What we learned; Thursday 18 May
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today – thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s biggest stories:
The Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, announced that starting today China will resume import of Australian timber. The ambassador also expressed “personal sympathy” for Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist in prison awaiting trial for alleged national security charges in China.
The South Australian government has flagged that the government will pass anti-protest laws as Extinction Rebellion protesters enter their fifth day of action against an oil and gas industry conference in Adelaide.
The unemployment rate edged higher to 3.7%, easing RBA rate rise concerns.
ACT’s director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, is on leave as an inquiry into the handling of a case against the former Liberal staff Bruce Lehrmann continues.
Melbourne mayors met today to discuss the rising risk to councillors and staff from far-right fringe groups.
The independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich launched defamation proceedings against the New South Wales One Nation leader, Mark Latham, over a homophobic tweet he posted in March.
The Greens called on Labor to regulate plastic packaging.
The CEO of National Australia Bank, Ross McEwan, said he’s still predicting “another one or two” rate rises from the RBA.
The federal government has lodged the official Help repayment thresholds for 2023-24, with the minimum repayment threshold lifting marginally by $3,189.
The AFL and Rugby Australia announced their support for the voice to parliament.
An open letter, signed by the former Labor ministers Peter Garrett and Carmen Lawrence, calls for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine plan.
Western Australia’s department of fire and emergency services issued an emergency bushfire warning for parts of Whitby.
North Melbourne AFL senior coach Alastair Clarkson stepped away from the role, effective immediately, to focus on his physical and emotional wellbeing, the club says.
Police are investigating an incident after a man died at Melbourne train station.
Updated
Health Sector Union says industrial stoppages will continue unless wages cap lifted
AAP is reporting that the Health Services Union has flagged it wants the 3% public sector wages cap lifted, followed by a 6.5% wage increase before the agreement expires at the end of next month.
Eight weeks into a state Labor government, paramedics and patient transfer officers on Thursday imposed a 24-hour ban on transporting patients discharged from hospitals. Union NSW’s secretary, Gerard Hayes, said there would be more industrial action until the issue was resolved.
We will be holding industrial stoppages right around the state with every hospital ... industrial action will continue and it will not stop.
The premier, Chris Minns, needed to reform all health services awards so they were fit for purpose, he said.
Paramedics in NSW are the highest injured and lowest paid … Paramedics can go to Queensland tomorrow, and I guarantee they will, after the NSW government spent $100,000 training them.
Paramedics in Melbourne earned about 30% more than their NSW colleagues.
Minns said he was committed to removing the wages cap but it was important to do so “in a legislative way”.
“We have made progress. We know it’s a priority and I’m confident that we can get an agreement,” he said. But Hayes said he saw no movement on the issue.
All pigs are fed and watered and ready to fly. There is no progress.
Updated
Gas lobby plans ‘national public awareness campaign’
As we saw earlier today, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has urged the gas industry “to fight” the market interventions by the Albanese government.
The comments were made to an APPEA – the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association – conference in Adelaide (virtually, apparently). The group’s CEO, Samantha McCulloch, has offered some general comments in her closing address to the gathering.
One “key takeout” from the event was that it’s “not enough to talk among ourselves about how important the oil and gas industry is, and how misunderstood our role is in some parts of the community”, McCulloch said.
“We need to do more to educate the Australian public about what our industry does,” she said, before listing some benefits, including “supporting our transition to renewables”.
“…we help to maintain Australia’s strategic relationships with important regional trading partners by contributing to the region’s energy security and energy transition,” she said. “And that we are serious about playing our part in Australia’s energy transition and the path to net zero.”
Probably no surprise there, but expect to see a “national public awareness campaign” coming to your airways (and printways) soon.
And with that closing speech done, it was off to the cocktail bar, apparently.
Updated
Police investigating after man dies at Melbourne train station
A man has died following an incident at Sunshine station in Melbourne this afternoon.
While details are still scarce, Victoria police have said that officers are currently in Sunshine investigating the incident after emergency services were called to Station Place at around 3.45pm.
They were responding to reports of an injured male there, with the homicide squad expected to attend the scene soon.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has mobile phone, dashcam or CCTV footage is urged to contact police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Updated
Sydney man arrested after three children hit by car
A man from Sydney’s north has been arrested after three teenagers were hit by a car in Crows Nest at around 3.30pm this afternoon.
Officers from the North Shore Police Area Command attended the scene after receiving reports of a crash, and were told a car had hit three teenage boys.
All three boys sustained leg and head injuries. Emergency services treated the boys at the scene before taking them to Westmead Children’s hospital in a stable condition.
In a statement, police say they arrested a man shortly after, following inquiries into the incident.
Following inquiries, officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command arrested a man at Lane Cove about 4pm. He was taken to Chatswood police station and is assisting police with inquiries.
Traffic is currently heavily disrupted and police are urging motorists to avoid the area.
As inquiries continue, anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV footage in relation to this incident is urged to contact police or crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Victorian councils meet on targeting of LGBTQ+ events by far-right groups
Around 100 representatives from councils across the state came together today to discuss the rising levels of unpredictable and disruptive behaviour directed at LGBTQ+ meetings and events, such as drag storytime.
It’s understood no clear resolutions came out of the meeting on how events could go forward safely.
Councils heard from mayors who have been impacted by these disruptions, VicPol, and an expert in resilient communities to provide the latest information.
MAV President Cr David Clark:
Councils are working closely with Victoria police to ensure appropriate security measures are in place when needed. Today all councils got the chance to hear VicPol’s perspective on the issues and the work it is doing to ensure the safety of our communities, councillors, and council staff.
A key take-out from the meeting was to ensure councils clearly understood the issues they are facing and the need to provide a safe workplace to those working within their organisations. We want our members to have the skills to handle these situations.
Victorian councils are being caught up in what is a global trend of community disruption and we need to act together and consistently in response to these issues.
Updated
Trade minister ‘delighted’ China expected to ease trade restrictions on Australian timber
The trade minister, Don Farrell, says he is “delighted” to hear China is expected to ease its trade restrictions on Australian timber, and added that he hoped to see more restrictions on Australian goods eased.
Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing directly from Adelaide airport this afternoon, Farrell said the topic of timber exports was brought up in his visit to China earlier this week:
I’m delighted to see that as a result of raising those issues we’ve managed to get a breakthrough today, but look, there is still an awful lot more work to do … there is still a range of other products that we want lifted impediments on.
We produce the best crayfish in the world on Australia’s coast. But the really important breakthrough that we had last week, that perhaps hasn’t had the attention it should, is that we have set up a process through our free trade agreement with the Chinese government for dealing with all of our outstanding trade impediments.
Updated
Tony Abbott says Rugby Australia’s support for Indigenous voice to parliament is succumbing to ‘moral blackmail’
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has decided to step back into the discussions around the referendum for the voice to parliament, this time attacking Rugby Australia for its stance.
