What we learned: Friday, 16 January
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow – take care of yourselves.
The prime minister is still calling for bipartisanship when it comes to the proposed hate speech laws after both the Coalition and the Greens expressed serious concerns, just days before parliament is set to return.
A group of independent MPs – including Allegra Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth includes Bondi Beach – has called on parliament to work across partisan lines to pass hate speech laws.
Larissa Waters, the Greens’ leader, said she’s concerned there has not been enough time to evaluate the legislation, warning there are a “raft of unintended consequences that could occur”.
Paul Scarr, the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, is maintaining the Coalition line that there has not been enough time to evaluate hate speech and gun control legislation put forward by the Albanese government.
Penny Wong said the government has limited ability to provide any assistance to Australians in Iran as “hundreds, if not thousands, of Iranians have been killed by their own government”.
Julie Inman-Grant said the government has opened a second investigation into Grok, X’s AI chatbot.
Victoria’s bushfire season will be reviewed by the state’s emergency management watchdog.
There are still 10 major fires in Victoria, prompting eight watch and act and 16 advice-level warnings.
The Canterbury Bankstown Council has fined a prayer hall frequented by a controversial cleric after it allegedly defied an order to shut down on 22 December.
Updated
Cops lifted search powers for rights review, court told
A police commissioner has said in court he lifted an order giving officers more search powers because he needed to reconsider aspects of the human rights charter.
The six-month declaration, made by Victoria police on 30 November, is being challenged in the federal court by a group of protesters who claim the order was invalid.
The declaration listed the Melbourne CBD and neighbouring suburbs as a designated area where police could stop and search people for weapons without a warrant.
Police could also direct a person wearing a face covering to leave the area if they believed the person was trying to conceal their identity or protect themselves from substances like OC spray.
Assistant commissioner Brett Curran on 9 January decided to lift the order, four months ahead of its original end date.
Under cross-examination in the federal court, Curran explained why he made that decision:
So that a new declaration could be made and I could reconsider aspects of the charter of human rights.
Curran told the court he had discussions and read through an information pack of statistics and intelligence reports before making the declaration in November.
He also assessed a map of the CBD that identified where crime was committed, although the area ultimately declared a designated zone was slightly different.
Curran said after assessing all the material and checking his reasoning against the relevant legislation, he was satisfied he should make the declaration.
The assistant commissioner denied he chose to end the order four months early because his original information was incorrect.
Justice Elizabeth Bennett commended the parties for their professionalism as she reserved her decision.
She confirmed it would be delivered sometime next week, noting the protesters were concerned the declaration could be reinstated ahead of Australia Day.
- AAP
Updated
NSW SES reports 274 calls across the state after heavy rainfall and damaging winds
NSW Special Emergency Services have responded to 274 incidents across the state in the 24 hours to 3pm on Friday.
Most of those calls (123) have come from the south coast, where there has been heavy rainfall and damaging winds.
The SES said:
In Eden, around 40 vehicles were trapped on the Princes Highway for three hours due to water over the road and a fallen tree, and more than 100 people were temporarily stranded at a golf club when surrounding areas became inundated.
More heavy rainfall and damaging winds are forecast across the South Coast, Shoalhaven, Illawarra and Sydney regions from Friday night and across the weekend. Up to 120mm of rain is forecast over the next three days, with isolated falls of up to 200mm in three days possible with storms.
Updated
Man fatally shot by police in Gunnedah after allegedly aiming bow and arrow at officers
Police have fatally shot a man in regional NSW after he allegedly aimed a bow and arrow at officers.
NSW police said officers were called to a home in Gunnedah on Friday afternoon to respond to a welfare concern.
After speaking to a man outside the home, he then went back inside and allegedly returned with a bow and arrow.
Police said in a statement:
Police returned to their vehicle for cover; however, a police firearm was discharged when the man aimed at officers.
The man was treated by paramedics for a gunshot wound but died at the scene.
Police have declared a critical incident, and the investigation into the matter will be reviewed by the police watchdog.
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Government to spend $24.7m on pilot scheme to recycle solar panels
The Albanese government has said it will spend $24.7m over the next three years to establish a pilot national recycling scheme for solar panels.
Up to 100 collection points for panels would be set up around the country, the government said, and the scheme would cut waste and improve access to valuable metals.
A report from the Productivity Commission on developing a more circular economy, released today, predicted an 18-fold increase in waste from solar systems between now and 2030. One in three Australian homes has rooftop solar.
The report recommends the government set up a product stewardship scheme for small-scale solar systems and electric vehicle batteries.
