What we learned today, Friday 28 July
Thanks for joining us on the Australia news live blog today. That’s where we’ll wrap up our coverage – here are some key developments:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese announced he’d be reintroducing the government’s stalled housing bill but hosed down suggestions of a double dissolution election.
The prime minister also declared that the relationship between Australia and the US “has never been stronger” and flagged plans to visit the US “shortly”.
The shadow foreign minister and opposition senate leader, Simon Birmingham, said the opposition doesn’t “fear” a double dissolution trigger.
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, released a draft framework on the use of artificial intelligence in schools for consultation.
Australia’s shoppers cut back spending last month, with retail trade sinking 0.8% from May’s levels, the ABS said.
Two people have died in the mid-air collision at Caboolture Airfield, north of Brisbane.
The Australian Tax Office commissioner, Chris Jordan, has told treasurer Jim Chalmers he won’t be seeking another term as the ATO boss when his current term expires at the end of February next year.
Victoria announced this morning it will phase out gas in new homes, with planning permits from 2024 to only connect to electric networks.
The South Australian Liberals have joined with their federal colleagues in opposing an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Updated
PM believes hosting major sporting events has ‘tangible benefits’
I wanted to rewind to the PM’s media round earlier this morning, where he told ABC Brisbane radio that there were “tangible benefits” to spending on major sporting events.
The PM stood firm on the benefits of hosting and funding sporting events, pointing to the huge popularity of the Matildas games in the Women’s World Cup:
Of course people always look at these issues of expenditure, like they look at the issues of expenditure on Cross River Rail or on road projects, but infrastructure that lasts, that delivers for people, is something that will be a long-lasting benefit of the Games.
The other thing that will be a benefit is the human benefit.
If we had done this interview 10 years ago, if you had said there’d be 48,000 people at a women’s football game at Suncorp, followed on from 75,000 at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney last week, you would have thought, ‘Gee, that’s ambitious’.
Well, guess what? It’s happened. And it’s making an enormous difference.
That’s what you get when you get people participating in sport, you have better health outcomes. The health budget therefore goes down. There’s all sorts of tangible benefits.
Updated
Dr Clare Looker Victoria’s next chief health officer, Brett Sutton departs
Dr Clare Looker will be Victoria’s next chief health officer as Prof Brett Sutton steps down from the role, AAP reports.
Prof Sutton finished up in the job on Friday, with Dr Looker taking it on from Saturday for a 12-month term.
In announcing the appointment, Victoria’s Department of Health described Dr Looker as an experienced public health physician who has held multiple senior leadership roles since joining them in 2016.
As deputy chief health officer, she helped steer the public response through the Covid.
Dr Looker has a strong background in public health medicine and has worked in clinical medicine and as an epidemiologist at the London school of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the department said.
She was named an “established leader” in the 2022 Victorian public sector women awards.
Prof Sutton last month resigned after four years in the state’s top health job to take up a new role as director of health and biosecurity at the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
He has said the demands of leading Victoria’s Covid response took a toll on him.
The health department said in Friday’s Covid update:
We once again thank him for his incredible contribution to Victoria since he started in the role in 2019 and wish him every success in his new position.
Updated
NSW health workers to receive $3500 pay boost despite union opposing move
AAP is reporting that about 70,000 NSW health workers are due to receive a $3500 pay boost despite significant opposition among union members.
The Health Services Union on Friday said the offer had passed with 54% support of its members after being negotiated in lieu of a percentage increase.
By adding about $1.75 per hour to all workers’ base rates, the increase will more than cover inflationary rises for lower-paid staff like hospital cleaners and ward people.
But higher-paid employees such as allied health professionals will see their wage rise less than the 4% increase NSW Health initially offered.
Despite the division, union state secretary Gerard Hayes said solidarity and a strong sense of humanity underpinned the agreement:
This agreement delivers an immediate, life-altering wage rise for workers on modest wages.
For people on higher classifications such as allied health, it unlocks thousands in salary packaging benefits and promises much more in the future through award reform and work value cases.
Members also endorsed the union kicking off a campaign from Monday calling for a tax grab involving workers’ salary-sacrifice savings to stop more quickly than the government has planned.
It comes amid increased tension between unions and government employers over wages.
The 3000 workers keeping Sydney’s drinking water and beaches clean have taken their first step towards strike action against Sydney Water.
Updated
Greens say double dissolution would be ‘a disaster’ for Labor
The acting Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi, has declared that a double dissolution election would be a “disaster” for the government.
Faruqi was on ABC News earlier this afternoon, and said the Greens would still look to negotiate on the government’s housing bill, but added that the government should be worried if they went to the polls this year:
We want the Labor government and the prime minister to sit down with us, stop talking about these ridiculous ideas of double dissolution because, to be frank, in the midst of a rental crisis, in the midst of an increasing mortgage crisis, in the midst of a profit bonanza going on every month, I think people will not take kindly to the government pushing them and forcing them to an early election rather than addressing and stopping the rental and housing crisis.
A double dissolution, I can tell you, would be a disaster for the government.
Updated
Birmingham says Aukus support a test for Labor
Birmingham was also asked about the 23 Republican senators who have been “sounding off” on submarine production in the US, and whether Australia should be prepared to fund more industrial action in the US.
Here was his take:
A deal has been negotiated and the deal should be what is delivered upon in terms of Australia having early access to those Virginia-class submarines because that is essential in terms of Australia building not just our capability in terms of building submarines in the future but, critically in the early access to the Virginia class, its our capability in terms of safely and securely operating those submarines, having facilities to do so, building the training and the crew and staff and capabilities within the navy to do so.
That is really the key aspects there and should be honoured as negotiated. The real test for the Albanese government, Penny Wong as foreign minister and for Australian diplomacy overall is to make sure that we maintain the type of strong bipartisan support in the United States that has been there for Aukus to date and needs to be maintained into the future.
That is a critical test that must be met and achieved. We would expect this legislation to pass through the US Congress based on the support stated to date and place on the level of bipartisanship but it is crucial that that is maintained and every effort is made with every individual senator, every individual congressperson, who may express a doubt about elements of Aukus to make sure they are on board for the long haul.
Updated
'We do not fear' a double dissolution election, Birmingham says
The shadow foreign minister and opposition Senate leader, Simon Birmingham, is on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, where he said the opposition doesn’t “fear” a double-dissolution trigger.
