What we learned; Thursday 29 August
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the headlines:
Albanese has hot-mic moment while joking with US official about Pacific policing plan
Qantas books $2.1bn profit as fares moderate
Man shot in Queensland home overnight
Blue Mountains dam closed after PFAS detection
‘Extreme shocks’ felt over cost-of-living, CBA boss tells inquiry
Two bodies found in Queensland home
Sex Discrimination Commissioner calls on government to reverse census backflip
Thirteen women have complained about former Seven reporter Robert Ovadia’s conduct, court hears
End of state-level push for Lambie after party sackings
Courtney Act says Labor’s decision on census questions is ‘offensive’ to LGBTQ+ community
Josh Burns becomes first Labor MP to call for LGBTQ+ questions on census
Orcas sighted off Sydney coast for first time since 2018
Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow – until then, stay safe.
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NSW birth trauma inquiry recommendations to be implemented
An overhaul of how health staff deal with mothers’ consent and better access to continuous care teams throughout pregnancy have been promised after a landmark inquiry into birth trauma.
The NSW health minister on Thursday apologised to any woman who had not received the required high standard of care as the state government accepted all recommendations from a report handed down in May.
Advocates welcomed the move but demanded the government conduct genuine consultation when rolling out five high-priority initiatives to address the often-confronting failings highlighted during the parliamentary inquiry.
They include increasing access to maternity continuity-of-care models, supporting women who have pregnancy complications and improving consent processes in birth care within the next year.
The inquiry received submissions from 4,000 people including patients, doctors, midwives and experts, with witnesses revealing life-threatening experiences and birth injuries along with non-consensual and insensitive treatment from staff.
-AAP
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Orcas sighted off Sydney coast for first time since 2018
Hide your yachts! A group of Orcas have been spotted off the coast in Sydney – the first time since 2018.
On social media, Whale Watching Sydney shared some pictures of the pod, and posted:
There was a frenzy of activity and the Orcas buzzed past the boat in formation while chasing the humpbacks. The humpbacks were closing in together and we assume they may have been protecting a calf but it’s hard to tell with such a flurry of excitement!
Orcas this far north [are] incredibly rare and while there was a sighting off … Newcastle in May, we haven’t had a sighting in Sydney waters since 2018 at Botany Bay. We feel so lucky to have had such an amazing experience today!
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No fatalities after light aircraft crashes in Queensland
In Queensland, the forensic crash unit is investigating following an aviation incident at Kin Kin this morning.
Emergency services were called just after 11.30am to reports a light aircraft had crashed on a private property near Coucal Lane and Moran Group Road.
Two people on board sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and are being treated at the scene.
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Albanese wraps up Pacific Islands Forum talks
Here in Tonga, Anthony Albanese is wrapping up a second full day of talks with fellow Pacific leaders before he flies back to Australia tonight.
Yesterday’s talks were held in an auditorium in the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa, but today he flew to the island group of Vava’u for a leaders’ retreat with other Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) members. The retreat is a format that allows for more intimate conversations, and concerns about the situation in New Caledonia were expected to be high on the agenda.
While Albanese was holding those talks today, his minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, held a few photo opportunities. Conroy announced that the Australian government would invest $9.5m in a new partnership to deliver critical, climate resilient infrastructure and activities to communities across Tonga.
He said Australia would partner with Tonga’s largest non-government organisation “to work with communities to improve water security, food production and local infrastructure”:
Together we will ensure they can plan and manage their future, especially those living in outer islands across Tonga’s island chain …
The biggest security threat we face is climate change and together this initiative will support community resilience to the impacts.
Albanese and Conroy are due to fly back to Australia tonight, but Pif events continue in Tonga tomorrow with the expected release of the summit communique (a summary of all the decisions made).
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Josh Burns becomes first Labor MP to call for LGBTQ+ questions on census
Josh Burns has become the first Labor MP to break ranks and call on the government to reverse its decision to ditch gender and sexuality questions in the census.
The Macnamara MP said he had spent the days since the decision was announced making representations internally for Labor to reinstate the questions for the 2026 census, which he said was necessary to ensure “everyone was counted”.
“Macanamara is home to many LGBTIQA+ community members and I love being their MP and as part of that, I feel a responsibility to stand up for them,” he said.
“I’ve made it clear that the way we govern needs to be inclusive and the census is an important tool to gather data and feed that into government systems and services.
“For that to work the best it can, we need as few blind spots as possible, which is why I am asking the government to reconsider this decision.
“It is not too much to ask for people to be counted.
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e-bike sparks fire outside Footscray apartment in Melbourne
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) firefighters are urging Victorians to charge and store their e-bikes and e-scooters outside the house after a fire broke out in a Footscray apartment on Tuesday morning.
The occupants of the Macpherson Street property woke up at 6.48am to the sounds of explosions issuing from their e-bike before evacuating out a first-floor window.
Crews arrived at the scene within four minutes to find the apartment fully alight. The unit did not contain a working smoke alarm. Both occupants sustained injuries and were transported to hospital by Ambulance Victoria.
The deputy commissioner for community safety, Joshua Fischer, said the incident was an unfortunate reminder of the risks posed by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:
It is crucial that you never leave your rechargeable batteries in front of exits, which would prevent your escape should a fire break out.
It’s also important that you only use the battery or charger originally supplied with the device, or one sold by the manufacturer.
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Flood warning issued for Meander River, Tasmania
In Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a minor flood warning for the Meander River.
Monitor conditions has been issued for Meander, Montana, Red Hills, Deloraine, Reedy Marsh, Exton, Westbury, Quamby Bluff, Hagley, Selbourne, Westwood Carrick and Hadspen by Tasmania’s SES.
Flooding in nearby streams and rivers is likely and some low-lying properties may become isolated by flood waters.
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Many thanks for joining me on today’s blog, Cait Kelly is now here to take you through the rest of today’s news. Have a great afternoon.
Hiring more locals could improve remote health care
Employing more Indigenous health workers in remote communities could reduce the high staff turnover and improve the quality of care delivered to patients, a study has found.
As AAP reports, the Menzies School of Health Research says the average employee turnover rate in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service clinics in regional and remote Northern Territory and Western Australia is 151% a year.
Researchers found the turnover of Aboriginal staff was half that of non-Aboriginal staff, suggesting that hiring local staff could lead to greater stability.
Dr Prabhakar Veginadu, a population health expert, says turnover is very high in regional centres and “extraordinarily” high in remote Aboriginal health services:
Increased employment of local Aboriginal people could help improve the stability of the remote health workforce whilst simultaneously improving cultural safety for patients. Aboriginal people bring a strong understanding of local culture and context.
Dr Veginadu said boosting the Aboriginal healthcare workforce would require more support, expanded on-country training opportunities and improved career pathways.
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Deputy Greens leader reacts to UN vehicle hit by gunfire in Gaza
The UN’s food agency has said it is pausing movement of its staff in Gaza “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was struck by gunfire at an Israeli military checkpoint.
The deputy Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to this news and said:
Israel will keep targeting aid workers because governments like ours give them absolute impunity and a blank cheque for more savagery.
The Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was working in Gaza with World Central Kitchen and was one of seven people killed in April when a convoy of cars were hit by an Israeli airstrike.
