 2022. It was later revealed in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial the settlement amounted to $2.445m.
Reynolds said the claims that she had not given Higgins adequate support after her alleged rape in March 2019 were “utterly defendable”.
My defence was to be no defence … I was outraged.
Reynolds said it was for this reason she referred the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Reynolds’ lawyer responded with a letter on 9 December 2022, shown to the court. It read:
We seek to understand from you as to how this prohibition can be reconciled with the Commonwealth’s election to take control of the conduct of Senators Reynolds’ defence of the claims by Ms Higgins.
The mediation was held three days later and Reynolds was not invited to attend. She recalled not receiving a response to this letter.
Reynolds said she did not receive “one single phone call, not a single letter” regarding the settlement. She added she did not know the contents of the settlement deed until it was released by Justice Michael Lee in the Lehrmann trial.
Updated
Australia, Canada, the Philippines and US to conduct joint exercise
Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the United States have announced that their militaries will conduct a joint exercise in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone today and tomorrow.
It comes amid tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
A joint statement by military leaders from Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the US said they were determined to demonstrate “our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
It said their “combined armed forces will conduct a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone on August 7 and 8, 2024”.
The statement continued:
The naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces. The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States.
We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order.
The four countries reaffirmed that a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal – which found in favour of the Philippines and was never accepted as valid by China – was “a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute”.
Updated
Teacher suspended without pay after being accused of sexual offences against a student
Earlier, we brought you news that a 30-year-old teacher had been arrested at a school in south-west Sydney and charged with sexual offences related to a teenage student.
The Department of Education has confirmed the teacher has been suspended without pay, and said in a statement:
The safety and welfare of students are our highest priorities. The department has strong policies and procedures in place to ensure their care and protection and to act when employees are alleged to have engaged in misconduct.
We are providing support to students and staff that require it.
As it is now a police matter, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
Updated
Victoria rattled by ‘aftershock’ tremors of 2021 quake, seismologist says
An earthquake that rattled parts of Victoria is likely an aftershock from a 2021 quake, AAP reports.
Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Phil Cummins considered the 4.1 magnitude tremor near Woods Point early this morning an aftershock from Victoria’s record 5.9 magnitude earthquake in September 2021.
That quake damaged buildings in Melbourne and was felt as far away as Canberra, Sydney and Adelaide after spreading from its epicentre in Mansfield, about 60km from Woods Point.
Cummins said the physical size of today’s earthquake was “about 100th that of the earthquake that occurred in 2021”.
The energy released would be … about [900] times less than the energy released in that previous earthquake.
Aftershocks occurring years or decades after initial earthquakes were common, Cummins said, and more could follow.
It’s not unusual for large aftershocks to have their own aftershocks. But I would expect the earthquakes we see immediately after this earthquake to be considerably smaller.
Updated
Aussie shares move higher again as dip-buyers step in
The local share market was on track for its second day of gains at midday, AAP reports, slowly clawing back the losses from a vicious two-day selloff as traders snapped up bargains.
At noon Aest, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 29.3 points, or 0.38%, to 7,709.9, while the broader All Ordinaries had gained 29.7 points, or 0.38%, to 7,917.6.
Nine of the ASX’s 11 sectors were higher at noon, with consumer staples and financials basically flat. The Big Four banks were mixed, with Westpac down 0.6%, NAB dipping 0.5% and CBA falling 0.3%, while ANZ had gained 0.4%.
In currency, the Australian dollar was buying 65.45 US cents from 65.05 US cents at Tuesday’s ASX close.
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Day four of Reynolds v Higgins defamation trial under way
Day four of the hearing in Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial against Brittany Higgins is now under way.
Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, is picking up where he left off with the senator on Tuesday.
Updated
A little lunchtime nice thing: Australian Arisa Trew, 14, scored a 93.18 on her final run to win gold in women’s park skateboarding at Paris 2024. Here’s what she had to say after her win.
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More information on Australia’s updated travel advice for Bangladesh
Just circling back to news a moment ago, that Australia’s travel advice for Bangladesh has been updated to “do not travel”.
Here is the message on the Smartraveller website advising against travel to the country:
There’s ongoing protests and demonstrations across Bangladesh, with violent clashes throughout Dhaka and other cities. Many deaths and injuries have been reported. Curfews have been imposed at short notice. There’s an increased military presence, with roadblocks and checkpoints.
If needed, shelter in a safe place and follow the advice of local authorities, including on curfews and restrictions on public gatherings. Avoid large gatherings, including protests, demonstrations and rallies.
There are flight disruptions and cancellations. Access to Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport may be restricted at short notice … Communications have been severely disrupted. Internet services and mobile data can be restricted at short notice. Fuel supplies may be impacted and there’s transport disruptions and traffic delays.
