What we learned today, Saturday 11 March
That’s where we’ll leave our coverage for today.
Here’s a recap of the day’s news:
Floods are continuing to pose a major threat to north-west Queensland, principally in the outback town of Burketown. The floods, already at record levels, are expected to peak on Sunday. Police have been urging locals to evacuate, saying the area is no longer safe.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has used blunt language in response to the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne. Albanese says such attacks have no place in Australia and “we will take every action, through our police and security agencies, to make sure anyone responsible for this faces the full force of the law”. He also used the trip to suggest the two nations could sign a “transformational” trade deal by the end of the year.
Sydney’s rail network continued to face chaos due to ongoing repairs, following the complete outages experienced this week.
The former prime minister Scott Morrison told News Corp that the formation of Aukus was “the best kept secret in Australian history since the second world war”.
Thanks so much for sticking with me and my colleague Henry Belot today.
Updated
Speaking to the media in New Delhi before heading to the United States, where I will be meeting with @JoeBiden and @RishiSunak to progress the AUKUS agreement. pic.twitter.com/ZURwPE0NjG
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 11, 2023
Burketown residents reluctantly leave flood-hit homes
Residents of a north-west Queensland town are reluctantly leaving their water-logged homes behind, while emergency services warn that power is being cut to Burketown due to the flood risks there.
Police say the last chance to evacuate is during daylight, though several residents have chosen to stay.
Supt Tom Armitt told the ABC that emergency services only had a certain window of opportunity to deploy personnel and equipment such as helicopters.
“We don’t know how much ground will be left if the water continues to peak and cover all the ground,” he said on Saturday.
“If we get to the stage where we are having to shift and move people to rooftops, that makes a whole different level of complexity.
“We don’t know when the peak is expected because it has passed any sort of flood modelling at this stage.”
Vision filmed from helicopters over the town shows water covering many buildings to their roofs, with only one or two streets in the centre of the town still untouched by the water.
The town is waiting for its worst-ever floods to peak, with multiple communities and outlying cattle properties isolated as heavy rain leaves the state’s west and south at risk of flash floods.
The Albert River at Burketown has already surpassed the record 6.78-metre flood of 2011, and the Bureau of Meteorology says waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria community will likely reach their highest by Sunday.
A forecast for severe thunderstorms and rain in south-east Queensland was downgraded on Saturday, but heavy falls are still possible.
- AAP
Updated
Parliament House flag with ‘gaping hole’ replaced
The tattered flag flying above Parliament House in Canberra has been replaced.
This week, the shadow immigration and citizenship minister, Dan Tehan, called on the government to replace the flag, saying it had “a gaping hole in it”.
We need to have pride in our institutions, we need to have pride in our parliament and we need to have pride in our flag.
The flag was replaced today.
New Australian flag at Parliament House ✅ pic.twitter.com/uQ34yxlTOh
— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) March 11, 2023
Updated
Police release vision of Burketown flooding
This helicopter vision shows the extent of flooding in the region. Queensland police have told Burketown residents to evacuate before nightfall as the town is no longer safe with rising waters and sewerage contamination.
Police have released vision of flooding in Burketown today.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 11, 2023
All remaining residents are being urged to leave.
For up-to-date information, visit: https://t.co/5XobASxKXh pic.twitter.com/nEsSQ0s766
Queensland opposition says domestic violence rates still too high
The Queensland opposition has accused the state government of failing to keep women safe following an “alarming” report on domestic violence.
The Liberal Nationals’ spokeswoman for domestic and family violence prevention, Amanda Camm, pointed to the release of data this week that showed a 15% increase in breaches of domestic violence orders in the past 12 months:
But what was so alarming is the increase in domestic violence orders, and in particular, the breach of domestic violence orders.
In the last 12 months we’ve seen an increase of 15% in breaches of DV orders.
Camm also accused Labor of failing to implement recommendations that came from the landmark women’s safety taskforce report released almost a year ago.
She said the government not appointing a full-time implementation supervisor to oversee reforms to protect women and families from violence had left many people behind.
– AAP
Updated
What will it take to win the NSW election?
There’s now two weeks until the NSW election on March 25. If you need a quick refresh on the state of play: Labor needs to pick up nine seats, but if neither major party can get to 47 seats the crossbench will determine the next premier
Electoral analyst Ben Raue has this very handy analysis on the upcoming poll:
After three terms in power, the Liberal-National coalition government in New South Wales appears to be on shaky ground, falling behind in the polls and currently operating without a parliamentary majority.
With two weeks to go until the election, there’s still a chance of the Coalition or Labor forming majority or minority government – although a Coalition majority appears least likely.
