Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
What we learned, Friday 19 April
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap some of the big headlines.
Bondi Junction Westfield will reopen for trade after last weekend’s stabbings
The first Australian navy officers have been assigned to US Virginia class submarines
Violence against women is a ‘scourge’ that is ‘perpetrated by men’, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, said
The alleged offender in the Wakeley church stabbing faced a bedside court hearing
Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders released a joint statement following recent tensions and violence
Planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are now the longest on record, according to new data from the Australian Medical Association
Bill Shorten suggested ‘more soldiers and police officers’ should be patrolling shopping centres
The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, outlined the facts of the Wakeley stabbing case and called for unity
The civil liberties council is ‘concerned’ by a push for tougher penalties on parents whose children are found with knives
Nationals senator Matt Canavan declared ‘king coal’s reign continues’ as the climate crisis continues to worsen
A think tank says young are people concerned government isn’t planning for the long term
Teenagers who rely on welfare to pay rent are being pushed towards homelessness, a new report shows
Peter Dutton has given a speech saying the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel “isn’t even conceivable” until after Hamas is defeated
The 16-year-old alleged Wakeley terrorist has shown behaviour consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability, his lawyer told a court today
Samantha Ratnam will step down as the leader of the Victorian Greens to run for the federal seat of Wills
The Greens say they are yet to take position on a bill banning non-prescription vapes
A boy, aged 9, was among four killed in a car crash in the WA Wheatbelt
The commonwealth ombudsman has warned non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention
The Greens say Israeli missiles launched at Iran ‘must not become our next war beside the US’
Stocks and the Aussie dollar sank after reports of explosions in Iran
Fire ants were spotted near the tip of the Murray Darling Basin
Dfat issues travel advice amid reports of explosions across the Middle East
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow to do it all again!
Updated
Traditional owners welcome plan to stop visitors walking on Kathi Thanda-Lake Eyre without permission
Visitors will no longer be able to set foot on one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations under a proposed plan to protect its cultural significance for traditional owners, AAP has reported.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is the continent’s largest lake. Swimming, driving, boating and landing aircraft on the lake are already banned, but the new plan would prevent visitors from setting foot on its bed without permission.
It is a sacred site for the Arabana people, who have lived in the region for millennia and are the lake’s native title holders.
The Arabana Aboriginal Corporation chairwoman, Bronwyn Dodd, said her people were proud to share Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre but urged visitors to respect their Ularaka (stories), lore and culture:
We have a responsibility to look after the lake and in turn, it looks after us.
Preservation of this lake is also the preservation of our culture.
Updated
Attorney general calls on men to ‘step up’ against family violence
Echoing the words of anti-family violence campaigner Rosie Batty, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has called on men in Australia to “step up” and stamp out attacks on women, AAP has reported.
In a speech to the family violence symposium held by the federal circuit and family court in Melbourne on Friday, Dreyfus likened the death of more than 25 women this year to an epidemic.
Dreyfus noted the event was being held against the backdrop of “shocking acts of violence against women” just days after five women were stabbed to death at a Bondi Junction shopping centre, and several women were killed in Ballarat in two months. More than 25 women have been killed in Australia so far this year.
“It’s time for men to step up,” he said.
“It’s our responsibility to educate ourselves, our sons, our colleagues and our friends.”
Updated
New TikTok Notes app to be banned on Australian government devices
Federal government employees will not be allowed to install the new TikTok app that is the Chinese-owned company’s answer to Instagram, with the existing ban extended to Notes.
On Thursday, TikTok launched Notes, an app dedicated to still images and text in Australia and Canada for initial testing before a wider rollout.
It came a year after the Australian government banned the main TikTok app from government devices, saying the app “poses significant security and privacy risks to non-corporate Commonwealth entities arising from extensive collection of user data and exposure to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law”.
On Friday, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the existing ban would also apply to Notes.
A spokesperson said:
Protective Security Policy Framework Direction 001-2023 addresses the significant security and privacy risks arising from the TikTok application’s extensive collection of user data and its exposure to extra-judicial directives by a foreign government that conflict with Australian law.
The direction extends to TikTok accounts and features subsequently added to the TikTok application, including the photo-sharing capability of TikTok Notes.
Updated
Broken Hill newspaper the Barrier Truth announces shock closure
Broken Hill’s independently owned newspaper, the Barrier Truth, has announced its shock closure, AAP has reported.
After almost 130 years in operation, the Truth’s board announced to staff the union-run bi-weekly paper would be shut down as its final edition went to press.
The Barrier Industrial Council president and newspaper board chair, Roslyn Ferry, told AAP the masthead had closed until further notice.
The board planned to seek legal and financial support following the closure, she said.
“It probably comes as no surprise that maintaining operations, particularly over the past 12 months, has been extremely challenging,” Ms Ferry said in a statement.
Updated
Woodside revenue falls 31% in first quarter due to sluggish production and falling prices
Sluggish production and falling fossil fuel prices have slashed revenues at Australia’s largest oil and gas producer, Woodside, by almost a third, AAP has reported.
The Perth-based company’s revenue for the first quarter fell 31% compared with the previous year to $US2.97 billion ($A4.66 billion), it announced on Friday.
Over the same period, production dropped by 4% while gas and oil prices slumped by 25%.
Despite the lacklustre result, the chief executive, Meg O’Neill, said significant progress had been made on Woodside’s three major growth projects – Sangomar in Senegal, Scarborough in WA and Trion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sangomar is now 96% complete, with first oil targeted by mid-2024, O’Neill said.
Updated
Electric cars must generate artificial noises under new laws
Electric cars sold in Australia will have to generate artificial noises when driving slowly in carparks and driveways, to aid pedestrian safety around the otherwise quieter vehicles, as part of design requirements unveiled by the Albanese government on Friday.
Acoustic vehicle alerting systems (Avas) will be required in new electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars, trucks and buses from November 2025, under the new Australian design rule that brings the country into line with similar requirements in the United States and Europe.
When an electric car travels above 30km/h, it sounds much the same as a petrol-driven vehicle, as the noise is emitted from the tyres vibrating against the road rather than the engine. But below that speed, it becomes barely audible.
This can make encountering the vehicles more dangerous for pedestrians, particularly people with low vision. The new design rules are expected to prevent 68 fatalities and 2,675 serious injuries by 2060.
Vision Australia’s manager of advocacy Chris Edwards said the group had been calling for Avas to be made mandatory in EVs in Australia since 2018.
Edwards said:
All pedestrians should have the right to feel safe and confident when navigating public spaces and today’s announcement is a significant step towards protecting that for people who are blind or have low vision. There is no doubt that this is an announcement that will save lives.
