What we learned, Sunday 26 February
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of the main events today:
Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended potential alterations to tax breaks on multimillion-dollar superannuation balances.
Senator Penny Wong announced that the hostages held by an armed group in the country’s highlands have been released.
NSW police confirmed they will not be charging senator Lidia Thorpe for momentarily interrupting the Mardi Gras parade in Sydney last night.
Olivia Newton-John was farewelled at a star-studded funeral in Melbourne.
Doctors said they are competing in a “healthcare Hunger Games” for resources.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said that for most Australians, the proposed voice to parliament “won’t have an impact on their life” – but that it would be of major benefit to Indigenous people
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Delta Goodrem performs medley of Olivia Newton-John songs to end service
And here is one of the montages played at the memorial, as Delta Goodrem steps up to perform a medley of Newton-John’s songs:
The family of Olivia Newton-John has shared their private memories in a magical montage at the state memorial service in Melbourne today. Watch the Olivia Newton-John Memorial on @Channel7 & @7plus. https://t.co/1nzrOpp9Co #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/J6mwr2RetM
— 7NEWS Wide Bay (@7NewsWideBay) February 26, 2023
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“Olivia switched her attention from stranger to friend, adult to child, colleague to fan, with seamless grace”
Richard Wilkins has stepped up to deliver a tribute from the entertainment industry, beginning by saying there was no one who had a bad word to say about Newton-John:
From those early days when she left this magnificent city to take on the world with her girl-next-door demeanour and that beautiful, pure-pitch perfect voice that could thread the eye of a needle, she had us at G’day. When many picked up a California drawl the first time they touch down at LAX, her Aussie accent got a little bit stronger every day and didn’t we love her for that.
While she was a huge global star, it took a certain character to embrace the role and maintain it. It took a capacity and willingness to be a public figure and to do so with integrity, wholeheartedly and consistently. Fame is a double-edged sword and Olivia embraced the accolades and accepted the unrelenting exposure as part of the job description. Whether on the street or an A-list event, Olivia switched her attention from stranger to friend, adult to child, colleague to fan, with seamless grace.
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Elton John video tribute
Sir Elton John is next, saying she was “warm and talented” and that they would “laugh and laugh” when they were together:
Olivia Newton-John to me was someone that I would look forward to seeing. She was such a wonderful force of nature, she was funny, kind, warm and talented and every time we got together we laughed and laughed and laughed. Throughout her career I have watched her grow and grow and grow to be the artist she became and I was able to participate in television shows and go to the Grease party in New York City at Studio 54 which was a hoot and we always had a great time.
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RuPaul: “What a beautiful soul”
RuPaul is the next on this list of the world’s stars to pay tribute, saying she was a “great woman”:
The impression she left on this world and is still felt around the world is just amazing. What a beautiful soul. Song-writer, mother, actress, singer, that voice. I will miss her, but she has left a legacy that goes on forever, forever and ever.
Hugh Jackman is next, saying he was “obsessed” with Grease when he was growing up, and retold a story of how he met her in John Travolta’s trailer wile working on a movie, and was star struck.
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Mariah Carey and Keith Urban pay tribute on video
Mariah Carey is next on the list of stars to pay tribute, saying Grease was the first movie she saw:
I am here because I’m a friend and fan Olivia Newton-John. I want to give thanks for a moment here, that she really affected my life, like, as a little girl, I loved her so much growing up. Grease was probably the first movie I ever saw. Then I got to meet her later when we performed together. I looked up to her so much. I loved her songs. When I got to meet her, she was just as nice as she was a star and talented. I know she went through so much and I just, her humanitarian work, I just want to salute that and say that not everybody does that. We love you. We love you, Olivia Newton-John.
Keith Urban is next, saying he met her at a songwriting retreat, adding she was “exactly who I imagined her to be”:
The really extraordinary thing about Olivia is the legacy she’s left, not only in music and film but her humanitarian legacy is extraordinary. That’s the kind of thing that will go on for generations and help millions and millions of people. For that, and so many other reasons, I love you, Livvy. We love you. We miss you. From all of us, thank you so much.
