What we learned today, Monday 31 July
Thanks for following along on the live blog today, here’s a recap of today’s biggest stories:
The former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison spoke for the first time since the robodebt royal commission handed down its findings. Speaking to a near-empty parliament chamber, Morrison there were regretful “unintended results” of the scheme but he “completely reject[s]” adverse findings.
Morrison also accused Labor of “political lynching” over robodebt.
Four missing crew members of an Australian defence force helicopter that crashed last week have been presumed dead. The defence minister, Richard Marles, today announced that search efforts had changed to recovery efforts following the “catastrophic incident”.
Parliament resumed and debate between Labor and the Greens over the Haff bill resumed right where it left off, following the five-week break. The Greens housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, said they are keen to negotiate with the government and may scale back their asks for a passing of the legislation, labelling double dissolution talk as an “empty threat”.
The Ppime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he’d “rather not have” the double dissolution trigger and would “rather have this policy passed”.
The opposition announced plans to increase the income-free threshold for welfare recipients, allowing them to receive twice as much before their welfare payments are reduced.
Albanese labelled this a “shocker” and argued it would have “unintended consequences”. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said the Coalition would support the government’s $40-a-fortnight jobseeker boost if their proposal doesn’t get up.
The government announced it will appoint the former Dfat secretary Dennis Richardson to review the governance of Australia’s offshore processing. In a statement the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, said “serious issues” raised in recent weeks “merit detailed and thorough examination”.
The Greens senator Nick McKim said a royal commission was needed, rather than a review, as “it won’t have powers to compel evidence or subpoena documents, or hold hearings”.
Tasmanian police formally identified a body found in bushland last week as the 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell.
The independent senator David Pocock introduced legislation to the Senate seeking to legislate a duty of care owed to young people around stopping climate change.
As always, we’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning.
Updated
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will be appearing on The Project tonight to discuss the housing bill:
I'm on @theprojecttv tonight talking about our Housing Australia Future Fund, which will build thousands of social and affordable homes. Tune in from 6:30pm. pic.twitter.com/ko9LKFMMuH
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 31, 2023
Updated
Speaking of the Matildas:
My colleague Jonathan Howcroft has just launched the liveblog for tonights match, which you can follow along with here:
The match will kick off at 8pm AEST.
Politicians are throwing their support behind the Matildas as they prepare for their match against Canada tonight:
Just to clear up any uncertainty, this one-time accidental Canadian will definitely be supporting the Matildas this evening 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/2QRCThefHI
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) July 31, 2023
All the best to the CommBank Matildas in their match against Canada tonight! 🇨🇦🇦🇺#Matildas
— Malarndirri McCarthy (@Malarndirri19) July 31, 2023
📸: CommBank Matildas pic.twitter.com/OCHaDYnZ3y
Greens senator joins calls for royal commission into offshore detention
Greens senator Nick McKim has joined calls for a royal commission into the governance of Australia’s offshore processing.
In a series of tweets, McKim suggested a review wasn’t enough:
It’s not even an inquiry, let alone a royal commission. It won’t have powers to compel evidence or subpoena documents, or hold hearings.
This is a deliberate cover up with narrowly scoped terms of reference, inadequate powers and no transparency. It is explicitly prevented from examining the policy of offshore detention. A minimalist stitch up when we need the full disinfectant of sunlight.
Offshore detention is one of the darkest and bloodiest chapters in Australia’s story. We will never write the conclusion until we have a royal commission to hold those responsible to account and ensure it can never happen again.
Updated
Tasmania records equal strongest wind gust ever on Monday
Tasmania has just equalled its strongest wind gust ever recorded, according to Weatherzone.
On Monday afternoon, gusts of 200km/h were recorded at Maatsuyker Island just off the state’s southwestern tip.
This equalled the strongest wind gust ever recorded in Tasmania, with 200km/h recorded at kunanyi/Mt Wellington in March of 1998.
Ben Domensino from Weatherzone said this is “the type of wind you would see near the eye of a category 3 tropical cyclone”.
The Bureau of Meteorology said damaging winds are expected to extend to other parts of Tasmania tonight.
A front crossing #Tasmania is bringing very strong wind gusts to SW Tassie. We saw a 200km/h gust at Maatsuyker Island, 169km/h at Scotts Peak Dam and 139km/h at Cape Bruny as the front crossed.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) July 31, 2023
Damaging winds to extend to other parts of Tasmania tonight.https://t.co/NHL3HY0zFO pic.twitter.com/SwBnT25yPa
Updated
Juanita Phillips signing off from the ABC
After more than two decades with the ABC, NSW 7pm News presenter Juanita Phillips has decided it’s time to sign off from the national public broadcaster. Her farewell bulletin will be on Sunday September, 10.
Phillips said:
The ABC 7pm News is an Australian treasure and it’s been an honour to play a very small part in its history.
Over the past 21 years, I’ve presented more than 4,500 bulletins – that’s a lot of ‘good evenings’! I thank the 7pm audience for their support and the trust they place in the ABC. I’d like to say a special farewell to the viewers who’ve been with me from day one ... It’s been a privilege to be a part of their daily lives.
ABC’s director of news, Justin Stevens, said Phillips would leave a valuable and abiding legacy at the national public broadcaster:
This is sad news, but we respect the decision Juanita has made, detailed in the wonderful words she has written today about her decision.
Juanita is a key presence in the ABC, both on air and behind the scenes. She is loved and trusted by viewers and one of our most senior and respected editorial leaders. Live-to-air, in the studio and from the field, she has informed us about many of the biggest news events, always with her trademark clarity and calm.
Updated
Calls for royal commission into immigration detention instead of review of processing contracts
The Campaign for a Royal Commission into Immigration Detention (CRCID) has responded to news that Dennis Richardson will conduct a review into the management of regional processing contracts by the Department of Home Affairs.
In a statement earlier today, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, said “a number of serious issues” around the governance of regional processing had been placed on the public record “in recent weeks”.
Responding to this, the CRCID said concerns have been on the public record through media investigations “for over a decade”:
But today it became politically expedient to look like she was taking action.
This is a stunt to ensure Labor remains in control of the story and the target is both [the opposition’s] Peter Dutton and [the] current department secretary Mike Pezzullo. It will not make its findings public, it will not investigate the systemic abuses experienced by the young Australian workers who were caught up in working there, let alone the children, women and families that were abused through this regime.
Spokesperson Julie Macken said:
Australians have a right to know what was done in our name, we all deserve better than this.
This is a shabby, cynical attempt to get political advantage out of a regime that has hurt thousands of people. Minister O’Neil knows that only a royal commission into immigration detention has the power to reveal the truth surrounding these practices and policy. It is time to fix this mess once and for all.
Updated
It has been an absolutely whirlwind afternoon on the blog. Take a minute to catch your breath and get across today’s main headlines with the Afternoon Update from Cait Kelly:
Liberals to oppose reintroduced housing Australia future fund bill
The shadow housing minister, Michael Sukkar, also appeared on the ABC earlier this afternoon to discuss the housing Australia future fund bill which is set to be reintroduced to the house this week.
Sukkar said the opposition’s view on the bill is clear – they oppose it in principle and don’t believe it will make a difference in housing.
It’s a contrived program that has been put together by the government to avoid it falling on the budget bottom line, with no guarantees for money for social and affordable housing. We oppose it in principle, we have made our opposition very clear, we voted against it in the house.
As for the Greens and the Labor party we will allow them to negotiate in the Senate but I must say … they could be a difficult negotiation.
Sukkar was asked how he sustains this criticism given the Coalition invented the original future fund. He said they established it when there was surpluses to invest.