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More on the Higgins-Reynolds defamation trial, with the hearing kicking off shortly
The final minutes of the third day of the trial provided a number of twists.
Any communications between Higgins and her team with a fundraising page set up to pay for her legal fees will be handed to the court next week after Justice Paul Tottle granted a subpoena.
The defence will also subpoena a document from the ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, that had been tendered to the territory’s board of inquiry into the criminal trial against Bruce Lehrmann. The 11th hour request is due back by tomorrow.
The document is expected to contain text messages between Reynolds and Lehrmann’s then barrister, Steven Whybrow, in the lead up to the criminal trial. Young said she intended to use the document in her cross-examination of Reynolds.
We’ll update you once the hearing gets under way shortly.
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Day four of defamation trial against Brittany Higgins beginning shortly
Brittany Higgins’ lawyer is expected to cross-examine Linda Reynolds in Perth shortly.
Today marks the fourth day of the Western Australian Liberal senator’s defamation trial against Higgins for a series of social media posts published in July 2023, which she says damaged her reputation.
Reynolds began giving evidence on Monday and Tuesday and will continue this morning before her lawyer, Martin Bennett, hands her over to Rachael Young SC for the defence.
Yesterday, Reynolds detailed her account of the events after Higgins’ alleged rape in Parliament House in March 2019. The former defence minister outlined the “incredible” chest pain she felt from the media frenzy once the story became public in February 2021.
Earlier in the week, Young said she would show the court that Reynolds’ claims of a conspiracy by Higgins and her husband, David Sharaz, to damage the senator’s reputation were not credible.
After Young’s cross-examination, it’s anticipated Bennett will be allowed to re-examine Reynolds before her time on the witness stand is up on Friday.
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Travel advice for Bangladesh updated to ‘do not travel’
The Australian government has changed its travel advice for Bangladesh to “do not travel”.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, wrote on X that this was due to violence:
The security situation is extremely volatile. Avoid large gatherings, monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities. [Website Smartraveller] is being regularly updated.
Bangladesh’s president has dissolved the country’s parliament after an ultimatum issued by the coordinators of student protests that forced the prime minister’s, Sheikh Hasina, resignation on Monday.
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Refugee men in Australia suffer high depression rates, report shows
Refugee men in Australia have a higher likelihood of depression and mental distress compared to other men who are also at risk of chronic conditions, AAP reports.
The Real Face of Men’s Health report released by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health and Welcoming Australia today found about $10.7bn in 2023 was spent on healthcare to treat five conditions that cause the most years life lost in men.
They are coronary heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 15-44 in Australia, regardless of their background. Between 2020 and 2022, suicide was the third-leading cause of premature death among men across all age categories.
A total of 1658 men were polled on their health and whether they visited a GP or hospital when unwell, with 77% of those of African descent saying masculine gender stereotypes affected their decision.
Gautam Raju, Movember’s global director of advocacy and policy, said health disparities for culturally and linguistically diverse men and the wider population were a cause for concern.
We know that men from migrant and refugee communities encounter 70% higher odds of facing barriers to health services, leading to increased hospital admissions and mortality rates … We know far less about what happens when men do engage with the health system, how the health system responds and how and why men drop out of care.
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Final-day fixture sets up bumper AFL finals race
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon expects the tightest finals race in memory to go down to the wire, AAP reports, after locking in three crucial fixtures for the final day of the home-and-away season.
The league today confirmed the schedule of matches for round 24, which will decide the top eight ahead of the finals. Up to a dozen teams could still be in the finals hunt at that stage.
A Melbourne-Collingwood Friday night clash will open round 24 at the MCG, while finals contenders Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney are all in action on Saturday.
The Brisbane Lions host Essendon at the Gabba on Saturday night in a contest that could have finals ramifications for both sides.
But the Sunday fixture is the highlight of round 24, starting with the Western Bulldogs hosting GWS in Ballarat.
Finals hopefuls Carlton host St Kilda at the MCG before Fremantle take on Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium in the last of the 207 home-and-away matches.
Dillon told reporters today:
As we sit here now, there’s no team that’s in the top eight that is mathematically locked in. So we’re really looking forward to a big round 24. We’re hoping that there will be massive live games all the way through the round.
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Man narrowly escapes apartment fire in Sydney after lithium-ion battery caught fire
A man has narrowly escaped an apartment fire in Sydney’s northern beaches, believed to have been caused by a faulty lithium-ion battery.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) said the resident was charging a battery pack for a remote-controlled plane in his Dee Why unit on Sunday night when it burst into flames.
He managed to place the charger and battery into a fire-proof bag on a balcony and call Triple Zero. Crews rushed to the scene and the damaged components were immersed in a bucket of water to prevent re-ignition.
The resident told firefighters the battery was about halfway through charging when it caught fire. The occupant was uninjured, and firefighters ventilated the unit.