Earlier today, Rugby Australia and the AFL announced they would be officially supporting the Yes vote, but Abbott was unhappy about that.
He took to Twitter to say Rugby’s support for the voice was them succumbing to “moral blackmail,” and disputed the bodies’ choice to evoke historic opposition to the white Australia policy or the 1967 referendum:
Rugby Australia is the latest sports body to succumb to moral blackmail and come out for the Voice. This is totally different from 1967 or ending White Australia. It's entrenching race into our constitution and changing our system of government. https://t.co/QZKbB96Rlg
— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) May 18, 2023
As a former rugby player I hope no one will feel bullied by this most regrettable decision by a code that should have known better.
— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) May 18, 2023
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the PM congratulated both codes for their positions earlier today:
Great to see the @AFL and @RugbyAU come out in support of a Voice to Parliament.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2023
They’re joining @FootballAus and the @NRL.
Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution will be a unifying moment for our nation. pic.twitter.com/v3Qqgmihgw
Updated
Human Rights Watch says SA anti-protest laws are ‘deeply alarming’
Sophie McNeill, senior Australia researcher for Human Rights Watch says anti-protest laws rushed through parliament by the South Australian government are “deeply alarming”.
The new legislation introduced into the South Australian parliament today is deeply alarming. These harsh punishments for peaceful protest are excessive, disproportionate and violate South Australians’ basic rights to peaceful protest. We are in a worsening climate emergency and this is a clear attempt to “shoot the messenger”.
Instead of targeting those peacefully protesting drawing attention to this crisis, Premier Malinauskas should focus his efforts on phasing out the use and production of fossil fuels in his state.
XRSA spokesperson Anny Slynn said the crackdown on disruptive protests was a “distraction”.
These new penalties that have been introduced to parliament serve two purposes: One, as a means of curbing people’s absolute and necessary right to peaceful non-violent protest and disruption.
Two: to distract from the fact that APPEA have been here all week, making plans to expand oil and gas production. These plans have bipartisan support, both in SA and federally, and are completely contradictory to their very public claims to be acting on climate change.
Updated
Australia to provide training to the Philippines coastguard
Minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, has said Australia will provide equipment and training to the Philippines coastguard in an effort to bolster its capacity in the South China Sea.
Wong was speaking alongside her Philippines counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila earlier today, and said they had been discussing measures to enhance cooperation between Australia and the Philippines:
As our region navigates shifting strategic circumstances, we are working closely with each other to shape the sort of region we want – a peaceful, open, stable, prosperous region.
Updated
Victoria councils criticise federal disaster fund application process
Victorian councils affected by recent floods have criticised the application process for state and federal disaster funds, saying it is unnecessarily complex.
In a combined statement, Campaspe, Buloke, Gannawarra, Loddon and Swan Hill councils say administrative red tape has held back their applications.
Campaspe Shire mayor Rob Amos said there were also concerns at how long it was taking to access the funds:
Many of our concerns relate to the complexity and constraints associated with funding systems and processes
Other concerns relate to uncertainty about whether requested funding to repair the full scope of damaged assets will be honoured and provided in a timely fashion.
Amos goes on to criticise the “ambiguity” around the levels of funding available, and that applications could only be made in $500,000 increments, even for projects that could cost tens of millions of dollars.
This kind of red tape only takes council staff resources away from where they are needed and hampers the ability of councils to manage flood recovery efficiently and effectively.
Updated
Housing industry pours cold water on Labor’s hopes to build 1m homes
A major home-building body has poured cold water on the federal government’s aspiration to build 1m homes as new construction stalls, AAP is reporting.
Home construction has fallen sharply and new forecasts from the Housing Industry Association suggest the number of dwelling builds will be slow for at least the next 12 months.
The association’s chief economist, Tim Reardon, said the outlook jeopardised the chance of delivering 1m homes over the next five years, as targeted by the federal government in its housing accord.
The accord is one pillar of the government’s plan to ease pressures on the stressed housing market, along with its $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund aimed at boosting the supply of affordable and social homes.
As per updated HIA predictions, the industry body expects new house starts to decline 9.4% in 2023 and 11.3% in 2024, reaching an annual trough of 96,310 before recovering modestly over 2025.
New apartment building is expected to recover gradually after experiencing a decade low of 63,240 starts in 2022.
In 2023, multi-unit construction is tipped to lift 6.6%, to 67,430, before rebounding more strongly in 2024.
Updated
Thanks Natasha, Mostafa Rachwani with you to take you through the rest of the day’s news.
You’re in the excellent hands of Mostafa Rachwani for the rest of the day’s news. See you tomorrow morning!
Minimum student loan repayment threshold lifted
The federal government has lodged the official Help repayment thresholds for 2023-24, with the minimum repayment threshold lifting marginally by $3,189.
Previously, graduates earning $48,361 were required to start paying off their student loans around the minimum wage. The figure is now $51,550.
The education commentator Andrew Norton says as the thresholds are increasing by more than wages, some Help debtors currently paying off their debts won’t have to this coming year, while others will move down a repayment category.
The official announcement of the 2023-24 HELP repayment thresholds. 6.6% indexation, first threshold moves from $48,361 to $51,550. https://t.co/UqyQzIRaxa pic.twitter.com/Ul5B7ablU7
— Andrew Norton (@andrewjnorton) May 17, 2023
The Greens have been calling for the threshold to be lifted to the median wage of $64,399, and for indexation on student loans to be removed.
Updated
Bettongs are adorable to look at – but have a ‘less-than-adorable’ side if threatened
At the Guardian we are committed to bringing you all the facts, whether we like them or not. While we’re all incredibly enamoured by the bettongs in Graham Readfearn’s story, as he points out, the marsupial – like us all – is not perfect and has a “less-than-adorable strategy if they feel too threatened”.
INCREDIBLY CUTE BETTONG ALERT https://t.co/UMRbI2icVh
— NickdMiller ❔ (@NickdMiller) May 18, 2023
No one has noticed this bit yet. “As they sprint and zig-zag away, some bettongs will eject their young from their pouch in an attempt to distract their pursuer.”
— Graham Readfearn (@readfearn) May 18, 2023
Updated
Sydney to host three UFC events starting in September
Sydney will host three top-tier UFC events in a $16m deal, AAP reports.
UFC 293 on 10 September will be the first of three Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view events held in the harbour city over the next four years.
The $16m deal with the NSW government brings the franchise back to Sydney for the first time since 2017 and will be the first flagship “numbered” events since 2011.
Extolling the athleticism and discipline required in UFC, the premier, Chris Minns, said the “massive event” would attract an enormous amount of international interest and tourism to Sydney.
A potential clash looms with week one of the NRL finals but Minns said it wasn’t a case of prioritising one sport over the other.
It’s a busy time in the sporting calendar. That’s a good thing for Sydney.
