What we learned, 27 October 2024
With that we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the major stories from Sunday:
David Crisafulli claimed an LNP victory in the Queensland state election and made his first speech as premier-elect. Labor’s Steven Miles has conceded defeat, officially resigning as premier in a meeting with the governor, Jeannette Young, before heading to the pub for an “XXXX off the wood” with supporters.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the state election results sent a message to the Greens “to bring people together, not to divide people”. Greens MP Michael Berkman said there was a chance the party could still retain its seats once postal votes were counted.
Meanwhile in Victoria, the Allan government announced “well-designed” apartments and townhouses would be fast-tracked through planning approvals. The opposition leader, John Pesutto, said the plans lacked substance.
In NSW, the state government and transmission company Transgrid was still trying to restore the power network for Broken Hill and surrounding areas. The energy minister, Penny Sharpe, asked residents to reduce their power use in the evening.
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
Greens MP says they may still retain Queensland seats despite election woes
Greens MP Michael Berkman did a press conference a short while ago after the party’s reverse at the Queensland state election.
The party had talked up their chances before election day, but looked likely to lose both seats on election night.
Berkman was the first Green to take a lower house seat in the state’s parliament. His seat of Maiwar is now considered likely to be held by the party.
At this stage South Brisbane is a very real possibility still, I don’t know why it’s been written off, because there are a lot of postal votes and a lot of absentees to be counted, so there’s a very real chance that Labor could be pushed into third with those postals counted, in which case Amy would be easily re elected.
Berkman said Labor leader Steven Miles had adopted a number of Green policies to hold off the party in the inner city, including 50 cent fares and free school lunches. He said Labor had held them off by “pouring more resources into keeping us out than they did into challenging the LNP”:
Steven Miles just lost government. He lost government in a contest where, if he’d actually identified the real enemy and gone hard, he could have held on to government, and worked with us to actually get these policies in place.
Instead, he’s chosen a petty fight with the Greens to try and protect the few inner city seats, and he has given the conservatives government.
Updated
Two whales that were seen in Sydney Harbour on Sunday have begun making their way back out to sea.
A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said that the two whales were resting between Middle Head and South Head.
The whales have been reported as healthy, and a mother was feeding her calf.
The whales are currently making their way out to sea.
The spokesperson reminded the public to keep their distance from whales, which is 100m for adults and 300m for calves.
Australian ice skaters collect country’s first grand prix bronze
Australian ice skating pair Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore have collected the country’s first ever grand prix medal, winning bronze at Skate Canada.
Golubeva, 18, and Giotopoulos Moore, 22, finished third behind the reigning pairs world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps in Halifax.
Russian-born Golubeva and Sydneysider Giotopoulos Moore train in Montreal at the same rink as the top-ranked Canadian team.
Attracting some of the world’s best figure skaters, the event is the second of six International Skating Union grand prix competitions with athletes looking to qualify for December’s elite final in Grenoble, France.
The silver medal went to Uzbekistan pair Ekaterina Geynish and Dmitrii Chigirev.
- AAP
Updated
Victorian Labor responds to opposition attacks over housing design standards
In response to Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto’s earlier comments we blogged – in which he said the premier, Jacinta Allan, had failed to introduce better apartment design standards – we’ve just received this from a government spokesperson:
Under the Liberals there were no minimum design standards – which resulted in the Liberals approving poor quality homes with no regard for who lived in them. We fixed this by introducing minimum design standards and providing better access to natural light and outdoor space – ensuring these mistakes never happen again. We’re also reviewing current apartment design standards – to see how we can make them better.
The spokesperson said the Labor government introduced apartment design standards in 2017, then expanded them in 2021. They said they would update the standards again, as recommended by a parliament inquiry, in 2026.
These 2026 updates to the standards will apply statewide, including in the 50 areas near train stations and trams that they announced last week would be earmarked for great development.
Updated
I had already been nude for a solid seven minutes when renowned artist Spencer Tunick yelled into a megaphone: “Nobody should be naked yet – there’s still 45 minutes until sunrise!”
