What we learned, Friday 12 September
Thanks for following the live blog this week. We’ll wrap up our coverage of today’s breaking news there. Here were the day’s top stories:
A new national IVF accreditation system is planned after embryo bungles sparked a rapid review.
The federal government approved Woodside’s massive North West Shelf extension with added protection for rock art.
Angus Taylor said he supported the decision to sack Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
The Albanese government’s Islamophobia envoy handed down his report, containing 54 recommendations spanning every large government agency.
The envoy, Aftab Malik, said Islamophobia has been “persistent” and “never fully addressed”.
Jayne Hrdlicka, the former Virgin Australia chief, left the airline with a $50m package.
GPs and medical groups called for nationally consistent rules on treating ADHD.
Dementia has become the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for almost 17,400 deaths in 2023.
Anthony Albanese said Charlie Kirk’s shooting was “horrific” and condemned all political violence. He also said his discussions with Donald Trump have been “really warm” after the US president described him as a “good man”.
We’ll keep you across the nation’s breaking news over the weekend.
Updated
New IVF accreditation system planned after embryo bungles sparks rapid review
A new independent accreditation regime will be introduced for fertility providers by 2027 to restore “confidence, independence and transparency” in the sector after two embryo mix-ups at a leading clinic sparked an urgent review.
The federal health minister, Mark Butler, and his state and territory counterparts met in Perth on Friday and accepted recommendations from a rapid inquiry into the IVF sector.
The review was launched in June after two separate bungled embryo implants at Melbourne-based Monash IVF.
A communique from Friday’s meeting said ministers agreed with the review’s finding that the existing “industry-led” accreditation system for providers was “not adequate”.
The ministers agreed to introduce a new independent accreditation system, which will be overseen by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
The new regime will be in place by January 2027. Speaking after the meeting, Butler said:
There is no greater investment of hope and confidence that I can imagine people making into a sector than the investment of hope to help build a family.
I know as a father of a beautiful IVF baby myself that the damage to confidence in their sector over the last several months demanded that health ministers take action.
We want to see an independent accreditation system, and we decided to do that at this meeting after that rapid review. We want to see the highest possible standard right across the country so that every family can be confident they’re getting the best possible care and support from this sector.
Updated
