What we learned today, Friday 15 December
We will wrap up the blog here this Friday evening. Here’s what made the news today:
Steven Miles has announced there will be five new “younger”, “energetic” ministers in his first cabinet, ahead of his swearing in as Queensland premier.
The new Queensland premier has announced announced a more ambitious emission reduction target of 75% by 2035.
Barry Humphries has been remembered as an “interstellar” talent by everyone from royalty to giants of the entertainment industry at a state memorial service at the Sydney Opera House.
After a seven-year search fighting answers about the cause of his daughter’s death in Mozambique, Elly Warren’s father says he feels “let down” after a Victorian coroner was unable to conclude that she was murdered.
The New South Wales police watchdog is investigating after a senior officer was charged with allegedly crashing a work car while drunk in the NorthConnex tunnel earlier this year.
Two abuse survivors have won the first major challenge to the Catholic church’s use of permanent stays since a high court decision in October.
The immigration minister, Andrew Giles, has quietly lifted the ankle bracelet and curfew conditions from at least two of the three people released from detention who are challenging tough new visa rules in the high court.
Thanks very much for your company today. Stick with us for updates this evening and we’ll be back with the live blog tomorrow too.
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Andrew Forrest welcomes Queensland’s new emissions reduction targets
The founder and chairman of Fortescue, Andrew Forrest, has welcomed the Queensland government’s more ambitious emission reduction target of 75% by 2035.
Here’s a statement Forest sent to Guardian Australia:
We congratulate Premier Miles on his appointment, and for taking such a strong step forward for Queensland today. A green energy future will spur on economic growth and create thousands of new jobs and opportunities for Queenslanders, many more than the fossil fuel sector.
It will also help to create energy security for Queensland and, over time, help to lower power prices. We stand ready to deliver projects for Queenslanders, helping build Queensland in the process of turning it greener.
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Australia urged to act on ‘shadow’ China online network
Australia is being urged to declassify information where it can about social-media influence operations, in response to a “shadow” network using artificial intelligence to push pro-China content, AAP reports.
A report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has found a coordinated influence campaign, which began on YouTube, is seeking to impact how English-speaking people view the roles of China and the US in international relations, the global economy and technology competition.
The campaign, dubbed “shadow play”, uses AI to generate voiceovers as a tactic to grow its reach. It involves a network of at least 30 YouTube channels that have produced more than 4,500 videos, garnering almost 120m views and 730,000 subscribers since last year.
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Firies ‘mop up’ in Hunter ahead of forecast hot weather
NSW fire crews have been working to reduce the threat of a Hunter region bushfire that endangered residents, before the forecast return of severe conditions in the area, AAP reports.
The 754-hectare Cessnock Rd Fire burning at Abermain, Kurri Kurri, South Weston and Pelaw was at advice level on Friday afternoon after being downgraded from emergency level on Thursday.
The fire, which formed when three separate blazes combined, has destroyed at least two houses and one business in the area, the ABC reports. A NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson was not able to confirm the report.
The spokesperon said crews had worked on Friday to contain several fires around the state, including the Cessnock Road blaze where backburning continued:
That’s just to try to burn that out ahead of tomorrow.
Minns says anti-protest laws aimed at ‘protecting people’ and suggests police ‘can work with’ parts of law that were not struck down
NSW premier Chris Minns says his government is reviewing the supreme court’s ruling that parts of the state’s anti-protest laws are invalid because they infringe on the implied freedom of political communication.
The initial advice I’ve got is that police can work with the existing provisions that were not struck down by the supreme court.
Minns said the changes to the law were aimed at protecting people:
People were doing frankly stupid things, putting themselves in extreme danger to make what they termed political protests, hanging from cranes that were located on top of railway lines, chaining themselves to roads with heavy vehicles operating in the vicinity.
It would only take a split second for a worker not to see a protester lying on the ground, for example, to see a tragedy take place.
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‘Real, growing risk’ of power generation falling short
Urgent investment is needed to support new sources of affordable electricity in the coming decade, when 90% of coal-fired generation will cease, AAP reports.
The latest modelling, released by the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) on Friday, shows coal power plants are closing earlier than planned and people are electrifying their homes at a faster rate.
Upgraded power systems will be capable of running at times entirely on renewable energy, according to system planning that also relies on an ongoing role for gas. But businesses and industry are expected to need more energy, not less, as they double their grid electricity consumption.
The possibility that replacement generation is not available when coal plants retire is “real and growing, and a risk that must be avoided,” the Aemo report said.
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US ambassador: ‘We have no closer or more important ally than Australia’
The US ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, has issued a statement after the congress passed legislation allowing the country to sell Virginia class submarines to Australia under the Aukus security pact:
Yesterday, the United States reaffirmed that we have no closer or more important ally than Australia.
In an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the US Congress approved the unprecedented transfer of our most advanced submarines and defence capabilities to Australia— and I know President Biden looks forward to signing the bill into law.
From the Aukus announcement in March, the climate compact in May, and the state visit in October, this has been a historic year for the US/Australia alliance, and I can’t think of a better way to top it off.
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Kaurna ancestors formally laid to rest after remaining in a SA museum for nearly a century
Kaurna ancestors – whose remains were at the South Australian museum for almost a century after their suburban burial sites were disturbed - were reburied this week. It was the third ceremony of its kind at Wangayarta, a Kaura memorial park. Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation’s chair, Tim Agius, said:
Prior to today, our ancestors have been resting in shelves in the museum for almost 100 years. In that time, ancestors were also sent overseas for scientific research – this was unacceptable.
These reburials have been a very significant event in the history of Kaurna. It signals a time for reflection and a watershed moment in Kaurna history to discuss what happens in the future to our ancestors with the state government and industry.
On Tuesday morning, members of the Kaurna community and supporters gathered at Wangayarta, the Kaurna memorial park at Smithfield Memorial Park, to lay Ancestors to rest in an emotional community-led reburial (1/4)
— South Australian Museum (@SAMuseum) December 14, 2023
Photos: @siaduff pic.twitter.com/qPsfyC2bnQ
You can read more about the reburial project here:
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Marine Conservation Society says new Queensland emissions reduction target a ‘significant commitment to tackling climate change’
The Australian Marine Conservation Society has also welcomed the Queensland government’s more ambitious emission reduction target of 75% by 2035, as outlined by Steven Miles in his first press conference as premier.
