What we learned: Friday, 27 October
With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening. Have a lovely night and take care of yourselves after another heavy week of news.
Here were today’s major developments:
Queensland is still grappling with ongoing bushfires as residents in Tara wait to see the wreckage fires brought to the town. There were three emergency warnings in place on Friday evening for Shellytop Road, Durong near Kingaroy, Moonie near Dalby, Tara and Wieambilla. Dozens of bushfires were still burning across the state ahead of a predicted temporary cool change.
Foreign minister Penny Wong has urged Australians in Lebanon to “consider leaving via the first available option” as the security situation continues to worsen.
A body was found in the ocean at Vaucluse on Friday morning after police established a second crime scene at the Gap clifftop, following the death of water polo coach Lilie James at Sydney’s St Andrew’s school.
Commuters in Sydney were warned to allow for plenty of extra travel time this morning as the train network experienced network-wide communication issues, which saw trains delayed and stopping at different platforms.
And still in New South Wales, police are urgently searching for a helicopter that was reported missing in Port Stephens yesterday morning.
Anthony Albanese raised concerns about the continued imprisonment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while on his trip in the US, Sydney Morning Herald is reporting.
The outlet is reporting Albanese raised concern about Assange in discussions with president Joe Biden during meetings including an informal dinner, a discussion in the Oval Office at the White House and a formal meeting with Biden and his cabinet secretaries.
He told the outlet:
I’ve made it clear that enough is enough — that it’s time it was brought to a conclusion.
Updated
New South Wales police has confirmed officers are investigating the release of two pet pythons in Sydney.
In a statement, police said:
Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are currently investigating a domestic incident allegedly involving damage to property and the subsequent release/abandonment of two pet snakes, which occurred a home in Coogee on Saturday 21 October 2023.
Inquiries continue.
Read the story here:
Albanese also spent his last day in the States meeting the new Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
With Republicans having finally cleared the speakership battle clogging the House, Albanese left hoping Congress would pass legislation relating to nuclear-powered submarines and the Aukus defence partnership.
He also met with the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus and visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) headquarters.
Members of the caucus are seeking legislative reform to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations to advance the objectives of Aukus.
The prime minister, a seasoned vinyl record collector, received a custom signature turntable for his troubles. Perhaps he will use it to play the records former prime minister of New Zealand gifted him in June.
Farewelling the prime minister, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, noted their shared affection for music.
He’s also known ... as ‘DJ Albo’. He’s known to spin a mean disc.
- with AAP.
Updated
Albanese advocates cooperation with China
The prime minister has wrapped up an official visit to Washington DC, welcoming US efforts to maintain open lines of communication with China.
Giving a keynote address at the State Department, Anthony Albanese referenced president John F Kennedy’s actions in 1962 to avert nuclear war as “the test of our time”.
China has been explicit: it does not see itself as a status quo power. It seeks a region and a world that is much more accommodating of its values and interests.
Albanese said it was the responsibility of every nation that had benefited from the stability and prosperity of the international rules-based order to work together and protect it.
Measures included securing national sovereignty, protecting freedom of navigation and upholding human rights.
“And working together to maintain peace - not just in the Taiwan Strait, but wherever it is at risk,” Albanese said, before leaving the US.
He said Australia had been working to stabilise its relationship with China through a “patient, calibrated and deliberate approach” ahead of his visit to Beijing and Shanghai in November.
We are two nations with very different histories, values and political systems. Australia will always look to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest We are not looking for conflict. We are seeking to prevent it.
- with AAP.
Updated
Over in New South Wales, firefighters are still under pressure however there are currently no emergency warnings in place, with all 90 fires continuing to burn either “under control” or “being controlled”.
The NSW RFS says more than 600 firefighters and incident management personnel are on the ground battling “challenging terrain”.
More than 90 fires are still burning around the state with over 600 firefighters and incident management personnel working to contain them. Challenging terrain can hamper efforts to combat fires, however the #RFS continue to employ a range of tactics to reduce their impact. pic.twitter.com/XqgnsLiyF1
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 27, 2023
Evacuation warnings issued for four Queensland communities
The situation in Queensland is continuing to change rapidly.
There are now three emergency evacuation warnings in place in Queensland, as a local fire ban is extended until next Friday in the state’s south west.
Shellytop Road, Durong near Kingaroy, Moonie near Dalby, Tara and Wieambilla are all under emergency warnings to leave immediately.
🚫 LOCAL FIRE BAN EXTENED – SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND 🚫
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 27, 2023
Due to heightened conditions, a local fire ban has been extended and will remain in place until 2359 Friday, 3 November for the following LGAs; Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa and Balonne. More…
Four communities are being urged to prepare to leave:
Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland and Rewan
Kogan and Wieambilla
Breakaway, Mount Isa
Lowmead, near Miriam Vale
Updated
Foreign minister urges Australians in Lebanon to 'consider leaving' as tensions rise
Foreign minister Penny Wong has urged Australians in Lebanon to “consider leaving via the first available option” as the security situation continues to worsen.
Hamas and Lebanese militia Hezbollah have never been involved in a war on two fronts against Israel however tensions have been rising in the region since 7 October.
Wong says the Australian government has “serious concerns” over the risk of the situation deteriorating further.
The Australian Government has serious concerns over the volatile security situation in Lebanon and the risk of the situation deteriorating further.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 27, 2023
Do not travel to Lebanon and if you're an Australian in Lebanon, you should consider leaving via the first available option.
Updated
NSW police aware of upcoming gatherings planned for weekend
NSW police says it is “aware” of upcoming authorised gatherings in the Sydney CBD this weekend.
It comes after continued back and forth with the state premier Chris Minns over the legitimacy at pro-Palestine rallies earlier this month.
As part of the operations planned for Sunday (29 October 2023), general duties officers will be assisted by specialist police from the Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit and PolAir.
The NSW police force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, the first priority for NSW police is always the safety and security of the wider community.
Police will have a presence at the public assemblies and will work with organisers to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community.
Some bus routes will be diverted around road closures this weekend.
Updated
Happy World Teachers Day!
The theme this year is “hats off to teachers”, and politicians are keenly getting in on the action.
The education minister, Jason Clare, has sent some love to “the most important job in the world” ahead of a $10m national campaign to raise the status of the profession, kicking off on 1 November.
Teachers help their students to aim higher, to be braver, to work harder and to believe in themselves. That's why it's the most important job in the world. #worldteachersday2023 pic.twitter.com/RRSlTGyRTE
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) October 26, 2023
So, too has the NSW premier, Prue Car, on good terms with the sector after inking a pay deal with the NSW Teachers Federation.
