What we learnt today, Monday 24 July
Thanks for following along with us today on the blog – that’s where we’ll leave our live coverage. Here were the main developments today:
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said officials expect the federal surplus for 2022-23 to be about $20bn. In announcing this Chalmers said the government is “not currently working” on new cost-of-living relief measures, and are instead rolling out measures that have already been announced.
Meanwhile, seasoned economist Chris Barrett has been appointed to head the Productivity Commission for the next five years.
No campaign leader and former Labor minister Gary Johns is facing calls to resign after comments he made proposing blood tests to prove Aboriginality for welfare payments emerged.
Labor senator Jana Stewart said these were “outdated views, from over 100 years ago”. Meanwhile, NSW Liberals MP Matt Kean labelled Johns’ comments “out of touch and extreme”, saying he should be sacked if he doesn’t resign.
Meanwhile, no campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the yes vote is popular in Victoria because it’s one of those “difficult states” where everything is “about ideology and not common sense”.
The government will spend nearly $10bn to buy 20 new Hercules transport planes from the US – eight additional ones, and 12 to replace existing Hercules planes. Deputy prime minister Richard Marles said they are a “crucial asset” in peacekeeping operations and bushfire and flood emergencies.
Former senior public servant Kathryn Campbell resigned from the Department of Defence in the wake of the robodebt royal commission report.
The government will make it easier for casuals to convert to full-time work if they choose, under Labor’s next stage of industrial relations reforms.
A child was located after a car was stolen in Dandenong, Melbourne with the two-year-old on board, Victorian Police confirmed.
A male surfer is in hospital after being bitten by a “suspected white shark” near Gnarabup beach in Western Australia this morning.
As always, we’ll be back here bright and early tomorrow morning. Have a lovely evening!
Target to merge operations with retail bedfellow Kmart
Retail department chain Target will merge its administrative operations with stablemate Kmart, as part of a plan by their owner to boost returns in the competitive sector.
Perth-based conglomerate Wesfarmers said in a statement the two store networks had operated closely for some time.
Kmart managing director Ian Bailey said:
The announcements today are an internal reorganisation of our support offices and there are no impacts to the Kmart or Target stores.
The change was first reported by the Australian Financial Review.
The competitive price-focussed Kmart drives significantly more revenue for Wesfarmers than Target, which sells affordable apparel and home furnishings.
Wesfarmers has long cited an unsustainable cost base at Target for a decision to close or convert its stores, a strategy that has been in place for several years.
At the end of last year, there were just under 250 Kmart stores in Australia, almost double the number of Target stores. There are also more than 50 smaller-format K-hub stores.
Updated
Child located after a car stolen from Dandenong
Victorian police have confirmed a toddler has been located at a business on Burwood Highway in Ferntree Gully this afternoon after a car was stolen with the two-year-old on board.
Investigators have been told a black Kia Carnival, registration 1WU5QT, was parked on Cleeland Street in Dandenong about 3.25pm.
The toddler was located a short time later at a business in Ferntree Gully about 4.35pm, and was not injured during the incident.
Police are still searching for the stolen vehicle.
Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Catch up on today’s biggest headlines so far with the Afternoon Update from Antoun Issa:
Baby found after car stolen in Melbourne
Victorian police have confirmed the toddler that was inside a stolen car in Melbourne has been found.
We will bring you more details as they emerge.
Updated
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles has shared a photo on social media of his meeting with the minister of state for the armed forces of the United Kingdom, James Heappey, in Canberra today.
Wonderful to spend time with @JSHeappey in Canberra earlier today. Our two nations have a proud history of cooperation, including to support Ukraine’s self-defence. Thank you Minister Heappey for hosting our ADF personnel who are helping train Ukraine recruits at Operation Kudu. pic.twitter.com/D7eTsOG8U2
— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) July 24, 2023
Marles tweeted:
Our two nations have a proud history of cooperation, including to support Ukraine’s self-defence.
Thank you Minister Heappey for hosting our ADF personnel who are helping train Ukraine recruits at Operation Kudu.
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its national weather outlook for the week ahead:
Here's the national weather outlook for the week.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 24, 2023
Some rain is moving northwards across Queensland today. Another cold front is expected for WA late Tuesday before reaching Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart from Thursday.
Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/MiTip7pAUs
Desperate search for stolen car with toddler inside
A frantic search is under way after a car was stolen with a toddler inside in Melbourne, AAP reports.
Police say a black Kia Carnival, registration 1WU5QT, was parked on Cleeland Street in Dandenong about 3.25pm on Monday.
The exact circumstances are yet to be determined but the vehicle was parked with the two-year-old child in the rear seat when it was stolen.
Witnesses report seeing the vehicle driving towards Heatherton Road.
Anyone who sights the vehicle is urged to contact triple zero.
South Australia Health has reported another case of meningococcal disease, bringing the state’s total this year to 17 – compared to eight cases recorded at the same time last year.
The latest case was reported in a 55-year-old man from regional South Australia. He has been admitted to hospital in a stable condition, and two contacts have been directed to take clearance antibiotics.
HEALTH ALERT: Meningococcal case - 24 July 2023 pic.twitter.com/y3go9fEuJc
— SA Health (@SAHealth) July 24, 2023
Labor vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of robodebt
Labor’s assistant trade minister Tim Ayres is asked on the ABC about Kathryn Campbell’s resignation.
He said he learned the news live on air when Afternoon Briefing host Greg Jennett put the matter to a different guest. Responding, he commented on the government’s focus around robodebt broadly:
We as a government have been determined to do two things here, one is commenced this royal commission process, make sure we get to the bottom of what has happened here. It’s been a cruel, illegal, unfair process that has demonised some of the most vulnerable Australians and put people in a terrible position. Get to the bottom of that.
Secondly, make sure we are government that is driven by what are the proper processes. You have seen that unfold over the last couple of weeks. There is a royal commission report which is completely authoritative which has made adverse findings about previous ministers, including the previous prime minister. There is a confidential section … It is important people in my position respect that process and don’t say anything that would undermine the process.
Updated
Role of Hercules goes beyond military operations, minister says
Veterans affairs minister Matt Keogh is speaking to the ABC about Australia’s investment to acquire 20 new C-130J Hercules aircraft. He said their role goes beyond military operations, also being used for humanitarian efforts:
The Hercules uses a military airlift aircraft but also plays a vital role in humanitarian assistance. Whether supporting bushfire operations or floods here in Australia, as they were in the north-west of Australia at the beginning of this year, or across our region where that assistance required.
Keogh is asked whether the government has the right to slow down acquisitions if they don’t meet the personnel targets needed.
He said Australia needs to grow the size of its defence force for many different reasons:
Obviously we do need to grow the size of our defence force, not just for this capability but for capabilities across the defence force. We have a big uplift coming with the Aukus submarine program … That is consistent across the board.
