What we learned today, Sunday 12 March
That’s where we’ll leave our coverage for today.
Here’s a recap of the day’s news:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has touched down in the US where he is expected to make a major announcement, alongside president Joe Biden and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, about the future of Australia’s $100bn nuclear subs program.
US congressman Joe Courtney, co-chair of Washington’s “AUKUS Caucus” has promised the second-hand subs Australia will buy from the US will be “a very thoughtful project” and will be under “Australian control” in an appearance on ABC Insiders on Sunday, saying: “No one’s going to be foisting off clunkers to good friends and allies.”
New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet officially launched his party’s campaign on Sunday with a number of policies aimed at children. Perrottet asked members of the Coalition to look toward the future – even as federal members of his own party avoided putting in an appearance.
Flood waters at Burketown in north-west Queensland have peaked on Sunday, after 45 residents evacuated the area in anticipation of record rises.
Updated
Lack of funding to blame for lack of transplants, NSW Labor says
The NSW opposition has pointed the finger at the government following reports children are being put at risk because of a lack of pediatric heart transplants at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
The hospital completed five of the transplants in 2021 when Covid-19 travel restrictions were enforced, but has reverted to transferring patients to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, Nine reported on Sunday.
The Melbourne hospital is home to Australia’s National Paediatric Heart Transplant Centre.
Between one and three children have died each year over the past five years in NSW because they were either too sick to be transferred to Melbourne or it was impractical for their families to go interstate, Nine reported.
NSW opposition health spokesman Ryan Park blamed the absence of the transplants in Sydney on a lack of funding by the Liberal National government, along with a staffing crisis and a “long overdue review” that began in 2021.
These reports are obviously very concerning. Children’s lives are being placed at risk and this is not acceptable.
At the end of 2021, a review into the Nationally Funded Centre was started and to date it still isn’t finished. The government has failed to ensure that this review was completed and recommendations implemented. Meanwhile lives are being lost.
The NSW health system cannot cope with another four years of Band Aid solutions.
– AAP
Updated
Copper thieves caused $1.5m in damage at Tasmanian gold processing plant
Police are investigating a break in at a Beaconsfield gold processing plant after thieves attempted to steal copper wire, causing an estimated $1.5m in damage.
Officers responded to reports of a break-in at Rifle Range Road on Sunday morning using a front-end loader stolen from a neighbouring business.
Inspector Dean McMahon said it is believed the thieves wrapped a chain around a mass of copper cables close to where they attached to a transformer and tried to rip them free using the front-end load.
This caused the transformer to buckle and damage part of the overhead cabling structure.
This incident has caused significant damage to a local business and Tasmania police are following up a number of avenues of inquiry.
Police have asked anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area overnight to contact police on 131 444 or report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Not enough nuclear scientists in Australia to meet demand
Australia will need to develop the know-how in nuclear science if it wants to acquire nuclear submarines, according to the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).
AAS president Prof Chennupati Jagadish said on Sunday building this capability will be “central” to ensuring the programs success but Australia currently faces a skills crisis.
Even before Aukus, there has been an increased demand for knowledge in nuclear science in Australia.
We are significantly behind our peer nations in national nuclear and radiation science capability.
The Aukus partnership to acquire nuclear-powered defence submarines, the increasing use of radiotherapies in medicine, focuses on quantum technologies, development of materials robust enough to withstand space radiation – all these sectors require a deep understanding of nuclear physics and subatomic interactions to ensure they are safe, effective.
Prof Jagadish said the number of trained scientists in Australia is not enough to meet the expected demand, which is leaving Australia “overly dependent” on overseas expertise – and without the capacity to train new nuclear scientists.
Updated
Formula for indexing Medicare a ‘joke’: AMA
Australian Medical Association president Prof Steve Robson says the formula for indexing Medicare is a “joke” and has reiterated calls for government to act to ensure healthcare remains affordable.
Under the current system, the cost of hospital treatments and medical services are indexed to the department of finance’s Wage Cost Index. This is supposed to inform how much of the cost of a medical practice the government will help subsidise.
However, Prof Robson says a freeze on indication there is a growing gap between what the suggested cost of running a medical practice is and the actual cost.
The formula for indexing Medicare has become a joke. It is delivering an indexation rate that falls well behind the rate of increase in key economic measures like the Consumer Price Index, Average Weekly Earnings, and the Wage Price Index.