Happy World Teachers' Day, NSW! 👩🏫🍏🧑🏫@aitsl #WorldTeachersDay2023 pic.twitter.com/fMpTjtJ9Qp
— Prue Car MP (@pruecar) October 26, 2023
Victoria’s deputy premier Ben Carroll says his state has “some of the best” educators:
Happy World Teachers day !
— Ben Carroll (@BenCarrollMP) October 27, 2023
Everyone knows an inspirational teacher & in Victoria we have some of the best.
I met up with Jason this morning, a former classmate that has hit the 20 year mark in his teaching career.
Thanks to Jason & all the incredible teachers across the state. pic.twitter.com/ru95mrfAft
Updated
Earlier this afternoon, residents in Queensland’s Tara were being urged to leave immediately before it become too dangerous to drive due to bushfire risk.
The emergency warning has since been downgraded, however it remains not safe to return to the area.
NOT SAFE TO RETURN - South Road (Tara) - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 2:35pm Friday, 27 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 27, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/XTmvZh9iJe
Kogan and Wieambilla are also at a watch and act level.
Government won't be rushed on Indigenous agenda, Burney says
Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney says the government has decided “not to be rushed” in setting its next agenda after the failure of the voice referendum, saying she and others will take time to gauge the opinions of Aboriginal people before moving forward with new plans.
The minister said it would be “the decision of the community”, indicating major changes would not be unveiled until early 2024.
Burney, speaking on ABC radio, was asked where the government goes next after the concept of the voice was rejected.
There needs to be some very deep listening. And that’s my intention, along with other members of the Aboriginal caucus going forward. And there also needs to be an understanding of what Aboriginal organisations are saying, what Aboriginal leaders are saying.
But the other thing that I’ve decided, is not to be rushed. I mean this is a big setback for us. There’s no two ways about it. But there’s been setbacks before as you know, and this is not about the timetable of the 24 hour media cycle.
This is not about the timetable of the opposition. This is about getting enough respect and time to the community to come forward and say this is where we should be going. And it’s not my decision. It will be the decision of the community.
Burney went on to reveal she would soon undergo a shoulder reconstruction, indicating it would likely be next year before major announcements are made.
Guardian Australia reported this week that Indigenous leaders might keep considering their next moves into the new year, and that new ideas were unlikely to be detailed until 2024.
Burney:
The really important thing is the first few weeks of next year, to make sure that we’ve got a roadmap forward. In February we have the Closing the Gap report and that’s always very sobering. So there are things to keep in mind, there are certainly things to do and that’s what will happen.
Updated
Emergency services search for missing helicopter in NSW
Still in New South Wales, police are urgently searching for a helicopter that was reported missing in Port Stephens yesterday morning.
Police have been told about 8.50am yesterday, a helicopter carrying a 54-year-old man and his dog departed Cessnock bound for a property at either Wallis Island, near Forster, or Belmore River, near Kempsey.
It didn’t arrive at either location.
Investigators are now conducting an extensive land and sea search around the Port Stephens area, with assistance from Marine Area Command, Police Rescue, NSW SES, Westpac rescue helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW.
As part of inquiries, police are examining debris located on Bennetts Beach at Hawks Nest, to establish if it is from the missing aircraft.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified.
Updated
Two men charged with alleged arson over NSW fires
In New South Wales, two men have been charged following police investigations into alleged arson following bushfires in the Hunter Valley.
The investigations began following the calling of emergency services to two fires at Pelaw Main and Kearsley at the beginning of the month.
NSW police said following inquiries, a 28-year-old man was arrested at an East Maitland property and charged with intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread, leaving fire lit/used in open air without extinguishing it and larceny.
He has been granted conditional bail to appear before Cessnock local court on Wednesday, 15 November.
Yesterday, another man, aged 20, was arrested at Cessnock police station.
He was charged with two counts of intentionally causing fire and being reckless as to its spread, and two counts of leaving fire lit/used in open air without extinguishing it.
He was refused bail to appear before Cessnock local court today.
Updated
Is $3.9bn in pokies losses over six months too much?
It’s a simple question that the NSW minister for gaming, David Harris, declined to answer on multiple occasions this week.
On Thursday, Greens MP Cate Faehrmann used an estimates hearing to ask Harris: “that’s probably too much, isn’t it?”. Here’s one of her questions:
In a cost-of-living crisis, the people of New South Wales lost $3.9bn on poker machines over six months. Will you admit that that’s too much?
Harris did not answer the question and deferred to the judgement of an advisory panel that is currently considering gambling reform:
That’s what the gaming panel is looking at. They’re an independent group. If I’m out there making commentary, then I make their job a lot harder. They have to advise us.
That panel includes ClubsNSW, the Australian Hotel Association, the Gaming Technologies Association, the Leagues Club Australia, as well as charities, academics, police and politicians.
Harris continued to say:
If you create an independent panel and then you’re outside the panel setting parameters, you’re putting pressure on them. They’ve got to decide.
They’re the experts, in both areas: industry and harm minimisation. That is what we’ve tasked them with. The terms of reference are clear on what their responsibilities are, and we will look at the roadmap when they produce it.
Updated
Thanks Jordyn Beazley! I’ll be with you until sign off.
Thank you for following along. I’ll now leave you with my colleague Caitlin Cassidy.
Enjoy your weekend.
Palaszczuk said the government was working on providing solutions for people who’ve lost their homes. Earlier today, QFES told media the fires had destroyed 32 homes.
She said:
We are pulling out all stops. We are talking to some organisations, [we] have set up our Queensland government building agency, we are talking to companies that can do the rapid homes, we are looking at leasing caravans, we are looking at everything and pulling out all stops. Especially some of the people that are sleeping in the sheds, that is definitely not ideal and once again, they don’t want to leave their animal, so we need to have a solution that encompasses what the family [want].
Updated
Around 70 bushfires burning across Queensland
A spokesperson for Queensland emergency and fire services said there have been 420 bushfires across the state this week, and there are currently around 70 bushfires burning in the state’s south-west.
He said:
We continue to manage the fatigue and part of [managing] the fatigue is that we are bringing in an additional 44 firefighters from interstate and potentially also from New Zealand. We are bringing in additional personnel to help with the management of this large, complex, ongoing fires. In addition to that, we also bringing several specialist aircraft personnel.
Updated
Key event
Queensland premier pays tribute to firefighters
Annastacia Palaszczuk is speaking now on ABC about the bushfire crisis engulfing parts of Queensland.
She has said there are about 280 people in evacuation centres across the Western Downs area.
The state has requested additional firefighting crews from other states and New Zealand.