Sydney is the sporting capital of Australia.
Updated
Albanese welcomes AFL and Rugby Australia support for the voice
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has welcomed the AFL and Rugby Australia’s announcements they will be supporting the Indigenous voice to parliament, joining Football Australia and the NRL.
Great to see the @AFL and @RugbyAU come out in support of a Voice to Parliament.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2023
They’re joining @FootballAus and the @NRL.
Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution will be a unifying moment for our nation. pic.twitter.com/v3Qqgmihgw
Read more about that news here:
Updated
‘The system is broken’: Greens call on Labor to regulate plastic packaging
The government’s decision to temporarily exempt some household plastic waste from a nationwide plastic export ban goes to show the nation’s waste and recycling systems are broken, the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson says:
The recycling sector has consistently called for legally binding and mandatory national packaging targets in order to have the confidence to invest in upgrading the infrastructure necessary to process plastic and other waste.
In 2020 Labor voted in support of a Greens amendment to the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 that would have seen Australia’s National Packaging Targets mandated in law. Sadly the amendment failed by one vote, with multinational packaging corporations winning the day by convincing the Coalition and One Nation to vote in favour of big business.
Plastic producers need to clean up their act and take responsibility for the mess they make, and governments need to enforce this through laws and binding regulations. There is nothing complicated about this, it should have been fixed years ago.
The system is broken. People’s trust has been broken. The Albanese Government must regulate Australia’s plastic packaging industry now.
Updated
Early taste of winter comes to Tasmania and South Australia
While many of us are enjoying the red and gold hues of the autumn leaves, the biting cold is a reminder that winter is officially upon us in two weeks. Tasmania and South Australia have both recorded subzero temperatures this morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
#Winter is only two weeks away, and this morning was an excellent chance to practise functioning in cold weather. Several locations were members of the sub-zero club, including #Launceston with -2.3 °C. The coldest place in #Tasmania was Ross with -6.6 °C. pic.twitter.com/S02m1SLZZ2
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) May 18, 2023
Brrr - it was a very cold and frosty start to Thursday in a number of locations around #SouthAustralia 🥶 The coldest was -2.2°C at Renmark (coldest morning since -2.4°C on 10 July 2022), followed by -1.6°C at Nuriootpa and -1.2°C at Yunta. pic.twitter.com/LiyIlny7ZH
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) May 17, 2023
Updated
Red-tape relief for NSW teachers is coming, education minister says
AAP is reporting that help is on its way for NSW teachers whose working lives have become bogged down by an ever-increasing pile of paperwork.
The education minister, Prue Car, is delivering on an election promise to employ hundreds more administration staff to ease the bureaucratic burden on teachers to enable them to focus on their classroom work.
From term three, another 284 public schools will be able to employ the equivalent of 400 full-time extra administration staff or offer more hours to existing staff.
Car announced the new roles on Thursday at a stakeholder roundtable at Parramatta called to address the most urgent challenges in the state’s schools.
Teachers signed up to teach our children not to fill out paperwork.
More time to teach frees up teachers to focus on better outcomes in the classroom.
We can’t afford to see more teachers leave the profession at a time when we are already dealing with a teacher shortage crisis.
Addressing workload challenges is one of four focus areas of a new statement of intent agreed to by the NSW Teachers’ Federation, Public Service Association and other key stakeholders.
The new staff will join the 203 administration roles already in 128 schools as part of the school administration improvement program since term three last year.
Updated
Chalmers welcomes China’s lifting of timber trade restrictions
Returning to Jim Chalmers, the treasurer has welcomed news that China will lift restrictions on Australian timber imports.
Chalmers says it is his government’s goal to have China’s restrictions on Australian imports lifted, and to stabilise relations, adding such a relationship will benefit both nations.
We said for some time that we want to see the trade restrictions lifted [and] to have ... normal patterns of trade in some of these industries which have been restricted in recent times.
I pay tribute to Don Farrell, Penny Wong and the prime minister and others who are doing what they can to stabilise this really important relationship, and we do that on behalf of the employers and the exporters of this country who need access to big growing markets like China.
It’s a crucially important market for us, and we want to stabilise the relationship and any progress in lifting trade restrictions is welcome.
Updated
Decimated brush-tailed bettong makes a startling return
What is this – a good news story?? Yes!
The reintroduction of brush-tailed bettongs to the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia in August 2021 has seen a baby bettong boom which has surpassed all expectations.
If you’re taking your lunch break right now and in need of joy, be sure to sit back and enjoy the full story from Graham Readfearn:
Updated
Chalmers says workers on the minimum wage getting a “decent pay rise” is in the interest of the whole country.
We think that being able to go to work and work hard and provide for your loved ones is an absolutely fundamental objective of the economic plan. We are pleased to see the beginnings of decent wages growth in the economy.
The treasurer wants the opposition to be clear what they propose to do to fund the difference if they reject changes to PRRT and superannuation. He also calls on Western Australian industry to lobby the Coalition so “we can bed this thing down”.
Chalmers:
I say this to Peter Dutton and to Angus Taylor.
If you are going to unwind the PRRT changes and unwind the superannuation changes then they need to tell us how much bigger deficits will be or what cuts are they going to make to Medicare and in other areas to fund the difference?
This is an opposition that is addicted to division – they say no to almost everything. They need to do the right and responsible thing here.
I encourage the industries of this state to lobby the Coalition to do the right and responsible thing so we can bed this thing down and move on.
Updated
Chalmers is calling on the opposition to “do the responsible thing” and support the changes to the petroleum rent resource tax (PRRT). It comes after the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, yesterday flagged in his address to the National Press Club that the Coalition may reject the changes.
Chalmers says passing the changes sooner will be better for industry and for the vulnerable Australians the government wants to be able to help with cost-of-living relief measures funded through the tax:
It is not in the interest of the industry for this to drag out in a long and complex political negotiation in the Senate. The industry has made that clear to us as well. No industry wants to pay more tax sooner but what we have been able to do with the PRRT is do it in a way that safeguards investment and supply and our trading relationship.
The best thing we can do is to pass it through the Senate. I think big parties should pass it through the Senate.
It is disappointing but not especially surprising that Peter Dutton wants to say no to the Australian people getting more of the benefits from their resources sooner to fund Medicare and other objectives.
Updated
On the uptick on the jobless rate, Chalmers says it was expected given the higher interest rates combined with global uncertainty. However, he emphasises the economy is still going well overall:
It is still pretty remarkable that we enter this period of substantial global uncertainty with unemployment with a three in front of it.
… we have a lot going for us here at home as well. Low unemployment, the beginnings of decent wages growth, and good prices for the exports of global markets. And all of that means we enter this period of global uncertainty from the position of relative strength.
And when it comes to the unemployment rate we are still talking about something like 330,000 new jobs created in the life of this Albanese government, not yet one year old.