Manufacturers will ultimately get to decide what artificial noises they will feature. BMW has previously hired Hans Zimmer to help score their electric car sound. My colleague Jordyn Beazley has previously covered the question of what electric vehicles should sound like here:
Updated
Australia urges Israel and Iran to 'step back'
The Australian government has urged Iran and Israel to “exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence”.
In response for a request for comment on Israel’s reported retaliatory military actions against Iran, the acting foreign minister, Katy Gallagher, said:
Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region.
This is in no one’s interests. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence.
Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had earlier updated travel advice for the region.
Updated
$60m digital passenger declaration app experienced delays, end product ‘inflexible’, home affairs tells inquiry
The department’s acting chief information officer, Matt Jones, added the digital passenger declaration app – which was supposed to be the first step toward overhauling and digitising Australia’s travel and visa system – was also inflexible.
Labor chair, Julian Hill, asked what the department received from Accenture over its $60m contract before it was terminated prematurely: “So, [Accenture] built an app?”
Jones responded:
“Yeah, and a very hard-wired app, so if we wanted to change questions around, for example, health status, it was going to take weeks and weeks and weeks whereas our expectations and the requirements in the tender was that it was supposed to be configurable.”
2/2
Updated
Home affairs grilled over Covid-era passenger declaration app that operated for only 3 months
Officials from the home affairs department have been grilled by a parliamentary joint committee over their contract with IT company, Accenture, to build a $60m digital passenger declaration app for border re-openings that operated for just three months.
The department’s involvement in signing the contract with the IT firm back in September 2021 was the subject of a scathing report from the Australian national audit office, which found the department undermined its attempts to achieve value for money and did not adequately deal with conflict of interest issues.
The app, which asked incoming passengers to Australia for their health and vaccination status, launched in March 2022 but was ultimately dumped in July 2022 by home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, after Labor took up government.
First assistant secretary, Claire Roennfeldt, told the hearing the contract with Accenture was “mutually” terminated due to a change in biosecurity laws but also spoke at length of how the IT firm failed to deliver on expectations and experienced ongoing delays.
1/2
Updated
Few women among election candidates in Solomon Islands as counting continues
From AAP:
Which 50 Solomon Islanders will make up the next government remains in doubt, but one thing is clear: few will be women.
The Pacific nation, where rapidly deepening ties with China have grabbed international headlines, held its biggest election day on Wednesday, with 1200 candidates running for seats in national and local parliaments.
Counting is expected to continue in earnest on Friday with a few surprises among the early results already declared.
Martin Fini, the pro-China leader of the country’s most populous province, was confirmed to have lost his seat a year after coming to power in Malaita in controversial circumstances.
But few victors across the country will be women, having made up a paltry 5% of candidates in the joint elections.
Read more:
Updated
WA police call for witnesses after fatal Clackline crash
Police have asked anyone who might have seen the car to get in contact:
What I will ask is if anyone was on the road in the early hours or late evening yesterday or the early hours of this morning, if they did witness anything or did see a silver Nissan Navara utility travelling down that road, or have dashcam, if they could please contact Crime Stoppers.
It’s really important that I remind people of the fundamentals of driving on our roads, particularly in regional WA. Do not drive tired, do not drink and drive or use drugs and drive. If you’re driving particularly long distances in the dark, in remote locations, you take suitable rest periods and respite periods, wear your seatbelt, and please do not touch your phones at all.
Updated
‘Three brothers and their family friend’ killed in Wheatbelt car crash, police confirm
A WA police spokesperson is speaking to media now:
When you lose three young men, three brothers and their family friend in one crash, this is a heartbreaking incident for WA. I attended the scene this morning and as you can imagine, it was a very confronting scene for first responders, to attend and, investigate.
He said the 21-year-old man was the driver, his two brothers aged 19 and 9 were in the back seat and their family friend, 45, was in the passenger seat.
All four occupants sustained critical injuries and they died at the scene. Major crash investigations have attended and they are conducting an investigation surrounding the circumstances of that death.
Updated
Police in Perth will give an update on the fatal crash soon. I will bring you that when it comes.
Updated
Many thanks for your company on the blog today. The lovely Cait Kelly will be here to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care, and enjoy your weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology has shared a national weather forecast for the weekend ahead. Heads up for those on the east coast: don’t forget your umbrellas!
Here's what to expect across Australia over the weekend, including rain & thunderstorms in south-east #Qld & parts of #NSW, but mostly settled conditions elsewhere. Video current as of 12:30 pm AEST, Friday 19 April 2024.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) April 19, 2024
Latest: https://t.co/jlOoTZLz8d pic.twitter.com/d1WSSXiUqc
Updated
Ahpra survey shows culture of bullying in trainee doctors
Non-binary and women medical trainees around the nation have reported higher experiences of bullying and mistreatment, AAP reports.
Serious concerns about the culture of medicine were raised by trainee doctors of all genders in the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency survey of more than 23,000 doctors in training in 2023.
Those who identify as non-binary reported the most instances of bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or racism.
16% of non-binary respondents disagreed that bullying, harassment and discrimination is not tolerated by anyone in the workplace.
Some 32% of female respondents witnessed bullying, harassment, discrimination or racism in the past year, while 58% of non-binary respondents said the same.
Female trainees also reported more workplace bullying and mistreatment than their male counterparts.
The Ahpra board chair said the culture of medical training needed ongoing attention. Anne Tonkin said in the December 2023 report:
In such a complex system of shared accountabilities and responsibilities, there is no quick fix. The urgent need for ongoing commitment to building a culture of respect in medicine and medical training remains.
More than 18,000 participants answered a question about their gender, with more than 9000 trainees identifying as female, 8000 as male and 67 as non-binary.
Updated
Albanese on the Harold Holt swimming pool: ‘I always thought that was a poor taste joke’
During the same radio interview, the prime minister revealed his thoughts on the Harold Holt Swim Centre in Melbourne (the fourth-best in the country, in our opinion), stating he always thought it was “a poor taste joke”.
A Fox 101.9 Melbourne host noted that earlier this week, Anthony Albanese had surpassed Holt’s tenure in office. The host said:
So, congratulations. Just don’t go for a swim at Portsea.
Albanese responded “I’ll avoid that”, but admitted he was “still somewhat stunned” by the name of the swimming pool.
When I was going to Melbourne and passed one day the Harold Holt swimming pool, I always thought that was a poor taste joke. But there is one.
Updated
Prime minister said government handling Muhammad Taha’s citizenship request in ‘very sympathetic manner’
Earlier today, the prime minister said the government was working with the security guard injured during the Bondi Junction attack in “a very sympathetic manner”.
This comes after the security guard, Muhammad Taha, asked why he had not been offered similar treatment to that of French “bollard man” Damien Guerot.