Here’s a statement from the society’s reef campaign manager, Lissa Schindler:
New Queensland premier Steven Miles has made a significant commitment to tackling climate change and protecting the Great Barrier Reef. This is a big step towards limiting warming to 1.5°C especially for a heavily industrial state such as Queensland.
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NSW Greens urge premier to repeal anti-protest laws after supreme court ruling
The NSW Greens are urging the premier, Chris Minns, to repeal anti-protest laws after a supreme court judgment found parts of the laws were unconstitutional.
In a letter to Minns, the NSW Greens climate change and environment spokesperson, Sue Higginson, said the ruling, handed down Wednesday, “provides a window of opportunity for you to turn this around, to reverse the trend of crushing dissent and instead protect the right to protest and our democracy”.
The court found that parts of the NSW laws, introduced by the Perrottet government and backed by the then Labor opposition in 2022, were invalid because they infringed on the implied freedom of political communication.
The NSW government has said it is carefully considering the judgment and seeking advice on appeal options or options for legislative reform to “ensure that protest activity is appropriately regulated and balances the rights and freedoms of the people of NSW”.
Higginson’s letter urges the government not to appeal. It instead calls for the government to “bring an amendment in the first week of parliament in 2024 that will repeal the unnecessary and draconian anti-protest laws and protect protest and democracy in NSW”.
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World Wildlife Fund welcomes new Queensland emissions reduction targets
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature has welcomed the Queensland government’s more ambitious 2035 emission reduction target of 75% below 2005 levels.
Here’s a statement from Rachel Lowry, the acting chief executive of WWF-Australia:
In one of his first acts, [new premier] Steven Miles has moved Queensland from the outhouse to the penthouse on its emissions reduction target.
Increasing temperatures will challenge Queensland’s way of life and threaten the existence of our amazing natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef.
But a strong emissions target will help protect our natural treasures and way of life, lower climate-related costs, and give a fighting chance to efforts to regenerate nature by 2030.
It is major progress for Queensland and a step towards helping Australia fulfill our legal obligations to hold warming to 1.5 degrees under the Paris agreement and the world heritage convention.
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Parts of NSW under thunderstorm warning
Many regions of NSW have been told to prepare for “very dangerous thunderstorms” with “giant hail” and “destructive winds”.
Here’s more information from the Bureau of Meteorology:
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones over the next several hours in parts of the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands and Hunter districts. Locations which may be affected include Grafton, Kempsey, Casino, Tabulam, Dorrigo and Gloucester.
🚨 Severe Thunderstorm Warning 🚨
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) December 15, 2023
🌩️ VERY DANGEROUS STORM approaching SW of Grafton with GIANT HAIL & DESTRUCTIVE WINDS. Stay safe, Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands, and Hunter Forecast Districts. ⚠️ For latest https://t.co/jJWt2wlxel pic.twitter.com/clrZTNqktj
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Steven Miles announces 75% emissions reduction target for Queensland by 2035
The newly sworn-in Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has just outlined a much more ambitious climate change agenda.
Queensland’s current target is set at a 30% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030 – a weaker target than those set by the federal, New South Wales and Victorian governments. In his first press conference as premier, Miles has announced the state’s target will increase to 75% by 2035.
Here’s Miles:
Today, I can announce we will lift Queensland’s ambition on climate action to strengthen our economy and create jobs. We will reduce Queensland’s emissions by 75% by 2035.
We will create certainty for industry and for jobs by legislating this target.
We are making a very clear statement to the world that Queensland is the place to do business if you’re looking to use clean energy to create prosperity.
Earlier this year, the Queensland Greens prepared legislation to legislate a 75% emissions reduction target by 2030 and net zero by 2035.
Environmental advocates including the Queensland Conservation Council had criticised the state governments prior commitment “inadequate”
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Steven Miles hosts first press conference as Queensland premier
Steven Miles is fronting the media again, this time after being officially sworn in as the premier of Queensland. He’s started with a long history of his suburban upbringing, but has also brought some news to his first presser as premier:
During Covid, everybody had an interest in health and I listened to all of their views. I assure Queenslanders that that will not change. That is why today, I’m announcing I will create a new Queensland leaders’ forum to bring together business, industry, community and unions in the one room to work together for Queensland’s future. That is what we did during the Covid response. It worked well. I am bringing it back.
We can bring more details on that forum when they’re revealed.
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Thousands of clubs and pubs sign up for NSW cashless pokies trial
More pubs and clubs than expected have embraced a NSW cashless pokies trial set up in a bid to stamp out money-laundering and gambling harm, AAP reports.
The 12-month trial is due to go ahead with 4,485 machines, substantially more than the 500 proposed by the state’s premier, Chris Minns, earlier this year. Eight hotels and 20 clubs, including seven regional venues, will take part, providing information back from the first quarter of next year onwards.
The independent panel on gaming reform, which backed the involvement of a range of different venues, will oversee the trial.
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Paluszcuk to resign on last day of 2023
Queensland’s former premier, Annastacia Paluszcuk, will resign from state parliament on the last day of 2023.
The member for Inala’s resignation letter - which she submitted to the speaker of the house, Curtis Pitt, on Wednesday - was tabled on Friday. Ironically, Pitt is the only other MP still in Queensland parliament who was there when Paluszczuk was originally elected leader in 2012.
The leadership ballot took place just days after the party suffered one of its worst-ever defeats, losing all but seven seats. Pitt briefly staged a challenge against Paluszczuk, but withdrew and she was elected unopposed.
She later went on to defeat then premier Campbell Newman after just one term, in one of the most shocking upsets in Queensland political history. Here’s part of the letter:
I write to resign as the member for Inala effective at 5pm, Sunday, 31 December 2023.
It has been a great honour to serve the Inala electorate community since 9 September 2006 and I take this opportunity wish them and all Queenslanders the very best for the future.
There will be a byelection in her ultra-safe seat of Inala early in 2024.
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Driver in fatal beer garden car crash released on bail
A driver accused of killing five people by crashing into a pub beer garden after allegedly ignoring alerts about his low glucose levels has been freed on bail with a $250,000 surety and a condition he not drive, AAP reports.
William Swale, 66, was charged with culpable driving causing death, negligently causing serious injury and reckless conduct endangering lives over the 5 November crash.
