The day that was, Friday 4 August
We are going to wrap up the live blog here for Friday.
Here’s what made the news today:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has told senior Yolngu leaders that “my word matters” in promising to stay the course to deliver a referendum on the voice to parliament as the Garma festival kicks off at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land.
The festival began with a solemn and loving tribute to the beloved Gumatj leader Yunupingu, marking the first festival without him.
China has agreed to scrap its 80% tariff on Australian barley, in a major win for Canberra’s push to ease trade barriers between the two countries.
Alberta, Canada has scrapped its 2030 Commonwealth Games bid, citing Victoria’s withdrawal from 2026 as a “significant factor” in the decision.
Australia’s economic output per person is forecast to shrink in the second half of 2023 as higher interest rates and the rising cost of living combine to pummel households, the Reserve Bank says in its latest update on the economy.
Qantas boss Alan Joyce has said it’s “nonsense” to suggest the airline has an outsized influence over the Albanese government, following the refusal of expanded air rights to a key rival carrier and revelations the prime minister’s son had been granted access to the airline’s prestigious chairman’s lounge.
The ACCC has denied authorisation to ANZ to acquire Suncorp bank because it would “further entrench an oligopoly market structure”, the commission’s deputy chair said. ANZ has announced it will appeal.
Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue the ACT government over flaws in his prosecution over allegations he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins.
The New South Wales government has been threatened with industrial action if it doesn’t strike a deal with the NSW teachers federation after coming under fire yesterday for “betraying” the union on teachers pay.
We’ll be back again this weekend. Until then, enjoy your evening.
Updated
ANZ to appeal ACCC decision to block purchase of Suncorp banking arm
ANZ will keep pursuing its proposed $4.9bn takeover of Suncorp’s banking arm despite the competition watchdog rejecting the deal, AAP reports.
The proposal was knocked back by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over concerns it would further cement the market dominance of the big four banks.
ANZ plans to appeal the decision to the independent Australian Competition Tribunal, a move Suncorp supports.
“Together with ANZ, we will make our case to the tribunal, which is led by a justice of the federal court of Australia,” Suncorp chairwoman Christine McLoughlin said.
“The tribunal will look at all of the evidence with fresh eyes before forming its own view.”
S&P Global Ratings noted the planned joint appeal, saying it still viewed the acquisition as a “plausible outcome”.
The ACCC said the proposed acquisition had the potential to lessen competition in the Queensland market for home loans as well as banking services to small firms and agribusinesses.
But ANZ believes the deal will improve competition and benefit consumers by creating a combined bank more able to respond to competitive pressures.
“All of the relevant markets are intensely competitive and will continue to be intensely competitive after the acquisition,” chief executive Shayne Elliott said.
Updated
Talisman Sabre military exercises wrap up for 2023
The defence department has announced Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 has come to an end after two weeks.
The exercises involved more than 34,000 military personnel from 13 nations across five states and territories.
Australian and United States military personnel deployed alongside soldiers, sailors, marines and aviators from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and the United Kingdom.
Military personnel from India, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand observed the exercise.
Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, said the exercise had tested skills in combat readiness and interoperability between all the participants:
This was a complex series of training activities that allowed us to test our combined capabilities across sea, land, air, cyber and space operations.
Tragically we lost four soldiers when their helicopter impacted waters near Lindeman Island during a night-time training activity. The immediate search and rescue operation, and support provided by our international defence partners and civilian agencies, was a comfort to our people, and a demonstration of our strong and genuine relationships.
These relationships are strengthened by multi-national activities like Talisman Sabre, which ensure we are able to work together whenever and wherever needed.
There were:
More than 34,500 personnel deployed across Australia.
More than 17,000 personnel operated in the maritime environment across 27 ships and submarines.
More than 17,500 deployed in land-based field training areas across Australia’s Top End, between far north Western Australia to Weipa in Queensland, and as far south as Jervis Bay, NSW.
More than 2,800 personnel deployed to seven airbases operating across the Northern Airbase network to sustain high-intensity air operations.
Updated
US nuclear submarine arrives in Perth
A US nuclear submarine has arrived in Australia during a routine patrol of the region as America works to reaffirm its commitment to the Pacific, AAP reports.
The Virginia-class submarine docked at the HMAS Stirling port in Perth on Friday.
The commanding officer of the submarine will be greeted by Australian Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, US Rear Admiral Chris Cavanaugh and Western Australian defence minister Paul Papalia.
Australia will buy at least three Virginia-class submarines from Washington starting in the early 2030s under the trilateral AUKUS agreement.
The US is increasing port visits of its submarines from this year and American and British submarines will rotate through Australia from 2027.
China has been critical of Canberra’s plan to acquire nuclear submarines, most recently with Beijing’s mouthpiece the Global Times accusing Australia of becoming a US military base and a “bridgehead” to attack China.
Updated
Treaty is confusing Australians on voice referendum, Uluru Dialogue co-chair says
Uluru Dialogue co-chair Pat Anderson admitted on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that the entrance of treaty in the voice referendum debate had made it confusing for Australians, but said it was part of the discussion.
I think it is getting really confusing for the ordinary Australian out there. It is a complicated debate. We have not had the debate about a treaty but it is as part of the Uluru Statement: voice, treaty, truth.
It will happen those discussions, but we have not had the conversation about how this is all going to work for us. And of course as we are speaking, there are a whole lot of treaty negotiations happening in the various states.
So to say we are not having that discussion, we are in fact are.
She said Victoria, Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW and Tasmania were all having treaty talks.
There is lots of discussion and talk about treaty running at the same time. But the first thing is, what we really need, is a referendum that says yes. And it will show us that the Australian people have taken up the invitation to walk with us on a journey.