Guerot was offered permanent residency in Australia for his efforts confronting the alleged attacker Joel Cauchi. Taha was seriously injured during the attack and remains in hospital.
Speaking to Fox 101.9 Melbourne earlier today, Anthony Albanese said:
[Taha] was the security guard who was working there. And he’s injured, he’s still in hospital from the wounds that he suffered. And we’re dealing with his case as well in a very sympathetic manner because I think that’s what Australians would want. These people have shown themselves to be certainly not just of good character, but brave and extraordinary people.
Yesterday Albanese told A Current Affair the government “certainly will” consider extending a residency offer to Taha, and he was “very confident” it would be approved on Friday.
Updated
Dfat issues travel advice amid reports of explosions across the Middle East
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has published the following advice, after reports have emerged of explosions across the Middle East:
There have been reports of explosions across some locations in the Middle East. The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little notice. There may also be airspace closures, flight cancellations, diversions and other travel disruptions.
In an attack or other armed conflict, you should follow the advice of local authorities.
There have been reports of explosions across some locations in the Middle East. The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little notice. There may also be airspace closures, flight cancellations, diversions and other travel disruptions. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/tOqyBgr9p5
— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) April 19, 2024
This comes as Australians in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been advised to depart, if safe to do so. Dfat said:
There’s a high threat of military reprisals & terrorist attacks against Israel & Israeli interests across the region. The security situation could deteriorate quickly. We urge Australians in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories to depart if it’s safe to do so.
Military attacks may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations & diversions & other travel disruptions. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport may pause operations due to heightened security concerns at any time, & at short notice.
Updated
Fire ants spotted near tip of Murray Darling Basin
The Nationals have expressed concern over the discover of fire ants at Oakey, west of Toowoomba, for the first time.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said in a statement that Labor had been “too slow to act” on the issue, and the discovery was of great concern because Oakey is at the tip of the Murray Darling Basin.
The worrying thing about the Oakey detection is that if fire ants get up above the Great Dividing Range, it could potentially get into the Murray Darling Basin and that could effectively see the fire ants go right down the Adelaide.
It would impact the whole country and have devastating consequences. Labor now needs to urgently respond to the inquiry.
Updated
Two million people work in job where highest qualification not relevant: ABS
New data from the Bureau of Statistics shows that for two million employed Australians, their highest qualification was not relevant to their current job.
42% said they were no longer interested in the field of their highest qualification, or had wanted a career change. Meanwhile a further 24% reported a lack of available positions in the field of their highest qualification.
79% of employed Australians (with one or more non-school qualification) were working in a field relevant to their highest level of education.
2 million employed people have reported their highest qualification is not relevant to their current job. Of these, 42% were no longer interested in the field of their highest qualification or had wanted a career change. pic.twitter.com/MkRQOyOYgy
— Australian Bureau of Statistics (@ABSStats) April 19, 2024
Albanese says social media companies have ‘responsibility to act’
The prime minister has shared a video from his earlier press conference where he stated social media companies have a “responsibility to act” on harmful material without the eSafety commissioner having to intervene.
Social media companies need to do the right thing. pic.twitter.com/SgNBCqmDtW
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 19, 2024
You can read the full comments earlier in the blog here, in case you missed it.
Updated
Labor mulls tougher penalties for social media failing to take down content
Education minister Jason Clare says the government is considering options for tougher sanctions for social media companies that fail to take content down following requests by the watchdog.
Speaking earlier today about the stabbing attacks in Sydney, he told Seven’s Sunrise:
The advice I’ve got is that Facebook did a reasonable job, but Twitter hasn’t, that there was still information days and days after these attacks took place. There’s penalties there of $500,000 for companies, $100,000 for individuals, we’re looking at what more needs to be done here as well.
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley also said social media giants were required to play their role in not having graphic content being shared widely.
I’m so sick of these social media platforms, I’m so sick of their excuses. They’re parents too, they have a responsibility. We’ll support the government in cracking down, getting tougher and findings ways of getting outside this sort of voluntary compliance routine that exists right now.
– from AAP
Updated
Stocks, Aussie dollar sink after reports of explosions in Iran
Investors aren’t big fans of uncertainty so it’s not surprising that reports of explosions in the Iranian city of Isfahan are prompting a sell-off of stocks in Australia – and in other markets such as Japan.
Our colleagues are tracking international developments in this companion blog.
The Australian stock market, meanwhile, is down about 1.4%, bringing the five-day decline to 3.3%.
Tensions in the Middle East aren’t the only thing bothering equity investors. The stubbornness of inflation in the US, the UK and elsewhere means early cuts in official interest rates are a diminishing possibility (a bad thing for company profits).
We’ll find out if Australia is exceptional next Wednesday when the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases March quarter inflation figures. CBA said today it expected headline inflation eased from 4.1% at the end of 2023 to 3.4% by the end of last month. (They are also among the most “dovish” about the Reserve Bank’s intentions, predicting three official interest rate cuts this year, starting in September.)
The Australian dollar has continued its retreat of late, dropping to 63.8 US cents in recent trading. (It started 2024 at above 68 US cents.)
The flight to “haven” assets means the US dollar and its bonds draw buyers at times of global uncertainty. (It’s best not to look too closely at the size of American debt, etc.) Gold is popular too, as is oil for obvious reasons, with prices of both up in the wake of the renewed tensions.
Australia, a net energy exporter, tends to do OK overall when the oil price rises – although it might not seem that way if you’re filling up at the petrol station.
Updated
Greens on Israeli missiles launched at Iran: ‘This must not become our next war beside the US’
In some international news: US officials have confirmed that Israeli missiles have struck an area inside Iran. You can follow the latest developments around this on our separate live blog:
In a post to X, NSW Greens senator David Shoebridge responded to the news and said “this must not become our next war beside the US”.
Australia must condemn all attacks by both Israel and Iran and clearly state it will not participate in any conflict other than to work to de-escalate.
At a minimum that means a comprehensive arms embargo on all sides. Now.
Updated
Australia’s north-east facing wet weekend with storms predicted
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting showers and storms about much of the country’s north-east this weekend.
Flash flooding and renewed river rises are a risk, the bureau said, with a flood watch in place for some locations. The wet weather is being caused by a tropical low over the Arafura sea.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms are possible across much of far north Queensland today, and slow moving storms across Port Douglas, Cooktown and Wujal Wujal could bring heavy falls and flash flooding.
Showers and storms are forecast much of NE #Australia this weekend. Flash flooding and renewed river rises are a risk with a #FloodWatch current for some catchments. This wet weather is largely due to tropical low 15U over the Arafura Sea. Details: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ pic.twitter.com/8pQrpT5fek
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) April 19, 2024
Updated
Woodside revenue dives as fossil fuel prices dip
Sluggish production and falling fossil fuel prices have slashed revenues at Australia’s largest oil and gas producer, Woodside, by almost a third, AAP reports.