Years of inadequate indexation has meant the Medicare rebate no longer bears any relationship to the actual cost of providing high-quality services to patients, and this is one reason why we’re seeing more practices unable to offer bulk billing for even the most vulnerable of patients, with wages and increasing practice running costs all funded from the rebate.
Prof Robson pointed to a recent decision by Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) as more evidence
IHACPA indexed the National Efficient Price (NEP) for 2023–24 at a rate of 2.9 per cent per annum, plus an additional 0.81 per cent to account for increases in the minimum superannuation guarantee between 2020–21 and 2023–24.
The AMA analysed the effect of poor Medicare indexation on the item most often used by doctors, the Level B item for consultations lasting less than 20 minutes, and identified $8.6bn the government has “saved” since 1993.
The AMA Gaps Poster demonstrates that successive governments have been stripping healthcare funding from Australian taxpayers through poor indexation and shifting the cost of care onto everyday Australians.
We can see how poor indexation saves the government money, but this is really stripping out essential funding in Medicare by stealth, with patients bearing the brunt of higher out-of-pocket costs.
Doctors can’t keep absorbing these costs and if the government is serious about addressing affordability and access to medical care including general practice, it just can’t ignore indexation, it’s as simple as that.
Updated
NSW Liberal election campaign launch in pictures
Updated
Wet and windy across the north-east Australia
It’s been a wet and windy Sunday across the north-east of the country, with flooding in some regions.
A major flood warning has been issued in north-west Queensland as Burketown residents have evacuated to escape rising flood waters overnight.
Meanwhile heavy rain is possible among central, southern and south-east Queensland with a slight risk of large hail and damaging wind in some parts.
⚠️ Major Flood Warning for the Nicholson, Gregory and Leichhardt Rivers continues in NW QLD. Record major flooding is occurring at Burketown, with an extended peak likely today and into tomorrow. See https://t.co/fNiME5zT4u for details and updates. pic.twitter.com/oIwaXSkUgO
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 12, 2023
⛈️QLD Storm Forecast Sunday 12/03. Severe storms with heavy rain are possible across much of Central, Southern and #SEQld today. Slight risk of large hail and damaging wind in #SEQld as well. Warnings, when issued: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/6GEOzW4XfD
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 11, 2023
These weather warnings extend down into New South Wales with thunderstorms possible in north-east quarter, ranges and southern inland plains.
Thunderstorms are possible across the NE quarter of #NSW, ranges and southern inland plains today. Thunderstorms may be severe in the NE, with localised heavy falls which may lead to flash flooding. There is also a risk of damaging winds & large hail. pic.twitter.com/R9BW2NYekm
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 12, 2023
Moving further south the situation is calm around Tasmania with temperatures relatively stable.
It's looking like a mild and mostly settled start to the week, with large areas of #Tasmania likely to reach the low-mid 20s on Tue, and maybe even Wednesday*
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) March 12, 2023
*depending on the arrival time of a trough and some prefrontal cloud.
Official Forecasts: https://t.co/toOtiFFMlF pic.twitter.com/GAJ4qDWoBQ
And looking out to the week ahead, warm weather is expected for much of Australia, with temperatures hotter than average in Western Australia and inland South Australia.
We're expecting a warm week ahead for much of Australia.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 12, 2023
Temperatures are forecast to climb 6-12C above average in southern #WA and inland #SA by Wed, though increased cloud cover will keep conditions cooler than average across inland #QLD.
Latest: https://t.co/jlOoTZL1iF pic.twitter.com/xobODecGuh
Updated
BBC response to Lineker comments ‘really farcical’, Craig Foster says
Former Socceroo Craig Foster has backed BBC presenter Gary Lineker, who was suspended from the UK broadcaster after criticising the government over its immigration program.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, Foster said Lineker was right to voice his opposition to the UK’s proposed immigration policy on the basis that it violated the human rights of refugees.
Foster said that UK’s proposed policy was “Australian designed and exported”.
The comments that Gary made, however well-framed or otherwise, were absolutely accurate and I think it is fantastic that a public figure in the sporting environment is prepared to do so.
He went on to say the “entire response” by the BBC has been “really farcical”, joking about a recent report that BBC chairman Richard Sharp, failed to disclose his role in arranging loans for Boris Johnson.