FRNSW reminds people to be extra cautious when charging lithium-ion batteries.
DEE WHY | Close call for resident as Lithium-ion battery sparks unit fire. A man has narrowly escaped an apartment fire, caused by a faulty Lithium-Ion battery, at Dee Why on Sydney’s northern beaches.
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) August 7, 2024
The resident was charging a battery pack f... https://t.co/kWEuYwy4rU
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Australian shares edge lower as traders remain anxious
Australian shares are trading slightly lower early this morning amid volatile conditions marked by growing fears of a US recession.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell to 7,650 shortly after traders opened their laptops, down 0.4% from yesterday’s close.
The negative conditions follow a dramatic week that included $160bn being wiped from the value of Australian equities over two trading days before staging a modest recovery yesterday.
US equity markets snapped a three-day losing streak by finishing higher overnight. However, some of the gains were pared late in the session when a lot of trading activity occurs.
Volatility indicators also remain elevated, which suggests investors are cautious. Charu Chanana, the head of foreign exchange strategy at Saxo, said:
Although markets are regaining some calm after a two-day rout, recession concerns are unlikely to disappear soon.
The volatile conditions were sparked by several pieces of economic data released last week, including jobs and payroll data, which raised questions over the health of the US economy.
While ASX moves have been largely driven by events in the US and Japan, which have seen huge price fluctuations, investors are also weighing up guidance provided by Australia’s central bank.
The RBA left rates unchanged yesterday, while noting a “rate cut is not on the agenda”.
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NSW parking fines in 2023/24, as per AAP
Ticketless parking fines: 822,310 (up 49% on 2022/23), raising $158m (up 54%)
Traditional parking fines: 558,634 (down 22%), raising $95.6m (down 14%)
Total: 1.38m fines, raising $253.6m.
Updated
Embrace fairness, councils told as digital fines surge in New South Wales
Ticketless parking fines have exploded in use in NSW, with some councils refusing calls to alert drivers immediately that they’ve been fined.
As AAP reports, about 822,000 ticketless parking fines were issued in the year to June, up 49% on the prior year.
Under the system introduced by the previous coalition state government, councils can issue fines without first giving drivers an immediate notification at the time the parking infringement is identified.
This makes gathering evidence difficult, reduces the impact of a fine to act as a deterrent, and means a driver could receive multiple infringements for parking in the same spot before receiving a notification, the NSW government said.
Since concerns were highlighted on 30 March, councils have stated they have or will leave instant, on-the-spot notifications for drivers, such as a paper card. But some councils have told government they won’t shift unless compelled by law.
The state’s finance minister Courtney Houssos urged a “common sense fix” before it got to the point of changing legislation, saying that councils should “come to the table and deliver a solution which embraces transparency and fairness”.
If councils aren’t willing to provide a common sense fix, the NSW government will step in and use our policy levers to ensure the ticketless parking fine system meets community expectations.
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Here are the Australian athletes to watch out for today, as day 12 of the Paris Olympics kicks off:
‘Labor cannot let this project proceed’: Greens on the Browse gas project
Greens leader Adam Bandt says that Woodside’s proposed Browse gas project off the coast of Western Australia should not proceed, given the environmental concerns laid out by the Environment Protection Authority.
In a post to X, he said:
The WA EPA has deep concerns about Woodside’s Browse gas project. It would lock in gas until the 2070s [and] is the most significant climate destroying project that minister [Tanya] Plibersek can stop.
If we want any chance at a safe future, Labor cannot let this project proceed.
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NSW teacher arrested for alleged sex with student
A teacher will face court after she was arrested at a school, accused of having sex with a teenage student, AAP reports.
Detectives arrested the 30-year-old woman at a school in south-west Sydney after investigating reports a teacher had sexually touched a 17-year-old boy.
She is due to face Liverpool local court today after being refused bail and spending a night in custody.
She was charged with sexually touching a person aged between 17 and 18 under special care and having sexual intercourse with a person between the same ages while under special care.
The NSW Education Department has been contacted for comment on her employment status.
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Bowen congratulates ‘good friend of Australia’ Tim Walz on VP pick
The energy and climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has congratulated Tim Walz on being selected as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the upcoming US election.
In a post to X, Bowen wrote:
Congratulations Mate! Being chosen by any party as candidate for Vice President of the United States is a great honour, so huge congratulations. And it’s good to have a good friend of Australia running for such an important position.
Congratulations Mate!
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) August 6, 2024
Being chosen by any party as candidate for Vice President of the United States is a great honour, so huge congratulations
And it’s good to have a good friend of Australia running for such an important position.
🇦🇺🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZvjB1ZWPaM
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US plans more frequent bomber deployments to Australia
Earlier this morning, Daniel Hurst brought us updates from Ausmin talks in the United States, attended by the foreign minister, Penny Wong, and the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles.