The Perth-based company’s revenue for the first quarter fell 31% compared with the previous year to $US2.97bn ($4.66bn), it has announced.
Over the same period, production dropped by 4% while gas and oil prices slumped by a quarter.
Despite the lacklustre result, chief executive Meg O’Neill said significant progress had been made on Woodside’s three major growth projects – Sangomar in Senegal, Scarborough in Western Australia and Trion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Full-year production and capital expenditure guidance remained unchanged.
Woodside’s board is set to face a feisty reception from shareholders at its annual general meeting next week. The company’s share price has fallen by a quarter in the past eight months while critics have attacked its climate credibility.
Updated
NSW health minister says backlog of overdue surgeries has fallen sharply
The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, says overdue surgeries have fallen by the thousands since he established a surgical care taskforce last year.
Park spoke to the media earlier today from Brisbane, where a meeting of state and federal health ministers was held. He said overdue surgeries had fallen from 14,000 to 2,100 since the taskforce was established in March 2023.
While acknowledging challenges in the health system, Park said:
When we took over there were around 14,000 people waiting longer than clinically recommended for their surgery. [The] surgical care taskforce got the very, very best clinicians from across the hospital system in NSW and started to work on what we could do … to make surgeries quicker and be able to get them faster for people in the community …
What has that resulted in? 14,000, from day one, now down to 2,000, [and] that is a massive improvement in the space of a 12-month period.
Updated
Non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention – ombudsman
The commonwealth ombudsman has made a submission to the Senate inquiry into Labor’s deportation bill, warning it could add to the “risk of indefinite detention”.
It said a non-citizen in immigration detention who was subject to a removal pathway direction would have two choices: “return to their country of origin or a safe third country; or go to prison”.
If the person chooses non-compliance with the direction, once they have served their prison sentence, without change to their visa status, they would be returned to immigration detention where they could be subject to further ministerial removal pathway directions ... The only way for a non-citizen to break the cycle of detention and imprisonment is to return to their country of origin or a safe third country.
The submission also questions whether a mandatory minimum of one year in prison for refusing a direction to cooperate with deportation would even work – because non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention.
The report says that “in my view, immigration detention facilities are unsuitable for long-term use”, with the office receiving reports on “barriers to accessing medical care, dental treatment and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs”.
… as well as losing access to life and work skill programs they may have commenced while in the community or in correctional facilities. Indeed, my office has recorded instances of detainees expressing a preference for incarceration over immigration detention due to the certainty and better range of meaningful activities that can be attached with a prison term.
It is therefore possible that the deterrence potential of a prison term has been overestimated and that some people on a removal pathway will choose noncompliance with a ministerial direction over removal and remain in a cycle of detention and imprisonment for prolonged periods or even indefinitely.
Updated
Boy, aged 9, among four killed in WA car crash
Four people including a nine-year-old boy have died in a fatal car crash in Western Australia.
Officers from the major crash investigation section are investigating the crash that occurred in Clackline in the early hours of Friday.
About 12.30am, a silver Nissan Navara utility was travelling east on the Great Eastern Highway when the vehicle left the road and struck a tree, police said.
The four male occupants of the vehicle – aged 45, 21, 19 and nine – sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
Major crash investigators are urging anyone with any information relating to this crash, or who saw the silver Nissan Navara utility travelling in the area prior to the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Greens yet to take position on bill banning non-prescription vapes
Greens leader Adam Bandt says the party is yet to form a position on the federal government’s bill banning non-prescription vapes.
It comes as the Australia’s state and territory governments said they backed the legislation that, if passed, would force vape stores to close by preventing the domestic manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of non-prescription vapes.
Bandt said at a press conference:
We’re having a look at the legislation and we’re talking with experts and stakeholders to work through our position. We take a principle-based approach where we’ll listen to the evidence and the experts.
Generally, we know that prohibition doesn’t work and hasn’t worked in the past. But we also are very concerned about the rise especially of children vaping, I say that as someone who’s got two children in primary school … the real question is what is the best way to tackle that?
Bandt wouldn’t put a timeframe on this work, saying:
We’re going to take the time necessary. It’s a very important piece of legislation.
Updated
Introducing Samantha Ratnam, federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said:
I am absolutely thrilled that Sam Ratnam is putting herself forward for the people of Wills as their next member of parliament. Sam has an incredible history representing people of Wills over a decade, representing this area as the local member, as well as being the leader of the Victorian Greens, which has a strong history and connection with this area and a strong track record of fighting for the people of Wills.
People are disappointed in Labor. They don’t want Peter Dutton and now, this time, they can vote for the Greens.
Updated
Samantha Ratnam to step down as leader of Victorian Greens for federal tilt
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam says she will be stepping down as leader of the party in the state after she was successfully preselected to run in the federal seat of Wills, currently held by Labor’s Peter Khalil on an 8.6% margin.
Speaking alongside federal leader Adam Bandt in Coburg, she said:
I’d also like to announce that as a result of my candidacy, I will be stepping down as leader of the Greens Victorian party room. We’ll be meeting on Tuesday to elect a new leadership team. They are a formidable team. They have my full confidence and I know they’re going to continue to shake up Victorian politics for years to come.
Ratnam says she’ll also resign from parliament before the end of the year.
Over the next few months the party will conduct a pre-selection to select my replacement in the seat of Northern Metropolitan. I plan to leave my seat of Northern Metropolitan once that process is complete over the next few months’ time, before the end of the year.
Updated
Dutton cites ‘good and evil’ as he defends Israel’s military offensive
Circling back to opposition leader Peter Dutton’s speech to the St Kilda Hebrew congregation in Melbourne this morning, where he leaned heavily into good v evil rhetoric:
A Coalition government under my leadership will always distinguish the lawful from the lawless, always differentiate civilisation from barbarism, and always discern the good from the evil. This is why the unequivocal condemnation of Hamas is right. And that is why we must unambiguously denounce Iran’s military attack on Israel, and the regime’s sponsoring of terrorist groups across the region.
Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people ... any self-respecting society would expect that of their democratically elected government.
Israel has every right to respond militarily to thwart the existential threats that it faces.
The Labor government has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned Hamas’s 7 October attacks and has also condemned Iran’s recent attacks. The government has said Israel has a right to defend itself, but also said how it does so matters, and that it must comply with international law and protect Palestinian civilians.
Dutton went on to say that the resolve of democracies around the world were being “tested” and he believed “our very civilisation, as we know it, our civilisational values are under threat”.
He said it was “not a time for weak leadership, it’s not a time for weasel words, this is not a time to try and walk both sides of the street”.
