What we learned: Thursday, 21 December
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. As ever, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow. Until then, it’s the 21st of December - Happy Gravy Day, everyone.
Here were today’s major developments:
Multiple homes are feared lost in Parkerville as firefighters battle to contain a blaze in the eastern suburbs of Perth. An emergency warning remains in place, with residents urged to evacuate the area.
Meanwhile, severe thunderstorm warnings are active for central and south-eastern parts of Queensland as the recovery effort continues following Cyclone Jasper. More than 1,000 properties have been damaged, while a small number of rural communities remain isolated as focus turns to Cape York.
The Greens have launched an online portal for whistleblowers on the practices of Coles and Woolworths, in the lead-up to the Senate inquiry into price gouging.
A man has been charged over an alleged arson attack on the Sydney home of popular YouTube personality Friendlyjordies.
And, ahead of a busy travel period, only 54.3% of Virgin flights and 66.3% of Qantas flights arrived on time domestically in November, new data released by the transport minister shows.
More on WA bushfires
AAP has more on the bushfires in Western Australia.
The fire in the hills east of Perth is the fourth emergency-level blaze in the state in the past 48 hours.
Television news footage appears to show flames and smoke billowing from at least one property and a vehicle as water bombers attack the fire from above.
Power has been cut to more than 150 properties and roads in and out of the densely wooded area were closed.
A second emergency-level blaze in the Shire of Manjimup in the state’s south-west for Callcup, Crowea and Meerup has been downgraded to “watch and act”.
Light rain has started falling in the area, but residents have been warned the blaze remains out of control and continues to pose a threat.
The fire has burned about 3,000 hectares of vegetation and there have been reports of damage to sheds, fences and farm equipment.
The threat has also eased in the Wheatbelt, where an emergency-level bushfire in the Shire of Toodyay was downgraded early on Thursday.
A “watch and act” alert remains in place for parts of West Toodyay, Coondle and Julimar, with authorities warning it is contained but not controlled.
The fire has burned about 155 hectares of vegetation and residents have been told it is still not safe to return to their homes.
A fourth bushfire that threatened the fishing town of Lancelin, 126km north of Perth, was declared contained and controlled early on Thursday morning.
The blaze burned through about 89 hectares as it raced towards homes in windy conditions late on Wednesday, forcing some residents to shelter on the town’s jetty and beaches.
The single road in and out of the town has been reopened, with emergency services escorting vehicles through the fireground.
Updated
Chief health officers urge vigilance amid Covid spike
With Christmas just four sleeps away, chief health officers are urging the community to keep up with health measures to prevent the increasing spread of Covid-19.
Data released today confirms that Victoria is seeing increasing levels of COVID-19 in the state, driven by the dominance of a new Omicron subvariant JN.1.
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) December 21, 2023
Don’t let COVID spoil your Christmas.
Remember the key actions that we know help to protect you and your loved ones.
1/3 🧵 pic.twitter.com/ixfNnfLShu
In New South Wales, the PCR test positivity rate jumped to 13.1% in the latest reporting period, alongside an increase in influenza.
Updated
One property destroyed in WA bushfires
One property has been destroyed in ongoing bushfires in Western Australia and multiple homes have been affected as firefighters work to contain a blaze in the eastern Perth suburb of Parkerville.
The rapid damage assessment team told the ABC detailed figures would become available, however the fire still posed a risk to properties and was yet to be contained.
We’re still dealing with an unpredictable situation.
There are about a dozen fires burning across the state, nine at “advice” level.
Updated
Extra police deployed to flood affected areas of Queensland to prevent looting
In Queensland, a special police operation has been established to prevent looting across flood affected communities in the far north.
Extra police have been deployed in areas including Cairns and Cape York to conduct “24-hour high-visibility patrols” aimed at deterring anti-social and criminal behaviour.
It follows ongoing investigations into three reports of looting from evacuated properties that were not flood-affected in Cape communities, and the break-in to an aged facility in Wujal Wujal after residents were evacuated.
The property received minor damage from the break in but had not been damaged by flood waters. No items were reported stolen.
Yesterday morning, a Wujal Wujal general store which was left open the previous night to allow community access to supplies also had a safe and cash register stolen.
Far north region assistant commissioner Brett Schafferius said patrols would continue at “full force” to protect homes and property during the recovery.
I am disappointed and disgusted by reports that offenders have taken advantage of communities battling one of the worst disasters the region has experienced.
Anyone targeting flood affected or evacuated properties can expect to be caught and will be held responsible for their actions.
Updated
Parkerville fire warning: 'If the way is clear, leave now'
Emergency WA has just advised communities in the affected area east of Perth that it has become safe to evacuate.
The bushfire emergency warning currently covers Richardson Road, Byfield Road, Riley Road and Granite Road in parts of Parkerville.
Please note changes to the warning area. It is currently safe for people to leave in all parts of the warning area, if the way is clear. An evacuation centre is open at Brown Park on Salisbury Road, Swan View.
If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
Parts of the fire-affected area have been downgraded to a “watch and act” or “advice” level.
Updated
Woman to face court over alleged murder
A 55-year-old woman has been charged over an alleged fatal stabbing in an outer suburb of Brisbane this morning.