Discussing the government’s hardline on its housing bill, Birmingham said the bill wasn’t “good policy” and that the government is just “engaged in political tactics”.
This will add billions of dollars of debt to Australian taxpayers and do nothing at all to help in terms of homeownership in Australia, do nothing really to drive forward dwelling approvals, which are at their lowest levels in Australia, so we think it is bad policy and that is why we oppose it. The government is engaged in political tactics.
We do not quibble with the fact this may well establish a double dissolution trigger and if it does, it does, and if the government chooses to have an early election, we will let them feel the wrath of Australians who do not really like early elections, who are feeling real cost of living pressure that presents, who have genuine concerns that are mounting about the priorities of his government.
If they want an early election, let’s have it. We do not fear it.
Updated
Greens push for rent freeze
We’ve been hearing a lot from the federal Greens about the need for a national rent freeze, a key demand in their current housing package stand-off with the Albanese government.
Their colleagues in the ACT, who govern in a coalition with Labor, on Friday morning released a bill to freeze rents in the territory for two years.
The bill would prevent any ACT landlord from raising rents for two years. Subsequent to the two-year freeze, they would only be permitted to raise rents by 2% per year.
The Labor chief minister Andrew Barr has already ruled out a freeze, but ACT Greens say they are hopeful of convincing their Labor colleagues to support the measure.
ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said:
I think there are some elements of this the Labor party has expressed reservations about but there are other are elements we hope to be able to convince them.
Updated
Blinken and Wong trade compliments
US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong just stepped up for a (very short) press conference, in which they essentially just confirmed Australia and the US are still on good terms.
Wong said she had been “looking forward” to the meeting, which was held in Brisbane, and said she appreciated how much Blinken and the Biden administration were “engaged in the region”.
I think Australians understand, (and) certainly the government recognises that we live in challenging times and how important this not just our alliances but our friendship needs at this time.
We want to live in a region, in a world which is peaceful, stable and prosperous, and we understand the importance of working closely with you to ensure that that is achieved. So thank you so much for being here.
Blinken returned the compliments, saying “right back at you”, adding that he has noticed how far reaching Wong’s diplomatic travels have taken her:
We have no greater friend or greater partner, than Australia. And I don’t think that alliance or partnership has ever been stronger, at least in my experience, and it really does go to what you’ve said, which is particularly in challenging times, it makes such a huge difference, to have close friends close (and) partners as we tackle the challenges that we both face around the world.
We were very much looking forward to it. I have to say everywhere I go in the world or certainly in this in this region. It’s ‘Oh yeah, Penny was just here.’
I’m getting used to that now.
Updated
Games cancellation takes toll on athletes
Some of Australia’s elite athletes have taken up the offer of counselling services following the decision by the Victorian government last week to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Retired paralympic swimmer Ellie Cole said the athletes she had spoken to were still preparing for the 2026 games to go ahead even if they would not be in Victoria. But she said the uncertainty had taken its toll.
“It came as quite a shock to the athletes and I suppose the strain of being a high performance athlete, and not knowing if a performance may or may not go ahead can certainly take quite a personal toll,” she said.
Cole is the general manager of the Australian team that flies out to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago this week.
“The show very much must go on,” she said. “But those athletes who are competing this week that are interested in competing at a senior games will continue to train as though the games are going ahead, until we wait for the news.”
Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips said his organisation and its international counterpart the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) were still in talks with the Victorian government about compensation for breaking the hosting contract.
Phillips said the CGF would approach other Australian states and overseas governments about hosting the event once a resolution had been reached, but he could not give a timeframe. He rejected the notion that the 2026 event would be scrapped altogether.
“We don’t believe it’s part of our future, we believe the games will happen and they will happen somewhere,” he said. “We just don’t know what that looks like right now.”
Phillips said the costs quoted by Victorian premier Daniels Andrews last year were “highly inflated”, and the two most recent games in Birmingham and the Gold Coast had cost $1.5bn and $1.2bn respectively.
Updated
Good afternoon and happy Friday, Mostafa Rachwani with you for the rest of the afternoon.
I am signing off, and leaving you in the excellent hands of Mostafa Rachwani. Have a lovely weekend!
Massive Liontown lithium mine on track for 2024 opening
One of the world’s largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits in the world is expected to be in production by mid-2024, supplying Tesla and Ford Motor Company with an essential component for electric vehicles, AAP reports.
Liontown Resources today confirmed its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia was on track to open in the middle of next year, following a significant step-up in activity over the last few months.
More than half of the concrete has been poured for the project’s processing plant, and 600 of 850 rooms have been commissioned for the accommodation village at the site 680km north-east of Perth.
Liontown managing director Tony Ottaviano said:
It’s hard to imagine that we had six caravans onsite last October and to see the speed of progress and quality of the work being done by our team and partners is truly amazing.
Around two-thirds of the nearly 31,000 solar panels that will help power the site have been delivered for installation, and its five wind turbines are under construction.
Each of the 210m-tall turbines will generate 6MW of electricity, contributing to one of the largest off-grid green power stations in the country.
The mine is expected to supply half a million tonnes of 6% lithium oxide concentrate a year once it goes into production.
Updated
Victoria records 43 Covid deaths and 122 people in hospital
There were 1,102 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and three people are in intensive care.
This week we reported 1,102 new cases with a daily average hospital occupancy of 122 and 3 patients in ICU. 43 deaths were reported in the past 7 days.
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) July 28, 2023
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/SFDelHh7GU
PM says Australia-US relationship has ‘never been stronger’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has declared that the relationship between Australia and the US “has never been stronger”, and flagged plans to visit the US “shortly”.
Albanese spoke briefly to reporters ahead of a lunch in Brisbane with the visiting US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, along with the Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong. The US and Australian ambassadors, Caroline Kennedy and Kevin Rudd, were also in attendance.
Albanese said:
The relationship between Australia and the United States has never been stronger. It comes at a time of strategic competition in our region. Australia and the United States are working together to promote security, stability and prosperity in our region. I look forward to the discussion today.
That comes also in anticipation of my visit to the United States shortly as a guest of government, and later on we have the Apec meeting being hosted in San Francisco. So you are very welcome.