The Coalition stands with our ally and our friend Israel and we stand with Australia’s Jewish community in fighting against antisemitism in every season.
Updated
Disability and mental health check for accused terror teenager
A teenage boy facing a possible life term in prison for alleged terrorism over the stabbing of a bishop has shown behaviour consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability, his lawyer told a court today.
The 16-year-old is accused by police of travelling 90 minutes from his home to attack Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a live-streamed sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, in Sydney’s west, on Monday night.
The teenager did not appear in court during a brief mention of the case today, when he was refused bail at a hearing. A brief of evidence is due to be served when the matter returns to court on 14 June.
The teenager’s lawyer, Greg Scragg, said he might seek an earlier date, having been instructed the boy had a long history of behaviour consistent with a mental illness or intellectual disability.
He told Parramatta children’s court:
We may seek to bring this matter back earlier if a question arises in relation to his treatment or assessment for those conditions whilst he’s in custody.
The magistrate made a recommendation for the boy to be assessed by Justice Health while in custody.
– from AAP
Updated
Opposition leader says Palestinian state alongside Israel not ‘conceivable’ until Hamas defeated
Peter Dutton has given a speech saying the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel “isn’t even conceivable” until after Hamas is defeated.
Sky News has broadcast footage of the opposition leader speaking at the St Kilda Hebrew congregation in Melbourne this morning. Dutton used the speech to declare that the Coalition “stands with our ally and our friend Israel” amid the ongoing military operation in Gaza.
He also accused the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, of having “significantly damaged our relations with our most important ally in the region, Israel” by stressing the importance of a two-state solution to end the cycle of violence in the long term.
Dutton said:
It was Hamas’s barbarity on October 7 which has set back the goal of a two-state solution. Until Hamas is defeated, a two-state solution isn’t even conceivable because Hamas will always pose an existential threat, an existential threat to the State of Israel. That’s why I characterised the foreign minister’s remarks as utterly illogical, as ill-timed and inappropriate.
The audience applauded at that comment.
In her speech on 9 April, Wong mentioned that the international community was considering recognition of a Palestinian state as part of building momentum to a two-state solution, but she gave no timing for Australia to do so. Wong was emphatic that the Australian government saw “no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state”.
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PM says social media firms have ‘responsibility to act’ on misinformation and graphic content
Anthony Albanese said social media companies “have a responsibility to act” when it comes to misinformation and violent images from its platforms.
Speaking to the media just now, he said:
It shouldn’t [take] the eSafety commissioner to intervene, to direct companies – in this case X and Meta – to take down violent videos that show people of lost their lives …
Albanese said images that were circulated from the Bondi Junction stabbing attack had a “real detrimental impact”. He said people with footage from the attack should have forwarded it to police to assist with their investigations, rather than post to social media.
[We all have] a responsibility, but the social media companies that make a lot of money out of their business have a social responsibility and I want to see social media companies start to understand their social responsibility that they have to others as well, because that’s where they get their social licence.
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Federal government ‘committed’ to doing more to tackle violence against women, PM says
Turning to the mass stabbing attack at Bondi Junction last weekend, Albanese said that violence against women is “far too prevalent”. He also noted a demonstration held in Ballarat last week on the issue.
What we know is that violence against women is far too prevalent. It too often occurs from a partner or a family member and we know that the statistic of a woman on average dying every week due to violence from a partner or someone they know, it doesn’t tell the story – numbers don’t tell the story. These are human tragedies.
As well, violence has an intergenerational impact on children who witness it in the home and we need to do more to combat violence against women. My government is committed to doing that and they know that state and territory governments are committed to that as well.
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PM says ‘a range of programs’ aimed at supporting healthcare as AMA flags record surgery wait times
Anthony Albanese is speaking to the media from Melbourne, taking questions from reporters.
The PM is asked about a report from the Australian Medical Association showing planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are now the longest on record. We covered this earlier in the blog here.
Responding, Albanese said “doctors [are] interest groups in the lead up to a budget, there’s nothing unusual about people putting forward bids”.
He pointed to a national cabinet meeting last year which established principles to see the commonwealth provide increased support for the health and hospital systems in the states and territories.
In addition to that, we have a range of programs aimed at supporting primary healthcare as well, and that’s one way that you take pressure off the public hospital systems.
He pointed to urgent care clinics and said 58 were opened by the end of last year.
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Youth on welfare ‘pushed’ into homelessness, report shows
Teenagers who rely on welfare to pay rent are being pushed towards homelessness and the situation is worse now than a year ago, AAP reports.
Analysis from Homelessness Australia has found people aged 16 and 17 continue to pay more than three-quarters of their income on rent.
Young tenants in Brisbane are in a worse situation now than 12 months ago as they have to dedicate 83% of their income toward housing, up from 76% in March 2023. Perth’s youth have also fallen behind, paying 76% of income – which is 2% higher than last year.
The percentage of income young tenants spend on rent has remained high elsewhere, but the situation is improving slowly.
The portion of income spent on rent is 94% in Sydney, 73% in Melbourne, 77% in Canberra, 63% in Darwin, 60% in Hobart and 59% in Adelaide. Homelessness Australia cross-referenced payments against rental prices for a two bedroom unit in major metropolitan areas to come up with the results.
Chief executive Kate Colvin said young renters were lower down the pecking order when seeking housing because they received less income support:
Right when they need stability to take their first steps in employment or further education they are pushed into poverty, resulting in social exclusion, mental illness and lost lifetime productivity.
The costs and consequences of our warped housing system will only escalate for young people and the broader society, unless we make better choices.
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Australia must protect multiculturalism, prime minister says
Anthony Albanese has defended Australia’s multiculturalism as cracks in social cohesion emerge after two stabbing attacks in Sydney, AAP reports.
The prime minister said multiculturalism had overwhelmingly been a success and the nation was enriched by the diversity. He told 3AW radio:
Multiculturalism has been a part of modern Australia, and people in cities like Melbourne and Sydney live in peace and harmony.
We need to, like most things that are important in life … make sure that we nurture our multiculturalism, that we at all times show respect for each other.
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Young people concerned government isn't planning for the long-term, thinktank says
A non-partisan thinktank run by younger Australians says political leaders should ensure they are planning for the long-term, with young people feeling “let down” and uncertain for the future amid overlapping crises.
Think Forward conducted a survey of almost 1,000 young Australians and found only 3% believe their political leaders are thinking for the long-term and have a good plan for the future.
The survey found young people believe a lack of long-term planning contributes to a range of crises, which are affecting their future prospects. This included climate change, the housing crisis, the tax system, growing intergenerational wealth inequality and the growing cost – but declining quality – of education.
The report reads:
Young people have little confidence that their political leaders can develop long- term, bold, and well-designed policy responses to difficult structural problems.
