What we learned today, Thursday 13 April
With that, we’ll wrap up our live coverage of the day’s news.
Here’s a summary of the main news developments:
Tropical Cyclone Ilsa has been upgraded to category 5, the highest-severity system, and Western Australian residents are being warned to brace for extreme gusts of up to 315km/h.
The Northern Territory police minister and prominent Aboriginal Territorians have reacted angrily to Peter Dutton’s claims that “young Indigenous kids are being sexually assaulted on a regular basis” in Alice Springs, saying he should report any wrongdoing to police for further investigation.
Workers have stumbled upon a “bone room” containing the remains of multiple unknown people inside a Melbourne health agency’s corporate offices.
The Sydney Metro program will undergo a major review after it was revealed the cost of the public transport project had already blown out by $21bn.
Deliberate underpayment or failure to pay superannuation should be treated “in the same way as wage theft”, the assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, has declared.
Have a pleasant evening.
Updated
NT Aboriginal child advocate hits back at Dutton’s abuse claims
Catherine Liddle, the chief executive of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy group National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) has hit back at opposition leader Peter Dutton’s claims about child abuse in Alice Springs.
During his visit to Alice Springs, Dutton on Thursday claimed that “young Indigenous kids are being sexually assaulted on a regular basis” in the town, however, he has not provided evidence of the claims. He has since attracted criticism from those pointing out the legal requirement to report any such allegations he may be aware of to police.
Dutton also spoke of how he believed the voice – which the Coalition is opposed to – would not address crime in Alice Springs.
Speaking on ABC’s The Drum on Thursday evening, Liddle echoed concerns that Dutton should report any allegations he is aware of.
I’m beyond frustrated, actually, and (it’s) really disappointing that someone in a leadership position can stand up and say the same things over and over and over again.”
She also criticised Dutton’s calls for a royal commission into the rate of abuse in Alice Springs.
Calling for a royal commission is kicking it down the road and it’s ignoring the fact that you’ve just come out of government. You’ve been in government for 11 years and done nothing about these systemic failures. This beggars belief.”
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Updated
