What we learned, 7 December 2025
With that we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the major stories from Sunday:
Anika Wells has defended her travel expenses that incurred up to $100k in flights to New York for an appearance at the UN, saying she “had to be in two places at once”;
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has backed in Wells over reports of taxpayer-funded travel expenses, saying the claims followed the rules;
“Strong and erratic” winds posed a challenge to New South Wales firefighters on Sunday morning but a late change brought calm conditions;
The Koolewong fire was downgraded on Sunday afternoon but authorities warned the situation was not under control with more than 75 fires burning across NSW;
The Dolphin Sands fire in Tasmania has been contained but the affected area is not safe for residents to re-enter;
The government has said more social media platforms could be added to its social media ban and it will continue to monitor its implementation;
State and federal governments have declared an emergency and opened the way for disaster assistance to be provided to fire-hit residents of the New South Wales Central Coast.
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
Auction activity has fallen slightly this weekend with 3,328 auctions to be held. This is a slight drop on the 3,427 held last week but a massive surge on the 2,617 auctions that occurred at the same time last year.
Based on results collected so far, CoreLogic’s summary found that the preliminary clearance rate was 63.5% across the country, which is lower than the 68.2% preliminary rate recorded last week but above the 60.9% actual rate on final numbers and the 57.6% at the same time last year.
Across the capital cities:
Sydney: 845 of 1,100 auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 61.5%
Melbourne: 1,215 of 1,656 auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 65.5%
Brisbane: 139 0f 188 auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 54.7%
Adelaide: 103 of 163 auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 70.9%
Canberra: 79 of 110 auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 55.7%
Perth: 14 of 29 auctions held with a preliminary clearance rate of 54.5%.
Tasmania: Two auctions held.
Christmas rate relief off the table at last RBA meeting
The official cash rate is expected to remain on hold when the Reserve Bank decides on interest rates for the last time in 2025.
Mortgage holders aren’t expected to get an early Christmas present from the Reserve Bank, with a cut to interest rates all but off the table.
The central bank will begin two days of talks on Monday in its final board meeting of the year, after which the official cash rate is expected to remain at 3.6%.
Tuesday’s rate decision comes after the Reserve Bank started 2025 with a rate cut, followed by a further two easings that brought welcome cost-of-living relief for borrowers during the year.
But an uptick in the consumer price index has poured cold water on any chance of another interest rate reduction.
The latest data showed annual inflation rising to 3.8% from 3.6% the month before, well above the Reserve Bank’s target band of between 2 and 3%.
Trimmed mean inflation, which removes volatile price movements and is the central bank’s preferred measure, was at 3.3% in the 12 months to October.
A rise in house prices and the end of state rebates for power prices have been blamed for the spike.
Labour force figures for November will be released on Thursday and CommSec economists have tipped the unemployment rate of 4.3% will remain steady, with the Australian economy set to add about 25,000 jobs for the month.
The labour force participation rate is also expected to remain stable at 67%.
– AAP
Updated
Taliban sanctions hailed as Afghan embassy future shaky
Australian sanctions on the oppressive regime of the Taliban have been hailed by the Afghan government in exile but its embassy in Canberra could be shut down.
Australia’s decision to sanction top Taliban officials has been praised as “principled and timely” in shunning the oppressive regime but it complicates how the government deals with Afghanistan diplomatically.
Canberra placed the measures on three Taliban ministers and Afghanistan’s chief justice meaning Australians will be prohibited from supplying them with arms or similar services, as well as using or dealing with their assets and funds.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the harsh diplomatic actions penalise the Taliban for demonstrating “contempt for the rights, freedoms and welfare of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls”.
The ousted Afghan government’s diplomatic representative in Canberra said the “world-first” autonomous sanctions framework was a step in the right direction in isolating the Taliban.
The embassy said on Sunday:
It sends a powerful message that impunity for crimes against the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, will not be tolerated. Australia’s leadership sets a vital precedent for other nations to adopt similar measures to hold the Taliban accountable for their ongoing violations of international law.
The statement from the embassy, operating under the banner of the Coordination Council of Diplomatic and Consular Missions of Afghanistan, comes at a time when its future is up in the air.
Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi, an appointee of the government ousted by the Taliban, remains at the embassy but his diplomatic credentials expire in 2026 and its future remains in doubt.
– AAP
Updated
Lawrence Du knew instinctively that his parents’ bakery had the potential to pop off on social media.
Shaun Du and Cindy Vuong opened Montmorency Bakehouse on the fringe of Melbourne’s east in 2003, after migrating to Australia from Vietnam. They started selling pillowy, coconut-dusted lamingtons, vanilla slices, chunky steak pies and crusty loaves of bread alongside crispy banh mi and rice paper rolls, creating a traditional country-style Australian bakery with a Vietnamese twist.
Lawrence, 28, who runs his own social media marketing company, had grown up with the bakery and wanted to share stories of his parents’ “hard work, all the love and care that they pour into their business”, he tells Guardian Australia.
Shaun and Cindy had a limited understanding of what their son wanted to do. But after costs rose with inflation and competition in the area increased, they finally relented.
“I knew that the videos were going to do well, but I didn’t expect them to do this well,” Lawrence says.
For more on this story, read the full feature story by The Guardian’s Stephanie Convery:
NSW shark mitigation program gets extra $2.5m
New South Wales’s shark mitigation program will receive a $2.5m injection this summer to fly more drones, begin patrols earlier and have them operate for longer.
In an announcement on Sunday, the state government announced more drones will be purchased for the monitoring program, which will kick in from 13 December, a week earlier than planned and run until March 2026.
The additional funding adds to $21.4m earmarked for the program that funds Surf Life Saving New South Wales drone surveillance work at 50 beaches along the state.
Funding will also be provided for the placement of 150 shark bite kits to be distributed to beaches outside of the metropolitan area.
NSW minister for agriculture and regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, said she had been moved after meeting with the family of Mercury Psillakis, who died following a shark attack.
While there is no 100% safeguard to protect people from shark interactions, a mix of technologies and public awareness will increase safety.
A better awareness of sharks and their behaviour can help us all enjoy the beach and reduce the risk of shark interactions this summer.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO (SLSNSW) Steve Pearce welcomed the announced as a “significant enhancement” of the program.
Updated
Tax-minimising lawyer to ferocious Greens warrior: how an elevator ride changed David Shoebridge’s life
In the late 1990s, a corporate lawyer helping wealthy clients hide their assets was beginning to feel uncomfortable. There was a feeling that had been gnawing away at him for several weeks, becoming harder and harder to ignore. Eventually, while riding the elevator to work one morning, his subconscious took over.
“I don’t tend to make snap decisions, but I remember going up in the lift one morning and realising I just couldn’t do it any more,” he tells Guardian Australia.
I walked into the senior partner’s office and said, ‘look, I just can’t do this. I can’t restructure people’s finances and trusts to avoid tax. This is not where my life is headed.’
So, starting that morning, David Shoebridge began his transformation into what one senior federal Liberal MP describes as “easily the most effective Green” in parliament.
Read the full profile by Guardian Australia’s Henry Belot:
Tasmania emergency services door-knocking bushfire-affected residents
Tasmania’s emergency services will be door-knocking to check on residents in the area around the Dolphin Sands bushfire, ready to provide food, medical supplies and other support as needed, incident controller Mark Klop says.
I want to thank the Dolphin Sands community for their incredible resilience and community spirit over the past few days.
The cause of the Dolphin Sands fire remains under investigation.
Property losses are still being assessed but it was confirmed on Friday that 19 houses or shacks, 15 outbuildings and four vehicles had been destroyed or damaged.
There has been significant damage to TasNetworks power poles, bringing down powerlines.
An evacuation centre remains open at Swansea Town Hall for residents unable to return to the area.
A drop-in session for community members to come and ask questions is operating today from 11am to noon at the Swansea Town Hall.
Klop said community safety was the priority for the moment, with authorities urging people to stay informed and up to date as events unfold.
Check your bushfire plan and act early. If you are not prepared, the safest option is always to leave early for a safer place.
Updated
‘Not out of the woods yet’ as fires burn on Central Coast
More than 300 firefighters battle blazes on the NSW Central Coast, along with 55 fire appliances that are being supported by aircraft.