A lack of long-term planning and policy action leaves younger generations in a precarious position with an uncertain future, buffeted by overlapping crises and declining economic outcomes.
Young people believe parliamentarians aren’t planning for the future because outside sources make it difficult, they are just in it for themselves, or they act for donors and lobbyists rather than for the community, the survey found.
The thinktank said there was a “political imperative” for parliamentarians to address the concerns of young people, as Millennials and Gen Z now make up almost 45% of voters.
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Canavan declares ‘king coal’s reign continues’ as climate crisis continues to worsen
Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan has released a media statement claiming that “king coal’s reign continues”.
For some reason the press release forgets to mention coal’s role in climate breakdown, such as climate breakdown-induced food shortages, studies predicting that average incomes will fall by almost a fifth as a result of the climate crisis, and March seeing the 10th consecutive monthly record for global heating.
Canavan’s press release coincides with Pembroke Resources’ opening of their new Olive Downs steelmaking coalmine. Conservationists labelled public funding for the project as “deeply irresponsible” years ago:
When first announced, the coalmine was forecast to provide the state with $5.5bn in royalties and be in operation for 79 years. Canavan’s statement reads:
We’ve been told coal is dead as many times as the Great Barrier Reef, but the reality is both are thriving. Coal demand has never been higher.
As we have reported extensively on, the Great Barrier Reef is not “thriving”. It is currently facing its most severe coral bleaching on record as global heating pushes coral reefs across the world to the worst planet-wide bleaching on record.
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Civil liberties council ‘concerned’ by push for tougher penalties on parents if children found with knives
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties says it is concerned by a push for criminal offences to be introduced for the parents of minors found with weapons, including knives.
It’s been reported that some NSW police officers have been calling for this change via the union, as we flagged earlier.
The council said data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research indicates knife crime has declined over recent consecutive years, and called on the state government to “resist populist calls for legislative change that will not make our communities safer”.
President Lydia Shelly said charging parents on the basis their child has committed an offence “oversimplifies the intricate circumstances surrounding children who have contact with the criminal justice system”:
The stance reportedly taken by NSW police poses significant risks to children. Parents facing criminal charges and a possible conviction may jeopardise their employment opportunities, destabilise their housing situation, and potentially disrupt their ability to maintain custody of their children.
Shelly said the state government should focus on strengthening families, and a whole-of-government approach was needed to prevent children from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.
Parents of children who have been charged with a criminal offence do not deserve to be demonised by the media, the NSW police or the NSW government.
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NSW health minister flags increased talks between states around mental healthcare
The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, says there will be increased discussion between states to ensure pressures on the healthcare system can be alleviated.
He was answering a question on ABC TV about 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, who had recently moved from Brisbane to Sydney before carrying out the Bondi Junction stabbing attack. Cauchi’s family said he struggled with his mental health and had previously received treatment in Queensland.
Park said he and his colleague Rose Jackson would ensure NSW agencies contribute to the coronial inquest, which will work through some of these issues.
I have already asked our agencies to have a look if there are any areas where we can improve that information exchange or information flow.
We know that this person wasn’t a person treated through the NSW mental health services but that doesn’t mean we can’t, as policymakers and legislators, look at ways in which we can make our system stronger …
I want to emphasise this was a person who had only recently come into NSW, had not had anything to do at this stage with our mental health services and tragically, was clearly very, very, unwell. Unfortunately the randomness of this type of attack made it very difficult for any health service to try to provide the care that that person clearly needed.
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John Mullen to commence on Qantas board more than two months earlier than planned
John Mullen will commence as non-executive director and chairman-elect of Qantas from Monday, more than two months earlier than previously announced.
Qantas confirmed Richard Goyder remains as chairman. As previously reported, Goyder will retire before the company’s annual general meeting in late 2024.
A statement published today reads:
Mr Mullen’s position on the Board will be put to a shareholder vote at the AGM. He expects to reduce his existing professional commitments over time.
Charges laid over hundreds of weapons allegedly bound for gangs
A man has been charged with possessing more than 400 banned weapons allegedly bound for Melbourne street gangs after police raids and seizures in the city’s southeast, AAP reports.
In October last year, police seized weapons, including samurai swords, zombie knives and butterfly knives in raids at two shops in Narre Warren and Boronia, and a factory in Dandenong South.
Police also found quantities of methylamphetamine, cannabis, 111 cartons of illegal cigarettes and more than 17,000 vapes, some containing nicotine.
A Cranbourne North man, 52, was arrested at the shop in Narre Warren and is now facing 140 weapons and other charges. Victoria police said in a statement:
It will be alleged the man was selling prohibited weapons – including knives and machetes – to known youth gang members in the Greater Dandenong area.
The man is scheduled to appear in Dandenong magistrates court on 16 July.
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AFP commissioner outlines facts of Wakeley stabbing case, calls for unity
At a press conference earlier this morning, Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw spoke about the 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed a bishop on Monday night and is facing terrorism charges.
He outlined the facts of the case as follows:
On Monday evening police will allege the 16-year-old attended the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley where he allegedly stabbed the bishop.
On Tuesday, investigators with the joint counter terrorism team completed search warrants at this home and seized a number of items.
After examination and when other evidence was obtained, investigators sought to interview the alleged offender. He was interviewed yesterday and charged with a terrorist act under under section 101.1 of the Criminal Code (Commonwealth) 1995, which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.
He has been refused bail and is expected to appear before a bedside hearing today.
The investigation will remain ongoing as this moves through the justice system, Kershaw said.
Kershaw said: “We target criminality not countries. We investigate radicalisation and not religion.”
There is a saying in police – the police are the community and the community are the police. We’re only as strong as effective as our bond to each other. We know that grief hangs heavy over Sydney at the moment and there are many communities with questions, but our answers will have more meaning if we find commonality and not difference.
Greens’ Janet Rice to resign today after previously announcing retirement
Today will be Victorian Greens senator Janet Rice’s last official day in her role.
In a video message to X, she reflected on her 10 years in office and said she would shortly send her resignation email off, effective immediately.
Today I officially become a former senator. I feel sad, excited and grateful. I'll still be working for a just, green world while also taking a much needed break when I can. See you around the traps, and cheers! pic.twitter.com/wv4XTKDXkz
— Janet Rice (@janet_rice) April 18, 2024
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Shorten suggests ‘more soldiers and police officers’ should be patrolling shopping centres
The NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, also weighed in on the calls from police for tougher knife crime penalties, as we reported earlier.
Shorten echoed sentiments from the PM that the government would support what states and territories decide. But as a parent and a Westfield shopper, he said “we do need tougher penalties”:
You know, when I say tougher penalties, it should be, if you’re carrying a knife and use it, that’s aggravated … And so you need to have tougher penalties.