There are also a number of key contests involving independents or minor parties, adding further complexity.
You can read the full story below.
Indian PM briefed on Aukus submarine announcement
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed he briefed his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on the future of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet that will be delivered in partnership with the US and UK.
As Daniel Hurst reports, the three Aukus countries’ leaders are set to finally announce the details of the so-called “optimal pathway” for Australia to have “at least” eight nuclear-powered submarines. This is expected in San Diego on Monday local time, Tuesday morning Canberra time.
The partnership and project has caused some diplomatic angst among regional partners, including Malaysia and Indonesia. Albanese told reporters that Australian government representatives were briefing nations before the announcement.
I can confirm that I briefed Prime Minister Modi one on one and I treated him with the respect that he deserved. Briefings are taking place, as appropriate, with other countries.
Updated
Domestic manufacturing will be reflected in Aukus deal, PM says
Anthony Albanese, has been asked about earlier reports that all of the future submarine fleet would be built in Australia, which would deliver a huge boost to manufacturing and jobs.
The prime minister says domestic manufacture will be reflected in next week’s Aukus announcement:
We’ll make the announcement on Monday, but I will make this point. This is about jobs, including jobs in manufacturing. Adelaide in particular will be a big beneficiary of this announcement as well as Western Australia.
This is about building up our capacity and when you talk about the issue of manufacturing submarines in Australia, that’s an absolute priority for us. That will be seen as part of the announcement.
Albanese also says the government needs to explain why it is spending billions of dollars on nuclear-powered submarines at a time when other areas of the budget, like health and NDIS, are facing real financial pressures.
Australia faces real challenges. We have said very clearly and very explicitly that there are major pressures on expenditure, not just in defence but in other areas as well. That is why the government is working so hard and why the expenditure review committee has been meeting regularly. It’s why we need to be prepared to make some difficult decisions.
Updated
PM previews nuclear subs announcement before flying to US
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also used that press conference in New Delhi a short time ago to foreshadow his trip to the US, where he’ll meet president Joe Biden and his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak.
As we mentioned earlier today, we’re expecting a major update from the US about the future of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine fleet, which will be delivered as part of the Aukus alliance with the UK and US.
Here’s Albanese:
We will be progressing announcements related to Aukus. The United States and the United Kingdom have historical relationships with Australia going back, of course, a very long period of time.
In this century, we have stood side by side in Australia’s time of need but also when the UK or the United States have needed our assistance as well. But this agreement is about the future.
It’s about making sure that we invest in our security but also that we invest in our relationships and that is my government’s attitude to foreign affairs and diplomacy.
We want a peaceful and secure world. But part of that is investing in our national defence [and] also investing in our relationships.
This is not just about dollars. It’s not just about capability. It’s about the way that Australia is seen in the world, [it’s] about dealing with other nation’s diplomatically and treating people with respect. Making sure that our word can be trusted.
Updated
Hindu temple vandals will face ‘full force of law’, Albanese says
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has used blunt language in response to the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne.
In January, the walls of the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne’s north were painted with “Hindustan Murdabad”, meaning “down with India”. Two other temples were also targeted, allegedly by pro-Khalistan separatists
The vandalism was condemned by community leaders and many politicians, including the acting state premier at the time, Jacinta Allan, who said was disgraceful to desecrate religious temples.
This issue has been on the front pages of Indian newspapers this week. Here’s a quick reminder of what Modi said yesterday:
There are reports of attacks on temples in Australia. It’s natural that this kind of news worries people in India, distresses our minds. I told Prime Minister Albanese about these feelings and worries, and he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority.
And here’s Albanese’s response when asked about this issue at a short press conference, which has just wrapped up.
Australia is a country that respects people’s faith and we don’t tolerate the sort of extreme actions and attacks we have seen on religious buildings, be they Hindu temples, mosques or churches.
This has no place in Australia and we will take every action, through our police and security agencies, to make sure anyone responsible for this faces the full force of the law.
We are a tolerant, multicultural nation. There is no place in Australia for this activity.
Updated
Albanese addresses media as he concludes India visit
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is holding a press conference in New Delhi as his diplomatic tour of India comes to an end.
He’ll soon depart for the US, where a major defence announcement regarding nuclear-powered submarines will be detailed.
Here is Albanese’s preamble. We’ll come to questions in a moment.
Can I just thank Prime Minister Modi for the extraordinary generosity that he has shown on this visit. I can’t think how he could possibly have been more open, more generous and more welcoming.