Sukkar also brought up immigration when discussing housing:
It is common sense, if you’re going to bring in … people in the midst of a housing crisis you have to level with the Australian people and explain where those people will live. You have to admit it is going to exacerbate the housing pressures that Australians are feeling with higher rents, with fewer first-time buyers, with fewer housing approvals …
Updated
Coalition ‘hopes’ Blackhawk helicopter rollout can be accelerated
Earlier, the shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, spoke on the ABC about the air helicopter crash last week. The search and rescue efforts for four men was today changed to a recover effort.
Hastie said he has only flown in Blackhawks himself, and that he “hopes” their rollout can be accelerated, given that the MRH90s have been temporarily grounded.
I think [the Blackhawks are] due in the next year or so and I do not think that can come soon enough, frankly. From a Coalition perspective, we would support the expedition of that aircraft into service.
He is asked if this is something Australia could pursue with the US manufacturers:
That will be a decision for government, but certainly any assistance we can provide to make that happen of course we would be supportive of it …
Hastie also spoke to the MRH90s recent past:
The problem really with this aircraft is it is so magnificently engineered that it is very hard to get the hours out of it that the army wanted. That is the principal problem with this aircraft. It was not going to deliver the flight hours per year that we needed. A decision made to replace it with the Blackhawk.
At the end of the day it is not an inherently unsafe aircraft… accidents happens like they do [with] a 737 is but we still get on them as well.
Updated
Dutton’s actions signal ‘vote of no confidence’ in Gary Johns, Liberals for Yes say
The Liberals for Yes have said the opposition leader, Peter Dutton’s refusal to comment on “deeply disturbing policy proposals” by the no campaign president, Gary Johns, signals a “vote of no confidence” in him.
In a statement, the Liberals for Yes co-conveneor Kate Carnell said:
For the last week Mr Johns has used his position as the president of the No Campaign as a platform to launch a media blitz promoting a portfolio of disturbing policy proposals, including the introduction of blood tests to prove Aboriginality, and a national public holiday to celebrate intermarriage between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians.
These policies are repugnant and discredited and have no place in the important national referendum debate.
The fact that Mr Dutton refused to even comment on them confirms that Mr John’s position as the President of the No Campaign is clearly untenable.
Liberals for Yes believe that this referendum is a chance for a meaningful and honest national conversation about the future of Australia and Australia’s constitution. We cannot allow this important conversation to be derailed by Mr Johns’ disturbing views.
Updated
Morrison accuses Labor of ‘political lynching’ over robodebt
Scott Morrison continues:
The latest attacks on my character by the government in relation to this report are just a further attempt following my departure from office to discredit me and my service to our country during one of the most difficult periods our country has faced since the second world war. This campaign of political lynching as once again includes the weaponisation of a quasi legal process to launder the government’s political vindictiveness.
They need to move on … instead of trying to distract attention from their own failings by relentlessly pursuing these transparently partisan campaigns against me. I will continue to defend my service and our government’s record with dignity and an appreciation of the strong support I continue to receive from my colleagues, so many Australians since the election, and especially in my electorate ….
As noted by the Guardian photographer Mike Bowers who watched live in parliament, Morrison spoke to a mostly empty house throughout the duration of his speech.
Scott Bucholtz sat beside him, and Luke Howarth was also there.
Updated
Morrison says he closed robodebt down when ‘unintended consequences’ arose
Scott Morrison said:
Specifically I reject the commissions findings regarding allowing cabinet to be misled on page 106, providing untrue evidence to the commission on page 102, and pressuring departmental officials on page 107.
My obligation was to discharge my duties as a minister under section 64 of the constitution.
To this end, a rigorous cabinet process was followed and satisfied for this measure and as the minister for social services i was constitutionally and legally entitled to assume the offices of the department had complied with the obligations under the public service act to advise their respective ministers
As a result my obligations were fully and properly discharged.
The contention by the commission that ministers should not be able to rely on the advice from their department and therefore be required to re-litigate the details of every submission their department prepares for their submission to cabinet is not only wrong, but it would make executive government unworkable … that is the point of having a department.
Updated
Morrison had ‘no role and no responsiblity’ for robodebt
Morrison continues addressing the parliament, stating that as minister for social services he had “no role and no responsibility” in the operation and administration of the robodebt scheme:
The scheme had not commenced operations while I served in the portfolio, let alone in December 2016 and January 2017 when the commission reported that the unintended impacts of the scheme first became apparent.
This was more than 12 months after I had left the portfolio.
Media reporting and commentary following the release of the commissions report, especially by government ministers, has falsely and disproportionately assigned an overwhelming responsibility for the conduct and operations of the robodebt scheme to my role as minister for social services.
This was simply not the case.
Updated
Scott Morrison ‘completely’ rejects adverse robodebt findings
Member for Cook Scott Morrison is addressing the parliament for the first time since the robodebt royal commission’s report was handed down.
He said the report highlights the “unintended results” of the robodebt scheme and the “regrettable impact that the operations of the scheme had on individuals and their families.”
Morrison continued:
I once again acknowledge and express my deep regret for the impact of these unintended consequences on these individuals and their families.
I do however completely reject the commission’s adverse findings in the published report regarding my own role as minister for social services between December 2014 and September 2015 as disproportionate, wrong, unsubstantial, unsubstantiated and contradicted by clear evidence presented to the commission.
Updated
Sydney posts hottest July in 165 years of records
As mentioned in an earlier post, Sydney’s forecast top today of 22C would draw the city close to the previous record average maximum in July.
The record for the month was 19.89C in July 2018, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. With the Harbour City’s temperature reaching 23.5C (and still time for a bit higher), the average maximum for the month reached 19.91C, says Ben Domensino, senior meteorologist at Weatherzone.
We’ve gone to the bureau for confirmation. Observatory Hill near Sydney’s CBD is home to one of Australia’s oldest weather site, with records going back to 1858.
The bureau will provide monthly charts and reports in the next couple of days, with a slew of records in the mix (including for places turning dry).
In the meantime, here’s the updated weather report compiled by Caitlin Cassidy for more details:
Updated
Remains formally identified as 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell
Tasmanian police have formally identified a body found in bushland last week as the 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell.
Human remains were discovered on Wednesday on a bush track near Nabowla in the state’s north-east during a large-scale search. Police have this afternoon confirmed that it is 14-year-old Tatnell, using DNA testing.
She was last seen alive in Launceston on 30 April this year. A 36-year-old Scottsdale man has been charged with murder in relation to her disappearance.
Police said in a statement:
Our thoughts remain with Shyanne-Lee’s family.
Updated
Antipoverty Centre supports Coalition’s jokseeker amendment
The Antipoverty Centre has responded to the Coalition’s push to double the income-free area for jobseeker, allowing unemployed people to earn twice as much before their welfare payments are reduced.
Earlier today, Anthony Albanese described the opposition’s proposal as a “shocker”, saying:
The problem with their thought bubble is that increasing the income free area will have a number of unintended consequences. It does nothing at all for the almost four in five jobseekers who don’t access the income free area at all.
Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and welfare recipient Kristin O’Connell responded:
The real ‘shocker’ is that the prime minister thinks it’s OK to kick people off income support when they aren’t earning enough to live. How is a change that lets people earn more a ‘disincentive to work’?
We are in a cost of living crisis. More and more people are doing insecure and underpaid jobs. The RBA is actively increasing unemployment.
The Antipoverty Centre has called on the government to “urgently increase” the income-free area:
Welfare recipients have been calling for the income free area to be returned to at least $300 per fortnight for all payments since the Coalition first cut it back to $150 per fortnight in 2021.
Earlier today the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, confirmed the opposition will support the $40-a-fortnight increase to jobseeker, if the Coalition’s amendment to the jobseeker income-free area doesn’t get up.
Updated
Question time ends
And that concludes question time for today, which went a little longer than normal due to the condolences for Simon Crean at the start.
Stay tuned as we will continue to bring you the latest here on the blog into the evening.
Updated
‘He may have convinced himself, but he failed to convince the royal commission’: Bill Shorten on Scott Morrison
The member for Lalor, Joanne Ryan, asks the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, about the final report of the royal commission into robodebt.