You are great friends of our country and you have an ambassador [Kennedy] who is doing a wonderful job as well, it must be said.
Updated
NSW records 34 Covid deaths and 829 people in hospital
There were 1,949 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and 13 people are in intensive care.
COVID-19 weekly update – Friday 28 July 2023
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 27, 2023
In the 7 days to 4pm Thursday 27 July:
- 1,949 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded: 1,032 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 917 PCR tests
- 34 lives lost pic.twitter.com/VRZVyScL8G
Most new migrants unaware of constitutional details of voice, according to survey
Two in three refugees and new migrants have not heard of the Indigenous voice to parliament and three quarters of them are unaware it would involve a constitutional change, AAP reports.
Settlement services agency AMES Australia surveyed 160 people from 30 different countries in Melbourne and Sydney about the upcoming poll.
Of the participants, 130 people were randomly surveyed and 30 others were quizzed after a half-hour session explaining the voice. All respondents had been in Australia for fewer than five years.
Among the random group, more than 67% were either not aware or only partly aware of the voice proposal. Three in four people said they were not aware it would mean a change to the constitution.
About half of respondents said they were in favour of the voice in order to remedy the disadvantage and discrimination experienced by Indigenous people.
The survey found the more information provided about the Indigenous advisory body, the more likely refugees and new migrants would be in favour.
AMES Australia chief executive Cath Scarth said the survey showed a need for improving messaging and communication to reach culturally diverse groups.
Updated
Independents signal eagerness to tackle Labor on climate change
You may have already read the news today the UN is warning the world is now in an era of “global boiling.” Many independent members of parliament are vowing they will be seeking answers from the government when parliament returns on why they continue to approve new fossil fuel projects.
“The era of global boiling has arrived.”
— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) July 27, 2023
Whilst global temperatures soar, Labor continues to approve new fossil fuel projects and refuses to show enough ambition on our green transition.
I’ll be seeking answers from @Bowenchris when Parliament resumes on Monday. pic.twitter.com/Qa1Hvxmdu7
The devastation in northern hemisphere is a deeply concerning sign of what may be in store for 🇦🇺 in this & future summers.
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) July 27, 2023
We need leadership & bold action to protect the people & places we love.
Yet 🇦🇺 govt keep approving new fossil fuel projects 🤯https://t.co/tIXChppI6w
The climate change news today is frightening.
— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) July 27, 2023
What's more frightening is our Federal Government is still opening new coal mines and subsidising fossil fuel companies.
Labor has to do better. https://t.co/LrxTl8gvib
It’s very hard to hold this information in your head & get on with your day. In the context of tougher economic conditions, appetite for strong action on climate declines. But it’s hard to argue with facts - climate action is not a luxury. #auspol https://t.co/5DMGwYZLkY
— Kate Chaney (@ChaneyforCurtin) July 27, 2023
Where’s your lump of coal now?
— Dr Sophie Scamps MP (@SophieScamps) July 27, 2023
@ScottMorrisonMP @HonTonyAbbott
Era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record
👇#auspol #GetOffGas https://t.co/ABnvG1x2Qo
Updated
Finally, Chandler-Mather is asked about concerns raised that imposing rent freezes would have unintended consequences:
We’ve seen it used successfully in Australia.
During the pandemic, Victoria put a moratorium on rent increases for eight months. We saw rents go down in that period and we saw building approvals increase during that period as well. So we have a good body of evidence in Australia that freezes on rent increases work.
What I would say to Chris Minns, though, is there’s a national cabinet process going on right now and the Greens have said we’re willing to negotiate with the prime minister on how exactly we limit rent increases and what that looks like.
There’s a process occurring to work that out. We’ve said out of that process we need some form of limit on rent increases. I think that’s reasonable when 62% of renters are in financial stress and the RBA expect rents to rise even faster in the next 12 months.
Updated
Asked if the Greens should “give ground” on negotiations around the policy, Chandler-Mather says they have given ground, and heaped pressure onto Labor to offer more support for renters.
He slammed the government’s approach, saying the bill is unamended and that they are “isolated” in their current position:
We were happy to secure the one-off investment in public and affordable housing. The best way to secure public housing is to directly build it. But the bill doesn’t do anything for renters and it doesn’t lock in long-term funding, which is what we need. We have given ground.
We originally proposed $5bn a year for public and affordable housing and $1.6bn on the table to coordinate a rent freeze and we’ve halved that offer to $2.5bn a year.
I should be clear - the ACT Labor conference just passed a motion, the Labor conference, calling on the Labor government to commit to the Greens’ proposal to spend $2.5bn a year on public and affordable housing.
The government are increasingly isolated in their position.
There is broad momentum building now to do a little bit more on the housing crisis. That doesn’t mean we’ll get everything we want but I think it’s irresponsible of got of the to try and force the bill back on for a vote when they refuse to make a single change.
They’re bringing it back unamended.
They’re saying to the public they don’t care actually about how the public voted.
The public didn’t vote to give them a majority in the Senate and they should negotiate with us and not go to the parliament and say it’s their way or the highway, especially when their way is more people waiting for public and affordable housing and locking in unlimited rent increases when we know already millions of renters are doing it tough.
Updated
Greens say Labor housing bill ‘outdated’
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather is on the ABC now, and has shot back at the prime minister and his plan to push through his housing bill.
Chandler-Mather said the bill was outdated, having been designed “years ago” and that the government should negotiate in “good faith.”
And we know Labor’s plan to build, at most, 30,000 social and affordable homes, and do nothing for renters, over five years will see the shortage get worse.
So what we’ve said to the government is they don’t have a majority in the Senate and we expect them to negotiate in good faith to work out a plan that spends a little bit more on public and affordable housing and coordinates a plan to put a cap and ideally a two-year freeze on rent increases, although we’re willing to negotiate that.
Updated
US defence secretary accuses China of ‘coercion’
As we mentioned earlier, the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has accused China of engaging in bullying behaviour in the region at a press conference in Brisbane.
He’s meeting with his counterpart, defence minister Richard Marles, today ahead of the Ausmin summit proper tomorrow. Here’s more of what Austin had to say:
Both of our countries are concerned about attempts by the people’s Republic of China to depart from these principles. We have seen troubling PRC coercion on the East China Sea to the South China Sea. Right here in the south-west Pacific. We will continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves for bullying behaviour.