Even on the way here to the airport, the signs had changed from ‘welcome’ to ‘thank you for your visit’. Somehow, overnight, they had changed.
I was able to spend an extraordinary about of time with Prime Minister Modi and that’s important. Relationships can be built through dialogue and through meetings around tables, but nothing beats sitting down one-on-one, which I did no less than on five occasions with Prime Minister Modi over the last two days.
Updated
‘It’s not safe to stay’: police urge evacuations in Burketown
Let’s get another update on what’s happening in Burketown, the northern Queensland town that’s inundated with record rainfall and flooding.
Supt Tom Armitt, from the Mount Isa police district, says locals must evacuate the town now while it is still possible.
We really have increased the seriousness of our messaging today. The waters have risen considerably. About half the town’s houses are impacted by water and we expect that water to continue rising throughout the day.
We do not know when the peak is expected, as it’s past any flood modelling we have at this stage. We do have power going out in the town and we know the sewerage is compromised due to the level of water in the town.
It’s not safe to stay due to the height of the water and the unsanitary conditions. We really are urging people to leave.
Updated
NSW firefighters credited for ‘incredible work’
The NSW Rural Fire Service has confirmed a fire near Bathurst in the state central west has now burnt through more than 17,000 hectares.
The Alpha Road Fire (Mid-Western) has now burnt through more than 17,400 hectares. Firefighters have done incredible work to save homes and assets under very trying conditions, where at times, dozens were threatened by fire. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/isCENEstdN
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 11, 2023
Sydney train passengers urged to delay travel or allow extra time
Sydney’s trains are again experiencing major delays on Saturday.
Transport for New South Wales is urging commuters to delay travel or allow extra travel time due to urgent overhead wiring repairs at Panania, in the city’s south-west. It is also experiencing issues at Erskineville, in the city’s inner-west.
Trains may stop on platforms or between stations for longer than normal while the incident is ongoing.
Trains may also have changed stops and leave from different platforms. For service changes, please listen to announcements, check transport apps and information screens while waiting on platforms and on the train.
The delays continue after a complete network outage this week, which prompted an apology from the premier, Dominic Perrottet.
The shutdown on Wednesday afternoon left tens of thousands of passengers stranded, with Uber fares spiking to hundreds of dollars in surge-price fees.
Updated
NSW Greens demand scrapping of gas pipeline and pokie reform before supporting Labor
A future Minns Labor government in NSW would need to agree to scrap a major gas pipeline and make all 86,000 pokies cashless if it is to win the support of the Greens, AAP reports.
Although Chris Minns has ruled out a deal with the Greens, the minor party on Saturday outlined seven demands it will make if it ends up holding the balance of power in the NSW parliament after the 25 March state election.
Top of the list is no new coal and gas projects, meaning the end of Santos’s planned coal seam gas project in Narrabri and a pipeline across the Hunter.
The project is on track to be completed in 2026 and is projected to eventually supply half of NSW’s gas.
“We cannot afford new coal and gas. It’s deadly, it’s dangerous and it will cost us the earth,” the federal Greens leader, Adam Bandt, told the party faithful in Sydney on Saturday.
“Breathtaking” anti-protest laws that lock up grandmothers and students “while the coal and gas companies are given public money to mine, burn and frack our future” would also be on the chopping block, Bandt said.
A mandatory cashless gaming card, which is part of the Coalition government’s policy platform, could also prove tricky for Minns, who wants a cashless trial on 500 machines before moving further.
“We won’t settle for half-measures and we won’t be fooled by a trial that has been set up to fail,” the Greens lead upper house candidate, Cate Faehrmann, said.
The party also wants rent controls and a ban on unfair evictions, the start of a community-led treaty process, hospital-wide nurse-to-patient ratios and real wage increases for the public sector.
However, with the potential of teal independents expanding the nine-strong crossbench, Labor will likely have a number of options if it and the Coalition government fail to win a 47-seat majority.
Read Ben Raue’s election explainer here:
Updated
Thunderstorms and damaging winds forecast for parts of Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting severe thunderstorms over western and southern Queensland on Sunday, including the possibility of hail and damaging winds.
⛈️QLD Storm Forecast for Sunday 12/3. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are possible over western & southern #QLD. Large hail & damaging winds are also possible with afternoon dvelopment in #SEQld. Warnings if needed:https://t.co/VkBYqNjixp pic.twitter.com/XSgDlzVqvl
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 11, 2023
Updated
SA Health detects invasive meningococcal case
South Australian health authorities have confirmed a case of “invasive meningococcal” has been detected in a 28-year-old Adelaide man, who is now in hospital in a critical condition.
