What we learned, Friday 20 September
We’re wrapping up the blog for today. Here’s what made the news:
Former Liberal prime minister John Howard has taken aim at Donald Trump, describing him as “not compatible with democracy”.
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has announced her former upper house colleague Rex Patrick will lead the minor party’s ticket in South Australia in the upcoming federal election.
Mortgage holders may have to wait longer for an interest rate reprieve, after stronger than expected jobs figures.
The federal government announced a boost to rent assistance.
Victoria’s housing crisis has worsened on nearly every key indicator one year since the state government’s housing statement, which set to tackle affordability by building 800,000 new homes and increasing renters’ rights.
The NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, has described the Greens as “formidable and destructive” after a week of fighting between the two parties over housing legislation that stalled in the Senate.
There is free train travel in Sydney this weekend in a bid to avoid industrial action.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association said members will strike for 24 hours next week, as pay negotiations continue with the state government.
Jewish students are being singled out, spat on, removing identifiable symbols and “fearing for their safety”, a Senate inquiry has heard.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese has arrived in Philadelphia, US, ahead of the Quad leaders meeting.
Graham Arnold will depart immediately as head coach of the Socceroos.
Updated
[Continued from previous post]
The Minns government’s legislation was also developed in response to an independent review of the state's environmental laws by former top public servant Dr Ken Henry.
While conservation groups are expected to call for the reforms to be even stronger, the inquiry has also heard from developer and industry lobby groups opposed to the reforms.
Earlier in today’s hearing, the policy director of the NSW Minerals Council, Claire Doherty, claimed that development wasn’t the biggest contributor to biodiversity loss. She said:
Development is a very small proportion of the impacts on nature in NSW.
Whether the BOS [Biodiversity Offsets Scheme] is the very highest priority in terms of making changes, I would question that.
Updated