Police allege the woman entered a unit in Hamilton at about 8.45am and stabbed the 43-year-old resident. The woman died from her injuries.
The two women were known to each other, police allege, “but not in a familial setting”.
The 55-year-old resident of Hamilton has been charged with one count of murder and enter with intent. She will appear at Brisbane magistrates court tomorrow.
Updated
In good news for New South Wales, there are fewer than 30 fires burning across the state thanks to a cool change and decent rainfall, and all are under control.
Good news, everyone! With a slight cool-down in conditions and a decrease in fire activity, our brave firefighters are finally getting a break! You know what that means? It's officially Happy Gravy Day! #GravyDay #FirefightersTurnedChefs #SizzleAndSimmer pic.twitter.com/z1VqxTiZmL
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 20, 2023
Who’s going to make the gravy?
Apparently the NSW RFS.
Updated
Severe thunderstorm warnings for south-east and central west Queensland
Two severe thunderstorm warnings are in place in Queensland for heavy wind, damaging winds and large hail.
The warnings cover parts of the central west and south-east coast including Ipswich and Toowoomba.
⚠️⛈️Severe Thunderstorm Warning update. A warning area has been added east of Longreach where heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail are possible. https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/V9zyZl3UyG
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 21, 2023
Very dangerous thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast districts.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Central West district.
⚠️⛈️Severe Storm Warning update. Intense rainfall is being observed southeast of Toowoomba, with 73mm recorded in the last hour at Gormans Gap. This could lead to dangerous flash flooding in the area. https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/UGmoVjSZkh
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 21, 2023
Updated
The ABC is reporting the fire in the eastern suburbs of Perth has burnt through around 90 hectares of land so far.
Damage assessments to properties are underway.
12:22 PM -Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for parts of HOVEA, PARKERVILLE and STONEVILLE in the SHIRE OF MUNDARING: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) December 21, 2023
Updated
New Northern Territory chief minister names cabinet
The newly sworn in chief minister, Eva Lawler, has announced her cabinet, with one new appointment.
Congratulations to Eva Lawler on becoming the 13th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 21, 2023
Eva is a lifelong champion for the power of education and a great believer in the boundless potential of the NT.
Lawler will continue to serve as minister for territory development, and adds defence industries, industry and trade and major projects to her portfolio.
Mark Monaghan will be the minister for education, mining, agribusiness and fisheries.
Brent Potter will take on the alcohol policy portfolio, and Selena Uibo picks up the health, mental health and suicide prevention portfolios.
Lawler said she would use her new role to “continue to diversify and grow our territory economy, creating jobs and a safe and prosperous territory for us all.
This cabinet is focused on delivering for all Territorians, whether that be in our urban centres or remote communities – my government works for all Territorians.
Updated
WA downgrades bushfire threat level for some areas
The bushfire warning in place for parts of Callcup, Crowea and Meerup in the shire of Manjimup in Western Australia has been downgraded to a watch and act level, Emergency WA has advised.
The alert level for this fire has been downgraded due to favourable weather conditions, including light rain.
There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a uncontrolled bushfire is burning in the area and people still need to stay alert.
The fire started near the intersection of Tattenham Road in Meerup.
In Perth, the bushfire hitting semi-rural suburbs in the city’s east remains at an emergency warning level, as footage circulates showing homes alight in the blaze.
The bushfire is moving in a westerly direction.
It is out of control and unpredictable.
Updated
Back to the press conference in Queensland
Recovery efforts are continuing in state’s north, with a rainy forecast not expected to cause renewed flooding.
Up to 220 people have been relocated from the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal to Cooktown earlier today according to the premier, Steven Miles.
1,200 residents and businesses remain without power across the state.
Highways are slowly reopening, “although that will take some time”.
In terms of property damage, close to 1,100 buildings will require “significant repair” out of 2,600 assessed.
A small number of people are housed in evacuation centres, with others staying with friends and family.
Significant river level rises are occurring in several catchments across the Cape, with further rises expected over the coming two days as flood waters move downstream.
In good news, though, rainfall forecasts for the coming days are not likely to contribute to the flood conditions in north Queensland, while elsewhere some severe thunderstorms may set in through to the weekend into next week – including Christmas Day.
Updated
The premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, spoke earlier
He said he held “grave concerns” for the people caught up in the fire affecting Perth suburbs.
Our hearts go out to all those people who are involved in that incident. This has an impact on residents, people in their homes and has an impact on the emergency services personnel who are responding to that incident.
It is a troubling situation as you see today, the weather is unkind. We will do everything we can as a government to support these communities and to support the emergency personnel who are on the ground.
Total fire bans are in place for southern parts of the state, including Perth.
Updated
Emergency fire warnings in Perth and Manjimup
There are two emergency warnings in place in parts of Perth and south of the Margaret River, with concerns homes may have been lost.
In Perth, the warning covers people bounded by Boyamyne Road and Fringeleaf Drive, Granite Road, Hedges Road and Flora Road in parts of Hovea, Parkerville and Stoneville in the shire of Mundaring.
11:42 AM -Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for parts of HOVEA, PARKERVILLE and STONEVILLE in the SHIRE OF MUNDARING: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) December 21, 2023
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes. It’s too late to leave, leaving now will put your life in danger. You need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
The fire started at about 9.30 this morning, and is now affecting three suburbs.