Here’s the statement from SA Health:
The strain has been identified as serotype B.
SA Health has identified multiple people who had contact with the patient, of whom two people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.
There has been one case of invasive meningococcal in South Australia this year, compared to two cases recorded at the same time last year.
A total of 14 cases were reported in 2022.
The infections are rare but severe and can cause death or permanent disability. Earlier this year, NSW Health issued a similar warning about two cases being detected.
HEALTH ALERT: Meningococcal case pic.twitter.com/tbksBDKG5W
— SA Health (@SAHealth) March 11, 2023
Updated
Drawing closer to US while seeking warmer China ties leaves Australia with a tough balancing act
After 18 months of planning among Australia, the US and the UK, the three countries’ leaders are set to finally announce the details of the so-called “optimal pathway” for Australia to have “at least” eight nuclear-powered submarines.
We have had some clues about the outlines of the deal, thanks to leaks out of the US and the UK. It seems Australia could acquire up to five Virginia-class submarines from the US by the mid-2030s before adopting a British design as a more permanent solution.
For now, many questions remain unanswered. It’s unclear how much it will cost, how we’ll pay for it, when construction in South Australia will begin and what plans we have in the meantime to invite US and UK submarines to visit Australia for extended periods.
The Australian government has argued there is no contradiction between its desire to acquire the best defence assets possible (as part of maintaining a “strategic equilibrium” in the Indo-Pacific) and its continued push for a less rocky relationship with China. But it’s quite the needle to thread.
And for all the focus on the precise detail to come, Aukus will clearly be seen overall as Australia drawing even closer to the US and the UK for decades.
Updated
Queensland police question teen after man found dead
A teenager is being questioned after a disturbance in a central Queensland town led police to find a man’s body.
The 58-year-old was found dead in suspicious circumstances in a home in Emerald on Friday night, police said.
The property was declared a crime scene and an 18-year-old man has been assisting police with inquiries.
Emergency services had been called to a disturbance, police said.
‘Don’t click on links’: ACCC warns of latest scam
There’s no shortage of scams about at the moment. The federal government is drawing attention to fake live streams of local sport being advertised on Facebook.
Here’s the consumer watchdog’s latest warning:
Scammers will ask you to register with your credit card to verify your location but then they’ll take your money. Don’t click on links in comments or give your credit card details.
Another scam to watch out for👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 https://t.co/gaQb6Eueer
— Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) March 10, 2023
Updated
Magpies and Power strike deal over ‘prison bar’ guernsey
Port Adelaide will wear their historic “prison bar” guernsey in their round three AFL showdown with Adelaide after reaching a long-awaited agreement with Collingwood, as AAP reports.
When Port entered the AFL in 1997 they were prevented from using the prison bar jumper, which they wore in the SANFL, amid opposition from Collingwood who maintain the design is too similar to their own guernsey.
The Power have since consistently requested to wear the black-and-white striped heritage guernsey in showdowns, but were barred by the Magpies with the former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire stridently opposed to it.
Port were permitted to wear the guernsey in round two 2020 as part of their 150th anniversary but had several other requests to wear it knocked back, including in 2021 when players instead changed into the guernsey after a showdown win over Adelaide.
Collingwood’s shift in attitude marks a thawing of relations under McGuire’s successor, Jeff Browne, who issued this statement:
While we own the stripes in the AFL competition, we acknowledge the history and origins of the Port Adelaide Football Club and their contribution to South Australian football over a long period of time.
As president of the club board and following ongoing discussions with Port Adelaide president David Koch, it is our view that we acknowledge the history of Port Adelaide prior to their entry into the AFL and support them to wear their ‘prison bar’ guernsey in their upcoming home showdown against the Crows in round three.
Updated
Covid-19 could be key to fighting breast cancer
Covid-19 immunity and vaccines could be key to fighting breast cancer, according to a researcher who has spoken to AAP.
Clare Slaney is focused on improving CAR T-cell therapy – a type of immunotherapy whereby doctors collect a small portion of a patient’s T-cells, which are an important part of the immune system.
The cells have the ability to track down and destroy abnormal cells, including some cancer cells, and the therapy has them re-engineered in labs to carry special anti-cancer molecules called chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, on their surface.
The cells then rapidly multiply when they are injected back into a patient. The type of immunotherapy has shown great promise for some blood cancers, but it is yet to prove effective for solid tumours like breast cancer.
Slaney intends to try collecting people’s new Covid-specific “memory T-cells”, rather than regular T-cells, and re-engineering them to recognise specific breast cancer surface proteins.
The coronavirus cells could therefore be used to fight breast cancer, and most people have them given they’ve either had the virus or been vaccinated against it, Slaney said.