The thousands of other naked people milling around came to a halt. We glanced at each other with confused eyes. Did he just say we shouldn’t be naked?
Monique Ross writes about the experience participating in Spencer Tunick’s work Rising Tide here:
Why get naked on a Brisbane Bridge? For art
More than 5,000 people have stripped bare in Brisbane today to participate in Spencer Tunick’s latest work, called Rising Tide.
The photographer said the photos on Story Bridge were a celebration of inclusivity and connection.
Updated
The climate and energy minister, Chris Bowen, has congratulated David Crisafulli and the Queensland LNP on their election win.
Co-operation between state and federal governments is one of the key ingredients to our successful energy transition and I look forward to working co-operatively with the new Energy Minister in the best interest of Qld and Australia.
Congratulations to @DavidCrisafulli and the QLD LNP on their clear election win.
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) October 27, 2024
Co-operation between state and federal governments is one of the key ingredients to our successful energy transition and I look forward to working co-operatively with the new Energy Minister in the… pic.twitter.com/Gh04Cxw4jt
Updated
Police in New South Wales have launched an investigation after a police vehicle drove onto train tracks in the Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt.
The police vehicle had been attempting to stop a motorcycle, which had been detected driving above the speed limit, when it drove through a fence and onto the tracks on Saturday afternoon.
“The police vehicle followed the motorcycle and attempted to stop it – without initiating a pursuit – when, at the intersection of George Street and Beams Avenue, the police vehicle left the roadway and continued through a fence, before coming to a stop on the railway tracks,” police said in a statement.
The officers in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, while the motorcyclist rode from the scene.
Emergency services were called to Mount Druitt railway station at about 4:40PM on Saturday, where they attended to the officers’ injuries before removing the vehicle from the railway tracks.
Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage or who have witnessed the incident to come forward.
Trucks deliver food aid to western NSW after power outages
The New South Wales energy minister, Penny Sharpe, says food trucks are now travelling through the far west delivering food hampers:
They’ve dropped some in Menindee, and they’re on their way to Wilcannia, and there will also be some in Broken Hill. If you had to throw out the contents of your fridge and you need some food, you can do that.
She said all schools will be open tomorrow and recovery assistance points will open from Tuesday and Wednesday. Asked if she was satisfied with the progress, Sharpe conceded there was a “slow start” to work to get the transmission lines back up. She said:
We’re now seeing really great progress. What I saw this morning was very impressive. Workers are really putting everything into this. They’ve got good plans. There’s more people coming on every day.
We almost saw that third tower go up and the plans are in there. There’s seven there. If we get to four today, four out of seven is pretty good, and that means that it’ll be energised as quickly as possible.
Sharpe also issued another request to people in the far west of NSW to reduce power usage in the evening:
Finally, I just ask when it hits 5:30pm tonight – I know people are probably sick of me saying this – if you can reduce your usage, that would be great. If you can turn off the lights in the rooms that you’re not in, turn off non essential appliances, if you can put the air conditioner a bit hotter than you would normally have it. All of that’s helping as all of the generation is coming on board.
On behalf of the government, we are pleased with the progress of both the work that Essential and TransGrid have done in relation to this, there’s been serious progress in the last 48 hours. We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re very hopeful that that will continue.
Updated
NSW energy minister says two of seven towers needed to reconnect Broken Hill to energy grid are online
In New South Wales, the state’s energy minister, Penny Sharpe, is providing an update on the rolling power outages in Broken Hill, after a storm cut the outback city off from the electricity network more than a week ago.
Sharpe says two transmission towers are now up and running, with hopes for a further two today:
“We were seeing a third one beginning to get put into place. We’re very hopeful for a fourth today, but that’s subject to the wind. It was a bit windy out there today and a lot of dust, but look, they’re ready to go, and that’s working really well.