I just rescued the neighbours cat her Property was on fire. #ParkervilleFire #Parkerville pic.twitter.com/0lgjsIlYgN
— VEGAN GREEK GIRL (@vegangreekgirl) December 21, 2023
A second warning is in place for parts of Callcup, Crowea and Meerup in the shire of Manjimup, three-and-a-half hours south-west of Perth.
A further seven fires are at “advice” level.
Updated
Queensland authorities have an update on the floods
A number of small communities remain isolated, with concerns for possible renewed flooding from the weekend.
The isolated communities are “not large townships” and “could be a cluster of five homes or outback stations” which are believed to be fully resourced and stocked.
The road network north of the Daintree River has been “considerably damaged”, including the network of the Aboriginal community Wujal Wujal.
Meanwhile, an 85-year-old man who was reported missing yesterday in the flood is yet to be found.
Updated
Thank you to the lovely Rafqa Touma for keeping us company today. I’ll be with you for the rest of the afternoon.
Caitlin Cassidy
Updated
Moira Deeming informs David Southwick of her intention to sue him
The expelled Liberal MP has written to deputy party leader, David Southwick, warning that she plans to include him in her defamation case against John Pesutto.
The first-term MP was expelled from the parliamentary Liberal party after taking part in a rally in March that was gatecrashed by a group of men who performed Nazi salutes.
Deeming’s lawyers filed a statement of claim against Pesutto, the opposition leader, in the federal court earlier this month.
In a third defamation concerns notice, sent to Southwick on Wednesday and seen by Guardian Australia, the lawyers allege he was also a part of the “intense and relentless publicity campaign against her at that time in order to ensure her expulsion from the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal Party”.
The letter says they are “instructed to commence proceedings against [Southwick] as soon as possible”.
Southwick has been contacted for comment.
A first case management hearing for the Pesutto case has been set down for 2 February, before Justice Michael Wheelahan.
Updated
Federal funding for low-income earner loans
The federal government has announced a $14m boost to the national no-interest loans scheme and a matched savings program for education expenses for low-income earners.
Social services minister Amanda Rishworth announced on Thursday that support for the no-interest loans (NILS) program and the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Saver Plus program will be extended until 30 June 2025, with an additional $14m invested into both schemes.
As we reported back in May, the NILS program was pioneered by Good Shepherd in 1981, and has been backed by the National Australia Bank since 2003. State and federal governments have been funding the background running costs, with community organisations helping to provide the loans.
The loans cannot be used for cash or debts and the money goes directly to the supplier of a product or service. For most items, including mattresses, white goods and dental and medical bills, the borrowing limit is $2,000. Bond loans can go up to $3,000; vehicles and motorised mobility aids up to $5,000. They’re available to individuals who earn less than $70,000 annually before tax as a single person or $100,000 as a couple or family.
More than 350,000 of these loans have been given to low-income Australians since 2003. Last financial year, 170 not-for-profits issued more than 36,000 loans worth nearly $60m.
Rishworth said in a statement:
We acknowledge many Australians are doing it tough, and the government wants to provide responsible cost of living relief while continuing to put downward pressure on inflation.
Dealing with financial issues can be stressful, particularly at Christmas. Thankfully – should the fridge break down or the kids’ computer crash – the NILS scheme is there to help vulnerable Australians get through tricky situations. I’d urge everyone who thinks they are eligible to look into both these schemes.
Updated
Several homes have reportedly been lost in the suburb of Parkerville, Perth, as bushfires unfold in southern WA.
More to come.
BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY: Fire crews are desperately trying to save homes in Parkerville right now where a bushfire broke out only an hour ago. One resident has told @10NewsFirstPER he believes his daughter’s home has gone up in flames. We can hear loud bangs and residents are fleeing. pic.twitter.com/LUHFURN10K
— Anne-Maree Leonard (@a_m_leonard) December 21, 2023
Billionaire former musician bankrolls publisher purchase
Listed music company Vinyl Group is buying large youth publisher The Brag Media, owner of local masthead licences including Rolling Stone and Variety.
The transaction will be bankrolled via a $11m facility provided by billionaire businessman Richard White, a large shareholder in Vinyl and chief executive and founder of software company WiseTech Global, according to a stock exchange announcement.
Brag licences well-known international titles, including The Hollywood Reporter and movie and television review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It uses those licences to run events and generate sponsored content and other revenue streams from local audiences.
“There’s no doubt that iconic brands like Rolling Stone and Variety make sense and add value to [Vinyl],” said White, who is a former musician.
Vinyl, formerly Jaxsta, owns music networking platforms and music credits databases.
Vinyl will pay $8m in cash to acquire Brag and its subsidiaries, with a further $2m payable in cash or stock based on financial performance.
Western Australia’s high fire danger conditions to continue
A department of fire and emergency services spokesperson has told press that parts of WA can expert fire conditions to continue into next week:
We are expecting difficult fire weather conditions to continue into early next week with a trough bringing hot, dry and windy conditions across large parts of the south-west land division, also with associated lightning. People need to be aware that they will continue to experience these hot and windy conditions in the coming days and they need to remain vigilant and be ready to activate your bush plan if you are impacted by fire.