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Pink and Barry Gibb send video messages
Pink calls Newton-John an “absolute angel” in her video tribute:
I met Olivia maybe three or four times. I think she was an absolute angel. She was one of the kindest, most present, just light filled beings walking around this earth. She always had a smile on her face to give you. Her career was incredible. She will be very missed. My heart is with her family. I know this is an awful time, and I hope that they find some comfort in just how universally loved she was.
She is followed by Barry Gibb, who called her a “vision”
Making music with her was almost always the greatest pleasure and I have to salute her courage. I have to salute her deliberate intention to keep going, to keep going no matter what, and she was a wonderful person because you never really knew, you never saw the problem within her. What you saw was her vitality, her courage, and, you know, I loved her then and I love her now. She was a vision and she is still a vision. God would like to hear her sing. I know that.
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Video tributes from Dolly Parton and Nicole Kidman
Next up we get some video tributes, beginning with Dolly Parton, who says she honestly loved her:
The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us. I know it’s especially painful for all the folks there in Australia, since she’s one of your own.
As a country, you should be very proud and know that the whole world mourns with you. Now, I had the honour of singing with her several times. I considered her a great friend as well as a fellow entertainer. Olivia, to quote one of your songs, “I honestly love you”. Thank you for shining your light on us.
Nicole Kidman follows, describing how much of an inspiration Newton-John was:
She was just a light in this world, which I think all of us feel and I grew up with her, listening to her. I would perform her songs at school, I remember when I first saw Grease. I was like, “I want to be Olivia Newton-John”. So, to be able to pay tribute to her tonight is incredibly important to all of us. I want to thank – thank you for doing it. We all send you our love, Livvy.
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Newton-John’s cancer treatment philanthropy remembered
Prof Matthias Ernst, from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre takes the stage next, who paid tribute to the star’s dedication to the centre:
During Olivia’s many visits to Melbourne she generously donated her time and personally shared her passion with many of my colleagues working at the laboratory bench.
When talking to our students, it was Olivia’s warmth and her easygoing personality, her authenticity that reinforced their conviction to dedicate their careers to one of the most destructive health challenges of our time.
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“Whatever our dreams were, Liv was our greatest fan”
Goldsmith wraps up her tribute by remembering how bad Newton-John was at directions, recalling a memory where she got lost on the way to Las Vegas:
My niece Fiona said, “Olivia would meet each one of us where we were and that piece of us that was like her. We had poetry, health and healing, yoga, and positivity, and calls mostly at 5am Melbourne time from wherever she was.”
Her nephew Brett Road, said “She brought my first instrument and took me on the road. Later she trusted me enough to sing my songs. As a photographer she commissioned me to do portraits of her when she could have had any photographer in the world but she wanted me.”
I had pretty much a sisterly kind of relationship with her but she also held a maternal role for me. We shed a passion for the wellness centre, and, John, a sense of terrible direction. We got lost and pulled over by the police when she was at the wheel and guess who did not speeding fine.
But something that we all share and will always treasure, whatever our dreams were, Liv was our greatest fan. Liv, thank you, thank you for being an amazing unifying family member. Thank you for your love, your sunshine and your deep wisdom. Thank you for your love, for teaching us wide humility, strength and dignity are all about. We miss you, terribly, but we each carry with us in our own special thank you.
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“She was unpretentious and down-to-earth and a magical being”
Newton-John’s niece, Tottie Goldsmith is next up, beginning by saying that her family was very important to Newton-John:
Family was extremely important to Olivia and she shared a unique and special connection with each one us. Toby, Olivia’s brother described as the convener. She brought us together and kept us connected despite us being so spread out. But as kids I also remember her cheeky sense of humour, doing wicked impersonations of our very English father. Her younger sister, Sarah, watching from Spain, said Olivia was a true romantic, life meant love to her.
She was unpretentious and down-to-earth and a magical being.
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Some initial reactions to the memorial:
John Easterling talking about Olivia Newton-John saving a kitten had me 😭😭😭
— Jenna Benson (@jenna_pr) February 26, 2023
In her husband's eyes, this is his image of Olivia Newton John! pic.twitter.com/IuWo895glr
— Silence is not Golden (@SilencenotGoldn) February 26, 2023
john easterling talking about olivia newton-john at her memorial has me SOBBING
— 𝕛𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕪𝕟 🫱🏾🫲🏻 (@sammbuckys) February 26, 2023
John Easterling's Memorial of Olivia is beautiful beyond words #OliviaNewtonJohn
— Susan (@NovaStar77) February 26, 2023
Who’s watching the Olivia Newton John memorial? Tears rolling down my cheeks, she definitely was inspiration.