Here’s his full story, looking at the US plan for “more frequent” deployments of bomber aircraft to Australia:
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Westpac mulls dropping November RBA rate cut prediction, while CBA stays put for now
The Reserve Bank left its cash rate unchanged at 4.35% yesterday, where it’s sat since November last year. The RBA governor, Michele Bullock, also made it clear the bank is not likely to cut the rate for six months, at least on the current forecasts (which it updated yesterday too).
CBA and Westpac were two of the big four banks to predict an RBA rate cut in November. (The ANZ had tipped February and NAB was “pencilling in” May.)
In the immediate washup, CBA was sticking to its call, reckoning “data will continue to evolve in a way that sees the RBA cut the cash rate in November”.
Westpac, though, looks like it’ll revise its prediction.
“Given the Board apparently does not see its way to cutting rates this year, our expectation of a November rate cut is unlikely to be achieved,” said Luci Ellis, Westpac’s chief economist who was formerly in that role at the RBA.
Our rate forecasts are under review while we assess the basis for the RBA’s own economic outlook.
As we noted, the fact demand in the economy is continuing to outpace supply – which doesn’t bode well for bringing underlying inflation to the 2%-3% target band soon – has a possible upside. There’s more resilience should more shocks emerge like the severe market turmoil in the past week or so:
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RBA’s assistant governor outlines what goes in to making cash rate decisions
Back at the cost of living committee hearing, and the RBA’s Dr Sarah Hunter has once again been asked to explain what data the RBA looks at when making its decisions on monetary policy (the cash rate).
She goes through the data – it’s a mix of everything. CPI, markets, forecasts etc. Mortgages are not captured in headline inflation data. Hunter explains:
Individuals will certainly be feeling and seeing price rises in different ways. Yes, housing costs is one of the ways that it can impact different groups in different ways. Some people are facing very high mortgage costs that are going up [and] we’re very aware of that, and we hear from those people, and we’re very confident that other people who are renting for them, housing costs are captured through rents. So in a very direct sense, the level of the interest rate doesn’t really impact them in terms of their rental payments.
Other people might well own their own home outright and not really be feeling any housing costs at the moment, and so they have a different pattern of spending again. So the economy is full of lots of individuals who have their own personal experience.
The RBA is all about the aggregate, she said.
What the ABS does with its data is aggregate that up and look at sort of averages, if you like. And from our perspective, we’re of course, interested in the aggregate, so we are taking that aggregate data and working with that.
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Contingent of Australian firefighters heading to the US to bolster efforts
A contingent of Australian firefighters have departed for the United States today, to bolster local firefighting efforts in Washington State and Oregon.
67 Australians are making the journey, including 21 from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Last month, dozens of Australian firefighters travelled to Canada to help battle wildfires there, as well.
This morning, the first contingent of Aussie firefighters began departing for the USA. The 67 firefighters, including 21 from the #RFS, will be deployed to Washington State and Oregon to bolster local firefighting efforts.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) August 6, 2024
📷 Nicholas Moir - The #ParkFire burning in California pic.twitter.com/vimTHXyrJ2
Unions want Queensland 50c fares to be made permanent
Unions are pushing for 50c public transport fares in Queensland to remain when a six-month trial ends as the state’s transport-dominated election campaign ramps up, AAP reports.
A petition by the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) to keep 50c public transport fares has reached almost 2000 signatures since the six-month trial began on Monday. The peak body represents more than 400,000 workers across the state.
Unions are now hoping repeated calls will force the fourth-term-seeking Labor government to keep the cheap fare policy should they win in October. The QCU’s general secretary, Jacqueline King, said:
What we need next is confirmation that this trial isn’t just an exercise in vote buying but represents an ongoing commitment by the Miles Labor government to measures that will help alleviate not only rising cost of living, but also congestion on our roads and climate impact.
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RBA assistant governor predicts inflation to return to target band in December 2025
The cost of living select committee hearing has got underway with Dr Sarah Hunter, an assistant governor with the RBA. Hunter is being grilled on when the central bank believes inflation will return to the target band (2-3%).
Hunter says they don’t believe that will happen until the December quarter of 2025 now – previously they had believed it would be the middle of 2025.
This is what we heard yesterday with the updated monetary policy statement, but Liberal senator Jane Hume wants to hear it again.
Select committee hearing on cost of living to begin in Sydney shortly
Good morning from Canberra, where the false spring continues in earnest. The sun is out and the sky is clear – but don’t be fooled, it’s 0.3 degrees right now, with a “feels like” of -3.1.
But our eyes are turning to Sydney today, where the select committee hearing on the cost of living is about to get underway. This committee, which is chaired by Liberal senator Jane Hume, was set up in late 2022.