The initial idea came to me as I was sitting at home frustrated in the early stages of the pandemic, unable to access my lab, watching my colleagues in infectious diseases working so hard to fight the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
I suddenly thought can we leverage this virus to do something useful.
When the Covid-19 vaccines emerged, I had the idea that we just might be able to use Covid-19 immunity and vaccines to fight breast cancer.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is backing Slaney’s research, announcing funding for the project on Saturday – the three-year anniversary of the pandemic declaration.
Updated
Liberal senator says Australia may have to ban TikTok
The shadow minister for cybersecurity, James Paterson, has said he would be open to a complete ban of the TikTok app due to concerns about privacy and data retention.
A growing number of Australian government agencies have begun banning the popular ByteDance app, amid security concerns over the company’s ties to China and what data might be accessible to the Chinese government about TikTok’s users.
Paterson told Channel Nine this morning that move was overdue and he’d welcome further action:
It should absolutely be taken off all government devices as the United States, Canada, the European Union and many other countries have done. All of those countries recognised the serious national security threat it poses to government users. So that should have happened some time ago.
Look, I think we should keep all options on the table on protecting the other millions of Australians who use the app. If we can solve this problem through means less severe than banning it, then I’m very open to that. But I think we have to keep that option on the table because, unfortunately, TikTok is a company that hasn’t told the truth in the past around the way it operates.
A TikTok spokesperson has previously said:
Just like many private sector organisations, commonwealth government agencies have policies that may restrict the use of social media and messaging apps on devices. In the case of these departments, we understand the restrictions apply to a range of apps and software, not just TikTok.
As a global company, we are not unique in how we operate. Some of the best-known and trusted Australian companies, including banks and telcos, openly state in their privacy policies that they share Australian user information with employees and third parties around the world, including China. These organisations often collect sensitive data like financial information, medical records, legal information and more. The TikTok app collects less data than many popular mobile apps.
Our community’s safety and privacy is our top priority, and we continue to be diligent in ensuring we meet, or exceed, the data security standards applied to companies that operate in Australia.
Updated
Police urge Burketown residents to leave ‘as soon as possible’
Queensland police have issued new instructions to anyone in the Burketown area, which is dealing with record flooding after heavy rain upstream.
Here’s the alert:
Police are strongly urging all remaining residents to leave the community of Burketown as soon as possible.
This is particularly relevant to the elderly and people with young children.
Sewerage to the town has been compromised and power to the town will be cut off today.
It is not safe for people to remain.
Residents who have chosen to remain should seek assistance from police.
Updated
‘A very good trip’: academic praises Albanese’s tour of India
Prof Michael Wesley, the deputy vice-chancellor international at the University of Melbourne, was travelling with the prime minister’s delegation to India this week.
He’s told ABC News it’s been a very beneficial trip that will deliver education and business outcomes for both nations.
I think it’s been a very good trip. It is buttressed with other Australian ministers that have been visiting. So I was here last week as well for education minister Jason Clare’s visit. That was a very warm meeting where a lot of collaboration was announced, including the mutual recognition of education qualifications.
I think the prime minister’s visit has very much continued in that vein. There seems to be a great deal of personal warmth between the two prime ministers. I’m told that the business delegation that the prime minister brought with him (...) had very, very useful talks as well.
Updated
Australia’s biggest EV show begins in Sydney
More than 10,000 people are expected to visit Australia’s biggest electric car show in Sydney today, where organisers will display almost every battery-powered vehicle available in the country, AAP reports.
The Fully Charged Live Show will also be the first venue in Australia to show off an unreleased MG hatchback that has been named as a contender for Australia’s cheapest electric car.
The motor show, which industry experts say is the first held in Australia in years, comes just one month after consumers set a record for electric vehicle purchases.
The Fully Charged chief executive, Dan Caesar, said the company had planned to bring an electric vehicle showcase to Australia earlier but “the pandemic slowed us in our tracks”.
Here’s what he told AAP:
We’re finally delivering show one now and then we are definitely coming back next year. Typically in year two the show doubles or triples in size.
Australia seems to be quite a vibrant place at the moment in terms of talking about solar panels or batteries or EVs. There seems to be some strong demand.
Updated
Greens senator blasts breastfeeding decision
There’s been a lot of controversy about a Victorian judge ejecting a breastfeeding mother and her baby from his courtroom, arguing it was a distraction to the jury.
Yesterday, the judge addressed the jury about the incident, saying his comments should be “self-explanatory”. Here’s a reminder of what he said:
What I [told the mother] was this – ‘Madam, you will not be permitted to breastfeed a baby in court. I’m sorry. I will have to ask you to leave. It will be a distraction for the jury at the very least’.