She says 100 Transgrid staff are on site working 24 shifts. Sharpe said:
For the second night in a row, power remained on to all of the far west region thanks to the network of generators now in place that are supplying Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wilcannia, Menindee, White Cliffs, Silverton and several other remote communities. All customers of the far west region have power.
There was no need for load shedding during yesterday’s evening peak. And again, thank everyone who is reducing [power use]. Any reduction in usage from 5:30pm onwards is really making a difference in helping us manage through this.
At the moment, the advice is that from Central and from TransGrid, there are no planned outages for the next 48 hours [and] the main backup generator is operational.
Updated
Steven Miles officially resigns as premier
Steven Miles has resigned as Queensland premier at a meeting with the governor, Jeannette Young, this morning.
At a press conference at parliament house a few minutes ago, he conceded to LNP leader David Crisafulli.
He said he wants to remain as party leader if chosen by his caucus colleagues.
“The result last night was much better than expected, but clearly nowhere near sufficient for a Labor victory. I’m very proud of the campaign that I ran and the government that have led these last 10 months, but at the end of the day, clearly, Queenslanders for some time, have wanted to see change of government,” Miles said.
“You’ve seen the polls pretty consistently for a long time now, they predicted a very, very bad result. The fact that many MPs have held their seats, it’s a credit to them, but also I’m going to give credit to the campaign that we ran.”
Miles said he had jumped the gun by about an hour last night when he suggested the party might not have a majority and might need to negotiate with the crossbench.
He finished the press conference by announcing he was heading to the pub for a “XXXX off the wood” with supporters, a longstanding tradition.
Updated
Pesutto continues criticism over Labor housing announcements
Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, said the state government had 10 years in office to get housing issues “right” but had failed to do so. He said:
We’ve seen a rush of announcements in the last week simply to try to pretend that there’s real action being undertaken and nothing of substance has actually been delivered.
The government hasn’t come clean on what the costs of their policies will actually be, because, remember, they are shifting basic infrastructure costs to renters and home buyers through higher charges.
They’re not indicating that they have any willingness to bring down the costs of construction, whether that’s through tax reform or tackling CFMEU misconduct on major construction sites. And let’s remember large, high-density apartment complexes will be run by the CFMEU.
Updated
Victorian opposition says fast-tracked building path has ‘no substance’
Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, has criticised the government’s fast-tracked pathway for well-designed buildings, saying it has “no substance”.
As we brought to you earlier, the planning minister, Sonya Kilkenny, announced plans for a “great design fast track” which would grant affordable, well-designed buildings an accelerated pathway through the planning approvals process.
But Pesutto says the government can not be trusted to deliver on quality housing. He told reporters in Melbourne:
The question has to be asked, how can they announce this fast-tracking process when they haven’t even finalised guidelines for better apartment design?
What it says is that the government is more interested in rushing out announcements with no substance. You would think that a responsible and prudent approach would be first to get the design guidelines right, as part of an announcement that will improve timelines for approvals and permits.
We support reductions in timelines – subject to community input for approvals – for building permits and for planning. Of course, that’s a good thing to reduce unnecessary delay.
But to announce that before you’ve actually settled on better apartment designs means that we risk seeing poor-quality stock come into the housing market.
In 2022, a parliamentary inquiry into apartment design recommended the government introduce minimum sizes for apartments, rooms and balconies and specific sunlight requirements to ensure more quality developments.
The government accepted the recommendations, but earlier this year said new apartment design standards will not be introduced until 2026.
Updated
PM says Queensland election sends message to Greens to be progressive, not blockers
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the Queensland election sends a big message to the Greens party and leader Adam Bandt. He said:
People who elected Greens party representatives to state and federal parliament expected them to play a progressive role, not to play a blocking role; to seek to bring people together, not to divide people.
Albanese said outgoing Labor premier Steven Miles ran an effective campaign, but it was hard to win a fourth term in office.
Updated
Australia’s Jillaroos will take on the Kiwi Ferns from New Zealand in the women’s rugby league test in Christchurch, NZ.