First up is the Reserve Bank, where assistant governor Dr Sarah Hunter is appearing along with Natasha Cassidy from the bank’s economic analysis department. They’ll be asked about the current economic situation – and what it means for mortgage holders.
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Tributes flow for late Maribyrnong mayor, Sarah Carter
Tributes have been flowing for three-term Maribyrnong mayor, Sarah Carter, who has died at the age of 45.
Labor MP Andrew Leigh remembered her as “kind, funny [and] generous”, writing on X that she was “committed to international development [and] loved her local community.”
In 2017, I was part of a bipartisan delegation she led to Burma with [Save the Children Australia]. Sarah was a superb leader. I will miss her.
Nationals MP Michael McCormack penned a lengthy tribute and said she was “one of the most outstanding people I have ever met”.
Sarah was going places. She had so much more to accomplish … As shadow minister for international development and the Pacific, I was closely associated with Sarah and her wonderful work. My wife Catherine and Sarah were good friends, too. Sarah brightened any room she entered. She made everyone feel they were special…
Party politics aside, Parliament needs capable, strong people such as Sarah. It is a great pity Sarah will never fulfil her dream and sit in the House of Representatives.
Shocked & saddened by the passing of my good friend, the amazing Sarah Carter. Children’s lives in many developing nations have been improved due to her remarkable work. Goodbye, beautiful soul & thanks for making the world a better place.
— Michael McCormack (@M_McCormackMP) August 6, 2024
Full tribute: https://t.co/FdsaVrhJWW pic.twitter.com/qAKp5OAzQq
Scientists mapping genome of Arabica beans amid climate crisis threat to coffee supply
A major breakthrough by a team of international scientists could help deliver a new Australian brew of coffee, AAP reports.
The team has been pouring its efforts into mapping the genome of Arabica beans – the world’s most widely consumed type of coffee. The research has been chronicled in peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Genetics.
The University of Queensland’s Prof Robert Henry, who was part of the team, said the genomic sequencing would help researchers come up with new varieties of coffee in Australia, which produces very little domestically.
With global coffee supplies threatened by the climate crisis, Henry said it was important for producers to adapt:
If you look at where high-quality coffee in the world comes from, much of it is produced at high altitude in the tropics. Those environments are being lost at a great rate.
There is a real need to adapt coffee to future climates and work out how to produce it in the sort of climates we’re going to have available for agricultural production.
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‘The long-term prognosis is pretty dire’, scientist says of Great Barrier Reef
Dr David Wachenfeld from the Australian Institute of Marine Science just spoke with ABC RN about that report on the Great Barrier Reef, as mentioned in our previous post.
He said researchers would be back in the water in September, and those surveys would give a clearer picture of the balance between coral survival and mortality following the bleaching event in March:
We’ll be reporting on what we find as our survey’s progress, but we won’t have a final picture for the whole Great Barrier Reef until this time next year.
Wachenfeld said that even with the changing climate, scientists expect reefs around the world to have “some good years and some bad years” – but “the balance is shifting more towards bad than good”.
Whether or not an individual year is a good one doesn’t change the fact that climate change is a massive threat to the reef, and the long-term prognosis is pretty dire.
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Latest report into Great Barrier Reef shows coral cover is ‘fluctuating like never before’: WFF-Australia
A new report into the health of the Great Barrier Reef shows it is resilient, but increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science released the latest report from its long-term monitoring program today, showing coral cover had increased in all three regions of the Great Barrier Reef.
But the results were released with a big note of caution, as noted by WWF-Australia, with most of the underwater surveys conducted before and during the recent mass coral bleaching in March. The data also had not yet captured how many corals survived or died from that event.
WFF-Australia’s head of oceans, Richard Leck, said in a statement:
The good news is this report shows the Reef is still resilient and has bounced back from the terrible bleaching events in 2016 and 2017. But it also shows the future of the Reef is uncertain.
We still don’t know the impact of this year’s mass bleaching event, which was one of the most extensive and severe on record. We can also see that coral cover is fluctuating like never before.
Leck said Australia needed to do more to stabilise global heating to 1.5 degrees:
The prime minister must commit to a federal emissions reduction target of at least 90% below 2005 levels by 2035, stop approving new fossil fuel projects, and support a global treaty to phase out all fossil fuels.
The Reef is still resilient, but the big question is how long that resilience will last as temperatures become more extreme.
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Government hasn’t finalised decisions around international student cap, Gallagher says
Katy Gallagher was also asked about comments from the boss of Universities Australia, who warned of up to 14,000 job cuts in the tertiary sector if the government goes ahead with plans to cap international student numbers.
Responding, she said: “We haven’t finalised our decisions around particular numbers.”
We’ve got legislation before the parliament. But this is all about getting our university education – particularly international education – on a sustainable footing that’s got integrity at its core across all higher education providers.