Conditions have eased after the arrival of a cool change on Sunday morning but Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner, Ben Millington, warns “we’re not out of the woods yet”.
At least 12 homes have been destroyed on the Central Coast as more than 75 bushfires burn across New South Wales.
Here is a look at the damage the fires have caused and some of the aftermath as of Sunday morning:
Updated
Coalition calls for review of Anika Wells’ expenses
Coalition senator James Paterson spoke to reporters on Sunday morning to call for an investigation into $100k of flights to New York the minister claimed to attend talks at the United Nations.
The minister has asserted that it’s within the rules, but ministers are required to publicly justify their expenses and make sure it’s in line with community expectations.
I don’t even know how you can spend $100,000 on return flights to New York City, even if you’re flying business class, sometimes first class flights don’t even cost that much money.
It bewilders me how she managed to spend that amount of money on those flights. And I think all of this should be put beyond doubt. All of this should be referred to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority for review to make sure it’s actually within the rules.
Updated
More platforms could be added after social media ban begins, Wells says
Anika Wells has forewarned that more platforms can be added to the list of social media sites banned for under-16s from this Wednesday.
With the laws coming into effect this week, a number of smaller apps and sites are growing in popularity as children and young teenagers look to circumvent the restrictions.
One of those was Lemon8, an app owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. Last week, Lemon8 agreed to restrict its users to those aged over 16 from Wednesday.
Wells told Sky News:
There’s 10 [platforms] on the list at the moment. It’s a dynamic list. These aren’t set and forget rules ... you might have seen that TikTok has said that whatever they do with TikTok, they will do with Lemon8 as well, which is really encouraging. Kik, an Australian platform, when they got added to the list, were incredibly responsive ... Obviously, YouTube have said on Wednesday that they don’t agree with the law. That’s their right, but they’ve also said they’re going to abide by it.
Updated
Social media ban ‘won’t absolve us of all the sins of the internet’, Anika Wells says
Ahead of the social media ban for under-16s coming into effect on Wednesday, Anika Wells has said the new laws aren’t a cure for all the “sins of the internet”.
On Sky News this morning, the communications minister acknowledged the ban won’t entirely end online bullying for kids and teenagers and there would be loopholes for some to get around.
But Wells said it was about getting these conversations started early and giving children more time to build real-world relationships and educate themselves about online risks.
We’re not banning the internet here. And I’ve said all along that this isn’t a cure. This is a treatment plan. This will not absolve us of all the sins of the internet.
Updated
Anika Wells: ‘I used my family reunion entitlement within the guidelines’
Anika Wells has defended her family’s skiing trip to Thredbo in June with taxpayer funds as within the rules as she attended official events in her capacity as sports minister.
The Nine newspapers reported on Sunday that the minister’s family joined her in Thredbo, where she was invited to join Paralympics Australia for an event. The family’s flights cost $1,389.18 and Wells claimed $844 for two nights’ accommodation at the resort.
Wells told Sky News on Sunday her family did go skiing but she said the entitlement guidelines were followed.
I was there to work. I did work across the weekend. You can see all the official engagements that I had separate to that. I used my family reunion entitlement within the guidelines, as every parliamentarian can do. I appreciate people want to scrutinise. Happy to keep answering your questions.
Updated
Koolewong fire downgraded as firefighters take advantage of easing conditions
The Koolewong fire has been downgraded to an advice level, as authorities say they are increasingly optimistic with changing weather allowing firefighting crews to take advantage of more favourable conditions.
RFS deputy commissioner Ben Millington is giving an update to the ABC and says the downgrading of the blaze had come through “in the last couple of minutes” thanks to an “easing of conditions and crews are starting to get the upper hand on that fire”.
The Redhead fire, however, remains as a “watch and act”, and is being affected by strong winds pushing from the south.
More than 300 firefighters are currently employed in the NSW Central Coast, along with 55 fire appliances that are being supported by aircraft, Millington said.
They are doing a fantastic job – as was alluded to earlier, we’re seeing an easing of conditions. Some strong winds still going through that area but … less humidity is enabling firefighters to [get] the upper hand on some of these fires.