The environment minister, Murray Watt, said:
Only a small percentage of end-of-life solar panels are currently recovered for recycling with most panels are either stockpiled, dumped in landfill or exported for reuse.
But we think solar panels are made up of materials that are too valuable to throw out. These materials can be repurposed to support the clean energy transition and help reduce what we send to landfill, improving out natural environment.
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Only one injury reported in flood zone, commissioner says
Wiebusch said a child was airlifted out the flood zone and taken to hospital.
We’ve been fortunate there’s only one injury reported - a young child air-lifted out of the flash flood zone and they’ve been taken to hospital. Otherwise, at this stage, we’ve been fortunate with very minor injuries and importantly, Victoria police are saying there are no missing persons…
During the flash floods we know there were a number of people who had to quickly relocate from caravans, tents and campgrounds. We understand the water came up quickly.
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Commissioner says flash flooding warnings were adequate ‘at that point in time’
Wiebusch said that the warning were adequate:
I guess it’s always one of those challenging things. We do believe that the warnings were adequate for what was needed at that point in time. They were as timely as can be when you have that dynamic situation that thunderstorms bring.
Updated
More details on flash flooding along Wye River
Diana Eadie, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology appeared at the press conference alongside Wiebusch. She spoke about the flash flooding at Wye River on the coast on Thursday, which displaced hundreds of people and destroyed a number of cars.
Eadie said the amount of rain that fell in the short period of time was an “extraordinary” event:
The warnings that were issued were the initial severe thunderstorm warning for that risk of heavy rainfall issued at 11:57am and included the potential for flash flooding.
That was escalated as we started to see increased rainfall rates and amended accordingly to include that potential for intense rainfall and life threatening flash flooding at 12:40pm.
Wiebusch said triple zero received the first call about the event at 1.20pm, which was about cars being washed away.
Updated
Hi there, I’ll now be with you until this evening.
That’s all from me, Jordyn Beazley will take things from here. Have a lovely weekend.
Wiebusch added:
We’re still very early in our summer season and the risk of fires, flash flooding, storms will be with us for many more weeks yet as we go through the coming months.
We need the community to remain alert to their conditions.
Heightened fire danger returning to Victoria next week
The Bureau of Meteorology just said Victoria should expect to see heightened fire danger return next week on Friday and Saturday, 23 and 24 January.
More than 1,000 structures, including 289 homes, destroyed in Victoria fires
There are still 10 major fires in Victoria, prompting 8 watch and act and 16 advice-level warnings, officials said during a press conference.
More than 1,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in those blazes, including at least 289 homes. Many of those homes are in the Longwood fire area, where 213 homes have been lost. That number is up from 173 yesterday.
“Our thoughts continue to be with those communities that have been so heavily impacted by these fires,” Tim Wiebusch, Victoria’s emergency management commissioner, said.
Updated
Lifesaving clubs in flood-hit areas along Great Ocean Road go above and beyond to help displaced residents
Life Saving Victoria said lifeguards and volunteers at lifesaving clubs along the Victorian coasts, part of which was hit hard by flash flooding on Thursday, have gone above and beyond to help those in their community over the last 24 hours.
At Wye River, lifeguards opened the Wye River Surf Life Saving Club’s doors to provide overnight refuge for families, offered up their facilities to be a base for Ambulance Victoria and helped distribute food to impacted members of the community.
In Lorne, the SLSC also provided refuge to more than 100 people, and the Kennett River SLSC also opened its doors.
Cath Greaves, the CEO of Life Saving Victoria, said the acts represented the role of the clubs as “trusted community hubs, and their rapid response during this event is a powerful reminder of their value beyond the shoreline”.
Community supports imam after house damaged by fire
A community is rallying around an Islamic leader and his family after their home was severely damaged in a fire, AAP reports.
More than $60,000 has been raised in one day for Imam Shaikh Moulana Abdul Salik after his family home at Bald Hills in Brisbane’s north burned on Wednesday.
Police believe the fire was not suspicious and the mosque has acknowledged the “unfortunate accident”.
The GoFundMe’s organiser closed new donations on Friday after its $50,000 target was reached, thanking the community for their kindness and gracious efforts to support the family.
The incident has been “distressing and traumatic” for the imam of the Masjid Taqwa mosque and his family, the Council of Imams Queensland said.
“While we are profoundly grateful that no lives were lost and that the family is physically safe, the emotional and practical impact of this incident has been substantial,” the council president, Akram Buksh, said in a statement.