At the same press conference, Marles said:
The way forward in respect of all of that is not obvious but now is the time to be working closely with friends. Australia has no better friend than the United States of America. The alliance is at the heart of Australia’s national security. We look forward to progressing that relationship over the course of the next two days.
Updated
Education jobs cut as Victoria tightens purse strings
Hundreds of jobs are being slashed from Victoria’s education department as the state government seeks to improve its budget bottom line, AAP reports.
Some 325 full time equivalent positions are being cut several months after the government signalled up to 4000 public servants could lose their jobs.
Victoria’s net debt is forecast to reach $171bn by 2027 and cutting public service roles was expected to save $2.1bn.
A government spokesperson said no staff working at schools, regional or area offices would be impacted.
The department grew during the pandemic to support our schools and students as we responded to a one-in-100-year event, and now it will rebalance back towards pre-pandemic levels.
The Community and Public Sector Union is confident impacted workers will be able to find new roles within the department.
Updated
Gas ban a game changer, Climate Council says
Responding to Victoria’s gas connection ban, the Climate Council says it is a “game-changing switch” to electrify new homes.
The Andrews government today announced it would ban gas connections in new residential homes and government buildings from next year.
The council’s Dr Kate Charlesworth said it was great news for the environment and health of Victorians.
Gas is an invisible harm in our homes, schools and workplaces. The dangers it poses, especially to our children and vulnerable households, cannot be completely eliminated, even with better ventilation.
We have a responsibility to sound the alarm on gas, just as we did with asbestos and tobacco.
Updated
ATO boss not seeking another term
The Australian Tax Office commissioner Chris Jordan has told treasurer Jim Chalmers he won’t be seeking another term as boss of the ATO when his current term expires at the end of February next year.
Jordan told Chalmers now so the treasury can start the search for his replacement. These things tend to take a bit of time.
Chalmers isn’t doing the big send off statement just yet – that comes later, but told the Guardian:
I look forward to his continued leadership over the next six months and will have the opportunity to thank him more fully for his significant contribution over the past decade at a later date.
I have asked treasury to commence a merit-based process to identify a suitable candidate for his replacement.
Updated
Police working to identify plane crash victims
Paul Ready, acting superintendent of Queensland police, says authorities are still trying to confirm the identity of the deceased:
At the moment there are two deceased in the plane that took off from the eastern end.
We are still trying to confirm who those persons are. That is ongoing.
The other person who is in the other aircraft is assisting police currently, piecing together what exactly occurred so that we can find out the actual events.
Updated
Gel blaster safety framework to be set up
Ryan is defending the legitimate uses for gel blasters under the safety framework:
We work really closely with police and industry are coming up with a safety framework for gel blasters.
There are legitimate uses for gel blasters, a lot of ex-veterans engage in recreational activities, it is a great sport, a great activity.
I was provided with news just today that a teen from Queensland is competing in international championships right now in the Netherlands, and that is because we have allowed the industry to operate in a safe framework here in Queensland, the other side of politics, did not have a safety framework.
Updated
Two dead in Caboolture Airfield collision
Two people have died in the mid-air collision at Caboolture Airfield, north of Brisbane, the Queensland police minister, Mark Ryan, says:
I understand two people in one plane are deceased and that’s so sad on so many levels. The occupant of the other plane is relatively uninjured.
Ryan also said that there will be a full investigation into the incident and support provided for anyone who witnessed the incident.
Retail numbers make grim reading, especially for department stores
June retailing is usually buoyed by ‘end of financial year’ sales, but as the ABS noted a month ago, a lot of that discounting took place in May.
The stats bureau revised May’s increase to 0.8% (from an initial reading of 0.7%), so the 0.8% retreat in retail turnover last month reversed all of that.
Ben Dorber, ABS head of retail statistics, said:
There was extra discounting and promotional activity in May, leading up to mid-year sales events.
This delivered a boost in turnover for retailers, but that proved to be temporary as consumers pulled back on spending in June.
Retail sales retreated 0.8% last month (vs consensus view of a flat result). Surely removes most of the risk the RBA will lift its cash rate again next Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Djzr0qf6CJ
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 28, 2023
Victoria, NSW and Queensland, which make up about two-thirds of the national economy, all saw retail spending sink last month,
Department stores reported a 5% plunge in sales, with clothing, footwear and personal accessory spending down 2.2%. Spending on food was one sector to pick up modestly, but once you deduct the inflated prices, even that was a negative in real terms (just less so than other sectors).
Almost every category went backwards in June (even excluding the inflation rate) (Source: @ABSStats ) pic.twitter.com/O3vjXeJIZh
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 28, 2023
Housing bill a ‘political stunt’, Simon Birmingham claims
Birmingham accused the government of reintroducing the bill as a “political stunt” designed to line up the possibility of an early election.
The interview did occur before the prime minister’s press conference where he said he was not anticipating an early election off the back of a double dissolution. However, Birmingham says there was no legislative reason to reintroduce it when it is still on the Senate notice paper:
In terms of the announcement overnight and in the morning newspapers by the government that they’re going to reintroduce this bill into the House of Representatives. Well, that is a 110% political stunt by the government that is all about lining up the possibility of an early election and nothing about the passage of this bill.
This bill is actually still on the Senate notice paper. There is no legislative reason why the government needs to reintroduce it into the House of Representatives. The only basis for the government to reintroduce it into the House of Representatives is to set up a double dissolution trigger.
The claims by government ministers this morning that this is just about housing policy do not stack up to anybody who understands the legislative process. All the government is doing here is trying to get themselves an election trigger, give them the option of an early election, playing politics with this issue rather than actually looking at how they can help Australians with immediate cost of living pressures and reverse what is the housing dwelling approvals rates that are seeing a decline and risk apply to home ownership in this country.
Updated
No change of mind on housing bill, shadow minister says
The shadow foreign affairs minister, Simon Birmingham, has not changed his mind about the housing bill which the government has announced it will be re-introducing in parliament next week.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, Birmingham said:
On the substance of this bill and this policy by the government, it’s billions of dollars of additional debt that does absolutely nothing to increase home ownership in Australia and delivers next to nothing in terms of any immediate support for the housing market in Australia.