— ❤️💛🖤 Minns4theWin, Dom4theGong. ❤️💛💚💙💜 (@Jac061272) February 26, 2023
Olivia Newton-John’s daughter given standing ovation
Lattanzzi gives a short but moving tribute, greeted by a standing ovation, where she recalls the small details of her loving relationship with her late mother:
We loved watching our trashy TV shows together and immediately changed the channel when John walked in the room. We pretended we were watching educational shows about plant medicine.
My favourite thing to do was watch her watching the birds and the flowers, smelling her roses and the joy it brought to her face was a thing of beauty. I loved making her tea and then making it five times again until I got it right. I loved our snuggles. I would crawl into bed with her late at night everyone if I was 20 years old. I loved the way she smelled.
I love how she loved fully and completely. I know that she would want me to tell each and every one of you how grateful she was for each individual special relationship. She cherished her friends and her family and she was so grateful to her fans and she loved you all so dearly. She would want us all to laugh and reminisce together in joy and celebrate her life. This life experience is temporary and my mother is the perfect example of a life truly lived.
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“I feel like a little girl lost without her mother”
Next up, daughter Chloe Lattanzzi begins her tribute by thanking all the attenders, and saying her heart is broken “in two.”
I know she’s holding it for me. Until we meet again. I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently but the truth is, I feel like a little girl lost without her mother. She was my safe space, my guide, my biggest fan and the Earth beneath my feet.
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An emotional Delta Goodrem has greeted and comforted attendees at Olivia Newton-John's memorial in Melbourne. Fans have donned orange - Olivia's favourite colour - as requested by organisers @Ninecomau @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/CiiGSf5IpE
— Serena Seyfort (@serena_seyfort) February 26, 2023
“We decided we’d feel gratitude and just let the happiness run at full throttle”
Easterling wraps up his emotional tribute, recalling some of the conversations in the lead up to their engagement:
We’d each had some hard times in our life before, like everyone has.
And we were just talking about how lucky we were, to have found each other, and how in love we were and how much happiness we were experiencing.
In an order of magnitude where we thought maybe we should feel guilty because we were so happy, but we decided we’d feel gratitude and just let the happiness run at full throttle.
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Olivia Newton-John’s husband, John Easterling, speaks at her memorial service
Back to Olivia Newton-John’s memorial service, where her husband, John Easterling, is delivering a tribute to his late wife, retelling the story of how she asked him to marry him.
He recalled finding similar interests in their early conversations in their shared passion for rainforest ecology, natural medicines, plants and animals, including a story of how Newton-John saved a kitten in a forest.
He said he was not an initial fan, but was won over by Newton-John’s energy and her “healing”
You have to understand I wasn’t an Olivia fan, I didn’t know any Olivia music, I’d never even seen Grease.
At this small theatre in Miami, she started singing Pearls on a Chain, and there was this healing moving through the audience. “It hit me like a laser beam in the chest, that Olivia was a healer, and this was one of her mediums of healing.
He recalled another story where, in a rainforest on a trip to Peru, she sang the same song as she joined traditional owners in a ceremony:
By the time the sun was setting that day across the lagoon … we were asking each other ‘what is the main thing you want to accomplish in this life?’
And we made a commitment to help each other accomplish and achieve our dreams.
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Penny Wong announces release of hostages in PNG
And in breaking news, Senator Penny Wong has announced via Twitter that the hostages held by an armed group in the country’s highlands have been released.
Wong thanked the PNG government for its “leadership in securing a safe & peaceful resolution.”
I welcome news from PNG that all hostages have been released & will soon be reunited with their families.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) February 26, 2023
Thank you to PNG’s Government for its leadership in securing a safe & peaceful resolution.
Also thanks to the Australian & NZ officials who helped support this outcome.
An Australian professor and two local researchers were the last of the hostages being held by the group, with the kidnappers initially demanding payment from the PNG and Australian governments.
We will bring you more on this as it comes.