Updated
Coalition of faith leaders writes to Albanese with ‘serious concern’ over hate speech bill
A coalition of faith groups, including the bishop of south Sydney’s Anglican diocese, the head of the Australian National Imams Council and the archbishop of Sydney’s Catholic archdiocese, just issued a letter sent to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, expressing “serious concern” over the hate speech bill to be debated in parliament next week.
In the joint letter sent to Albanese, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, and the attorney general, Michelle Rowland, the group said while it remains committed to tackling antisemitism and racial and religious hatred the bill, as written, may have “(perhaps unintended) adverse implications for religious freedom and freedom of expression” as well as providing “inadequate consultation and review”.
The letter, in part, reads:
Faith communities, legal experts, and civil society organisations have not been afforded a reasonable amount of time to properly study the legislation, assess its legal and constitutional implications, or prepare constructive and well-considered submissions for what has been described as the ‘most consequential change’ to Australia’s counterterrorism laws since 9/11.
Legislation of this breadth and sensitivity requires careful deliberation and meaningful consultation. A rushed legislative process of this nature undermines confidence, increases the risk of unintended consequences, and does not assist community unity or social cohesion.
The group said it stands ready to work with the Albanese government to “improve the bill”, asking for the prime minister to delay its introduction.
We offer these views in a constructive spirit and stand ready to engage further with all parties to develop appropriate amendments to ensure an appropriate legislative response to hatred and extremism.
Updated
Could Labor’s hate speech laws damage Australia’s free speech? Here’s what you need to know about the contentious bill
Labor’s hate speech bill has alarmed free speech advocates, who say it could have unintended consequences because it was rushed through without enough consultation.
Labor says the bill, which will criminalise hate speech, create a new “hate group” listing, establish a gun buyback and create new grounds to reject or cancel visas, will strengthen national security and national unity.
But the pathway through parliament looks increasingly difficult, with the Liberals calling the bill “pretty unsalvageable” and the Greens warning they would not pass it “in its current form”. Labor would need either party to pass it through the Senate.
Read more:
See how Victoria’s bushfires spread: a visual guide to the scale of devastation
Victoria has been battered by some of the most destructive bushfires in its history, with blazes tearing through 400,000 hectares across the state and claiming the life of a cattle farmer, Maxwell Hobson. Almost 900 buildings have been destroyed, including more than 250 homes, and more than 15,000 livestock have been killed, along with countless wildlife.
Both authorities and firefighters on the ground have reported the fires were unlike anything seen before in their speed, scale and destruction. They also came much earlier than the traditional bushfire season, which typically peaks in February.
Take a look at how the fires spread in this visual guide.
Al Madina Dawah centre fined after allegedly defying cease use order
The Canterbury Bankstown Council has fined a prayer hall frequented by a controversial cleric after it allegedly defied an order to shut down on the 22nd December.
On Wednesday, the Al Madina Dawah centre in Bankstown – associated with the controversial cleric Wisam Haddad – announced it had permanently closed.
But the council, in a statement sent on Friday, has said the prayer hall was today issued a penalty infringement notice for not closing on the 22nd December when it was issued an immediate “cease use” letter.
A council spokesperson said:
Council has been conducting surveillance of the premises, and it is quite clear there is still unauthorised use.
The council could not confirm if that use had ceased since the prayer hall announced its closure on Wednesday.
The council said in a statement:
Council will continue to monitor the centre and may seek further legal action to ensure they cease the unauthorised use.
More on this story here:
Updated
MEAA defends cartoonist Cathy Wilcox against ‘relentless, unfounded and coordinated’ attacks
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) says attacks on much-loved Nine newspapers cartoonist Cathy Wilcox are “relentless, unfounded and coordinated”.
Wilcox’s cartoon, called “grass roots”, looks at the multiple letters sent to multiple media outlets calling for a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Sportspeople, heads of business, legal experts, Labor figures, and more signed up in bulk to the published letters.
Wilcox depicted such groups being held aloft on a strip of green turf by other cheerleaders for a commission, including Rupert Murdoch, Sussan Ley and David Littleproud, with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, beating a drum off to the side.
The Australian published multiple articles attacking the cartoon, saying it “depicted those calling for a royal commission into anti-semitism as unwitting puppets manipulated by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu through Coalition politicians”.
Nine management apologised for any hurt caused by the cartoon, but not for the cartoon itself, which remains online.
Today, MEAA members have condemned “the vicious and specious attacks” on Wilcox and called on Nine Entertainment to stand by its charter of editorial independence and support staff.