I am telling you this because it is something that has attracted some media publicity and I think you need to know exactly what it was that I said and why I said it.
The Greens senator Larissa Waters has told Channel Nine she’s furious at the judge’s decision. She became the first woman to breastfeed in federal parliament back in 2017.
Here’s part of what she told Weekend Today:
I can’t believe that we’re still having this debate in 2023 about where mums can breastfeed their babies. If I can do it in parliament, women should be able to breastfeed their hungry baby no matter where they are. That is, in fact, what the law says. I am incredulous that we are still having this debate and that this poor woman, who was just trying to feed her hungry baby, has been made to feel like she has done something wrong. It is an absolute outrage.
Updated
Labor to tackle noise and venue complaints in NSW
Labor will seek to simplify how residents complain about noise and compliance issues from pubs and music venues, and encourage a mediation process instead of fines that punish bars and clubs, if they form government in New South Wales.
The reforms proposed by Labor come amid a spate of single neighbourhood complaints threatening the way in which venues across Sydney operate.
There are currently seven agencies that can deal with complaints about venues, and Labor plans to streamline this process.
If Labor wins government, it will also pay half the cost of soundproofing upgrades to make venues compliant with noise standards.
John Graham, Labor’s night time economy and music spokesperson, said music venues “are beloved by their local communities” and that Labor wants “to balance the needs of music venues and neighbours so that we don’t lose these important cultural assets”.
He added:
More than half the music venues in NSW have closed under the last decade of Liberal government, and more of our best operators are currently at risk.
There are currently seven agencies that regulate sound in NSW. Labor will simplify the process so that residents know who to phone if they have an issue and neighbours and venues can peacefully mediate, and we’ll provide practical support to venues for soundproofing.
Updated
AFL won’t yet commit to AFLW players’ full-time dream
Under pressure to outline a “vision” for its elite women’s competition, the AFL remains non-committal on whether it sees the AFLW reaching the point of full-time professionalism, AAP reports.
The Carlton chief executive, Brian Cook, last month put heat on AFL officials to produce a long-term strategic plan for the AFLW.
It came amid ongoing pleas from many within the women’s game for a future that includes the majority of AFLW players and staff advancing beyond their current part-time status.
Players also want the home-and-away season to be expanded beyond the current 10 rounds, to incorporate all clubs playing each of their rivals at least once.
Cook queried the AFL’s desire to develop the women’s competition to that point and the league chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, would not commit to it when quizzed on the subject this week.
Here’s what McLachlan told AAP:
It’s a really interesting question. We want women to be very well paid athletes making a living out of football.
But I think we take a line of sight through the men’s competition and one of our bigger challenges is transitioning post-football.
Those who have had careers or who have got qualifications or trades in parallel with their football have transitioned in an easier way. We have those learnings and those lessons from the men’s and we’re applying them to the women’s.
The pay will grow and the minimum wage now is $40,000 for a 10-round season, but we are very keen to continue to work with our female athletes so they also have an eye to post-football and have a life that contemplates at some point that you have to transition.
Updated
More trouble for Sydney trains
Expect more delays if you’re travelling on Sydney trains this morning. Urgent repairs to overhead wiring are being conducted on the T3 Parramatta line.
Earlier this week, Sydney commuters were told to avoid train travel after the entire rail network was halted due to a communications system fault. Commuters reported long delays while returning home from work.
Allow plenty of extra travel time due to urgent overhead wiring repairs at Panania
— T3 Sydney Trains (@T3SydneyTrains) March 10, 2023
Trains may have changed stops and leave from different platforms
For service changes please listen to announcements, check apps and information screens while waiting on platforms and on the train
Sydney Trains at a standstill again.
— Dan Conifer (@DanConifer) March 10, 2023
This time it’s been at least on the T3 Bankstown Line (this was my train stuck at Punchbowl Station before I gave up).
Public announcement said there were trains at a standstill at every station ahead of ours.#sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/FdpeZDseUe
Updated
Pandemic marriage laws protected LGBTQI people, advocate says
Marriage laws intended to give couples more flexibility through the Covid-19 pandemic offer LGBTQI people critical protection from discrimination and persecution, an advocate says.
As AAP reports, the Equality Network founder Bronte Price is calling for the Marriage Act to be amended to allow couples to sign notices of intended marriage remotely and have them witnessed by a celebrant over video chat.
Existing Covid laws allow couples to do just that but the measure is due to be repealed on December 31.