Swale’s SUV mounted the kerb and hit several patrons seated on the front lawn of the Royal Daylesford Hotel just after 6pm.
Pratibha Sharma, 44, her daughter Anvi, 9, and partner Jatin Kumar, 30, and their friend Vivek Bhatia, 38, and his son Vihaan, 11, all died.
Swale, who was diagnosed with diabetes in 1994, was wearing a blood glucose monitoring device which sends an alert to his phone when his glucose levels are outside the normal range.
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Albanese praises Peta Murphy’s ‘tenacious’ breast cancer advocacy
The prime minister Anthony Albanese has spoken at the funeral of the Labor MP Peta Murphy in Melbourne today.
Albanese spoke at length about Murphy’s intellect, determination and empathy, which was on display when she chaired a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm.
Here’s part of the prime minister’s speech:
Every tribute made to her has, quite rightly, spoken of how hard she worked and how much she achieved in such a short period of time, or how much better her community and our nation were for her contributions.
And yet a profound part of the grief that we feel today is not just what we have been deprived of – someone someone we deeply loved it – it is that Australia has been denied more of what Peta had to give it.
It is so true to Peta’s character that she channelled her personal battle with breast cancer into public policy, never thinking of herself, always tenaciously advocating for others.
The PM joined the Labor caucus and Murphy’s friends and family at the service held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
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Greens’ Shoebridge says Marles will likely agree to send warship to Red Sea
The Greens senator, David Shoebridge, says it will be difficult for Australia to reject a request from the US to send a warship to the Red Sea amid ongoing attacks on commercial shipping from Iran-backed militia.
Yesterday, the defence minister, Richard Marles, said the request was being examined, but stressed the government’s overwhelming focus was on the Indo-Pacific region and not the Middle East.
Here’s what Shoebridge told the ABC a few moments ago:
It would be very hard for the defence minister to say no to that, despite it creating, I think, very real security concerns for Australian personnel and seeing us involved in a conflict that I think most Australians see as deeply, deeply problematic.
It is likely that Defence Minister Marles will agree to that because he needs to play nice with the US to keep the Aukus deal alive.
People in [the US] congress are looking at this asking, ‘is Australia going to follow us lock-stock into conflict, and if not, why would we give them our their precious nuclear submarines when we have so few of them?’.
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I’ll now hand over to my colleague Henry Belot who’ll be with you until this evening. Thank you for following along.
Victoria 2027 debt forecast up $6bn in 6 months, heading to $178bn
Victoria’s net debt prediction has jumped by more than $6bn in six months and is now expected to reach $177.8bn by 2027, AAP reports.
The state government attributes that to infrastructure investment, particularly extra funding for the North East Link, which has blown out from $10bn to $26.1bn, and associated freeway upgrades.
A 2023-24 budget update released on Friday by treasurer Tim Pallas reveals net debt is expected to reach $135.5bn by June next year.
It’s then set to climb to $177.8bn by June 2027, which is $6.4bn higher than the estimate in the May state budget, representing 25.1% of gross state product.
Tax revenue is expected to increase by $900m this financial year and by $1.1bn next year, compared with what was predicted in May, mostly due to increases to payroll and land taxes.
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Queensland governor swears in new premier Steven Miles
Steven Miles has been officially sworn in as Queensland’s 40th premier after Annastacia Palaszczuk stepped down from the position earlier this week.
As we reported earlier, Miles announced he will appoint 10 new ministers and assistant ministers after he is sworn in.
Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP
Nikki Boyd, Bart Mellish, Lance McCallum, Michael Healy and Charis Mullen will enter the cabinet as full ministers.
Ali King, Shane King, Jimmy Sullivan, Jen Howard and Corrine McMillan have been elected assistant ministers
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Proton Mail founder vows to fight Australia’s eSafety regulator in court rather than spy on users
The founder of encrypted email service Proton says the company will fight the Australian online safety regulator in court if it is forced to weaken encryption under proposed standards.
The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says cloud and messaging service providers should detect and remove known child abuse material and pro-terror material “where technically feasible” – and disrupt and deter new material of that nature.
The eSafety regulator has stressed in an associated discussion paper it “does not advocate building in weaknesses or back doors to undermine privacy and security on end-to-end encrypted services”.
But privacy and security groups argue the draft standards, as written, could allow the eSafety commissioner to force companies to compromise encryption to comply.
More on this story here:
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Supermarket workers’ union calling on consumers to boycott Coles and Woolworths
The union for supermarket workers is calling on a consumer boycott of Coles and Woolworths next week as workers prepare to strike during one of the peak profit periods for the supermarket duopoly.
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union wants to avoid the big two starting from Monday as a show of support for its members who plan to go on strike, with workers at some stores downing tools from 19 December.
The workers are seeking a minimum wage of $29 per hour, the abolition of junior rates, job security and safer workplaces.
The boycott call was accompanied by an open letter that pointed to the retailers’ high profit margins.
The supermarket chains have consistently denied price-gouging allegations, saying supply chain inflation had contributed to price rises, and crediting increased productivity for profit margins.
RAFFWU president Dani Barley says in a statement:
Community support is essential at a time when workers are on strike, and when these corporate giants are expecting to add to their record profits this Christmas. Not only are these companies exploiting their workers, they are exploiting us all.
A Coles spokesperson says the company is “working hard to keep prices affordable for Australian households”.
Being profitable ensures we can continue to employ more than 120,000 Australians, partner with more than 8,000 suppliers and farmers, support local communities and continue to invest in value for the millions of customers who visit our stores every week.
A Woolworths’ spokesperson says:
We have been bargaining for the new supermarket enterprise agreement with 10 bargaining meetings occurring including four with RAFFWU.
We look forward to continuing discussions about a new agreement for our team in the new year.
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Qld premier announces ‘leaders’ forum’ of business, union, community, First Nations representatives
The new Queensland premier-to-be Steven Miles has announced the creation of a new consultation body called the Queensland Leaders’ Forum.
The body will bring together business, industry, community and unions, similar to the approach taken during the pandemic.
The new premier will outline the new body as his first major speech in the job this afternoon.
He says:
I’ll be outlining this afternoon how I want to bring back that kind of consultative forum where we bring together all of the voices - including unions, they have a very justifiable role - but also business, industry, community leaders, first nations leaders.