Israel’s defence force conducted an investigation into the incident, which resulted in two officers being dismissed and three others being reprimanded, but Frankcom’s brother told the ABC he did not feel this was an adequate response.
The Australian government commissioned the former defence force chief Mark Binskin to provide it with advice on the adequacy of Israel’s investigations and actions after the incident. A spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said the government would “continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges”.
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Courtney Act says Labor's decision on census questions is 'offensive' to LGBTQ+ community
Earlier today, Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown and patron Shane Jenek – better known as the drag queen Courtney Act – spoke to the media about the government’s decision to exclude questions on gender identity and sexuality from the census.
Asked about the decision, Jenek said:
The fact that deputy [prime minister] Richard Marles said that he didn’t want to create divisive debate in the community feels very insulting. And to Mr Marles, I guess I say, ‘girl, you just did create divisive debate in the community by back flipping on this decision’.
The queer community are really used to fighting for our rights, from the first Mardi Gras back in 1978 through to the marriage equality plebiscite and now, apparently, the 2026 census.
The census is that place where we get a broad snapshot of Australia and we’re able to allocate resources … LGBTQ+ Australians suffer poor mental health outcomes at twice the rate of heterosexual Australians, in large part because of stigma and discrimination that the Australian Labor party is displaying here.
So it’s really disappointing. It’s about visibility, it’s about being counted and being seen, and to think that in 2024 that our government doesn’t think that we’re worthy of being counted or visible is offensive really. And I think it’s kind of offensive to all Australians that we’re not counting this data.
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Coalition pledges to bring Australia’s ambassador back to Ukraine
Australia’s estranged ambassador to Ukraine would be returned to the capital Kyiv under a Coalition government, AAP reports.
Australia’s embassy was moved to Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine, due to safety fears. The opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said some 70 countries had reopened embassies in Ukraine showing it could be done safely.
Australia was missing out on access to officials and intelligence briefings that were often conducted with little notice and couldn’t be accessed remotely, he said today, visiting Kyiv.
Early warning and air defence systems had rendered Russian assaults “largely ineffective for large parts of the country, including the capital”, Birmingham said.
Of course, people are on alert for their safety … [but] on the whole, they are getting on with business, getting on with ensuring that this country is as strong as possible to repel the Russian invasion.
The foreign affairs department secretary Jan Adams has repeatedly defended the decision to keep the embassy closed as the war dragged into its third year, saying she continued to assess security.
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CBA boss slams ‘fact-free rhetoric’ over bank’s profits
The head of the Commonwealth Bank has rejected claims its billions-of-dollars worth of profits have been made at the detriment of its customers.
As AAP reports, the bank’s chief executive, Matt Comyn, appeared before a parliamentary committee inquiring into the big four banks today. He said claims the bank’s $9.8 billion profit came from overcharging customers with fees was “fact-free rhetoric”:
Business in Australia are being represented in this false dichotomy that for a company to earn any sort of income or profits, it is therefore inferred often, or directly related ... as some how being unjustly extracted from consumers.
It is really eroding trust in our institutions, in all of our institutions. I think it’s a real cause for concern.
While the Greens have called for a 40% tax on companies making large profits, Comyn said the move was “insidious populism”. He faced questioning on why customers had to often pay surcharges on purchases made by card, but said it was not a direct comparison with cash:
The cost of acceptance of electronic payments has fallen by more than 30%. We are one of the lowest, if not the lowest, cost-of-acceptance markets in the world.
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Damaging winds set to redevelop about the south-east
The Bureau of Meteorology has published a severe weather update, with damaging winds set to develop across south-eastern parts of the country:
Severe Weather Update: Damaging winds set to redevelop across south-eastern Australia. Video current: 12:30pm AEST 29 August 2024. Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/ne7LaaT0Iz
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 29, 2024
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‘Fanciful’ to tie power bill cap to coal plant deal
Attempting to tie an electricity price-cap guarantee to a deal extending the life of the nation’s largest coal-fired power station was “fanciful”, a senior NSW minister has said.
As AAP reports, wholesale power spot prices in NSW rocketed above $5,000 per megawatt hour 19 times in May and June amid unscheduled disruptions, feeding into fears of increased unreliability in future years.
It comes after the state government penned a deal with energy giant Origin to keep the ageing Eraring coal-fired power station open until 2027, costing the state up to $450m.
At a budget estimates hearing today the deputy NSW Liberal leader, Natalie Ward, questioned why a guarantee was not sought from Origin to keep power prices low. The energy minister, Penny Sharpe, replied:
That’s not the way that works. This idea that we could limit how much they [charge] without there being compensation, is fanciful. I would remind you that the previous minister (Liberal Matt Kean) suggested that any deal with Eraring could cost between $1.6bn and $3bn.
Sharpe said writing a price ceiling into the deal was not possible due to how the national market operated. But the Eraring extension covered a reliability gap that would stop blackouts and longer-term price spikes for households and small businesses, she argued.
Recent price spikes, above the average of $300 per megawatt hour, were in part due to coal stations breaking down and exiting the market unexpectedly. The disastrous explosion in Queensland coal station Callide had also played a role, Sharpe said.
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Statements read on behalf of family of Nathaniel Train and of victim Alan Dare
At the final day of the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre, the court also heard a statement read on behalf of perpetrator Nathaniel Train.
The inquest has previously heard Train was a high-ranking school principal before a heart attack. He became subject to a shared psychiatric illness – shared delusional disorder – based on the beliefs of his brother, Gareth.
Nathaniel’s actions in breaking a border closure during Covid, and dumping a car and guns was “uncharacteristic,” the court heard.
What occurred will forever remain unfathomable. Nate was an educator and an educational leader throughout his adult life. Was loyal to his work, his staff, his students and their parents. He was known for his dedication, integrity and honesty.
Corey Richards read a statement on behalf of slain civilian Alan Dare.
He told the court room “there has to be change” and finished his testimony by addressing state coroner Terry Ryan.
Good luck, it’s all on you now.
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Man accused of stealing caravan with family inside
A teenager has been accused of stealing a caravan with a family of five inside, AAP reports, forcing them to escape.
The 18-year-old man was charged more than a week after the alleged incident in north-west Queensland.
The family were staying at a Hughenden caravan park when they heard their car start after 9pm on 19 August, police said. The parents and three children – aged six to 12 – were inside the caravan when they felt it move.
Queensland police said at the time that the family “were able to exit the caravan as it was driven off”. The family was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The car and caravan were later recovered as police looked for the alleged thief. The car keys had reportedly been stolen from the caravan earlier that day, police said.
The 18-year-old was arrested at a Hughenden residence yesterday and taken into custody. He has been charged with offences including five counts of deprivation of liberty and two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He has been denied bail and is set to appear in Townsville magistrates court today.
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Correction on Blue Mountains dam reporting
Earlier we put a post on the blog from the AAP, reporting the detection of synthetic “forever chemicals” has disrupted drinking water supplies in the NSW Blue Mountains with two dams isolated in the area.
That was incorrect – Greaves Dam is not closed. It is Medlow Dam only.
There were also incorrect PFAS levels at Medlow Dam reported. The correct levels at Medlow Dam were 0.0944 micrograms per litre.
Shout out to our environment reporter, Lisa Cox, who is following this and sent over this link so anyone interested can see the data.