This has been a source of considerable strength in the economy, we have expect the unemployment rate to take up a little bit and it has today. But it is still remarkably low given what has come at us from around the world.
Updated
Treasurer credits WA for keeping ‘the wheels of the national economy turning’
Chalmers is speaking about the contribution “the great state of Western Australia” makes to the economy and the budget, which is why the government has stuck to their GST deal with the state.
The intersection of critical minerals, new sources of energy, increasingly cheaper and more reliable and renewable energy, and the intersection of that with people and skills really does present the biggest opportunity that we have to create a new generation of growth in this country.
I really want to recognise the immense contribution Western Australia makes to the national economy and the national budget.
I’ve had the opportunity while I’ve been here in talking to people and industries and leaders and employers here in the great state of Western Australia, to really convey the nation’s gratitude for the way that Western Australia has kept the wheels of the national economy turning for some time now. And we want that to continue.
When Western Australia makes as big contribution to the national economy, the national economy goes better as a consequence.
Updated
Treasurer speaks in Perth
And for more on the economy, we have the treasurer Jim Chalmers speaking in Perth.
Updated
Rising jobless rate might put a question mark over the budget surplus
As mentioned, the labour data requires a bit of nuance to navigate through. The headline April jobless rate came in at 3.7% – more than the 3.5% rate economists had tipped.
To confuse things slightly, the ABS has rounded up the previous month’s jobless rate to 3.6% (rather than the 3.5% it had previously reported). Anyway, the arrow is up.
Among the key states, NSW’s 3.4% unemployment rate is notable since the state accounts for about one-third of the economy. ACT comes in 3% as the lowest anywhere. South Australia’s 4.3% is the laggard, with Victoria, Queensland and Tassie coming in at 3.9% (all seasonally adjusted).
Anyway, for context, the federal 2023-24 budget had pencilled in the June quarter jobless rate as coming in at 3.5%, rising to 4.25% by mid-2024.
Should the unemployment rate be even higher by June, treasurer Jim Chalmers‘ budget surplus could be at risk. It’s interesting that he hasn’t really been talking the surplus up as a given. Against that, it’s possible the revenues from commodity exports might turn out to be a bit higher than the budget forecast – but it’s something to watch.
Anyway, you can follow on at home here too:
Updated
SA police chief frustrated over Extinction Rebellion protesters
SA police chief Grant Stevens expressed his frustration at a protest on Thursday where a demonstrator slung themselves form the Morphett Street bridge.
The ropes are fully extended across the street. So we can’t, as much as we might like to, cut the rope and let them drop.
Updated
South Australian leaders hashing out ‘draconian’ anti-protest laws by talkback radio, Greens say
South Australian Greens MLC Rob Simms says it is “very alarming” that the leaders of South Australia’s two major parties are hashing out the introduction of “draconian” anti-protest laws by talkback radio.
The first I heard of this bill is on talkback radio this morning and the parliament are planning to introduce this into the parliament today.
I think it’s insulting to the parliament and the people of South Australia.
The proposed changes floated by the SA opposition leader David Speirs would include a $50,000 fine and three months in jail. No detail has been released about the changes but a spokesperson for the premier said discussions are currently underway and SA premier Peter Malinauskas has suggested in an early morning radio interview that a bill could be introduced to parliament today.
Simms said:
We close traffic for two weeks for a car race but when people protest for a day suddenly the sky is falling.
It’s pretty chilling when the two major parties are working together to try and curtail democracy.
We saw this happen in NSW and I hope we’re not going down that draconian path here in South Australia.
Updated
Chinese ambassador expresses 'personal sympathy' for Cheng Lei
Asked for an update on the cases of Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, ambassador Xiao says they are both national security-related cases, and that means they can take more time:
I hope that our Australian colleagues can understand that.
But Xiao says he has “personal sympathy” to Cheng and her family based on humanitarian grounds.
He says has “been trying” and will keep trying to enable Cheng to have access to her partner and friends and family:
I hope the case will have a solution as early as possible.
Updated
China ‘not a threat’ to Australia, says ambassador, as he criticises Aukus
The Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, ramps up his criticism of Aukus, declaring that is China “not a threat” and will not be a threat to Australia.
He says spending a huge amount of money targeting China is “absolutely unfounded” and indicates it is not a good use of hardworking Australians’ tax revenue.
Xiao says the money could be better spent to fund “infrastructure, reduce the cost of living and give the Australian people a better future”.
Updated
Speaker of the House receives Stuart Robert's resignation
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick, has officially received a letter of resignation from Stuart Robert.
(Those following along yesterday will remember the PM blasted Robert for his non-attendance in parliament and failing to clarify when he would be stepping down.)
Dick is now considering possible dates for the byelection for Robert’s electorate of Fadden and says an announcement will be made “in due course”.
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Jobless rate edges higher to 3.7%, easing RBA rate rise concerns
The increase in the jobless rate last month to 3.7% is not a big surprise even if the market was pencilling in a 3.5% result.
There was 4,300 jobs lost for the month, compared with the 25,000 extra that economists had been expecting. Within that number, though, the loss of 27,100 full-time roles was more interesting and a reason why these numbers will be seen as on the weak side.
Australia's jobless rate rose to 3.7% last month, where it was in January. A small drop of 4300 jobs masked a decline of 27,100 full-time positions, a move that will give the RBA some comfort that it won't need a rate rise on these numbers. pic.twitter.com/DbURjdTNwO
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) May 18, 2023
And the markets back that up in spades. The Australian dollar dropped about a quarter of a US cent immediately to about 66.36 US cents, and the ASX extended its gains for the day for another 0.2% or so.
Investors, in other words, pared back their expectation that the Reserve Bank will lift its interest rate again (or at least cut it sooner).
More soon…
Updated
Asked about a possible visit by Anthony Albanese to China, Xiao says both sides are in talks about finding a convenient date.
‘I don’t think the Quad is a good idea,’ Chinese ambassador says
The Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, is warming up. He says of the Quad:
Personally I don’t think the Quad is a good idea. It’s an even worse idea when it’s trying to target China.
Turning to the G7, Xiao describes Japan as the “loser in the second world war”.
He adds:
We didn’t bomb Darwin like Japan did.
Updated
SA government flags changes to anti-protest laws amid gas conference
The South Australian government has flagged that his government will pass anti-protest laws as Extinction Rebellion protesters enter their fifth day of actions against an oil and gas industry conference in Adelaide.
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, said in a radio interview this morning his government would consider introducing anti-protest laws after SA Liberal opposition leader David Speirs called for harsher penalties when a protester suspended themselves from the Morphett Street Bridge on Thursday.
Late yesterday afternoon, we had legislation drafted to increase the maximum penalty for protesters who cause community chaos to $50k or 3 months imprisonment #saparli https://t.co/Eojz3qfEzp
— SA Liberal Media (@SALibMedia) May 18, 2023
The Guardian understands the government is currently in discussion about the nature of the changes, with a press conference to be held later on Thursday.