She said:
I am pleased to be on the ground here to see first hand the impact that these fires are having on the local communities. We do have a lot of fires happening across the state and many of them are happening here on the Western Downs. First I want to pay tribute to the frontline personnel, the men and women out there fighting these fires, over 200 people, approximately, out there on the ground.
Can I also have a big shout out to all those people who have lost property. This is absolutely devastating. To meet with them, personally today and to hear their stories. From this devastation, also comes great hope and to see all of our support networks there, community recovery, Red Cross, Lifeline, volunteers, coming out and looking after people and also their animals is a big credit to what Queenslanders go through and how they can get through just about anything.
I know Queenslanders are generous and, you know, people will need a helping hand. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Some people have lost everything and some people are going through very emotional times at the moment.
Updated
And time for news I’m sure you were all hoping for to occupy your Friday afternoon, here’s health minister Mark Butler impersonating Elvis at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation conference in Perth.
Butler (apparently no relation to Elvis actor Austin Butler) sang a rendition of Elvis’ Burning Love.
Butler later humbly noted on X, formerly Twitter:
I’ve got nothing on the King.
Butler spoke at the conference about the health sector’s support for the referendum and the ‘grief and loss’ felt by Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities over the result.
Crossbenchers urge Labor to have ‘courage’ on changes to resources tax and stage-three tax cuts
Influential crossbench parliamentarians have called on Labor to toughen up the petroleum resource rent tax and redistribute stage-three tax cuts to raise revenue to alleviate the cost of living.
The independent senator David Pocock and MPs Monique Ryan and Dai Le have called for more “courage” on tax reform, with all three supporting revamping the stage-three tax cuts aimed at middle and high income earners.
In comments to the Australia Institute’s revenue summit on Friday, Le urged Labor to “really consider their roots” in providing more cost-of-living relief, such as reducing the petrol excise, while Ryan presented a plan to double rent assistance with savings from retaining the 37c tax bracket.
More on this story here:
Tara residents urged to leave
Residents in Queensland’s Tara are being urged to leave immediately before it becomes too dangerous to drive due to bushfire risk.
Residents in Moonie have also been advised to leave immediately.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Tara - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 1:10pm Friday, 27 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 27, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/OTzFluJGh5
Updated
Body of man retrieved from Sydney bay
NSW police have confirmed the body that was recovered from where it washed up on a cliff at Diamond Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was a man, but the body is yet to be identified.
The body was found after police commenced a search for Paul Thijssen after the death of a school water polo coach, Lilie James.
Police said they retrieved the body at 12.15pm today after starting the operation at at 7.40am this morning.
It’s understood rough conditions meant the body was unable to be retrieved from the water and the police diver who was at the scene earlier was unable to get close to the body.
The operation was assisted by officers from eastern suburbs police area command, officers from the rescue and bomb disposal unit, the marine area command, and the Westpac rescue helicopter.
They’ve said inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
Updated
Moonie residents urged to leave immediately
Residents in Moonie, in Queensland’s Western Downs region, are being urged to leave immediately as emergency services fight bushfires in the area.
QLD fire and emergency services has advised people their lives could be at risk, and it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Lake Moondarra Road (Mt Isa) - fire as at 4:53am Friday, 27 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 26, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/Isn5uwMA5t
Updated
Calls for Queensland police union chief to resign over ‘outward racist ideology’ expressed in Courier Mail
More than 30 community leaders – including a prominent former judge, lawyers, Indigenous elders, academics and others – have called on the president of the Queensland police union, Ian Leavers, to resign over an opinion piece they say expressed “outward racist ideology”.
A statement by the Queensland police service’s First Nations advisory panel, co-signed by supporters, said they were “appalled” at Leavers’ “factually inaccurate” comments in the Courier Mail, including that a state treaty would result in the justice system favouring First Nations people.
The statement says Leavers’ comments have brought into question whether he is “a fit and proper person” to lead the union, which represents most of the state’s 17,000 police employees, and that his inaccurate comments have undermined the relationships between police and Indigenous communities.
More on this story here:
Updated
Foreign minister Penny Wong has met with Australian judge Hilary Charlesworth today, welcoming her re-election to the international court of justice.
Charlesworth is the first Australian woman elected to the court and only the fifth female permanent judge in the court’s 78-year history.
The International Court of Justice is key to upholding the rules-based order.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 27, 2023
Australia supports Judge Hilary Charlesworth for re-election to the ICJ.
A vote for Judge Charlesworth is a vote to uphold a representative, robust and fair international legal system. pic.twitter.com/cSaPzsdsDj
Updated
Rough seas off Sydney’s eastern suburbs prevent police retrieving body
Some more details about the body that was recovered from where it washed up on a cliff at Diamond Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, as the search continues for Paul Thijssen after the death of a school water polo coach, Lilie James.
At about 12.30pm, police set up a blue marquee in the reserve near an entrance to the cliff face where, an hour earlier, rescue officers had descended with a stretcher.
Police held up tarpaulins to block the view of journalists, photographers and passing locals who had gathered at the reserve to watch.
It’s understood rough conditions meant the body was unable to be retrieved from the water and the police diver who was at the scene earlier was unable to get close to the body.
Updated
No bushfire reprieve, more warnings in western Queensland thanks to dry, gusty winds
Emergency services in Queensland were hoping for a reprieve today, however, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a fire weather warning for the Central Coast, North West and Channel Country districts.
⚠️🔥Fire weather #warning continues in the west today due to dry and gusty winds. High fire danger ratings elsewhere for much of the state. Details: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o QFES warnings: https://t.co/NRjQgsJgH0 pic.twitter.com/0nPlKZ4xDE
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) October 27, 2023
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises you to refer to your Bushfire Survival Plan now.
Extreme Fire Danger is forecast.
The Bureau of Meteorology says hot and very dry conditions are combining with “fresh and gusty” southeasterly winds.
Firefighters are still working to contain the hard-hit town of Tara, where the ground remains “very hot and dangerous in some areas”.
Firefighting aircraft are helping ground crews.
Updated
EU trade deal a ‘dud’, federal government shouldn’t sign it, Victorian farmers say
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has warned the federal government against signing the Australian-European free trade agreement, labelling it a “bad deal” for the state’s agricultural industry.
President Emma Germano says trade minister Don Farrell should withhold signing the agreement at the G7 trade ministers meeting unless it offers more for Victorian farmers.
This is a dud deal, with Victorian farmers being asked to give up a lot, whilst receiving little in return.
The deal on the table doesn’t offer commercially meaningful market access and seeks to put unfair restrictions on what we produce at home.
