What we learned: Monday 2 December
With that, we will wrap up the blog for today. Enjoy your evening, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow.
Here are today’s major developments:
Police have labelled a shooting on the Mornington Peninsula that left two people dead a “targeted” attack, as the suspect remains at large. One of the two deceased has been identified as a 29-year-old man who lived at the Rye property.
More than a dozen people have been charged over an alleged multimillion-dollar attempted import of cocaine into Australia, the largest in the nation’s history.
The federal government will establish an independent inquiry into sexual violence in the Australian military and ensure serving personnel convicted of sex offences in either criminal or military courts face mandatory discharge, under its formal response to the defence and veterans’ suicide royal commission.
A man in his 60s was bitten by a shark while spear fishing off Curtis Island this morning.
And Penrith Beach, affectionately known by Sydneysiders as “Pondi” – will reopen on 7 December for a second season.
Updated
Federal court hears allegations against Health Workers Union leader
Health Workers Union leader Diana Asmar allegedly claimed so-called “traitors” would regret betraying her, a couple of weeks before five staffers and two officials were stood down.
Lawyers for the national union (HSU) made the allegations in the federal court on Monday as they sought more restrictions on Asmar’s role in its Victorian branch.
The interlocutory application is part of a broader push by the HSU to have administrators appointed to the state branch, called the Health Workers Union.
Justice Craig Dowling made orders on 7 October limiting Asmar’s powers, including preventing her from dismissing any employees or altering their employment. Asmar made an undertaking to the court that she would follow the judge’s orders.
But HSU barrister Malcolm Harding SC told the court Asmar made a speech at a delegates conference on 23 October, saying there were traitors in the union who would regret betraying her. Two union officials from the Victorian branch were then stood down and five call centre workers dismissed on 11 November.
Harding claimed under union rules, Asmar was the only one with the power to terminate someone’s employment. He claimed Asmar had breached her undertaking and the judge should make further orders restricting her.
But Asmar’s barrister Rishi Nathwani KC argued there should not be any changes because his client has not breached any of her court undertakings.
Justice Dowling will make a decision on whether to impose further restrictions at a later date.
-AAP.
Updated
