What we learned today, Thursday 8 June
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:
Anthony Albanese has said it would be “entirely inappropriate” for politicians to direct the national integrity commission to investigate a matter, after the Coalition opposition called for further scrutiny on Brittany Higgins’ compensation payout.
The high court has pressed the Catholic church to explain why it didn’t have an adequate opportunity 50 years ago to investigate the extent of a priest’s abuse of children, given there were “red flags everywhere” about his crimes.
Scott Phillip White was sentenced to nine years in jail for the manslaughter of Scott Johnson, who fell to his death after White punched Johnson at a well known gay beat in Sydney in 1988.
A damning inspector report into the troubled Banksia Hill detention facility has found “every element” of the centre is failing, with “young people, staff and a physical environment in acute crisis”.
The ACT Legislative Assembly passed laws banning unnecessary and irreversible medical procedures for people born intersex, in an Australian first.
An LGBTQ+ event that was being planned for St Kilda library has been cancelled amid threats from far-right groups. It is the second LGBTQ+ event in Pride month and at least the 13th since December last year to not go ahead.
Trade between Australia and China increased by nearly 20% in the first five months of the year, according to the Chinese customs agency.
A police officer is in a critical condition after being run over and dragged underneath a car in the early hours of the morning in Perth.
Australia’s talks have stalled for a trade deal with Europe that would give Australian producers access to a market with a GDP of $20tn.
Updated
Independent Zoe Daniel has welcomed the government’s ban on Nazi symbols, but said more action is needed to combat antisemitism and extremism:
Our federal and state governments must continue to monitor antisocial developments to ensure that these important steps are not circumvented.
Federal government's ban on Nazi symbols a welcome step, but more action is needed to combat anti-semitism and extremism. Our Federal and State governments must continue to monitor anti-social developments to ensure that these important steps are not circumvented.#auspol pic.twitter.com/WSks8ZsJvJ
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) June 8, 2023
Updated