Farrell this week flagged he won’t sign the deal if it remains as it was in July, when talks with the EU broke down.
Germano says the trade agreement in its current form will have “enormous impacts” on Victoria’s dairy farmers, who produce about 70% of Australia’s exports by value.
Victorian dairy farmers will get a raw deal if the agreement is allowed to sail through without checks to the EU’s demands on geographical indicators.
Updated
Kogan, Wieambilla residents should prepare to leave ahead of large, fast-moving fire
Back to the fire situation in Queensland, Kogan and Wieambilla have been urged to prepare to leave due to the threat of bushfires.
A large, fast-moving fire is burning near Joseph Road. It is travelling towards Wieambilla Road and the Wallaby Track. Conditions could get worse quickly. Firefighters are working to contain the fire. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Firefighting aircraft are helping ground crews.
PREPARE TO LEAVE - Kogan and Wieambilla - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 11:18am Friday, 27 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 27, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/JgQIx8o7Rw
There are no emergency warnings issued today. However, six watch and act warnings are in place.
Breakaway at Mt Isa, Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Rewan and Moonie have also been urged to prepare to leave.
Updated
Here’s more on the news we brought you earlier about the NSW government’s decision to amend the park’s management plan to allow aerial culling of feral horse populations:
Updated
Family of St Andrew’s sports coach, Lilie James, remember her as ‘vibrant and outgoing’
The family of Lilie James has said it will remember her as a “vibrant and outgoing” young woman. The young woman died at St Andrew’s Cathedral school, this week.
The family said it was “devastated and heartbroken” and thanked the community for support.
We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James.
She was vibrant, outgoing, and very much loved by her family and friends. We are tremendously grateful for the support of our community at this difficult time. As a police investigation is underway, we will not be providing further comments. We ask that you please respect our privacy.
Updated
Sydney trains running again, commuters should still allow extra travel time
Sydney’s trains have resumed running after a temporary power issue ground the network to a halt for about 20 minutes for safety reasons, a Sydney Trains spokesperson says.
Trains will return to normal, however commuters should still allow for extra travel time.
The spokesperson says trains began moving again at 10.38am, following the power problem that occurred at 10.20am. They add:
As a result, all trains had to be stopped at platforms or between stations for approximately 15-20 minutes for safety reasons as the system was restored.
Frequency of service will progressively return to normal, however passengers should continue to allow extra travel time.
The issue is being investigated by Sydney Trains engineering teams.
Passengers are also advised to listen to announcements and check information displays for service updates as stopping patterns may change at short notice.
Updated
In case you missed our earlier updates on the industrial relations minister, Tony Burke, calling for the states to act on a recommended ban to engineered stone benchtops, my colleague Benita Kolovos has the story here:
More ‘prepare-to-leave’ warnings for residents near Queensland fires
An update on the fires engulfing parts of Queensland’s west.
The state’s emergency and fire service has urged residents in Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Rewan and Breakaway in Mt Isa to prepare to leave.
It was also warned residents in Tara it is still not safe to return.
PREPARE TO LEAVE - Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland and Rewan - fire as at 9:53am Friday, 27 October 2023
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 27, 2023
QFES has used Emergency Alert text and voice message to warn people in the affected area. Go to https://t.co/RQMCV5oo1Y for current bushfire warnings. If your life is in danger…
NOT SAFE TO RETURN - Tara - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 9:56am Friday, 27 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 26, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/Bi7q6IZ2XL
Updated
One Nation questions Indigenous agency about referendum, Makarrata spending
The National Indigenous Australians Agency says the future of more than $5m of yet-to-be-spent federal funds for treaty and truth-telling are “a matter for government” to decide.
The One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts asked during a Senate estimates hearing today:
What money has been spent by your agency or given to others in promoting the yes case in the recent referendum?
The answer was crisp, with the NIAA’s deputy CEO, Julie-Ann Guivarra, replying: “Senator, none.”
Roberts then asked how much money had been “spent by this agency related to any proposed treaty”?
Guivarra explained that “we were allocated funding for work associated with the Makarrata commission” but “specifically on treaty, again, none. Our role essentially has been to seek information on processes which states and territories are currently involved in”.
A quick recap: last year the government budgeted $5.8m to ‘commence work on establishing an independent Makarrata commission to oversee processes for agreement-making and truth telling’. Guardian Australia’s Josh Butler revealed in September that only a fraction of these funds, $466,652.82, had been spent as of 3 August 2023, largely on staff costs. That figure was updated today.
Simon Gordon, acting group manager in the empowerment and recognition group, says the funding has “gone towards work on understanding treaty and truth-telling processes underway in states and territories and internationally”. He adds:
As of 30 September 2023, we’ve expended $607,000.66 on that.
Gordon says the work has involved “some desktop research” but also about 25 meetings between the agency and colleagues in states and territory agencies, including virtual and face-to-face meetings.
Asked to explain the prospects for the remaining $5.2m as yet unspent, he says:
I think, as Minister [Linda] Burney has stated a number of times … the government will be considering next steps following the referendum and that’s the process that will happen from this point on. What happens now in relation to that is a matter for government, that will be informed by engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and also our ongoing work with the states and territory governments.
Updated
Sydney trains suffer network-wide issues, commuters warned to expect delays
Commuters in Sydney have been warned to allow for plenty of extra travel time as the train network experiences network-wide communication issues, which may see trains delayed or stopping at different platforms.
Allow plenty of extra travel time due to a network wide communication issue.
— Sydney Trains & NSW TrainLink Info (@TrainsInfo) October 26, 2023
Delay travel if possible or consider using other transport.
We'll update you when we have more information.
Follow your line for updates at https://t.co/pwdma1ii0i ℹ pic.twitter.com/iamsDnNsl2
One of my colleagues says he was waiting to catch a train from North Strathfield to Central Station when a train heading in the other direction pulled in, opened its doors, which stayed open. He reports:
Passengers started sticking their head out looking for answers, then an announcement was made there was a network-wide communications issue preventing all trains from moving.
The station manager was fielding questions from passengers but had been given no information himself. He told passengers “it could be 5 minutes, could be all day - I can’t tell you”.
We were told to consider buses or taxis, but the closest bus stops are about 400m from the station and there’s no taxi rank.
According to an alert from commuter app TripView, the affected train lines include: Bankstown, Airport & South, Blue Mountains, Central Coast & Newcastle, Cumberland, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West & Leppington, North Shore, Northern, Olympics Park, South Coast, and Western.
Updated
Spotlight on funding for Central Australia projects, including $1m for Larapinta trail
Indigenous affairs are on the agenda today as part of Senate estimates hearings.