No detail has yet been provided and the government has not yet consulted with anyone. But Malinauskas said during an interview on Thursday morning that any change would need “bipartisan support” and could be introduced “as early as today”.
If South Australia passes the laws, it will become the latest state after New South Wales sought to crack down on protesters following demonstrations against coal and oil companies.
Malinauskas:
I think there’s an opportunity here for the parliament to respond to this action quickly and we can’t have a situation where innocent people who are literally just trying to serve the community are having their lives and their incomes completely disrupted through the acts of people who abuse the right to protest in our state and I’ve asked the attorney general this morning to work with the opposition to draft up a piece of legislation that hopefully we can get into the parliament today along the lines that the leader of the opposition just referred to.
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China to resume import of Australian timber
The Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, has a snippet of news: he says that yesterday Chinese customs authorities formally notified the Australian minister for agriculture that starting today China will resume import of Australian timber.
Updated
The economy shed 27,100 full-time jobs last month, according to the ABS.
Unemployment rises to 3.7%, ABS says
Australia’s jobless rate jumps to 3.7% in April
Updated
Queensland’s revamped cabinet sworn in
Queensland’s revamped cabinet has been sworn in after a surprise reshuffle of the frontbench aimed at stemming ongoing criticism in the health, housing and youth crime portfolios.
Former youth justice minister Leanne Linard has become the minister for environment and science while staying on as multicultural affairs minister.
The employment minister, Di Farmer, has retained her role and been given the troubled youth justice portfolio.
Former environment minister Meaghan Scanlon, the youngest member of cabinet and seen as a rising star, has been sworn in as housing minister.
Quandamooka woman Leeanne Enoch has been removed from housing to become Indigenous affairs minister and minister for treaty. She’s also kept her communities and arts portfolios.
Craig Crawford has been removed from Indigenous affairs but has retained his seniors and disability portfolio while also taking on child safety portfolio.
As widely predicted, the attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, and health minister, Yvette D’Ath, have swapped positions in the cabinet changes. Fentiman will retain her role as minister for women when she takes up health, but D’Ath will take on domestic and family violence.
Digital services will be stripped from Enoch and awarded to transport minister Mark Bailey.
No backbenchers have been promoted in the rare cabinet shuffle.
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AFL to support Indigenous voice to parliament
Hot on the heels of Rugby Australia, the AFL have announced they too will support the Indigenous voice to parliament. The referendum will take place later this year.
Today we announce our support for The Voice to Parliament. pic.twitter.com/Xa1YzonySc
— AFL (@AFL) May 18, 2023
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‘Mutual respect’ key to improving diplomatic relationship, says China’s ambassador
China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, says “mutual respect” will be key to further improvement in the diplomatic relationship.
In his prepared remarks at a press event at the Chinese embassy in Canberra today, Xiao said it had been “a year of exchanges and dialogue”. He said Don Farrell’s trip to China last week had been important and it was a good meeting:
Based on the positive momentum of bilateral relations, China stands ready to work with Australia to act on our leaders’ common understandings about keeping the bilateral relationship on the right track, developing our relationship from a strategic, long-term perspective, and working for the sustained, sound and steady development of bilateral relations. However, to achieve these goals three things matter.
Xiao said both sides should “practise mutual respect” including respecting each other’s core interests and concerns.
China and Australia have different national conditions. But there is no reason that we cannot coexist peacefully when we respect each other.
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April jobs numbers will give us the latest economic pulse check
We’ll shortly get the ABS’s labour market figures for last month, with economists expecting the jobless rate to have remained near its half-century low of 3.5%.
These figures, though, can be interpreted different ways. Sometimes the previous month’s jobless rate is revised up or down, so it can make for confusing headlines.
Also, the participation rate can vary too, so you can get a falling unemployment rate because fewer people were in the market looking for work.
Lately, a surer way is to zero in on the full-time jobs being added or lost. Economists expect the economy added another 25,000 positions last month, but if there were all part-time roles it would imply something different from if there were all full-time.
Anyway, stay tuned for the numbers and we’ll work through the nuances speedily.
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Chinese ambassador calls on Australia to help search for missing Chinese fishing boat
China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, is speaking at a press event at the Chinese embassy in Canberra at the moment.
He is calling on Australia to aid a search and rescue operation for a Chinese fishing boat with 39 crew members missing.
He says the incident has drawn “high attention” from Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Xiao Qian:
A boat was on the way back to China after their fishing operation in the area near Argentina and while they were in the middle of – in the Indian Ocean, an emergency situation happened and the company lost contact with the fishing boat.
There are altogether 39 crew members, 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines. This incident has drawn high attention from President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders.
President Xi has made very important instructions asking the relevant Chinese ministries and relevant prime ministers together with relevant overseas missions, including here the embassy in Canberra to coordinate with our friendly countries, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other relevant countries for a possible immediate search and rescue.
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David Pocock raises alarm on Middle Arm project
The independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, is among the crossbench raising the alarm after Guardian Australia’s exclusive story on the Middle Arm project being a key enabler for Beetaloo gas.
As the APPEA gas conference takes place in Adelaide today, Pocock questions the excuse of needing gas for the energy transition when Australia exports almost 75% of its gas.
He says that new fossil fuel projects are “reckless” as we wake up to the warnings from scientists this morning that the world is likely to breach the 1.5C climate threshold by 2027.
Pocock joins MPs in the lower house, Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel, who are also calling on the government to reconsider the decision.
Govt trying to tell us Middle Arm is ‘sustainable’ while knowing it’s a “key enabler for Beetaloo gas”.
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) May 17, 2023
We can’t afford new fossil fuel projects as we hurtle towards 1.5 degrees of warming.
Beetaloo has equiv of 3177 years of gas used in Aus households 🤯https://t.co/5CN9FDtZ0H
Hearing gas execs & politicians say we need new gas projects🤦🏼♂️
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) May 17, 2023
We have enough for the transition - we export almost 75% of our gas.
New fossil fuel projects in 2023 is reckless & shows disregard for the ppl & places we love already feeling the impacts of climate change.
Updated
Bushfire in Perth suburb no longer a threat to lives or homes
The bushfire in Western Australia has been contained and no longer poses a threat to lives or homes.
The earlier emergency warning for parts of Whitby has now been downgraded to an alert level.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services warns that while there is no immediate danger, there is still a lot of smoke in the area and people need to keep up to date in case the situation changes.
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Alastair Clarkson steps aside as North Melbourne coach
North Melbourne AFL senior coach Alastair Clarkson is stepping away from the role, effective immediately, to focus on his physical and emotional wellbeing, the club says.
Current club assistant coach, Brett Ratten, will take on the role in the interim.
The North Melbourne president, Sonja Hood, said:
The club is providing its full support to Alastair and we commend him for making this important decision to put his health first.