And that is the most important outcome and we are all working as much as we can, those of us who agree with this constitutional reform and its necessity, that will continue over the next few weeks.
Updated
Trade minister says PM would welcome a China visit
The trade minister, Don Farrell, was on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing just before, and was asked if, in the wake of China removing the tariffs on Australian barley, if the improving relationship between Australia and China would mean the PM would visit soon.
Farrell said he would welcome such a trip:
The prime minister has said all along he would welcome the opportunity to visit China this year. I think this is just one step along the way of stabilising our relationship with China and I very much would look forward to a visit by the prime minister to China.
Updated
Marinus Link: Tasmania calls on federal government and other states to help with rising costs
Tasmania’s long-awaited Marinus Link project is in financial limbo after a cost blowout, AAP reports.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Friday said the undersea electricity interconnector was an important project to boost Tasmania’s renewable energy development and support economic growth - but only for the right price.
The Bass Strait project was slated to cost $3.1bn, with 80% of its funding from a loan scheme and the other 20% shared between Tasmania, Victoria and the commonwealth, Rockliff said.
But his government had since been advised of a “material and significant cost increase” for the project.
Rockliff wrote to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the energy minister, Chris Bowen, last month in search of another way to get the project off the ground.
The premier said he had since spoken to Albanese about it.
The right price does not mean any price and from day one we have said that the cost benefits of this project must stack up in favour of Tasmanians.
I have asked the prime minister to consider alternative funding options. Those discussions are continuing and I am confident that we will reach a good outcome for Tasmania soon.
The Tasmanian energy minister, Guy Barnett, put the onus on other states and the federal government to “step up” if they wanted the state’s world-class hydro and wind resources.
The state government had to draw a line in the sand, Barnett said.
He would not elaborate on at what point Tasmania would walk away from the project.
The Marinus Link is made up of undersea transmission cables connecting Tasmania and Victoria and is expected to improve energy reliability.
Updated
Robodebt: former secretary of human services department not referred for investigation
The former secretary of the human services department, Renee Leon, has confirmed she has not been referred for investigation in relation to her role within the robodebt scheme.
A spokesperson for Leon told Guardian Australia on Friday she had been advised by the royal commission that she has not been referred to any other body for investigation.
Leon, along with former human services and social services secretary Kathryn Campbell were among the most senior public servants subject to adverse findings in the royal commission’s report handed down in July.
It comes as the Australian Public Service Commission revealed on Thursday evening it will investigate 16 referrals relating to former and current bureaucrats named in the robodebt royal commission report.
In the Thursday update, the commission said it had written to the individuals to notify them.
Updated
NSW government under pressure to strike pay deal with teachers federation
The New South Wales government has been threatened with industrial action if it doesn’t strike a deal with the NSW teachers federation after coming under fire yesterday for “betraying” the union on teachers pay.
A unanimous motion has been passed by the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA)‘s NSW branch today calling for the state government to “immediately return to the negotiating table” with a better offer.
In a statement, the IEUA said doing so was “consistent with the Labor party’s pre-election promises to the teaching profession”, including immediately beginning negotiations with the union after entering government.
The IEUA is lobbying for pay rises between eight and 12% in Catholic schools. The state government has allegedly watered down its offer to the NSW teachers federation to 2.5% increases over a four-year period.
Mark Northam, secretary of the IEUA NSW/ACT branch, said the profession and the state’s students “deserve better”.
We remind premier Minns of his election night promise to ‘remove the unfair wages cap in NSW’.
If no “satisfactory outcome” is reached, the group will reconvene on 11 August to consider the next steps, including protected action.
Updated
National Farmers Federations welcomes China’s scrapped barley-tariffs
The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the end of China’s tariffs on Australian barley.
The federation’s chief executive, Tony Mahar, said in a statement it was good news for the 23,000 grain producers in Australia:
These tariffs significantly impacted the barley trade between Australia and China which previously accounted for approximately 60% to 70% of barley exports.
The Australian farming sector was always of the view there was no justification for these duties and that it was in both countries’ best interest for all trade impediments to be removed.
Today’s announcement is a positive outcome and another step in the right direction to resuming full trade with an important market for Australian agriculture.
This development is in the long-term interests of Australia and China and highlights the positive effect of meaningful collaboration.
He said the other trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership had helped farmers in other markets such as Mexico, but diversification of trade is important.
We acknowledge the hard work by the Albanese government to stabilise our relationship with China – in particular minister Watt, minister Wong and minister Farrell who have engaged constructively with their counterparts on this issue.
We will continue to work closely with the Australian government to support full normalisation of our trade with China, including removal of restrictions on Australian wine and seafood.
Updated
Thank you for following along the live blog with me today.
Handing over to Josh Taylor, who will take you through the evening’s news.
Trade minister Don Farrell says China’s scrapped barley-tariffs contribute to “very significant progress” of the Labor governments efforts to reduce international trade impediments.
Since Labor came to office 15 months ago, we started with about $20bn worth of trade impediments. Thats now been reduced to about $2bn
Australia prefers ‘discussion and dialogue rather than disputation’ with China, trade minister says
Trade minister Don Farrell says China’s removal of tariffs on barley means Australia has discontinued a dispute to have the tariffs removed through World Trade Organisation.
In a press conference alongside foreign minister Penny Wong, he says:
The outcome demonstrates the importance, as the foreign minister just said, of the WTO processes in resolving and defending Australia’s world class producers and farmers.
I’ve consistently said, including my warm meetings with the Chinese commerce minister … that we would prefer to resolve all of our disputes with China through discussion and dialogue, rather than disputation.