In addition, he congratulated Lineker’s colleagues on their decision to refuse to broadcast in solidarity with Lineker and called on others to join them.
What they should all be doing is speaking in solidarity with the refugees that Gary was talking about. That is the most important issue here. So I would love to see Alan Shearer and Ian Wright and these legendary, loved, former England international players, now be saying: ‘Listen, I also agree with his underlying views and I stand also with the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees, both here in the UK and all around the world.’
So now, there has been a huge storm and I think they can use that political environment and that social capital, not just in the UK but everywhere – we’re talking about in Australia, to now lend that to asylum seekers and refugees to put your attention there.
For more on the row triggered by Lineker’s suspension at the BBC, read the full story:
Updated
Electric cars spark interest for young female mechanics
Girls at the Bendigo Tech School showed off progress on their electric conversion of a Range Rover at Sydney’s Fully Charged event on Sunday, with its frame stripped back and painted bold green, and a Tesla motor replacing a bulky petrol engine.
Project assistant Imani Dunne, 18, said the vehicle was now as little as five months away from complete and, perhaps more tellingly, had already inspired girls working on it to enter the automotive industry.
The school’s Girls in STEAM project, which began in 2021 with a donation from a local gold mining company, has seen more than 20 girls from Bendigo schools work to convert the Range Rover from a classic petrol car to electric four-wheel drive.
The young mechanics also worked with Australian automotive partners, including Zero EV to find an electric motor, Fellten on mounts for the motor, and Hattam Street Tyre and Mechanical to assemble the chassis.
But more than creating an electric car, Dunne said the project had already encouraged two girls to pursue a career as a mechanic, another to consider becoming a fabricator, while she planned to study civil engineering.
The one thing I can’t say enough about this project is how good it is for girls’ self-esteem.
Guys try something and if they’re not good at it they go ‘oh well, I had a crack’. If a girl tries something and she doesn’t do well she goes ‘I don’t like anything in that field’.
Bendigo Tech School director Graeme Wiggins said the project was created to “get young women into engineering and trade pathways to address that under representation in the industry”.
What they’re getting out of it is incredible confidence.
They’re developing skills and they’re also developing a passion for electrification, for what we see as the future of manufacturing in this country now that [traditional] automotive manufacturing is finished.
Wiggins said the project was also designed to start a conversation about electric vehicles in regional areas.
The finished Range Rover will stay in Bendigo, he said, and be made available to rent in order to raise funds for the school’s next project.
– AAP
Updated
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has touched down in the US ahead of an announcement regarding the future of Australia’s nuclear subs program on Monday.
Have arrived in the United States with @CN_Australia ahead of AUKUS discussions with @rishisunak and @joebiden. pic.twitter.com/1TU5lbqq4s
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 12, 2023
Updated
Twenty hours on a Qantas plane: the future of aviation or fresh hell in economy?
From late 2025, Qantas hopes to run the first of its “Project Sunrise” flights – up to 20 hours non-stop from the east coast of Australia to Europe and the US east coast.
Australia’s national carrier has trumpeted the flights as “the final frontier of aviation”, but health and industry experts hold concerns for the passenger experience and question whether eliminating a stopover will ultimately increase aircraft emissions.
Qantas first announced its vision to run the ultra long-haul routes in 2017, but Covid pushed back the predicted 2022 launch. With global aviation now booming again thanks to the post-pandemic hunger for travel, Project Sunrise is firmly back on the agenda.
The airline already runs non-stop flights from Perth to London and Rome, which have proved popular despite costing more than traditional services that stop over in Asia.
Qantas runs Boeing 787s from Perth to Europe, and has used that aircraft for a test flight on the Sydney-London route, but it says Project Sunrise will rely on the superior fuel efficiency of Airbus’s A350-1000.
But despite grand plans for the new service, Qantas has engaged scientists from the University of Sydney to study the health implications of what will become the world’s longest flights, and to minimise the body clock impact of potentially seeing the sun rise twice on the same journey.
For more on this story, read the full report by Guardian Australia’s transport reporter Elias Visontay.
Updated
Perrottet promises ‘future fund’ for every child if re-elected
Premier Dominic Perrottet has pledged to set up a “future fund” for every child in NSW if re-elected.