Everyone involved has been deeply affected by the Hawthorn investigation and the burden on Alastair has been significant.
We will give Alastair whatever time he needs to restore his health and look forward to welcoming him back when he is fully fit.
We have strong leaders at our club who will step up and support and coach our team while Alastair spends time focusing on his health.
We are fortunate to have someone of Brett Ratten’s experience and capability to coach the team in the interim.
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Low-paid workers should make most of labour market and ‘quietly find another role’ if unhappy, NAB boss says
Earlier we heard that the employment minister, Tony Burke, wants to see the Fair Work Commission raise the minimum wage as workers’ buying power has been diminished in this inflationary environment.
However, McEwen said he believes instead of waiting for the minimum wage to rise, the lowest-paid workers should take advantage of the tight labour market and pick up and move if they’re not being paid enough.
I think those who are sitting on that minimum wage, if they’re really not happy with their job should start looking around.
We’ve got unemployment at 3.5% There are jobs out there and I think people if they’re not happy, should quietly find another role.
But the minimum wage is that – it’s exactly that – it’s the minimum wage. I would have thought most employers are paying well above the minimum wage just to get great people working in their business.
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NAB CEO foresees ‘another one or two’ rate rises from RBA
The CEO of National Australia Bank, Ross McEwan, says he’s still predicting “another one or two” rate rises from the RBA.
McEwan told ABC Radio this morning:
I don’t think we’re at risk of the recession, but we are having people feeling as though things get a lot, lot harder. And they are, because the price of everything’s up [but] wages haven’t gone up accordingly.
But McEwan believes the government got the balance right in the budget between aiding Australia’s most vulnerable on the lowest incomes and not adding inflationary pressure.
On how inflation is affecting Australians, read this report from our business reporter Jonathan Barrett:
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Educating young people key to preventing sexual harm, says minister for women
The minister for women, Katy Gallagher, said the federal government was “committed to achieving gender equality” which started with young people learning to respect each other.
Amanda Rishworth, minister for social services said making sure Australian children could access age-appropriate consent education was a focus of the national plan to end violence against women and children.
Evidence shows that improving attitudes and understanding is a key way to prevent sexual harm and violence. If we want to see a societal shift in attitudes, we need to start with young people.
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Working group to improve respectful relationships in schools to begin meetings next month
The CEO of OurWatch, Patty Kinnersly, will chair an expert working group tasked by the federal government to improve respectful relationships in schools.
The group is one of the recommendations of a national inquiry into respect at work and sexual harassment.
The group, to meet for the first time next month, will collaborate across public and non-government schools to offer advice informing the federal government’s $83.5m consent and respectful relationships education (RRE) program.
Alongside a rapid review into RRE, the group will also oversee the development of a national framework to help schools select quality external providers.
Among members of the group are the Teach Us Consent founder, Chanel Contos, National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence’s Heather Clarke and Dr Fiona Martin, an education and developmental psychologist.
The working group will also include a representative from the federal government, a member from each state and territory government and representatives from the National Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Australia.
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‘It’s not so often for our industry we are welcomed’: Santos CEO
Dutton’s address at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference in Adelaide was followed by Kevin Gallagher, the managing director and CEO of Santos, who thanked SA Labor’s energy and mining minister, Tom Koutsantonis, for his “warm” welcome the industry on Tuesday.
It’s not so often for our industry we are welcomed and appreciated for our contribution to world class living standards.
Tom’s words were a reminder that we will ultimately find ourselves on the right side of history.
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‘Labor wants gas gone’: Dutton accuses government of ‘renewable zealotry’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has urged the Australia’s oil and gas industry to “speak up’ against government intervention and has pledged to “put the trust back” into the industry.
Dutton made his remarks in a virtual address to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference in Adelaide today.
The opposition leader began his speech with a history lesson about Ronald Reagan and “freedom” before claiming the Labor government’s changes to the Safeguard Mechanism amounted to a “new carbon tax”.
He also said Labor was “driven by renewable zealotry”.
Labor wants gas gone. The government’s not on your side – let’s be very clear about it. And Labor’s energy policy I think is driven by renewable zealotry.
It’s doing everything possible to shut down coal and frustrate the gas sector.
Updated
Peter Dutton delivers pre-recorded address to oil and gas conference
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is this morning delivering a pre-recorded message to the Appea conference, because along with the prime minister and other leaders, he is attending the memorial service for Yunupingu in Arnhem Land.
Dutton apologised to the conference for his absence:
Ladies and gentlemen, apologies for my absence at your Appea conference today.
I was looking forward to seeing you all in person.
But I’ve had to change my plans.
I’m going to Gove – in north-eastern Arnhem Land – with the prime minister.
We’re attending a memorial service for Yunupingu – one of our great Indigenous Australians.
Royce Kurmelovs is at the conference and will bring you more on what Dutton had to tell the room in that recorded message.
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Andrews thanks those first on scene of the crash including tradies and teachers
Andrews also thanked those first on the scene of crash, including tradies on their way home from work and teachers at the school, who sprung to action to help the children out of the bus:
Everyone did an amazing thing … So often at the worst of times we see the best of people, who were really stepping in and doing amazing stuff.
Updated
‘We should learn from this incident’, says Victoria premier
Asked why seatbelts currently aren’t mandated, the premier said:
[If a bus] has seatbelts then you should wear the seatbelts and you’re required as a passenger to do that. There’s difficulty though, however, putting an onus on the driver to make sure that everyone’s wearing a seatbelt. The bus wouldn’t go very far …
It’s a whole lot of practical issues here. But if there’s more we can do, then of course, we should learn from this incident and see if we can make further change.
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Mandating seatbelts on buses to be considered, Daniel Andrews says in wake of school bus crash
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says the government may have to consider making seatbelts on buses mandatory following a crash on Tuesday that left seven children seriously injured.
Almost all of Victoria’s school buses have seatbelts installed on it but they are not mandated. Asked whether this should change in the wake of the collision in Eynesbury in Melbourne’s west, the premier told reporters:
We might have to have a very close look at that. It’s really important that we established what happened here and then learn from it. I think we owe that to everybody who’s been caught up in this.
You’ve always got to be driving continuous improvement. You’ve always got to from the worst of circumstances, try to build something better.
… I think it’s important to establish the facts first, and then have a close look and see whether there’s more that we can do.
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Mayor of Banyule in Melbourne says far-right threats to LGBTQ+ events stem from ‘misguided and very damaging ideas’
The mayor of Banyule council, Peter Castaldo, has hit back at groups targeting LGBT+ communities before the meeting of mayors today.
I’ve been very disappointed to see our events promoting and celebrating diversity targeted by some with misguided and very damaging ideas.
While these are extreme and minority views, it shows that the work is ongoing to build a safer and more welcoming community and that’s where events like these are so important in Banyule’s calendar.