There remain 70 fires still burning across the state, with 20 that are not yet contained but authorities say they are not concerned “at this stage”, except for the Milsons Gully Fire in the Upper Hunter, which has burned over 11,000 hectares.
So it’s a very large fire. There’s no immediate threats there. We do have aircraft and fire firefighting crews right through there with an evacuation centre still open at Merriwa should things escalate. But at this stage, with the cooler conditions, we are starting to get the upper hand on a lot of these fires but still need people to heed warnings and remain vigilant over the coming days.
Updated
‘I had to be in two places at once’: Anika Wells defends $100k US trip
Earlier this morning, the communications minister, Anika Wells, defended a $100,000 taxpayer-funded trip to the UN general assembly in September to spruik Australia’s upcoming social media ban as a “really tricky situation”.
On Sky News, the minister said she had been scheduled to join the prime minister’s plane on Saturday but delayed her attendance to deal with another triple-zero outage during an Optus network upgrade.
While at the general assembly, Wells hosted an event on the upcoming social media ban for under-16s, met with senior executives from Meta, Microsoft and Amazon, and attended several events and panels.
Wells said:
I had to be in two places at once. It was a really tricky situation. I appreciate that everybody’s going to have an opinion on which of those three options I should have taken … I genuinely chose the option where I thought I could discharge my duties in both areas.
Read more on this story:
Updated
Overhaul of Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog recommended
Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog should be overhauled, with a broader definition of corrupt conduct, which could allow it to pursue cases such as those that ensnared former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian and her ex-partner Daryl Maguire, a parliamentary committee has found.
The oversight of Victoria police should also be strengthened, and the force legally required to implement Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (Ibac) recommendations, or publicly state why it was not doing so, the committee found.
The integrity and oversight committee delivered the final report from its inquiry into the adequacy of Ibac’s legislative framework this week.
The committee made 31 recommendations in the 149-page report, including about follow-the-dollar powers, legal definitions, investigations, examinations of witnesses, confidentiality and information security, and that Ibac should establish a dedicated Aboriginal engagement unit.
It said the Victorian government should broaden the definition of corrupt conduct to include matters involving a serious disciplinary offence, misconduct worthy of termination, or other relevant offences or “instances considered in breach of public trust in the public officer by reason of their appointment as a public officer”.
For more on this story, read the report by Guardian Australia’s Nino Bucci:
Updated
High winds to be concern on Sunday amid bushfires, BoM says
A cool change has moved through New South Wales overnight and though it hasn’t yet reached the north-east parts of the state it is expected to later on Sunday.
Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology is speaking to ABC to give an update on the latest weather after bushfires have scorched the New South Wales coast and communities in eastern Tasmania.
High wind will be the concern on Sunday, Narramore said with hot and windy conditions stretching through Saturday. These winds are sweeping up from the south, and are likely to push current fires north before dying down in the late afternoon.
If you’re on the northern side of any ongoing fires through parts of the state today, you’re going to be in, harm’s way possibly during the afternoon and evening hours as these strong and gusty southerly winds push those fires to the north.
Strong winds are pushing smoke haze from the firegrounds further north than yesterday, leaving clear air in their wake.
In Tasmania, another cold front is expected overnight and into Monday, which it is hoped will bring more rain but also potentially stronger winds.
We’re going to see those winds in Tasmania really pick up later today and tonight and then tomorrow. Pretty strong winds through eastern parts of Tasmania. So any ongoing fires there are definitely a concern with the next front moving in there Victoria.
Northern parts of New South Wales, particularly the Northern Rivers and Tablelands regions can expect some “pretty big thunderstorms” on Sunday.
This evening through north-east New South Wales and inland South East Queensland where large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall all possible.
Updated
Dolphin Sands fire in Tasmania contained but still not safe to enter
The Dolphin Sands fire has now been contained as rain overnight has helped ease conditions on the fire ground, the Tasmania Fire Service says.
About 30 firefighters from Tasmania Fire Service and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services are on the ground today, continuing to work on remaining pockets and conducting patrols.
Incident controller Mark Klop said that two excavators were being utilised to create a fire break at the eastern end of the fire today.