They said in a statement that Wilcox was one of the best cartoonists that Australia has ever produced and that her employers had “failed in their duty of care by apologising for her work”. They also said:
The relentless, unfounded and coordinated attacks on Wilcox follow similar campaigns to silence journalists, artists and entertainers who have been critical of the Israeli Government and its supporters since 2023 at the ABC, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Theatre Company, and elsewhere.
This trend is beyond concerning. It is a threat to democracy. As the government now looks to further limit free speech through new hate speech laws, and seeks to regulate publicly funded broadcasters and arts institutions by implementing the special envoy’s plan to combat antisemitism, MEAA members demand the principles of press freedom, and freedom of speech.
Updated
Former Victorian police officer and three others charged after corruption investigation
A former Victorian police officer and three others have been charged with 48 offences after an investigation by the state’s corruption commission.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (Ibac) investigation, under Operation Bredbo, alleges a former 66 year old detective sergeant at Victoria police was paid by associates to to misuse information, improperly influence others and commit blackmail in Melbourne between 2018 and 2022 in his role as a police officer.
Ibac said:
He has been charged with seventeen counts of misconduct in public office, six counts of blackmail, ten counts of bribery and one count each of attempting to pervert the course of justice and supply of an audio-visual recording.
A 58-year-old man has been charged with four counts of bribery and two counts of blackmail.
A 64-year-old woman has been charged with three counts of bribery, and a second 58-year-old man has been charged with four counts of bribery.
The four will appear before Melbourne magistrates court on 5 February.
Updated
eSafety second investigation over Grok alleged creation of child abuse material
Just circling back to the earlier prime minister press conference where the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, flagged a second investigation into Elon Musk‘s X and AI chatbot Grok about whether Grok was used to create child sexual abuse material via image generation prompts made by users on X.
Inman Grant said in the press conference that the designated internet services standard – which X is covered by – will be the focus of the investigation. The standard prevents AI generators from creating child sexual abuse material, and puts responsibility on the platforms to detect and disrupt users attempting to generate such content.
X announced on Thursday it would stop allowing users to generate sexualised images of real people, but as of Friday morning, Guardian Australia was able to find examples where Grok was still posting sexualised imagery of people in response to user prompts.
X was approached for comment.
The first investigation was launched in response to complaints from the public about the sexualised imagery being created by Grok. There’s no detail on the timing of the investigations at this stage.
Clear ‘Ley’s leadership is unsalvageable’, Wong says
Wong was just asked about the Coalition’s statements surrounding the return to parliament and the proposed hate speech laws. She said the prime minister has maintained he is open to working with the opposition, but criticized Sussan Ley’s remarks that the bill was “unsalvageable”.
Wong said:
The prime minister has made clear, we are open to amendments, we would like to see national unity, we would like to see the Coalition and the Greens act responsibly. …
I think what is becoming increasingly clear is that it is Ms Ley’s leadership which is unsalvageable.
Updated
Penny Wong says government has limited ability to provide any assistance to Australians in Iran
Penny Wong is speaking about the unfolding situation in Iran, where says “hundreds, if not thousands, of Iranians have been killed by their own government, by a brutal oppressive regime which is seeking to maintain power”.
She said the Australian government does not have the ability to provide consular assistance to anyone in the country, except in “extremely limited circumstances”, noting the government has maintained Australians should not travel there:
If you are Australian and you are in Iran, we urge you to leave and if it is safe to do so.
She added:
Australia and Australians stand with the courageous people of Iran. With partners, we condemn this horrific crackdown. The Iranian people have shown enormous courage not only in recent weeks, but over many years, and we all particularly pay and salute the courage of Iranian women. …
My message is to the Iranian regime, which is the world is calling on you to cease your brutal crackdown on your people. That is the what president Trump has articulated, it is what the G7 has articulated and what Australia also calls for.
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Latest figures confirm rising number of road fatalities across the country
There were 1,314 road deaths in 2025, a 1.7% increase over the same 12-month period in 2024, according to key figures released by the government.
That number included 512 people who died that were considered “vulnerable road users”, including cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Drivers were the most frequent road user group when it came to deaths, followed by motorcyclists, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, respectively.
In the 12-month period, nearly 31% of road deaths were among those aged 40 to 64 years old. The younger age band, between 26 and 39, were linked to just over 22% of deaths. A large majority were men, who were around 3.1 times more likely to die in a fatal crash.