[That’s] why we are putting in such a tremendous effort to make sure we are growing our recruitment, retaining more of our people in defence, making changes at that end as well.
Updated
Matt Kean says no campaign’s Gary Johns should step down
NSW Liberal MP Matt Kean is continuing to campaign for a yes vote on the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum. Appearing on Sky News, he said that although the result “will be tight” he is feeling optimistic.
With the momentum that I’m seeing out there in the community, the yes case can get up.
Kean said he wants to see a respectful debate take place:
What we don’t want to see is the divisive and extreme views that are entering the debate.
He points to comments made by Gary Johns. Earlier, we reported that Johns is facing calls to resign from his position in the no campaign after comments were published in which he appeared to suggest blood tests for welfare payments, among other remarks.
Kean said Johns’ comments were “out of touch and extreme”:
They have no place in any organisation, let alone in a body that’s leading the no campaign in the referendum.
I think the good people running the no campaign should have the dignity … to ask Mr Johns to step down.
This guy has a long history of offensive and extreme views which should have no place [during such an important debate].
Kean said if Johns refuses to stand down from the no campaign, he should be sacked.
Updated
Government to boost options for casual workers
The assistant climate and energy minister, Jenny McAllister, spoke to the ABC about the governments plan to give casuals the option to switch to permanent employment under certain circumstances.
It won’t be for everyone, a lot of people like working casually, but for some people it can make all the difference.
We know that we need to talk to employers about this and we need to talk to unions about this so that we can bring together arrangements that are workable and practical for everyone involved.
But this is a commitment that we made before the election and we want to go back to the situation we had just two years ago when there was a clearer definition of what a casual really was, and a clear pathway for people to move to permanency if in fact that reflected their actual work circumstances.
McAllister said the pandemic demonstrated the importance of benefits such as sick leave:
… not just for the employee but also for their family and often in fact for their co-workers, who might prefer that a person who is sick actually has the financial capacity not to come to work that day and not to make everyone else in the workplace sick as well.
Updated
Kathryn Campbell resigns from Department of Defence
In breaking news, former senior public servant Kathryn Campbell has resigned from the Department of Defence in the wake of the robodebt royal commission report.
Defence issued a statement moments ago that said:
Defence can confirm it has accepted Kathryn Campbell’s resignation from the department with effect from Friday 21 July 2023. Defence will not provide further comment on this matter.
It comes after confirmation last week that Campbell had been suspended without pay.
Updated
Greens urge government to negotiate over housing bill demands
The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, just spoke on Sky News about the Greens call for an annual $2.5bn investment in affordable and public housing. He said:
When we’re talking about affordable housing … it’s not just for those most doing it most tough … but also there’s teachers or nurses looking for a sharehouse right now who can’t find anything.
Chandler-Mather is asked whether the Greens are any closer in its negotiations with the government over the housing bill. He said the party is “pushing as hard as we can” on its two sticking points – an annual $2.5bn investment in affordable and public housing, and a rent freeze and cap.
We would be willing to pass the bill as soon as possible if they came to the table on our two key demands.
Chandler-Mather clarified that the Greens wouldn’t necessarily refuse to pass the bill if their demands aren’t met, but they want the government to start negotiating with them:
We’ve already halved our offer we put to the government, we started at $5bn … the reality is the government does need to realise that their proposal at the moment will see the housing crisis get worse and they need to negotiate …
Updated
Detained journalist Cheng Lei’s partner says latest delay unreasonable
The partner of detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who is currently being held in China, says the decision to delay the verdict “unnecessarily damages China’s standing” at a time when efforts are under way to improve the bilateral relationship.
Her partner, Nick Coyle, said today:
It will be, of course, deeply disappointing for Lei and of course her family. There has been no verdict or outcome since her trial 16 months ago, and it will be three years in very difficult custodial conditions ... on August 13.
Fair-minded people in Australia and all over the world simply do not accept this as reasonable.
It quite unnecessarily damages China’s standing at a time many good people from both countries are seeking to repair relations and move the relationship forward.
Cheng Lei was subject to a closed national security related-trial in Beijing on 31 March 2022 but has yet to be informed of a verdict.
Guardian Australia understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was told the verdict deadline of 19 July had been extended for a further three months – the most recent in several such extensions. The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has raised consular cases in all of her meetings with Chinese counterparts, including with Wang Yi in Jakarta earlier this month.
A spokesperson for Dfat said today:
The Australian government shares the deep concerns of Ms Cheng’s family and friends about the ongoing delays in her case, and will continue to advocate for her at the highest levels.
We continue to call for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment, in accordance with international norms, and for her to be reunited with her family in Australia.
Updated
ACTU hopeful Reserve Bank will not raise rates tomorrow
Asked on Sky News whether she expects the Reserve Bank to announce another rate rise tomorrow, the ACTU’s secretary, Sally McManus, said:
We would hope the reserve bank does not put up rates again.
We say that because they have been talking about for a while [about] a mythical wage spiral which has not come about.
McManus argued that around the world in countries where inflation is falling, wage rises have also been bigger.
Given what’s happening around the world, the Reserve Bank should absolutely hold fire.
Updated
Sally McManus positive on new productivity commission chair but warns against groupthink
The ACTU’s secretary, Sally McManus, just spoke to Sky News on the appointment of Chris Barrett to chair of the productivity commission.
McManus said she doesn’t know who Barrett is, but “he sounds pretty well qualified to me”:
The bigger problem is when you have an issue with groupthink, and I think that’s what the productivity commission got to, like the Reserve Bank [where you had people with] one way of seeing things.
Having a diversity of views so they can be challenged … always leads to better decision making.
Updated
Greens renew call for annual $2.5bn investment in public housing
With news that Australia’s federal budget surplus will likely be over $20bn, the Greens has renewed its call for an annual $2.5bn investment in public and affordable housing:
The Federal Budget surplus is now reported to be over $20bn. Once again, all the Greens are asking for to pass the HAFF is a commitment to invest $2.5bn in public & affordable housing every year and put $1bn on the table to coordinate a rent freeze and cap.
— Max Chandler-Mather (@MChandlerMather) July 24, 2023
The Greens’s housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, tweeted:
Once again, all the Greens are asking for to pass the [housing Australia future fund bill] is a commitment to invest $2.5bn in public & affordable housing every year and put $1bn on the table to coordinate a rent freeze and cap.
Updated
Man bitten by shark on WA coast in ‘stable condition’
Just a bit more information on the shark bite at Gnarabup beach in WA:
A St John’s Ambulance spokesperson confirmed the man in his 20s is believed to be in a stable condition at Bunbury hospital. He was transferred there by St John’s from Margaret River hospital earlier today.
We are seeking more information from the hospital.
Updated
Duo charged with smuggling $61m in cocaine inside yacht
Two men accused of importing cocaine worth more than $61m into Queensland by sea will remain in custody, AAP reports.
Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, both from Griffith in the ACT, were arrested at their Canberra apartment on Thursday as part of an investigation into a quarter-tonne of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.
Police say one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 in cash in a vacuum-sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the officers knocked on the front door. Australian Federal police allege the cash was the proceeds of crime.
The acting magistrate, Athol Kennedy, adjourned Rees’ matter to 1 September and ordered Kachour’s case be heard again on Tuesday.
Updated
Food delivery driver dies in Sydney on Saturday
Unions say a food delivery rider who died in Sydney on Saturday was working for UberEats at the time.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) issued a statement late Monday sharing its condolences with the rider’s family.
The ACTU said such incidents serve as a reminder of “what’s at stake when workers don’t have the protections they need at work” and criticised the lack of any system in Australia to give transport gig workers basic rights, including minimum wage and sick leave.
The ACTU said it is the 12th-known food delivery rider known to have died since 2017, nine of whom were UberEats riders.
The ACTU’s secretary, Sally McManus, said urgent reform was needed to improve the rights of delivery workers.
The precarious nature of the work means they are forced to take risks just to bring in a paycheck.
These workers deserve so much more. Working no matter what the weather or time to bring us convenience comes with a cost, employers are passing risks onto individuals in the pursuit of corporate profits.
Updated
Chalmers says foreign investment review board advised him to block lithium mine takeover
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says he acted on advice from the foreign investment review board (FIRB) in rejecting a proposed takeover of a lithium mine.
But a Chinese state media outlet has described the decision as “disheartening” and “disappointing”.
In a prohibition order published late last week, Chalmers blocked the proposed acquisition by Austroid Australia of an extra 90% stake in Alita Resources. Because it already has a small stake in the business, the proposal would have increased Austroid’s stake in Alita to 100%.
The Australian newspaper reported that the proposal would have given Austroid “control of one of Australia’s only in-production lithium mines – Bald Hill – owned by Alita Resources”.
In an editorial published last night, the China Daily wrote that the decision was “disheartening as both sides have everything to gain from maintaining the positive momentum that has revived the ties” between Australia and China. The newspaper added:
It [the takeover] was apparently nixed, because Austroid Australia has a Chinese national as a director, who is also a director of the Chinese company, Liatam Mining, which tried to buy Alita’s assets in 2020 but was unable to get FIRB approval.
Chalmers was asked at a media conference in Canberra today why he had blocked the deal – and what it signalled about the government’s approach to China-linked investments in critical minerals in Australia. Chalmers said:
We run a non-discriminatory foreign investment process, very similar across governments of either political persuasion. I issued a prohibition order last week consistent with advice from the foreign investment review board. And just like other decisions that I’ve taken in the past, I don’t think it’s appropriate that I provide further commentary on specific cases like that one.
Updated
Pat Conroy ‘very confident’ ALP conference will support Aukus
Conroy was also asked whether the Aukus deal is under any threat, following speculation that it would be debated at the ALP national conference.
He remains “very confident” the conference will support Aukus:
This is the policy of the Albanese Labor government because it’s in our national interest. It is in our national interest and we’re getting on full speed with implementing it.
I was in the United States last month discussing the legislation that’s required in the US system. We’re getting on with the job and I’m very confident that the national conference will support us.
Updated
Pat Conroy: Albanese Labor government has spent ‘billions’ on hardening northern military bases
Pat Conroy, the minister for defence industry, also responded to comments from the Air Force chief over the weekend saying that he was not confident Australia can defend its northern bases.
Well, the chief of the Air Force was reflecting on what the Albanese Labor government inherited. And what we did was commission the defence strategic review [which] said one of the critical six priorities that we immediately need to work on is hardening our northern bases.
That’s why we allocated billions of dollars to do that work. And obviously, the chief of the Air Force is reflecting that assessment and the need for that money to go into – whether it’s RAAF base Tindal, Scherger, our naval port at Darwin, the army base at Townsville. We need to harden these facilities and that’s why the Albanese Labor government is allocating billions of dollars to do that.
Updated
Pat Conroy says $9.8bn investment in Hercules fleet will increase RAAF capacity and create ‘hundreds’ of jobs
The defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, has given a doorstop interview following the announcement that Australia’s Hercules aircraft fleet will rise from 12 aircraft up to 20.
This investment of $9.8bn will almost double the fleet and represents a massive uplift in capability in mobility and transport for the Royal Australian Air Force.
He said the government is buying eight extra aircraft and replacing the existing 12, which have been in operation since 1999. Deliveries will start in 2027 and the first twelve will arrive by 2030, Conroy said.
Almost doubling the fleet gives Australia more capacity to deploy the aircraft on multiple operations at the same time, Conroy said. He added that “hundreds” of jobs will be created or maintained through supporting the Hercules aircraft in the north-west of Sydney:
Those maintenance jobs are critical to keeping those aircraft in the air … hundreds of jobs will be supported around RAAF base [in] Richmond.
And secondly, there are Australian companies that supply parts into them. Quickstep is a very advanced composites company that will really do great work in the supply chain there as well.
Updated
‘Significant’ fire hazard burn backlog ahead of summer
Firefighters are scrambling to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season in NSW after wet weather and floods severely hampered backburning, AAP reports.
The state government has committed an extra $10m for 100 more NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crew to speed up their “critical work” ahead of the upcoming bushfire season, saying just 20% of planned burns were completed.
Fire authorities are urging residents to prepare for a drier summer after three wet years spurred vegetation growth.
RFS’s commissioner, Rob Rogers, said the “return of dry, windy conditions” meant teams were needed “out there doing hazard reduction burns at every opportunity”.
The state emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, conceded there was a “significant backlog in hazard reduction burns” statewide:
We need to accelerate our efforts heading into the next fire season and these additional crews will help make a difference.
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared an alert for an El Niño weather event, which lifts risk of drought, heatwaves and bushfires.
Updated
New Productivity Commission chief has ‘the right skills and attributes’: Chalmers
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has shared a photo on social media of him with Chris Barrett, who has been appointed the chair of the Productivity Commission for a five-year term:
Cabinet has agreed to recommend the appointment of Chris Barrett as the new Chair of the Productivity Commission, to help us renew and refocus one of Australia’s key economic institutions for the future.
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) July 24, 2023
Full statement at https://t.co/BOZCrUbbT8 @ozprodcom #auspol #ausecon pic.twitter.com/NmBbrmRkLQ
In a statement, Chalmers said:
Barrett brings to the table the right skills and attributes to take the Productivity Commission into the future.
[His] experience – from key senior roles in important international institutions to practical experience delivering reforms in both state and federal governments – will further cement the commission’s role as a world-class economic institution.
I would like to thank outgoing chair Michael Brennan for the significant contribution he has made to the commission’s work and to the national economic debate over the past five years, and in his senior public service and ministerial advisory roles before that.