Here’s what Price told AAP:
This move to enable a celebrant to witness remotely the signing of a notice of intended marriage needs to be made permanent.
It’s not just for the convenience of anyone. There’s still a lot of queer people in Australia who are not out.
In a letter to the federal attorney general’s department, Price – a registered marriage celebrant – pointed to one immigrant female couple who crossed the Victorian border from their country town and travelled to Melbourne to have him witness their signing.
They did so before the Covid measure kicked in, and out of fear they would be targeted with homophobic remarks if they went to a local authorised witness and “word got around”.
The Covid measure would have saved them their anguish, Price said, and the same went for overseas couples who faced much harsher consequences if they were outed.
Updated
Burketown ranger concerned about crocodiles in flood waters
This video and satellite projection give a sense of how bad the situation in Burketown is. Keep in mind, both of these posts are about 22 hours old and the situation has worsened since then.
A Gangalidda CLCAC Ranger sent me this video of evacuations in Burketown (Moungibi) amid record floods in northwest Queensland, where he says crocodiles are lurking.
— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) March 10, 2023
He wants the state and federal governments to take a bigger role in helping communities. via .@AAPNewswire pic.twitter.com/A1XkS2SjJy
3/ See the flood extent & depth in Burketown, Queensland, which recently got its highest daily rainfall in eight years. Some residents have been evacuated due to major flooding in the region.
— ICEYE (@ICEYEfi) March 9, 2023
Another release of #NTfloods analysis will be delivered to our customers within 24h. pic.twitter.com/GRfJLWVKFw
Updated
Modi raises concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has raised concerns about multiple attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne during a discussion with Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese.
In January, the walls of the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne’s north were painted with “Hindustan Murdabad” meaning “down with India”. Two other temples were also targeted.
The vandalism was condemned by community leaders and many politicians including acting state premier at the time, Jacinta Allan, who said was disgraceful to desecrate religious temples.
Here’s a translation of Modi’s remarks:
There are reports of attacks on temples in Australia. It’s natural that this kinds of news worries people in India, distresses our minds. I told Prime Minister Albanese about these feelings and worries, and he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority.
Updated
Aukus the best kept secret since World War II, Morrison says
As we mentioned earlier, former prime minister Scott Morrison has spoken to the Weekend Australian ahead of next week’s Aukus announcement about nuclear powered submarines.
The long-term plan for Australian submarines would likely involve a British submarine design with heavy use of American technology.
That does not preclude a US interim solution to plug a potential capability gap caused by the retirement of Australia’s existing Collins class conventional submarines from the late 2030s.
Morrison has been reflecting on the formation of Aukus ahead of the announcement:
It was the most remarkably held project that I suspect many could ever recall.
In fact, it was the best kept secret in Australian history since the Second World War.
This secrecy was so essential because the second it moved outside those who only needed to know, it was a risk.
Updated
PM highlights education on tour of India
Anthony Albanese has been sharing updates of his trip to India on social media overnight, after wrapping up his three-day visit. He’s highlighted education among many other issues. This week, Deakin was announced as the first university with a formal deal to open an international teaching campus in India.
It was wonderful to meet with students and faculty from the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi this afternoon.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 10, 2023
Education opens the doors of opportunity, and the collaboration between Australia and India will be crucial to both our countries' future. pic.twitter.com/6F3fqyy4Ur
A privilege to meet with the President of the world's largest democracy HE Droupadi Murmu and to share views on deepening our nations' partnership.@rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/Gn93jvsnk0
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 10, 2023
Updated
Albanese hopes for India trade deal by end of year
Australia could sign a “transformational” Indian trade deal by the end of the year after Anthony Albanese wrapped up his visit to the subcontinent by unveiling a string of agreements, AAP reports.
At a joint address in New Delhi with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the prime minister revealed the two countries had finalised deals to boost economic and cultural ties.
Significantly, Albanese said the nations agreed on an early conclusion to their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement, adding he was hopeful it would be wrapped up by the end of the year:
This transformational deal will realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship, creating employment opportunities and raising living standards for the people of both Australia and India.
A limited free-trade agreement between the countries came into effect in January but has already borne fruit, with more than $2.5bn worth of Australian produce hitting India.
The pair also announced an Australia-India solar task force co-chaired by Australian professor Renate Egan, one tangible outcome from discussions of the need to address climate change.
The nations are also set to work more closely on supplying critical minerals as India seeks to meet ambitious goals of 50 per cent renewable energy and 30 per cent electric vehicle usage by 2030.
I am proud of the existing co-operation between Australia and India on solar and hydrogen technologies ... and the opportunities for us to work more closely to secure critical minerals supply chains.