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ABS releases new nationwide statistics
The ABS has released some interesting stats on area, age and gender.
Quick bits:
The median age for capital cities (37.0 years) was younger than the rest of Australia (41.9).
The youngest capital was Darwin with a median age of 34.6 years, while Adelaide was the oldest (39.2).
Darwin was the only capital with more males than females, with 104.7 males for every 100 females.
Hobart had the lowest sex ratio of all capital cities (95.6 males per 100 females).
The areas with the lowest sex ratios, generally with older age profiles and reflecting the longer life expectancy of females, were Woollahra (80.9 males per 100 females) in Sydney’s east and Castle Hill - East (82.7) in Sydney’s north-west.
The highest sex ratios were Wacol (278.1 males per 100 females) in Brisbane’s south-west and Chidlow (247.5) in Perth’s north-east, which both contain male correctional centres.
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Firefighters still investigating cause of blaze at south-west Sydney yesterday
Fire and Rescue NSW received almost 1,000 calls to triple zero for assistance during yesterday afternoon’s wild and windy weather.
The service responded to bush and grass fires from Cromer on the Northern Beaches to Brownsville in Wollongong and also spent the night mopping up a large grass fire at Horningsea Park, it said in a statement.
The blaze spread in an easterly direction over 12 hectares, damaging two buildings, including an abandoned home, as well as multiple outbuildings and a number of caravans and trailers.
More than 20 fire units, including bushfire tankers, and 80 firefighters fought the fire, with support from the [RFS] and the Rail Fire and Emergency Service, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Transport for NSW.
Two helicopters were used to water bomb the fierce fire, which was fuelled by strong winds, and the train line was closed during the height of the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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End of state-level push for Lambie after party sackings
Senator Jacqui Lambie’s quest to get “ordinary people” into politics at state level is over, AAP reports, after her party imploded in Tasmania five months after an election.
The now independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland were two of three Jacqui Lambie Network candidates voted in at the March state poll. They were punted from the party by Senator Lambie on Saturday for being “too cosy” with the Liberal minority government and not holding the state infrastructure minister to account.
It is not the first time MPs have left the network – fellow Tasmanian and senator Tammy Tyrrell in March departed, saying Senator Lambie was dissatisfied with her performance.
Senator Lambie said she planned to continue running candidates at Senate elections in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. But she has told ABC Radio that the weekend’s drama signalled the end of her network running candidates at state level.
What I’ve done is try to get ordinary Tasmanians into politics. To be honest, that has obviously not worked for whatever reason.
To ordinary Tasmanians who want a shot in politics now, I am not big enough to make that happen. Those days ... of giving ordinary Tasmanians a go are over.
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Convicted sex offender to be released on parole next month
Convicted sex offender Terrance John Leary will have his parole granted and will be released in September.
According to the ABC, Leary – who is also a convicted murderer – attempted to rape a woman behind a bus stop at Hunters Hill on Sydney’s lower north shore in 2013. At the time he was on parole after serving 22 years for the murder of 17-year-old Vanessa Hoson, who he bludgeoned to death with a hammer.
The NSW Parole Authority said Leary would be monitored electronically 24/7 and reside at a secure facility as part of a comprehensive plan for his close supervision on parole.
Authority chair Geoffrey Bellew said Leary’s release on supervised patrol is “conducive to the safety of the community”.
The alternative is to keep the offender in custody and release him at some later point in time, either with a shorter period of parole supervision or at the end of his sentence with no period of supervised parole at all …
The offender will be released at some point. That is inevitable. In the authority’s view it is far better for the offender’s reintegration into the community, and for the community in general, for him to be closely supervised, than to be released in the absence of any supervision at all.
A parole review hearing today heard that the State did not oppose Leary’s release to parole. His release will be no earlier than 18 September and no later than 25 September this year. His parole order remains in force until 28 June 2028, unless revoked.
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‘I screamed and yelled’: family of Rachel McCrow reads statement at Wieambilla inquest
Rachel McCrow’s father Wayne McCrow has read a statement at the Wieambilla inquest.
She had a sparkle about her, had charisma that would light you up, and that megawatt smile. At the time of her passing, I was very excited to be reunited with her, and was tremendously looking forward to living with her. She had my heart and soul.
McCrow recounted the moments he heard of her death.
I was initially told she was shot, and I asked, ‘how is she’? To which the person replied, she has passed away. I dropped the phone. I screamed and yelled and dropped the phone again. I was shattered and then in an absolute mess.
I can’t remember the details. I only know that she died. This was my worst nightmare.
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‘I love you’: mother of slain Queensland police officer reveals daughter’s last words at Wieambilla massacre inquest
Continuing from our last post: Judy McCrow has read a statement on behalf of her daughter, slain constable Rachel McCrow. She was 29 when she was hit and wounded by three shots in an ambush at Wiemballa in December 2022.
Judy told the inquest her daughter used her last moments to repeat “I love you” over and over into her body-worn camera. Gareth Train approached her and executed her at close range, the inquest heard earlier.
Rachel, we want you to know we love you so much too. We will never stop loving you. We will never stop asking questions however uncomfortable they might be.
On behalf of Rachel we demand real change so that other families are steered away from the painful path we’ve been forced to take.
Judy McCrow said the family were only told about the messages three months after the incident.
Time isn’t healing our wounds, our trauma remains intense, and our memories are so hard to let go of.
McCrow said her daughter had genuine concerns about her transfer to Tara “because we’d heard stories about the large number of people with guns in that community.”
The whole time she was there, we were worried for her.
Rachel would have turned 31 tomorrow, on Friday 30 August.
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Wieambilla inquest hears statement from family of slain constable Matthew Arnold
The mother of slain constable Matt Arnold has read out a statement on behalf of his family at the final day of the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre.
Sue Arnold told the inquest the family waited for five hours to officially find out her 26-year-old son died. He was killed by a single bullet at about 4.37pm on 12 December, 2022, at a remote property in Wieambilla. The inquest has heard Nathaniel Train fired the bullet.
Why did it take Matt’s sister repeatedly refreshing shared Apple Watch fitness data to know something was wrong?
As the media were reporting three police officers were unaccounted for, family members began flocking to our home. We packed our bags in case we had to head out west to visit Matt in hospital.
She said the family still have questions about the incident, which also claimed the life of constable Rachel McCrow and a neighbour, Alan Dare, and the perpetrators, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train.
Arnold told the court “It’s time to turn words into real action – now!”
Those who protect us when we need them desperately need protecting. In Jan 2022 Queensland police announced the rollout of new integrated load-bearing vests giving officers ‘added protection against offenders who may be armed with knives or firearms.’
Neither Matt nor Rachel ever received their vests. We will always wonder if they had been issued with such equipment and were wearing it would it have made a difference.
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13 women have made claims of misconduct against Ovadia since he was sacked, court hears
The Seven Network has alleged that 13 women have made claims of misconduct against Robert Ovadia since he was sacked for misconduct in June, the federal court has heard.
The misconduct claims were raised at the first directions hearing for the unfair dismissal case Ovadia has brought against the Seven network and Seven’s news chief, Anthony De Ceglie.
