And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here are some of the key things we learned today, Friday 24 February:
• The Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko has given an address to the National Press Club on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He’s called for continual support in myriad ways from the Australian government and Ukraine’s allies.
• The prime minister, Anthony Albanese pledged a further $33m in military aid to the war-stricken nation.
• The prime minister has also thrown his support behind the NSW Labor leader, Chris Minns, saying NSW needs a change of government, as Perrottet’s Liberal state government is “too busy fighting each other, to fight for the people of New South Wales”.
• The Queensland government has announced a GPS tracker trial for children in Toowoomba, a week after residents vented their frustrations at a youth crime forum in the city.
• Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister has confirmed the release of one hostage but says he “cannot guarantee” the safety of at least three others, including an Australian-New Zealand archaeologist, held in the southern highlands.
• The Australian Education Union is the latest organisation to back the yes campaign in the voice to parliament referendum, saying its membership of school teachers overwhelmingly back the change and will work to support the movement.
• A hive of foreign spies busted by Australia’s intelligence agency in the past year was reportedly linked to Russia.
That’s all for this Friday. Look after yourselves this weekend!
Updated
Evidence contradicts claims of key robodebt witness
A key witness at the robodebt royal commission has been shown evidence contradicting his claims he didn’t know the unlawful “income averaging” method was being used by Centrelink, the inquiry heard.
The commission is investigating why the Coalition program used so-called “income averaging” to raise hundreds of thousands of Centrelink debts between 2015 and 2019 despite Department of Social Services (DSS) lawyers warning it would be unlawful.
Mark Withnell, former general manager of business integrity at Department of Human Services (DHS), told the commission on Friday he couldn’t explain emails and other documents he’d seen referring to the use of income averaging in the program.
Withnell was asked about his involvement in the 2015 budget process that saw the robodebt proposal adopted, saying he told his boss, deputy secretary Malisa Golightly, income averaging could not be used due to DSS’s concerns.
Withnell told the commission he believed there had been “agreement” to proceed with the plan without income averaging being used.
Read the full story here:
Updated