We know that today is going to be a particularly difficult day, expecting obviously those strong easterly winds again, but also thunderstorm activity across large parts of the state. We go into a little bit of respite tomorrow and then a series of troughs are going to form over the next three to four days which are going to continue to present challenging fire weather conditions for our crews across the state.
Updated
Steven Dawson warns against drone use in fire zones
WA’s minister for emergency services, Stephen Dawson, outlined firefighting resources being deployed over coming days:
We will continue to have our aerial fleet in operation. Our large airtanker has been busy. We will also have the national large air tanker arrive in Western Australia to help us with the fires over the next few days. We’ve also had air tractors in operation, too, and a line scanner plane up last night checking out the conditions of the various fire zones.
Dawson urged locals not to use drones in fire zones, after drone near a fire yesterday delayed airborne firefighting operations.
The stupid actions of one person putting the lives and properties of others at risk is a serious concern. And this is the second time in a month that we’ve had drones over our fire zones. Even a small drone can have catastrophic consequences.
You might think that you’re taking some nice vision. You’re actually putting lives and livelihoods at risk, so I would urge people not to have drones near any fire zones. We can’t put our people or our planes in the sky if there’s a drone there. We can’t risk their lives, so I would urge you not to have your drone anywhere near a fire zone.
Updated
WA minister warns of ‘tough days ahead’ regarding bushfire season
Western Australia’s minister for emergency services, Stephen Dawson, has an update on the unfolding bushfire situation in the south-east of the state, warning of “tough days ahead” in the lead up to Christmas.
A fire alert for Lancelin was originally an emergency warning, but was downgraded to a watch-and-act shortly before midnight. Dawson said that fire is now “contained and controlled and downgraded”.
He said:
The fire in Lancelin is looking better today, and that is thanks to the outstanding work of about 100 firefighters who were busy overnight.
We said … it would be a long, hot and dry summer, and we would have fires, and we’ve seen them happen already. We will have some tough days ahead, with some windy conditions.
There will be people away from their homes and their loved ones this Christmas fighting fire to keep us safe. So I want to thank [firefighters] for the work that they’re doing.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a fire weather warning for large parts of the state. People in West Toodyay and Julimar were urged to leave.
Updated
‘Every farmer in the region’ impacted by Cyclone Jasper
Mangoes, bananas, avocadoes, barramundi and prawns are among the produce ruined in far north Queensland as the fallout from Cyclone Jasper continues.
“Every farmer in the region that’s been affected has been impacted,” Jo Shepperd from the Queensland Farmers Federation said.
With supply routes cut, some dairy farmers were forced to dump milk while growers are being hit by transport delays, affecting getting their produce to market. Mango farmers who had already been struggling to produce a good crop in Queensland’s north are now facing extensive damage.
About 1.2m of rain fell over five days at Joe Morrow’s mango farm near Mareeba, resulting in a loss of half a million dollars’s worth of produce. His 14 workers resumed harvest on Thursday after a two-week delay. Morrow said:
Half my crop has either been damaged by the flooding, [it’s] totally black, can’t be harvested at all, or it’s ripening and dropping onto the ground.
Morrow is also the president of Queensland’s fruit and vegetable growers association and said the damage to agriculture across the region has been severe.
Every crop has been affected in some way. Papaya trees are falling down, heavily blemished fruit, banana trees are falling down and sometimes some of that crop is also in water.
Even the avocado crop, which hasn’t been harvested yet, there would be some impact on those growers as well.
- Australian Associated Press
Updated
Andy Warhol art is on its way to Western Australia
Works by pop art master Andy Warhol worth $148m are heading to Perth, in the biggest loan so far under a federal government plan to share the national art collection.
The artworks being loaned by the National Gallery of Australia to the Wanneroo regional gallery for two years include iconic images, such as Warhol’s life-size screenprint Elvis from 1963 and his Campbell’s Soup I from 1968.
The sharing program is part of the national cultural policy announced in January, which has allocated $11.8m over four years to transport, install and insure the artworks.
- Australian Associated Press
Updated
Thunderstorm warning for Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding in the Darling Downs and granite belt of Queensland.
62mm was recorded at Upper Bracket Creek, in the 60 minutes to 11.40am today.
⚠️⛈️Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt. 62 mm was recorded in the 60 minutes to 11:40 am at Upper Bracket Creek (West of Stanthorpe). https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/u3b3rMQyAm
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 21, 2023
Updated
Labor is failing to crackdown on airlines, Coalition says
The opposition has accused the Albanese government of failing to crackdown on airlines to improve the passenger experience when flying, after fresh data revealed delays and cancellations are increasing.
In November only 54.3% of Virgin flights and 66.3% of Qantas flights – which account for 95% of the domestic aviation market – arrived on time, while smaller carriers Bonza and Rex led the way for the month with on-time performances of 73.9% and 70.5% respectively.
Across all airlines, only 64.1% of domestic flights arrived on time. Two in five flights were either cancelled or delayed, representing a 17% increase on the previous month. The Sydney to Melbourne route was the most affected, with 46.4% of flights delayed or cancelled in November, up from 42.6% in October.