The task force will provide our governments with advice on opportunities to accelerate solar PV deployment and enhance supply chains.
Police prepared for ‘total evacuation’ of Burketown
Superintendent Tom Armitt has told ABC News that authorities are prepared to evacuate everyone in the remote Queensland town of Burketown if necessary. As mentioned earlier, the region has recorded record rainfall and flooding.
I think we have to plan for the worst case scenario so that we don’t get caught short, so if it means the total evacuation of the town, we will do that. We are prepared for that now. Then it is a matter of being able to continuously monitor the situation and determine when it’s safe to return.
Fifty-three people evacuated from Burketown
Queensland police superintendent Tom Armitt has just provided an update to ABC News on the floods in Queensland. He says 53 people have been evacuated from Burketown. Helicopter evacuations will continue throughout the day.
Here’s part of his update:
The flood situation in Burketown at the moment is at record levels, so we’re not really in an area where we can predict exactly what we are going to get.
We know that the water is still rising and we know that there is a significant amount of water that needs to drain from those catchments, which received an extraordinary amount of rain over the last few days.
We do have a fleet of helicopters and other assets that we have used over the last few days to evacuate 53 people from the town. There is probably just over 100 remaining. Some of those people wish to stay in their homes. Others we will be moving today.
There has been an absolutely extraordinary response from local helicopter pilots and mustering helicopters to help us move a large amount of people yesterday. Some of these helicopters are only tiny and they only carry three people at a time, so there has been a lot of lifts.
Updated
Queensland towns prepare for record floods
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for many regional Queensland locations. We’ll keep you updated on this story today. Here’s part of the latest update, issued on Friday, which shows how heavy the rainfall has been:
Up to 293mm have been recorded across the Nicholson and Leichhardt River catchments in the 48 hours to 9am Friday. Further showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the remainder of Friday, however widespread rainfall has generally eased in the area.
Significant river level rises have been observed in the upper parts of the Nicholson and Leichhardt catchment at Riversleigh, Gregory Downs and Doomadgee township where major flooding is occurring.
At Doomadgee Township a major record river level of 8.54m was recorded on Friday morning, however river levels are now rising more slowly, and nearing a peak. Record major flooding is occurring at Burketown, with further rises and a record peak likely during Sunday.
⚠️⛈️Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for intense rainfall near Yeppoon. Yeppoon recorded 100mm in 1 hour to 4:11am, and has received 178mm in the last 3 hours. Flash flooding is likely. https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/IKrQwfRMs7
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 10, 2023
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage this Saturday morning. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll run through a couple of the top stories making the headlines overnight before my colleague Henry Belot starts up.
Anthony Albanese is hoping that Australia will be able to sign a “transformational” trade deal with India before the end of the year as he wrapped up his visit to the subcontinent with a joint address in New Delhi with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Albanese said the nations agreed on an early conclusion to their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement, adding he was hopeful it would be wrapped up by the end of the year.
A limited free-trade agreement between the countries came into effect in January but has already borne fruit, with more than $2.5bn worth of Australian produce hitting India. The pair also announced an Australia-India solar task force co-chaired by Australian professor Renate Egan.
A northwest Queensland town is waiting for its worst-ever floods to peak, with multiple communities and outlying cattle properties isolated and severe thunderstorms putting the state’s west and south at risk of flash floods.
The Albert River at Burketown has already surpassed the record 6.78m flood of 2011, and the Bureau of Meteorology says waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria community will likely reach their highest on Sunday. About 90 locals still in town were told to pack a bag on Friday night after 25 elderly and sick people, along with 18 children accompanied by one of their parents, were airlifted out.
Weeks of torrential rain have overwhelmed the region’s rivers, leaving dozens of communities such as Doomadgee, Normanton and Karumba stranded on islands amid a vast inland sea. Those towns as well as more isolated settlements and outlying cattle stations are relying on food and other supplies being sent by air and on barges.
The danger of the late-season monsoon has moved south, and a flood watch has been declared for a giant chevron stretching from Julia Creek to the NSW border and back up to Bundaberg.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has reportedly told the Weekend Australian that senior diplomats and cabinet minsters were kept in the dark over Aukus negotiations amid concerns that plans to acquire nuclear submarines from the US and Britain would be leaked through Australian embassies in Europe.
“It was the best kept secret in Australian history since the Second World War,” Morrison is reported to have said.
The paper says the then Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary, Frances Adamson, was only informed of the deal when it was brought before the national security committee of cabinet in May 2021.
Let’s get into it.
Updated