The figures come after NSW recorded its highest number of deaths on its roads in eight years at 355 people, 28 more than in 2024. NSW had the highest number of deaths in any state or territory, followed by Queensland (308, a 2% increase). The ACT had the lowest number of deaths in the past 12 months, with 9 (an 18.2% decrease over the previous year).
Updated
NSW to spend $3bn in hopes of ending ‘poo balls’ on beaches
The NSW government will spend $3bn over the next decade to reduce the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the ocean near the Sydney suburb of Malabar after multiple famed beaches have been plagued by so-called debris balls or “poo balls”.
The funding will be used to upgrade the Malabar wastewater treatment system that has been found to be the likely cause of the debris balls that have washed up on beaches across Sydney, the south coast and the central coast in late 2024 and early 2025. The plans are meant to reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be treated and discharged via the Malabar deep ocean outfall.
Those upgrades, the government says, will “reduce the likelihood of debris balls forming again”.
Rose Jackson, the state’s minister for water, said in a statement:
Sydney is a rapidly growing city and no one wants to see debris balls washing up on our beautiful beaches again – but the truth is our wastewater system needs an upgrade to keep pace with the population.
For too long, a lack of investment in essential infrastructure in Western Sydney has been a handbrake on our housing goals. We can’t undo that overnight, but we’re getting on with the job of clearing this backlog.
Claude AI developer Anthropic sets up in Australia
Anthropic, the maker of artificial intelligence model Claude, has opened an Australian branch.
The AI giant has registered an Australian subsidiary with a business address in Sydney’s Barangaroo, at the same location as its law firm, Baker McKenzie, according to documents filed with the corporate regulator.
Its directors are Jeffrey Bleich, Anthropic’s top US lawyer and a former ambassador to Australia, and David Cowper, who is also a listed director of OpenAI Australia, Netflix Australia, and the New Zealand branches of international tech businesses Trellix, Navan and Nintex.
Anthropic is planning to raise $10bn in the US to back its expansion plans after last year releasing a new AI model and announcing heavy investment in new US data centres.
The company registered in Australia on 10 December, days after competitor OpenAI opened a Sydney office. The ChatGPT developer marked its arrival by funding a new data centre and is now giving Australian users access to its AI health advice, leaving experts worried:
Two Sydney protests set for this weekend as NSW police mull extension of restrictions
Major demonstrations in Sydney planned for 26 January could still go ahead even if a declaration restricting protests is extended beyond that date, as police confirm they are working with different organisers on contingencies.
Last week, the New South Wales police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, extended a controversial restriction on protests in the wake of the Bondi terror attack to 20 January, effectively banning the ability for organisers to carry out major protests on the city’s streets without the risk of people being arrested by police.
The assistant commissioner, Peter McKenna, on Thursday said Lanyon would likely make the decision on whether to extend the declaration for another 14 days before the current declaration ends on Tuesday.
On Friday, the groups Stop the War on Palestine and Jews Against the Occupation will host a rally outside the Sydney Town Hall against the Minns government’s anti-protest laws, and to call for Anthony Albanese to cancel a planned visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog. It has been endorsed by a number of organisations, including the NSW Greens and Labor Friends of Palestine NSW.
A protest on Sunday will be held in Hyde Park to mark 10 years since David Dungay Jr, a Dunghutti man, died at the age of 26 at Long Bay jail in Sydney’s south. It will also call for justice for Dungay and a stop to all deaths in custody.
Asked if attendees who block pedestrian access to George Street at Friday’s protest at Town Hall could be arrested, McKenna said: “We have powers to move people on, disperse them if we need to. We’ll make those assessments as it goes.”
Read more here:
Updated
Dealing with the Coalition like ‘trying to grab smoke’, Albanese says
Albanese added:
At the moment this is like trying to grab smoke, trying to get an arrangement with the Coalition.
I say to the Coalition, if you can let me know now what they are prepared to vote for, I will respond to any question people have, because at the moment I am not sure what it is, and I don’t think they know either.
Updated
Albanese says government still open to other ideas on hate speech laws
The prime minister is still calling for bipartisanship when it comes to the proposed hate speech laws after both the Coalition and the Greens expressed serious concerns, just days before parliament is set to return.
He said the government is still open to other ideas, but criticised the opposition for not putting forward concrete plans:
The parties of government should be supporting this across the board. We have said if you have ideas for changes, please put them forward. The Coalition are yet to put forward a single proposed change.
The opposition seem to think they can be defined by just what they are against. I want to know what they are for. What changes are they for? … That is what I’m trying to do. Not playing politics, I have not been shouting, banging lecterns, I have not been engaged in performative conduct.