Shorten begins his answer:
Commissioner Holmes forensically examined who was responsible for the design, the development, and establishment of the Robodebt scheme.
The royal commission outlined how successive former Liberal governments, despite repeated warnings, continued to break the law, victimising vulnerable Australians.
The royal commission goes to the role of the member for Cook who was social services minister, who first took robodebt to cabinet in 2015.
Shorten outlines various findings listed in the final report relating to Scott Morrison, and reads quotes from the commissioner. He then says:
I note that Mr Morrison has disputed the royal commission’s findings.
He may have convinced himself, but he failed to convince the royal commission and indeed most Australians.
Updated
PM on era of ‘global boiling’
The independent MP Allegra Spender asks the prime minister if he agrees with the UN secretary general’s assessment that we are entering an era of “global boiling” and if so, why the government continues to approve coalmines and hasn’t delivered a national risk assessment.
Anthony Albanese responds that he “certainly agrees” that climate change is real and we need to respond as a globe:
Last week I was with the member for Gilmore down at Ulladulla meeting with people engaged with Landcare, but also meeting people who lost their homes in the bushfires of 2019 and 2020.
He said governments need to respond with mitigation measures for future bushfires, particularly our next summer season approaching, and with legislation:
That’s why my government has enshrined in legislation net zero by 2050. A 43% reduction by 2030. Why we’re working with our Pacific neighbours, but also working globally through the UN framework convention on climate change, to have a comprehensive plan, of being a part of the world solution …
It is important at the same time that we bring the community with us as well. These things take time. You’ve had a decade of denial, you can’t just flick [a switch], you need to make sure people continue to have access to reliable energy and we are doing so why we transition in a way that is in the interests of Australia …
Albanese ran out of time to respond.
Updated
PM and Clare O’Neil show support for Dennis Richardson appointment
Albanese speaks on the appointment of Dennis Richardson, a former secretary for Dfat, to conduct a review of integrity and governance arrangements for the management of regional processing contracts by the Department of Home Affairs.
Albanese said Richardson is “one of Australia’s pre-eminent public servants:
The review will consider governance practices and these allegations in the wider context of serious issues that have emerged over this time.
The minister for home affairs, Clare O’Neil, added to the question, saying:
There are very concerning allegations on the public record with regard to the management of offshore processing. The government is deeply concerned about those.
As soon as these matters were raised I asked the Home Affairs Department to look thoroughly at the current regional processing arrangements to ensure that they are legal and appropriate, and I have received that assurance from my department.
In terms of the historic allegations it is absolutely clear that these warrant further investigation. There is serious allegations and there is serious money involved and no one is going to get to the bottom of this like Dennis Richardson is.
Updated
Oppositon ‘trying to muddy the waters’ on voice: Linda Burney
The manager of opposition in the house, Paul Fletcher, asks the minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, how the Makarrata commision will work if Australians vote for the voice.
Before she answers, the prime minister can be heard saying “it’s a separate issue”.
Burney responds to the question:
The referendum later this year is about constitutional recognition through a voice. It is not about anything else. Later this year, we will be asked a simple question, and it will go like this – Do you support a change to the constitution to recognise the first peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice?…
Those opposite are trying to muddy the waters. The role of a voice will be to provide advice on how best to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Advice on things like health, education, jobs and housing. It is about constitutional recognition that gets concrete results.
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Voice referendum is ‘not about the treaty … it is about voice’: PM
The deputy leader of the opposition, Sussan Ley, asks Anthony Albanese about an interview he gave to Ben Fordham about the voice referendum. Albanese gives an animated answer:
I thank whoever was interjecting about my T-shirt because yes, Mr Speaker, Ben Fordham has exposed the fact that the midnight oil concert I wore midnight Oil T-shirt. I know, Mr Speaker … hold the front page.
Albanese is presumably referring to this:
*** EXCLUSIVE ***
— Ben Fordham Live (@BenFordhamLive) July 29, 2023
Anthony Albanese says the Voice “isn’t about treaty”.
But he happily wore a shirt last year saying “Voice, Treaty, Truth”.
Former PM Tony Abbott joined us live in studio...
🎧https://t.co/zouRYSNT7X🎧 pic.twitter.com/6ZsTQWQclK
Albanese continues speaking on the voice, saying it is “not about the treaty … it is about voice”:
I said that the referendum is not about the treaty, I said it is about one thing, is about one thing, it is about Voice, it is about recognition and it is about listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that we get better results.
Updated
‘Stop playing politics with those that need help’: Amanda Rishworth
The minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, is asked about the government’s safety net package:
They will increase support for eligible working age payments and student payments, they would stand the eligibility for jobseekers to the higher rate, to help more older Australians that face long-term unemployment, often as result of discrimination or sickness. It extends the eligibility for parenting payments to allow more single parents 57,000 extra single parents getting extra support. Of course, is providing the largest increase in Commonwealth rent assistance in 30 years. Combine these measures, will give around 2 million Australians on income support extra assistance, and I am pleased to inform the member asked the question that all members of the House, this support will flow from the 20 September. Very soon. Seven short weeks. That is, of course, if the bill passes the Senate.
Of course, woke up this morning, surprised to see that those opposite are deciding to block our safety net bill. They are wanting to deny those on the lowest incomes an increase of $40 a fortnight. This is outrageous, and it shows what heartless, heartless people they are. Of course they want to block our rent assistance. They want to block our increase to the single parenting payment and block support for those over 55 because that is what our does, it provides important cost-of-living relief, so it is time for those opposite to stop playing politics with that, stop playing politics with those that need help, get out of the way in the Senate, let the bill pass. So that we can get on with it.
Updated
Dennis Richardson to conduct review of regional processing contracts
The government has announced it will appoint Dennis Richardson, a former secretary for Dfat, to conduct a review of integrity and governance arrangements for the management of regional processing contracts by the Department of Home Affairs.
A statement from the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, reads:
In recent weeks a number of serious issues relating to the governance of contracting related to regional processing have been placed on the public record.
They merit detailed and thorough examination.
The review will consider governance practices and these allegations in the wider context of serious issues that have emerged over many years. It will not canvass the policy of regional processing itself.
The review will report to the home affairs minister and finance minister and for subsequent consideration by the National Security Committee of Cabinet.
Updated
Tony Burke on employment and wages
The workplace relations minister, Tony Burke, is asked about employment and wage outcomes.
[What we] actually had those opposite predict about our workplace reforms, what did they say would occur? The leader of the opposition said it’s going to result in a higher unemployment rate. Senator Henderson said this is a job destroyer. Senator Cash was more nuanced and said it would close down Australia. And what do we have now is an unemployment rate at 3.5%, a participation rate is 66.8%, we are just shy now of half a million new jobs since this government came to office …
Updated
Circling back for a moment, Guardian photographer Mike Bowers has snapped the moment opposition leader Peter Dutton spoke with Carole Crean, wife of the late Simon Crean, while Barnaby Joyce waited his turn:
Updated
PM on welfare reforms
Asked what measures the government is taking to help vulnerable Australians, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, speaks on welfare reforms:
An increase in rental assistance for 1.1m households and increases in JobSeeker study and Youth Allowance helping 1.1 million Australians but those opposite have announced they want to block this relief. They have their own plan that it took them forever to come up with that will actually put a conservative 50,000 additional people on to JobSeeker, that is what the plan will do. No wonder they didn’t want to put out the costings. The party of robodebt at it again, attacking the most vulnerable, not wearing about those people who are doing [it tough]…
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Governor general honours pilots in crash
The governor general, David Hurley, has provided a statement honouring the four men involved in the devastating air helicopter crash last week:
On behalf of all Australians, I extend my sympathy to the loved ones and colleagues of Capt Danniel Lyon, Lt Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Cpl Alexander Naggs.