Updated
Man in hospital following shark bite, AAP reports
Further to our last post, AAP is now reporting that the man is in hospital after a possible shark attack along the Western Australian coast this morning.
We’ll continue to bring you the latest news as we learn more.
Updated
Male surfer bitten by suspected white shark on WA beach
Investigations are under way after a surfer was bitten by a shark near Margaret River in Western Australia today.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed a male surfer was bitten by a “suspected white shark” at about 8.45am this morning.
The incident took place at a boat ramp surfing spot near Gnarabup beach. Officers from the shire of Augusta Margaret River have closed beaches from Gas Bay to Margaret River Mouth following the incident.
The department is encouraging people to take additional caution in the Gnarabup and Prevelly areas, and adhere to beach closures.
If you see a shark, report it to water police on (08) 9442 8600.
Updated
WFH chills the outlook for the commercial property market
We’ve gotten used to seeing city skylines spiked with construction cranes, but perhaps that’s going to be a rarer sight in the future if NAB’s commercial property index is any guide.
According to the bank, the index eased further into negative territory in the June quarter to be down to -7 points from -6 in the March quarter. (The long-term average is -2, so perhaps negativity is the norm.)
By sector, though, hotels are doing well (+38 points). Industry too is still humming at +26, but that was a two-and-a-half-year low. With so many of us working from home when we can, the office indeed extended its plunge to be at -28. Retail is also very weak at -17 and won’t rebound soon – save perhaps for those peddling Barbie merch.
NAB said:
[A]ctivity is slowing sharply after a very strong period of growth in 2022. And with rates moving higher, the risks to growth continue to rise.
Market sentiment was negative in all states bar Queensland (+8) in the June quarter but “lowest in Victoria by a big margin at (-22)”, NAB said. Victoria was also the only state with a negative confidence outlook over the next two years (-4 points) and the only state to print negative in all market sectors, particularly the office (-25).
As for office vacancies, the level actually dropped nationally to 9.6% in the June quarter from 9.9%. (Long-term average vacancy rate is 8.5%.) Empty space was highest in WA at 11.9%, with Victoria not far behind at 11.3%, while it was lowest in NSW at 8.2%.
Updated
Victoria ‘about ideology and not common sense’, no campaigner Nampijinpa Price says
Indigenous voice to parliament no campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has taken aim at Victoria in the lead-up to the referendum.
Appearing on 3AW radio, Price is asked why Victoria is one of the states with a majority of yes voters. She argued Victoria is one of those “difficult states” where everything is “about ideology and not common sense”:
You only have to look at who’s running the show here in Victoria and, you know, the level of activism that takes place in a place such as Victoria.
You’ve got the progressive no’s who are pushing against it – [independent senator] Lidia Thorpe’s doing her part in that …
Victoria is one of those difficult states where everything is about ideology and not common sense.
Price also argued that clubs and groups, such as sporting organisations, are publicly showing support for the voice as an act of “virtue signalling”:
Is it them trying to demonstrate, ‘oh look, we’re not a racist club’?
There’s corporates out there, there are those who have virtue signalling and saying they support this and it’s more about their own self-interest than it is actually about improving the lives of marginalised Indigenous Australians. [They’re] saying, ‘we’re virtuous and we’re not racist, please don’t pick on us’.
Price said she is working towards 14 October as the date of the referendum, but still has no official confirmation.
Updated
NSW premier says police ‘well-resourced’ after three people shot in Sydney
AAP has an update on the shooting that took place in Sydney’s south-west yesterday morning:
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has defended police resourcing after three people were shot in Sydney. A critically wounded 25-year-old man is among three people in hospital after they were shot while sitting in two parked cars in Greenacre early on Sunday morning.
Assistant commissioner Stuart Smith told the Daily Telegraph:
It has all the hallmarks of an organised crime hit, however there are no links to organised crime by any of the people involved.
Police said on Sunday they are investigating gangland links but that there was “no direct link to anything ongoing”.
The city’s south-west has been grappling with a gang-linked war involving families that has claimed at least 11 lives in recent years and flared up again in the past few months.
The premier described Sunday’s attack as “vicious and violent” but says police have sufficient resources to curb the escalating criminal underworld tensions.
Minns said this morning:
We’re in constant communication with NSW police about the resources that they do have to keep the public safe and if there are changes that they need, both in legislation or resourcing, of course we’ll come to the party.
The people of NSW are concerned about it [and] I want to assure them that we have a well-resourced, disciplined and experienced police team that are conducting this inquiry.
A 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were hit and are in a stable condition in hospital.
Police from Auburn are investigating with assistance from the state crime command.
Updated
Chalmers to campaign for the voice no matter the timing
Moving away from the economy momentarily, Chalmers has commented on the voice to parliament referendum.
When asked about calls to delay the referendum to build a broader consensus for the yes vote, he says he will be campaigning for the voice no matter the timing:
I’m not going to wait for the timing of the referendum to be announced to campaign for the voice. I’m looking forward to campaign in my community, home state and around the country …
I recognise historically that Queensland has been a difficult place to make the case for changes like this one. That fires me up more, rather than deters me.
When it comes to the timing of the referendum, that a decision largely for the prime minister and [Indigenous Australians] minister [Linda] Burney and others. I’ll campaign for it whenever it is.
Updated
Labor ‘not currently working’ on new cost-of-living relief package: Chalmers
More on officials expecting the surplus for 2022-23 to be about $20bn, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is asked if that gives the government greater scope to look at cost-of-living relief options, or if this will not be necessary with inflation starting to trend down.
Chalmers says that even though inflation is moderating, it is higher than the government wants it to be:
The government’s main focus is on providing cost-of-living relief by rolling out the commitments we’ve made over our first two budgets.
We’re not currently working on a new package of cost-of-living relief. We’re focused on rolling out billions of dollars in cost-of-living relief we have already announced.
What a much better budget position allows for is it gives you the flexibility down the track, in future budgets. If you want to do more on the cost-of-living front, it gives you the opportunity to do that and it builds a buffer right now.
And we need to recognise that even though the budget is in much better condition in the near term, we have the longer term intensifying pressures as well. We weigh all of that up, but the approach we have taken is textbook fiscal policy, targeted relief for people but not at the expense of repairing the budget.
Updated
Chalmers: 2010s ‘worst for productivity growth in the last 60 years’
Jim Chalmers tells reporters that productivity growth is “absolutely central” to growing the economy and lifting living standards:
I sat a metre or two from [former RBA governor] Phil Lowe and we made almost exactly the same point … If we want to see rising living standards and want to see different wages, productivity needs to be part of that.
The economy has not been productive enough for too long. The decade to 2020 was the worst for productivity growth in Australia in the last 60 years. And it will take time to turn that around.
Nobody pretends that there’s a switch that you can flick to turn around what has been disappointing performance on the productivity front. We’ve been realistic and upfront about that as well. We see productivity as absolutely central to growing the economy the right way, getting the decent wages growth and lifting living standards over time as well.