Updated
Labor expects duties on wine to be lifted next after China's scrapped barley-tariffs
Foreign minister Penny Wong, trade minister Don Farrell and agriculture minister Murray Watt’s statement also focused on the next cab off the rank – China’s tariffs on Australian wine:
We have been clear that we expect a similar process to be followed to remove the duties on Australian wine.
In the meantime, we are continuing to pursue our wine dispute at the WTO and remain confident in a positive outcome.
The Australian Government’s approach has been to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest. The outcome on barley reflects that approach.
We will continue to press for all trade impediments affecting Australian exports to be removed, which is in the interests of both Australia and China.
Updated
Wong says 'calm and consistent approach' to China vindicated
Australian ministers have welcomed China’s decision to scrap tariffs on barley, saying it “affirms the calm and consistent approach that the Albanese government has taken”.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has issued a joint statement with the trade minister, Don Farrell, and the agriculture minister, Murray Watt:
Today the Australian government was notified that from tomorrow, China will remove the 80.5% anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Australian barley.
We welcome this outcome, which paves the way for our barley exporters to re-enter the Chinese market – benefiting Australian producers and Chinese consumers.
It affirms the calm and consistent approach that the Albanese government has taken.
The ministers said that China’s decision in May 2020 to impose those duties had “effectively blocked exports to that market, worth about $916 million in 2018-19”.
They said the removal of the tariffs was the result of work by both the government and industry to resolve this matter.
The ministers said they wanted to “acknowledge and thank industry and affected businesses for their support and patience throughout the World Trade Organization (WTO) process”.
They confirmed that the scrapping of the duties “means that Australia will now discontinue legal proceedings at the WTO”. And they said the outcome “demonstrates the importance of the WTO dispute mechanism in defending the interests of Australia’s world-class producers and farmers”.
Updated
Garma festival: Albanese will not announce official date for referendum
Prime minister Anthony Albanese will not announce the date of the voice referendum tomorrow, he says in response to a question at the Garma festival.
He tells press:
I confirmed one year ago after the speech … what a timetable looked like last year. I said there would be draft legislation in March and there was. I said there would be a parliamentary committee process and there was. I said it would report in June, and there was.
The prime ministers points to “between September and December” for when the referendum will fall.
Usually we’re not going to it on grand final day. And we will announce a date for the referendum at an appropriate time after consultation as well. One of the things I will be doing this weekend [at the Garma festival with the Dilak council of clan leaders] is speaking with people here as I have around the country respectfully about their view of the day.
Updated
Prime minister Anthony Albanese announces the Aboriginal Benefit Account will invest $6.4m to support a tertiary institution in north-east Arnhem Land.
“This has been something that has been called for for a long period of time,” he says to press at the Garma festival.
We know the vision for on-country learning for Yolngu people, from early childhood education to university, is something so important.
Updated
Prime minister Anthony Albanese is now addressing press after meeting with the Dilak council of clan leaders at the Garma festival, in north-east Arnhem Land.
He said the council are an example of “giving voices to Canberra”:
Indeed the Dilak is an example of … how we achieve better results, because we know when we listen to people that are directly affected by issues, we get better outcomes. That as well as recognition in Australia’s constitution is what the referendum that will be held in the last quarter of this year is about.
Updated
Prime minister meets with Dilak council at Garma festival
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has told senior Yolngu leaders that “my word matters” in promising to stay the course to deliver a referendum on the voice to parliament.
The PM arrived at the Garma site on Friday and his first stop was to meet with the Dilak council, the senior cultural leaders of 13 clan groups in the region.
Dilak is a formal decision-making body based on the clan leadership structure of the Miwatj region of north-east Arnhem Land, grounded in Yolngu law and formally recognised by government.
An example of how a regional voice to government might operate, the Dilak council meets regularly to set regional priorities and policies with the Commonwealth and Territory governments on health, housing, education and economic development.
In opening remarks welcoming the PM, Gumatj leader Djawa Yunupingu said the Dilak fully supported the “yes” vote:
We [Dilak] are the voice for our future.
We fully support the voice to parliament.
The PM said he “admired and paid tribute” to the Yolngu leaders for their patience around the referendum, and said it was “not far off”.
Updated
This is why China’s tariff-scrap matters
China’s decision in 2020 to impose tariffs of 80% on Australian barley prompted a lengthy challenge by Australia through the World Trade Organization.
In April, the Australian government agreed to suspend the WTO challenge against the barley tariffs in return for China agreeing to commit to review the barley tariffs within three to four months.
The WTO ruling had been imminent when the challenge was frozen. The Australian government had always said it would resume the challenge if China’s review did not end with a decision to scrap the tariffs, confident that the WTO panel would decide Beijing’s measures were not justified.
Some had seen the process as an “offramp” for China to back down without the negative publicity of having a formal international ruling against its original claims.
Today’s decision to scrap the tariffs will be a relief not only to barley producers but also for Australian wine exporters.
That is because China’s hefty tariffs on Australian wine are also subject to a nearly completed WTO challenge. The Australian government has previously indicated it hoped the process used to resolve the barley dispute could be a template for wine.
Updated
China agrees to scrap tariff on Australian barley from August
China has agreed to scrap its 80% tariff on Australian barley, in a major win for Canberra’s push to ease trade barriers between the two countries.
The tariffs were first imposed in 2020 at the height of tensions. China’s commerce ministry has announced that “in view of the changes in the market situation of barley in China” it was “no longer necessary to continue to impose anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on the imported barley originating in Australia”.
The decision is expected to take effect from 5 August.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the trade minister, Don Farrell, are expected to hold a press conference soon.
Updated
George Christensen brings free speech campaign to Canberra
Former National party MP George Christensen is promoting a Save Free Speech campaign against the government’s bill to give the Australian Communications and Media Authority power to require social media companies to beef up their misinformation code.