Shorten acknowledged that knives can be a form of recreation, or something people collect, but was not convinced “very long knives” should be available for sale.
It’s not just the knife laws. It’s not just being safe. It’s also the reassurance … I think we need more soldiers and police officers actually patrolling Westfields and perhaps even the big shopping centre companies who make a lot of money can actually be asked to co-pay, so we have a stronger visible police presence.
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Both sides of politics urge social media platforms to adhere to ‘social licence’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and the NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, have weighed in on social media’s role in spreading misinformation and graphic images after two separate stabbing attacks in Sydney.
The two, who are typically at odds with one another, agreed that tech companies should be doing more.
Shorten argued that social media companies “need a big rinse out”. He noted the eSafety commissioner had issued instructions for certain content to be taken down, but said it was a shame the government had to “sort of play whack-a-mole here”.
Social media companies [have] got to just understand there’s a social licence, and it shouldn’t involve, you know, ministers and safety commissioners telling them what to do. They should just get on and do it straight away. And if it costs more money to catch the bad feed on their platforms, well, they just have to spend the money to catch it and stop it.
Dutton agreed and suggested AI could be used to flag certain content on platforms.
When they have that red flag, they should take it down. And if there’s a hesitation in putting it up, if it’s an innocent graphic that they’ve caught, well, they can rectify that. But at the moment I think they’ve got complete contempt for families, for kids who spent a lot of time on social media, and the influence that they exert needs to have that social licence, as Bill says.
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Planned surgery wait times longest on record, medical association says
Planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are now the longest on record, according to new data from the Australian Medical Association.
The data, released as part of the AMA’s annual “public hospital report card”, also shows emergency departments remain strangled by access block.
The AMA has written to health ministers ahead of a meeting today, arguing the findings of its report highlight the need for governments to take further action on the issues affecting Australia’s hospitals.
The AMA president, Prof Steve Robson, said Australians are waiting almost twice as long on average for planned surgery than they were 20 years ago, “which is unacceptable”.
The report found the national proportion of individuals receiving category two planned surgeries (such as heart valve replacements and curettage nerve decompression) had fallen to the lowest point on record. Robson said:
These surgeries are essential and urgent – they are not elective or cosmetic and every day of waiting can bring serious pain and increased risks to patients.
The national average of emergency patients being seen on time is at the lowest level in the past ten years across all categories except resuscitation, the report found.
And the proportion of people in all triage categories who completed their ED presentation in four hours or less was at 56% – the lowest number since 2011 and a 14% fall on pre-pandemic levels.
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Joint Jewish, Muslim and Christian statement released following recent tensions and violence
Three of Australia’s Jewish, Muslim and Christian organisations have released a joint statement calling for unity after the recent tensions and violence in Sydney.
The Jewish Council of Australia, the Islamophobia Register Australia and the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations said they are “deeply concerned by the heightened tensions and acts of violence that have occurred in Sydney over the past week”.
The groups said they rejected any attempt to use recent tragedies to spread misinformation and “perpetuate antisemitism, Islamophobia or any form of racism, hatred or intolerance”.
Instead, we must come together to support one another, amplify facts over falsehoods, and demonstrate the strength of our shared values of inclusivity and mutual understanding.
Father Patrick McInerney, director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, stated:
In these challenging times, we call on all politicians, media outlets, and community leaders to act responsibly and openly to combat racism and division. Words and actions have a profound impact, and we urge you to use your platforms to reinforce messages of solidarity, compassion, and respect for our diverse communities.
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Attorney general says religious discrimination legislation can be unifying moment for the country
The attorney general has suggested religious discrimination laws would be an opportunity to unite the country, amid so much discussion around Australia’s social cohesion.
Speaking to ABC RN, Mark Dreyfus said it was an opportunity to show “we can be a community that treats each other with respect”:
I see the religious discrimination legislation as something that is entirely consistent with the community coming together, just like we’ve seen in the wake of the horrible tragedy that occurred at Bondi Junction.
We’ve seen the best of Australian values coming forward in the last days, we’ve seen the community coming together, expressing their support for the families of victims, laying flowers in Bondi. We’ve seen the kind of kind, compassionate and unified spirit that Australians I know hold, and I think that the religious discrimination legislation can be dealt with in that same spirit.
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Albanese government wants religious discrimination laws passed this year, attorney-general says
Let’s circle back to the attorney general Mark Dreyfus’s earlier interview on ABC RN, where he could not say whether religious discrimination laws would be shelved if an agreement isn’t reached this year.
Dreyfus said the government was attempting to get the legislation passed this year because “we can’t allow this to drag out”. He had a “very good meeting” with senator Michaelia Cash and was “hopeful we can bring the parliament together on this topic”, he said.
But if it can’t be passed this year, will it be shelved? Host Patricia Karvelas pressed the attorney general on this question many times and he repeatedly answered he was working with colleagues and the opposition to “try to reach a resolution”.
We are right now in the middle of negotiations … If we don’t reach agreement, that will be a matter of extreme regret for me and others because we’ve been at this now for several years. And I do think that the issues are well known, and I’m equally – because they’re well known – confident that we can get to a resolution.
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Webb warns of misinformation being spread on social media
Karen Webb said there was misinformation being shared through social media and she wanted to assure the community that police would be out in force to keep them safe.
The source of information should be from police and law enforcement and if people have concerns they should check our websites, socials and any other direct news from law enforcement about current information.
If we have current credible information about a threat to the community, we will let them know. We will share that with the community. So, please, be assured that police will be the source of truth and not social media, misinformation.
The social media platforms included WhatsApp and TikTok, she said.
It’s creating fear, unnecessary fear in the community, and it needs to stop.
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Alleged offender in Wakeley church stabbing to face bedside court
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, is speaking to the media after a 16-year-old was charged with a “terrorist act” for allegedly stabbing a bishop on Monday and is expected to appear at a bedside hearing today.
She said members of the joint counter-terrorism team interviewed the alleged offender at a medical facility last night, and he was subsequently charged with a commonwealth offence for terrorism and refused bail.
We expect he will be attending a bedside court hearing today to determine bail. This relates to the stabbing of the Bishop [Mar Mari Emmanuel, who] we allege on Monday night [was] stabbed up to six times.
We also allege that the boy had travelled for 90 minutes to attend that location from his home address.
He is a 16-year-old. He will appear at a children’s court and it will be a matter before the court. We will not be able to provide many other details because it is before the court.
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Violence against women a ‘scourge’ that is ‘perpetrated by men’, attorney-general says
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, was speaking on ABC RN just earlier about the recent stabbing attacks across New South Wales.
Host Patricia Karvelas read out a question from a listener, who asked: “Can we make it a terrorism offence to kill women, maybe then more will be done?”