As they stepped forward to serve us, so must we to honour their memory, remember their sacrifice and support their families.
It is a tragedy, and Linda and my thoughts are with the families, friends and other defence force personnel at this difficult time. I hope that the knowledge of our nation’s gratitude is of some comfort in this moment of intense grief.
Updated
Jim Chalmers on inflation and cost of living
Questioned on inflation, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, also points to cost-of-living relief measures:
[Cost of living relief] is a key part of our three point plan to get on top of this inflation challenge that we are confronting.
First of all, taking the edge of the cost-of-living pressures without adding to inflation, secondly, having a responsible approach to the budget, a bigger surplus at a time when the inflation challenge was most acute and thirdly, investing in the supply chain challenges that have been a big part of inflation that we have seen so far.
… the number one priority of this government as I have said, is getting on top of the inflation challenge in rolling out cost-of-living relief for Australians doing it tough. That assistance is rolling out right now and the benefits will continue to flow over the coming weeks and months.
Updated
Question time returns to … cost of living!
And we’re back to the regular proceedings of question time, with Dutton questioning Albanese on broad issues surrounding the cost of living.
Albanese responds:
We are very conscious of the fact that the global economy has softened due to supply chain issues relating to the post pandemic recovery and also the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are also very conscious of the fact of what we inherited, the largest deficit since the second world war, and $1tn in debt to show for it.
Sluggish economic growth, productivity sliding backwards, declining business investment, widespread skill shortages which were holding businesses back, wages policies that were deliberately about keeping wages low, and more Australians than ever and insecure jobs. We are aware of that.
Albanese highlights measures the government is taking to curb inflation:
But we do have a plan to combat inflation, it is about turning the $78bn deficit into the first budget surplus in 15 years … The second is providing cost-of-living help that supports household budgets, without adding to inflation. Cheaper childcare, cheaper medicine, energy bill relief. Social housing. Strengthening the social safety net …
Updated
PM pays tribute to four army pilots in crash
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has asked the prime minister for an update on the recovery efforts of four army pilots after the air helicopter crash late last week.
Earlier today, the deputy PM, Richard Marles, confirmed the efforts had moved from search and rescue, to recovery.
Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the four men:
They dedicated their lives to keeping us safe. They were soldiers, sons, husbands, brothers, fathers and friends. Today, our deepest sympathies are with the people who love them and the people that they love. We will have of course, a formal condolence motion at an appropriate time.
Albanese noted that efforts are being supported by Canada and the United States, along with the Australian army, navy and air force, as well as civilian authorities led by the Queensland police service, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Noting that a formal condolence motion will take place in future, Dutton also shared condolences to the families of the men who lost their lives and defence personnel more broadly:
It is a tragic day for our nation … we stand at one for support of those men and women who bravely wear the uniform of the Australian Defence Force.
Updated
As Guardian photographer Mike Bowers has just noted, Scott Morrison is back in the house following his recent European holiday:
Greens emphasise ‘willingness to negotiate’ on housing bill
Breaking out of QT for a moment, the Greens just held a press conference to stress again that they are very keen to negotiate with the government on the housing bill – and may be prepared to further scale back their asks for passing the legislation.
The housing australia future fund bill is being reintroduced this week to parliament, with the Greens and Coalition (for very different reasons) opposing its passage in the Senate. The Greens say they want much more money for social and affordable housing, as well as restrictions on rent increases.
Max Chandler-Mather, the Greens housing spokesperson, said they were “willing to negotiate” on their ask for an extra $2.5bn in guaranteed funding for housing. He said they expected more meetings with the government this week, but wouldn’t comment on what “red lines” the Greens would take to the negotiating table – though again called on the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to use the Labor-dominated national cabinet to coordinate national action on rent increases.
Chandler-Mather said:
The ball is in the government’s court … the Greens have been very clear about our willingness to negotiate.
The bottom line is at the very least we need to make unlimited rent increases illegal. We said we’re willing to negotiate the $2.5b, but it takes two to tango.
Chandler-Mather claimed the government’s talk of a double dissolution election was an “empty threat”, accusing them of “indefensible” conduct and only seeking a “shameless political fight”.
Updated
Simon Crean’s family, including his wife Carol, is present in the chamber to listen as tributes continue to flow for the former Labor leader.
Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil spoke of the support she received from Crean early in her political career:
Simon helped me tremendously in my life in politics, he was the first politician I ever met pretty soon after I joined the Labor Party as a teenager. When I was 22, ran for council in the city of Greater Dandenong and Simon reached out and supported me and at the time, him leader of the opposition.
There was absolutely no need for him to do this, there was nothing to gain, supporting a bit of a young person on a local council… but he stood behind me and beside me because he believed I could do it. And he wanted to help young women in the Labor Party.
Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud was next to honour Crean, highlighting his work for those in regional and rural areas.
The house then stood for a moment of silence.
Updated
Peter Dutton on Crean
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has joined the prime minister in honouring Simon Crean.
Dutton also highlighted Crean’s stance on the Iraq war and his speech to the troops bound for the Middle East at the time:
In that speech, Simon did what so many had failed to do in Vietnam war, he separated the politics from the people who served their nation. He voiced his dissent to the war in Iraq while maintaining the respect and reverence reserved by our men and women in uniform.
… I’m sure in that speech was Crean’s candour, courage conviction and compassion which defined his character throughout his life.
Dutton said that had Crean become leader of our country, he “would have surely been a great Labor prime minister”:
[He] was a listener, he was decent, he was humble, he was honorable and it was moral. He put the nation and his party ahead of personal emission. And it’s telling that his final days were spent working in our national interest to further our trade relations with the EU. Simon sudden passing was a shock to us all, no more so than to his dear family.
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PM on the late Labor leader Simon Crean
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is paying tribute to the former Labor leader Simon Crean, who passed away in June.
Albanese highlighted Crean’s opposition to sending Australian troops to the Iraq war:
Each sentence he spoke in this place was as fierce and bright as a lightning strike … perhaps one of the most striking illustrations of Simon’s character was the first of his Iraq speeches.
He went to speak with our troops ahead of their deployment from Australia. Though he did not believe that Australia should be part of that war, he made clear to our troops that the respect and gratitude that he felt for them was deep and unwavering. It was a courageous act.
Albanese said Crean was always eager to offer advice:
Not through the prison of nostalgia but with his eye on the future.
I want to put on record my personal thanks for Simon’s advice, particularly after I took over the position of leading the federal parliamentary Labor party.
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Question time begins
Question time has just begun in the House of Representatives, which we will bring you live here on the blog.
As proceedings begin, Cameron Caldwell is sworn in as the new Liberal MP for Fadden following this month’s byelection.
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Zali Steggall calls for urgent climate action in letter to PM
The independent MP Zali Steggall is calling for an urgent response to the escalating climate threat, in a letter to prime minister Anthony Albanese.
“On Friday morning, the Secretary General of the United Nations warned that we have progressed beyond global warming and are now in a period of global boiling,” the letter reads.
“He warned of unbreathable air and unbearable temperatures to come.”
PM must step up to escalating #climatecrisis & outline govt's plan to keep Australians safe.
— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) July 31, 2023
We urgently need:
1. National Climate Risk assessment
2. Mitigation plan, emissions reduced by min #75by35
3. Help communities prepare & adapt
PM letterhttps://t.co/1c5VOlKnKP#auspol pic.twitter.com/ZIUmvtzYMN
The letter calls the government to:
Respond publicly to the global evidence of increasing warming;
Urgently update policy settings to reflect the reality that we must do everything possible to end Australia’s contribution to global boiling;
Cease approving new fossil fuel projects; and
Develop a national adaptation plan to build resilience against the climate impacts already being felt and their increasing intensity and frequency.
It is signed by members of the crossbench, Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spender, Kylea Tink, Helen Haines, Kate Chaney, David Pocock, Sophie Scamps, Monique Ryan and Andrew Wilke.