An updated forecast shows slightly elevated fire weather in the Dolphin Sands area today.
At this stage, it is not safe for residents or vehicles to enter the area. Significant debris remains on properties, including roofing materials and contaminants.
TasNetworks and tree debris have been removed, however ongoing tree assessment and assistance to TasNetworks is continuing.
We recognise that this is stressful and frustrating for residents, but the safety of the community and responding emergency services is our number one priority at this time.
Dolphin Sands Road east of 191 Dolphin Sands Road remains closed. Conditions are being reassessed today to determine when the road can safely reopen.
Dolphin Sands Road from the Tasman Highway to 191 Dolphin Sands Road is open to residents only.
Residents are urged to show caution when returning to the area.
Updated
Australian children held in increasingly “militarised” displacement camps in north-east Syria have been told they will be shot if they try to breach the fence line, as Australia refuses to issue its citizens with passports so they can be repatriated.
The US has offered to bring the Australians out of the camps on the proviso they have been issued with travel documents or passports, a condition to which Australia has not agreed.
“[The] government doesn’t have a plan to get people out of the camps at this time,” the home affairs minister is recorded as telling advocates in a meeting earlier this year.
The US government wants the camps closed, and has repeatedly urged all countries to repatriate their citizens, arguing leaving women and children in the Syrian camps makes them vulnerable to radicalisation and raises the risk of Islamic State regenerating.
There are fewer than 40 Australians – the majority young children – held in two detention camps in north-east Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of dead or jailed Islamic State fighters.
For more read the full report on The Guardian:
In some cases fire ‘jumped kilometres’, RFS chief says
A fire at Woy Woy Bay jumped a body of water a kilometre long to begin a blaze in the bay area on Saturday, Shepherd said, with firefighters observing similar activity “right across our fire grounds”.
In some cases not just jumping a kilometre but a number of kilometres ahead of the main fires.
So that’s where it becomes really problematic for firefighters trying to control those fires, trying to use aircraft to slow their spread and trying to do what they can do to protect communities and homes.
With firefighting crews still facing challenging conditions, Shepherd said there was no update on the damage assessment process yet.
He added that there has been a spike in fires over the last 24 hours, but many of the 1,500 firefighters involved in the response have been battling some of these fires “for weeks”.
Especially west of the divide where we’ve seen some quite devastating fires in cropland, where, in a number of areas, especially through the Riverina, we’ve seen fires burning through standing crops, resulting in millions of dollars worth of loss. So it has been a busy period.
It is expected that a change in weather conditions will bring relief on Wednesday, with the potential for showers in some areas.
Updated
‘Strong and erratic’ winds a challenge for NSW firefighters
New South Wales firefighters are continuing to battle fires on the Central Coast up towards Newcastle on Sunday as “strong and erratic” winds have made conditions a challenge, NSW RFS superintendent Ben Shepherd says.
Speaking to ABC on Sunday morning to give the latest update, Shepherd said firefighting crews are reporting they have the situation under control, but will “concentrate on the northern flank of that fire just while this change moves through, just to make sure there’s no further spread of the fire out towards, basically, Newcastle.”
That’s the one that has potential then to be driven under these strong winds, then cross across Oakdale Road. But again, crews are holding that fire behind those roads at the moment. But it’ll just be a test until we start to see those winds ease, probably later on today.
Shepherd said it was “literally minutes” before the Koolewong fire was driven by strong winds through homes.
It basically gave people little to no warning before we started seeing homes lost. So look, people I think sometimes underestimate how quickly these fires can develop, how quickly they can be on top of people. And I think that yesterday clearly demonstrated that unfortunately because of that, we did see a number of homes obviously being lost.
Updated
There are 60 people making use of the Gosford evacuation centre, with 25 adults and two children currently in emergency accomodation, the ABC reports after a briefing by local authorities.
The situation is ongoing, with no clear information on how many homes have been affected, or how many people have been forced out, as many residents have evacuated and are staying with friends and family.
Ben Shepherd from the NSW RFS is expected to speak to the ABC shortly to provide an update on the situation.
Updated
Watch and act notice issued for fire at Dolphin Sands in Tasmania
Residents of Dolphin Sands in Tasmania have been told it is still not safe to return after the Tasmania Fire Service issued a watch and act notice overnight.
