What we learned; Wednesday 22 Noivember
It’s time to wrap up a big day of news. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy:
Foreign minister Penny Wong commended news of a truce in Gaza and said that 67 Australians, including permanent residents and families, were able to flee Gaza overnight through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann is seeking justice, vindication and compensation after a broadcast by Network Ten, The Project and Lisa Wilkinson “utterly destroyed him”, the federal court has heard.
Sports administrator and consultant Anter Isaac was elected chair of the board of Football Australia at the organisation’s annual general meeting.
A bushfire threatened lives and homes in Aubin Grove and Hammond Park in Perth’s south and forced the closure of Kwinana Freeway.
Nick Avery, chief executive of South West Autism Network, said the autistic community and their supporters were “extremely concerned” about the reports that the government intends to wind back funding for autism in the NDIS.
More than 20 people were arrested and charged following an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest at Port Botany overnight.
New South Wales set up a scheme to support the development of big batteries with 380 megawatts, as part of its roadmap to renewables.
Victoria Police are contacting about 140 witnesses as part of an investigation into the Daylesford pub crash that killed five people earlier this month, the state’s coroners court has heard.
Thanks for joining us – see you tomorrow.
Updated
Senate committee recommends plain packaging for vaping products
A Senate committee has recommended legislative changes targeting tobacco and vaping products be “passed without delay,” while criticising retail industry lobby groups for lacking transparency.
The proposed amendments to the public health (tobacco and other products) bill include new measures to discourage smoking, and to prevent the promotion of vaping and e-cigarettes.
If passed it would see plain packaging and health warnings on vape products, and updated and improved graphic warnings added to tobacco products, including on individual cigarettes. The use of specified additives in tobacco and vaping products, like menthols, would also be banned.
In September, the senate referred the bill to the community affairs legislation committee for inquiry, with public hearings held earlier in November.
At those hearings, representatives from lobby groups including the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores and the Master Grocers Australia told the committee that vaping reforms would fuel the illicit tobacco and vaping markets. The groups refused to disclose the details of funding they receive from the tobacco and vaping industries.
In submissions made to the inquiry, tobacco companies Philip Morris Australia and Imperial Brands Australasia also argued the bill risked accelerating the proliferation of the illicit tobacco trade.
But the committee’s report, published on Wednesday evening, made only one recommendation – that the bill be passed by the Senate “without delay”.
On illicit tobacco, the report noted comments from health experts including from the co-chief executive officer of the Australian Council of Smoking and Health, Laura Hunter, who said: “the best way to stamp out the illicit market, is to help people to quit smoking and that this ‘piece of legislation is a huge step towards that”.
The report also noted: “that two witnesses who gave evidence to the inquiry, the Australian Association of Convenience Stores and Master Grocers Australia, failed to answer questions put by committee members regarding their potential conflicts of interests despite being told that this would be requested immediately prior to their appearance”.
“The committee considers the refusal by both witnesses to answer these questions… deeply concerning.”
Updated