The account would begin with $400 in state funds for every child under 10 with additional funds from parents welcomed. The government would match deposits from the family into the fund by up to $400 annually.
Perrottet said children could end up with $28,000 by the time they enter adulthood.
This policy is a downpayment to secure the future dreams of our children.
This explains the children.
Updated
Perrottet pledges $1.2bn to build and upgrade public schools
Perrottet, has pledged $1.2bn to build and upgrade public schools across the state if his government is returned.
He also used the campaign launch to announce a new selective school in Box Hill. He says:
The children of our state should have access to the best schools and the best education, no matter where they live.
Updated
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet takes the stage at campaign launch
The New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, has taken to the stage at his party’s 2023 campaign launch.
He was welcomed to the podium by more than two dozen children who remain seated behind him.
He starts by thanking his family, former prime minister, John Howard, and the leader of the Nationals, Paul Toole.
Perrottet says the state is in a better place than it was when the government came to power more than a decade ago. He says:
People are once again proud to say they come from NSW.
There are a lot of kids on stage. The premier is thanking his family, John Howard and Paul Toole. pic.twitter.com/1RHuLDqXvV
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 12, 2023
Updated
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has been welcomed to the stage at the Liberal party launch with … dozens of children.
Dozens of children have welcomed the premier to the stage. pic.twitter.com/3G1Yot680V
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 12, 2023
He begins his speech by thanking his family, John Howard and Paul Toole.
Updated
NSW Liberals launch election campaign
Former prime minister, John Howard, has been given a special welcome to the event, along with deputy premier, Paul Toole, and the premier, Dominic Perrottet’s wife, Helen Perrottet.
Holsworthy candidacy, Tina Ayyad, kicked off the event with an acknowledgment of country ahead of the national anthem.
NSW treasurer, Matt Kean, has told the Liberal crowd the opposition leader, Chris Minns, would be beholden to unions and the gaming lobby if elected into government.
Matt Kean has taken to the stage. He’s accused opposition leader, Chris Minns, of not being ready to oversee the state’s budget. He claims Minns is beholden to unions and the gaming lobby. pic.twitter.com/woPQ4y8i1G
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 12, 2023
He said:
Chris Minns is a man beholden to the unions and bends over backwards for the gaming lobby.
There is no greater threat to our state and its economy than Chris Minns.
Updated
The New South Wales Liberal campaign launch will get under way shortly in Sydney’s west.
The premier, Dominic Perrottet, will present his vision for the state to the party faithful at the Liverpool Catholic Club, a week after Labor’s launch.
The Liberal campaign launch at the Liverpool Catholic Club is getting underway shortly. #nswvotes pic.twitter.com/N4lFpReeZJ
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 12, 2023
Federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, will not be in attendance.
Voters head to the polls in two weeks in what analysts predict will be one of the closest elections in recent memory.
Now it’s Roar by Katy Perry. The event is yet to formally kick off despite the 11am start time. pic.twitter.com/WMqdZZbI8n
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 12, 2023
Updated
New process to handle noise complaints if NSW Labor wins government
Labor will seek to simplify how residents complain about noise and compliance issues from pubs and music venues, and encourage a mediation process instead of fines that punish bars and clubs, if they form government in New South Wales.
The reforms proposed by Labor come amid a spate of single neighbourhood complaints threatening the way in which venues across Sydney operate.
There are currently seven agencies that can deal with complaints about venues, and Labor plans to streamline this process.
If Labor wins government, it will also pay half the cost of soundproofing upgrades to make venues compliant with noise standards.
John Graham, Labor’s night time economy and music spokesperson, said music venues “are beloved by their local communities” and that Labor wants “to balance the needs of music venues and neighbours so that we don’t lose these important cultural assets”.
He added:
More than half the music venues in NSW have closed under the last decade of Liberal government, and more of our best operators are currently at risk.
There are currently seven agencies that regulate sound in NSW. Labor will simplify the process so that residents know who to phone if they have an issue and neighbours and venues can peacefully mediate, and we’ll provide practical support to venues for soundproofing.
Read more:
World’s largest skinny dip returns to Sydney with record attempt
Thousands of Aussie swimmers have their eyes and bare bums set on breaking the all-time skinny dipping record.