Updated
Opportunity to ‘revitalise and renew’ Productivity Commission
Chalmers says he is looking to “revitalise and renew and refocus” the Productivity Commission, and the appointment of Chris Barrett will provide an “important opportunity”.
I think we’ve got a really important opportunity here under Chris Barrett’s leadership to take the PC forward into the future in ways that recognise that the productivity has evolved as well.
We know the productivity gains made in recent Australian history were the product of governments which were prepared to recognise the economic conditions and the economic opportunities to make our economy more productive …
We’ve made it clear we think the productivity opportunity for Australia is not to make people work longer for less, but to invest in human capital and the energy transformation and get much better at adapting and adopting technology as it evolves.
It will remain [wholly] independent, as it should be. It will be a very valued part of our institutional landscape when it comes to economic policy.
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Federal surplus for 2022-23 ‘likely just north’ of $20bn: treasurer
Jim Chalmers has said officials expect the federal surplus for 2022-23 will be about $20bn “or more likely just north of that figure”.
Addressing the media in Canberra, the treasurer also emphasised the government’s priority is rolling out “cost-of-living relief for people doing it tough” without adding to inflation.
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Chris Barrett to lead Productivity Commission
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has announced that Chris Barrett will be the new chair of the Productivity Commission, serving for a term of five years.
Speaking in Canberra, Chalmers said:
Chris’s appointment recognises if we want to build a stronger economy, then we’ve got to build stronger economic institutions and that means renewing and refocusing and revitalising the Productivity Commission.
Chris Barrett is a very experienced and very well-regarded economist and public servant. He has spent almost three decades working in public policy, the majority of that time as a senior public servant …
His appointment comes after a rigorous merit-based process, which involved interviews with two departmental secretaries and the Australian public service commissioner as well. His experience … will be absolutely invaluable to our thinking as we renew and refocus and revitalise the Productivity Commission for the future …
I’m looking forward to working with such a well-credentialed, experienced and well-regarded economist and public servant.
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Chalmers: inflation ‘will be higher than we’d like for longer than we’d like’
Taking you live to Canberra now, where the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking to the media about inflation.
Following the G20 meetings in India last week, Chalmers says some parts of the world are in recession and some are proving more resilient, meaning there are risks in the global economy and Australia is “not immune”:
Right around the world inflation is moderating but it is still higher than what people would like to see.
We will get a read on our on inflation numbers in a quarterly sense and a monthly sense [later] in the week but we’ve made it clear that inflation is moderating in our economy. We would like to see it moderate quicker.
It will be higher than we’d like for longer than we’d like, but it has come off the peak in inflation that we saw around Christmas time. And certainly less than the expectation is for less than what we saw at the beginning of 2022.
Updated
Thanks to Natasha for taking us through the morning! I’ll be with you for the remainder of the day – let’s get into it.
Handing over to Emily Wind who will take you through the rest of today’s developments!
John Farnham cancer free and ‘doing fantastic’ after surgery, says son
John Farnham’s son James Farnham says his father is cancer free and “doing fantastic” after undergoing a 12-hour operation to remove a tumour in his mouth and reconstruct his jaw.
Appearing on Seven’s Sunrise this morning to discuss the premiere of the documentary, John Farnham: Finding The Voice, the 74-year-old singer’s son said:
Just the other day he was, you know, walking around with his cane and did a little bit of a dance, which was pretty fabulous. He’s walking with his dog a lot – so he’s really, really happy.
Farnham said his father wasn’t one to watch himself on television, but the family would “make him” watch the documentary. Read Luke Buckmaster’s take on the documentary, which airs today on Seven and 7Plus, here:
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NT police to use handheld scanners to search people for knives
Northern Territory police will be allowed to use handheld scanners to stop and search people for knives and other weapons under proposed new laws, AAP reports.
Police will be able to detect, seize and destroy weapons, and anyone caught with an illegal item could face a jail term of up to two years.
The amendments stem from the government’s review of bail and weapon laws released today.
The chief minister, Natasha Fyles, said there was no place for knife crime in the territory and no excuses for people who committed knife crimes.
Police will now have the powers to stop people, search them and destroy weapons they may be carrying. And if someone uses that weapon in a violent crime, it’s going to be even harder to get bail.
The government’s review also added axes to the definition of controlled weapons and clarified the definition of a knife to include a machete.
Violent offences involving those weapons will trigger a presumption against bail.
A series of non-legislative changes include training for judges and prosecutors on the potential risks of defendants on bail, strengthening bail support programs and extra resources to ensure a faster resolution of court cases.
Fyles said the legislative changes would be passed by the parliament as a matter of urgency.
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Many of Sydney’s beaches deemed to be too polluted for swimming
Any Sydneysiders considering a winter ocean swim today might want to think again. The NSW environment department is warning people to avoid swimming in several locations across the northern beaches and Sydney’s east due to pollution.
After recording more than 40mm of rain around Manly before 9am this morning, beaches from Shelly Beach to North Curl Curl have been flagged as likely to be polluted in the department’s “beachwatch” daily bulletin.
The bulletin also says pollution is likely at Bronte and Coogee in Sydney’s east, and possible at Bondi, Tamarama, Gordons Bay and Clovelly.
The department says the predictions are made using rainfall data to determine the likelihood of bacterial contamination.
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AFP seizes 247kg of cocaine hidden in yacht’s hull
The Australian federal police has seized 247kg of cocaine hidden inside a yacht’s hull in Townsville and charged two men over the incident.
In a statement, police said the men from Griffith attempted to sling cash over their apartment balcony before their arrest:
Police allege one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the AFP knocked on the front door and announced they had a search warrant.
Police will allege the cash is proceeds of crime.
AFP Det Supt Adrian Telfer said the cocaine seized on the yacht had an estimated street value of $61,750,000.
Police allege the men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover the cocaine from the yacht, which arrived in Townsville in April after sailing from Vanuatu.
The men, aged 55 and 44, appeared in the ACT magistrates court on Friday before being extradited to Brisbane on Saturday.
Both are due to appear in the Brisbane magistrates court on Monday charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime. The 55-year-old man is also charged with failing to comply with an order made under the Crimes Act.
Telfer said the investigation remains ongoing and did not rule out further arrests in the future.
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Lizzo brings sane and sanitary update to the shoey
Performing in Sydney last night, Lizzo has introduced some much-needed sanity/sanitation to the shoey tradition in Australian pop concerts by popping a bottle in her boot. One of her fans captured the moment:
The most sanitary version of an Aussie classic 🍺👟@lizzo didn't do a proper #shoey but she's still my idol 😍.