And we’re in a remarkable situation at present where we’re seeing new dwelling approvals going down, real pressure in terms of home ownership and all the government is bowling up is this proposal that will create billions of dollars of extra debt but does nothing to support home ownership in Australia.
Updated
June retail sales fell 0.8%, reducing RBA rate rise risk further
Australia’s shoppers cut back spending last month, with retail trade sinking 0.8% from May’s levels, the ABS said.
Economists had expected the month to show flat spending, so a retreat adds to the likelihood the Reserve Bank‘s board will leave its key interest rate on hold when its board meets next Tuesday.
Prior to today’s retail sales figures, investors were rating the chance of another rate rise as about one in four, and the weak sales figures will probably lower that risk ratio even more.
From a year earlier, retail trade was up 2.3% - but given inflation was running at about 5.4% for June, actual spending shrank in real terms.
More soon.
Updated
SA Liberals to oppose voice ahead of referendum
The South Australian Liberals have joined with their federal colleagues in opposing an Indigenous voice to parliament, AAP reports.
Opposition Leader David Speirs said while the party supported constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians, it was unconvinced about how the voice would deliver better outcomes.
Speirs also said he was concerned about how both the state and federal Labor parties had approached the voice debate. He said:
The South Australian Liberal party has always been focussed on improving outcomes for Aboriginal people and while we are supportive of constitutional recognition, we’ve been left utterly unconvinced by Labor’s divisive approach.
This is why we have decided to support the federal Liberal party’s position.
Opposition Aboriginal affairs spokesman Josh Teague said improving outcomes for Aboriginal people had to be the focus. He said:
I believe constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians has widespread support, but Labor’s proposition to entrench a voice in the constitution does not. Australians want unity, not this divisive proposal.
Updated
Gas connections to be banned from Victorian homes and government buildings
Environmental groups have backed Victoria’s plan to ban gas connections for homes and government buildings from next year.
The major energy reform was announced by the Andrews government this morning.
Environment group, Friends of the Earth Melbourne, said it was a “spectacular win for the climate and health of Victorians”:
It’s a clear statement that we don’t need gas to cook, heat our water or our buildings.
It’s critical that this be a just transition and that nobody is left behind.
Updated
No plans yet to phase out gas in new homes in NSW
The New South Wales government does not have immediate plans to match Victoria’s pledge to phase out gas from new homes.
The premier, Chris Minns, said:
We don’t have an announcement in relation to that today. We’ve got more announcements in relation to the next stage for the transition for energy in NSW in the coming weeks, but one day at a time.
The Victorian government this morning announced it would phase out gas in new homes, with planning permits from 2024 to only connect to electric networks.
Updated
Mid-air collision north of Brisbane
Two light aircraft have crashed into each other above an airport north of Brisbane this morning.
Emergency crews responded to reports of a plane crash at Caboolture airport at about 10.40am.
It’s unclear if there were any injuries in the incident.
The Queensland Ambulance Service dispatched five vehicles to the scene, including a high acuity team.
Police and firefighters are also on scene.
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‘You’re likely to spend the rest of your days in a tiny box in a prison’: NSW Premier
The premier, Chris Minns, has vowed to hand whatever powers are needed to police to stop the “violent, murderous behaviour on New South Wales streets” after a string of shootings.
Speaking in western Sydney, Minns also issued a warning to criminals.
He said:
We will of course speak with and communicate with NSW Police about any legislative changes they may need to strengthen their hands to ensure community safety and to lock up people who are acting in a despicable, violent and horrific way.
We’re prepared to meet them with the full force of the law. I’ll just say to people who are involved in his violent behaviour, the chances are that you’re likely to spend the rest of your days in a tiny box in a prison.
The education minister, Prue Car, said counselling had been offered to students who saw the body of a man gunned down in Canterbury on Thursday morning.
Police have launched Taskforce Magnus in response to the latest killing and the ongoing conflict believed to be related to drug supply in the city’s south-west.
It will examine the spate of shootings stretching back to the fatal shooting of an underworld figure in Bondi Junction in June in or to determine any links between them.
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Washington to defend against ‘bullying behaviour’ from China
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Washington would defend allies against “bullying behaviour” from China in the Pacific, Reuters reports.
Austin told reporters in Brisbane, where he is meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles:
We’ve seen troubling (Chinese) coercion from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to right here in the Southwest Pacific, and will continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves from bullying behaviour.
The U.S. and Australia were both concerned about attempts from China to depart from international law, Austin added.
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Albanese expects to visit China this year
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has reiterated that he expects to visit China before the end of this year, despite speculation he may delay the trip if there isn’t further progress on Beijing’s trade actions or detention of Australian citizens.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said in recent weeks that Australia is hoping for “the most positive circumstances for such a visit” and would “continue to advocate to China for the removal of trade impediments” and to raise the consular cases.
Asked today about a visit to China, Albanese said:
I have said consistently we will cooperate with China where we can, we will disagree where we must and we will engage in our national interest. That’s my position. Engagement is a good idea.
I expect to visit China. I expect to visit China this year. I haven’t said anything different. I’ve read various articles, no-one has spoken to me or my office and gotten a different answer other than that. So, I expect that to happen. We will continue to talk at the bureaucratic level about dates.
There’s a bit happening this year. I, of course, will be visiting the United States in coming months as well, and we’re just finalising the dates of that visit. In addition, we have, of course, the Asean meeting and the G20 coming up as well.
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Housing bill will be the same, Albanese confirms
Albanese says when the housing bill is re-introduced next week, it will be the same as before with the same amendments the government has previously indicated it will support.
It will be the same bill for the purpose of the requirements of our Constitution and advice, that it will be the same bill. But we will support the same amendments that we’ve indicated we would.
(Those amendments are from the Jacqui Lambie Network and Independent Senator David Pocock)
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Nuclear submarines will be delivered through Aukus deal, PM says
Albanese says he’s confident Australia will see the nuclear submarines delivered through the Aukus deal, despite controversy in US domestic politics.
Reporter:
Overnight, 23 Senate Republicans said they don’t support the transfer of Virginia-class submarines to Australia unless President Biden massively increases investment in the American production line. Does this make you worry that Australia won’t ever get those submarines from America?