Barrister Vanja Bulut, for Seven, said:
Subsequent to the applicant’s dismissal, 13 more females have come forward with complaints in relation to his conduct, and they’re now subject to investigation.
The applicant has been put on notice of that. That is, my instructors have written to our learned friend’s instructors, setting out the additional allegations that have come to light subsequent to the dismissal and to the extent that those allegations are recorded in documents.
The crime reporter was sacked in June after allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Ovadia told Guardian Australia at the time:
Yes I’ve been sacked and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time.
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Victorian coroners court to hand down recommendations in trans suicide inquest
The coroners court of Victoria will today hand down recommendations in the trans and gender diverse suicide cluster inquest.
Transgender Victoria says it is anticipated that coroner Ingrid Giles may make recommendations about Victoria Police’s relations with the trans and gender diverse community. CEO Son Vivienne said:
In a week where the federal government has abandoned LGBTQIA+ Australians in its plans for the 2026 census, we’re seeing a stark reminder of how this invisibility directly impacts our community’s well-being. When we’re not counted, we’re effectively erased from the data that shapes policy and services.
Transgender Victoria said its thoughts were with the families and friends of the deceased. It also thanked the coroners court of Victoria for the “respectful and sensitive manner in which the inquest was conducted.”
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Sex Discrimination Commissioner calls on government to reverse census backflip
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody has called on the federal government to reconsider its backflip on committing to have LGBTIQ+ related questions in the 2026 census.
In a letter to assistant minister for employment, Andrew Leigh, Cody expressed concern and disappointment at the decision and said it carries “serious implications for the health, wellbeing and general equality of LGBTIQA+ Australians and their families”.
Cody noted that data from the census informs services and policies to reflect the needs of Australia’s diverse communities:
For LGBTIQA+ people, who face significant health disparities compared to the heterosexual and cisgender population, accurate population data would ensure that informed decisions can be made when investing in health and mental health services. It is a matter of practical, effective policy.
I am concerned that this decision will strengthen the voices of discrimination and division that seek to disrupt the nation’s social cohesion.
In the face of rising negative rhetoric, there may be concern about the harmful impacts that another public debate may have on LGBTIQA+ people and their families. However, while we must seek to minimise harm, the answer cannot be to do nothing.
Cody wrote to Leigh, “I hope you will reconsider this decision.”
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Two bodies found in Queensland home
Queensland police are investigating the “sudden death” of two people in Mitchelton, in Brisbane’s north, this morning.
Emergency services were called to a Kentville Street residence around 8.50am this morning.
Queensland police said a crime scene has been declared and an investigation into the cause of the deaths is under way.
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Stronger penalties needed for companies who don’t protect customers from scams: CBA head
Continuing from our last post via AAP, CBA chief executive Matt Comyn told the committee that stronger penalties should be put in place for companies who don’t protect customers from scams.
While Comyn said scam losses at the bank had been reduced by half in the past financial year, organisations such as the Commonwealth Bank should be required to pay back scam victims if protections aren’t enacted.
There should be a proportionate liability scheme, which says to all of these organisations, including, of course, us, that if you do not meet your obligations, then you will be required to reimburse customer losses.
This liability scheme should be simple, efficient and fair for customers with a single front door to access and resolve disputes across scams, fraud, cyber security and financial crime prevention.
The head of Westpac, Peter King, will also give evidence before the parliamentary committee later today. ANZ and NAB bosses will front up tomorrow.
‘Extreme shocks’ felt over cost-of-living, CBA boss tells inquiry
The impacts of interest rate hikes and stubborn inflation are being unevenly felt across the economy, the head of the Commonwealth Bank says, with many experiencing “extreme shocks”.
As AAP reports, the bank’s chief executive Matt Comyn appeared before a parliamentary committee into the big four banks today. While he said the broader economy was “fundamentally sound”, cost-of-living concerns were affecting the bank’s customers.
The effect of monetary policy is unevenly felt across the country with different experiences for borrowers and depositors ... households are spending more on essentials and are cutting back on discretionary spend.
Households and businesses have experienced extreme shocks in recent years: lockdowns, a demand surge, inflation and rapid interest rate rises. Many of our customers are finding it difficult to deal with the higher cost of living.
The Commonwealth executive said it had made more than 130,000 hardship payment arrangements with its customers in the past year. He also said young people were being disproportionately affected by cost-of-living pressures:
Savings are being depleted, particularly by working families. Younger Australians, who tend to have lower incomes and smaller savings buffers, are the most sensitive to these changes in prices.
Savings had depleted by 11% for those between 25 and 34-years-old, the banking executive told the committee, which was double compared to other demographics.
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Incoming strategic advisor for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra provides update to subscribers
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s new strategic advisor, Richard Wigley, has issued a message to subscribers after its managing director stood down earlier this week.
On Monday, Sophie Galaise left the organisation and former arts minister Peter Garrett was appointed to lead an external review. The MSO has received weeks of bad publicity after it cancelled the performance of an acclaimed pianist who had dedicated a piece to slain journalists in Gaza.
In his message today, Wigley said it had been a “challenging time” for the MSO and the “negative headlines and stories” were having an impact on “everyone who loves this orchestra.”
He said the MSO would continue to provide updates on the external review, as the terms of referenced are finalised.
In the meantime, please know that we are taking all possible steps to safeguard the reputation of the MSO.
The MSO is returning to Hamer Hall for the first time in almost three weeks tonight for an open rehearsal performance.
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Baby in stable condition after hot coffee allegedly poured on him by stranger
The baby boy who was hospitalised after hot coffee was allegedly poured on him by a stranger remains in a stable condition.
The nine-month-old underwent surgery after suffering burns to his face and chest following what police described as a “cowardly” and random attack in a Brisbane park.
In a statement this morning, a Children’s Health Queensland spokesperson said:
The baby remains in a stable condition at Queensland Children’s Hospital and continues to be closely monitored. The family is receiving support from Queensland Children’s Hospital social workers.
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Equality Australia says government repeating mistakes of Morrison government on census
Equality Australia has accused the federal government of “effectively denying the right of LGBTIQ+ people to be counted” and repeating the mistakes of the former Morrison government by choosing to exclude questions on sexuality and gender identity from the census.
Its CEO, Anna Brown, said in a statement this morning:
Why must LGBTIQ+ communities wear the fallout of ‘divisive community debates’ when the topic of conversation is not only our legal protections but also our lives and right to exist. What the government is saying to us is that we are not worth having the hard conversations for, and they are dumping us in the too-hard basket.
Brown said the notion that acknowledging the existence of LGBTIQ+ Australians in the census would be a threat to social cohesion is “absurd”.
Equality Australia made a human rights complaint against the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the former federal government after the 2021 census failed to properly count LGBTIQ+ people.
The reasons for considering legal action are the same today as they were in 2021, when we filed a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission alleging several breaches of the Sex Discrimination Act.
Our legal action was followed by a statement of regret from the ABS last year for the hurt and harm caused when the census failed to properly count our communities in 2021.
By blocking these vital census questions, the government is effectively denying the right of LGBTIQ+ people to be counted and repeating the mistakes of the former Morrison government.
Updated
Victoria should establish nicotine licensing scheme and regulatory authority, committee says
Victoria should establish a nicotine licensing scheme and an active regulatory authority to better manage vaping and tobacco products, a report tabled to the state parliament this morning has recommended.