— Ariana Ananda (@Safari_Ari9) July 23, 2023
🫗👢🚫 pic.twitter.com/yqYFnJcBl3
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2023 NRL and NRLW Grand Finals to be held in Sydney
The New South Wales government has secured the rights to host this year’s NRL and NRLW grand finals.
The NRL had raised the prospect of the showpiece rugby league events leaving New South Wales last year after the NSW government pulled millions of dollars in funding in its local stadium strategy.
This year’s arrangement is a one-year deal. Both the NRL and NRLW deciders will be played in a double-header on 1 October at the 82,500-capacity Accor Stadium at Olympic Park.
Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’Lanyds said he appreciated the NSW government’s “pragmatic” approach.
We have a great partnership with the NSW Government and we are grateful for their support of rugby league.
NSW minister for tourism John Graham said the event attracts “thousands of fans from interstate and overseas who also visit Sydney’s many attractions, enjoy shows and arts, eat and drink in our world-class restaurants, supporting jobs in the visitor economy.
The NSW government secured a three-year deal for hosting rights to the A-League grand finals last year, prompting backlash from fans in the league. The traditional practice in the A-Leagues had been for the grand final to be hosted by the highest-placed team in the home-and-away season. NRL grand finals have always been held in Sydney, with the exception of the pandemic-affected 2021 season which was decided in Brisbane.
Leaders to map out the future of NSW rail manufacturing
More than 100 representatives of Australia’s rail manufacturing industry will meet to map out a plan to boost the sector in NSW, AAP reports.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, says the meeting today is “a critical first step on the path to our commitment to build the next generation of trains that replace the Tangaras”.
The way to rebuild the NSW rail manufacturing industry in a sustainable way was to work with the federal government on a nationally coordinated approach, he added.
The roundtable will include rollingstock manufacturers as well as businesses and unions involved in the rail manufacturing supply chain.
It will also involve academics, companies involved in research and development, along with transport and infrastructure department representatives from the commonwealth, NSW and other states.
Federal assistant manufacturing minister, Tim Ayres, says Australians want trains and rollingstock built and designed in Australia. He said:
After countless bungles under the previous state government, NSW is now heading in the right direction.
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Changes to casual workers’ rights add ‘uncertainty in the employment relationship’, says Acci head
Circling back to the government’s new rules announced today to make it easier for casuals to convert to full-time work if they choose: Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told ABC Radio he believes the move risks adding uncertainty into the workplace relationship:
The employment relationship is based fundamentally on the contract that you enter into at the start of that employment relationship. It works for small business, it works for many employees. In fact, given the opportunity to convert from casual employment to permanent employment, we find that in practice, it’s only 1-2% of people that make that choice.
… We’re removing flexibility. We’re adding uncertainty in the employment relationship that will make it harder to employ people. It will be harder to drive productivity at the enterprise level. And the risk there is that we don’t end up with higher real wages at the end of the equation.
But the Australian Council of Trade Union secretary, Sally McManus, said the chamber’s concerns are much ado about nothing:
I think that they’re just busy jumping up and down saying, ‘Look at me, look at me! Something terrible is going to happen.’ They keep fishing around for something terrible, and nothing is terrible. It’s all benefits to workers at a time when we really need these benefits.
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Forecast for Fifa Women’s World Cup matches in Melbourne and Adelaide
As we know from the Ashes results, weather can play a big part in a sports match’s results. If you’re interested in the forecast for today’s Women’s World Cup contests, the Bureau of Meteorology has you covered:
Cool, overcast conditions are forecast in Melbourne and Adelaide tonight for Panama and Morocco's first appearances at a Women's World Cup.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 23, 2023
Good luck to everyone!
For the latest forecasts head to https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or check the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/1vi5yEMk21
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Gary Johns faces calls to resign from no voice campaign after ‘offensive’ comments
Gary Johns is facing calls to resign from his position in the no campaign in the Indigenous voice referendum after comments were published in which he appeared to suggest blood tests for welfare payments.
Johns, who is on the Recognise a Better Way Committee which opposes the voice, is facing scrutiny over comments in his book, published last year, titled The Burden of Culture: How to Dismantle the Aboriginal Industry and Give Hope to its Victims. He says people should read the book to form their own views.
It includes a list, “16 Ways to Save Lives and Overcome Aboriginal Colonisation”, which includes abolishing Welcome to Country at events and establishing a new day called “Intermarriage Day”. Johns wrote:
It is possible to test Aboriginal lineage. If the current three-part test on Aboriginality is to remain, then, just as Aborigines insist in native title claims, blood will have to be measured for all benefits and jobs.
Victorian Labor senator Jana Stewart, a Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman, said in a statement:
These are outdated views, from over 100 years ago. These [ …] views were abhorrent then and they’re abhorrent now. They do not reflect 2023 Australia. It’s up to the No campaign to explain whether they think the author’s views are acceptable and if not why does he remain on their campaign committee.
Johns and the Recognise a Better Way group have been contacted for comment. But Johns told the Daily Telegraph the criticisms were based on an “outrageous misrepresentation” and people should read the book to form their own views.
Labor MP Andrew Charlton tweeted this morning:
Both sides have a right to make their case, but Gary John’s views are offensive and have no place in modern Australia. Mr Johns should resign from his leadership position in the No campaign.
The NSW state Liberal MP Matt Kean wrote:
Both sides have a right to make their arguments with passion. But Mr John’s views are beyond the pale. Mr John’s should step down from the No Campaign today.
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Victorian government lawyers fail to reach deal on Commonwealth Games compensation
Victorian government lawyers negotiating the cost of the state’s shock cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games have flown home without reaching a compensation deal.
The officials were in negotiating talks with the Commonwealth Games organisers in London last week.
A Victorian government spokesperson today said “negotiations are continuing in Australia over coming weeks”.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has vowed to get the “best deal” in negotiations for taxpayers.
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Physical cash in Australia down by more than $1bn, RBA says
The value of Australian banknotes in circulation has declined for the first time, according to new stats from the central bank.
The RBA’s data shows that the total value of banknotes circulating around the country has dipped to $101bn in June 2023, down from $102bn the same time last year.
That means more than a billion dollars worth of physical cash has disappeared from circulation in the last financial year.
Updated
$8m to boost uni spots for primary school teachers
Prospective primary school teachers will get a leg up with a $7.9m boost to get more workers into the sector, AAP reports.
The pilot program will create 105 primary school teaching places, the first of the government’s proposed 1,500 under a national teacher workforce plan.
The money will go to La Trobe University and target mid-career workers to move towards primary teaching.
They will then be placed into primary schools in dire need of teachers across NSW and Victoria.
The education minister, Jason Clare, says while primary teachers play a huge role in children’s lives, there aren’t enough to fill the workforce:
We don’t remember much about when we are little, but most of us remember our teachers’ names.
That shows just how important our teachers are and the impact they have on us.
Recruitment will begin later in the year and the teachers will be placed into primary schools in April 2024.