The world’s largest annual nudie dip, Sydney Skinny, is returning after a three-year hiatus.
More than 2,000 swimmers are expected to plunge starkers into the water off Cobbler’s beach in the city’s north on Sunday.
Event founder Nigel Marsh believes this year’s edition could have a stronger showing than the 2018 world record-setting swim when 2,505 naked women participated in the Irish strip and dip.
We think this is the year we might break some records and prove to the world how vibrant and spirited Sydney can be.
Every year, about 2,000 swimmers brave Hobart’s chilly River Derwent during the Dark Mofo nude solstice swim.
In November, Sydneysiders also stripped en masse and swam at Bondi beach as part of a large-scale artwork for renowned photographer Spencer Tunick.
Sydney Skinny organisers are hoping for a similar turnout on the event’s 10th anniversary.
Our event is for everyone who wants to step outside of their comfort zone.
If you’ve ever been apprehensive about doing something so daring – you will be looked after, and you’ll have the time of your life.
This year’s swim is part of a collaboration with charity Skin Check Champions to help raise awareness of the importance of skin cancer checks.
– AAP
Updated
Parliamentary inquiry to examine vaping risks
A parliamentary inquiry will look into the health risks of vaping and how many young people are using e-cigarettes in a bid to further slash smoking rates.
The Queensland government on Sunday announced the inquiry to better inform people about the dangers of vaping.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the parliament’s health and environment committee will investigate what schools are doing to discourage vaping as e-cigarettes worryingly grow in popularity among young people.
Fewer people are smoking but we are seeing a significant number of people vaping.
If vaping is a stepping stone to smoking, we need to ensure Queenslanders, especially young Queenslanders, are aware of the health risks.
As of 2020, the prevalence of daily smoking in Queensland had dropped by 47% since 2002, research from the Queensland chief health officer’s office showed.
However, people who tried e-cigarettes were three times more likely to take up smoking, the Australian National University found.
The public needed to be made aware of what e-cigarettes contained, whether that be nicotine or dangerous chemicals, Palaszczuk said.
Health minister Yvette D’Ath added while many vaping products were marketed as “nicotine free”, that was not always the case.
E-cigarettes could also contain other chemicals like those found in nail polish remover, she said.
The committee is expected to report back about the inquiry by 31 August.
– AAP
Updated
An overview of Australia’s $100bn nuclear submarine program
With the pending announcement about the $100bn nuclear submarine program it is worth revisiting some of the work by Daniel Hurst, Guardian Australia’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent who covered the delicate diplomatic tightrope the Australian government is attempting walk.
Not only has Australia been attempted to reassure its near neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia, but its real struggle has been managing its relationship with China.
But the program itself heralds a “generational change” in the way the Australian navy operates as it becomes the seventh country in the world with nuclear-powered boats.
Updated
No casualties reported in Indonesia volcano eruption
Indonesia’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi, has blocked out the sun and blanketed several villages in ash on the densely populated island of Java.
The volcano began its latest eruption on Saturday, sending plumes of hot cloud 100 metres into the sky and belching clouds of hot ash, rock, lava and gas down its 7km slopes.
No casualties have been reported but residents have been warned to keep clear of the disaster zone.
The eruption marks the biggest lava flow since November 2020. Mount Merapi last erupted in 2010, killing more than 350 people.
Updated
Anxious wait for residents caught in Burketown flood
Residents of Burketown in north-west Queensland face an anxious wait as murky water slowly floods their community ahead of an expected peak.
Some 45 locals took their last chance to evacuate on Saturday but others chose to stay despite warnings to get out, with sewerage and power turned off due to flood risks.
Most of those who left were flown by helicopter to nearby Doomadgee and then more than 300km south to Mount Isa.
Footage taken from a helicopter above the flood zone on Saturday showed the town and surrounding areas were already flooded.
Properties, roads and other infrastructure were inundated, with several aircraft shown perched on a rare strip of elevated concrete.
This is Burketown’s worst ever flooding, with the Albert River surpassing the 6.78-metre record of 2011.
⚠️🛰️With clouds beginning to clear, satellite imagery shows the extent of record-breaking flooding around Burketown (small orange dot). Please follow the advice of @QldFES, and stay up to date with the latest advice and warnings if you're in the area. https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/8qz0GuC04w
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 11, 2023
The disaster is expected to peak on Sunday, although superintendent Tom Armitt told the ABC it was unclear exactly when that would be as the water level had already surpassed flood modelling.