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BoM closer to calling El Niño as Sydney nudges July heat record
The Bureau of Meteorology will provide its fortnightly update of the key climate drivers influencing Australia’s weather on Tuesday.
Its latest climate model run, released today, point to the Pacific Ocean remaining on track for an El Niño – perhaps a powerful one – later this year.
Looks like @Bom_au is getting close to declaring an El Nino event is under way in the Pacific. Models would indicate we are pretty much there (by the BoM's higher threshold than WMO, NOAA etc). pic.twitter.com/cRx2tWn8M5
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 31, 2023
BoM has a slightly higher threshold for an El Niño (or La Nina) than the World Meteorological Organization or the US counterpart, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration that have already declared an El Niño event.
BoM has waited to see the atmosphere responding to the sea-surface temperature differentials. The typical easterly winds need to stall and even reverse – and that hadn’t been the case until lately.
Pressure differences between Darwin and Tahiti have been turning negative – which would be an El Niño signal. The longer-term averages are in the El Niño range even if the past day or two have seen a shift back the other way.
@bom_au wants to see sustained SOI index readings below minus-7 to call an El Nino. On the 90-day average we are there (even if the most recent daily reading has turned positive again). (Source: Qld Govt) pic.twitter.com/YlPwBtlr6q
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 31, 2023
In the Indian Ocean, meanwhile, the key climate driver is also expected to turn to the phase that implies a drier than usual late winter and spring for Australia’s south-east.
We may also get confirmation that the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole is also under way. Combined with an El Nino, south-eastern Australia in particular is likely to have a drier than average spring (and a hotter than av one too). (Source: @bom_au) pic.twitter.com/iV065ax5BC
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 31, 2023
It’s already been unseasonably warm in places such as Sydney. Monday was another day with the mercury approaching 22C, or more than 5C above the average maximum in July.
In fact, today’s top may lift the July average to close to the record 19.9C registered at Observatory Hill for that month in 2018, says Ben Domensino, senior meteorologist at Weatherzone.
Odds heavily suggest it won’t be the last heat record to be challenged in Australia in coming months.
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ADF ‘will do everything possible’ to retrieve bodies: Campbell
When asked if he is confident they will be able to retrieve the bodies, Gen Angus Campbell said:
We will do everything possible to bring those home to their families.
And lastly, he was asked what is happening with the rest of operations as part of the Talisman Sabre:
Exercise is continuing, and some parts, particularly in the vicinity of the incident site, [will be] adjusted or changed in a way that enables the recovery effort to continue at scale and then appropriately redirects exercise activity and planning into the next stages.
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‘Greater majority’ of Taipan’s airframe not yet recovered: Marles
Asked for specifics on the crash, Marles reiterates:
The only point I will make is that it is clear that there was a catastrophic impact [and] that forms part of why we are now transferring this from an activity of search and rescue to one of recovery.
… The wreckage, which has been retrieved, tells us that and we should not speculate about this until that investigation occurs.
Marles said a portion of the airframe has been recovered, but there is the “greater majority” not yet recovered.
I’m not sure how long it will take [but] every appropriate resource and effort is being applied …
It will be done as quickly as possible, but thoroughly, as it needs to be both in terms of consideration in support of our families but also that investigation to recover as much of their friend as possible.
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Grounded Taipans will ‘impact capability’ but ‘can be dealth with’, Marles says
With the MRH90s grounded temporarily Marles said “it does impact capability”, but “what issues there are can be dealt with”:
I would not want to raise expectations around having the Blackhawks in service sooner. We are in the process of transitioning to Blackhawks as of now, but it is both a question on having their aeroplanes come to Australia and a question of making sure that all the appropriate training and credentialling is done for those who operate the Blackhawks so that they can be done in a safe way and that needs to be done with all the thoroughness that you would inspect.
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MRH90 helicopters grounded until circumstances of crash determined
Gen Angus Campbell is asked if he signed off the return of the aircraft in March, and if not, who did.
He said he is not the chief of airworthiness authority in defence, that being the Air Force chief, but would not speak on issues related to what ultimately may form an aviation investigation:
There is going to be an investigation is there always would be, and it will be utterly thorough, and consider all factors, but we must not speculate and we must not in any way influence or distort the presumptions of that investigation.
It will have complete and full authority to review what has happened and identify the causes of this accident and make recommendations to ensure that it never again occurs.
Richard Marles said the helicopters were certified to fly:
In the meantime, our fleet of MRH 90s have been grounded and they will not fly again until we understand what has happened and we have modified or acted accordingly.
‘Their service matters’: ADF chief on defence personnel
The chief of the Australian defence force, Gen Angus Campbell, has urged Australians to pause for a moment and think about the service offered by ADF personnel across the country:
Their service matters, and what they do together matters for Australia.
… It is not easy being in the ADF today or being associated as a person who is connected in some way to this loss.
Please take care of yourself, take care of others, and think and support our families.
He said the multinational recovery effort remains ongoing:
The recovery effort is ongoing. It has got the full backing of the entire multinational effort that is present in exercises Talisman sabre. We deeply appreciate the assistance being offered, especially by the United States and by Canada, as well as by the civil agencies and Queensland Police service.
This effort will continue, will be bringing our mates home to their families and to the regiments.
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Marles confirms full investigation into army helicopter crash
Richard Marles said that naturally, we are all left wondering what happened during this tragic incident, but the focus remains on the families of the four men and their teammates:
With them in mind, idle speculation is obviously harmful.
There will be a full investigation and [we] will come to understand exactly what happened and learn the lessons from it.
Marles said that defence exercise are serious, carry risk and are dangerous, yet are so important:
These exercises have played a critical part in providing for the collective security and peace of the region in which we live. And so the loss of these four men is a significant and meaningful as the loss of anyone who has worn our nation’s uniform. If it is, as we imagine it to be, they died on Friday night, making a difference.
Closing his opening remarks, Marles pays tribute to the men and their families:
The people who [are] most in pain in this moment [are the] families of these four men. They have lost loved ones. People most cherished... To them we are so deeply sorry and so grateful.
They have every right to feel an intense sense of pride. Amidst the inadequacy of these words that, I wanted to know they stand in the warm embrace of the entire nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families, and to the friends, to the regiments.
Search for missing crew members now a recovery effort, Marles confirms
The defence minister, Richard Marles, says authorities have lost hope of finding alive the four missing crew members of an Australian defence force helicopter that crashed during a training exercise on Friday night.
He is addressing reporters at Parliament House in Canberra, alongside the chief of the Australian defence force, Gen Angus Campbell.
An MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed during a military training exercise in waters off Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands. Marles said:
Since the accident of the MRH90 helicopter on Friday night the activities that have been occurring in the Whitsundays have now revealed significant wreckage from the helicopter.
Marles said it was a “catastrophic incident” and with every passing hour it was “now clear that any hope of finding” the crew members alive “has been lost”.
The tragedies that have taken place in the Whitsundays have transferred from those being of search and rescue to an activity of recovery.
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‘We can make it work without digging up more coal’: David Pocock
The independent senator David Pocock spoke to Sky News about his plans to introduce the duty of care bill to the Senate today.
The bill seeks to legislate a duty of care owed to young people and future generations on climate.
Just a short while earlier, Pocock told Sky the proposal was “entirely reasonable” given that young people will have to “adapt” how they live their lives amid the climate crisis:
We can make it work without digging up more coal, digging up more gas.
Young people are going to have to adapt with the way we live.
Moving to talk on the Housing Australia Future Fund bill, Pocock said debate has been “going on for months” and that Australian’s expect politicians to work through differences and achieve a timely outcome.
[We need to] find a way forward here.
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The defence minister, Richard Marles, and the chief of the Australian defence force, Gen Angus Campbell, are due to hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra in about 15 minutes.
We will bring you updates when that happens.