The opposition says the results are proof the government needs to implement reforms long called for by the sector.
Bridget McKenzie, the opposition transport spokesperson, said:
As with previous months, the Albanese Labor Government’s failure to implement reforms to the industry which have been sitting on the Minister’s desk for 18 months now continues to see a high level of flights cancelled or delayed across the entire aviation network.
And with the Government shut down commencing tomorrow there is no chance of these changes being actioned to give holidaying Australians some respite from turbulence in the industry over the summer period ...
The high level of delays and cancellations across the entire aviation network are exacerbated by the gaming of airline slots at Sydney Airport of which the Labor Government could fix tomorrow.
Updated
Queensland Health is warning of an increase in respiratory infections:
Queenslanders are urges to prioritise good hygiene habits this festive season amid an unseasonal surge in respiratory infections across the state.
⚠️ Increase in respiratory infections hits QLD ⚠️
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) December 21, 2023
Queenslanders are urged to prioritise good hygiene habits this festive season amid an unseasonal surge in respiratory infections across the state. Read more:https://t.co/yhKcPO8z8X
Updated
Why the Albanese government said no to the US warship request
The Australian government’s decision to rebuff a US request to send a warship to the Red Sea has been greeted in some quarters as a seismic event but it’s not really a bolt from the blue.
Australia is facing “an increasingly challenging strategic environment which is placing greater demand on ADF resources closer to home”, a senior Australian political figure said:
As a result, the Australian Defence Force will reduce its naval presence in the Middle East to enable more resources to be deployed in our region.
Who was it who proclaimed this shift in Australia’s military priorities?
Read the full analysis here:
Updated
Qantas spins poor-on-time data as positive
We reported earlier how transport minister Catherine King described the latest airline on-time performances as “very disappointing”, with only 54.3% of Virgin flights and 66.3% of Qantas flights arriving on time domestically in November.
Bonza and Rex led the way for the month with on-time performances of 73.9% and 70.5% respectively, the latest BITRE on-time performance report shows.
Qantas has released a statement noting it has “notched up its 15th consecutive month as the most reliable major domestic airline”. Its proclamation is rooted in its view of the market, that Virgin is its main major competitor. Qantas Group – which includes budget carrier Jetstar – and Virgin operate 95% of the domestic aviation market.
But Qantas noted a “variety of factors meant on time performance in November was below target levels”:
November was a challenging month operationally, with major storm activity on both the east and west coasts of the country and air traffic control issues. There were also a significant number of engineering related delays, with safety always coming before schedule.
It also addressed improving its performance on the Sydney-Canberra route:
The unacceptably high number of cancellations on Qantas’ Canberra-Sydney flights has continued to drop, with a change in fleet mix used to help protect the route from disruption on the airline’s regional network. In November, less than 4 per cent of flights were cancelled, down from 10 per cent in October.
Updated
ANZ defends climate credentials amid protest
ANZ has defended its climate lending policies, while also conceding the bank has a large exposure to oil and gas companies.
Chairman Paul O’Sullivan told the annual general meeting in Brisbane today that ANZ was the first Australian bank to engage with large emitting business customers. He said energy clients would need to have transition plans in line with the landmark Paris agreement by 2025:
We’ve been transparent that ANZ has a relatively large oil and gas exposure and that is certainly not something we shy away from.
In fact, it makes our role in the energy transition all the more important.
O’Sullivan’s address to shareholders was disrupted by climate protesters, resulting in a delay of about 10 minutes.
ANZ has been described as a “laggard” by climate groups when it comes to its lending policies.
The bank’s policies don’t require fossil fuel companies to take into account emissions generated from the use of their coal, oil and gas, according to Market Forces and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Updated
Greens launch Coles and Woolworths whistleblower portal
The Greens have launched an online portal for whistleblowers on the practices of Coles and Woolworths, in the lead-up to the Senate inquiry into price gouging.
Senator Nick McKim, the Greens economic justice spokesperson, is chairing the inquiry. He said:
Since announcing the inquiry last week, we have had a number of people come forward and share stories about the internal practices of Coles and Woolworths.
These accounts reveal a culture of deep fear within the industry, underlining the urgent need for scrutiny.
We want to hear from employees, suppliers and primary producers, as well as anyone with knowledge of the industry.
Our platform is designed for people to share their stories in complete confidence, so that we can fully understand the tactics and practices of the duopoly.
Updated
Calls for gig worker reforms after unreported death in Melbourne
Renewed calls have been made for urgent minimum standards for gig workers after police data revealed a 15th food delivery driver death that previously went unreported.
A 29-year-old delivery driver was killed on the job in November 2022 after he was struck by a van while riding his electric bicycle across an arterial road in Preston in Melbourne’s north-east at night.
He had crossed at a pedestrian crossing light while the light was still red and failed to give way to the van.
The man, who held an international licence, died at the scene. His death went unreported at the time.
WorkSafe Victoria was not notified of the worker’s death as gig workers aren’t classed as employees of the food delivery services.
More than 900 motorbike and bicycle workers have been injured on Victorian roads since 2016, according to police data.
This coincides with the rise of food delivery services such as UberEats, Deliveroo, Menulog and Foodora.