Albanese:
No, I’m very confident. And I spoke with their Defence Secretary, of course, Lloyd Austin, last night. I’ll be meeting with Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken today. And I look forward to visiting the United States in coming months as a guest of state, and I’m sure that will be a good visit. And the fact of - just like in Australia - there are not unanimous things through parliament. But I tell you what, I met with Republicans and Democrats in Lithuania just a couple of weeks ago. And what struck me was their unanimous support Aukus, the unanimous support for the relationship between the Australia and United States. It’s never stronger.
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Albanese points out One Nation is opposing the housing legislation, despite Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts’ “talk about battlers all the time”.
You can’t talk about battlers and then oppose this bill.
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Australians not going to the polls this year, Albanese says
Albanese is pressed on whether he can rule out a double dissolution election and put the Australian public at rest that they won’t have to go to the polls. He responds:
They won’t be going to the polls this year.
But we’re determined to get this legislation passed. We want it to be passed.
The way in which you rule out having a double dissolution election is to have no triggers – that’s the way that you rule it out.
I want this legislation to be passed. I can’t be more serious.
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Albanese says he is ‘not anticipating’ election this year
As we’ve been covering this morning, the announcement of the reintroduction of the housing bill has led to a lot of speculation this could give the government the option of going to the governor general and asking for a double dissolution if the bill doesn’t pass again.
However, the PM says he’s “not anticipating” an election this year when asked if he’s willing to use the legislation to trigger a double-dissolution election:
Well, I don’t anticipate that there will be an election this year. But quite clearly, we have a mandate for this. We want this to be passed. The way to ensure that this doesn’t provide a trigger is to pass the legislation. We don’t want to play politics with this. We want this to build additional social housing – that’s what we’re about. Making a difference.
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PM announces reintroduction of housing bill to parliament next week
Meanwhile the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is officially making the announcement that the government will be reintroducing the housing Australia future fund in parliament next week.
We will reintroduce that bill in the House of Representatives next week, and it will be debated and passed through the House of Representatives in October because we want to see this legislation passed.
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Victorian government announces $10m in grants for electrification
Alongside that announcement, the Victorian government says it is investing $10m in a new Residential Electrification Grants program:
Grants will be available to volume home builders, developers and others to provide bulk rebates for solar panels, solar hot water and heat pumps to new homebuyers upfront.
The government says they are also investing $1m in targeted training to support the construction industry in the transition.
Additionally, they plan to deliver a $3m package including free training for 1,000 plumbers and apprentices to design and install energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems, and free training for 400 electricians and fourth-year apprentices to safely design and install rooftop solar and home battery systems.
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New Victorian homes to go all-electric from 2024
Victoria has announced this morning it will phase out gas in new homes, with planning permits from 2024 to only connect to electric networks.
The state government said in a statement:
From 1 January 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks, with houses taking advantage of more efficient, cheaper and cleaner electric appliances.
These changes will apply to all new homes requiring a planning permit, including new public and social housing delivered by Homes Victoria.
New Victorian households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emission, the government claims.
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Sussan Ley was on the Morning Show alongside Clare, and repeated the lines we brought you earlier. Mud slinging ensued.
Ley continued to accuse the government of arrogance:
Just listen to Jason, not actually admit that this is about threatening the Australian people with early double dissolution. What arrogance when people are struggling.
Clare turned Ley’s ambulance metaphor back on the Liberal party:
Hypocrisy, and ambulance at the bottom of a cliff, the Liberal Party are acting like one of the [people who] won’t get out of the way when the ambulance siren is blaring.
Passing housing bill would rule out double dissolution election: Clare
Speaking of the education minister, Clare was on the Morning Show and is following the line we’ve already seen from Marles and Wong, that the reintroduction of the housing bill is not angling towards an early election.
As Amy explained earlier, the reintroduction of the housing future fund bill to parliament means the government could have the option of going to the governor general and asking for a double dissolution. Clare says:
This is not about an election, it is about a roof over people’s heads. It is about [providing] thousands of homes for women and children escaping domestic violence, veterans of war.
Asked if he could rule out a double dissolution, Clare said “the way to rule it out is to pass the bill”:
I can’t rule out the Liberals and the Greens fighting against this. You’ve got all of the other parties in bed together, stopping this. They need to see some sense, think about the people that this will help, not the politics that seems to occupy them.
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Education minister knocks back suggestions for private school funding reform
The education minister has rejected proposals for radical reform to how private schools are funded after a Guardian Australia series which found private schools received twice as much as public schools in the decade since Gonski was introduced.
Appearing at Hambledon public school in Western Sydney on Thursday afternoon, Jason Clare was asked about a model proposed at the Gonski institute at UNSW where private schools would either be fully funded by the government, or choose to charge fees in place of government funding.
Clare said “that’s not something we’re considering”:
My focus is making sure that all schools are on a path to full and fair funding. That’s not the case at the moment.
Clare noted except for the ACT, public schools hadn’t reached 100% of funding under the SRS, while NSW would reach 95% by 2025. He said the upcoming National School Reform Agreement would be the best shot at placing schools across Australia on a path to full funding.
I want to make sure that we don’t just fill that funding gap, but we close the education gap that still exists in this country. Make sure that we use that funding and tie that funding to the things that we know work and it will make a real difference.
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Assange supporters call for release ahead of US talks
Ahead of the visit from US secretary of state Antony Blinken to attend the Ausmin talks, Julian Assange’s supporters are renewing calls for his release.
Assange’s brother, Gabriel Shipton, said the meeting could be the last chance for his release before he faces extradition from the UK to the US.
In a statement, Shipton said:
Julian is inches away from extradition to the USA. The meeting between The Secretary of State and the Prime Minister could be the last chance to put a stop to Julian’s nightmare.
88% of Australians agree that the Biden Admin should drop the charges against Julian. Each day the US Administration ignores the Australian public on Julian’s freedom it becomes clearer and clearer Australia’s true standing in the alliance.
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Earlier this week, there was the very upsetting story of the pilot whales stranded at Cheynes Beach in Western Australia. Our reporter Narelle Towie was on the ground at the beach and found herself joining volunteers trying to save the stranded pod. This is her account, evoking both the beauty and the heartbreak of what that experience was like:
Ley’s skin in the game for possibility of double dissolution
Just a side note on the post about Sussan Ley’s response to the potential double dissolution trigger – Ley has a little bit of skin in the game about not wanting an early election, as the deputy Liberal leader is facing another strong preselection challenge in her electorate of Farrer.