Christensen’s campaign claims that the “government is watching you” - even though the changes preserve industry self-regulation and the ACMA will have no role censoring social media posts.
George Christensen's misinformation campaign about misinformation crackdown reaches the no stopping zone outside Old Parliament. #auspol pic.twitter.com/GleBU2GUY6
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) August 4, 2023
Christensen told Guardian Australia his Citizen Go petition has 20,000 signatures, and cited support from Christian organisations Family Voice and the Australian Christian Lobby.
Asked if the campaign was misleading, he said:
Well, the government is proposing a law which will have a government agency, basically, doing the enforcement of social media companies to enforce us, in terms of what we post online. So this is going to be big government instructing big tech what to censor and how to censor them.
Christensen acknowledged that when in government, the Coalition proposed the same thing, but said he complained about it to communications minister Paul Fletcher, and said there would’ve been a “god almighty fight” about it if it had come to the party room.
The two billboard trucks were stopped with hazard lights on in a no-stopping zone behind Old Parliament House. Christensen said the “truck drivers who are operating tell me it’s a set-down area and they’re just setting down”.
Updated
Albanese lauds Garma as a celebration and an ‘opportunity for learning’
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has just been received by the Dilak council of clan leaders at the Garma festival, which begun at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land this morning.
Sitting across from clan leader Djawa Yunupingu, Albanese said:
I told parliament yesterday that I would be travelling here to listen because we know that by listening to the people who are directly affected by issues, you get better outcomes, better results. And here we don’t have to theorise or read a book. We can come and talk and see and feel the success of what a voice will look like, because it is what you have put in place here in this wonderful part of our great country that we are privileged to share as non-indigenous Australians with the oldest continuous culture on earth.
This is a wonderful celebration of your culture, but it is also an opportunity for learning, for learning and for walking together, which we will do today in the discussion with the Dilak council but we will do over coming days as well.
The prime minister will address the press soon from the Garma festival. We will bring you live updates here.
Updated
Qantas flight returns to Sydney with mechanical issue
QantasLink flight QF2162 from Sydney to Port Macquarie has returned to Sydney airport, after being diverted due to a mechanical issue.
Guardian Australia understand the flight returned to Sydney, rather than complete its trip to Port Macquarie, as there were more engineers available to assess the vehicle.
No mayday alert was issued, and the mechanical issue has been resolved.
Updated
Canadian province scraps Commonwealth Games bid, citing Victoria’s withdrawal as ‘significant factor’
Alberta, Canada, has pulled the plug on its planned 2030 Commonwealth Games bid.
Alberta’s minister of tourism and sport Joseph Schow said in a statement that hosting the games could cost up to C$2.68bn (A$3.6bn).
We committed to remain transparent with Albertans about the costs of hosting international sporting events and clearly demonstrating a return on our investment for the people and communities in Alberta. That is why we have made the decision not to continue pursuing the bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Victorian premier Dan Andrews’ decision to pull out of hosting the 2026 games was a “significant factor” in the decision, according to Canadian press.
Commonwealth Sport Canada are reported saying:
We believe the recent decision by the Victorian government to withdraw from the 2026 Commonwealth Games was a significant factor in Alberta’s decision, as well as an over-dependence on taxpayer’s support for the planning and delivery of the Games.
For a refresher on what happened, and what happens now to the 2024 Commonwealth Games, check out this Explainer put together by Jonathan Yerushalmy:
Updated
Victoria finds fire ants in a pot plant consignment
Victoria has recorded a fire ant incursion, with the Queensland government confirming it has provided assistance to deal with the discovery in a pot plant consignment earlier this year.
The Invasive Species Council had warned the venomous ants could spread across the country after state and federal ministers last month failed to agree on funding and an eradication program.
Queensland’s agriculture minister, Mark Furner, on Wednesday told a parliamentary estimates hearing it had provided assistance to Victoria:
Queensland has assisted every state bar Tasmania where they have found red imported fire ants – not from south-east Queensland, all bar one incursion in Victoria with one queen found there in a pot plant consignment.
Victoria’s agriculture minister, Gayle Tierney, was on Thursday asked in parliament about a report of a queen ant being found at a nursery in February, and the work being done to stop an outbreak.
Tierney said:
There is absolutely a high level of unity in respect to the ongoing threat that the red fire ant presents to all states. It is at the moment ... in Queensland, and New South Wales is particularly concerned. There have been some spotted incidents elsewhere that have been contained, and we have been able to do that effectively.
For some background on this invasive species and why they’re such a threat, read this from the Guardian’s Ben Smee:
Updated
Housing organisation urges rental reforms
National Shelter and the National Association of Renters’ Organisations have provided a statement to the Senate inquiry into renting.
“The worsening crisis in rental housing demands immediate attention, and comprehensive reform across our rental housing systems,” the statement reads.
It urges reform in priority areas, including:
Greater stability and security for renters
Stronger protections and fair limits on rent increases
Safe and healthy homes for renters
Better enforcement, oversight and accountability
Access to free advice, assistance and advocacy
National Shelter has joined with the National Association of Renters' Organisations to provide a statement to the Senate inquiry into renting.
— National Shelter (@NationalShelter) August 4, 2023
The statement has been endorsed by 80 organisations nationally. pic.twitter.com/hAqHUzI1O4
Updated
Traditional owners win pause in woodland clearing in Darwin
Plans to clear savanna woodlands for a defence housing development at Lee Point/Binybara in Darwin will be paused, after months of campaigning from locals and traditional owners.
“DHA has made the decision to voluntarily stop work at Lee Point until March 31, 2024,” Defence Housing Australia said in a statement.