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The choir at Christchurch Grammar School (which Newton-John attended) perform the Australian national anthem.
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Guests welcomed before first song
A touching Welcome to Country follows Campbell’s introduction, delivered by Auntie Di Kerr, who also spoke of Newton-John’s generosity of spirit.
Campbell returns to the stage to welcome the many distinguished guests including former PM John Howard, current Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, Labor MP Andrew Giles (filling in for the PM) and the ambassador from the United States, Caroline Kennedy.
He then welcomes the first musical act of the service, Bump, singing Newton-John’s song, Grace and Gratitude.
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Olivia Newton-John memorial service starts
And we are about to head over to the state memorial service for Olivia Newton-John, with David Campbell beginning proceedings by calling Newton-John an “entertainer, cultural icon, philanthropist.”
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Voice won’t impact most Australians, PM says
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says for most Australians, the proposed voice to parliament “won’t have an impact on their life” - but that it would be of major benefit to Indigenous people.
Albanese also took a shot at banks that raised the interest rates for borrowers but were slower to pass those increases on to savings accounts.
The PM gave an interview to Channel 7’s Flashpoint program, which aired today. Asked about the voice, Albanese said it wouldn’t have a major impact on most people.
“I think for people, they will say to themselves that it won’t have an impact on their life, and for most Australians it won’t. It just might make the life of some of the most disadvantaged people in Australia that much better,” he said.
Asked about details of the voice, for people who may not understand the model, Albanese again directed interested parties to “a 270 page document done by Tom Calma and Marcia Langton. That detail is out here there for all to see”.
“There’s plenty of detail out there. And if people want to just Google the Uluru Statement from the Heart they will see that,” he said.
The PM said he had confidence in Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, but had sterner words for banks that didn’t pass on interest rate rises to savings accounts in a timely manner.
“The banks need to get their act together. It’s completely unacceptable,” he said.
“We’ve communicated that very loudly and I’m doing that again right now in this interview. The banks need to be responsible. You can’t put up interest rates, but not put up the savings accounts interest. The two go hand-in-hand.”
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Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you this afternoon, to take you through the rest of the day’s news.
Thanks for tuning into the blog this Sunday – that is all from me!
Time to hand over to the lovely Mostafa Rachwani, who will keep you updated on Olivia Newton-John’s memorial service, and all other evening news.
LGBTQI community still fearful of authority, advocate says
Bronte Price, Equality Network founder, 69-year-old gay man and LGBTQI advocate, says his community feels overwhelming fear when surrendering to the “deathcare” system, AAP reports.
“I’m an elder, so my experience is very different from someone who’s 18 and has a million support mechanisms in place ... and has never been through what it’s like to be arrested for being gay, for example,” he says.
(From experience comes) some of that distrust of authority figures, such as doctors, police, absolutely the church, or even places that are faith-based that are hospitals or palliative care places – they scare the bejesus out of people like me.
Price has spoken to many in the community who say they would rather take their own lives than go into care and face discrimination from staff, volunteers and residents.
Heterosexual bias in the healthcare system goes beyond including only binary options on official forms, to outward discrimination and ignorance forcing people to hide their sexuality, Price says. He says this ignorance goes as far as people being misgendered at their own funerals.
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Doctors say they are competing in a 'healthcare Hunger Games'
Doctors say they are competing in a “healthcare Hunger Games” for resources, AAP reports.
Michael Bonning, Australian Medical Association NSW president, calls on the government to take urgent action to stop doctors leaving the state in search of better pay and conditions.
“Doctors are abandoning the NSW health system – fed up, burnt out, and attracted by better conditions in other states,” he said earlier today.
AMA NSW vice president and obstetrician Kathryn Austin echoed this, saying doctors are fleeing the public hospital system and cutting their hours.
“We love working with our teams but don’t want to be forced to compete for scarce resources like it’s the healthcare hunger games,” Austin said. “Our patients deserve better.”
Bonning launched the peak body’s election platform, NSW Hospitals: Advanced Life Support Needed, saying growing patient needs will only be met by listening to medical experts who guided NSW through the pandemic.
Our managers, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers innovated and transformed the health system to respond to the global crisis,” he said. “However, that commitment and dedication will be lost unless NSW acts now to support our workforce.