We don’t know how much ground will be left if the water continues to peak and cover all the ground.
If we get to the stage where we are having to shift and move people to rooftops, that makes a whole different level of complexity.
A forecast for severe thunderstorms and rain in southeast Queensland was downgraded on Saturday but heavy falls are still possible.
Several towns, cattle stations and isolated settlements in the southeast gulf of Carpentaria remain cut off and are relying on supplies sent by air or barge after weeks of torrential rain.
– AAP
Updated
The ‘safety net’ overlooked in NSW election promises on housing
Recent figures released by the Community Housing Industry Association New South Wales (CHIA NSW) show that there has been an 8% increase in the social housing waitlist in western Sydney.
There are now 18,377 individuals and families waiting in the region. Many are in the queue in areas with wait times of over 10 years.
The figures also show a 15% increase in demand for social housing across the state, with 57,750 individuals and families on the waitlist.
With the NSW state election less than three weeks away, CHIA NSW’s chief executive, Mark Degotardi, says the major parties have so far only paid “lip service” to the problem.
We have politicians paying lip service, but neither party has stepped up and made clear commitments to confront the crisis. It is not too late. The major parties can help solve this crisis by increasing the state’s supply of social and affordable housing. But we cannot afford to wait.
The schemes so far proposed by both parties are for homebuyers or owners, with some support for renters recently announced by the premier, Dominic Perrottet.
Labor has proposed merging three existing government agencies into a single body in an effort to address the social housing supply.
But advocates say these policies don’t do enough to address the lived reality of renters under duress in NSW, and particularly in western Sydney.
For more on this story ahead of the NSW Liberal campaign launch on Sunday, read the full feature story by Guardian Australia’s Mostafa Rachwani.
More Australians in work forecast ahead of jobs numbers
It is expected that the latest employment statistics will show more Australians are back in work when the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its latest report this week.
Some economists expect to see a recovery in employment in February after seasonal factors contributed to an unexpected loss of 11,500 jobs in the economy in January.
The ABS noted then that there was an unusually large number of people yet to start work who were attached to a job in January.
This means those new hires were not counted as employed and will likely show up in the February count instead.
Commonwealth Bank economists expect to see 45,000 jobs added to the economy when the data is released on Thursday with the jobless rate holding firm at 3.7% and the participation rate lifting a touch from 66.5% to 66.6%.
The jobs result will feed into the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision-making on interest rates, with a soft result expected to be supportive of a pause in its current hiking cycle sooner rather than later.
Also of interest later in the week will be the Productivity Commission’s five-yearly review of Australia’s productivity.
While not officially due until May, treasurer Jim Chalmers has brought the publishing date of the expansive review forward.
The report is expected to contain a long list of recommendations to boost Australia’s sluggish productivity growth.
– AAP
Updated
Guardian Australia reporter Tamsin Rose is heading to the NSW Liberals launch for all the fun.
We’ll bring you the latest as it develops.
Control of submarines will remain with Australia: Courtney
Courtney appears confident that control of the submarines will remain with Australia, saying “no one wants to be in a situation where there is any conflict of who is in charge or who is giving orders or who is taking orders”.
We understand that that is precious for every nation, to be able to control and make their own decisions.
On the question of technology sharing, Courtney says work is underway to arrange a “carve-out” for the Aukus alliance to avoid “barriers” in technology transfer required to ensure the submarines can run.
We have such a carve-out for Canada today. Again, the defence sectors are much more free-flowing and seamless because of the fact that we made that adjustment, and that is going to be a focus.
However, he also said the “overall politics” of the US Congress is “a little tricky right now” but “everybody understands that this is something that definitely needs to be focused on”.
Updated
Virginia-class submarines are ‘of the highest quality’: Courtney
No one will be foisting off clunkers on good friends and allies.
He adds that the subs have 33-year lifespans and no requirement to refuel, which provides the type of stealth and operability required, what “the strategic requirement requires”.
Courtney says China’s missile force is “driving this decision” because “surface ships are so vulnerable right now”. The congressman says evidence of this comes from Ukraine, where the Russian warship Moskva was hit as it was on patrol.