Scott Morrison had to step in and save Ley at the last election, after her branch looked set to vote in a new candidate. At this point, it looks like Ley will need Peter Dutton to step in and secure her preselection, given her challenger, Jean Haynes seems well on her way to securing the support of branch members. From all accounts Ley has Dutton’s support and she is by no means the only sitting Liberal facing a preselection challenge, but an early election would mean a bit more wrangling than usual and that means messiness – which is not exactly the vibe you want ahead of going to the polls.
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‘A vote for an Indigenous voice to parliament makes economic sense’: treasurer
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is making an economic case for the Indigenous voice to parliament, penning a piece in the Australian newspaper this morning:
In total, the commonwealth spent $2.64bn last financial year aimed at closing the considerable gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
But these significant investments aren’t driving the significant outcomes Indigenous Australians need and deserve.
… what we’ve done for the past decade hasn’t worked. If we’re going to shift the dial on closing the gap and get better value for our investments, we’ve got to do something different. Through listening and collaboration – the keys to good public policy – the voice will deliver a framework for a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Better policy outcomes will deliver better economic outcomes.
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Wong outlines Pacific security and climate agenda for Ausmin talks
What’s on the agenda for the Ausmin talks this weekend? Wong says cooperation on security and climate in the Pacific.
Wong defends the engagement of the US in the region, highlighting the fact it’s the second Ausmin in eight months, on top of leaders’ meetings, as well as Austin and Blinken’s visits to Pacific Island countries.
Wong:
The US recognises and the administration recognises the importance of the United States to this region. They are indispensable to the balance in the region, the strategic equilibrium and how we make sure we get the region we want: peaceful, stable and prosperous, where sovereignty is respected.
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Wong labels Greens-Coalition opposition to housing bill ‘one of the most unholy alliances’
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has (like Richard Marles) also quashed the idea that the reintroduction of the housing bill is about angling for an early election.
Wong has told ABC News:
What the government’s angling for and focusing on [is] more housing for Australians. That is what we are focused on.
We want to give the Greens an opportunity to not vote with the Coalition – that is a pretty odd alliance, isn’t it? – to not vote with the Coalition and to vote for more housing in Australia, it is as simple as that.
… My focus as Senate leader will be on advocating to the Greens and to the community why we need this legislation.
We know the problems with housing supply in this country. We know that the best way to reduce the pressure on rents, the increasing costs of rentals and the best way to reduce the cost of housing is to increase supply.
The Greens voting with Peter Dutton has to be one of the most unholy alliances we have seen for some time in politics.
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Ley attempts to link cost of living and inflation to housing bill
Ley then moves on to the cost of living.
Over the past two weeks I have met individuals experiencing homelessness and support services and they have told me [that] as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, people who have never needed support are accessing it now.
This is all true. But it’s not linked to the housing fund. One of the reasons inflation is sticking around is because of rental increases. And rents are increasing because we have a very tight market, which means landlords can increase rents because people don’t have a lot of choice about where to go. And one of the reasons we have a tight rental market is because we haven’t had the right policy settings over the last couple of decades to either a) help younger generations buy their own home or b) change rental settings to adapt to a reality where more of us are renting for longer.
Ley’s statement then finishes with this slightly confused metaphor:
Labor’s housing proposal doesn’t just put the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, it puts it down the road – we need urgent action on this cost-of-living crisis now, not this policy.
Which, confusion about what the ambulance is doing about the housing market aside, points to the Coalition maintaining its opposition to the housing fund, leaving the government to negotiate with the Greens.
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Ley claims Labor policies causing builders to go bust as ‘inflation is out of control’
Ley now brings in a new argument – that Labor has made it more expensive to build a home. She said in a statement:
Labor’s housing proposal does not stack up and comes as their economy-wrecking policies are making it more expensive than ever to build a home.
If we are talking about housing, day after day we see builders going bust because inflation is out of control.
Builders are going bust because many have locked in contracts from before global inflation took hold and building supplies increased. Globally. There was that whole thing about supply chains affecting the building trade from the pandemic. That sent prices for materials through the roof and if you were someone who had locked in a contract and suddenly those materials were double the quoted price, well, you’re in trouble.
(I’m also not sure how a housing policy that is designed to build more houses is bad for people who build homes, either.)
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Ley accuses PM of ‘threatening’ early election over housing bill
One person who has NO TIME for double dissolution talk is the acting opposition leader, Sussan Ley.
Ley accused Anthony Albanese of “threatening the Australian people” with an early election “because Labor’s policies don’t stack up”.
It has to be remembered here that the Coalition said no to the housing policy – which is a $5bn future fund where the dividends would be spent on social and affordable housing from the outset. At first because they said it would be inflationary. And now because they say it won’t build enough houses.
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Housing bill squabble to bring back possibility of double dissolution election
Parliament resumes next week after a five-week hiatus over winter, which means all the squabbles and fights we left in June are starting to whirl up again – chief among them housing. As Daniel Hurst reported this morning, Labor is going to bring back its housing bill to the house in October, where it will pass. Once it hits the Senate, things get a little more dicey. If it’s rejected by the Greens, who so far aren’t seeing what they want from the government, then the government has a double dissolution trigger.
What does that mean? Well, if Anthony Albanese was of a mind to, he could call an election which would dissolve both houses – meaning we could get a whole new senate. Malcolm Turnbull was the last prime minister who did that in 2016, which is when we ended up with all those minor parties in the senate (double dissolutions have a lower quota threshold for the senate, which made it a bit easier).
The chances of Albanese doing that probably hinge on the outcome of the referendum – a no vote would not be great timing for a government who backed the yes campaign to then go to an election. On the other hand, there are those within Labor who think an early election would mean a chance to get rid of the more unpopular parts of the stage-three tax cuts.
But nothing is ever certain in politics until it is.
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NSW police is conducting an internal review to see if two young school children walking past a dead body - the victim of yesterday morning’s shooting, the latest in a spate across south west Sydney - could have been prevented.