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RAAF encounter with Chinese intelligence ship during Talisman Sabre Exercise
Guardian Australia has now obtained the image from the defence department of an Australian air force craft passing a Chinese spy ship.
The royal Australian air force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is seen passing a People’s Liberation Army Navy Dongdiao class auxiliary intelligence ship.
Central Queensland is currently hosting the international Talisman Sabre military exercise, in which 13 countries, including the US, Japan and Indonesia, are taking part in the two-week training exercises.
Our defence correspondent, Daniel Hurst, was the first to report that Chinese intelligence was expected to monitor the Talisman Sabre exercise:
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‘No loss to the employer’ caused by new rights for casuals, Burke says
Burke says the new legislation won’t make some employers think twice before taking on a casual and make things more uncertain for casuals:
If an employer has hours that are in fact permanent hours, then there’s no loss to the employer in the actual total dollar figure for them. They don’t pay the loading, they pay the leave instead. There’s no actual cost to the economy here.
And if for the business, for example, it is a job that isn’t in fact ongoing – it’s a job where the hours are in fact, not guaranteed, then in those circumstances, it would never satisfy the test anyway.
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New rights for casual workers to move to full-time are in addition to existing 12 months rule: Burke
The employment relations minister, Tony Burke, has given more details about the conditions around the government’s legislation to give casuals new rights to full-time employment.
Burke told ABC Radio there are increasingly more people in the casual workforce who are “trying to support entire households”.
He said the new legislation is about giving those people a right to permanency they don’t have at the moment, regardless of what’s in their contract:
After the first couple of months, you’d have to get to the point where you’re able to make a realistic assessment that a regular pattern has been put in place.
… The right that we’re looking at is something additional to the 12 months rule that’s already there, where an employer might refuse, where an employee at the moment never gets to raise the issue again.
So they have a situation where every six months, an employee who does believe that there is a regular pattern going on – and if the employee wants to be a permanent – then they’d be able to apply and get the conversion.
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Reward offered over teen’s disappearance 20 years ago
A $750,000 reward is being offered for information about the disappearance of a NSW teenage girl more than 20 years ago, AAP reports.
Eighteen-year-old Rose Howell was last seen at about 6.15pm on 11 April 2003, walking along Perrys Road, Repton, in the direction of her home in Bundagen – about 25km south of Coffs Harbour.
Her mother believed Rose intended to meet friends in Bellingen and it was not unusual for her to spend the night at one of her friends’ homes.
NSW police were told Rose was excited about her upcoming birthday party.
On 13 April 2003 she was reported missing after she failed to return home and meet her mother for an 11am appointment.
Rose is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with an olive complexion, about 160-165cm tall, with hazel eyes and short, dark hair worn in a Mohawk.
In 2012, a coronial inquest found that it was likely Howell had died, but the date, place and cause of death were undetermined.
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Sydneysiders, don’t forget your wet weather gear
If you’re in northern Sydney, you’ll be wanting to take your umbrella or raincoat out the door with you this morning. The Bureau of Meteorology says further showers are on the way!
Further showers are heading directly towards parts of northern Sydney this morning.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 23, 2023
Manly has already recorded over 40mm of rain, with more on the way.
Stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via our website https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/4Alq7uKI9b
Updated
SA announces panel to conduct review into non-Aboriginal artists allegedly intervening in Aboriginal art production
The South Australian government has announced the expert panel who will undertake an “urgent” review into accusations of non-Aboriginal artists intervening in Aboriginal artworks – although the start date is still unknown.
Lawyer Anne Sibree, National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recover Project director and Menang woman Megan Krakouer, and First Nations Tourism Council interim chair and Quandamoooka man Cameron Costello will investigate allegations that staff at the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Art Centre Collective (APYACC) intervened in First Nations artists’ work.
(The Australian is reporting a brouhaha over the makeup of the panel).
In a statement, the government said the APYACC had committed to fully cooperating with the review, which would be “undertaken as quickly as possible”.
SA arts minister, Andrea Michaels, said APYACC and its artists supported the review. She said:
I am confident that Megan Krakouer, Cameron Costello and Anne Sibree have the necessary skills and experience to conduct a culturally safe independent consideration and assessment of the allegations and the operations of APYACC.
This review is about ensuring that Aboriginal artists are being respected and that the integrity of their art is being maintained.
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Apple Isle pips other states for economic strength
Tasmania has kept its spot as the best performing state economy amid a slowdown across the nation, AAP reports.
CommSec’s State of the States report released today found economic performances were being supported by a solid job market and strong population growth at a time of rising interest rates.
But state and territory economies were slowing in response to higher borrowing costs and price pressures. CommSec said: “The future path of economies will depend on the response of inflation to higher interest rates.”
Tasmania improved its ranking on retail spending and ranked first on equipment spending and dwelling starts.
NSW remains in second position, ranking first on relative unemployment and coming second or third on four indicators.
Third-placed South Australia ranked first on relative population growth. Its 1.58% annual population growth rate was 64.1% above the decade average for the year to the December quarter 2022.
Queensland was placed fourth, leading the nation in terms of home loans.
Western Australia came in at fifth, but was ahead of all other states and territories on relative economic growth. Its economic activity in the year to March 2023 was 44.1% above its decade-average level of output.
Sixth-placed Victoria led the nation on construction work, while the ACT ranked seventh ahead of the Northern Territory.
However, the national capital leapt from fourth to first position in terms of retail spending, up 15.3% in the March quarter on its decade-average levels. Annual growth of real retail trade was up 2.7% in the ACT, the strongest of all the states and territories.
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Shock poll shows WA Labor government popularity crashes
The popularity of the West Australian Labor government has crashed according to a surprise new poll, AAP reports.
The Utting Research poll of 1,000 voters shows a resurgence of support for the Liberal party, which now has a 54% to 46% two-party preferred lead over Labor.
The last poll conducted in May, after leader Mark McGowan stepped down and was replaced by Roger Cook as premier, had Labor ahead at 61-39, the West Australian reported on Monday.
Labor’s primary vote has also fallen to 32%, from 52% previously.
After the 2021 state election, the Liberal and National parties banded together to form opposition, with the Liberals as the junior partner.
The Liberals hold two parliamentary seats in the Legislative Assembly while the Nationals hold four.
The Utting poll also shows the Nationals are carrying 6% of the primary vote with the Greens on 10% and other parties with 15%.
The phone poll was conducted between 18 July and 20 July.
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No campaign ‘offers no solutions and no vision’: young Indigenous leaders
The youth declaration urged Australians to educate themselves on the change, claiming “the no campaign offers no solutions and no vision for our young people’s futures, or our families and communities”.
Fellow youth dialogue co-chair Allira Davis said young Indigenous people “are serious about this”:
We are excited that our Uluru Youth Dialogue, as the leading and only youth-led campaign, will be at the forefront of this referendum working alongside the senior leaders of the Uluru Dialogue.