The Transport Workers’ Union is demanding the Senate pass urgent reforms to enshrine rights and entitlements such as a minimum wage and rules against unfair contract terminations.
Current conditions put deadly pressure on workers to rush and take risks on the road to earn enough money and retain their jobs, the union said.
It said the legislation has received broad support across the industry, including from gig companies Uber, DoorDash and Menulog.
The “horrific but not surprising” data shows the lethal race against time many riders face to avoid their accounts being deactivated, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said:
While unreported deaths and injuries of transport gig workers are beginning to come to light across more states, deadly pressures to make a living persist in an unregulated industry.
– AAP
Updated
Only 64.1% of domestic flights arrived on time last month, minster says
The transport minister, Catherine King, says only 54.3% of Virgin flights and 66.3% of Qantas flights arrived on time domestically in November, in “very disappointing results”.
Bonza and Rex led the way for the month with on-time performances of 73.9% and 70.5% respectively, the latest BITRE on-time performance report shows.
Across all airlines, only 64.1% of domestic flights arrived on time.
King said:
Given these very disappointing results, it is no wonder that so many Australians remain fed up with our major airlines.
transport minister Catherine King says only 54.3% of Virgin flights & 66.3% of Qantas flights arrived on time last month - across all airlines, only 64.1% arrived on time
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) December 21, 2023
"very disappointing results, it is no wonder that so many Australians remain fed up with our major airlines" pic.twitter.com/INsvrTSdtd
Updated
GenCost report blasts nuclear out of energy mix
A surge in the cost of small nuclear reactors has forced the national science agency to change its calculations for Australia.
The latest modelling of all energy sources, released by CSIRO today, includes data from a newly scrapped project in the US that was showcasing nuclear small modular reactors as a way to fight climate change.
The draft GenCost 2023-24 report, out for consultation over summer, shows that while inflation pressures are easing there has been a recalculation on SMRs that puts them out of reach.
Real data on a high-profile six-reactor power plant in the US has confirmed that the contentious technology costs more than any energy consumer wants to pay.
Project costs for the Utah project were estimated at $18,200 a kilowatt, but the company has since disclosed a whopping capital cost of $31,100/kW, prompting its cancellation in November.
In contrast, under existing policies the cost of new offshore wind in Australia in 2023 would be $5545/kW (fixed) and $6856/kW (floating), while rooftop solar panels are calculated at a modest $1505/kW.
– AAP
Updated
Australia won’t send warship to Red Sea but will triple personnel in Bahrain
The federal government has confirmed it will not deploy a warship to the Red Sea at the current time but it will triple the number of personnel it has embedded in the combined maritime forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain.
The US has been seeking additional military commitments from allies and partners to help protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea after attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen in protest at Israel’s war in Gaza.
But, as has been foreshadowed, the Australian government is not sending a warship to the Red Sea, insisting that its focus is on the Indo-Pacific region.
Under a longstanding arrangement, Australia has five ADF personnel embedded in CMF headquarters in Bahrain under Operation Manitou, which aims to promote maritime security, stability in the Middle East and east Africa regions.
This will now be doubled to 10 personnel.
On top of that, Australia is preparing to send up to six additional ADF staff officers to the CMF in Bahrain in 2024 as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the US-led operation announced by the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, this week.
That means Australia will have up to 16 people in CMF headquarters, compared with five now.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, told Sky News this morning:
We won’t be sending a ship or a plane. That said, we will be almost tripling our contribution to the combined maritime force …
We need to be really clear around our strategic focus and our strategic focus is our region – the north-east Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Pacific. What comes from the defence strategic review is an urgency around Australia maintaining a strategic focus on our immediate region, and that’s what we will do.
For more on this, see this analysis piece from overnight:
Updated
Cooktown shakes off setbacks to welcome Wujal Wujal evacuees
Beds may have been scarce, supermarket shelves bare and the water supply “dwindling”.
But the far north Queensland town of Cooktown still opened its arms to people fleeing flood waters from the Aboriginal community Wujal Wujal.
Two Australian defence force Chinook helicopters have relocated about 200 people over two days after Wujal Wujal was devastated by flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Cooktown threw out the welcome mat despite being hit by record rainfall.
At one stage the town copped almost 340mm in 24 hours, eclipsing the previous December daily record mark of 195mm set way back in 1907.
The water treatment plant went under, along with road access, sparking concerns for food supplies.
Cooktown was also forced to scramble for bedding before hundreds arrived from Wujal Wujal.
Yet the town did not think twice about opening up their PCYC as an evacuation centre.
Cook shire mayor Peter Scott said today:
We have opened our arms to the Wujal Wujal people. We are saying, ‘You are part of our Cape family – welcome.’
About 100 people arrived in Cooktown yesterday, a day after 97 were flown in from the Aboriginal community.
– via AAP
Updated
Look out for scams related to Christmas parcel deliveries, ACCC warns
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning consumers about parcel delivery scams before the holiday period.
The National Anti-Scam Centre has seen the number of reports for delivery phishing scams quadruple this year and is worried that may increase during the holiday period, the ACCC said.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said:
Many Australians will be waiting for parcels to be delivered both ahead of Christmas and following the Boxing Day sales and you can be sure that scammers will be looking to take advantage of this.