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eSafety commissioner says government has opened second investigation into Grok
Julie Inman-Grant said the government has opened a second investigation into Grok, X’s AI chatbot. She said:
I’m happy to talk about Grok, we just launched a second investigation …
While we are [thinking] about social media today, we think about how we protect young people from an even more potential catastrophic harm from AI.
We’re chasing more information and we’ll bring it to you when we have more. For now, read more here:
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Communications minister celebrates staring down big tech
Anika Wells, the communications minister, said the success of the ban came after a standoff with some of the most powerful tech companies in the world. She said:
They said it couldn’t be done but Australia is showing just how we could do it … We took a year to get the details right, we stared down everybody who said it couldn’t be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters, and now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhood back.
Julie Inman-Grant, the eSafety commissioner, said the government never expected the ban to eliminate “every single breach”, but said the effort was about “flipping the script a little bit” while building digital and algorithmic literacy in the years to come.
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Albanese says social media ban is working, a ‘source of Australian pride’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking in Brisbane, where he is touting the government’s social media ban for under-16s.
He said:
A little more than a month ago, Australia took action to protect our kids, to give kids back their childhood and to give parents peace of mind, to make sure that social media companies understood that they had a social responsibility.
Today we can announced that this is working. 4.7 million accounts gone, suspended, stopped. Meaning that young people instead of being on their devices during their school holidays have been cycling around facilities such as this, have been reading books, have been engaging with their friends and family on a one-to-one basis, interacting, making an enormous difference to them.
He added the ban was a point of “Australian pride” that is being followed-up around the world.
Updated
Watchdog to review Victoria’s bushfire season
Victoria’s bushfire season will be reviewed by the state’s emergency management watchdog, the Allan government has confirmed.
The decision came in a statement late on Thursday, just hours after the United Firefighters Union secretary, Peter Marshall, Across Victoria Alliance’s Andrew Weidemann and Country Fire Authority Volunteers Group president John Houston gathered on the steps of parliament to call for an upper house inquiry into the handling of the fires.
The trio had argued an inquiry led by non-government MPs would be “non-partisan” and “actually get to the bottom of what we know the truth to be”. Marshall said:
I’m not saying we could have stopped these fires, but firefighters need the truth … and indeed, the outcome may have been very much different if they had had the equipment [they needed]. A parliamentary inquiry is so important, and that is to make the government of the day accountable.
However, a government spokesperson said the matter would be investigated by the inspector general for emergency management, as was the case after the 2019-20 black summer fires.
The spokesperson said in a statement:
These fires have caused immense heartbreak across Victoria, and we are standing alongside affected communities as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. When communities are hurting, our focus must be on recovery and support.
We are not out of the woods yet with high-risk fire danger days ahead. Once the risk is reduced, we will request a formal review into this bushfire season led by the Inspector General for Emergency Management, not politicians.
The Inspector General for Emergency Management (IGEM) was established for exactly this purpose – to provide expert advice so we can continually improve our response.
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More than 4.7m social media accounts blocked after Australia’s under-16 ban came into force, PM says
More than 4.7m social media accounts held by Australians who platforms have judged to be under 16 years of age were deactivated, removed or restricted in the first days after the ban came into effect in December, the prime minister has said.
After the social media ban came into effect on 10 December, the eSafety commissioner sent questions to each of the platforms covered by the ban asking how many accounts had been removed in order to comply with the law.
The 10 platforms the government announced were covered by the ban were Twitch, Kick, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, X, TikTok and Reddit.
According to data received in response to these questions, released by the prime minister on Thursday, more than 4.7m accounts were deactivated, removed or restricted in the first few days of the ban.
Read more here:
Independent MPs on hate speech laws: ‘We can’t afford to wait any longer’
A group of independent MPs – including Allegra Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth includes Bondi Beach – has called on parliament to work across partisan lines to pass hate speech laws.
“The victims, families and Jewish community leaders have been united in their calls for a strong response,” the group said on Friday in a joint statement.
MPs including Nicolette Boele, Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall have all joined the statement, which reads:
The Royal Commission is part of it, but we also need urgent action on the issues that can be addressed quickly in a way that keeps the Jewish community and Australians of all faiths and backgrounds safe.
We have a bill being introduced next week – it is imperfect, but as MPs we have a responsibility to work on this legislation together to get it right for all Australians.
The Liberals and Nationals called for urgent action, now they must follow through. If there are differences within the Coalition, then at the very least they must give their MPs the opportunity for a conscience vote.