Like many LGAs across the state, Banyule has been targeted by far-right groups. The council held two IDAHOBIT Day events and has raised the pride flag to fly until the end of June.
We recognise and celebrate that our community is made up of diverse cultures, beliefs, abilities, bodies, sexualities, ages and genders.
We are committed to access, equity, participation and rights for everyone: principles which empower, foster harmony and increase the wellbeing of an inclusive community.
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Crossbench adding pressure on Labor to change course on Middle Arm development
Independent MPs Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan are calling on the Albanese government to change course in reaction to my colleague Lisa Cox’s exclusive story out this morning about the Middle Arm project’s links to new fossil fuel developments.
Cox’s reporting comes at the same time as scientists are warning the world is likely to breach the 1.5C climate threshold by 2027.
Ryan says the investment is “troubling and harmful”, while Daniel says “the government has to realise that rapid, sustained, genuine action on climate is not just an optional vote getting exercise”.
There’s no more hiding it: Labor has clearly invested $1.5 billion in what is essentially a massive gas processing plant. What the Albanese and Northern Territory Governments are doing is deeply troubling and harmful. https://t.co/03obRWjCLO
— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) May 17, 2023
We can’t fudge our way to zero. The government has to realise that rapid, sustained, genuine action on climate is not just an optional vote getting exercise: Darwin’s ‘sustainable’ Middle Arm development is key to huge fossil fuel projects, documents show https://t.co/Sr6UBpJow3
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) May 17, 2023
Meanwhile https://t.co/UJeKgQJltj
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) May 17, 2023
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Whitby bushfire a threat to lives and homes, WA fire department warns
WA’s fire department says there is a threat to lives and homes from this bushfire.
The emergency warning is in place for people in an area bounded by South Western Highway to the east, Kiernan Road and Galvin Road to the south, Evelyn Street to the west and Reilly Road to the north in parts of Whitby.
The department says the alert level for the fire has been upgraded as the fire is burning towards homes.
Their messaging to people in the area is:
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
Updated
Bushfire emergency warnings for Whitby in WA
Western Australia’s department of fire and emergency services has issued an emergency bushfire warning for parts of Whitby:
06:40 AM -Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for parts of WHITBY in the SHIRE OF SERPENTINE-JARRAHDALE: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) May 17, 2023
Updated
Alex Greenwich to launch defamation suit against Mark Latham
The independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich will launch defamation proceedings against the New South Wales One Nation leader, Mark Latham, over a homophobic tweet he posted in March.
Greenwich confirmed on Thursday morning that Latham’s lawyers had issued him with a letter on Wednesday saying “they would not accept his offers to resolve the situation outside of court”, according to a spokesperson for Greenwich.
Latham also has not publicly apologised by the 17 May deadline given to him by Greenwich.
Greenwich said:
This is not a process I enter into lightly, and a process I wish I didn’t have to engage in. However, Mr Latham’s homophobic, sexualised attack has exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse, based on my sexuality, and demands actions.
Previous reporting:
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NSW paramedics refuse patient transfers in pay dispute row
A 24-hour ban on transporting discharged patients home from hospital will be in place across NSW as paramedics and patient transfer officers join forces to demand an end to wage caps, AAP reports.
The Health Services Union NSW secretary, Gerard Hayes, said workers were reluctantly going ahead with the industrial action, which began at 6am this morning, in light of crumbling morale and stalled wage negotiations.
Hayes said he was mindful the action would mean at least 1,000 patients who would have been discharged will be left in a hospital system already under pressure, but exclusions would apply for end-of-life patients and those on dialysis.
Labor was swept to power in March on the promise of abolishing the public sector wages cap and increased pay for frontline workers.
The premier, Chris Minns, said he was confident of the progress made in wage negotiations with unions across NSW, but it would take time to sort through. He said:
We believe that we’re in the process of developing an offer to representatives of public sector workers in NSW.
But Hayes said he had seen no meaningful movement on wages since Labor was elected.
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Voice no campaign will remove images of man wrongly identified as Vincent Lingiari’s grandson, says Warren Mundine
Leader of the no campaign on the Indigenous voice, Warren Mundine, says his side will remove images of Indigenous man Stewart Lingiari, after they wrongly identified him as Vincent Lingiari’s grandson and Stewart claimed he didn’t want to be associated with the group.
Mundine says that removal will occur in coming days, but stopped short of apologising for the incident – although added that the no campaign will better factcheck their material in future.
This story, first broken by RMIT FactLab, centred on a testimonial on the website of Fair Australia, the anti-voice campaign from conservative lobby group Advance. A man, Stewart, said he was against the voice – Mundine and Nationals senator Jacinta Price, spokesperson for the Fair campaign, identified Stewart on social media as Vincent Lingiari’s grandson.
But the man said he wasn’t the grandson of the land rights activist, and further alleged he had been told what to say for the quote by a cameraman – and that he actually didn’t oppose the voice.
Stewart told Guardian Australia he was humiliated by the incident.
On Radio National, Mundine said the images would be removed, but maintained that other people had told him Stewart was Vincent’s grandson. Mundine said the no campaign would do more diligence on their sources in future.
Updated
ACT attorney general confirms Shane Drumgold sought leave
The ACT attorney general, Shane Rattenbury, has confirmed ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold is on leave.
Rattenbury told ABC Radio Canberra that Drumgold sought the leave himself and expects him to return to the role in the middle of June.
He sought leave; it came from him as a request.
Updated
‘Good women’s policy is good economic policy’: Sussan Ley convening women’s economic security roundtable
The deputy opposition leader and shadow minister for women, Sussan Ley, is convening a women’s economic security roundtable today.
The themes to be explored are how the Coalition can help middle Australia by helping women cement her career, give her flexibility, supercharge her business and make superannuation work for her.
Specific policies to be discussed include:
Restarting the Career Revive program for older women to retrain and re-enter the workforce.
Greater flexibility in childcare arrangements (for which there are no details, but the rhetoric is consistent with allowing women to use subsidies on alternatives such as nannies).
Paying superannuation on paid parental leave.
Helping older women who face relationship breakdown achieve financial security, including through access to superannuation.
None of these are Coalition policies, but they’re not ruling anything out – just starting a conversation.
Ley said:
The Liberal party can be the party of choice for women – we must be – and that is why we are going to meet them where they are in life with new ideas and real solutions that help them.
I want the women of Australia to know that the Liberal party that Peter Dutton and I lead will be back in your corner – we will support your career choices, we will look at ways to help you as you manage your work-life balance and we will help you secure your financial independence.
The Liberal party’s values put us in the right space to support the enterprise and aspiration of modern Australian women – we want to give women more choices in life, not more demands.
These roundtables will help the Liberal party develop policies that invest in our women because when the aspiration and enterprise of Australian women is supported, all Australians benefit.
Good women’s policy is good economic policy – it creates stronger communities, stronger families and a more productive economy.