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Prices for EVs in Australia fall
Electric vehicle prices and wait times are finally falling in Australia, thanks to more battery-powered vehicles being listed for sale, AAP reports.
Buyers are now waiting up to 12 weeks to own a Tesla – down from as long as seven months in January last year, according to data analysed by Carloop.
Carloop’s Riz Akhtar says the Australian market has undergone big changes over the last two months, as more electric cars are listed for sale and wait times got shorter.
Last year people were asking $10,000 more for a three-year-old Tesla than what you could buy a new one for.
Obviously the used Teslas were available immediately while the new models had a six-to-nine-month wait.
Used Tesla car listings are also at a record high in Australia. This month, more than 650 models are for sale on the second-hand market.
Combine shorter wait lists, more used models on the market, and manufacturer’s price cuts, and you have the same vehicles being sold for thousands of dollars less.
“For the first time, we’ve seen some of the lower-priced Teslas dip below $50,000,” Akhtar says.
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News is slow today – so I’m looking ahead to the catalogue of economic data we can expect to drop this week, as reported by AAP:
The December quarter national accounts will be released on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
NAB economists expect to see 0.8 per cent quarterly growth and a 2.8 per cent annual increase in GDP, partly thanks to resilient household spending. Chief economist Alan Oster also anticipates a boost to net exports and a strong labour cost result off the back of high demand for workers.
The January consumer price index figure will also come out on Wednesday. This comes after December’s monthly indicator of a 8.4 per cent uplift.
The ABS will release business indicator data and trade accounts on Tuesday.
They will also drop January retail trade data on Tuesday, as we anticipate the weekly survey from ANZ and Roy Morgan to give more details on consumer spending.
Also look out for Corelogic releasing its home price report mid-week.
And the onslaught of ABS data will continue through the end of the week, with building approvals report to be released Thursday, and lending data on Friday.
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Monkeys missing from Thai temple
Tham Pha Mak Ho temple in north-east Thailand has been home to rhesus monkeys for decades. Every morning monks feed them rice, and tourists bring bananas from the local street vendors.
But recently, fewer monkeys are around to meet visitors. Hundreds seem to have disappeared from the temple in the last few months.
How do hundreds of monkeys vanish from a temple? Some worry trafficking is at play. Officials are left to investigate the mystery.
Read the full story from Rebecca Ratcliffe here:
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Stars to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John today
Olivia Newton-John will be farewelled at a star-studded funeral in Melbourne later this afternoon, with former co-star John Travolta to feature alongside a musical tribute from Delta Goodrem.
The service will be held at Hamer Hall from 4pm this afternoon, and is set to feature a medley of the star’s songs, sung by Goodrem.
Travolta, alongside Paul Hogan, will join via video-link. Prime minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to be in attendance.
Channel Nine’s Richard Wilkins is also set to pay tribute to the former Grease star, as well as singer Bump, who will perform Newton-John’s song Grace and Gratitude.
The Christ Church Grammar School Choir will perform the Australian national anthem at the memorial and Aunty Di Kerr will conduct the Welcome to Country.
The ABC, channels Seven and Nine will all be broadcasting the service, with those in attendance also asked to wear ‘a touch of orange’, Newton-John’s favourite colour.
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First Ukrainian recruits taught by Australian instructors graduate
The first Ukrainian recruits have graduated in Operation KUDU on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Australian government defence media said in a statement.
“Some of this training will be close to what many of you will soon be facing, or have already faced at home,” Commander of the Australian contingent on Operation KUDU, Major Gregory Sargeant, said.
“Our involvement is only a small part of your journey, but we take great pride in that small part we play.”
Almost 200 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits marched out from the UK-led training program, under the instruction of the first Australian contingent deployed.
The program – made up of nine partner nations training more than 10,000 Ukrainians – has recruits undergo intensive combat training to learn foundations of warfighting, to mimic the current conditions in Ukraine.
The volunteer force was taught weapons handling and firing, wooded and urban fighting, trench warfare and medical survival skills by Australian instructors.
No Australians will enter Ukraine as part of this program.
Deputy prime minister and minister for defence, Richard Marles, says:
The recruits in this cohort started their journey as ordinary people who lived normal lives much the same as ours, and have since answered the call to defend their country and the freedoms Russia has tried to remove.