You can follow the Guardian’s live coverage of the match, which kicks off at 1.35pm AEDT, here:
Victorian government announces fast-track pathway for ‘well-designed’ buildings
Well-designed apartments and townhouses will be fast-tracked through the planning approval process in Victoria, the state’s planning minister, Sonya Kilkenny, has announced.
At a press conference in South Melbourne on Sunday, Kilkenny announced plans for a “great design fast track” which would reward affordable, well-designed buildings by granting them an accelerated pathway through the planning approvals process.
The focus of the state-wide plan will be on townhouse and apartment projects of three to six storeys in height. She says it will provide developers confidence that cost-sensitive projects will not get stuck in “an expensive state of limbo”.
The government is also expanding its state design book of “future homes” – projects that are planned on paper alongside artists’ impressions, but don’t yet exist – by welcoming into its pages high-quality developments that are already complete.
The design book, due to be complete by the end of the year, will also establish best-practice principles and guidance for well-designed apartments and townhouses to guide developers and give communities confidence about the long-term quality of new homes.
The public will also be able to nominate buildings they think meet the good design criteria and deserve to be replicated across the state. Kilkenny:
The community deserves affordable buildings that look great on the outside and feel solid as a rock on the inside. Our plan is for more grand designs but without the grand cost.
We have an incredible opportunity before us to renew our suburbs and streets with well-designed apartments and townhouses that are great for singles, families and downsizers and which add to the architectural fabric of our state.
It is the ninth housing announcement by the Victorian government in eight days focused on helping millennials achieve home ownership. Here’s our weekend read on how the premier, Jacinta Allan, is pining her political hopes on the demographic:
Updated
Queensland’s director general for premier’s department steps back
The director general of Queensland’s Department of Premier and Cabinet, Mike Kaiser, acknowledged he would not be continuing in the role after yesterday’s LNP victory.
In a post to networking site LinkedIn, Kaiser congratulated premier-elect David Crisafulli and said:
I fully respect his decision and hope my attitude goes some way to overcoming the nonsense that premiers can’t choose their head of department in a modern democracy.
Kaiser thanked the former premier Steven Miles for the opportunity.
Updated
Crisafulli makes first speech as premier-elect
David Crisafulli has spoken at Queensland parliament house for the first time as premier-elect.
The LNP leader again thanked unsuccessful candidates from both sides before declaring he would get to work quickly.
Crisafulli and his deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, will visit the governor tomorrow to be sworn into interim roles. The full cabinet will be sworn in later.
The director general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Mike Kaiser, will be replaced by the public service commissioner, David Mackie.
“[Kaiser] was incredibly gracious in that phone call. He has prepared an incoming brief for us,” Crisafulli said.
I want to thank Mike for the way he’s conducted himself this morning.
The Labor leader, Steve Miles, is expected to speak at parliament later today.
Updated
NT inmate numbers hit record high
Record high inmate numbers in the Northern Territory have triggered a mass shift of prisoners.
The NT corrections commissioner, Matthew Varley, ordered a mass shift of prisoners after the territory’s inmate numbers hit a record high of 2,370 on Friday.
The record numbers have put “significant pressure” on the Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres and police watch houses.
More than 90 prisoners would be transferred under Varley’s directions.
– AAP
Updated
Why is Kmart thriving and other questions about retailers in a cost-of-living crisis
The last full-sized Kmart in the US closed this week – yet another casualty of online buying habits proving to be an existential threat to department stores around the world.
But in Australia the discount retailer that shares the same branding is bucking the global trend after engaging in a years-long transformation to shed its daggy image. The result? Supercharged profits for its owner.
Revenue at the Wesfarmers-owned Kmart Group jumped almost 5% last financial year to $11.1bn, even as cost-of-living pressures dampened the mood of many shoppers. Meanwhile, revenues have been sliding at rival Big W.
Read more:
Updated
What does the Queensland election show about the state’s new political realities?
The Queensland electorate has delivered a change of government, but it was not the overwhelming Labor defeat expected at the start of the campaign and has left the ALP with a sizeable opposition.