Our advice to consumers is to never click on links in text messages or emails, even if you’re expecting a delivery. Instead, consumers should independently check the status of their delivery by going to the Australia Post app or website or the courier service they’re expecting the delivery from.
Updated
Three women in mental distress say they were further traumatised by NSW police
During the first Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020, Jane* said she had an adverse reaction to a new ADHD medication and “ended up having a manic episode”.
She claims she was experiencing domestic violence at home and ran out on the street in Sydney’s inner west naked to get help. She was “really scared and confused”.
Jane says she asked passersby to call the police and soon found herself surrounded by “three or four” police cars:
As I was trying to explain what was happening, four officers each grabbed me by one of my limbs and lifted me naked and screaming into an ambulance.
It was just the most traumatising and humiliating experience. I was in such distress. I just needed … someone to talk to and somewhere safe.
Jane is one of three women to raise concerns about the force’s responses to these kind of emergencies.
Read the full exclusive here:
Updated
ADF evacuates 160 more people from flood-hit Wujal Wujal
Australian army helicopters have evacuated 160 more people from Wujal Wujal in the last 24 hours, according to Defence Australia. They deployed CH-47F Chinooks and AW-139s from Townsville to Cairns.
#YourADF continues to provide support to Queensland Police Service via @nemagovau in response to floods affecting North Queensland communities following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper. #AusArmy #Qld <1/2> pic.twitter.com/Pgz0xGSifl
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) December 20, 2023
In the past 24 hours, #YourADF deployed CH-47F Chinooks & AW-139’s from Townsville to Cairns to transport emergency services personnel & provide additional aerial rescue capability. #AusArmy helicopters evacuated a further 160 civilians from Wujal Wujal. #Qld <2/2> pic.twitter.com/FRfNpfwWUK
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) December 20, 2023
Updated
Green light for AGL’s grid-scale battery on site of former Liddell power plant
A 500-megawatt bank of energy storage on the site of the defunct Liddell coal-fired power plant has been given the green light.
AGL Energy on Tuesday announced it has reached a final investment decision on the two-hour duration, grid-scale battery in the Hunter region of New South Wales after closing the power station in 2023.
The total construction cost is about $750m and will be funded from the company’s balance sheet.
As the largest electricity generator in a system that has traditionally relied on coal, AGL is also the country’s largest greenhouse gas emitter but plans to close its final coal-fired plant by 2035.
Read the full story here:
– AAP
Updated
‘Very, very clear’ renewables are the cheapest form of energy, Bowen says
Renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy, including its storage and transmission costs, the energy minister told ABC RN.
Chris Bowen spoke to ABC RN this morning about the year’s GenCost report.
The report is a joint collaboration between CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator “designed to give guidance to the market, to investors, to governments, about what the cheapest forms of energy”, he said:
Its conclusions this year are unimpeachable and very, very clear.
The cheapest form of energy is renewable energy, even including the costs that go with renewable energy around storage and transmission.
Updated
Matildas’ Mary Fowler embraces new status but sidesteps the limelight
Less than 24 hours after landing back in Australia, Mary Fowler sits on a child’s stool with a table of kindergarteners, sharing morning tea and politely answering their stream of questions.
Whether the Matildas star is navigating a press pack or a room of preschoolers, she remains unfazed.
It’s easy to forget Fowler, now a household name, is just 20 when you consider the meteoric rise of her career.
Read the full feature here:
Updated
Man charged over fire at YouTuber Friendlyjordies’ Sydney home
A man has been charged over an alleged arson attack on the Sydney home of a popular YouTube personality.
Emergency services responded to the fire in Bondi in November 2022, when the property and an adjoining house were significantly damaged.
The home, belonging to the content producer Jordan Shanks-Markovina, also known as Friendlyjordies, was vacant at the time.
Police said the alleged attack appeared to be linked to another fire reported at the property days earlier.
On Wednesday morning detectives arrested a 37-year-old man at Silverwater correctional centre.
He was charged with two counts of destroying or damaging a property by fire, remanded in custody and appeared before Waverley local court.
Police previously released CCTV footage of vehicles believed to be involved in the alleged attack.
Det Supt Gordon Arbinja said investigations would continue:
This alleged attack was coordinated and targeted, with more arrests expected in the coming days and weeks ahead.
– AAP
Updated
Relief crews on the ground in Queensland as flood response turns to recovery
Emergency crews are moving out of the rescue and response phase and into the relief and recovery phase, as communities in the state’s north begin the cleanup after a week of heavy rain and disastrous flooding.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson tells ABC:
Lots of fresh crews from the SES, the Rural Fire Service and fire and rescue service are on the ground there as of today. They are providing relief to the local crews who [have been] out in the field for over a week.
They are keenly motivated to get as much work as they can complete prior to Christmas.
We are making sure that even if in those areas that are isolated there is plenty of medications, food, to assist the people and keep them safe.
Updated
Bowen dismisses energy company complaints about price caps
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, has dismissed complaints from energy companies that regulator caps on prices have made their profits too slim.
He tells ABC RN:
The Australian regulator … weigh up a whole range of factors.