Report on Bruce Lehrmann trial due today
The final report completed as part of an independent inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann will be provided to the ACT government today, but it will be weeks before any findings are released publicly.
A spokesperson for the ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, confirmed that the board of inquiry would report to Barr today, but it was expected to be at least 29 August before all or part of the report was released. The spokesperson said:
The ACT government will consider the report through a proper cabinet process. This will take three to four weeks. The Legislative Assembly will be updated during the scheduled sittings in late August.
Subject to the contents of the report, and any legal implications, the chief minister currently intends to table all, or part, of the report during the August parliamentary sitting of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Again, subject to the recommendations of the report, the government may provide an interim response to some, or all, of the recommendations when the report is tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Subject to the recommendations, a final government response may take several months.
The independent board of inquiry chaired by Walter Sofronoff KC was established to investigate the ACT criminal justice system’s handling of Lehrmann’s case.
Brittany Higgins alleged Lehrmann raped her in a minister’s office in Parliament House in March 2019.
Lehrmann, who pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, has always denied the allegation of rape and no findings have been made against him.
Lehrmann was tried by the ACT supreme court in October but a mistrial was declared due to juror misconduct. Prosecutors later dropped the charges against him because of fears about the impact a second trial would have on Higgins’s mental health.
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Renewed search fails to find missing Belgian tourist
A three-day search using a cadaver dog has failed to uncover any sign of a Belgian tourist who went missing in Tasmania, AAP reports.
Celine Cremer, 31, was last seen in the Philosopher Falls area near Cradle Mountain in the state’s north west on June 17.
A two-week search was suspended on July 10 after experts advised she could not have survived in bad weather.
A cadaver dog was deployed on Friday to search an additional “area of interest” at Philosopher Falls following new information about Cremer’s phone activity.
Tasmania Police western district commander today Stuart Wilkinson said while every effort was made during this latest search, Cremer sadly remains missing:
The searchers faced extremely poor weather conditions and every effort was made to try and locate her.
When a person remains missing, the case is never closed.
We will continue to follow up any new information .... so we can provide closure to her family.
Our thoughts remain with them and Celine’s loved ones during this difficult time.
One in five Australians gambling more
Almost one in five Australians have increased their gambling habits over the past year amid the cost-of-living crisis, according to a survey by Finder.
According to the survey of 1,110 people, 3% of people are trying to win money because they’ve fallen behind on bills, while 3% are hoping to pay off debts.
Millennials (29%) are twice as likely as gen X (12%) to be gambling more.
Meanwhile, 4% of Australians are gambling more than they were a year ago because it’s easier to do than before.
Money expert at Finder Alison Banney said:
Households need financial relief, as all of these increases to household bills mean many people are struggling just to make ends meet.
… When you’re feeling financially stretched, you can turn to some risky ‘solutions’, like gambling.
Many know that the odds of winning are extremely slim, but those who feel backed into a corner with their finances aren’t always thinking logically – they’re desperate and looking for any possible help going forward.
In June a parliamentary inquiry recommended that ads for online gambling should be banned across all media at all times within three years. However the crossbench is urging the government to act sooner, calling for a 12-month phase-in period.
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Horse euthanised after light aircraft crash in South Australia
South Australian police have just confirmed that the horse hit by a light aircraft at Brentwood yesterday has been euthanised.
On Sunday morning a light aircraft crashed after it hit a horse on take-off at Yorke peninsula.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at 9.20am. The pilot was flown to Royal Adelaide hospital with serious injuries and the passenger was uninjured.
The horse was treated by a vet for injuries sustained, but has now sadly been put down.
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Many thanks to Rafqa for taking us through the morning news! I’ll be with you for the remainder of the day.
Thats all from me this morning! Passing the blog to Emily Wind, who will roll your news through the afternoon.
David Pocock to introduce climate duty of care bill to Senate
Independent senator David Pocock will introduce the duty of care bill to the Senate today. The bill seeks to legislate a duty of care owed to young people and future generations on climate.
“It’s our moral responsibility to make decisions in the best interests of children, young people and future generations,” Pocock tweeted.
Politicians should have a duty of care to young people. Our actions today shape the world they inherit.
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) July 30, 2023
Tomorrow, I will introduce my first private senator's bill - the Duty of Care Bill.
Sign up to support at https://t.co/cvTTqkT4er
You can read more on the bill from Lisa Cox here:
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Sophie Scamps urges government to consider future generations over fossil fuel projects
Independent MP Sophie Scamps has urged the government to “prioritise future generations over the fossil fuel lobby”.
Backing independent senator David Pocock’s duty of care and intergenerational equity bill, Scamps says in a statement:
Despite children not being able to vote, every government must consider the impact of current policy on future generations. However it’s clear that successive governments, including the Albanese Government, are more likely to listen to and act upon the interests of corporate fossil fuel lobbyists than young Australians, or future Australians.
The short-termism that has plagued our politics for decades is leading to policy that is potential harmful to younger Australians, and helping to create an unfair future.
The duty of care and intergenerational equity bill will legislate that ministers must take the welfare of future generations into account when considering future fossil fuel projects. This will “promote long term decision making and policy development,” Scamps says, “something which will benefit us all”:
Young Australians are facing a future where climate-fuelled natural disasters will become the norm. What we are seeing in the northern hemisphere right now is clearly the tip of the iceberg and policymakers around the world have a duty to consider how the decisions we make today will impact the lives of future generations.
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David Van makes brief appearance in Senate
Senator David Van turned up briefly at the opening of the Senate for prayers, then promptly left.
Guardian photographer Mike Bowers, who is at Parliament House in Canberra this morning, says he looked quite uncomfortable and left immediately after prayers were over.
In June, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker accused Van of inappropriately touching her – one of the “further allegations” that prompted the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, to dump him from the Liberal party room.
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Dutton expresses support for MPs facing preselection challenges
At his Canberra press conference Peter Dutton also voiced support – but did not propose to intervene to save – sitting Liberal MPs subject to preselection challenges. Those include the deputy leader, Sussan Ley, the former immigration minister and Scott Morrison ally Alex Hawke, and shadow assistant mental health minister Melissa McIntosh.
Asked if he would intervene, Dutton said:
I’ve given strong letters of support to each of my colleagues who have asked for it. I’ll provide whatever support is needed to my colleagues. Sussan Ley, obviously is deputy, and Melissa, who’s done a great job and is a very popular local member, and similarly other colleagues that might be challenged.
As we know, in the Liberal party and Labor party, sitting members can be challenged. There’s a preselection body that comes together made up predominantly of local members of the party. So that process will roll out. But I want them to be re-endorsed by the party.
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Dutton hits back at Labor over questions of AFP investigation into home affairs department
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has hit back at Labor for targeting him over whether he was briefed that the AFP had an investigation into alleged bribery one month before the home affairs department entered into a new contract with the target of that investigation.
Dutton told reporters in Canberra he had no memory of the briefing and no record of having received it. As minister he had “no involvement in procurement”, Dutton said.
He proposed co-signing a joint referral to the national anti-corruption commission with the prime minister – provided that it be asked to inquire back to 2012, ie under Labor’s watch, not just the Coalition’s time in government.
Dutton argued that he was “in the crossfire”, accusing the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, of being at war with her departmental secretary, Michael Pezzullo, suggesting that if their relationship was so dysfunctional, she should ask the prime minister to resolve the issue.
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Dutton says opposition will support $40-a-fortnight jobseeker boost if Coalition proposal voted down
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, confirms that the opposition will support the $40-a-fortnight increase to jobseeker, if the Coalition’s amendment to the jobseeker income free area doesn’t get up.
Peter Dutton has clarified that if Coalition amendment to jobseeker income free area doesn't get up, the opposition WILL support the $40 a fortnight increase. #auspol
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) July 31, 2023
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Animal exports free of lumpy skin disease, agriculture minister reassures Indonesia
The federal government is reassuring Indonesian authorities that Australian animal exports are free from the deadly lumpy skin disease, AAP reports.