Health experts have long argued Victoria needs a licensing scheme to monitor where tobacco products are stored and sold, and where they are imported to.
They have said this lack of oversight and enforcement drives illicit sales, and that centralised data collection would make it easier to identify discrepancies or suspicious patterns that indicate illicit activity.
The report found several drivers have contributed to the extensive black market in illicit vapes and cigarettes, including the price differential between legal and illicit cigarettes, absence of a licensing scheme, lack of enforcement activity and minor penalties for illegal activity.
The “low‑risk high‑reward” nature of illicit tobacco and vapes has attracted overseas crime syndicates to what is a lucrative market, the report found.
The Department of Health and local councils in Victoria are not currently taking enforcement action for reasons including weak current legislation, safety concerns and lack of resources, the report found. Responding to illicit tobacco is also a strain on police resources.
The report also says the benefits from the decline in tobacco use are under pressure from an increase in vaping, with estimates of more than 500,000 regular and non‑regular vape users aged over 14 in Victoria (as of March 2023).
There is no scientific evidence to show that e‑cigarette use is healthier than smoking tobacco, the report found, and the increase in students vaping while at school has increased to such an extent that schools now spend resources on addiction education.
Updated
Dams shut off after high-level 'forever chemical' finds
The detection of synthetic “forever chemicals” has disrupted drinking water supplies in the NSW Blue Mountains with one dam isolated in the area, AAP reports.
Greaves Creek Dam, which sits upstream of the region’s main drinking water dams and filtration plant, has been closed off following testing in recent weeks, WaterNSW says.
Those tests for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) showing the untreated water in Medlow Dam has levels exceeding Australian drinking water standards. WaterNSW said in a statement:
Whilst this dam does not supply the water filtration plant directly, this part of the system has been disconnected from supply while further investigations are conducted.
Correction: an earlier version of this post incorrectly said Greaves Dam was closed – it is not. It is Medlow Dam only.
It also incorrectly reported PFAS levels at Medlow Dam. The correct levels at Medlow Dam were 0.0944 micrograms per litre.
Australian standards limit levels of those chemical groups to 0.07 micrograms per litre.
Updated
Two treated for burns after lithium-ion battery fire in Sydney
Two people have been treated for burns after an e-skateboard exploded in a Sydney home overnight.
Two Fire and Rescue NSW trucks and eight firefighters responded to the incident at Roseville at 2:20am this morning.
In a statement, FRNSW said a sleeping 26-year-old male woke to the sound of popping and cracking, finding the room full of smoke and the e-skateboard’s lithium-ion battery starting to flame.
He and another occupant removed the device from the house, sustaining burns to their hands and suffering smoke inhalation in the process, FRNSW said. Both were transported to hospital for treatment.
This comes after two separate lithium-ion incidents in Sydney just this week.
Yesterday a 15-year-old was riding a borrowed e-bike to school when it burst into flames in Alexandria. A firefighter who was passing by stopped to assist and the boy continued to school, unharmed. A faulty battery was confirmed as the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile, FRNSW investigators found a faulty battery had caused a major house fire in Merrylands on Tuesday, after the battery went into “thermal runway”.
Updated
Firefighters responded to more than 90 fires across NSW yesterday
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service said the responded to more than 90 fires across the state yesterday, amid warm weather and extremely windy conditions.
It was a busy day for firefighters from the #RFS & FRNSW yesterday, as warm and extremely windy conditions fanned more than 90 fires across the state. It's important you're prepare for the threat of fire. For more information, visit our website: https://t.co/3QyPI84ofT pic.twitter.com/mA1OPrhvXa
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) August 28, 2024
Yesterday, the greater Sydney and Illawarra areas had a “high” fire danger rating, but this has dropped back down to “moderate” today.
According to the RFS there are currently 26 grass and bushfires across the state – all under control.
Updated
Sydney will barely reach half of its share of national housing target: report
Developers say that Sydney and surrounding areas will barely reach half of its share of the national housing target, AAP reports.
A report released today forecasts a shortfall of 150,000 homes by 2029, mainly due to a slow planning system, a lack of enabling infrastructure and environmental constraints.
Under the national goal to build 1.2 million well‑located homes over five years, about a quarter are due to be built in Sydney, the Central Coast, the lower Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.
Closing the gap required immediate government interventions on top of those already underway, the NSW division of the Urban Development Institute of Australia said. Chief executive Stuart Ayres said:
Waiting any longer before taking corrective action on housing supply, will only ensure more people are denied an opportunity for a place to call home.
Meeting our housing objectives will not be resolved by one lever alone. We need to see a diversity of typologies, increased investment in enabling infrastructure, and the government genuinely prioritising housing supply.
The forecast is a combination of UDIA’s developer intentions survey, CoreLogic’s Cordell database and government housing supply forecasts. It finds homes are held up in the planning system, with 42% of potential homes waiting at least one approval determination before development can commence.
Updated
Conroy questioned on China’s involvement in Pacific Islands Forum
Pat Conroy was also asked how “present” China has been at the Pacific Islands Forum, despite not being a member, and how much the policing initiative has been about China?
To the first point, he said:
They are a dialogue partner of the Pif, as are the United States and a tonne of other countries. I think I met ministers from all around the world around the Pif, including places like Norway and Ghana, over the conference. So they all participated in the partners dialogue yesterday afternoon.
And to the second point:
As the prime minister said yesterday, this is not about any country outside the region. This is about the Pacific looking after its own security.
Updated
Pat Conroy weighs in on prime minister’s hot mic moment
Let’s circle back to an interview that the minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, gave to ABC RN earlier this morning.
The PM was caught on camera in Tonga joking with a senior US official about going “halvies” on the cost of a newly announced Pacific policing plan. In a media conference this morning, Albanese described it as a “private conversation” and said it was up to the individual who filmed it “to think about their own ethics when it comes to journalism”. Radio NZ said it stands by its reporter and its reporting.
Asked about the incident, which he was present for, Conroy said:
A journalist recorded a private conversation, but the prime minister Albanese was catching up with an old friend, and he was expressing his delight that Pacific leaders had decided to endorse the Pacific policing initiative …
Pushed about the “halvies” comment and whether Australia is funding the initiative, Conroy responded:
We’re making a contribution, but other countries in the region are expected to make a contribution as well … The Pif leaders have asked the Pacific police commissioners to develop the detailed implementation of it.
We’ve indicated that we will invest $400m over five years … but other countries will make contributions by virtue of being part of the Pacific police support group.
Updated
Broome surpassed 40C yesterday, marking its hottest ever August day
According to Weatherzone, Broome recorded its hottest ever August day yesterday, reaching a top of 40.5C.
This was the hottest August day for Broome since weather observations commenced there in 1897. Weatherzone reports:
Prior to 2024, 40C had only been observed in Australia four times during winter. Over the past four days, this threshold has been breached 16 times at weather stations located in WA and the NT.
This was also the first time an NT location (Bradshaw-Angallari in this case) has exceeded 40C during August.
Updated
Qantas CEO says she welcomes the aviation white paper
Our own Elias Visontay has asked Vanessa Hudson about the newly released aviation white paper.