I want them all to have a seat at the table and that’s what the Queensland leaders forum will do.
At a press conference at Queensland parliament, his first since being elected by Labor MPs to the role, he said listening has always been part of his brand.:
What I’ve always done in all of my portfolios is listened to everybody. When I was the environment minister, I didn’t just listen to the environment groups, I spent time with the cane growers. In fact, my first meeting as environment minister was with the cane growers.
In health, I listened to the doctors and the nurses and the experts. But also when Covid hit you’ll remember, health was a concern for everybody.
And we put in place those systems to make sure that leaders from the entirety of Queensland had a say in how we were responding to Covid and had a say in developing the economic plan that the treasurer has delivered.
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Opponents shoot down duck hunting report as a ‘failure’
Duck hunters have been given the green light to keep shooting birds in South Australia, despite claims it is inhumane, threatens endangered species and goes against community expectations, AAP reports.
The RSPCA has slammed a report by a South Australian parliamentary committee into the hunting of native birds, tabled on Thursday.
Its findings “fail animal welfare, fail conservation and fail to meet our community’s expectations for the protection of vulnerable wildlife,” RSPCA SA animal welfare advocate Dr Rebekah Eyers said.
Eyers added:
We estimate up to 10,000 of the approximately 45,000 ducks shot in SA each year will be wounded and left to suffer.
Seeing a hunter swing a wounded duck around by the neck and then dump it on a pile of shot ducks whilst still alive is a horror that I will never forget.
The latest Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey found several native bird species were experiencing significant long-term decline, despite recent wetter La Nina conditions.
The report recommended a series of measures to limit the impacts of hunting on the environment, including requiring hunters to wear visible tags, increasing penalties for bad actors and banning the use of lead shot.
But Eyers said assumptions authorities can effectively regulate the practice are misguided, after a recent Victorian inquiry found compliance monitoring a “near impossible task”.
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Qld’s Miles won’t hold Olympics portfolio, will focus on ‘bread and butter’ issues
The new Queensland ministers will replace Craig Crawford, Mark Bailey and Stirling Hinchliffe, who have been sacked or resigned from cabinet.
Annastacia Palaszczuk will also leave cabinet, before she retires from politics entirely in the new year.
Miles paid particular tribute to Crawford, the former minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, who shepherded through parliament legislation setting the state on the pathway to treaty with Aboriginal Queenslanders. He was later appointed child safety minister. Here’s what Miles told reporters:
He can be rightly incredibly proud of the work that he did, towards treaty. And that’s a legacy that can never be taken away. It’s something that he helped shape and deliver. And he should be very, very proud.
The three men who have stepped aside from the cabinet have done the government and ultimately the state a service by doing so because we wanted to have fresh faces, new faces in our team. To do that some people needed to stand aside.
The cabinet is growing by one member.
The new premier said that will be his only title, and he won’t take responsibility for the Olympics and Paralympics like his predecessor did:
I want to send a signal to Queenslanders that my approach as premier, my focus as premier, is 100% on being the premier, 100% on delivering for them and the things that they need. Bread and butter issues, their day-to-day concerns, and that’s why my title will be Queensland premier.
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Incoming Qld premier Miles to reshuffle cabinet
Steven Miles will appoint 10 new ministers and assistant ministers after he is sworn in as Queensland premier today.
Nikki Boyd, Bart Mellish, Lance McCallum, Michael Healy and Charis Mullen will enter the cabinet as full ministers.
Ali King, Shane King, Jimmy Sullivan, Jen Howard and Corrine McMillan have been elected assistant ministers
The new faces were elevated at a Labor caucus meeting at Queensland parliament today. Miles and incoming deputy premier Cameron Dick were also elected to be the new leader and deputy leader of the party.
Miles said the cabinet reshuffle was a way to refresh the government, which is in its ninth year in office:
That’s the most number of new ministers Queensland has seen since we were first elected in 2015. They are younger, they are energetic, they are ready to deliver a fresh approach for Queenslanders.
Miles and Dick will now travel to Government House where Governor Jeannette Young will swear them in as premier and deputy premier.
It’s a very great honour to be chosen by my colleagues to serve as the 36th Deputy Premier of Queensland. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/VNXCvi57tk
— Cameron Dick (@camerondickqld) December 15, 2023
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Sydney Opera House sails to be lit in tribute to Barry Humphries
The MC at Barry Humphries’ memorial service, Richard Wilkins, has announced the sails of Sydney Opera House will be lit in a tribute to the comedian from 830pm tonight.
Luminaries from the arts and entertainment circles, along with politicians and business people, are at the service to ‘farewell’ the man they say was as funny off stage as he was on stage.
For those who couldn’t attend in person, such as Elton John, there were ‘pretenders’ on hand to fill the gap.
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If you missed it earlier, here’s more from my colleague Benita Kolovos on the $10bn cost blowout for Victoria’s largest road project:
Rupert Murdoch: ‘political correctness’ never ‘strangled’ Humphries
Rupert Murdoch has paid tribute to Barry Humphies in a video message that referenced political correctness. Murdoch said that “in a linear world”, Humphries was a rare example of “the lateral”:
It takes courage to strut on stage. To be judged by an audience night after night. You confess that you suffer severely from stage fright, and yet you tread the boards with a confidence that brings the crowd with you.
I’m struck by your self awareness, in understanding the nature of laughter. As you say, when people laugh at me, they are not laughing in the way they normally would be for a comedian. They are laughing with relief because the truth has been spoken, and political correctness has not strangled this particular [star]. Barry, you will never be strangled, you will never be silenced, your voice still echoes, your wisdom still enlightens, and your friendship still recites deeply in my heart.
The NSW premier,Chris Minns, has also spoken at the memorial service:
The Sydney Opera House is a fitting place to say our goodbyes to Barry, not just because of its sails or its dramatic exterior... but because of what’s inside: the stage. It was on that stage, before an audience, where he was most at home.
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Barry Humphries was ‘one of the funniest people in the world’, Elton John tells memorial
A series of comedians and the superstar Elton John have also recorded video messages to be played at Barry Humphries’ memorial service. Here’s a collection of them.
The British comedian, Jimmy Carr, said:
He was so generous with time and with his talent. I was blown away by him and so incredibly thrilled to have got to know him. He leaves the world a happier place. He was a genius.