Dreyfus responded that “I think we can talk about violence against women without blurring the lines into something else.”
We’ve got a crisis of male violence in Australia. We know that it’s a scourge in our society, we know it must end and I think it’s really clear women can’t be expected to solve violence against women although it is time for men to step up.
I don’t think debating definitions is the way to go … We need to act, we need to educate ourselves, men need to step up, we need to talk to our sons, to our colleagues, to our friends. We need to work together to a solution. And I think going down some kind of almost a wrong path to say let’s redefine – it’s not about definitions. This is about action. We need to shift the way in which we think about this …
Violence against women in Australia is perpetrated by men, we’ve got a crisis of male violence in Australia. It’s a scourge and we all need to act on it and that’s not a matter of how we define it.
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‘We will be looking at everything in relation to this’: Ryan Park on NSW knife laws
Police officers with the NSW Health Services Union are calling for tougher penalties, including for parents, around knife-related incidents.
As reported in the SMH, the union leader Gerard Hayes said the premier, Chris Minns, should follow Queensland and allow police to use metal detectors to search people without a warrant.
Asked what is being considered around this, the NSW health minister, Ryan Park, said this would form part of the coronial inquest.
We will be looking at everything in relation to this issue … [We] want to do this in a methodical way and part of our making sure that the coroner has the resources they need to do that investigation is so that we can look at a range of issues in relation to this incident. But we do have to remember that people sometimes carry out behaviour that is highly unpredictable …
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Healthcare workers ‘performed miracles’ to save those injured during Bondi Junction stabbing: state health minister
The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, also provided a condition update on the Bondi Junction stabbing victims.
He said six patients were still in hospital – ranging from people in the ICU, to people in the wards in a more stable condition.
The nine-month-old baby left the ICU earlier this week and is now recovering and receiving treatment on the wards, but is “still in a serious condition”, he said.
These are people who have experienced very, very significant injuries. We know that stabbing injuries caused huge losses of blood and it was literally a miracle that they survived. A miracle performed both by paramedics and clinicians on the scene, but then also [our] wonderful and talented and dedicated healthcare staff.
[I spoke] to both paramedics and some of our clinicians – including some nursing staff who cared for the baby when she was brought in – and they literally performed miracles overnight, and as a result of their hard work, people were able to survive what was a terrifying event.
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NSW health minister recognises work of paramedics during Wakeley riot
The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, has recognised the paramedics who responded to the Wakeley stabbing incident on Monday night and the subsequent riot outside the church.
As we flagged earlier, a 16-year-old has been charged with a “terrorist act” for allegedly stabbing a bishop. Park spoke to ABC RN earlier and noted the alleged offender was still in hospital, due to be interviewed at a bedside hearing later today.
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the very brave paramedics that extracted [the alleged offender] out that night.
They were in a very, very difficult situation … This was a situation that paramedics don’t find themselves in all of the time, thank goodness, but it was a situation where they were held up with frontline police with hundreds of people outside …. That’s not the sort of scenes we want to see in NSW and it’s not the way in which our paramedics now frontline emergency workers should be treated.
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Treasurer says tariff concessions on Ukrainian imports to be extended
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says Australia will extend tariff concessions on Ukrainian imports to Australia, in agreement with its finance minister Sergii Marchenko.
Australia stands with Ukraine. Today I agreed with @SergiiMarchenk3 to extend tariff concessions on Ukrainian imports to Australia. #auspol #ausecon pic.twitter.com/HRxk3EVN44
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) April 18, 2024
Chalmers has met with Marchenko in Washington DC, where he has been taking part in “17 hours of meetings with global colleagues”, he wrote on X.
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First navy officers assigned to US Virginia class submarines
The first of Australia’s navy officers have been assigned to US Virginia class submarines, the focus of pillar 1 of the Aukus deal.
According to a statement from defence this morning, Lt Cmdr James Heydon, Lt Cmdr Adam Klyne and Lt William Hall have completed their training in Connecticut and will be assigned to the submarines at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
They’re the first Australian Navy officers to graduate from the Submarine Officer Basic Course – the final step of the US Navy’s 15-month nuclear submarine training pipeline.
The trio learned the fundamentals of operating nuclear-powered submarines and will now serve as division officers, leading a team of US submariners.
The number of Australian navy personnel training across the US will increase to more than 100 in the next 12 months.
Director-general of the Australian Submarine Agency, vice admiral Jonathan Mead, said:
The Aukus program for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will succeed because of our team of hard-working, driven people like these three officers, working alongside thousands of other Australians from welders and engineers to electricians and scientists.
Under pillar 1 of Aukus, Australia will buy three Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to replace its current fleet of diesel electric subs in the 2030s.
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Good morning
And happy Friday. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off – I’m Emily Wind and I’ll take you through our live coverage today.
See something that needs attention? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or shoot me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
Let’s get started.
Bondi Junction Westfield to reopen for trade after stabbings
Trade will resume today for the first time in almost a week at Bondi Junction Westfield after it was the scene of Australia’s worst mass killing in years, AAP reports.
Customers will return to the shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after 40-year-old Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing spree, killing six and injuring many more. The Queensland man, who had a long history of mental illness, was shot dead by police inside the shopping complex.
Six people remain in hospitals across Sydney.
The centre will have an increased police and security presence and mental health support and counselling services on site.
Hundreds of people gathered at the centre yesterday to pay their respects to those affected by Saturday’s attack and leave condolences and bouquets. A sombre NSW premier Chris Minns described the day as “the first step in healing”.
It is not back to normal for Sydney, but this is an opportunity to get some kind of grieving and to turn the page on what has been a very difficult period. We are a community that can stand together in difficult periods and show that grief is universal when it is felt by one family, one individual.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to the rolling news blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ve got some of the main overnight stories for you before my colleague Emily Wind sets up shop shortly.
In an exclusive story this morning, we reveal that Queensland police’s ethical standards command is conducting a review after high-ranking members of the service appeared to publicly share and comment on lewd social media posts over a number of years, including one about a sexual assault.
Seventy-two hours after western Sydney was convulsed by rioting, counter-terrorism police charged a 16-year-old boy in hospital yesterday with a “terrorist act” for allegedly stabbing a bishop. He is expected to appear at a bedside hearing today. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. It came after 19-year-old Dani Mansour was charged with riot, affray and destroying or damaging property as part of the mob that allegedly attacked police after the alleged stabbing. And social media pages “notorious” for spreading misinformation have been taken down.
James Warburton, the chief executive and managing director of Seven West Media, has left the company amid a tumultuous period for the broadcaster that has included its entanglement in the Bruce Lehrmann trial. Warburton had been due to step down before the end of the financial year. Stand by for more reaction.
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