He asked about the chance that compensation entitlements could be written into the new airline passenger charter of rights – is she concerned that this could become a reality, and will Qantas lobbying it doesn’t become reality?
She said Qantas “holds itself higher” in terms of recovering for customers when things don’t go to plan, and said:
We want to regulate ourselves, is what I’m saying, in the first instance. We have seen customer satisfaction across the board in complaints and also complaint resolution go up …
We welcome the white paper and we welcome the context that the government has provided for us over that. Importantly, when we look to the other jurisdictions that have these broader consumer compensation schemes, we actually think that they add cost to airlines, they add cost to fares. We think the government is taking a measured and balanced approach to the way in which they view this. But I come back to – we are going to hold ourselves to high standards to make sure that always in those moments we recover the best we can.
Updated
Qantas CEO fronts media after airline posted $2.1bn annual underlying profit
The CEO of Qantas, Vanessa Hudson, is speaking to reporters after the airline posted a $2.1bn annual underlying profit, down 16% from last year’s record result.
Jonathan Barrett covered this earlier in the blog, here and here.
Hudson said:
Looking ahead, I know the job is not done. I am not standing here today saying it is. We are going to continue to invest in customer experience and we are going to continue to support our people to deliver the best that they can.
She said 20 more aircraft are coming on board across Jetstar and Qantas, there has been a “large investment” in their regional fleet, and it would continue to invest in inflight wifi.
Updated
Radio New Zealand defends journalist over Albanese video
Let’s return briefly to the saga over the recording of Anthony Albanese in banter with the deputy US secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, on the sidelines of a regional conference in Tonga.
Radio New Zealand has defended one of its journalists for filming the exchange. The video was filed by a Radio New Zealand journalist in the main auditorium where the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) was being held.
“Well we had a cracker today getting the Pacific Policing Initiative through,” @AlboMP tells @kurtcampbel on sidelines of @piflm53 @RNZPacific @kelvinfiji pic.twitter.com/sP9YNqhlSR
— Lydia Lewis (@LydiaLewisRNZ) August 28, 2024
In a media conference this morning, Albanese described it as a “private conversation” and said it was up to the individual who filmed it “to think about their own ethics when it comes to journalism”.
We now have this response from Mark Stevens, the chief news officer for Radio New Zealand:
RNZ stands by its reporter and its reporting.
Having spoken to our reporter, there is nothing to suggest they acted unethically or outside of our rigorous editorial policies.
You can find the full story here:
Man shot in Queensland home overnight
A man has been shot overnight in a home in Bellmere, north of Brisbane, Queensland police have said.
Initial investigations have indicated that three men entered the house around 1.17am and shot a man who lived there, before they fled.
The injured man was taken to Caboolture hospital in a stable condition.
A Queensland police statement said:
Investigations are continuing. There is no threat to public safety.
Anyone with information or with vision, including CCTV and dashcam, of the area is urged to contact police.
Updated
Get ahead of the action at the Paralympics today with our handy schedule of where all the Australian para athletes are competing in the coming 24 hours.
What Qantas’ dipped profits mean
While Qantas’ profits have dipped, it’s not a sign that its results are weak over the last year.
Rather, last year’s record result was so strong that it was always going to fall.
The airline’s return-on-invested-capital measurement, which tracks how well a company generates profits, is now at 57.9%, down from 103.6% a year ago.
But before the pandemic, it tended to be less than 20%, which puts today’s results in context.
The big change over the past year is in Qantas’ international business, which generated $556m in earnings in 2023-24, down from $906m a year ago when demand was surging, capacity lower and fares higher.
The Qantas domestic business generated $1.06bn in earnings, down from $1.27bn a year ago, while Jetstar actually increased earnings to $497m from $404m a year earlier.
Updated
Qantas books $2.1bn profit as fares moderate
Qantas Airways has posted a $2.1bn annual underlying profit, down 16% from last year’s record result, as fares moderated from their pandemic highs.
Australia’s biggest airline said bookings and travel demand remain stable across its flying brands.
Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson said on Thursday the airline was using its strong balance sheet to renew its fleet.
Hudson said:
These investments come at a time when Australians are continuing to prioritise travel over other spending categories, with intention to travel over the next 12 months remaining high.
One year ago Qantas celebrated a bumper profit after emerging from a period of pandemic disruptions, before it suffered one of the most tumultuous years in its history.
The former chief executive, Alan Joyce, brought forward his exit date as the airline faced mounting public anger at poor service and refund policies.
Qantas also struck a deal with the competition regulator to pay a $100m penalty and pay $20m to customers in compensation, after conceding it misled consumers by selling tickets for thousands of flights it had already cancelled.
Updated
Plibersek extends ‘deepest sympathies’ after death of Tamil asylum seeker in Melbourne
Tanya Plibersek was also asked about the death of a Tamil asylum seeker, Mano Yogalingam, in Melbourne, who reportedly took his own life. The Tamil Refugee Council believes the amount of time he had spent on a bridging visa to be a contributing factor.
Plibersek said:
The first thing I would say is that my deepest sympathies go to his friends and family. This is a particularly devastating way to lose someone.
I am not going to comment on the individual case because I don’t know all of the details. That is something that I am sure the immigration minister will be looking at very closely. I will leave it for him to make more detailed comments when the time is right.
In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. International helplines can be found at befrienders.org
Updated
Plibersek dismisses dam delay fears as ‘nonsense’
Tanya Plibersek said it is “nonsense” it would take the company behind the proposed Blayney mine five to 10 years to redevelop plans for the project, and that there could be job losses.
It is nonsense. I have doubled on-time project approvals since Labor has come to government. I recently approved a windfarm in just nine weeks because it was located in the right place, that avoided threatened species and it avoided a significant negative impact on nature so I was able to give that the tick in nine weeks.
This idea that it would take five to 10 years is nonsense. It depends on the company finding a suitable location that doesn’t impact cultural heritage and is suitable environmentally. Of the 2,500 hectare site, they still have 2,100 hectares to have a look at on the land that they already own.
Plibersek said the rest of the site is not impacted by her cultural heritage decision, and it is in the company’s interest to look at alternate sites.
They are saying publicly that there is up to $7bn worth of gold in the ground. If that is the case, it is in their interests to look around at alternate sites.
I would also note that the last time I checked their share price was up by 9% since I made my decision to protect the head waters and springs of the Belubula River. I take from that that their shareholders imagine that there is a way forward.
Updated
Plibersek defends decision to protect Aboriginal heritage from proposed waste dam
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has been speaking with ABC News Breakfast on the latest on the situation with the proposed Blayney goldmine in New South Wales.
As Lisa Cox reports, Plibersek has faced criticism after she issued a partial section 10 declaration to protect Aboriginal heritage from being destroyed by a tailings dam for the proposed project.
The NSW premier Chris Minns told an estimates hearing yesterday that he believes Plibersek made an error when deciding to protect the headwaters of the Belubula River from the waste dam. But Plibersek hit back at “misinformation” about her decision, emphasising that she had not knocked back the goldmine itself.
Speaking just a moment ago, Plibersek said:
I have protected 400 hectares of the site. The 400 hectares I have protected with the head water and springs of the river, significant to local Wuradjeri significant owners and they have been significant for thousands of years. Once the river is destroyed, it is destroyed forever …
The goldmining company themselves have said they investigated four different sites for the tailings dam. They have gone for the cheapest and most convenient, that is their job. They have got shareholders to keep happy. My job, as the environment minister, is to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage and that is what I am doing.