The fire at Dolphin Sands had been contained as of Saturday night, but firefighting efforts were still under way to suppress the fire.
Residents were advised that it was not safe to enter the area with emergency crews continuing to work on the roadway. Fire investigation and hazard-identification activities are under way, and access remains dangerous.
Those who did not evacuate the area are advised to continue to monitor conditions and remain alert for changes with conditions expected to be fluid going into Sunday.
Updated
Four natural disaster declarations made in NSW bushfire-affected areas
State and federal governments are working closely with firefighting services working to contain the bushfires burning along the New South Wales coast, minister for recovery Janelle Saffin says.
Saffin said four natural disaster declarations have been made to ensure assistance for those affected in communities in six local government areas including Central Coast, Mid Coast, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Warrumbungle, and Dubbo.
We moved quickly, both governments, to make sure there was that basic assistances, straight up.
This support will enable immediate financial assistance and accomodation for those who have had to evacuate their homes.
The minister, who was herself rescued from floodwaters in the catastrophic flooding that swept the Northern Rivers in 2022, also expressed sympathy with those who have been affected by the bushfires.
To the people who are today in shock and distress, I [send my] sympathy to them, and just give assurance that we will do everything we can to support them.
Saffin said that the extent of damage is not yet known as the RFS has yet to complete a damage assessment and key infrastructure such as power is in the process of being restored.
Saffin says New South Wales recovery authorities are on the ground now “working hand in glove” with first responders to be ready for a formal handover.
Updated
Albanese: ‘You’ve got to show the Australian people their faith in democracy is deserved’
Closing out the conversation, the prime minister returns to a familiar theme of his administration: concern about a lack of faith in the democratic process.
I am quite pleased, if you like, that the government has put in place a system through our cabinet committee process where we’ve gone through literally and ticked off the big commitments that we made to the Australian people. You’ve got to show the Australian people their faith in democracy is deserved.
If we got elected and thrown it all out, that would’ve been undermined. There’s more to do. There will be inevitably issues arise that we can’t foresee now. I look forward to speaking to you at the beginning of next year. I’m sure some of those would have arisen over the summer break.
And that’s a wrap.
Updated
Albanese says this year’s achievements not ‘limit of our ambition’
With the end of year closing in, the PM on a political high, Albanese is asked for his read of the political landscape given the government’s commanding political majority.
I went to the National Press Club straight after the election and made it clear for those people who thought oh well, they’ve got this majority, now they should ignore what they went to the election with. That wasn’t what we would do. This would be a year of delivery.
So we’ve gone through one by one and ticked that off. Paid parental leave extended, superannuation on paid parental leave, the increased wages in the minimum wage, the energy support through the batteries program that has made a difference. 20% off student debt.
One by one, ticking off the commitments we made at the election campaign. And then delivering it.
The PM says that these achievements do not represent the “limit of our ambition” and flags that his government will continue to address other issues including tax reform, saying “we’ll give consideration to the full suite of policy measures”, with the economy “front and centre” in the lead-up to the next budget.
So this year is, if you like, should be seen as a step on the journey, not the destination.
Updated
Albanese says announcement on gas to be made ‘before end of the year’
In another cost of living question, the prime minister is asked about whether the government will extend the household energy rebate, which is worth $150 every six months, and says that the government has been clear “this wouldn’t be in place forever”.
In response to a question about what the government is doing to “get more gas into the system” to reduce prices for retail customers, and specifically whether the government will introduce a gas reservation policy, Albanese says:
We want to make sure, importantly, you’ve got to address what the objective is. The objective is cheaper gas. And so we’re examining that. We won’t be making a decision tomorrow, contrary to what has been reported. What we’re doing is working those issues through and we’ll make an announcement before the end of the year.
The PM says he won’t say whether all gas exporters may be covered but that the government will “do a proper analysis and discussion through a cabinet government that I lead” before reiterating that the government will “make an announcement before the end of the year”.
Updated
Albanese is asked about cuts in aged care support
Albanese is now being asked about changes to the aged care system and how a cutback in support means elderly people are having to pay between $80 and $120 for help to have a shower, with the number of showers now cut back each week.