We’ll continue to work with the universities. It’s a very important part of our economy, international education – we acknowledge that. So we want to continue working and talking with the universities as we finalise some of those important decisions.
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Gallagher says ABF doing ‘exactly what we need them to do’ by intercepting fishing boats
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, was up on ABC News Breakfast earlier and was asked about the four boats intercepted off the WA coast. She said:
It shows that Border Force is doing the job that they need to do up there.
You know, we’ve got a massive coastline up there. I think the issue of illegal fishing is attracting the attention of Border Force, and I think it shows [that] if Border Force are concerned, they will intercept and deal with those fishing boats.
This is going to be an area of pressure, but Border Force is resourced to do the job, we thank them very much for the work they’re doing. It’s difficult and complex work, but they’re doing exactly what we need them to do up there.
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Blinken on potential Assange pardon: 'there's been a legal process, it's been concluded'
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, was asked about indications from Julian Assange’s lawyers that they would be seeking a pardon for his criminal conviction.
The ABC also asked whether the US side had raised any concerns about how the Australian government had responded to Assange’s release, in light of some domestic criticism that it risked some damage to the relationship between the two countries.
Blinken said:
Look, we’ve had a legal process go forward and conclude. We didn’t talk about this at all today, it didn’t come up in our in our conversations, and in terms of what follows, I would refer you to our own department of justice, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s a legal process, it’s been concluded, and I’ll leave it at that.
Four foreign fishing vessels intercepted off WA coast
Four illegal foreign fishing vessels were intercepted on the northern West Australian coast yesterday evening, the Australian Border Force (ABF) has confirmed.
In a statement, the ABC said Maritime Border Command (MBC) intercepted a single vessel and, following further inquiries, another three foreign fishing vessels were found and interdicted.
The operational response is ongoing and ABF will not comment any further than say ABF/MBC pursues strong enforcement action in cases of illegal foreign fishing…
US flags ‘more frequent’ rotations of military aircraft to Australia
Circling back to the Ausmin presser, the US and Australia have used the talks in Maryland to talk about US rotational deployments to Australia.
The US secretary of state, Lloyd Austin, flagged “more frequent rotational bomber deployments”. Here’s what the joint written statement says:
The United States continues to conduct more frequent rotational deployments to Australia across air, land, and maritime domains, including across northern Australia.
Furthering our Enhanced Air Cooperation, the United States will continue frequent rotations of bombers, fighter aircraft, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, building on previous rotations at RAAF Bases Amberley, Darwin, and Tindal.
The United States and Australia continue to enhance the complexity and duration of regular rotations of U.S. Army watercraft to Australia in furtherance of maritime and land cooperation, to increase interoperability, and enable regional engagement, including for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Austin said the US and Australia were also “doubling down” on defence industrial base cooperation.
The two sides insist that they are on track to assemble the first batch of guided multiple launch rocket systems in Australia by 2025. They will sign an agreement to enable this by December this year. The two sides also committed to finalising an agreement to work together on the production and sustainment of the precision strike missile.
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‘It’s not our anticipating we will see recession here’, treasurer says
Q: Earlier this week, more than $100bn was wiped off the Australian stock market. Are we on the brink of a recession?
Jim Chalmers said there is a difference between what is seen on stock markets and what is seen in the real economy – “the two things are related … but not exactly the same thing.”
We’re not anticipating our economy will go backwards. It’s not the expectation of the Treasury or the Reserve Bank… It’s not our anticipation that we will see a recession here, but there is a lot of global economic uncertainty, and that’s why it’s so important that we’ve taken the right decisions in our budgets for the right reasons.
Treasurer says commonwealth spending pushing inflation down
Jim Chalmers said he does not accept that commonwealth spending is fuelling inflation, telling ABC RN:
I don’t agree with that … What the forecasts say is that our cost-of-living policies are helping to push inflation down in the near term, not up.
Budget spending is not the primary determinant of prices in the economy, but we can be helpful – and we are being helpful – with the design of our cost of living policies which help us get back to targets sooner…
I think it’s hard to sustain an argument that the economy is running too hot, or that people have too much to spare cash, given all of the data and all of the feedback that we get, which shows that’s not the case.
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Treasurer questioned on effectiveness of energy rebates in bringing inflation down
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking to ABC RN after yesterday’s RBA decision to hold interest rates at 4.35%.
Host Patricia Karvelas asked about a point the RBA made, that the government’s energy rebates would not lead to a faster reduction in interest rates. Does that mean the strategy of using them to artificially push down inflation has had limited success?
Chalmers responded, “Not at all.”
There’s nothing artificial about helping people with their cost of living pressures. That’s the first point.
What the ABS has shown in recent inflation data is that the way that we’re delivering our cost of living help is putting downward pressure on inflation, and that is our objective.