Updated
Aemo chief comments on latest report looking at renewable rollout
Renewable energy is providing 40% of the electricity in Australia’s main grid, according to the latest outlook from Australia’s electricity authority.
As Adam Morton reports, the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) says Australia’s main power grid will remain reliable as it shifts from coal to running overwhelmingly on renewable energy – but only if investments in new generation are delivered “on time and in full”.
The chief executive of Aemo, Daniel Westerman, was on ABC AM earlier this morning to speak about the report. Host Sabra Lane noted that every new promised project has to be built in the years ahead, with no delays, to ensure Australia has a stable supply of power – is that realistic?
Westerman responded:
What we know is that we do have a very strong pipeline of projects, and today’s grid’s about 64 gigawatts – and there’s around four times that in proposed projects that are coming down the pipeline.
What we’re seeing is that we’ve got a strong starting line of projects. We now need those to have their final investment decisions made, procure kit, build the plant, and come on to the grid – as well as, of course, building the necessary transmission.
They are needed on time and in full and that is a real call for investors and for governments – for us all to chip in to help and make sure that these projects are delivered on time and in full, so that reliability is there when we need it.
Chalmers says government attempting to avoid 'nastiness' by excluding census question
Jim Chalmers was also asked to comment on the government’s decision to exclude questions on gender diversity and sexuality in the next census.
As Sarah Basford Canales reports, crossbench MPs are seeking an urgent explanation from the Albanese government about its decision, which left the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras “deeply concerned and disappointed”.
Chalmers said it’s “not unusual” for the Australian Bureau of Statistics to “test and tease out questions in advance” but the census isn’t until 2026.
I take very seriously the feedback that we’ve got. You know, I don’t dismiss it. My fear, and one of the things that’s guided us here, and I’m being frank here, is that we’ve seen the way that these issues can be weaponised against members of our community. We don’t want to see that happen.
But it’s members of the LGBTQ+ community that are upset, host Patricia Karvelas said. Chalmers said he was just here to explain how the government came to this decision:
We want to avoid the kind of nastiness and weaponisation of some of these issues, we saw some of that around the Olympics. We’ve seen it on other occasions.
Updated
Treasurer disagrees that international student cap would impact economic growth
Jim Chalmers also defended the government’s proposed cap on international student enrolments for next year:
When it comes to the public universities, we’re talking about the same number of overseas commencements next year as they had last year, and we think that’s pretty reasonable …
I’m a huge supporter of the university sector and the education sector more broadly, it’s a key industry for Australia. It’s a very big export earner. It’s consistently in the top five when it comes to our exports, and we don’t expect that to change. What we’re talking about here is managing the growth and managing the pressures in a responsible and methodical and a fairer way, which recognises the central role that uni’s play.
You don’t think there will be any impact at all on economic growth as a result of this shift? Chalmers responded:
We know that there’s feedback about this, but …. I don’t accept that that will crawl the industry. The industry is consistently [in the] top five in terms of exports. That will continue to be the case.
Updated
Chalmers weighs in on yesterday’s inflation numbers
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking with ABC RN after yesterday’s inflation numbers were published. You can read all the details on that below:
Asked if inflation is falling fast enough for him, he said that “we need it to fall further and faster”.
But yesterday’s numbers were pretty welcome and [have] been quite encouraging. We saw the monthly indicator go down, we saw non-tradable inflation go down, and all of those things are good developments.
But it’s not mission accomplished on inflation, because people are still doing it tough, and that’s why our primary focus is on rolling out the cost-of-living relief to make to help people deal with these cost-of-living pressures that we know are still too persistent.
Chalmers disagreed that the government’s temporary cost-of-living measures were making it harder to decipher CPI.
I think it’s pretty easy to decipher in the figures that we have been receiving that inflation, and not just underlying inflation, the trend is down …
Updated
Commonwealth, Westpac heads to face bank inquiry
The bosses of some of Australia’s biggest banks are set for a parliamentary grilling, AAP reports, as mortgage holders grapple with stubborn interest rates.
Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn and Westpac head Peter King will appear to give evidence before a House of Representatives committee reviewing Australia’s big four banks today. The big four control about 80% of the Australian banking sector.
The committee chair, Labor MP Daniel Mulino, said interest rate decisions would be a key focus of the inquiry.
The Reserve Bank governor told us it is premature for commentators to be thinking about rate cuts yet the major banks all predict an easing cycle in the near to medium term. We want to understanding the reasoning.
Mulino said how the major banks dealt with scams would also be addressed by the parliamentary inquiry.
Australians lost $2.7bn to scams last year, with a marked increase in scams from social media. The banks are obviously not the only powerful corporations in this space, but they are incredibly important and many people are rightly calling on them to do more to protect vulnerable customers.
Today will be the first of two days of hearings into the big four banks, with NAB and ANZ executives to appear tomorrow.
Queensland fire department says hot and windy conditions expected across south-west
In more weather news, the Queensland Fire Department has provided an update amid the hot and windy weather:
Bushfire season is upon us and we’ve already seen several grassfires across the state. With warm and windy conditions expected in south-west [Queensland] over the coming days, it’s important to know your risk.
The department said that the Channel Country, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt are forecast to reach a high fire danger rating tomorrow.
In these conditions, grassfires can start easily. Avoid anything that could spark a fire, such as slashing, grinding or welding outdoors.
Updated
Severe weather warnings in place across southern parts of the country
Severe weather warnings are in place across southern parts of the country for strong winds, including Victoria and Tasmania.
Here’s a wrap of the warnings currently in place, according to the Bureau of Meteorology:
Victoria – a strong cold front is expected to reach Victoria later today, clearing to the east tomorrow morning. Locations which may be affected by the wild weather include Portland, Bacchus Marsh, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Omeo.
For the Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland areas, a warning for abnormally high tides is in place.
Tasmania – a strong cold front is also expected to reach Tasmania later today, crossing the state tomorrow morning. The entire state is covered by the severe weather warning.
New South Wales – north-westerly winds are forecast to strengthen later today as a strong cold front approaches from the west. Locations which may be affected include Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Katoomba and Goulburn.
Meanwhile, fire danger ratings for the greater Sydney and Illawarra have been downgraded to “moderate” today after reaching “high” yesterday.
Western Australia – gusty, showery conditions are expected over parts of the South West Land Division today.
.@BOM_Tas issued a Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Wind for King Island, Furneaux Islands, Western, Upper Derwent Valley, South East, North East, East Coast, North West Coast, Central North, Central Plateau and Midlands. For more information, visit https://t.co/f6lyFByWyJ pic.twitter.com/pMVDQiEwjs
— TasALERT (@tasalert) August 28, 2024
Updated
Sydney train line to close on 30 September for metro conversion
Sydney’s T3 train line, from Sydenham to Bankstown, will be shut down from 30 September as works begin to convert tracks to accommodate an extension of the city’s new Metro line.
The closure and track upgrade had been planned to occur shortly after the opening of the new city section of the Metro, which belatedly opened on 18 August following last-minute delays in gaining regulatory approvals.