Deputy police commissioner David Hudson has told ABC News he was shocked seeing the pictures emerge of the children walking past the body:
The early indications are that there was a 50m exclusion zone around the deceased.
All efforts had been made to cover the body but at certain stages of the forensic examination, that body did need to be uncovered so the forensic police could do their work for the coroner and unfortunately, those children did walk past.
We have been in contact and I have been in contact personally with the Department of Education to ensure those children are OK.
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‘This is about getting more housing’
Reintroducing the housing bill is about housing, not elections, deputy prime minister Richard Marles insists.
As my colleague Daniel Hurst told you earlier, the reintroduction of the housing future fund bill to parliament means the government could have the option of going to the governor general and asking for a double dissolution.
Asked if the government will seriously consider the option if the bill fails to pass a second time, Marles said:
This isn’t about elections, this is about getting more housing.
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Rheinmetall contract
The government yesterday chose a South Korean company Hanwha over German rival Rheinmetall to build infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian army.
Richard Marles has denied that Rheinmetall’s disappointment at losing the contract has led it to halt negotiations on a separate contract, under which Australia was supposed to build and supply the Germans with armoured vehicles known as boxers:
The arrangement around the supply of boxers to Germany from Rheinmetall’s Brisbane facility is something that is separate from the decision in respect of the infantry fighting vehicle.
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Aukus is on track, Marles says
The defence and foreign affairs ministers, Richard Marles and Penny Wong, will hold standalone meetings with Lloyd Austin and Anthony Blinken in Brisbane today ahead of the Ausmin meeting tomorrow.
Marles insists the Aukus deal is still on track, despite the fact that US Republican senators have threatened to block the deal, using it as leverage to demand an increase in US defence funding. Marles has told ABC Radio:
We’re confident about the processes that are under way in the US. I mean, obviously, Congress can be a complicated place as legislation makes its way through it, but actually we’re encouraged by how quickly it is going through and we are expecting that there will be lots of discussions on the way through.
But, fundamentally, we have reached an agreement with the Biden administration about how Australia acquires the nuclear-powered submarine capability and we’re proceeding along that path with pace … It is on track.
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Greens push for reforms to strengthen renters’ rights
The Greens’ position is that the proposal is government’s housing policy package is inadequate. In June, before the winter parliamentary recess, the Greens voted with the Coalition in the Senate to delay consideration of the legislation until 16 October to “allow time for national cabinet to progress reforms to strengthen renters’ rights”.
The Senate also set up an inquiry into the rental crisis, a process designed by the Greens to pressure the Albanese government to lead on action with the states and territories to freeze or cap rising rents.
The inquiry will consider rising rents and rental affordability; supply and demand; actions that governments can take to reduce rents or limit rent rises; and “improvements to renters’ rights”, including rent control, length of leases and no-grounds evictions.
The government has previously warned that the Senate’s delays constitute a failure to pass the housing fund bill, the first step towards the option of a double-dissolution election to resolve the deadlock.
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Good morning!
Natasha May reporting for blog duty.
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Albanese to reintroduce stalled housing bill
Anthony Albanese will visit a Greens-held electorate today to announce the government will reintroduce its housing Australia future fund legislation when parliament resumes next week.
The bill remains stalled in the Senate, where the Coalition and the Greens have used their combined numbers to delay it. The government is expected to reintroduce the legislation into the House of Representatives in a tactic apparently aimed at putting a spotlight on the Senate hold-up.
The government plans to put the bill to a vote in the lower house in October before it returns to the Senate.
Albanese is set to announce the plans at a newly delivered social housing complex in the electorate of Brisbane, which is held by the Greens MP Stephen Bates.
In a statement distributed before the press conference, Albanese said:
We will use every opportunity to deliver the social and affordable housing that this fund will provide. We will use every process available for this important legislation.
Reintroducing this Bill gives the Coalition and the Greens an opportunity to stop playing politics and support a $10bn housing fund that the Australian people clearly need and support.
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Education minister releases draft guide on AI in schools
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, has released a draft framework on the use of artificial intelligence in schools for consultation.
The framework breaks up the potential use of AI into distinct categories including: teaching, school wellbeing, transparency for student and teacher understanding of the technology, fairness, accountability, and privacy and security.
The development of the framework came amid inconsistent policies among educational institutions on how to respond to the wide availability of generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT being used by teachers and students alike in school work.
The draft framework can be found on the NSW Department of Education website, and comment is being accepted until 16 August.
Clare said the technology was not going away and would be built into everything we use.:
Like the calculator or the internet, we need to learn how to grapple with this new technology. There are lots of opportunities, but there are also challenges and risks.
We need to make sure students use AI for good and get the marks they deserve and don’t use it to cheat, while also ensuring their privacy is protected.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you the best breaking stories this morning before my colleague Natasha May takes over.
Anthony Albanese, along with the rest of the nation, will try to shake off the disappointment of the Matildas’ shock defeat to Nigeria, which he saw first hand at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last night. But he will use his visit to Queensland’s capital to visit the Greens-held electorate of Brisbane today where he will announce that he is going to reintroduce the government’s stalled housing bill when parliament resumes next week. The bill, remember, has been held up by the Greens and the prime minister plans to attack them for “playing politics”.
He will also host talks with US secretary of state Antony Blinken and US defence secretary Lloyd Austin in Brisbane after they touched down in the city last night. Australian defence minister Richard Marles and foreign affairs minister Penny Wong will meet the pair on Friday before a working lunch with the prime minister. Defence and security ties, climate change and economic issues are expected to be discussed, along with emerging technologies, the clean energy transition and the role of critical minerals.
Daniel Andrews will try to move on from suitcases of cash and Ibac today but our analysis of the corruption report will linger in the minds of voters in Victoria despite his protestations that it’s a “complex” issue. Thousands of miles away, the consequences of his decision to pull the plug on the Commonwealth Games continue, with Birmingham said to be considering holding the 2026 event in Victoria’s place.
More than 25,000 allegedly illegal vapes have been seized in a police raid on a store in central Melbourne in a crackdown aimed at sending a “clear message” to other stores. The police seized vapes worth $800,000 from a shop in Swanston Street. Although the federal government outlawed non-prescription vapes in May, the market continues to thrive, with the products freely available thanks to what critics say is the failure of federal authorities to prohibit cross-border shipments.
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