Comedian David Walliams:
Later in life, I got to befriend Barry and spend time with him. It was one of the greatest pleasures of my life. He was as funny off stage, as he was on stage, and that can’t be said about many comedians. He has left an incredible legacy that will make us laugh forever.
And Elton John:
Barry Humphries was one of the funniest people in the world, we all know that. He was also one of the kindest and most generous people to me.
It is sad that we won’t be seeing him again, but we have so many memories of him. His books, his TV appearances, and the wonderful jokes and wonderful kindness that he showed to me and everyone.
I hope you all have the most wonderful day there and celebrate with laughter, because that was what Barry was all about. Bless you.
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Power should be back on for 80% of far north Qld homes by Saturday night
Ergon Energy will aim to restore power to 80% of the 15,000 homes and businesses facing outages in far north Queensland by Saturday night, and complete the remaining 20% by next Tuesday.
It comes after power to 25,000 had been restored after nearly 40,000 homes lost power on Wednesday as ex-tropical cyclone Jasper crossed the coastline.
Ergon’s chief operating officer Paul Jordon said the restoration plan might be hampered by rain forecast to continue to lash the region, and by additional damage to the network.
A major flood warning for the Daintree and the Barwon river remains in place.
There are also moderate to minor flood warnings for the Mossman, Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, Tully and Murray rivers.
The heaviest rainfall has been recorded at Cairns, Port Douglas and the Daintree, with the latter receiving almost 800mm in the past 48 hours.
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Incoming Queensland premier Steven Miles: ‘we’ll make history today’
Queensland premier-to-be Steven Miles declared “we’ll make history today” as he arrived at a party caucus meeting this morning.
Miles and treasurer Cameron Dick will be endorsed as premier and deputy premier by Labor MPs at parliament house today.
They arrived to rapturous applause.
Miles joked that he didn’t have time to hug all of the 51 MPs at the meeting.
They will be sworn in by Governor Jeannette Young later today.
The caucus will also elect several new members of cabinet, in advance of a reshuffle, which is expected to be announced Monday.
Miles replaces Annastacia Palaszczuk, who served as premier for nine years and won three elections. She took the party back into government after a wipeout election which reduced the party to seven MPs, defeating Campbell Newman.
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Humphries memorial: Barry always had the final word, says Albanese
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has also addressed the memorial service for Barry Humphries. Here’s part of Albanese’s video message that was played to the audience at Sydney Opera House:
No matter how unruly his creations became, it was Barry who had the final word. And what a word it was. Barry had the ultimate power, a power he exercised with the glee that never knew any bounds.
Just like this place, he brought people from every state and territory together. And in the process, this genius, this comedic giant brought such joy to every part of Australia. Then, like a never ending bunch of gladiolus, he showered it upon the world.
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A message from King Charles: ‘no one was safe’ from Dame Edna’s sharp wit
The minister for arts, Tony Burke, is now reading a statement on behalf of King Charles III. He starts with a joke that says it seems like a television drama plot to say “I have a message from the king”.
Here’s the statement in full:
I suspect that all those who appeared on stage or on TV with Barry’s Dame Edna, or who found her appearing at the back of the Royal Box, will have shared that unique sensation where fear and fun combined.
Those who tried to stand on their dignity soon lost their footing. Those who wondered whether Australia’s housewife superstar might this time just go too far were always proved right.
No one was safe. Barry Humphries, through his creations, poked and prodded us, exposed to tensions, punctured pomposity, surfaced insecurities, but most of all made us laugh at ourselves.This cultured and erudite man, with his love of literature and the visual arts, and passion for Weimar cabaret, could not have been more different from his various stage incarnations.
Like so many, I have been deeply saddened by his passing. Life really won’t be the same without him. May our gladiolus bloom in celebration of his memory.
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King Charles, Elton John to salute Barry Humphries at state memorial
The state memorial service for Barry Humphries has just begun at the Sydney Opera House. Television host Richard Wilkins is hosting the event, which is expected to include tributes from King Charles and Elton John.
Wilkins is delivering an opening address to the service:
Barry found fame - extraordinary fame - in so many parts of the world. The UK, the US, Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand and many other countries.
In fact, he put Australia on the cultural map, as only he could. And not everyone approved of the way he did it, of course. He spent much time overseas, but he never forgot in his heart that he was Australian, through and through.
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Lisa Wilkinson returns to the witness box
Lisa Wilkinson is back today for her second day in the witness box, defending a defamation claim against her and Network Ten.
You can catch the live updates from my colleague Amanda Meade as this unfolds here:
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Disability car stolen
Victoria police are appealing for information on a car burglary after a black 2021 Kia Carnival wagon which had been modified to help the victim who has a disability was stolen in the Mornington Peninsula.
The thieves broke into the Mount Eliza home of a 61- and 60-year-old couple at 3am on Tuesday and stole the wagon and a grey Hyundai i20.
The Hyundai was later found dumped at Nardoo Court in Mornington on Tuesday afternoon.
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Steven Miles to be elected Queensland premier unopposed
Queensland’s Labor caucus meets at 10am local time (11am AEDT) today to decide on a new premier after Annastactia Palaszczuk’s sudden resignation on Sunday.
Former deputy premier Steven Miles will be elected unopposed, with treasurer Cameron Dick named his deputy.
Photograph: Dan Peled/Getty Images
It’s been 11 years, eight months and seven days since the Labor caucus last met to elect a new leader. There were just six MPs in that meeting – Paluszczuk reminded reporters this week they could have fitted in a Tarago – after the Anna Bligh government’s drubbing at the 2012 election. (The party won seven seats but Bligh didn’t attend the caucus meeting.)
This time, 51 MPs will decide the future of the party. Again, the outgoing premier is expected not to attend.
Paluszczuk tendered her resignation from the post last night, after winning three straight elections. She will retire from politics early in the new year, sparking a by-election in her south Brisbane seat of Inala.
Miles has just 316 days to convince Queenslanders to retain him as premier before an election in October 2024. He will have to contend with a resurgent opposition led by David Crisafulli, who has spent months attacking the government’s health, housing and youth crime policies.
After the caucus meeting this morning, Miles will head to Government House in Paddington, where he will be sworn in by governor Jeannette Young.
