What we learned today, Thursday 2 February
Thanks to everyone who followed along on the blog today – and what a big day it was. Here is what made headlines:
The funeral service for Cardinal George Pell was held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney today, with heated exchanges between his admirers and those marching outside in protest. During the ceremony former prime minister Tony Abbott said Pell was “one of Australia’s greatest sons”, and Sydney archbishop Anthony Fisher compared him to Richard the Lionheart.
The First Nations referendum working group met with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, as well as the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, to discuss the voice today. Albanese said he is optimistic about an outcome later this year, and Dutton agreed to meet the group a second time later this month.
A report on potential new alcohol restrictions in the Northern Territory was handed to territory and federal governments today, who met in Canberra to discuss issues in Alice Springs, but the report may not be publicly released until next week.
Christian Porter appeared before the robodebt royal commission and said someone in one of the two government departments responsible for the failed scheme assured him it was legal, during a long day of evidence.
King Charles III will not feature on Australia’s $5 note after a decision by the Reserve Bank to replace Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait with a design “that honours the culture and history of the First Australians”.
And that’s a wrap on today’s blog. Have a lovely evening and see you back here in the morning.
Updated
NSW shark nets may catch more turtles as waters warm
Warming waters may result in shark nets killing more turtles off NSW beaches, including the endangered leatherback, AAP has reported.
The finding comes in a report by the NSW fisheries department into the abnormally high number of leatherback and green turtles caught in shark nets in the 2021-22 season. Of the 36 turtles caught, 17 were released alive.
The combination of higher sea temperatures and record rains causing run-off drew warm-water species towards meshed beaches, particularly the leatherback.
The report said:
It is anticipated that catches of [leatherback turtles] may increase with increasing temperature of nearshore waters and subsequent movement of warm-water species into central NSW waters
Shark nets are installed near 51 NSW metropolitan beaches from September to April each year.
In the past season 51 target sharks were caught, as well as 325 other marine animals including turtles and grey nurse sharks.
The report authors suggest the Department of Primary Industries, which has responsibility for the net program, could reduce turtle catch by considering adding lights to the nets or, immediately after flooding, removing the nets temporarily.
Greens marine spokesperson Cate Faehrmann said the government’s shark deterrence program must switch entirely to non-lethal, evidence-based solutions:
The fact that this report acknowledges that an increasing number of threatened turtles will be at risk of being killed by shark nets and yet recommends we continue with them is grossly irresponsible and will drive these turtles closer to extinction.
It’s time we were honest that shark nets do nothing to keep beachgoers safe. What they do is indiscriminately kill marine animals, including threatened wildlife, while lulling swimmers into a false sense of security.
Updated
