What we learned today, Saturday 23 September
And that’s where we’ll wrap up today. Thanks so much for your company.
Here’s a little of what we learned:
The endorsement of former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott for a position on Fox Corporation’s board by Lachlan Murdoch shows he is “doubling down” on the company’s “right-wing crusading”
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, who in June was found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct, has launched a legal challenge against the state’s corruption watchdog.
Crowds attended anti-voice rallies across the country today. The event was not officially aligned with either the official conservative campaign, Fair Australia, or with the progressive no-camp. Coalition figures have also distanced themselves from the rally.
Peter Dutton spoke at the Victorian Liberal party’s state council meeting, where he said the Liberal party “is today the party of the workers” amid a push for nuclear energy.
The Albanese government will aim to create “sustained and inclusive full employment”, to help some 2.8 million Australians who want a job or more hours.
Police have used an underwater drone* to find more than 200kg of cocaine in the hull of a cargo ship.
Former Victorian upper house Liberal MP Philip Davis has been elected as the party’s next state president on Saturday, triumphing over federal party vice-president Caroline Inge.
Updated
Glady Berejiklian asks for judicial review of Icac decision
Some more details on the legal challenge former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has launched against the state’s corruption watchdog after its findings in June she had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
Geoffrey Watson, a director of the Centre for Public Integrity and a former counsel assisting to the Icac, said the challenge was a judicial review, which means it has a narrower scope than an appeal.
He said:
A charge like this is very confined, really only to an error of law.
There have been many challenges of this kind to the decisions of Icac. Very, very, very few of them have succeeded.
Former Liberal NSW premier, Nick Greiner, whose administration created Icac before he was later forced out due to Icac findings, successfully appealed the finding against him in 1992.
Watson speculated that Berejiklian’s challenge might be on the basis that her conduct shouldn’t be considered serious misconduct because her decisions were made in the public interest.
However, he added the challenge could also be about the Icac’s former commissioner, Ruth McColl, continuing her appointment in order to make a decision on the findings, despite her appointment having expired.
More on this story here:
Updated