He will make his first speech as premier at the executive building this afternoon, in which he is expected to lay out his government’s priorities.
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Cost blowout breakdown
Here’s a breakdown on the Melbourne’s North East Link cost blowout to more than $10bn:
The longer tunnel and extra open space is costing $2bn more than planned, alongside upgrades to the neighbouring freeways.
The M80 and Eastern Freeway is costing $9.5bn.
There will be improved operation and community outcomes, including noise standards, better technology and interchange design is costing $600m.
The dedicated busway will cost $750m.
There is also $400m in extra costs to extend a rail tunnel, $70m to set up a park and ride in Bulleen and $100m for sporting facilities.
In addition, the document says there’s been $3.88bn in “additional cost pressures”. This includes $3.1bn due to the “escalation rates of critical construction supplies such as concrete, asphalt and steel and broader inflationary pressures” and $780m to comply with the environment effects statement.
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Victoria’s North East Link cost blows out by more than $10bn
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has admitted the cost of building the North East Link has blown out by more than $10bn.
Announcing two new contracts – to connect the project to existing roads – today, Allan said the project was expected to now cost a total of $26bn.
The project was first estimated to cost $10bn in 2016 but this was revised to $15.8bn when the final design was locked in.
Allan said the new estimate, which is included in the mid-year budget update, was due to several factors including a longer tunnel, better noise standards, more open space and the addition of a dedicated busway for the road:
There are many components that have been added to this project as a result of listening to the market and also listening to the advice of experts as well about how we can best make this project work not just for the local communities ... but for all of us, all of us who are wanting to navigate around the northern and eastern suburbs.
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PM says backing appeals for Gaza ceasefire ‘the right call’
Albanese has also said backing calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict was the “right call to do” after being asked about some of the “unhappy” reactions to the decision:
We joined with almost almost every country in the world to say that our position, which I outlined very much in detail with the prime ministers of Canada and New Zealand, is to seek to have all of the hostages released which should occur.
We need to plan as well for what occurs after the conflict. Hamas can have no role in the future governance of of Gaza, and we need to work towards a political solution. We respect Israel’s right to defend itself, [and] that the range of the numbers of casualties just quite, quite, quite terrible there in Gaza, and every innocent life counts, whether it be Israeli or Palestinian.
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Aukus approval an ‘extraordinary achievement’
Anthony Albanese hailed the passing of the bill in US Congress overnight that will allow the sale of Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia an “extraordinary achievement” during his interview on 2GB:
That means that Aukus can go ahead, means that Australia will have access to those Virginia-class submarines which are nuclear-propelled and that will be so important for Australia’s national security.
Earlier defence minister Richard Marles said on ABC News Breakfast the $4bn contribution from Australia to boost shipyard production in the US as part of the deal will be “worked through in the coming years”.
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‘It will be a very difficult day,’ PM says of Peta Murphy funeral
Anthony Albanese will be in Melbourne today to attend the funeral of Labor MP for Dunkley Peta Murphy, who died from breast cancer.
Speaking on 2GB, Albanese said:
It will be a very difficult day.
She was really courageous … she chose not to hide the treatment that she was getting, appearing there in Parliament and around public with the impact of chemotherapy [which] meant that she lost her hair, but she wanted to signify that cancer can affect anyone, members of parliament, whatever job you have.
And she was just a strong advocate, a courageous brilliant young woman who passed far too soon.
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NSW’s cashless gambling trial expands to include nearly 4,500 poker machines
Almost 4,500 poker machines across 24 local government areas will be included in the New South Wales government’s cashless gambling trial to begin early next year.
The expanded trial will take place across 28 clubs of varying sizes, with advocates hoping it leads to universal cashless gaming in NSW, after both major parties put forward gambling reform plans at the March election.
In July the government announced that Michael Foggo, a former liquor, gaming and racing commissioner, would lead a panel of 16 industry representatives and reform advocates, who would then report back to the government in November 2024.
Foggo said there had been a “large number” of clubs applying to take part in the trial.
More on this story here:
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Bank customers miss out on higher savings rates
Banks use strategic pricing for deposit accounts, creating complexity for customers who are missing out on earning higher interest on their savings, according to the competition regulator.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in a report today that savers were worse off due to ongoing barriers to searching for, and switching between, deposit products.
It recommends that banks be required to tell customers when they change their interest rates, with prompts for them to consider switching to a better rate.
The report found that introductory and bonus interest rates, and a range of fees and charges, make it difficult for consumers to compare products.
In the first six months of 2023, more than two-thirds of bonus interest accounts did not receive bonus interest in any given month, with customers failing to meet conditions imposed by the banks, the ACCC found.
ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said:
While high headline interest rates may seem attractive to customers, they can come attached with conditions that are hard for customers to meet and keep track of.
Consumers can find the complexity of the pricing of retail deposit products overwhelming.
The report was produced in response to a federal government directive this year to investigate retail deposit products, amid allegations rate hikes did not necessarily flow through to savers.
The Australian Banking Association was contacted for comment.
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Christmas appeal as millions struggle to make ends meet
Millions of Australians are cutting back expenses and many will go without entirely as Christmas places pressure on already stretched household budgets, AAP reports.
More than 5.3 million people will not be able to afford a Christmas meal this year and 30% of parents are worried their children will go without presents, research by the Salvation Army showed.
The survey of more than 2,000 people found that almost 60% felt more stressed this holiday season compared with 31.6% at the same time last year.
Almost one in seven parents worried their children would go without a traditional Christmas Day meal and more than 70% of people surveyed are more mindful about how much they are spending.
Nearly one in 10 people will rely on charitable support to get by this Christmas and of those, 48.9% will be reaching out for the first time.
Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle urged people who are in need to reach out to Salvos, and also called on people who can afford it to donate to the Christmas appeal.
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NSW bushfire update
As of 9am, there are 66 fires burning across the state, with 14 not yet contained.
All fires are burning at an advice level, with more than 500 firefighters and incident management personnel working across NSW.
As of 9am, there are 66 fires burning across the state, with 14 not yet contained. All fires are currently burning at an Advice level, with more than 500 firefighters and incident management personnel working across NSW. Stay up-to-date with conditions: https://t.co/SwFG8PzKTA pic.twitter.com/wTIboe0NTY
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 14, 2023
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Power restored to 25,000 Queensland homes and businesses
Power has been restored to 25,000 homes and businesses in far north Queensland after nearly 40,000 experienced power outages in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper.