They bring with them stories from home, of why they joined the AFU and a fierce desire to protect their country and the freedom they had.
They leave with skills and knowledge that will save lives and will empower them to take up the fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.
A Ukrainian recruit says they joined the armed forces “to protect my native home and my family”.
“First of all, it is the protection of one’s family. The second is freedom. Freedom of the people.”
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No charges against Lidia Thorpe for Mardi Gras protest
NSW police have confirmed they will not be charging senator Lidia Thorpe for momentarily interrupting the Mardi Gras parade in Sydney last night.
Police media said the senator wasn’t arrested, so won’t be charged with anything, after she lay on Oxford Street in front of the NSW police float, halting the parade.
In a tweet earlier this morning, Thorpe said she was proud to have joined the Pride in Protest float, and implied she was protesting against NSW police partaking in the parade.
Police said the removed her from the parade at the request of organisers for “breaching the terms of her participation.”
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An Australian coming-of-age drama, Sweet As, won best film in the Berlinale festival Generation Kplus category.
Fantastic news! The 🇦🇺 film 'Sweet As' won 'Best Film' in the @berlinale 'Generation Kplus' category. This is the debut feature film of Nyul Nyul and Yawuru director Jub Clerc who I was lucky enough to meet at the @ScreenAustralia reception last week. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/nP6znJarci
— Philip Green (@AusAmb_DE) February 25, 2023
The debut feature film from Nyul Nyul and Yawuru director Jub Clerc follows the story of an Indigenous Australian girl who comes from a troubled family as she discovers a passion for photography.
Treasurer admits world faces ‘perilous path’ to avoid recession
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has admitted the government isn’t able to do as much about Australia’s inflation problems as it would like, forecasting the rate will remain higher than he wants it to be for longer than they would like.
Chalmers is in India for a meeting of G20 finance ministers and bank governors. Speaking to broadcaster CNBC, he resisted criticising Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe about the RBA’s controversial decision to jack up interest rates nine times in a row, admitting they had a “difficult job”.
“There’s a longstanding convention in Australian politics for treasurers of either political persuasion not to second-guess or take shots at the governor of the independent Reserve Bank. I think that’s an important thing,” Chalmers said.
“I cherish and respect the independence of the Reserve Bank, and I work with governor Lowe in other areas. Their job is monetary policy, it’s a difficult job. My job is fiscal policy – equally difficult – but we’ve got a plan there and a strategy.”
On inflation (rising 7.8% in the year to December), Chalmers again said the government believed the peak was behind us - but that it wouldn’t fall as swiftly as hoped.
“We certainly hope that that is the case. But inflation will be a bit higher than we’d like for a bit longer than we’d like in Australia,” he said.
Chalmers said the world faced “a very narrow and very perilous path” to avoiding widespread recession issues.
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Littleproud takes swipe at Lidia Thorpe’s Mardi Gras protest
Nationals leader David Littleproud has taken a shot at senator Lidia Thorpe’s behaviour at the Mardi Gras last night, saying “it’s not always about you”.
Littleproud, on Channel Nine’s Today, was asked why the leaders of the former Coalition government didn’t march in the parade during their time in office. Labor’s Anthony Albanese was the first sitting PM to join the march.
“Well, I didn’t get an invitation as leader of the Nationals, didn’t get an invite, but good on him,” Littleproud replied.
He went on to criticise Thorpe, the former Greens senator, who was asked to leave the parade after a confrontation with police, and then laid down in front of a float. A Mardi Gras organiser described it as “interrupting the parade”.
Littleproud wasn’t pleased either.
The only thing I would say that was sad is that Lidia Thorpe had to make a protest and make a scene. This wasn’t about her last night.
It should be about the fact that we have moved on as a society and we should make sure that there isn’t discrimination against LGBTIQ people in our society. That’s what a modern Australia should look like. But Lidia, please, it’s not always about you. Let them have their night and good on Albo.
We’re expecting a statement from Thorpe’s office shortly.
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Ed Sheeran brought the WorldPride celebrations to the stage on his tour – wearing a pride flag around his shoulders last night while thousands marched in rainbow parades through Sydney’s Oxford street.