On the question of joint-crewing – which goes to concerns about Australia’s ability to control its own nuclear submarines – Courtney says the prospect has been “over-hyped”.
We need to train up the Australian sailors and officers in terms of nuclear propulsion which is all we’re talking about here, not nuclear weapons. And when the time comes for the deeds, the title to be handed to the government of Australia of a vessel, that again is going to be totally with the full understanding that it is going to be under Australian control.
Updated
US will need Australian help to build nuclear submarines
Courtney says “there is not question about it” that the US will need Australian help to build the new submarines, though he also says the actually manufacturing process will be of a “mixture” of work contributed from the US, UK and Australia.
Everybody is going to be contributing to each other’s needs, and certainly to the extent that, you know, again, getting the Australian workforce sort of up and running, the fact that there is not an existing Aukus submarine program right away in the late 20s or mid-20s.
Courtney says the program will help Australia to develop “the skillset to build its own subs” and that “we want this program to succeed”.
I think everybody understands, you know, this is not something that you can flip a switch and you’ve got an industrial base to take on really probably one of the most complex types of manufacturing imaginable. You are building a vessel that is operating in an environment that does not support human life. I mean, everything has to be perfect.
Updated
US ‘confident’ in capacity to supply nuclear submarines to Australia
US congressman Joe Courtney says he is “confident” the US will have enough industrial capacity to supply up to five Virginia-class nuclear submarines to Australia.
Obviously there was a counter-communication on a bipartisan basis from the leadership committee that pointed out that this is not a zero-sum game. If you look historically at the sub base in the US which is well over 100 years old, it has grown and contracted given again the external events, the security environment. If you look at the height of the Cold War, we were building four attack submarines at the same time as ballistics program.
Though he said “we may have to do more outsourcing”, Courtney says 21 Virginia-class submarines have been built over the last two decades, with two more expected this year. He also said the workforce in US shipyards has expanded by 4,000 this year, with 5,200 more next year.
Updated
Federal opposition will not attend NSW Liberal campaign launch
The NSW Liberal party will hold its campaign launch on Sunday but federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton will not be in attendance.
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet will head into Sydney’s south-western suburbs for the Liberal party’s official campaign launch on Sunday.
The area will be decisive in who wins the 25 March election, with the notionally Labor seat of Leppington and the Liberals’ Holsworthy both on small margins.
Recent political polls suggest a tight race, with a Labor minority government as the most likely result.
A decisive seat is Holsworthy, held by the Liberals on a 6% margin, where the sitting MP Melanie Gibbons was dumped at preselection.
In her place sits Tina Ayyad, a former deputy mayor and the wife of Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun.
The Liberals would also need to retain East Hills (0.1 per%) and regain the southern Sydney electorate of Heathcote (notionally Labor) to keep its grip on government.
As the minority Coalition government seeks to hang on to power for a fourth term in NSW, Dutton has been a notable absentee on the campaign trail.
Since November last year, Dutton has made only one media appearance in Sydney – a press conference alongside the independent Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone – while visiting the city for the funeral of Cardinal George Pell and the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings.
For more on Dutton’s absence from the campaign, read the full report by Guardian Australia’s Michael McGowan.
– with AAP
Updated
US congressman Joe Courtney is speaking to David Speers on ABC Insiders this morning ahead of prime minister Anthony Albanese’s Aukus announcement expected on Monday.
We’ll bring you the latest as it happens…
Coming up on #Insiders with host David Speers:
— ABC News (@abcnews) March 11, 2023
• 🔎U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney on AUKUS
• 📸 David Pope
• 🛋️ Rosie Lewis, Lenore Taylor & John Kehoe
On ABC TV at 9am #auspol pic.twitter.com/kw1UctdCE3
Updated
Opposition seeks solicitor general opinion on Voice questions
The shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, also appeared on Sky News explaining why the Coalition has written to the government seeking legal advice on the proposed wording of the referendum question.
Leeser criticised Anthony Albanese for proposing words for the constitutional change at Garma without consulting the solicitor general.
The attorney general Mark Dreyfus spoke to the referendum working group on Thursday. Leeser wants to know “what the most senior government lawyer thinks are the issues and challenges with the words the government has put forward”.