The PM says his government “inherited an aged care system that has been summarised by the royal commission’s interim findings by its title: neglect. What we have done is repair the system.
The PM then begins by listing his reforms – which he says are the “biggest reforms that have been put in place this century” – that include pay increases for aged care workers, more nurses and more time for aged care.
Asked specifically about the issue of people being charged for showers, Albanese says “we took advice from the experts on what clinical care was.”
Asked whether this should be reviewed, the PM says:
What we do constantly is we always monitor a new system, that’s what we do.
Pressed on whether that means the decision is open to change, the PM says:
We review the system at all times to make sure it’s delivering the care that is required.
Which is not a no, but also not a yes.
Updated
Albanese defends Anika Wells over reports of taxpayer-funded travel expenses
Albanese has also defended a $100k expense for communications minister Anika Wells, a staffer and a public servant to join the prime minister and foreign minister Penny Wong in New York for a United Nations meeting.
Anika Wells was doing her job as the communications minister who is in charge of this world-leading, world-leading legislation, passed with bipartisan support, to give credit to Peter Dutton when he was opposition leader. And it was an important event. And it wasn’t just the event there, it was then the follow-up of people wanting to have meetings, have discussions, how is this going to work? What can we do to get buy-in here? When you’ve got Australia, a middle power, taking on these global giants.
The PM fields a series of calls about the flights, who was responsible and the size of the bill, particularly in the context of reporting today that Wells billed taxpayers $3,000 to fly her family to be with her at Thredbo, where Wells was there in her capacity as minister for an event associated with the Paralympics.
There’s family reunion entitlements, all of the travel within guidelines.
When pressed, Albanese continued to support his minister, saying the trip was “completely within rules”.
I’m saying it was within entitlements and Anika Wells was working on that trip as sports minister, participating the lifting up of para-sport.
Updated
Asked about social media backdoors, Albanese says situation will be ‘monitored’
Asked about how the government will respond as young people find work-arounds and backdoors into social media platforms, the PM says the government will continue to “monitor” the situation.
But we’ve said very clearly that this won’t be perfect. Just like chances last night was Saturday night, somewhere in Australia, somewhere under 18s got a drink in a pub. But it’s the right thing to do for society to express its views, its judgement about what is appropriate.
The PM adds that Malaysia, New Zealand and the EU are all considering or implementing similar policies.
Updated
Albanese says social media ban ‘a success already’
In seeking to prepare the public for a rough bushfire season and making his presence known, the PM is seeking to cut a sharp contrast between his administration and the response of Scott Morrison during the Black Summer bushfires in case this gets out of hand.
But the next question pivots to the government’s social media ban for under 16s, which the PM brands a “success already”.
What is happening is that parents are having this discussion with their young ones. We had a discussion with some of the kids visiting the studio here this morning. That will happen. That will happen. It’s happening in schools, it’s happening with parents having those discussions with children. It’s happening as well to hold these social media giants to account.
Anyone who reads the stories of parents in the Sunday newspapers today, who have lost loved ones, would have their heart torn. This is a change that hasn’t come from government, this is a change that has come from parents, taking what is a personal tragedy and channelling that into wanting no other parents to go through the heartbreak they have experienced.
Updated
NSW fire season to be ‘quite difficult’ this year, Albanese says on Insiders
New South Wales is expected to experience “quite a difficult” fire season going into summer, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says.
Albanese is speaking to ABC Insiders host David Speers on Sunday morning after visiting the Emergency Management Australia headquarters an hour ago.
Houses lost yesterday, fortunately no loss life, that is always the priority. But fires burning as well as in the upper Hunter. There’s been some issues in Tasmania. And in Western Australia, around the Kimberley region as well. And the Pilbara.
So this summer of course, like all summers that would appear in recent times, is going to be a difficult one. But New South Wales in particular has a range of pre-conditions if you like for being quite a difficult one.
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Cool change brings relief but 20 fires remain uncontained across NSW
A welcome cool change is helping firefighters working to contain blazes along the New South Wales coast, but RFS deputy commissioner Ben Millington says those firefighting efforts continue.