This is why I LOVE Ed Sheeran, he legit came out for encore with a pride flag and his Aboriginal shirt on saying”always was always will be” 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ZT8XOc2636
— Lily 💙💙🧸 (@amigingerr) February 24, 2023
He also wore a t-shirt with the indigenous flag and words ‘always was, always will be,’ which has appeared at his other concerts around the country.
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Independent MP Zali Steggall suggests Labor’s take on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is “greenwashing,” following the appearance of Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, on ABC Insiders this morning.
🚨So the PM introduced a private member’s bill for a climate trigger on EPBC Act approvals in 2005 but now his govt is dragging its feet on EPBC Act, approving gas fracking to 2077, doesn’t want a climate trigger & won’t legislate to #stoppep11? #InsidersABC #auspol #greenwashing
— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) February 25, 2023
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Treasurer defends super tax ‘tweaks’
Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended potential alterations to tax breaks on multimillion-dollar superannuation balances on Sky News this morning.
The changes could include a cap on large super balances that attract concessional tax treatments – Chalmers says they are not “especially controversial”.
The fundamentals won’t change. The tax concessionality will still be there, but we do need to consider whether we can afford the degree of tax concessionality for people who’ve got very big balances.
Chalmers acknowledged that the Coalition made similar “tweaks” to the superannuation taxes, including changes in 2016 that raised $5 billion.
He also denied that these changes would be the first of many – which was suggested by former Liberal prime minister John Howard.
I’m not interested in a war of words with John Howard. John Howard is someone who I respect and he deserves better than to be wheeled out to prop up Angus Taylor’s dodgy arguments or to shore up Peter Dutton’s failing leadership.
Possible changes to super concessions have been floating around federal politicians’ discussions for months. It ramped up last week with a proposal to enshrine an objective for superannuation into legislation, AAP reports.
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More from Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, on ABC Insiders this morning.
Bowen is asked his view on putting a climate trigger in environmental law so that approvals of new non-renewable energy projects have to consider the climate impact before approvals.
He says his view is Labor is “getting on with the job”.
Tanya Plibersek is progressing very important reforms to the EPBC Act, a big step forward. I’m progressing reforms in the safeguard mechanism. The two are both complementary, but not related to the legislation.
My view is we’re getting on with the job of implementing the election mandate.
I believe the Samuel reforms that Tanya is progressing, which provide more transparency, accompanied by the reforms to the safeguard mechanism, get real emissions reduction.
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Bowen says banning new coal mines ‘not part of the agenda’
Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, spars with David Speers on ABC Insiders this morning, in a back and forth over why Labor is not banning new coal and gas projects.
Bowen says Labor will take the national energy market to 82% renewables by 2030, which “inevitably” leaves 18% coming from non-renewables. In the medium-term, he says, that will be gas as coal-fired power stations leave the system.
Speers questions: do we need new coal mines to do that?
“David, the only coal matter that’s been decided by this government is Tanya Plibersek’s decision to reject Clive Palmer’s coalmine.”
He is pushed again: for net zero, do we need new coal?
“The Labor Party is not proposing new coalmines.”
And again: why not say to the Greens, ‘we will ban new coal’?
“We believe in insisting the regime is improved so emissions come down from everyone, all big emitters.”
In a final confirmation of Labor’s stance, Speers asks: there won’t be any ban or time-frame as to when we can stop opening up new coal and gas?
“That’s not part of the agenda, won’t be part of the negotiations.”
Bowen reiterates his goal is to “get emissions down from all our emitters”.
I understand the focus on gas and coal and oil in this discussion. That’s very important. So is, finally, finally, getting a regime in place which reduces emissions from all our big emitters.
Inevitably, any new development has emissions implications … that’s why I’m so determined to get a framework in place to see emissions come down. If safeguards reforms don’t pass there’s no constraint on parliament on biggest emitters, emission also continue to go up.
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Federal senator Lidia Thorpe has tweeted that she is proud to have joined #PrideInProtest at the Sydney Mardi Gras parade last night.
This comes after footage showed her confronting police as she appeared to be staging a protest by lying in front of a truck on Oxford Street.