In this environment, [with] the cost-of-living pressure, it is quite right that the Australian energy regulator would prioritise cost of living.
Of course we want profitable energy companies, but we want families receiving cost-of-living relief as well.
I don’t agree with any argument to say energy company profits should be prioritised.
Updated
Victorian university offers to land in student inboxes
Tens of thousands of high school graduates are set to learn their offers to study university degrees or Tafe courses in Victoria.
Some 42,929 offers will be emailed out by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre this morning, with four out of five students getting their first or second study preference.
It is the state’s biggest dump of December offers, up 2,334 from last year’s first round.
Society and culture (19.75%), health (17.62%), and management and commerce (15.72%) were the three most popular areas of study.
- AAP
Updated
Cape York community braces for flooding
The remote Cape York community of Kowanyama is bracing for major flooding as Queensland’s north continues to feel the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Australian Associated Press reports.
Vulnerable residents have left Kowanyama but police deputy commissioner Shane Chelepy said he was prepared to evacuate the whole town if necessary:
The advice of the Bureau of Meteorology and the advice from the mayor and the local disaster coordination group is that won’t be necessary but that’s what I’ve planned for.
He said the community was “well and truly prepared” for the predicted flooding.
⚠️Flooding to continue across parts of the western Cape York Peninsula. #Kowanyama and surrounds will likely have flooding for many days, possibly exceeding the major flood level.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 20, 2023
See https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o for the latest warnings and updates. pic.twitter.com/dGpyb183Cf
The bureau was predicting river levels in the area to reach or exceed major flood levels and said Jasper “will continue to meander around the Gulf of Carpentaria for the next few days”.
Wednesday marked one week since Jasper crossed the Queensland coast.
Some areas in the state’s north have had 2m of rain since the system made landfall before being downgraded from a category two cyclone to a tropical low.
Hundreds were forced to flee their homes or seek refuge on rooftops as communities were inundated.
Both the Queensland premier, Steven Miles, and his deputy, Cameron Dick, praised the efforts of emergency services and the so-called “tinnie army” of locals who rescued stranded residents.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is expected to visit flood-hit areas with the premier on Friday.
Updated
Residents in fire-threatened WA town of Lancelin urged to leave
Residents of a fishing and tourist town have been urged to leave their homes as a fire barrels towards them.
The alert for Lancelin was originally an emergency warning but was downgraded to a watch-and-act shortly before midnight as the fire was contained but it is not yet under control.
Noting that Lancelin Road, north of Perth, was closed, WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services said:
There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and the conditions are changing.
Authorities said in their latest update an evacuation centre at Guilderton country club was being closed.
The fire was burning north-west towards the town, 126km north of Perth.
Locals have been told to close all windows and doors as they leave, turn off evaporative air conditioners and try to keep water running as they leave.
Those who cannot leave have been told to shelter in their homes in the room furthest from the fire front in a room with two exits and water, such as a kitchen or laundry.
Updated
Closing submissions in Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial
With all witnesses interrogated and evidence tendered, Bruce Lehrmann’s long-running defamation trial against Network Ten has entered its final stage.
The federal court in Sydney is set to hear closing submissions by lawyers representing Lehrmann as well as those he is suing for defamation, Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
He claims his reputation was ruined by an interview featuring Wilkinson and Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins that aired on The Project in February 2021.
In the program, Higgins said she was sexually assaulted in the Parliament House office of the pair’s then-boss, Linda Reynolds, in March 2019.
Lerhmann strongly denies raping Higgins, saying no sexual contact occurred between them.
In the trial, Justice Michael Lee has heard evidence from a number of key witnesses in the case, including attacks on the credibility of both Lehrmann and Higgins.
– AAP
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and here are some of the best overnight and breaking stories before one of my colleagues comes to take you through the rest of the day.
First there was robodebt, but now there’s robotax. An increasing number of Australians have been receiving unexpected “passive aggressive” letters from the tax office telling them they owe money on historical debts that can run into thousands of dollars. A “shocked and upset” retiree has lifted the lid on how the ATO is pursuing what it calls “on-hold” debts after she received a letter telling her she owed $800 on the estate of her late father even though it had been settled years previously. Dubbed robotax, it seems the ATO is now chasing debts that are old, small or previously deemed uneconomical to chase.
More than one in three Queensland voters say they are unsure about the new premier, Steven Miles, according to union-commissioned polling exclusive to Guardian Australia that shows support for the Labor government improved marginally after last week’s leadership change. But his flood response will be key to the party’s re-election hopes next year.
The badly hit coastal community of Machans Beach has seen residents rally round to help people made homeless by the cyclone. Judy Hitching, who lost her home, explains how she fell into coordinating the effort to give people a roof over their heads at the community hall":
This community’s beautiful.
Meanwhile, the remote Cape York community of Kowanyama is bracing for major flooding as some areas continue to feel the impact of the former cyclone.
More and more people are turning up at food banks in the run-up to Christmas as they struggle to put food on the table this year. Young families are particularly affected, according to volunteers like Joanne Oliver, who has been serving meals to those in need for six years at One Meal in Sydney’s Blacktown, but she’s never seen anything like the current demand:
This has been the busiest Christmas I have seen. We’ve seen some gradual increase each year but this year is another level.
Updated