Ergon Energy said its crews were now being supported by additional staff from across Queensland to speed up restoring power for the remaining 15,000 facing outages.
The region is facing a number of flood warnings, with the deluge forecast to continue. A major flood risk has been flagged for the Daintree, a moderate flood warning for the Mulgrave and Russell rivers, and minor warnings for the Barron and Tully rivers.
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Jimmy Barnes making ‘good progress’ after heart surgery
Singer Jimmy Barnes is doing well after being moved to an intensive care unit following open-heart surgery.
The 66-year-old underwent the procedure on Wednesday after a bacterial infection spread to his heart.
His wife Jane Barnes wrote on social media:
Good progress today in ICU. Some massive tubes have come out and first physio visit.
Clearing lungs and deep breathing, we know he’s good at that!
Our family thanks each and everyone for your well wishes, every single one counts so please keep them coming.
Barnes has cancelled upcoming shows because of the health emergency – a development he described as “hugely frustrating”.
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Vodafone shuts its 3G network
Vodafone will shut off its 3G network today, becoming the first company in Australia to shut down the first network that enabled smartphone use. Telstra won’t shut down its network until June and Optus won’t shut down until September.
They’re being shut down because the spectrum licences are expiring, and the spectrum will be reused for 5G.
A spokesperson for Vodafone said the company had a year’s lead time since announcing the shutdown to prepare for it, and now only abouit 1% of the network traffic is 3G, with 85% 4G and 13% for 5G.
The spokesperson said the switch-off would impact a “small number of customers who have 3G-only devices” but the company had been in contact with customers well in advance:
We have been proactively contacting our customers through regular SMS and email campaigns to let them know about the 3G closure, and to help them upgrade their phones or device settings. So far, we have sent more than two million messages to our customers to keep them updated about the 3G network closure and have put on extra staff in our retail stores and contact centres to help customers with this transition.
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Aukus vote hailed
Defence minister Richard Marles was doing the rounds on breakfast TV this morning to speak about the US Congress passing overnight the bill that will allow the sale of Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia.
He said the $4bn contribution from Australia to boost shipyard production in the US as part of the deal will be “worked through in the coming years”:
That is really important from an American point of view in terms of making sure that they have their own capabilities maintained, that we get Virginia-class submarines out of service and into operation in the US. T
his was always the challenge when we were talking about America providing Virginia-class submarines to Australia and it is why we were so pleased to reach that arrangement back in March this year.
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Aemo warns coal-fired power plants could drop off before replacements are ready
Australia’s main power grid faces the “real” possibility ageing coal-fired power plants will drop out before sufficient generation capacity and transmission lines are in place, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said.
The comments, contained in a draft report on Aemo’s main blueprint for the national electricity market, come a day after New South Wales faced its first grid strains of the summer. Authorities called on consumers to reduce non-essential power use as temperatures hovered in the high 30s across much of Sydney.
Aemo’s report, known as the Integrated System Plan, noted that 10 big coal-fired power plants had shut in the national electricity market since 2012. The remaining coal fleet may shut as much as three times faster than companies have flagged in their public announcements.
Aemo said in the mostly likely scenario about 90% of the current 21 gigawatts of coal capacity would retire by 2034-35 and all by 2038. Even in its “progressive change” path, only 4GW of coal generation would remain in 2034-35.
More on this story here:
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Calls for minister to be upfront about warship decision
The federal opposition has called on the government to be upfront about its reasons should it reject a US request to send a warship to the Middle East to protect Israel from a rebel-enforced blockage.
Speaking on Seven’s Sunrise this morning, acting opposition leader Sussan Ley said:
This is a serious request from our closest ally.
I genuinely want to know if the government is not going to accept this request, then why not?
Defence minister Richard Marles was asked about the request a little earlier on ABC News Breakfast and said the government is going through the “normal course of assessing the request”:
There are Australians who are embedded in that headquarters right now and in the past, we have sent navy vessels to participate in the activities of the [combined maritime force].
I need to say our focus has been, in terms of our naval effort, on our immediate region. A couple of days ago I welcomed back HMAS Toowoomba who had been involved in a regional presence deployment in the East China Sea and in our part of the world and we have two boats coming back from activities in that part of the world as well. That is our focus.
We will consider this in the normal course and work through with the Americans about how we can best contribute.
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Focus on mental health
The government will be injecting $456m into digital mental health services – including Lifeline and Beyond Blue – to give people to with anxiety and depression better access to mental health services.
Speaking on RN Breakfast a short time ago, the health minister, Mark Butler, said:
Some people go through situational distress through a relationship breakdown or a job loss or bereavement, and they need relatively short periods of support. They might not have a diagnosable mental illness, but they’re certainly distressed and they need support and that really is what the digital investment we’re looking at today is particularly targeted that there are people who go through periods of anxiety and depression and better access.
Butler said over the course of the next year the government would be working on more supports for people with complex health needs:
There’s definitely a gap there for people with more complex needs, but better access which is the scheme that provides Medicare rebates for psychological therapy, the one that we’re talking about, that is not designed to pick up those people and really we need to find alternative systems of support for them.
That is really the concerning growing area of need in the country, not just here in Australia and other countries as well.
Asked by Patricia Karvelas about the exorbitant costs of a psychology session and the capacity for people to meet gap fees for a session, Butler agreed gap fees have “climbed dramatically”:
They’re now close to $100 a session on average, but there’s many that are higher than that as you indicate. So affordability is a driver of inequity as well and so we’re looking at ways in which we can put out different systems for people who just don’t have the capacity to pay those sorts of gap fees.
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‘We’re a lot better prepared as a country than we were heading into black summer’
Murray Watt reiterated the government’s plan to create a response to disasters that’s alternative to the Australian defence force, saying he hopes to begin outlining a plan in the first half of next year, while adding it “will take a number of years”:
We’ve made clear that we will always make the ADF available to states and territories when it’s needed. But we do need to have some other options in place.
Watt said “we’re prepared as we possible could be” for the risk of further extreme weather events this summer:
We’re a lot better prepared as a country than we were heading into black summer four years ago.