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Uluru Dialogue’s youth ambassador program issues youth-led declaration of support for voice
The Brisbane meeting issued a youth-led declaration of support for the referendum, noting polls showing 83% of Indigenous people and 75% of young people backed the voice.
The declaration said:
These statistics are important. They paint a picture of a media debate that has shut out young people and their voices. Especially the voices of First Nations young people.
It is our future. Young people are crucial to this movement. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, carrying forward the spirit and legacies of warriors before us.
We bring fresh perspectives and ways of doing things. We have seen some change in our lifetime, but we have also seen the status quo mostly upheld and even steps backwards. We now have an opportunity worth seizing. We ask that our voices be heard; we want to inherit mechanisms that will work, and that means we need change.
By having a say on the issues that affect us, we can build our future.
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Uluru Dialogue launches new youth ambassador program
Young Indigenous leaders are urging Australians to back the voice to parliament referendum, saying they “want to inherit mechanisms that will work” into the future, and that the change would help them most.
The Uluru Dialogue has launched a new youth ambassador program, sitting under voice architects Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, to advocate for a yes vote in the referendum. Unveiled in Brisbane over the weekend, the Uluru Youth Dialogue says young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the most to gain from the voice, but that they had been “shut out” from the debate so far.
Youth dialogue co-chair and Wiradjuri woman Bridget Cama said:
This is our future on the line; it is us who will benefit most from a ‘yes’ result, but we will be greatly impacted if the referendum doesn’t succeed. It’s about our futures and those of our kids and the generations after that.
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First image emerges of air force encounter with Chinese spy ship
The first image has emerged of the Australian air force’s encounter with Chinese spy ship during the international Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The ABC’s defence correspondent, Andrew Greene, writes:
An aerial photograph showing an RAAF P-8 Poseidon plane flying over a Chinese surveillance ship as it headed towards Australia last week has been obtained by the ABC.
The image of the Dongdiao Class Auxiliary General Intelligence (AGI) vessel was taken from on board another Australian military aircraft over international waters in the Coral Sea.
On Sunday the Chinese vessel, carrying the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet designation number 793, was believed to be positioned off the Queensland coast, possibly as far south as Shoalwater Bay, trying to collect sensitive information on the international Exercise Talisman Sabre.
“An aerial photograph showing an RAAF P-8 Poseidon plane flying over a Chinese surveillance ship as it headed towards Australia last week has been obtained by the ABC” https://t.co/W8YcUMvg8P
— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) July 23, 2023
Thirteen countries, including the US, Japan and Indonesia, are part of the two-week training exercises, which have logistics as a key focus.
Our defence correspondent, Daniel Hurst, was the first to report that Chinese intelligence was expected to monitor the Talisman Sabre exercise:
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Purchase of new Hercules aircraft will create ‘more Australian jobs’: Conroy
The defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, said the aircraft would deal with a “wide range of challenges”.
Since 1999, the C-130J Hercules has served Australia across our region and beyond, proving to be a reliable workhorse in roles from humanitarian operations to conflict zones.
Having 20 aircraft, up from 12, will mean more opportunities for local industry to sustain the aircraft, creating more Australian jobs. There’ll also be jobs associated with infrastructure redevelopments at RAAF Base Richmond.
Updated
Government to buy 20 new Hercules transport planes from US
The government will spend nearly $10bn to buy 20 new Hercules transport planes from the US.
The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said the new C-130J planes, which are used for transport, search and rescue, and disaster response, would be “an important capability” for the air force.
From bushfire and flood emergencies across the country, the delivery of crucial supplies to the region during the Covid-19 pandemic and more than two decades supporting peacekeeping operations, this has and will continue to be a crucial asset.
The Albanese government is committed to ensuring the ADF is equipped with the capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe, and this targeted expansion of the fleet size will do just that.
The 20 new planes will begin arriving from 2027 at a price tag of $9.8bn. The government currently has 12 Hercules planes.
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ACTU welcomes new rights for casual workers to move to full-time
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the government’s new legislation to give casuals new rights to full-time employment.
Sally McManus, the secretary of ACTU, has told ABC Radio legislation had previously allowed employers “to write whatever they want in a contract”.
Even if you’ve got regular hours every single day, week in week out, they can say you’re a casual. Now that is just not right. Objectively, it’s not right.
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Support organisation workers at risk of burnout amid housing crisis
Housing support organisations say they are facing a huge workload, putting their staff at risk of burnout. Everybody’s Home has called on the government to urgently build large numbers of new social housing stock, as well as legislate for better conditions for renters.
Azize said:
We need more social and affordable housing for people in extreme rental stress. Our shortfall is so big that some people in our survey have been waiting for over a decade.
Social housing is the best way to free up cheaper rentals and boost the supply of affordable homes … Our national, state and territory leaders must work to create a better deal for renters. It’s time to end unfair rent increases and no-cause evictions for good.
The federal government has to also phase out unfair tax breaks for investors.
Updated
Two-thirds of Australian in housing stress, new survey finds
Australia’s housing crisis is “pushing ordinary people to the brink” and leaving people feeling hopeless, anxious and scared, warns a new report from advocacy group Everybody’s Home.
A survey of 750 people in June found two-thirds in housing stress and a concerning 82% in rental stress, says the report from the housing group.
Three-quarters of people are scared about their financial security due to housing issues, and 66% said they had concerns about their mental health and wellbeing.
Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize called the figures “harrowing”.
We’ve heard from people worried they will become homeless with their children, renters in extreme hardship, and older women who are considering sleeping in their cars or on the streets because they can’t find an affordable home.
Even people who own their own home are worried about what the future holds for their children.
Everybody’s Home will launch the report in Canberra today, alongside the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army.
Updated
Good morning!
And welcome to our Australian live news blog as we begin this new week. The advocacy group Everybody’s Home has called new survey figures “harrowing” after they showed two-thirds of Australians were in housing stress and more than four in five were in rental stress.
The group will launch the report, which finds Australia’s housing crisis is “pushing ordinary people to the brink”, in Canberra today, alongside the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army.
Staying in Canberra, the government is set to spend nearly $10bn to buy 20 new Hercules transport planes from the US. The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said the new C-130J planes, which will begin arriving from 2027, would be “an important capability” for the air force.
The Uluru Dialogue has launched a new youth ambassador program, sitting under voice architects Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, to advocate for a yes vote in the referendum. The program was unveiled over the weekend with young Indigenous leaders saying they “want to inherit mechanisms that will work” into the future.
The assistant minister for health, Ged Kearney, is today launching Australia’s first paediatric palliative care national action plan to drive better access to care for children and young people with life limiting conditions.
As you might have already read on our homepage, the government is also making it easier for casuals to convert to full-time work if they choose, in the first taste of Labor’s next stage of industrial relations reforms to be unveiled in coming months.
Let’s get into it!
Updated