Speaking to ABC on Sunday morning to give an update, Millington said there were 76 bush and grass fires burning across the state, with 20 that were not contained. He also said the focus is currently on the fire burning on the Central Coast with the potential for another shift in weather patterns to cause it to move once more.
That wind is now from the south so that could potentially move the fire to the north ,which has its own issues.
Millington added there was the potential for thunderstorms.
RFS damage assessment teams were on the ground on Sunday morning and he said an updated number on losses is expected as the situation becomes clear.
Despite reports of power lines being down, Millington says the RFS is not aware of any injuries as a result and that evacuations have gone smoothly with all processes followed.
We are very thankful that they heeded the warnings and got out of the area. There is an exclusion zone still in place and we are asking people to remain clear of that area so firefighters can continue to work uninterrupted.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will speak to ABC Insiders host David Speers on Sunday morning.
We will bring you all the latest as it happens.
Climate crisis means ‘more volatile weather periods’ ahead for NSW, Minns says
Climate breakdown is causing “more volatile weather periods” across New South Wales, the premier says.
“Can I just say that unfortunately we’re likely to have more volatile weather periods in the years ahead due to the changing climate, and I would love to say that we’re out of the woods or the worst is behind us, but the truth is that’s not the case,” Chris Minns said.
The premier said it was important people act on their fire plans and monitor all channels of information to keep across the situation.
Climate change has been caused by the mass burning of oil, gas and coal, which in turn has been forcing a chemical change in the atmosphere and is disrupting stable weather systems. The bushfires come while Australia is just beginning summer.
Minns was asked about the “irony” that the bushfires have come just as his government has announced it may keep the Eraring coal-fired power plant operating beyond 2027 – a connection the premier appeared to reject.
That would be pretty cynical.
Minns said the state was in the process of transitioning its energy grid, with 85% of the state’s power coming from coal “a few years ago” now down to 65% and “dropping”. The premier said there are “billions of dollars coming into the grid” to develop “massive” new renewable energy projects, but the state is in the process of undertaking the transition while “trying to keep the lights on”.
I think it’s consistent, but it is not an easy path. It is a difficult thing to pull off, but we’re not for turning. It is hugely important for New South Wales.
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High winds caused fire to jump 1km body of water, Chris Minns says
High winds on Saturday caused the fires to spread, including embers jumping a 1km stretch of water, Minns said, but firefighters have been able to contain it to stop the loss of additional homes.
This was a fast-moving, very dangerous fire in a residential area and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to members of the RFS, many of whom are volunteers who put their lives on the line and did an amazing public service for this state and we have a huge debt of gratitude to them.
For more, read the Guardian’s previous reporting on the bushfires burning across the state:
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Disaster assistance announced for NSW bushfire affected areas
Those who lost their homes in bushfires on the New South Wales central and mid north coasts will receive assistance from the federal and state government.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said small businesses, primary producers, logistics and transport companies and local councils engaged in clean-up efforts will be able to access support.
Hardship grants will also be available for the uninsured who have lost their homes.
We know that at least 12 homes have been destroyed on the Central Coast but that number is likely to be higher. We are devastated for those families. Obviously that’s the worst news imaginable in the run-up to Christmas, exactly what they didn’t need and a reminder of how devastating these bushfires can be.
The premier said that number is expected to rise as the situation on the ground becomes clear, with reports up to 16 houses have been lost.
Minns said support services are working to engage with those affected local councils to keep roads open.
The good news is that transport has been reconnected so that line running from the Central Coast to Newcastle and Sydney will be back and operational as of today, which is important for transport and logistics …
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Good morning
Welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
Disaster assistance will be made available to those in fire zones and people who do not have insurance after bushfires burning on the New South Wales Central Coast are reported to have destroyed up to 16 homes overnight. The announcement on Sunday morning comes as New South Wales premier Chris Minns said hot and windy conditions allowed the fire front to jump a one kilometre body of water.
The federal government has refused to repatriate Australian children from Syrian refugee camps despite the US warning that leaving them there raises the risk they will be radicalised and harmed. Australia has refused to issue the children with travel documents and passports despite an offer to facilitate their evacuation.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
With that, let’s get started …