Labor clawed back support during the campaign and only suffered modest losses in the south-east of the state.
But it was hit hard in the regions, bringing Queensland Labor in line with the federal party and other state branches who have found their support increasingly concentrated in the big cities.
It now looks like the Liberal National party will end up with a majority similar to the modest majorities Labor has governed with since 2017.
Read more:
Updated
Whales spotted in Sydney Harbour
Two whales have been spotted in Sydney Harbour, according to scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta.
Two #whales currently in #Sydney Harbour. @NSWMaritime and National Parks and Wildlife Services present.
— Dr. Vanessa Pirotta (@VanessaPirotta) October 27, 2024
Reports of boats crowding these two whales, can you please keep your distance. At least 300m. Hopefully they head back to the #humpbackhighway. More to come@Wildsydharbour pic.twitter.com/VDC19VpAoQ
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Tony Burke cancels visa of US conservative Candace Owens ahead of scheduled tour
Immigration minister Tony Burke has cancelled the visa of controversial US conservative commentator Candace Owens, according to the SMH.
Burke said Owens had the capacity “to incite discord in almost every direction”:
Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.
Owens has shows scheduled in November in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Updated
Dutton: ‘Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it’
The federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has congratulated his party mate David Crisafulli for his win in the Queensland state election overnight.
Dutton tweeted this morning:
Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it. They wanted action on crime, cost of living, health and housing, and they’ve voted for it.
The federal Coalition leader and fellow Queenslander had campaigned for Crisafulli’s election in the campaign’s final days, but questions remain over the disconnect between the two men on the Coalition’s signature nuclear policy.
Crisafulli had said he wasn’t planning on nuclear in Queensland’s power grid – but Dutton has indicated the federal Coalition, if elected to government, would stick with that policy even if state leaders didn’t back it.
Upon Crisafulli’s election win, there will be further questions about how the nuclear issue will be addressed.
Dutton continued:
I wish David and his new LNP Government all the best on delivering a fresh start for Queenslanders.
Congratulations to @DavidCrisafulli and his @LNPQLD Team.
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) October 26, 2024
Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it.
They wanted action on crime, cost of living, health and housing, and they’ve voted for it.
I wish David and his new LNP Government all the best on delivering a…
Updated
Abortion cost LNP votes in Queensland poll – Littleproud
The federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has conceded that the incoming Queensland premier David Crisafulli’s handling of the pregnancy termination debate cost the LNP votes.
Speaking on Sky News, he said:
David, on reflection, would probably prefer to have been stronger in his language – in being certain that there won’t be any changes to the laws.
Abortion emerged as one of the biggest issues in the Queensland election after crossbencher Robbie Katter announced he would introduce a bill to repeal abortion laws before walking back his proposal to “born alive” legislation.
Though signs are pointing to a majority government for the LNP, the win was not the landslide predicted by opinion polls leading up to the vote.
As the polling date drew nearer, the LNP leader was asked more than 100 times about his stance on abortion before finally clarifying he was pro-choice.
– AAP
Updated
Telstra and Optus begin switching off 3G networks
Telstra and Optus will begin switching off their 3G networks from tomorrow.
Customers still using 3G are urged to check their devices, especially phones, medical monitors and Eftpos machines, for compatibility with 4G and 5G networks.
The telecommunications companies say the closure will improve the speed and reliability of 4G and 5G networks.
In August, the Telstra CEO, Vicki Brady, said:
We have been communicating to customers about the need to prepare and make the move for almost five years. This has included multiple letters, bill messages, SMS, public awareness campaigns, advertising – even door knocking and sending free phones to people in vulnerable circumstances, and our support for customers won’t end the day the network closes.
TPG Telecom (formerly Vodafone) switched off its 3G network in December 2023.
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A look at ‘incredibly expressive and very flirtatious’ Maratus spiders
Australian Maratus spiders, which measure 3-5mm, are known as “peacock spiders” because of the extravagant colourings they display during courtship rituals and combat.