First up at the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee today is the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
Coalition senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Kerrynne Liddle are asking questions about the agency’s funding allocations. They have asked about the tendency to go to land councils, and whether they are taking steps to look for “new ideas”.
One topic raised was the government’s announcement earlier this year of a $250m plan for a “Better, Safer Future for Central Australia”. Nampijinpa Price asked about the inclusion of $1m for a Larapinta trail tourism project not far from Alice Springs.
The deputy CEO of the NIAA, Julie-Ann Guivarra, says one of the themes of the $250m package is the promotion of jobs:
One of the issues that arose in relation to the civil cohesion issues earlier in the year was that in fact youth did not have opportunities to do things, so jobs were a critical part of that.
Carl Binning, an NIAA group manager responsible for economic empowerment, added:
At time of the central Australia response, there was extensive feedback that people were seeking employment and we engaged in a process to identify opportunities for employment in the Central Australia region.
The Larapinta trail project emerged through that process, through an engagement across communities. There was quite extensive due diligence done that the program had the ability to be successful and also that it was sought by regional stakeholders.
Updated
Qantas plane being checked after strange smell detected on flight deck
A Qantas plane bound for Melbourne from Sydney last night is being checked by an engineering team after an unusual smell was reported in the flight deck before landing.
A Qantas spokesperson said the Boeing 717, which landed in Melbourne at 8pm, landed normally. Pilots and crew were assessed by ambulance officers upon arrival, with one cabin crew member taken to hospital as a precaution. No passengers were affected.
Updated
‘Stakes are high’: Education union wants government to fully fund public schools
The Australian Education Union has launched a national call to arms this World Teacher’s Day, urging the federal government to fulfil its election promise of fully funding public schools.
Its president, Correna Haythorpe, told Guardian Australia teachers need “more than just kind words” and the “workforce crisis is here”:
The stakes are very high. A whole generation [since the Schooling Resource Standard was agreed to] have missed out.
About 98% of schools are resourced below the SRS, the minimum benchmark agreed to by governments, it was confirmed in Senate estimates yesterday.
The month-long roadshow will involve parents, teachers and union members in every state and territory, and will culminate in a public rally on the lawns of parliament house, next month.
Today, Haythorpe unveiled a giant postcard addressed to Anthony Albanese, which will collect signatures as it makes its way across the country.
Haythorpe says a $10m federal government campaign to raise the status of teaching, due to begin on 1 November, is welcome but is “just a start”:
They need to finish this by making sure our schools are fully resourced.
Updated
Banning engineered stone by mid next year too late, litigation specialist says
A litigation specialist says banning engineered stone by the middle of next year is too late, because it should already have been banned given that “every hour that passes, more workers are being exposed”.
Speaking on ABC, Roger Singh was responding to comments made by NSW premier Chris Minns who said the state would ban engineered stone by the middle of next year if there was no national consensus among the states.
It comes after industrial relations minister, Tony Burke, revealed earlier today that a leaked report by Safe Work Australia on engineered stone has called for a blanket ban. Burke said the decision to ban it was now in the hands of the states, but he wants to see it banned “as soon as possible for people to be safe”.
Singh said:
The evidence is out there, as I say, workers have died, we have terminal conditions and there can be no other way forward but to abolish this product immediately.
Asked what he thought of one of Australia’s biggest importers of engineered stone, Caesarstone, warning Burke against the ban, he said:
They know and we know that their product, this engineered stone bench top, contains excessive silica content [at] 90 to 95%. There is no other product which contains that much silica. This product is lethal, like a loaded gun. For them to say otherwise is a falsehood. And I think any efforts on the part to play down the issue and the severity of the toxicity of what they have peddled is a falsehood and it must be treated with disdain.
Other products contain lesser silica and in that sense do pose a risk but the risk is not as high as what we have seen and with respect to this product, which needs to be abolished with the utmost urgency.
Updated
Shop workers union lodges $150m class action against Aldi
One of Australia’s largest unions has lodged a $150m class action against Aldi, alleging it systematically and deliberately underpaid supermarket and distribution centre workers across the country.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) is alleging in the federal court that Aldi breached employment laws over a six-year period by requiring workers to do unpaid work for 30 minutes before and after a shift. The union estimates the average worker is owed $7,500 in compensation.
The union alleges the unpaid tasks include till changes, cashing up the register, performing safety checks, emptying bins, and checking communication devices.
The action comes after the SDA lodged a successful case in the federal court that found Aldi had breached employment laws by directing employees at a Sydney distribution centre to begin work 15 minutes before their rostered starting time.
The SDA claims Aldi had signalled it would conduct an audit into workers’ pay following this finding, but “failed to rectify the issue”.
SDA’s national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, says they alleged:
Over $100 million has been ripped out of the pockets of workers and their families by this multi-billion dollar corporation.
ALDI has had its chance to do the right thing and backpay workers after they lost the Federal Court case in NSW.
They’ve fumbled the bag and failed to do it right by their workforce; now they have to face the consequences of these breaches.
This idea that ALDI workers – or any worker – should be expected to come in early or stay back late without pay is fundamentally unlawful and illegal.
Updated
Solar panels and batteries the way to slash power bills, Bowen says
We saw earlier this week that electricity prices were 4.2% higher in the September quarter (and that would have been 18.6% without electricity rebates).
The federal government has made a point this morning to stress that solar panels can save households between 39% and 57% on their bills, or between $822 in regional Queensland and $1,350 in sunny South Australia.
Add a battery of 8.5 kilowatt-hours, and the savings rise to between 75% and 100% of a bill. That range is $1,322 per household in (less sunny) Victoria and $2,252 in SA.
Not everybody has access to solar - think tenants and those without the ready cash - but Australia leads the world with 1-in-3 households boasting solar panels. That’s 3.5m households and 21 gigawatts of generation capacity. (That’s about 12 Liddell-sized coal-fired power stations.)
“Whether solar is on people’s roofs, or in renewable energy zones, it’s cleaner, cheaper and reduces energy prices,” federal energy minister Chris Bowen says.
We’ve seen spot wholesale power prices down 71% in the September quarter from a year ago (when we had a bit of a crisis). A 31% jump in output from rooftop solar played a big role in that reduction, the government notes.
Today, although the sun isn’t very high in the sky, about half the power supply in the grid is coming from renewables this morning.
Just after 0830 aedt and renewables are supplying half the power in the national electricity market. (Spot prices are negative or sub-$15/megawatt-hour for all states but NSW. (Source: OpenNEM and Red Dolphin) pic.twitter.com/Gnc9SjC8vS
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) October 26, 2023
We regularly hear about the transmission and other bottlenecks holding up the rollout of solar and wind farms. Perhaps encouraging even faster take up of solar PV on rooftops and batteries might be the way to head off a power crunch this summer and beyond.
