What we learned today – Friday 26 May
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today. Thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s biggest stories:
Authorities have praised Sydney residents for a quick evacuation as fire the fire raged;
Two teenagers have been assisting police with inquiries in connection with the Sydney fire as authorities have been able to locate 13 of 15 people rough sleeping in the building;
A 15-year-old has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly shooting at Perth classroom;
A review of the Modern Slavery Act has found Australia needs stronger anti-slavery laws;
New South Wales is the first state to be considering “breach of trust” fines for companies that leak sensitive government tax information in wake of PwC scandal;
Defence company Australian Naval Infrastructure has been questioned during a Senate estimates committee about contracts it holds with consulting firm PwC which may have given it access to confidential defence information;
Defence minister Richard Marles has accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of “making stuff up” over claims the government is turning off the gas supply.
Joe Biden’s top Indo-Pacific adviser has reiterated the US president’s “deepest regrets” over a cancelled visit to Australia.
The independent inspector general of water compliance has told a Senate committee that Australia’s water laws are “rubbish” and have “more get out of jail clauses, and opportunities, than a Monopoly board.”
ABC chair, Ita Buttrose, said the treatment of Stan Grant is the result of an “abusive and toxic culture”, and called for a return to civility in public life;
Stan Grant has said he is “bewildered” by the furore since he appeared on ABC’s coronation panel during a Sydney Writers festival event;
Consumer lender Latitude Financial will report a 90% fall in profit after hefty costs attributed to a massive cyber-attack;
Senator Lidia Thorpe has proposed an amendment to the constitutional alteration to establish the Indigenous voice to include an explicit acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
Mike Cannon-Brookes has won out over Andrew Forrest in a billionaires’ battle for control of the $35bn renewable energy export project Sun Cable;
A court has found the Office of the Australian information Commissioner is not properly resourced in handing down its decision in former senator Rex Patrick’s legal battle over an FoI decision;
A rally has been held outside South Australian parliament in opposition to a state government crackdown which civil society groups say threatens the right to protest.
Updated
Protest under way against the South Australian government’s anti-protest laws
The South Australian Labor government has proposed increasing the maximum penalty for protesters which obstruct public places to $50,000 and three months in jail.
A large crowd has braved chilly, wet weather to gather outside Parliament House on Friday night.
Huge crowd gathering at Parliament House in Adelaide to protest new laws that would see protesters charged with $50,000 or three months in jail #protectprotest pic.twitter.com/CigxIU71aR
— Jessica Alice (@jessica_alice_) May 26, 2023
The rally has been called by 15 groups and has caused traffic delays along North Terrace during peak hour.
School Climate Striker Aud Mason-Hyde spoke said the changes are “taking democracy away from us.”
We need to rise up to keep joy, community, and the right to protest.
Great to see the turnout here at #saparli tonight! #ProtectProtest pic.twitter.com/z6h7f5ggVi
— Ross Womersley (@RossWomersley) May 26, 2023
Those attending have reported a heavy police presence even before the rally began.
"Dunstan would be ashamed of this Labor government" #ProtectProtest #saparli pic.twitter.com/b4wxFkaTLO
— Sharna Bremner (@sharnatweets) May 26, 2023
The bill was rushed through the state’s lower house within 24 hours of being introduced and is expected to face a vote in the legislative council on Tuesday.
Updated