We will be using this time to work with relevant government agencies and respond to the application regarding Aboriginal cultural heritage at the site.
The development at Binybara was set to bulldoze more than 100 hectares of rainforest that holds strong cultural and ecological significance.
The project was first approved by the federal government in 2019, but in 2022 environment minister Tanya Plibersek paused the project when endangered species were identified.
When works began in July, an emergency application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Act was lodged by locals calling for the site to be protected.
You can read the full story from Lisa Cox here:
Updated
Pictures from the Garma festival
Pictures are in from the Garma festival, which begun at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land with a solemn and loving tribute to the beloved Gumatj leader Yunupingu.
Take a look:
Updated
Markets take RBA update in its stride
The flash response to the RBA’s updated forecasts is a bit, well, meh.
The Australian dollar was little changed at about 65.75 US cents, and stocks were little changed ... remaining pretty flat.
For more on the story, here you go:
Updated
Economy predicted to slow by end of 2023
More on the RBA’s economy update.
On Tuesday, the central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged for a second consecutive month, while signalling it was prepared to increase borrowing costs again if needed to keep inflation on a downward slide.
Weakness in the economy includes a drop in retail sales in June and poor consumer sentiment, with many fixed-rate mortgage holders facing sharply higher interest rates when their loans expire in coming months.
Economic resilience despite the sharpest increase in interest rates in three decades, though, includes continuing strength in the labour market, with the jobless rate hovering near the lowest in 50 years. Dwelling prices, too, are on the rebound even with the headwinds of rising rates, boosting the paper wealth, at least, for much of the population.
Prior to today’s release of the forecasts, investors were rating the chance of an interest rate rise at the RBA’s 5 September monthly meeting at only about 5%, according to the ASX.
The economy was growing at an annual clip of 1.6% at the end of last month and is now projected to slow to 0.9% by the end of the 2023. That outlook is slightly pared from the 1% pace of expansion predicted by the RBA three months ago.
Taking into account a population growth of about 2% for this year, per-capita gross domestic product will be in retreat.
The economy is then tipped to rebound gradually, reaching a growth rate of 1.6% - or about the population’s expansion rate – by the end of 2024, and quickening to 2.3% a year later.
Updated
RBA sees negative GDP per person while inflation keeps downward glide
Australia’s economic output per person is forecast to shrink in the second half of 2023 as higher interest rates and the rising cost of living combine to pummel households, the Reserve Bank says in its latest update on the economy.
Wage increases have remained steady at an annual rate of about 3.7% across the first six months of this year, and will quicken modestly to about 4.1% by the year’s end, the RBA said its quarterly statement on monetary policy, released on Friday.
While inflation pressures were generally easing since a peak last December, some components of the consumer price index are predicted to rise, such as for renters.
“Rent inflation is forecast to increase further over the period ahead as rental vacancy rates remain low, and as housing supply responds with a lag to population growth,” the RBA said, adding, “[t]here remains a high degrees of uncertainty around the speed and extent of the decline in inflation expected in the period ahead.”
The 73-page report will be examined closely for signs the RBA’s cycle of 12 interest rate rises since May 2022 has come to an end. Prior to today’s report, only NAB among the big four banks was predicting the RBA would lift its cash rate above the current 4.1% rate.
Osprey birds in Gosford set up a nest near a camera at Industree Group Stadium. Six days ago, three chicks were born there, and it was captured on video:
“Our Birds, the Eastern Osprey pair who have mated for life and call Industree Group Stadium home, have three hatchlings in their famous light tower nest,” the stadium wrote in an Instagram caption.
“The three little chicks are visible in our Osprey Cam vision from this morning. It is the sixth straight year that Our Birds, who the locals have dubbed Rosie and Hutch, have produced offspring in their Stadium nest.”
‘Nonsense’ to suggest Qantas has an outsized influence over Albanese government, Alan Joyce says
Qantas boss Alan Joyce has said it’s “nonsense” to suggest the airline has an outsized influence over the Albanese government, following the refusal of expanded air rights to a key rival carrier and revelations the prime minister’s son had been granted access to the airline’s prestigious chairman’s lounge.
Joyce, speaking in Brisbane on Thursday where he appeared at a Tourism and Events Queensland panel, attempted to hose down speculation the government’s refusal of Qatar Airway‘s push to run an additional 21 weekly flights to Australia’s major airports, was related to his relationship with Anthony Albanese – he said he has “been good mates with Albo for some time” – or any decisions regarding chairman’s lounge access.
“If the government was doing the bidding of Qantas then it would’ve knocked on the head multi-employer bargaining which is a much bigger issue,” Joyce was reported as saying. “It’s a nonsense that Qantas has this unbelievable influence that it can dictate anything to the government because that’s just not right.”
Joyce’s comments follow comments from the Australian government on Thursday that approving Qatar Airways’s push to increase flights to the country would go against Australia’s “national interest”, even as seats on international flights remain scarce and expensive.
Read more here:
Updated
More from the Garma festival, which begun at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land with a solemn and loving tribute to the beloved Gumatj leader Yunupingu.
Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs spoke lovingly of her uncle.
During his early days, she said, when he and his elders were preparing the Yirrkala bark petition and trying to resist the Nabalco bauxite mine on their land on the Gove peninsula in the 1960’s, “he was a young man, around 15 years old, and he couldn’t talk” she said.
At that time the elders did talking and “he didn’t say much, even though he wanted to.
“So he wrote songs. It was his way of expressing himself, expressing his love for his land and for his culture and for what was really right.
“Today his word will echo in one of those songs,” she said.