Indonesia has paused exports from four Australian facilities pending further testing of animals after a small number of exported cattle were detected with the disease.
But the federal agriculture minister, Murray Watt, said Australia remained free of lumpy skin disease.
In a statement he said:
We have never had a positive detection on our shores.
Australian officials are working with Indonesian authorities to reassure them that all animals exported from Australia comply with all Indonesian requirements.
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The Senate will meet in parliament soon.
It looks like social services, jobs and skills, live animal exports, and aged-care are on the agenda for debate:
The #Senate meets at 11 this morning. You can find our order of business (the Red) on ParlWork https://t.co/W0mvG4VhNr pic.twitter.com/nJkDLN3pct
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) July 31, 2023
Economists more RBA-wary than investors on rates day eve
Are pundits a lagging indicator when it comes to interest rates (or, come to think of it, most forecasts)?
A majority (15 to 11) of economists surveyed by Bloomberg reckon the Reserve Bank will lift its key interest rate another 25 basis points at tomorrow’s monthly meeting to 4.35%.
However, depending on your flavour of market pointers, it’s either a less than one-in-10 or about a one-in-four chance the Gang of Nine (AKA the RBA board) will hoist the cash rate.
And even if they did, it would basically be their last move, or so investors are betting.
Whether the RBA lifts its cash rate to 4.35% or not tomorrow, investors view the central bank's rate-rising job as nearly all but done. (Source: ASX) pic.twitter.com/vXX3EzSdDI
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 30, 2023
Were the RBA to hike, the board will almost certainly say “inflation in the service sector is still rising”, or words to that effect.
Or, if they pause, it will stress the need to wait for more data (such as June quarter wage price index figures that won’t land until 15 August – well after most of the other quarter numbers of note have been released by the ABS).
There’s not much attention to the third possibility, which would be to lift the rate by a fence-sitting 15bp to 4.25%. We’d finally get back to a ‘round number’, which would please some moved by aesthetics (who aren’t repaying loans).
That could also be the peak, leaving Philip Lowe’s successor as governor, Michele Bullock, (from 18 September) with a summit to enjoy for a while before she starts cutting rates some time next year.
Prophetic punditry? Can’t be ruled in or out – until 2.30pm AEST tomorrow.
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One in two people will have mental health disorders by 75 years old
Researchers from the University of Queensland, in partnership with Harvard medical school, studied data from more than 150,000 adults across nearly 30 countries, AAP reports.
The most common were mood disorders such as major depression or anxiety, Prof John McGrath said.
Among men, the most common mental health issues were alcohol abuse, depression and a specific phobia.
Among women, specific phobia and depression were prevalent as was post-traumatic stress disorder.
A median age of onset for men is 19, and 20 for women.
The data was collected over a 21-year period via the World Health Organization’s world mental health survey initiative and found a high prevalence of mental health issues and disorders.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14.
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Wild weather warnings for Tasmania as winds nearing 140km/h recorded
Potentially destructive winds are heading for Tasmania, AAP reports.
Damaging wind gusts in excess of 120km/h were recorded at Mt Wellington near Hobart overnight, approaching 140km/h in the far southwest.
They have mostly since eased but are set for a return, according to the state’s SES.
“Please stay vigilant as there is more to come,” said assistant director Leon Smith.
We’ve already seen trees down on roads across the state and we are expecting two more weather events over the next day or so.
Wild weather is expected to ramp up again this afternoon, with “strong signals for damaging and potentially destructive winds, particularly in western and southern areas,” Smith said.
Tides will be abnormally high while road conditions are likely to be hazardous, with the potential for sea spray across causeways and other low-lying exposed coastal areas.
Acting inspector Scott Mackenzie said police and other emergency services needed people to take note of the warnings and act responsibly.
If wild weather is occurring and you don’t need to travel on our roads, don’t travel.
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EV sales in first half of 2023 already higher than all of 2022, report says
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular – sales during the first half of 2023 have already eclipsed last year’s annual total.
From January to June this year, 8.4% of new car sales in Australia were electric. In 2022, just 3.8% of new vehicle sales were electric. The 46,624 EVs sold in the first six months of the year take the number of EVs on Australian roads to roughly 130,000.
But the industry are warning a federal policy vacuum continues to harm consumer choice.
You can read the full story from Elias Visontay here:
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Fourteen schools around Victoria to be given Indigenous-language names
The Victorian government will announce today that 14 new government schools and kindergartens opening next year around the state will be given Indigenous-language names drawn from the local area in which they’re located.
The names of the schools and kindergartens include words from Woi-wurrung, Bunurong and Wadawurrung languages, drawn from about 700 suggestions.
They include Yarrabing secondary college in Aintree, from the Woi-wurrung word meaning “white gum”, Laa Yulta primary school in Black Forest, from the Wadawurrung word meaning “many stones”, and Brinbeal secondary college in Riverdale, from the Bunurong word meaning “rainbow”.
The education minister, Natalie Hutchins, said in a statement:
These 14 new schools will ensure growing communities have a great local education for their kids and a unique connection to the land through their Indigenous names.
Ingrid Stitt, minister for early childhood and pre-prep, said:
We are so proud that our new kinder names reflect the land that they are on – and help our littlest learners understand the role First Nations Victorians play in our heritage and history.
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Sonia Kruger says she was surprised to win Gold Logie
Nobody was expecting television presenter Sonia Kruger to win the Gold Logie, especially not Kruger herself.
“I cannot believe that, I have to compose myself, I’m not used to being on TV,” she joked.
The host of The Voice, Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother beat favourite Hamish Blake, who had been expected to take out his third gold.
Another big winner was offbeat comedy Colin from Accounts by husband-and-wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, which won three Logies.
The series won most outstanding comedy, while most outstanding actress went to Dyer and most outstanding actor to Brammall.
There were some other upset wins too, with well-known performer Amy Shark taking home most popular new talent for her role on Australian Idol.
Most outstanding children’s program went to ABC’s Crazy Fun Park, beating global juggernaut Bluey.
The awards were held in Sydney for the first time in 37 years, with comedian Sam Pang the first solo Logies host in more than a decade.
You can read our full report here:
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Coalition's new welfare proposal a 'shocker', Albanese says
On FiveAA, Albanese also explained why Labor is opposed to the Coalition’s proposal to double the income-free area for jobseeker, allowing unemployed people to earn twice as much before their welfare payments are reduced.
Albanese said it was “madness” to vote against the $40 a fortnight jobseeker increase and the proposal to increase the income free threshold is a “shocker”:
The problem with their thought bubble is that increasing the income free area will have a number of unintended consequences. It does nothing at all for the almost four in five jobseekers who don’t access the income free area at all.
The income free area was $300 a fortnight during the pandemic, the Coalition reduced it back to $150 … and one of the reasons they did it, is, the conservative estimates are with a doubling of the income free area it will put another 50,000 would become eligible for jobseeker overnight because the thresholds in which they’re cut off increase.
And it would appear they haven’t thought that through … if you make jobseeker together with $300 that you could earn with casual employment you potentially provide a … disincentive to full-time work.
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PM says he would ‘rather not have’ double dissolution trigger as housing bill to be reintroduced
Anthony Albanese has spoken to ABC Sydney and FiveAA about Labor’s $10bn housing Australia future fund bill, which is going to be reintroduced to parliament, possibly providing a trigger for a double dissolution election.
Albanese told ABC Sydney he’d “rather not have” the trigger and would “rather have this policy passed”.
He said:
That doesn’t necessarily provide for an early election, it could go into 2025 – but what it does is mean that can be a focus and you have a joint sitting after a double dissolution is held, but I just want this legislation to be passed … Their spokesperson [Max Chandler Mather] put this in writing in an opinion piece in a magazine, essentially saying that if this is just waved through and happens we won’t be able to continue to door knock and campaign on it. Well, I don’t want to play politics with this – I want to get this done. We have a mandate for it, and the Senate should pass it.