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Australia-US relationship unaffected by Biden’s cancelled visit, says Burke
Burke insists Australia has not been snubbed by the US president, Joe Biden, after he cancelled his visit to Australia for the Quad leaders meeting yesterday.
I don’t think anyone would question when you’ve got something like the debt ceiling being negotiated in the United States …
In terms of the relationship between the countries and the strength of the relationship, as allies, that’s all there; and I think anyone who knows what negotiations with the debt ceiling are like in the United States understands exactly why President Biden’s been in a situation to make a decision like this.
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Important not to restrict First Nations artists in ways that do not apply to other artists: Burke
Burke says:
I want to make sure throughout all of this, we don’t start to blur the lines and put rules on First Nations artists and restrictions on them that we would apply to no other artist. I think that’s really important.
But we also need to make sure that we [stay] true to some of the important cultural principles that First Nations communities are wanting us to be true to.
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‘Two competing principles’ guiding investigation into Indigenous art production, says Burke
Tony Burke is also being asked about his other portfolio area as arts minister.
The federal government is jointly funding an investigation with the South Australian and Northern Territory governments into the APY Art Centre Collective over allegations that non-Indigenous arts workers contributed to works by Aboriginal artists.
Burke says the investigation is being guided by “two competing principles”:
The first is that you can’t create a situation where we pretend an artist can’t have assistance … Michelangelo had assistance in painting the Sistine Chapel.
The second principle … the concept is that there are some dreaming stories that only First Nations artists have the right to depict.
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Melbourne mayors to meet over far-right threat
Melbourne mayors are preparing to meet today to discuss the rising risk to councillors and staff from far-right fringe groups.
The mayor of Hume, Joseph Haweil, said the threat to councillors was increasing as the groups became more organised.
It really is a coalition of different forces like the My Place movement, anti-5G people, people who are still concerned about Covid restrictions, and those who feel antagonistic towards drag queen storytimes.
My Place is an anti-vax group that supports beliefs that argue laws and governments are not legitimate.
Their members, along with neo-Nazis and far-right Christians, have been those targeting LGBTQ+ events, shutting down at least 11 in the past six months.
In Hume, councillors have seen an increase in people attending meetings to ask about 5G and questioning the legality of the local government.
Haweil said the council targeted the most active My Place groups within their constituencies.
But it does feel like, across the sector, that this sort of behaviour is spreading further.
And as it gains more attention, and these groups become a bit more organised, we are getting the sense that there are more counsellors experiencing this.
The meeting will focus on the increasing risk to safety with police and an expert in extremism addressing the mayors.
Updated
Wage growth not a driver of high inflation, says Tony Burke amid discussions on raising minimum wage
Wage growth is at the highest it’s been in years, but at 3.7%, it’s still just half the inflation rate.
Yesterday at the Fair Work Commission, the government and unions backed a 7% increase in the minimum wage. However, the commission’s president questioned how that might affect the RBA’s next rates’ decision.
But the employment minister, Tony Burke, has told ABC Radio this morning that it’s not wages driving inflation:
The reality is that we know that we don’t have a wage-price-spiral… there is no way in the world inflation is being driven by high wage growth, because we simply haven’t had that.
Updated
Leeanne Enoch to become Queensland’s minister for treaty
Leeanne Enoch will become Queensland’s minister for treaty amid a cabinet reshuffle set to be announced today.
A Quandamooka woman from North Stradbroke Island, Enoch was the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the state parliament in 2015 and became housing minister in 2020.
Guardian Australia has confirmed the state’s environment minister, Meaghan Scanlon, will replace Enoch as housing minister.
Senior government sources have described Scanlon as a rising star in the Labor caucus. A 24-year-old Scanlon made history in 2017 when she became the youngest woman elected to state parliament.
The attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, and the health minister, Yvette D’Ath, are also expected to swap positions in the cabinet changes that target three critical portfolios; health, housing and youth justice.
Updated
ACT top prosecutor Shane Drumgold on leave
ACT’s director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, is on leave as an inquiry into the handling of a case against former Liberal staff Bruce Lehrmann continues.
The ACT government executive has appointed Anthony Williamson, who was the deputy DPP, to act in the role of the territory’s top prosecutor until 13 June.
ACT attorney general Shane Rattenbury said Drumgold had sought leave and would return to the post.
Drumgold has come under pressure following questioning at the independent inquiry into how the ACT justice system handled rape allegations made against Lehrmann by another ex-Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
Drumgold last week told the inquiry his team had “closed ranks” against police because they believed officers had lost objectivity in the matter.
The charges against Lehrmann, who had denied the allegations, were dropped last year.
• This post was amended after earlier incorrectly stating Drumgold had been stood aside
- with AAP
Updated
Open letter calls for urgent parliamentary inquiry into Aukus submarine plan
Former Labor ministers Peter Garrett and Carmen Lawrence have joined calls for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine plan.
An open letter – also signed by former air force chief Ray Funnell and business figure Janet Holmes à Court – says the indicative long-term pricetag of $268bn to $368bn is “extraordinary” and an inquiry must look at the “opportunity costs” from prioritising the submarine deal.
The letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute thinktank, says the acquisition deal has “serious deficiencies”. It adds:
These deficiencies need to be addressed by a properly constituted Parliamentary Inquiry to reassure the Australian community that this is a reasonable deal with a reasonable chance of success at reasonable cost.
The letter says the terms of reference should address a range of issues, including whether the strategic policy grounds for the deal are well-founded and justify the significant investment in nuclear-powered submarines.
It suggests the inquiry should examine the implications of the apparent reorientation of the country’s defence policy from “the direct defence of Australia against any possible adversary to a concentration on the forward defence of Australia against a specific adversary”.
The inquiry should also consider implications for nuclear non-proliferation, Australia’s “political and operational sovereignty”, and diplomacy in south-east Asia and the Pacific.
Current parliamentarians to sign the letter are the Greens senators David Shoebridge, Jordon Steele-John and Penny Allman-Payne.
Updated
Good morning!
Australian leaders have signed an open letter calling for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine plan.
Signatories to the letter coordinated by the Australia Institute include former Labor ministers Peter Garrett and Carmen Lawrence, as well as current Greens senators, say long-term price tag of between $268bn and $368bn is “extraordinary”.
In Melbourne, mayors are preparing to meet today to discuss the rising risk from far-right fringe groups.
In Queensland, a cabinet reshuffle is due to be unveiled today as premier Annastacia Palaszczuk looks to switch key positions in the face of mounting political pressure.
In Arnhem Land, a public memorial for the Gumatj leader and activist Yunupingu will be held at Gunyangara, where he was born.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese, minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, opposition leader Peter Dutton and Indigenous leaders from all parts of the country are expected to attend.
Dutton’s deputy, Sussan Ley, says she wants to meet women “where they are in life with new ideas and real solutions that help them” as she convenes a women’s economic security roundtable today.
Let’s get into it!