Updated
Body found in ocean in search for man after Sydney school death
We now have more detail on reports police have found “something” in the water after they established a second crime scene at the Gap clifftop, after water polo coach Lilie James was found dead at Sydney’s St Andrew’s school.
Police have now confirmed an operation is under way to retrieve a body in Vaucluse.
Police commenced a search for Paul Thijssen, who also worked as a sports coach at the school, in the area after finding “property associated with the homicide” at the Gap about the same time they found James’s body.
Updated
Aerial shooting of feral horses to resume in Kosciuszko national park
Aerial shooting of feral horses will resume in the Kosciuszko national park, with the NSW environment minister, Penny Sharpe, declaring the move essential for protecting the park’s threatened wildlife and ecosystems.
Sharpe says the decision to amend the park’s management plan to allow aerial culling of feral horse populations follows a public consultation process in which 82% of 11,002 submissions supported the measure, in addition to other existing control methods. Sharpe says:
There are simply too many wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park. Threatened native species are in danger of extinction and the entire ecosystem is under threat. We must take action.
I want to make sure our National Parks staff have all the options they need to reach the population target and protect this precious alpine environment.
The decision comes after a final report of a federal senate inquiry into the damage thousands of feral horses were causing in the Australian alps found horses posed an extinction risk to native species, including the critically endangered stocky galaxias fish and the southern corroboree frog.
In May, the federal threatened species scientific committee warned the inquiry that feral horses “may be the crucial factor that cause final extinction” of six critically endangered animals and at least two critically endangered plants.
Updated
One in 10 Australians will experience homelessness: Homelessness Australia
One in 10 Australians will experience homelessness in their lifetime, with First Nations people facing a rate 10 times higher than the rest of the population, Homelessness Australia says.
On current trends, the number of households whose housing needs are not being met is projected to rise from 640,000 households now to 940,000 by 2041.
Australia can end homelessness within a decade, the peak body says in its submission to the National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
It has called for a commitment to build 50,000 social and affordable homes per year, the expansion of Commonwealth Rent Assistance to reduce rental stress, and reorienting government services towards the prevention of rather than the symptoms of homelessness.
CEO of Homelessness Australia Kate Colvin says:
The homelessness system is simply not resourced to assist people in need.
The sad reality is that 72,000 people were turned away from homelessness services in 2021-22 alone. This is a reflection of real human suffering and trauma. It is intensifying daily.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance simply hasn’t kept up with the reality of a white hot rental market. Eligibility for it must be expanded beyond those who receive income support.
We must pivot to preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place. The duty to assist someone at risk of homelessness must be woven through the fabric of all government services. Nobody should exit a government service into homelessness.
Updated
Search for Sydney school coach uncovers ‘something’ in waters off eastern suburbs coastline
NSW police, which commenced a search for Paul Thijssen in the area surrounding an ocean cliff known as the Gap – including in the ocean – have said “something” has been found in the water along Sydney’s eastern coastline.
Due to rough weather, police have not been able to confirm if it is a body.
It comes after police established a second crime scene at the Gap after water polo coach Lilie James was found dead at Sydney’s St Andrew’s school. Police said they found “property associated with the homicide” at the Gap about the same time they found James’s body.
More details on James’s death and the search for Thijssen here:
Updated
Second Queensland bushfire death confirmed
A woman whose body was found in Queensland’s fire-stricken Western Downs region has been identified as Glenda Chapman, the Courier Mail reports.
The 73-year-old great grandmother is from NSW and had been visiting relatives in the Tara region. She is is believed to have suffered a heart attack while attempting to evacuate from the bushfire zone.
Chapman is the second victim in the Western Downs fires after Ulrich Widawski’s body was found at his Tara property on Tuesday.
Chapman’s son Brett Coleman told the Courier-Mail:
She has been there a month, visiting family, she was there for a holiday and she dropped to the ground.
She was a great grandmother of two beautiful girls and a grandmother of 10.
She was my mum, she looked after her kids, she was funny, we were very very close.
Updated
Queensland blaze still ‘some distance’ from Mount Isa
Peter Hollier, the assistant commissioner of Queensland’s Rural Fire Service, appeared on RN Breakfast earlier to speak about the fire emergency in the state, which has now led to the loss of 32 homes.
He said the fire expected to hit Lake Moondarra in the coming hours was still “some distance from Mount Isa”.
It’ll very much depend on the wind and the wind gusts they get today as to what that fire behaviour will do.
It’s not common for us to put water bombing aircraft out in those localities, in those western parts of the state, but we’ve actually done that and we’ve had a water bombing aircraft out there most of this week supporting a number of fires that have occurred in that western area.
He said there would be a slight ease tomorrow, but parts of the state were experiencing extreme fire danger today.
We’ve got the western parts of the state will have extreme today. There will be a slight ease tomorrow, we’re looking at high fire dangers tomorrow, whilst the coastal areas will have somewhat of a reprieve today, and tomorrow, possibly Sunday. We’re going to take those opportunities, Patricia, to rest our crews. As you’ve quite rightly said, those crews have been going continuously now for a number of weeks and all credit to them.
Updated
Burke wants engineered stone report released publicly
Circling back to Burke’s earlier comments on confirming a leaked report by Safe Work Australia on engineered stone has called for a blanket ban.
He said he would be recommending the report be released publicly, and added he suspected the industry campaigns would “not continue in that form once they’ve seen the report”.
He said:
I don’t believe there’s any sector of Australia that will look lightly at the reality of people losing their lives because they went to work.
And one of the key differences here between what we remember happening with asbestosis and mesothelioma was that with those diseases, they came on late in life. With silicosis, people get it young. I [been told of] people in their 30s who now have silicosis. One worker said to me that his doctor said: ‘OK, well, don’t panic, you do have silicosis, but do you have your affairs in order?’ These are the questions that have been put to people because they went to work, and we need to take action. We need to take action soon.
Burke said he would have liked to have gotten agreement to release the report before today, but he did not get agreement from all jurisdictions to do so.
Updated
‘People have a right to grieve when innocent life is lost’ – Burke
Asked whether he thinks the Palestinian flag should be raised more broadly in Australia, Burke said: “I suspect it will.”
He continued:
Some people will say: look, there’s a really immature debate that we often fall into where it says if you acknowledge anything in favour of the Palestinian people, or a claim that if in any way you acknowledge that there is a history that began before October 7, that somehow that’s making excuses for Hamas. It’s not. It’s simply the case that people have a right to be able to grieve when innocent life is lost.
