The day that was, Thursday 3 August
As another sitting week draws to a close, we will leave the live blog there for the night.
Here are the main points for today:
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton sparred over the Indigenous voice referendum, apology to the stolen generations and the prospect of treaty during a heated parliamentary debate.
Unidentified human remains and debris were observed at the location where an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed off the Whitsunday Islands last Friday.
Two cases of mpox were recorded in Victoria for the first time since November last year.
According to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, retail sales volumes fell 0.5% in the June quarter of 2023. It follows a 0.8% drop in the March, and a 0.4% fall in the December 2022 quarter.
A climate activist arrested over Woodside protest says the company CEO’s safety was never under threat.
Nationals senators Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan have urged Victorian premier Dan Andrews to “front up and explain” his decision to cancel the state’s hosting of the Commonwealth games in 2026.
Former NSW minister Tim Crakanthorp told NSW parliament he had self-reported to the premier after discovering he had failed to declare a number of properties owned by his wife and extended family in Newcastle.
The Great Barrier Reef is likely to suffer impacts from climate change that will be irreversible from mid-century regardless of whether global emissions stabilise, a new report has concluded.
The Business Council of Australia has backed the yes vote in the referendum on a voice to parliament.
We’ll be back with you again tomorrow morning with all the latest. There will be a spillover hearing for Senate estimates featuring the Australian federal police and the administrative appeals tribunal tomorrow morning.
Until then, enjoy your evening.
Updated
Government agency to investigate 16 robodebt referrals of past and present public servants
The government’s central public service agency has revealed it has received 16 referrals relating to the royal commission’s robodebt report.
Commissioner Catherine Holmes handed down the report last month, describing the robodebt scheme as a massive failure of public administration.
In an update on Thursday afternoon, the Australian Public Service Commission – which is tasked with dealing with code of conduct referrals – said it would not publicly name those referred but had written to the individuals to notify them.
The referrals include current APS employees named in the report’s sealed section, as well as former employees referred by their most recent agency boss and former agency bosses referred by the most relevant minister.
The commission said findings against those adversely named will be made on the balance of probabilities:
In line with their legislated duties, agency heads have determined the most appropriate action to improve or change behaviour, including ongoing management of performance through counselling, training, mentoring or closer supervision for those employees not referred to the APS Code of Conduct processes.
Updated