Black and brown trans women started the first pride march as a protest against police violence. Today, we still face violence from police. Proud to have joined the #PrideInProtest float in Sydney to say #NoPrideInGenocide, #NoPrideInPrisons, and #NoCopsInPride
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 25, 2023
A spokesman for Sydney Mardi Gras confirmed the parade had been interrupted by Senator Thorpe as she attempted to stage a protest.
“While we respect the individual’s right to protest, interrupting the parade in this way has significant implications for the safety of our participants and audience,” the spokesman said.
Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.
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Chris Bowen reiterates ALP focus on making super ‘more equitable’
Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, tells ABC Insiders that he has seen liberal MPs “froth at the mouth” at the thought of making superannuation more equitable or sustainable.
When Bowen was shadow treasurer in 2019, he said then-prime minister Scott Morrison’s changes to superannuation was a retrospective tax.
He says Labor’s focus is about making the super system more sustainable and equitable.
We suggested at this time it could go further … I’ve seen Liberals frothing at the mouth, saying how outrageous it is that we should consider making the super system more equitable or sustainable.
Superannuation was a Labor invention to give working people a chance at a dignified retirement. We’re very proud of it. We will build on it. We will make it sustainable and equitable as well.
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‘No cost to government’ developments rolled out without infrastructure
Developer-led suburban utopias outside of Sydney can be deceiving. Investigative reporter Anne Davies says residents of Wilton are copping the unexpected consequences, after thousands of houses are being rolled out without enough infrastructure to support them.
Agreements to provide infrastructure “at no cost to government” in Wilton has left roads muddled, blocks sold with no sewerage service, and a proposed new town centre meant to bring in 15,000 jobs that is still a skydiving centre.
It’s set to get worse. Read the full report here:
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Mundine urges yes campaign to lift its game
Aboriginal businessman Warren Mundine is a loud voice in the no campaign against an Indigenous voice to parliament – but he wants to be convinced to switch sides.
Mundine told AAP one of the reasons was to get the yes campaign to up its game.
“Part of it is pushing the yes campaign to actively focus on these things, to come up with something.”
Another one of Mundine’s main reservations is the extra level of bureaucracy.
He is unapologetically contrarian – pro-mining, pro-business, but with activist roots in 1980’s Aboriginal-led protests. He switched political allegiance from national president of the Labor party to the Coalition, and former liberal prime minister Tony Abbott appointed him to lead the his hand-picked Indigenous Advisory council in 2013.
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Lidia Thorpe confronts police at Mardi Gras
Prime minister Albanese wasn’t the only federal politician to make an appearance at last night’s Sydney Mardi Gras Parade.
Footage showed Indigenous independent senator Lidia Thorpe lying on Oxford Street in front of a float, temporarily halting the parade in an apparent gesture of protest –to a negative response from the crowd.
Two police officers approached Senator Thorpe as members of the crowd booed “Get rid of her! Get rid of her!”.
#MardiGras2023 #MardiGras pic.twitter.com/V6eRwmTKKT
— ADAY (@AlexDay96) February 25, 2023
Thorpe then got up and spoke with police and Mardi Gras crew.
Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.
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Good morning
And welcome back to the Guardian’s morning live blog, where we will take you through the day’s rolling news updates.
We wake up sleepy this Sunday after last night’s Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney, where Anthony Albanese became the first prime minister to join the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Alongside him, 12,500 people danced their way along Oxford Street, flaunting rainbow sequins and sparkles. NSW opposition leader Chris Minns and the federal MP for Sydney Tanya Plibersek marched alongside Albanese to cheers from the crowd.
Olivia Newton-John’s memorial will be held at Hamer Hall in Melbourne this afternoon – those attending are encouraged to wear orange in her memory. Albanese will join attendees, as will a lineup of stars. Among them, Delta Goodrem will perform a set of Newton-John’s hits, and Paul Hogan and John Travolta will make virtual appearances.
And, as the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting, Dominic Perrottet is pushing to expand stamp duty reform. In an effort to make it easier for first homebuyers to purchase more expensive properties, they will be allowed to pay an annual tax when they upgrade, rather than upfront stamp duty payments. The NSW premier’s policy announcement comes just weeks ahead of the state election on 25 March, where housing affordability will be a hot-button issue.
I’m Rafqa Touma, taking the blog through the day. If you spot something you don’t want us to miss, you can tweet it my way @At_Raf_
And with that, let’s get started.
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