The Chatswood-Sydenham stretch of the Metro has proved popular with Sydneysiders in its first week, attracting 1.4m riders on the line where driverless trains reach speeds of up to 100km/h underneath the city.
Now, with plans to extend the Metro line to Bankstown by converting the existing heavy rail track, commuters will have to rely on rail replacement buses from 30 September.
The state’s transport minister, Jo Haylen, yesterday announced the rail replacement buses, to be painted pink and known as Southwest Link, will be free for all passengers. The government estimates the conversion period will be completed by late 2025.
We absolutely acknowledge this is going to be a disruptive time for the people of Canterbury Bankstown and for the Inner West but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Updated
Do reports that the country faces power cuts without more gas actually stack up?
Following on from our top story on the electricity system, Graham Readfearn uses this week’s Temperature Check column to assess whether a slew of reporting in the Australian newspaper claiming that the country faces power cuts without more gas actually stack up.
In a series of articles, the paper warns that without immediate action to bring on new gas supply, Australia faces “economy-destroying gas shortages”.
Graham gets the other side of the story from Grattan energy expert Tony Wood who tells him:
There is a serious problem here, but it’s been coming for more than 10 years. But if you catastrophise it then nobody will solve it.
Read the full article here:
National plan for renters hasn't delivered, report claims
Renters around Australia remain vulnerable a year on from national cabinet reforms that were designed to better protect them, according to a new report.
The Better Deal for Renters was created in August 2023 to develop a nationally consistent policy surrounding reasonable grounds for eviction, to limit rent increases and to phase in minimum rental standards.
The report by National Shelter and the National Association of Renters’ Organisations, released today, finds that national engagement on the Better Deal for Renters has not been open and transparent and that “while progress has been made across the states and territories, there appears to be varying degrees of urgency and commitment to meeting the standards”.
The Northern Territory has failed to make any progress on five out of nine agreed reforms, including the removal of no-grounds convictions and fit-for-purpose appeals against retaliatory evictions, while Western Australia has yet to tackle four reform areas. New South Wales and Queensland were the only states or territories to have made progress in all areas.
Emma Greenhalgh, chief executive of National Shelter, said:
States and territories have not done enough to strengthen renters’ rights amid the unprecedented housing crisis. They need to lift their game to meet the national cabinet requirements.
Leo Patterson Ross, spokesperson for the National Association of Renters’ Organisations, said the Better Deal for Renters had been created without input from renters or their advocates directly and had no accountability measures built in:
We need to see commonwealth, state and territory governments meaningfully engage sector experts on a meaningful law reform agenda that brings Australian rental regulations into the 21st century.
Updated
Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us!
I’ll be taking you through our live coverage for most of today. If you see something that needs attention, you can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can shoot me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
Small earthquake rocks Victoria’s west
A small earthquake has rocked the western Victorian town of Hamilton.
The magnitude 3.4 quake happened just past 5am, according to Geosciences Australia, at a depth of 3km.
According to GA, people reported feeling the tremor as far away as Geelong, and the western fringes of Melbourne.
The quake was unusually shallow, which usually means it is felt more strongly on the surface. However due to its low magnitude it was unlikely to have caused any significant damage, and more likely felt as a light vibration by those in the area.
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake at a 3km depth has been recorded this morning, with an epicentre at Hamilton. The earthquake occurred at 5:09am. For SES assistance please ring 132 500. For more information, visit: https://t.co/cN9vhwkQEX pic.twitter.com/7js1P3oC8k
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) August 28, 2024
Updated
Albanese questioned on hot mic moment in Tonga
At an early media conference in Tonga this morning, Anthony Albanese responded to questions about the video showing his conversation with a top US official. A journalist asked the prime minister whether “Kurt Campbell will go you halvies on that policing plan”.
Albanese laughed and replied:
No, he won’t, because this has come from the Pacific. I’m aware of the video of a private conversation. Kurt Campbell’s a mate of mine, it’s us having a chat.
When asked whether he could give any insight into what initiative Australia had asked the US not to pursue, Albanese said:
No … It was private conversation. It was a jovial conversation, a friendly one. You know, it is what it is. People try and read something into it - you must be pretty bored.
Asked by a journalist whether there was a sense he had “said the quiet bit out loud” (about the intention to exclude China from the region), Albanese said:
What was the quiet bit? It’s a cracker of an announcement. That’s what I said. That’s what I stand by. It was.
Albanese said he wasn’t a part of the conversation that ambassador Kevin Rudd had with Campbell about a US initiative that, according to Campbell, Australia asked the US not to pursue. Asked whether he would have a word to ambassador Kevin Rudd about this, Albanese said:
No, no. Chill out, people!
Updated
Albanese has hot-mic moment while joking with US official about Pacific policing plan
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been caught on camera in Tonga joking with a senior US official about going “halvies” on the cost of a newly announced Pacific policing plan.
The video also suggests that the US had been planning to pursue a police-related proposal but had been told by Australia to hold off.
The video was filmed at the Pacific Islands Forum venue yesterday and was posted online by Radio New Zealand.
“Well we had a cracker today getting the Pacific Policing Initiative through,” @AlboMP tells @kurtcampbel on sidelines of @piflm53 @RNZPacific @kelvinfiji pic.twitter.com/sP9YNqhlSR
— Lydia Lewis (@LydiaLewisRNZ) August 28, 2024
At the beginning of the video, the deputy US secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, told Albanese that the US delegation was making its way throughout the Pacific.
Albanese replied:
Well, we had a cracker today getting the Pacific policing initiative through, it is so important, it’ll make such a difference.
Campbell said it was “fantastic” and the senior US official recounted:
I talked with Kevin about it – so you know, we were going to do something and he asked us not to so we did not. We’ve given you the lane, so take the lane!
“Kevin” is most likely a reference to the Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.
Albanese then joked:
Oh you can go us halvies on the cost if you like.
The pair shared a laugh. The Australian minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, then appeared to notice the conversation was being filed and said: “Come on!”
Updated
Albanese speaks to media in Tonga
Anthony Albanese has spoken to journalists in the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa, before flying to the island group of Vava’u for a leaders’ retreat with Pacific counterparts.
On his second full day attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, Albanese will have more intimate conversations with fellow Pacific leaders. Concerns over the unrest in New Caledonia are expected to dominate the talks today.
Albanese used his early-morning press conference today to reiterate the significance of yesterday’s agreement to proceed with a Pacific Policing Initiative, which includes a training and coordination hub in Brisbane.
But he was asked about a video posted online showing him having a joke with the US deputy secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, about whether the US might “go halvies” with Australia on the cost of the initiative.
Albanese said today the US would not be contributing funding because it was a Pacific-led initiative, and he said it was a private conversation.
We’ll bring you more details on this soon.
Updated
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Good morning and welcome to our live blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you some of the main overnight and breaking news stories before I hand over to Emily Wind.
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Anthony Albanese has used an early-morning press conference in Tonga today to reiterate the significance of yesterday’s agreement to proceed with a Pacific policing initiative, which includes a training and coordination hub in Brisbane.
But he has faced questions about the funding of the plan, after being caught on camera in Tonga joking with a senior US official about going “halvies”. More coming up soon from our reporter in Tonga, Daniel Hurst.