Updated
AFP’s chief operating officer ‘never tried to hide’ 13-year work history with PwC
The Greens senator David Shoebridge is up at the AFP’s estimates appearance, where he is asking senior officials about their ties to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
It’s revealed the chief operating officer, Charlotte Tressler, worked at the firm for 13 years more than a decade ago, rising to the role of director.
Tressler was the decision-maker in granting a $794,000 contract to PwC looking into ACT policing, led by the former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller.
Shoebridge asks why the chief operating officer didn’t publicly declare her historical ties to the firm at earlier estimates hearings.
She responds she’s “always been open and transparent” about her employment with PwC.
I’ve never tried to hide my relationship with PwC. I’ve openly included it on my LinkedIn account where clearly you have found that information.
Chief financial officer Paul Wood confirmed Tressler had put in a conflict of interest declaration and followed the guidelines.
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Garma opens with tribute to Yunupingu
The Garma festival has begun at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land with a solemn and loving tribute to the beloved Gumatj leader Yunupingu, whose vision over decades helped consolidate the festival as the premier national Indigenous gathering.
Gumatj clan dancers with bilma (clap sticks) and yidaki (didgeridu) sang family members, wearing bright yellow – the Gumatj clan colours – into the forum. Yunupingu’s daughter Binmila carried a photograph of him which they placed at the podium.
This is the first festival without him, but organisers said they will carry his legacy – to keep working to a better future for Yolngu while holding on to the knowledge of the past.
“Whilst he was cajoling PMs and ministers, his real job was the family and the future,” lawyer Sean Bowden said in introducing the children of Dhupuma Barker school.
The school helped realise a long-held vision of Yunupingu – that children could receive a two-way quality education on country.
Garma began in 1999 to elevate Yolngu voices, culture and worldview to the world. This year’s theme is Djambatj, a Yolngu word meaning excellence.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, are due to arrive later today.
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AFP ends all contracts with PwC after ‘perceived’ conflict of interest
The Australian federal police have ended all contracts with consulting firm PwC after an internal warning about a “perceived” conflict of interest.
Chief financial officer Paul Wood said he provided advice to end all contracts with PwC while an investigation into the firm is under way, owing to a potential conflict of interest perception.
Wood said a “clean break” was needed in estimates on Friday, with the message being communicated to the firm on 16 June and effective from 30 June.
Nine contracts have now ended, seven of them internal audits. Wood said all passes from PwC employees had been returned and a settlement sum had been arranged for contracts yet to be completed.
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ACCC blocks ANZ attempt to acquire Suncorp Bank
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has denied authorisation to ANZ Group Holdings Ltd to acquire Suncorp Bank, because it would “further entrench an oligopoly market structure” the commission’s deputy chair said.
“We are not satisfied that the acquisition is not likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of home loans nationally, small to medium enterprise banking in Queensland, and agribusiness banking in Queensland,” the ACCC deputy chair, Mick Keogh, said.
These banking markets are critical for many homeowners and for Queensland businesses and farmers in particular. Competition being lessened in these markets will lead to customers getting a worse deal.
Second-tier banks such as Suncorp Bank are important competitors against the major banks, especially because barriers to new entry at scale into banking are very high. Evidence we obtained strongly indicates that the major banks consider the second-tier banks to be a competitive threat.
The proposed acquisition of Suncorp Bank by ANZ would further entrench an oligopoly market structure that is concentrated, with the four major banks dominating. It also limits the options for second-tier banks to combine and strengthen in a way that would create a greater competitive threat to the major banks.
In a media release, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the government respects the independence of the ACCC and does not intend to comment further on the decision or the future of the proposal.
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‘We do not play golf together’: AFP commissioner says Mick Fuller was hired to lead PwC review of police on merit
The Australian federal police are fronting senators this morning in a spillover senate estimates hearing.
The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, kicked off the hearing with a statement to clarify recent reporting regarding a few matters relating to embattled consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
During the May estimates hearing, Kershaw was asked about his personal relationship with the former NSW police commissioner, now PwC partner, Mick Fuller.
The federal police entered into a contract with PwC to review ACT policing arrangements with Fuller as the lead.
Kershaw did not put in a conflict of interest but this morning said he did not want the relationship to be mischaracterised.
Mr Fuller and I do not have dinner at each other’s homes. We do not play golf together and I don’t know the personal details of his life.
I want to be clear about that because it is important that our professional relationship is not mischaracterised.
The bottom line is that Mr Fuller was the best person for the job and in the AFP, we aim to hire the best people for the job.
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Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue ACT government over alleged flaws in his prosecution
Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue the ACT government over flaws in his prosecution over allegations he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins.
The Daily Telegraph quoted Lehrmann saying he had “instructed my solicitors to prepare a statement of claim against the state”.
I’ve got lawyers that need to be paid, people who have supported me, like my mum and uncle, who need to be supported.
I’m not interested in becoming a millionaire, but I do want to perhaps get on with my life and maybe buy a house.
Given what the prosecution has done to me, I may never work again.
The inquiry findings were published on Wednesday night by the Australian. The inquiry head, Walter Sofronoff, found that there were serious flaws in the way the case was handled by Shane Drumgold SC, the ACT’s DPP. Drumgold said he hadn’t seen the report and wasn’t in a position to respond.
The report also found that there was enough evidence to charge Lehrmann and that the prosecution was properly brought. That is no indication of the guilt or innocence of Lehrmann. Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied the allegation that he raped Higgins. His first trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and a planned re-trial was abandoned due to fears for Higgins’ mental health.
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Domestic violence and household substance abuse linked with 37% higher risk of pregnancy complications
A study has found that women who experienced maltreatment, domestic violence or household substance abuse as children have a 37% higher risk of complications during pregnancy, AAP reports.
University of Queensland researchers say these complications include diabetes, high blood pressure, excessive weight gain, anxiety and depression.