Sydney-based artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso became fascinated with the tiny spiders, which she has depicted in the series Spiders of Paradise, in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Cardoso said of the spiders:
They’re incredibly expressive and very flirtatious. The male wants to get all the attention of the female, like birds of paradise.
Read more:
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Crisafulli’s emissions reduction goal ‘challenging’ – Pitt
On ABC Insiders, National party MP Keith Pitt describes incoming the Queensland premier David Crisafulli’s support for 75% emissions reduction by 2035 as “quite challenging in terms of the practicalities”.
That’s not talking about net zero. That’s talking about actual emissions reductions as a total.
So what’s the proposal? Are you intending to wipe out the cattle herd, are you going to reduce traffic by 75%?
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Keith Pitt: abortion should be ‘legal, safe and rare’
On abortion, the National party MP, Keith Pitt, says he supports people’s freedom of choice.
It’s entirely a state piece of legislation.
I’ll quote others: legal, safe and rare.
He describes Queensland Labor’s tactics on the issue “distasteful and disgraceful” on ABC Insiders.
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Labor's Steven Miles congratulates David Crisafulli on victory
The Labor leader, Steven Miles, has called David Crisafulli to congratulate him on becoming premier.
Miles made the call about 7.30am this morning.
The LNP leader looks certain to win majority government and become premier, winning several seats in regional Queensland.
Miles has been leader since December last year. In a concession speech last night he implied a desire to continue on in the role.
The counting continues.
Updated
Cameron Dick: crime a big factor in Labor’s Queensland loss
On ABC Insiders, the outgoing Queensland treasurer, Cameron Dick, acknowledges crime was a big factor in the state’s election.
It became an issue, particularly in regional Queensland, around trust.
I think in the end, regional Queenslanders did not trust us to address that issue.
The Labor leadership automatically becomes vacant, following the election results. Dick says whoever becomes the leader will need to focus on rebuilding trust.
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Man, 20, dies from stabbing in Geelong
A man has died after he was found with a stab wound this morning on Geelong’s main hospitality strip.
Police say the 20-year-old man was found on Little Malop Street about 5.30am with a stab wound, which they believe he sustained during an altercation nearby.
He was taken to hospital, where he later died.
Two other men police believe were involved in the altercation self-presented at a hospital and are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Homicide squad detectives are now investigating the incident. They’ve urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Updated
Greens go backwards in Queensland election, says ABC analyst
ABC election analyst Casey Briggs tells ABC Insiders that while there are still seats in doubt in the Queensland election, the Greens have not claimed any at this point.
There are a couple of seats in doubt, but the Greens have certainly not gone forwards. They may well have gone backwards at the end of the night.
Updated
A warm and sunny Sunday ahead for much of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Here's today's forecast around Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) October 26, 2024
For the latest forecasts and warnings, visit https://t.co/XLQpGMEhPK or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/b65ZfmuNJu
Australian sandalwood at risk of extinction
Consumers and celebrities around the world covet it for its warm, earthy and musky scent, but Australian sandalwood’s popularity has come at more than just a hefty cost to the wallet, with some scientists warning the species is at risk of extinction in the wild.
Richard McLellan, an adjunct research fellow at Charles Sturt University, said:
Australian sandalwood’s downfall is that it’s one of the most fragrant species of sandalwood in the world.
A lot of people know sandalwood very well but very few people know it’s declining in the wild and it’s been over-harvested for decades.
Read more:
Updated
Good morning
Welcome to another Sunday Guardian live blog.
David Crisafulli has claimed an LNP victory in the Queensland state election, marking an end to a decade of Labor government. Eleven seats remain in doubt according to the ABC.
The Commonwealth leaders summit wrapped up in Samoa with Pacific leaders reminding Australia, Canada and the UK of the existential threat they face from rising sea levels due to global heating.
The National party MP Keith Pitt will speak to ABC Insiders host David Speers shortly.
I’m Petra Stock and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
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