Now the way that the Reserve Bank forecasts and accounts for our cost of living help is the same way that the Treasury accounts for that, and the point that’s been lost since yesterday’s decision … is that the Reserve Bank’s near-term inflation forecasts are better, not worse, and that’s because of the design of our cost of living policies.
Three-term Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter has died, aged 45
The three-term mayor of Maribyrnong council in Melbourne, Sarah Carter, has died at the age of 45.
Victoria police said a woman was found dead in a Village Way home on Tuesday afternoon, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.
In a statement on Facebook, the council remembered Carter as “a trusted and valued colleague” and noted the “enormous loss” to the community after her 16 years on council.
Maribyrnong’s first three-time female Mayor, councillor Carter was only the second Mayor in our municipality’s history to achieve Emeritus status – the highest recognition for distinguished service in local government leadership.
We extend our deepest condolences to Cr Carter’s partner, family, friends, and all who knew and worked alongside her. She will be greatly missed.
Labor MP for Bruce, Julian Hill, wrote on X he was “devastated” at the news.
Sarah was a beautiful human. Devoted her life to making other lives better in her community and the world, in the finest of Labor traditions. She had so much more to give.
Blinken comments on need to counter ‘any attempts at coercion’ in South and East China seas
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, spoke of the need to counter “any attempts at coercion” in the South and East China seas, in a clear message to China.
Blinken said the US and Australia agreed on the “need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and to resist any actions that escalate tensions or undermine the status quo”.
Fundamentally, we agree with Prime Minister Albanese that, as he put it, ours is an alliance with a bright future, because it’s an alliance for a better future.
The Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, thanked the US “for the priority you place on allies and partners”.
Wong said foremost in the discussion today was “how we work together to assure the character of the Indo-Pacific”. She characterised this as a region that was peaceful and prosperous.
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Wong endorses call from Blinken for de-escalation in Middle East
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said she endorsed Antony Blinken’s call for de-escalation in the Middle East.
Wong agreed that it was a decisive moment in the push for a Gaza ceasefire. She emphasised the risks to all in the region of “escalation and miscalculation”. Wong said:
We continue to add our voice to the support for the ceasefire outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the security council.
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Blinken stresses need to de-escalate Middle East tensions after Ausmin talks
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has begun a press conference after the annual Ausmin talks between the US and Australia.
Speaking in Maryland, Blinken told his visiting Australian colleagues:
Thank you for an incredibly productive day.
Blinken stressed the need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and prevent the spread of conflict.
He said the US had been in constant contact with partners across the region and “we’ve heard a clear consensus – no one should escalate this conflict”.
He said that message had been communicated “directly” to Iran and also to Israel. He said further attacks would only perpetuate the conflict. He said there was an urgent need to finalise a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
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Woods Point earthquake an ‘aftershock’ of 2021 earthquake, geologist says
The Seismology Research Centre said the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Woods Point in Victoria is the largest in the area since a 4.7 earthquake in June 2023 – following on from a September 2021, 5.9 earthquake.
Earthquake geologist Dr Dee Ninis wrote on X:
This is one of the largest aftershocks of the ongoing sequence since the 2021 M5.9.
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake occurred at 3:48am near Woods Point in Victoria. This is the largest earthquake in the area since a M4.7 in late June 2023. Activity in this region started in September 2021 with an Mw5.9. pic.twitter.com/YcEptVZv2d
— Seismology Research Centre (@AusQuake) August 6, 2024
One person on social media said they are 40km from the epicentre and “it was a good shake.” Another felt it in the Kiewa Valley while watching the Olympics:
…the glass doors shook like crazy. My Cat is spooked.
Another user in Reservoir said they didn’t feel a shake, but “felt like the metal window frames and wooden floorboards ‘creaked’ for a few seconds”.
As of two hours ago, the Victorian State Emergency Service said there had been no reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure following the 4.1 earthquake at Woods Point.
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred near near Woods Point at 3:48am on Wednesday 7 Aug with 1408 felt reports and no reports of damages to buildings or infrastructure. If you require SES assistance please ring 132 500. For more information, visit: https://t.co/BfEDYftW36 pic.twitter.com/2hVmkqtlju
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) August 6, 2024
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology said there is no tsunami threat following the earthquake:
No #tsunami threat to Australia from #earthquake felt in Woods Point, VIC (magnitude 4.0 near Woods Point, VIC). See https://t.co/Tynv3ZQpEq. pic.twitter.com/aA5bYQGX9c
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 6, 2024
Magnitude 4.1 earthquake recorded near Melbourne
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake was recorded near Melbourne in the early hours of this morning.
According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake occurred in Woods Point at 3.48am today, and there have been 1717 “felt” reports so far.
VicEmergency says the earthquake was felt in Wangaratta, Benalla, South Morang, Healesville, Yarra Junction and Dargo.