And the concept of competitive grief, which certainly hasn’t driven any of the interviews on this program but has driven some of the media, is something that I don’t want to see in Australia. I believe we do have the maturity, and we need to have the maturity to respect for each other’s grief.
Asked whether that also means his government should have a stronger line on “the deprivation of water and food” in Gaza by the Israel government, Burke said:
I think the words that I referred to earlier earlier from Penny Wong yesterday were highly significant, highly significant.
She called for a pause and the Australian government acknowledges that any country in the world, after an attack like Hamas, will want to respond directly to Hamas. That said, we want to protect every civilian life and that includes civilian Palestinians. We want to make sure there is a proper humanitarian response. We don’t want to see people starving. We don’t want to see people without water. We don’t want to see hospitals without power … and we also want to be able to help get people out.
We we have been able to get people out of Israel, we have been able to get people out of the West Bank. Of course, at the moment, no one can get anyone out of Gaza. And so while the government is still making best efforts there, there there are people who Australia has a direct responsibility to who we want to help get out.
Updated
Burke ‘completely’ backs Sydney council raising Palestinian flag
Burke was also asked if he supports the decision by the Canterbury Bankstown council, which is in his electorate, to raise the Palestinian flag until a ceasefire is declared. He said: “I support that decision completely.”
He continued:
You need to understand in my part of Sydney people are watching everyday death, they’re watching everyday images, sometimes of people they know [who] often have children.
I had a professional woman say to me the other day she has never seen so many images of dead babies in her life. Often the images they’re seeing turned out to be a people they know.
Burke said the council was truly “representing grief in that community”.
And once again, it is not the Hamas flag … It’s a Palestinian flag. And it’s a flag that gives people the chance to know that there is recognition and not selective grief. We can’t say we only grieve for certain people who are slaughtered. We can’t have a situation as a nation where we only formally acknowledge particular deaths.
I’m really glad that the council made that decision. I’m very proud that it was my local council.
Updated
Burke has been asked by Patricia Karvelas whether or not he think’s Israel’s “relentless bombardment” of Gaza is proportionate. He says:
I think the statement from Penny Wong yesterday is really significant, where she said the way Israel defends itself matters. When we carried the resolution in the federal parliament, we specifically called for the observance of international law in all instances.
Updated
States should ban engineered stone due to health risks, Tony Burke says
The minister for industrial relations, Tony Burke, is speaking on RN Breakfast now and has confirmed a leaked report by Safe Work Australia on engineered stone has called for a blanket ban.
He said:
The report has come back with a very strong recommendation in favour of a ban.
Burke said the decision to ban it was now in the hands of the states, but he wants to see it banned “as soon as possible for people to be safe”.
I don’t get a sense from any jurisdictions that they’re looking to delay.
Updated
PM addresses China at Kamala Harris lunch
Anthony Albanese has urged the United States to maintain open lines of communication with China, saying Australia as a “constructive middle power” understands the importance of dialogue.
The prime minister on Thursday addressed a state lunch co-hosted by US vice-president Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken as his visit to Washington drew to a close.
Opposing the threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific featured strongly in his speech at the US State Department.
He said:
As a constructive middle power with global interests we understand the value and importance of dialogue.
Which is why Australia strongly supports the Biden administration’s efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China.
The prime minister said it was the responsibility of every nation that benefited from the stability and prosperity of the international rules-based order to work together and protect it.
That included securing the sovereignty that conferred every nation’s right to determine its own destiny, protecting freedom of navigation central to shared prosperity and upholding human rights central to every individual’s life and liberty.
He said:
And working together to maintain peace – not just in the Taiwan Strait but wherever it is at risk.
This means investing in our capabilities to prevent competition escalating into conflict.
The prime minister said Australia was clear-eyed about stabilising its relationship with China, a nation with a very different history, values and political systems.
“Australia will always look to co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage, in our national interest,” he said.
Updated
Pay deal averts six-day strike by dairy workers
A looming strike at one of Victoria’s major milk companies has been averted after the processor struck a pay deal with the union.
Fonterra Australia on Friday confirmed it had reached an in-principle agreement with with the United Workers Union which represents 300 of the company’s dairy workers.
Dairy employees at its Cobden, Stanhope and Darnum sites were slated to go on strike for six days from Saturday calling for fair wages and improved working conditions amid rising living costs.
Fonterra workers will now have an opportunity to vote on whether to accept the company’s revised offer which includes a 12% pay rise over three years, up from 10.5%.
The development follows a 48-hour strike of more than 1,400 workers across four major dairy companies last week to demand better pay and conditions.
– AAP
Updated
‘Another challenging day’ for Queensland firefighters
Thirty-two homes have now been lost during this week’s bushfire emergency in Queensland, the assistant commissioner of Queensland’s Rural Fire Service has said.
Peter Hollier provided the updated figure while on Sunrise earlier this morning, adding that firefighters are looking at another challenging day.
There is some concern around Mount Isa, and we are looking at what we can do to support that area being so remote in the western part of our state.
So looking at the weather we have today, still very extreme fire danger in the western part of Queensland. We are certainly looking at another challenging day.
Updated
Residents in Mount Isa’s Lake Moondarra Road, in Queensland, are being urged to leave immediately due to an emergency bushfire warning.
The fire at nearby Breakaway remains at “stay informed”.
It comes after firefighters have been warned another tough ahead. A ferocious bushfire on the Western Downs has claimed a life and destroyed 16 houses, burning more than 11,000 hectares since Monday.
Clare Nowland's children closer to seeing police bodycam of mother's tasering
The children of Clare Nowland, the elderly woman with dementia who died after being tasered by police at an aged care home, are a step closer to being allowed to view footage of the incident, reports Australian Associated Press.
Her family is suing the New South Wales government following the incident in May at an aged-care home in Cooma, where she was confronted by police while using a walking frame and holding a steak knife.
Yesterday, a judge overturned an earlier decision and ruled that the lawyer for Michael Nowland and Leslie Lloyd would be permitted to show them bodycam footage of the incident.
However, the NSW government and other interested parties could still seek to block the decision with an appeal or stay application within 28 days, which could lead to further delay.
Lloyd will not be permitted to view the footage until at least December to allow time for police to take a statement from her.
The delay was to prevent contamination of any statement Lloyd might give after she watched the footage with her lawyer and brother.
Senior Constable Kristian White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm over the incident and returns to court in December.
The Nowland family’s lawyer, Peter Tierney, told the NSW district court that Lloyd had a clear interest in being able to see body-worn video of the incident.