At the federal level, things have significantly changed. We’ve now got one coordinated Emergency Management Agency rather than responsibilities being split between different agencies. We’ve started building a national emergency management stockpile for the very first time, we’ve got the largest fleet of firefighting aircraft that Australia’s ever seen.
There’s always going to be surprising events or events that are more intense than what you expect them to be, but I’m confident that we’re aware as well prepared as we possibly can be.
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Queensland flood warnings
The minister for emergency management, Murray Watt, has just appeared on ABC RN from Cairns to speak about the heavy rain and threat of flooding in far north Queensland in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Watt said the good news was there hasn’t been as much damage as people initially feared but he said the floods could be “quite serious” and people need to take “serious precautions”:
This is monsoonal rain for a tropical part of our country, but it is early in the season to be getting this amount of rain. Conditions had been very dry in far north Queensland in the lead-up to this so the soil has been able to absorb this rain pretty well.
But just the sheer volume of rain that we’ve seen in some parts of far north Queensland will be difficult for anywhere to cope with and that’s why we’re seeing those flood warnings in place.
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Some lighter news this morning for you from my colleague Daisy Dumas on the Sydney man dubbed the “Annihilator” who won the Excel world championship.
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Transport costs accelerate by more than $900 a year
Transport costs have soared by more than $1,000 a year in some Australian cities, with expenses topping $24,000 on average and putting added pressure on household budgets, AAP reports.
The figures, released by the Australian Automobile Association this week, showed transport costs rose by 4% over the past three months, or more than triple the consumer price index.
Households in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane continued to pay the most for transport, at an average of more than $27,000 a year.
But the AAA revealed costs in some regional areas had risen by more than $800 a year and weekly costs in some towns had passed $400 a week for the first time.
The results came amid record high petrol prices of more than $2 a litre and after the consumer price index climbed to 5.4% in the year to 30 Septembe.
On average, the report found, households in capital cities would spend $24,262 on transport each year or $466 a week, while households in regional areas spent $20,404 a year or $392 a week.
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Good morning
Thank you Martin Farrer for kicking things off this morning, and happy Friday blog readers! I’m Jordyn Beazley and I’ll be bringing you our rolling news coverage today.
As always, if there’s anything you’d like to draw my attention to, you can reach me at jordyn.beazley@theguardian.com.
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Barry Humphries memorial today
The life of acclaimed Australian entertainer Barry Humphries will be celebrated in a state memorial at the Sydney Opera House today.
The comedy legend, best known for his alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died in Sydney on 22 April 22 at the age of 89.
Humphries’ extraordinary international career, spanning seven decades, will be remembered on Friday by dignitaries, family, friends and fans.
The televised service will feature tributes and performances from the renowned actor, poet, musician and artist’s family and friends, as well as stars from across the entertainment and arts worlds.
The two-hour memorial event is being co-hosted by the Australian and NSW governments and begins at 11am.
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Jasper weather warnings
The cyclone danger may have passed but far north Queensland has been warned it is still under threat with flooding set to test locals, AAP reports.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper weakened after crossing the coast north of Cairns on Wednesday night and is expected to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria by the weekend.
While Jasper has been reduced to a tropical low, people left in its destructive path are bracing for heavy rainfall and damaging winds of up to 90km/h.
Queensland treasurer Cameron Dick warned:
This event is not over.
There are severe weather warnings for large parts of the north tropical coast and tablelands as well as the peninsula and gulf country.
Rains of 150mm to 200mm are expected in the region, with isolated falls of up to 400mm.
There are major flooding warnings for the Daintree, Barron and Mossman rivers.
People have been told to avoid flood waters and stay inside as emergency services clean up, with crocodiles and snakes expected to be on the move.
More than 500 energy crews have travelled north to assist with more than 40,000 homes and businesses who were at one stage without power.
Cairns locals are advised to conserve drinking water as authorities work to remove debris from a treatment plant.
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Airlines say today will be busiest day in four years
Jetsetters eager to escape the cities for Christmas are being advised to get to airports early as airlines predict their busiest day in four years, Australian Associated Press reports.
After years of disruption, the air travel industry is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, and the last two Fridays before Christmas are traditionally the busiest days of the period as travellers make a hasty getaway after schools and businesses wind down for the year.
Friday will be the Qantas and Jetstar’s single busiest day of the holiday period, with more than 150,000 customers set to take to the skies.
The Qantas group has brought forward maintenance on its aircraft, placed extra planes on standby and brought on more staff, while Virgin is offering additional services on popular domestic and short-haul international routes.
Newly arrived Sydney airport boss Scott Charlton said staff were prepared for the airport’s biggest holiday period in four years:
This is the first Christmas holiday since 2019 that the border with mainland China is open and demand is strong, with seat capacity back to pre-COVID levels as we head into 2024.
While Sydney airport does not anticipate any more delays than usual, extra staff are being brought on to help ease passengers through the gates. It advised customers to turn up early and pre-book parking.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’m going to bring you up to speed with our top stories before today’s regular blogger, Jordyn Beazley, takes the controls.
Our top story today is another twist in the immigration detention story with our reporter Paul Karp discovering that the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, has quietly lifted the ankle bracelet and curfew conditions from at least two of the three people released from detention who are challenging tough new visa rules in the high court. Guardian Australia understands that Giles has exempted a Chinese asylum seeker known as S151 and an Afghan refugee known as AUK15 from the conditions.
A criminal syndicate was tipped off to a covert operation after federal law enforcement staff shared photos of an intercepted shipping container with more than 400 public servants across multiple agencies. The blunder prompted a multi-agency corruption investigation.
Steven Miles will be sworn in today as Queensland’s 40th premier after Annastacia Palaszczuk tenders her resignation to the state governor, Jeannette Young, in Brisbane. Miles is expected to announce, among a number of “day one” initiatives, that the state will lift its lagging emissions reductions targets.
The US Congress has passed legislation overnight allowing the country to sell Virginia-class submarines to Australia under the Aukus security pact. The development will be warmly welcomed by the Australian government, which had hoped to secure the legislative tick before the US entered the politically charged environment of a presidential election year.
Also coming up today: Barry Humphries’ state memorial at the Sydney Opera House, the ex-Cyclone Jasper washup continue, and, if you’ve got a flight today, get to the airport early – it’s said to be the busiest day for airlines in four years.
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