On FiveAA, Albanese had a crack at the Greens saying they don’t seem to be in favour of housing “except their own”.
He said:
The truth is you do need appropriate development, particularly along public transport corridors … But it’s true sometimes local government can get in the way because people want to oppose anything at all that looks like development. But the truth is we do need to increase housing supply, that’s the key.
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Security scanner breakdown causes pile-up at parliament
If you are headed into parliament for work this morning, you might want to give the ministerial entrance a miss – that includes ministers, as my secret squirrels tell me the security scanner has broken down. Everyone is being diverted to the House of Reps entrance, which means there is a line into the car park for people trying to get in at what is essentially rush hour for Parliament House.
We are told DPS staff are working on it.
The security upgrades began in 2018 under the Coalition government – the project didn’t exactly go smoothly, with delay after delay, so for longtime building dwellers, this morning would be bringing back some very annoying memories.
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Hayley Foster appointed to direct family violence and Indigenous programs at federal circuit and family court
The federal circuit and family court of Australia is working on improving risk identification for people experiencing family and domestic violence while going through the courts, as well as provide more support to separating families affected by family violence.
As part of that work, the courts have appointed Hayley Foster as director of its family violence and Indigenous programs.
Foster has more than two decades’ experience in this space and will work with judges, registrars and other specialised staff in driving change throughout the federal and family court system.
Foster has been providing advice through an informal advisory reference group established in 2020, but will now act in a formal capacity.
Foster will begin her new role today and said she understood “the immense responsibility and privilege” of the job and would work to continue to improve “the courts in how they support families at the risk of harm”.
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Minns rules out banning gas in new homes in NSW
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, rules out a ban on gas in new homes, after the Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, confirmed the move for his state last week.
“We are not pursuing that,” he said on Ben Fordham Live this morning, pointing to a lesser need for NSW compared to Victoria:
The challenges in energy are serious in NSW, I don’t want to lead anyone up the garden path when it comes to that, but the circumstances in NSW are different.
Only 7% of emissions in NSW are as a result of gas. Victoria has double the amount of emissions as a result of gas.
Minns said NSW needed gas for industry, and “not enough renewables” were coming into the system:
I don’t need another complication, or another policy change, when the challenges ahead of us are so serious.
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The budget may seem like it was handed down a million years ago (it was only about three months ago, but time is a relative concept) but its measures are still being examined.
That includes the petroleum rent resource tax, also known as the PRRT changes, which put a cap on the use of deductions from 1 July. The change limits the proportion of PRRT assessable income that can be offset by deductions to 90%.
That is expected to raise an additional $2.4bn which in the scheme of gas profits is not a huge amount of money. Which is why the Greens wanted to see what Treasury recommended to the government. We know that Treasury did a review, which was released by Chalmers in May, but the Greens used a Senate production of documents motion to get a little more information, including some detail around a confidential industry briefing which was delivered in March.
The Greens economic justice spokesperson, Nick McKim, said Treasury produced two models for significant change to the PRRT, along with a weaker third option, which was essentially a footnote.
McKim says the government snubbed Treasury’s recommendations, choosing a reform that was more palatable to the industry.
Under the model the government has been directed to choose, the higher the gas price the less revenue Australians will receive for a resource they own.
Given the price gouging, profiteering and tax dodging of the gas industry the last few years, Labor’s proposal is simply not good enough.
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Defence minister defends safety of Taipan army helicopters
The minister for the defence industry Pat Conroy wasn’t prepared to give details on the risks associated with the missing Taipan army helicopters, or on safety adaptations made to the model, on ABC RN this morning.
“I think the four families deserve respect and support rather than speculating about other incidents, and I think that’s what our focus should be today,” he says.
“I will say again what the chief of army said yesterday. Those risks were mitigated. They were declared safe to fly … and the chief of army said the army does not take unnecessary risks with the safety of their personnel.”
When pushed by Hamish Macdonald on how those risks were mitigated, Conroy said:
I’m not prepared to go into those details today, Hamish. Our first priority is searching for the for missing ADF personnel.
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Plea to remove ‘the dark money that bankrolls the major parties’ election war chests’
The Greens have similar legislation before the parliament.
Kate Chaney is still hoping one of the major parties will support the bill which is the only way it will progress through the parliament. But the Curtin MP thinks its what the public wants – and that Labor and the Coalition should get onboard.
“Electoral laws have been designed by the major parties to protect their duopoly and keep newcomers out,” she said.
At the last election, Australians demonstrated that they want a broader range of representatives and they want more Independents to hold the major parties to account on issues of integrity.
There is a real risk that anything presented as election reform by the major parties will have the effect of entrenching their incumbency and party advantages.
Australians want to see a level playing field for all candidates. We need competition in political ideas just like we need competition in business.
An obvious place to start is removing the dark money that bankrolls the major parties’ election war chests.
Chaney raised this in parliament before the winter break during question time. Anthony Albanese responded that Labor was looking at reforms, but also pointed out that in the 2022 election, Chaney’s campaign outspent Labor in the battle for Curtin – which is not really the point, but Albanese is never one to miss making a political point, when given the opportunity.
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Kate Chaney to push for more accountability in political donations
Good morning from Canberra – sorry I am not with you all this morning, but I know you are in very good hands. I’ll be back as soon as I’m able.
There is a little bit of news this morning, although the main focus of the parliament is the downed Taipan crew. Our thoughts are with them, their families and loved ones.
In parliament news, independent MP Kate Chaney is pushing for more accountability in political donations and will introduce a private members’ bill to overhaul the electoral law which governs it.
Zali Steggall will second the restoring trust bill, which “aims to improve transparency, reduce financial influence and level the playing field in federal elections”.
The bill would require real-time disclosure of donations over $1,000, bring about more transparency around private donations, legislate truth in advertising and ban current or potential commonwealth contractors from making political donations (which would cover the Big Four consulting firms).
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Coalition look to cut planned welfare increase, boost incentives to work
The Coalition will move to strip the federal government’s planned $40 increase to jobseeker, announced in the May budget, AAP reports.
They also move to increase the amount of money welfare recipients can earn before losing their benefits.
Opposition social services spokesman Michael Sukkar said the increase amounted to the government paying people more to not work when historically low unemployment had left businesses crying out for staff.
He said increasing the amount they could earn before cutting off benefits would encourage people to take up more part-time work.
The proposed change would allow jobseeker recipients to take home $300 a fortnight while still receiving full benefits.
The income-free threshold for other welfare payments would also be increased by $150.
Sukkar says it will save the budget around $2.9bn over the forward estimates.
The Coalition believes the best way to ensure Australians get ahead in life is through employment, as jobs change lives, families and communities for the better.
This Coalition initiative supports the many small and medium-sized small businesses who cannot fill shifts.
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Good morning
And welcome to a new week of the live blog.
It is the third day of a search for the missing Taipan army helicopter that went down with four soldiers on board. The MRH-90 helicopter has been conducting joint military training when it crashed in waters near Queensland’s Hamilton Island at around 10:30pm past Friday.
We will bring you the breaking updates in the blog. In the meantime, read more on the story from Tamsin Rose here:
In more positive news, last night’s Logies saw host of The Voice, Dancing with the Stars and Big Brother, Sonia Kruger, take home the Gold Logie for most popular personality on Australian television. She beat Hamish Blake, who was expected to win the award a third time.
And parliament is back this week, where we can expect to see a stoush over the housing bill between Labor and the Greens fire up again. We will bring you more on that shortly.
For now, let’s get into the day’s rolling coverage.
I’m Rafqa Touma and I’ll be with you for the morning. If you see anything you don’t want the blog to miss, let me know @At_Raf on Twitter.