He said:
We have some difficulty understanding why the police are here in such a strident opposition to a daughter of the deceased being able to view something that related to the death of her mother.
The civil case is running concurrently with a criminal case against White and Judge Matthew Dicker had to balance that fact when deciding to overturn a court registrar’s September decision that prevented Nowland’s children seeing the footage.
“There were legitimate matters raised concerning the crucial importance in our society of a fair criminal trial,” Judge Dicker said after making the orders.
Happy Friday! I’m Jordyn Beazley and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage today.
As always, if there’s anything you’d like to draw our attention to, flick me an email at jordyn.beazley@theguardian.com.
Queensland firefighters hope to contain major blaze west of Brisbane
They might be hopeful of finally containing a deadly blaze but Queensland firefighters have been warned another tough day lies ahead, Australian Associated Press reports.
A ferocious bushfire on the Western Downs has claimed a life and destroyed 16 houses, burning more than 11,000 hectares since Monday.
However, crews are hopeful they can have the large fire at Tara, west of Brisbane, under control with a chance of rain on Friday.
More than 300 people were forced to evacuate their homes at Tara this week.
Queensland Rural Fire Service assistant commissioner Peter Hollier was hopeful the fire would be fully contained by today.
He was unsure when people would be able to return to their homes, with 267 people in evacuation centres at Dalby and Chinchilla.
He said:
It is more about their safety, when it is safe for them to return.
Firefighters were hoping to “wrap up” the Tara fire after crews fully contained a large Darling Downs blaze that burned 3000ha and destroyed a house following a cool change.
But Hollier warned Queensland was “not out of the woods yet”. An extreme fire danger was expected for the state’s west on Friday with strong winds and high temperatures, he said.
Overall there are 60 blazes still burning in Queensland, with fire bans in 56 local government areas.
Updated
Motorcyclist’s body found on NSW mid-north coast
NSW police have launched an investigation after the body of a motorcycle rider was found on the state’s mid-north coast.
According to a statement from the police, shortly before 9pm yesterday emergency services responded to reports that a body had been located in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, Wootton, about 25km south-west of Forster.
They established a crime scene and a search located a motorcycle a short distance away on the edge of the roadway.
The rider’s identity is not known, nor how long they were on the roadway before being discovered.
Specialist police from the crash investigation unit are investigating and police urge anyone who may have been travelling along the Pacific Highway – especially with dashcam footage - in the hours before the rider was located to contact Forster Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
PM to look at lessons learned from Hawaii wildfires response
Anthony Albanese’s visit to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) included talks with Fema acting administrator Eric Hooks.
The prime minister was to discuss lessons learned by the US following recent wildfires in Hawaii.
In a statement after the visit Albanese praised the courage and dedication of Australian and US emergency management personnel and the assistance they give each other.
“Our communities are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change, from wildfires in Hawaii to bushfires in Victoria and NSW,” he said.
“With over 100 years of mateship, Australia and the United States have a proud history of helping each other in times of need, including when faced with natural disasters.”
Albanese said the US provided significant firefighting support to Australia during the Black Summer bushfires and Australia sent a firefighting air tanker to Idaho to assist in firefighting across six US states.
The prime minister and partner Jodie Haydon were to attend a state lunch co-hosted by the vice president, Kamala Harris, and the secretary of state, Antony J Blinken, where the prime minister was to deliver the keynote address and witness the signing ceremony of the Technology Safeguards Agreement.
The treaty-level agreement to protect sensitive US space technology to be used in Australia for launch and/or return consolidates an in-principle agreement reached by Albanese and Joe Biden in May.
The deal will allow US rockets and satellites to be launched from Australia and support the domestic launch sector and spaceports to grow, creating Australian jobs and infrastructure.
Australia and the US have long co-operated on space matters, including through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey and Defence.
Updated
PM focuses on Aukus, space and disaster response
Defence, space and disaster management has topped the agenda as Anthony Albanese’s US visit draws to a close, writes Australian Associated Press.
Albanese met Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the US House of Representatives, overnight, saying he hoped Congress would pass legislation related to the Aukus submarine project this year.
Albanese met Trump loyalist Johnson on Capitol Hill a day after Johnson’s appointment following protracted wrangling among House Republicans.
“We of course have important legislation required for Aukus,” Albanese told Johnson at the start of their meeting.
“We are certainly hoping that the Congress can pass that legislation this year.”
Albanese was to spend the last day of his Washington visit meeting with the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus, Senate leadership and the leadership of key committees, as well as visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) headquarters.
He was also to address a state lunch co-hosted by US Vice-President Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken.
Originally established in 2003, the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus is a bipartisan group of US Congress members who have played a significant role in promoting Australia-US relations, including through securing the passage of the Australia-US free trade agreement.
Now led by co-chairs congressman Joe Courtney and congressman Mike Gallagher, the caucus aims to further strengthen the Australia-US relationship through its economic ties and defence and strategic partnerships.
Members of the Caucus are seeking legislative reform to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations to advance the objectives of the Aukus partnership.
Updated
Welcome
Good morning. Thanks for joining us for our rolling news blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you some overnight stories and updates before my colleague Jordyn fires up the Mac.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been busy on the last day of his trip to the US, where he has met Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the US House of Representatives, overnight. Johnson, a Trump loyalist and election denier who was elected after a messy process following the ousting of Kevin McCarthy, is a key figure for Albanese as Congress weighs legislation required for the Aukus submarine project. “We of course have important legislation required for Aukus,” Albanese told Johnson. “We are certainly hoping that the Congress can pass that legislation this year.” Albanese will also meet the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus, Senate leadership and the leadership of key committees today.
He was also due to address a state lunch co-hosted by US Vice-President Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken.
Speaking of prime ministers, we have an exclusive interview with former PM Paul Keating today. It reveals that he thinks the referendum was the “wrong fight” and that Indigenous Australians should have a political settlement in the form of a treaty. But in classic Keating style, he also has a broadside for former Liberal adversaries John Howard and Tony Abbott.
In another exclusive story, Australia’s longest-serving current premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says female leaders continue to be scrutinised differently from their male counterparts as she criticises a “deplorable” cartoon in the Herald Sun of the new Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan. In an interview with Guardian Australia, Palaszczuk recalled a similar cartoon drawn of her when she was elected premier in 2015. “I’ve reached out to Jacinta because I thought it was very unfair,” she said. “It was distasteful. And it’s not acceptable.”
And Queensland firefighters face another tough day today as they try to control a deadly bushfire on the Western Downs that has taken one life and destroyed 16 houses. More on that soon.