The Greens have flagged their concerns about hate speech and gun laws, now they have the opportunity to help shape laws to tackle these issues.
We urge all MPs to negotiate in good faith to deliver concrete action.
We can’t afford to wait any longer.
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SES advises large stretch of NSW south coast to be prepared for possible flash flooding
The NSW SES is advising a large portion of the state’s south coast, from Wollongong down to the coastal border with Victoria, to be on alert for forecasts of heavy rainfall and damaging winds that could lead to possible flash flooding.
The area includes Nowra, Batemans Bay, Eden, Braidwood and Bega.
Officials said the forecast could change quickly, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, prepare emergency kits and stay on top of alerts from emergency officials. A damaging surf warning is also in place for coastal locations between Eden and Ulladulla.
The agency said:
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible over parts of the South Coast this morning, with this risk spreading to parts of the Illawarra from later in the morning. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 and 80 mm are likely, and isolated totals up to 120 mm are possible.
If you missed it, here is our Full Story podcast with Randa Abdel-Fattah.
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Abdel-Fattah still plans to pursue defamation action against SA premier
Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah just spoke about her acceptance of the apology yesterday, saying she believes it was a “vindication of my right to speak out as a Palestinian against racism and genocide, and also my very firm belief that this is a vindication of the power of collective solidarity”.
She spoke to RN Breakfast, saying she still plans to pursue defamation action against the South Australia premier, Peter Malinauskas, claiming he had thrown “wild accusations and allegations and claims” about her in the turmoil surrounding the festival.
I’m really fed up with the way that my words are being deliberately and maliciously and mendaciously mischaracterised to paint me as an antisemite when I have never, ever, ever expressed any antisemitism against Jewish people. I stand in solidarity with anti-Zionist Jews as a Palestinian who was feeling the real-life impacts of a genocide in the name of Zionist ideology on my people.
I think also it’s a bit rich for the premier to be constructing his words against me on the basis of him speaking with compassion and sincerity.
Read more here:
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Adelaide festival executive director says apology to Abdel-Fattah came ‘because we meant it’
The Adelaide festival executive director, Julian Hobba, said the body issued an apology to Randa Abdel-Fattah yesterday “because we meant it” as a “sincere expression of how we feel”.
Hobba spoke to RN Breakfast, saying the apology was consistent with the “best values of Adelaide festival and our longstanding commitment over decades to creating a space where people can express and debate ideas freely and in a civil way”, adding:
We issued the apology because we meant it. Because it’s a sincere expression of how we feel, and it was the determination of the board that it was the way to bring Adelaide festival back into best alignment with its values.
Hobba said there has been no detailed conversation yet about who will be the director of the next Adelaide writers’ week in 2027 or beyond.
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Greens leader worried legislation could have unintended consequences
Larissa Waters, the Greens’ leader, also says she’s concerned there has not been enough time to evaluate the legislation, warning there are a “raft of unintended consequences that could occur”.
Waters told RN Breakfast:
We’ve only had a handful of days to look at this legislation, and it’s very consequential legislation … And with every turn, experts and stakeholders and faith leaders and academics are finding new concerns with it. A key concern is that you can’t combat hate if you don’t combat it for everyone.
A key concern that we have … is that these laws, as they’re drafted right now, could be weaponised to shut down legitimate political protest.
Waters said the party cannot support laws that could impinge on freedom of expression.
Given the tightness of the timeframe … there is a real risk that locking in laws that aren’t right could criminalise people for legitimate political expression. That is a dangerous path.
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Coalition shadow minister maintains ‘serious concerns’ with hate speech legislation
Paul Scarr, the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, is maintaining the Coalition line that there has not been enough time to evaluate hate speech and gun control legislation put forward by the Albanese government.
Scarr is speaking to RN Breakfast, where he has maintained there was no consultation between Labor and the opposition, classifying the legislation as “Labor’s bill” and said the timeline was “totally unacceptable”. He said:
We’ve got serious concerns with respect to whether or not the bill meets its objective …
It really is concerning that we’re in this stage where we’re less than one business day away from parliament coming together and these serious concerns persist. We’re in a situation where we’re dealing with such a significant piece of legislation, complicated legislation, legislation which deals with the raft of matters which are contained in this one monster omnibus bill, which is a totally inappropriate way to address this situation.
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‘Profound hurt’: South Australian Jewish community leader criticises Adelaide festival board’s about-face
Back to the Adelaide festival controversy: a leader of the South Australian Jewish community, Norman Schueler, has hit out at the decision to invite Randa Abdel-Fattah back to the festival’s writers’ week next year.