They are also 31% more likely to give birth to premature babies or babies with a low birth weight.
Project leader Abdullah Mamun said:
This highlights the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences and the importance of preventing these to reduce both immediate and intergenerational impacts.
Those experiences can alter the way the brain functions, including things like our stress-signalling pathways, and even our immune system function.
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‘Idle speculation’ will further harm families of dead ADF members: Marles
More from Richard Marles on Nine’s Today Show speaking about the catastrophic Taipan choppers crash, courtesy of AAP.
Marles confirmed the choppers were certified to fly at the time of the crash.
The Taipan crashed during the multinational Exercise Talisman Sabre last week off the north Queensland coast.
A recovery effort is under way for the bodies of Capt Danniel Lyon, Lt Maxwell Nugent, WO Class Two Joseph Laycock and Cpl Alexander Naggs.
Unidentified human remains have been found in the search for the army crew.
Marles said “idle speculation” would cause further harm to the friends and families of the dead ADF members.
We need to make sure those helicopters are safe to fly.
What the families are owed is facts and proper investigations and not speculation.
And that is what we will do.
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Marles defends use of Taipan choppers after crash that killed four
The defence minister, Richard Marles, has defended the use of MRH-90 Taipan choppers following a catastrophic crash which claimed the lives of four army members, AAP reports.
Pressed about why the helicopters were still in use despite documented problems, Marles said Australia would be left with a capability gap if they were to all come out of service.
On Nine’s Today Show he said:
To suggest we can just not have the capability on any given day is to not understand what the country faces.
We are transitioning them out and we are going down a path of having Black Hawks in place … but it’s not as though we are able to suspend the need for an airlift capability over a period of time before the Black Hawks are operational.
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Sofronoff report should have been made public, says ACT opposition leader
The ACT opposition leader, Elizabeth Lee, says the leaked Sofronoff report – which investigated the criminal justice system’s handling of Bruce Lehrmann’s prosecution for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins – should have been made public.
On ABC RN this morning, Lee said:
Let’s be brutally honest, this whole issue would not have been created if the Labor-Greens government, Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury, had done the right thing by the Canberra public and actually made it available.
What should have happened, of course, was that as soon as the report was handed over to the … government, it should have been made public.
It should definitely be made public as soon as possible.
The Sofronoff report – which the ACT government has not yet released publicly – found the ACT director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, breached his duties on multiple occasions.
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NSW teachers’ unions slam 'insulting' pay offer from government
The NSW Independent Education Union has lashed out at the state government for offering an “insulting” pay offer yesterday after stalled negotiations to improve teachers’ conditions.
Its state president, Tina Ruello, urged Labor to reconsider its offer for 2.5% pay increases over four years and stood with the NSW Teachers Federation as it continued discussions with the government.
The NSWTF publicly condemned the state government on Thursday, alleging it had revoked a previously negotiated agreement and “betrayed” the state. Ruello said:
We thought the Minns government was listening. It seems they weren’t. Attracting and retaining the existing workforce in NSW hinges on achieving pay outcomes which are comparable to the outcomes in ACT and QLD. This offer is not that.
Teacher vacancy statistics across NSW tell the story. Schools have been splitting, sharing, and supervising multiple classes, and education and learning outcomes have been weakened as a result. Schools have been running on goodwill. That goodwill has now expired.
Asked whether she had reneged a deal, the education minister, Prue Car, told reporters yesterday there had been “many meetings” and “many conversations”, adding she was still committed to achieving better conditions.
The IEU executive is meeting today and will consider a formal response.
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Queensland to give free meningococcal B vaccine to infants, children and adolescents
The meningococcal B vaccine will be made free for infants, children and adolescents in Queensland.
The Palaszczuk government will provide the vaccines as part of routine childhood and school immunisation programs, in what will be Queensland’s largest state-funded immunisation program. An initial investment has been made of more than $90m over three years.
Queensland has recorded 20 cases of meningococcal B so far this year. It can cause significant illness, disability and death. The Queensland minister for health, Shannon Fentiman, said:
After hearing the stories of heartbroken Queensland families, I had to act.
We know the meningococcal B strain can be lethal and – if a young person is lucky enough to survive the disease – it’s likely they will develop permanent and sometimes devastating complications.
Right now MenB vaccination costs around $100 per vaccine.
Our Queensland meningococcal B immunisation program will remove the financial barriers to vaccination and ensure those who need it most can access it.
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Crime scene declared after person dies in camper-trailer fire in south-east Queensland
A fire that destroyed a camper-trailer and claimed the life of its occupant has been declared a crime scene, according to a Queensland police statement.
Initial investigations suggest the fire started in the trailer at 1.30am on Teviotville Road, Scenic Rim region. Nearby residents raised the alarm.
As officers work to confirm the identity of the occupant, the camper-trailer will remain a crime scene. The trailer will also need to be stabilised to allow investigators to establish the cause of the fire.
Police confirm no other property or vegetation was damaged.
Investigations are ongoing.
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Greens to include homemade edibles in plan to legalise cannabis
Here are some key findings from the Greens’ public consultation on their proposed national bill to legalise cannabis:
92.3% of respondents think we should legalise cannabis.
56% use cannabis recreationally.
68.6% would prefer to buy and consume products from a cannabis cafe.
The most popular way to consume cannabis was edibles, like gummy bears or truffles – 82.08% of respondents.
88.17% think cannabis should be available for online purchase.
53.95% would grow cannabis at home.
Some changes the Greens want to make in the bill include explicitly allowing people to make products like brownies or gummies at home for personal use, and setting out labelling requirements for cannabis and cannabis products including safety and dosage information, strength and chemical composition, and growing conditions.