Leeser defended Coalition questioning of the definition of Aboriginality, explaining there are “a series of different definitions in different pieces of legislation” including the Social Security Act and the Child Care Act.
Leeser said the Mabo case test of descent, identification and recognition is generally used, but “the government needs to be specific about what they’re going to use in this body - it’s a question that Australians are asking in fact it’s a question that’s been raised with us by Aboriginal people”.
Leeser said that Liberal leader Peter Dutton comes to the issue of the voice “with an open mind” but has been seeking detail that the government hasn’t given (because the detail is still being developed by the referendum working group and by parliament after the referendum).
On the referendum machinery provisions bill, Leeser said:
[There are] three elements that we wanted the government to address. Firstly, they should never have removed the yes and no case booklet which has been there basically, for every referendum in living memory. And they’ve put that back. Secondly, in an age of foreign interference in which it’s becoming more difficult to comply with the electoral laws, it’s important to have an official yes and no case. And thirdly, it’s very important that both sides are funded. So, that Australians will hear the yes and no case.
Leeser said the Coalition had voted against the bill in the lower house, encouraging the government to deal with the opposition to pass it in the Senate with those changes.
Updated
Australia eyes Indian growth as destination for fossil fuel exports
The resources minister, Madeleine King, has spoken to Sky News about Australia’s relationship with India, particularly increasing trade in critical minerals and continuing coal exports.
King said that India needed to “diversify its supply chains” by purchasing critical minerals from Australia, adding that they will be “imperative for a net zero [emissions] world”.
She said:
We need these minerals to go into all the things we need for a decarbonised world ... Each country has to choose its own pathway to net zero emissions, it’s got different conditions. We have a relatively low population. Here in India, there is a billion or more people and many of them still live in situations of energy poverty. They’re not even on the grid. Many also don’t have access to safe cooking fuel. So, you know, the Indian government rightly wants to make their life better and that will depend upon some of the fossil fuels we export.
Equally the Indian government is really committed to moving the whole economy to a decarbonised state. They’ve got a commitment for 500, megawatts of renewable energy by 2030. For country. Like India, that is an astounding ambition. But I’ve been in meetings this week in India where everyone is putting their shoulder to the wheel to achieve it.
So you know, it would be wrong of us to deny countries like India the energy sources they need to keep their people safe, keep their people able to cook safely, able to have the lifestyle we’re accustomed to.
Updated
Albanese to talk subs in first official visit to US as PM
The federal government is gearing up for a major announcement on the way forward for Australia’s $100bn nuclear-powered submarine plans under the Aukus alliance.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese left India on Saturday for the US, where he will join president Joe Biden and British prime minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego on Monday for the landmark statement.
The three countries first announced the Aukus plan in 2021 as part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, with the US and UK agreeing to provide Australia with the capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines.
It has been speculated there will be multiple stages to the plan, with at least one US submarine visiting Australian ports in the coming years and the advent of a new class of submarines built with British designs and American technology.
On Saturday, Albanese said the project was also about Australian jobs, particularly shipyard and manufacturing work in South Australia and Western Australia.
Asked about the importance of having a second dry dock in WA to complement one in Sydney as the submarines arrive, Albanese pointed to the announcement to come.
Asked also about the enormous cost, Albanese said he would explain to the Australian people why it was worthwhile given the deficit hole in the national budget.
“Yes, we will,” he said in New Delhi before departing for the US.
Australia faces real challenges. We have said very clearly and explicitly that there are major pressures on expenditure, not just in defence, but in other areas as well.
– AAP
Updated
Good morning
And welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to meet with President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego ahead of a major announcement expected on Monday about Australia’s $100bn plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus alliance. Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines with Albanese hinting at a second dry dock in Western Australia to complement one in Sydney.
Residents of Burketown in northwest Queensland are waiting to learn the extent of flood damage with the community’s worst ever flood expected to peak on Sunday. Footage taken from a helicopter above the flood zone on Saturday has shown the town inundated by murky-brown flood waters, with 45 residents having been evacuated to Mount Isa – though some remain.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs, taking the blog through the day. With so much going on out there, it’s easy to miss stuff, so if you spot something happening in Australia and think it should be on the blog, you can find me on Twitter at @RoyceRk2 where my DMs are open.
With that, let’s get started …