He told the Adelaide Advertiser his community was “profoundly hurt” and “in total disbelief” over the author’s invitation to next year’s writers’ week only six days after she was barred from this year’s event because of “cultural sensitivity”.
“I believe the board has acted with unconscionable conduct, it has pandered to a vociferous minority … it’s run scared into the arms of self-righteous persons [and] trashed the reputation of the festival,” he said.
“The previous board acted with courage and moral clarity.
“I do not believe the board has the right to apologise on our behalf, our communities have been profoundly hurt.”
Great Ocean Road rain ‘quite extraordinary and terrifying’
Kristy McBain, the federal emergency services minister, said the rain in Victoria was “quite extraordinary”. She told RN Breakfast:
What we saw yesterday afternoon on the Great Ocean Road was quite extraordinary and terrifying for the people that have been caught up in it. They had 170mm of rain in a six-hour period. That’s the highest of any 24-hour period since site records began there in the year 2000.
So that was an extraordinary amount of rain coming off the mountains there. There are now emergency relief centres open in Lorne and Apollo Bay. It’s obviously still a pretty dangerous situation, and I urge anyone in the area to closely listen to advice from authorities.
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Local councillor says flash flooding in Victoria a ‘big shock’
Leon Walker, a councillor for the Surf Coast Shire, spoke to ABC News this morning after hundreds of people were evacuated due to severe flash flooding along the Wye River in Victoria.
A thunderstorm dropped more than 170mm of rain on the Lorne area in Victoria’s south-west coast on Thursday, sweeping cars away as flood waters surged through the area.
Walker said everyone in the area is safe, but said it would take time for the area to clean up.
It was a big shock, it happened very quickly to Lorne.
The amount of rain and water that we had come through is astounding to be honest. … We’re talking cars washed out to sea.
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Indie band Pulp will play Adelaide festival after all
The fallout from the Adelaide festival fiasco continues with an overnight statement from the indie band Pulp that they will be playing at the event next month.
The British band had initially told the organisers they were joining the boycott of the event over the “dreadful” barring of Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah from the Adelaide writers’ week.
At the organisers’ request, the band delayed their announcement of the boycott while the festival tried to resolve the crisis.
But after the apology to Abdel-Fattah, the band is back on board.
Frontman Jarvis Cocker said on Instagram last night that he was happy that the band was now “prepared to perform at the music festival once more”.
“This will be a free concert, open to anyone who respects the freedom of all voices to be heard. It will also be fun.”
Read our full story here:
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Good morning, and happy Friday. Nick Visser here to take things over. Let’s get to it.
More on that stop-and-search hearing in Melbourne.
Counsel for the plaintiffs, Thomas Wood from the Human Rights Legal Centre, argued the declaration made by Victoria police was “invalid”.
He told the court yesterday:
The Act authorises, once a declaration is made, what can only be described as, ‘extraordinary powers’.
There are two that concern the interests of my client. They are search powers to search any person without forming any reasonable suspicions and without requiring a warrant, with the only condition being that that person being within the designated area.
And then there is what we’ve called a face-covering power, conferred by section 10ka (of the Act).
In court, counsel assisting for the Victorian government, Sarah Keating, said the state accepted that police requiring people to “remove a face-covering in some instances can burden political communication”, but contended that the “burden is indirect”, and was not “significant”.
The challenge was brought on by Invasion Day community organiser, Tarneen Onus Browne, environmental activist Benny Zable, and human rights advocate, David Hack, who was searched by police in Melbourne’s CBD on 7 December.
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Victorian stop-and-search police powers in constitutional federal court challenge
The assistant commissioner for Victoria police is set to be cross-examined in federal court this morning as a constitutional challenge by a trio of activists looks at whether a declaration of Melbourne’s CBD as a designated area for four months was legal.
It is the second day of a two-day hearing. Constitutional arguments were laid out by counsel from both sides yesterday, focusing on how the implied freedom of political communication can be interpreted by police; and whether a protester wearing face-coverings should be considered a form of “political expression” or if they may be concealing their identity to commit a crime.
Under the declaration initiated from the Controlled Weapons Act, which was revoked four months early on 9 January, police, including protective service officers, were allowed to stop and search anyone without a warrant if they were within the designated area.
Police were also able to require police to remove face-coverings – regardless of whether they were being worn for political or health purposes, such as to protect against the effects of crowd-control substances, such as pepper spray.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer to get the day started and then Nick Visser will take the news baton.