The survey was targeted at younger people and those engaged in cannabis use, and received 8,916 responses after being shared to senator David Shoebridge, Australian Greens and Sniff Off social media pages, and by email to 12,063 contacts.
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Greens table first national plan to legalise cannabis
The Greens are tabling the first national plan to legalise cannabis.
Senator David Shoebridge has consulted constitutional law advice, and engaged 10,000 respondents, on legalising cannabis for adult use across the country.
“There is an extraordinary level of engagement with this plan, and people are on standby to speak with their local MPs to push for this to become law,” he tweets.
It’s not enough to just decriminalise cannabis, the community is demanding a comprehensive plan for legalisation that will provide safe access to cannabis and cannabis products, end over-policing and draw people away from the illicit market.
You spoke, we listened - and the result is a rolled gold bill to legalise it!
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) August 3, 2023
Today I’m pleased to be delivering the results of the extensive public consultation on the first ever bill to legalise adult use of recreational cannabis across Australia. pic.twitter.com/iWYIPE1CHe
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More than 1,600 Australians forced into homelessness each month, report finds
The housing crisis and rising financial stress are pushing more than 1,600 people into homelessness each month, a report has found.
Between December and March, demand for homelessness services rose 7.5% across Australia amid soaring rents and record low vacancy rates, according to Homelessness Australia.
In total, an extra 6,658 people sought help.
The biggest rise in demand for homelessness services was seen in Queensland (12.9% rise) followed by Western Australia (11.1%) and New South Wales (10.2%), according to the report, which was released on Friday.
Women and children make up 74% of those accessing services.
You can read the full story from Cait Kelly and Josh Butler here:
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Thinktank calls for income-based road tolls
A major thinktank is calling for income-based road tolls and higher charges for those with good access to public transport who use their cars instead, AAP reports.
With the introduction of a per-kilometre road user charge, drivers would be encouraged to use their cars less, cutting down on traffic and emissions, a report by the Committee for Sydney has argued.
“Just as we pay a fare to catch the train, ferry or bus, we should also pay a fare to drive on the roads,” report author and committee public policy advisor Harri Bancroft said.
She said the only way to cut down on congestion and get more people using alternative means of transport was to put a price on road use.
To ensure fairness for those in low-density areas whose only option was to drive, the charge could take into account ease of access to public transport and could also be based on household income, the report said.
Concessional rates could also be considered for road users such as truck drivers, tradespeople, carshare vehicles and carers.
The report was made in submission to a major NSW government review of road tolls led by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Allan Fels.
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Albanese pledges $6.4m for Garma Institute
The federal government has announced $6.4m for a new education facility in Arnhem Land, as prime minister Anthony Albanese travels to the remote region for this weekend’s Garma festival.
Albanese and Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney overnight committed the funding to the Garma Institute, a new tertiary and vocational education facility in northeast Arnhem Land. It’s the setting for the annual Garma festival, founded by late Indigenous leader Yunupingu.
“This has been a long aspiration of the Yolngu people. This partnership shows how governments can work alongside communities, meeting their needs and helping them realise their full potential,” Albanese said.
The institute will further advance the work of the Yothu Yindi foundation through the Dhupuma Barker School, allowing locals to continue on to higher education. The curriculum of the institute will be discussed at the Garma festival.
“Education remains the number one priority for the Yothu Yindi Foundation and the Dilak Elders,” said Djawa Yunupingu, chairman of the Yothu Yindi Foundation.
“The vision of creating a world-class home for education is something that our community leaders have been working towards for more than 20 years. That dream is now becoming a reality.”
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What are you really eating?
DNA tests suggest that more than 10% of the seafood sold in Australia is not what’s on the label and threatened species sometimes wind up on the plate, Australian Associated Press reports.
The national study, by the Minderoo Foundation, has exposed a serious problem with labelling and species substitution.
Researchers who DNA tested 672 seafood products sold at Australian supermarkets, fish markets and restaurants found 11.8% didn’t match what was on the label.
Shark and snapper species, and imported seafood, were most likely to be incorrectly labelled.
In Tasmania, a supermarket that purported to be selling imported stingray was actually selling critically endangered spotback skate from South America.
At a restaurant in Western Australia, something generically labelled as shark was actually a piece of smooth hammerhead, a species classed as vulnerable globally.
Minderoo’s Dr Chris Wilcox, who co-authored the study, said vague labelling was a serious problem alongside incorrect labelling.
“Fifteen of the mislabelled flake products were actually elephant fish, which are only distantly related to sharks,” he said.
The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ve got some breaking stories for you before my colleague takes over.
Our top story from Australia this morning reveals the continued impact of Australia’s housing crisis as a soaring number of people becoming homeless every month, according to shocking figures released today. Our exclusive report reveals that an extra 1,600 Australians are finding themselves with nowhere to call home every month as demand for sheltering services rockets.
Our reporters are at the annual Garma festival in Arnhem Land today as the issue of the voice to parliament continues to cause political divisions in Canberra and beyond. The festival is the first since the death of the Yolngu leader Yunupingu, who began the event in 1999. There will be a memorial celebration for him this morning which we’ll be reporting.
And the chaotic fallout of the Bruce Lehrmann rape case has deepened after the Australian newspaper denied last night that it had broken a promise not to publish the contents of an independent inquiry after being provided with an advance copy of the report. After the paper splashed the story yesterday, the head of the inquiry Walter Sofronoff revealed that he had given the Australian and the ABC copies of the report on the grounds that they did not make them public. But the paper said it did not break an embargo and would not reveal the source of the leak.
And a new study based on DNA tests suggests that more than 10% of the seafood sold in Australia is not what’s on the label: and some might even be threatened species.