It said minor damage may have occurred in these areas, urging people to avoid any damaged buildings, roadways and bridges, and fallen trees and powerlines.
This Advice is for an Earthquake in Woods Point and surrounds.
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) August 6, 2024
A 4.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at Woods Point at 3.48am Wednesday 7 August 2024, felt in Wangaratta, Benalla, South Morang, Healesville, Yarra Junction and Dargo.
More details at https://t.co/X27kFi7NOu pic.twitter.com/gr4RSfv2Is
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Ausmin talks: Wong says Gaza ceasefire has 'never been more urgent'
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the defence minister, Richard Marles, have held annual talks with their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin in Maryland.
At the beginning of the meeting – known as Ausmin – Wong said the group was meeting “in the shadow of a deteriorating situation in the Middle East”.
Wong acknowledged US leadership “to broker peace”. Speaking of the Gaza ceasefire proposal pushed by the president, Joe Biden, Wong said:
The ceasefire has been urgent for months, it’s never been more urgent than it is now.
Wong said the US was also having to show leadership in Ukraine and in the Indo-Pacific:
In the Indo-Pacific, the security guarantee of the United States has enabled a long period of prosperity peace that we have enjoyed, and it has never been more vital. It’s never been more vital.
We see this Ausmin as another opportunity for us to together work in how we rise to the challenges for today to ensure that our alliance, our partnership, our work together, is fit for the times, delivers for our shared objectives and aspirations and for the region that we live in. We are stronger together.
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Good morning
And hello! Thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage today.
See something that needs attention? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
‘Are we not human?’: father’s quest for answers after botched murder investigation
“To lose a young man like that, it’s not simple. And there’s no justice,” says Lual Akech, whose 17-year-old son, Aguer, was killed in 2019 during a fight at a Melbourne train station.
As we revealed yesterday, the police investigation into his alleged murder was deeply flawed, resulting in a 15-year-old spending a year in custody before the case against him collapsed.
Lual believes the case was mishandled because of how Victoria police treat South Sudanese-Australians. The force strongly rejects this suggestion.
“We’ve been victimised, especially in Victoria,” says Lual. “Are we not human? We should be treated the same way [as other Australians].”
Read his story here:
And this investigation is also the subject of our Full Story podcast today, with reporter Nino Bucci explaining how police used flawed identification evidence against the 15-year-old boy accused of stabbing Aguer.
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'Well done to all of you': Albanese congratulates Olympians
Anthony Albanese has shared a video call he had with some of Australia’s Olympians, during which he told them how much pleasure they had given the nation.
“You have given so much excitement, pleasure and pride to the whole country,” he told the group that included swimmers Kyle Chalmers and Shayna Jack, and boxers Caitlin Parker and Charlie Senior.
“Well done to all of you.”
The boxer Caitlin Parker, who has already secured a bronze medal by reaching the semi-finals, told the PM he would have to set his alarm early on Friday morning Australia time in order to watch her bid to reach the final.
He replied: “We’ve been getting up very early here. It’s been a case of late nights but very early mornings.
“It’s incredibly inspirational.”
Here’s the whole video.
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer with the latest overnight news and looking forward to what’s coming up before Emily Wind takes the wheel.
Yesterday a Guardian investigation found the alleged murder of a 17-year-old Melbourne boy remains unsolved after police officers used flawed identification evidence to pursue a 15-year-old for his death. Today his father says he believes their African background is one reason why. More coming up.
Linda Reynolds is expected to be back in the witness box today as her defamation case against Brittany Higgins over social media posts published in July 2023 continues. It is expected that she will finish giving her evidence in chief, and her cross examination by Higgins’ lawyer will begin. We’ll be following the case again today when it gets going at the WA supreme court.
Yesterday, Reynolds told the court in Perth that has said she experienced “incredible pain” and at one point left question time and started “sobbing uncontrollably” due to the media scrutiny over Higgins’ alleged rape. Meanwhile, it emerged last night that possible communications between Higgins and a sexual assault survivor advocate about a fundraising effort will be handed over to Reynolds’ legal team after the former senator’s lawyers argued it was an attempt to “capture public opinion”. Higgins’ lawyer called the argument “beyond any stretch of imagination”.
Penny Wong is about to appear at a press conference after Ausmin, the annual Australia-US defence talks, which this year are taking place in Annapolis, Maryland. Reuters reports that the talks were to focus on China’s “coercive behaviour”, as well as the Aukus nuclear submarine project and mounting tensions in the Middle East. We’ll bring you news of that press conference soon.
And on a much lighter note, we have to mention 14-year-old Arisa Trew’s amazing gold medal in the women’s skateboarding park event at the Paris Olympics. It continues Australia’s winning streak at the Games and which Anthony Albanese has described as “inspirational” in a call to members of the team. More coming up.
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