A recap of today's top stories
It is time for us to put the blog to bed – before we go, let’s recap the big stories from today:
- Pacific policy: Dutton pledges to ‘support the government in any way’
- Qantas announces $5,000 payment for staff, forecasts return to profit next year
- Victorian deputy premier James Merlino confirms resignation
- Victorian health minister Martin Foley confirms resignation
- Victorian police minister and tourism minister confirm resignations
- Energy minister Chris Bowen says ‘normal market conditions’ have returned
- Two-thirds of aged care providers are operating at a loss – report
- Daniel Andrews gives press conference and thanks ministers departing cabinet
- Andrews nominates Jacinta Allan to be deputy premier
- Protester interrupts start of Sydney address by Chinese ambassador to Australia
- Vaccine mandate for teachers dropped in Queensland, NSW likely to follow
- China and Australia can ‘coexist peacefully’ with respect, ambassador says
- Australia must respect China’s sovereignty, ambassador says: ‘No such thing as absolute freedom’
- Anti-protest bill in Tasmania undermines rights of Australians, former Greens leader says
- NSW Greens criticise ‘overreach’ of police operation against climate activists
- Queensland to add 13 new batteries to electricity system
Thank you for spending the day with us – we will be back tomorrow.
Updated
‘How much do I really love and care for my planet?’
“I spent eight years as a high school geography teacher. Many times, I would be talking to kids about the climate crisis. I used to say, ‘We need to be doing something about this – this is getting really bad and it’s going to affect people in our lifetimes’, writes Greg Rolles.
Updated
PRGuy17 unmasked
The man behind the formerly anonymous pro-Labor Twitter account PRGuy17 has unmasked himself, after far-right figure Avi Yemini attempted to use the courts to reveal whether the account had ties to the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews.
Jeremy Maluta told YouTuber Friendlyjordies in a video released on Friday that he has no PR or social media experience, works in an industry completely unrelated to politics or the media, and has no connections to Andrews.
Updated
Judith Neilson Institute appointments
The Judith Neilson Institute has appointed the billionaire philanthropist’s lawyer and daughter to the board as Neilson cements her control of the $100m in journalism support she pledged in 2018.
The two new directors – daughter Beau Neilson, the creative director of Phoenix Central Park, and lawyer Daniel Appleby, a director on the Judith Neilson Head Trust – were appointed at a JNI board meeting on Thursday.
Updated
Greens have high-income earner tax cuts in their sights
From AAP:
The Greens have warned of a looming war in the Senate unless tax cuts for high-income earners are axed in the new Labor government’s first budget.
Leader Adam Bandt says his party will use its balance of power in the Senate to force Labor to draft a socially responsible budget, not one focused on tax cuts for the rich, and handouts to coal and gas companies that pay no tax at all.
“The Greens will not support a Labor budget based on cuts that hurt everyday people while continuing the handouts to billionaires,” he told the Queensland Medical Club on Friday.
He later said that would not involve blocking supply but warned the Greens would demand amendments if Labor presents a budget that seeks to cut its way out of trouble, while keeping tax concessions signed off by Scott Morrison in 2018.
“Budgets require several pieces of legislation to get passed. We have the right to move to amend those, or to even not support some of them,” Mr Bandt said.
“The government is going to find it very hard to persuade us that we should be cutting public spending at the same time as they want to give billions of dollars to help fund tax cuts to people like Clive Palmer.”
Updated
Same-sex parents unhappy about marriage statement at Sydney school
Parents at Sydney Anglican school St Catherine’s are preparing for a fight after publicly rejecting a new requirement for incoming principals to sign a statement that marriage is between a man and a woman, with some same-sex parents saying the statement is deeply hurtful.
Updated
Queensland to add 13 new batteries to electricity system
Queensland is adding 13 new batteries to its electricity system to store and then release renewable energy when it’s needed, the state’s treasurer, Cameron Dick, has announced.
State ministers and energy bosses said the batteries – one of which will be the largest ever built in Queensland – would help integrate more renewable energy into the network.
The announcement would see the capacity of all the batteries across the state – that is, the amount of electricity they can release at any one time – increase from 430MW to 720MW.
Alongside 12 small batteries to be placed around the state is one large battery at Greenbank, in the city of Logan, that will be able to store 400MWh of electricity. This compares to a 450MWh battery at Geelong, currently Australia’s biggest.
Dick said the new Queensland batteries would help the state reach its target of 50% renewable electricity by 2030.
Mick de Brenni, the minister for energy, renewables and hydrogen, said there had been a consensus among state and federal energy ministers that met earlier this month that more renewables and storage was needed.
He said:
The Greenbank battery will be a game-changer in the way we operate the grid and will be critical for soaking up our sunshine and wind to feed into the system when Queenslanders need it.
The announcement comes as the east coast emerges from an electricity crisis where regulators had to take unprecedented steps to make sure enough electricity was being provided to meet demand.
The Greenbank battery will be added to the electricity assets of state-owned power company CS Energy.
Andrew Bills, the CS Energy chief executive, said:
Adding firm, fast-start generation assets to our portfolio will enable us to more effectively respond to changing demand in the national electricity market.
Jason Lyddieth, a Brisbane-based clean energy and climate campaigner at the Australian Conservation Foundation, said adding batteries would help keep prices lower.
This is a key part of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Building these storages is going to be crucial in that transition.
Updated
Flag-gate continues ...
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie accuses the Greens of having “disdain” for Australia:
The point is that the Greens do not accept the legitimacy of the Australian nation. They are ashamed of Australia. And they wish to divide us and destroy the things that hold us together.
So you know exactly where I stand on this: I’m proud of the Australian flag and what it represents.
It’s the only flag that I wore on my left shoulder in the Australian Defence Force.
It’s the only flag that I was prepared to fight and die for on operations.
And it’s the only flag that I serve as a commonwealth parliamentarian.
What about everyone just gets over it and goes and enjoys the weekend?
Updated
Queensland coal and gas not required to cut fugitive emissions for five years
From AAP:
Queensland’s coal and gas miners won’t have to cut any fugitive carbon emissions for another five years.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has pledged to slash carbon emissions by 30% below 2005 levels and to net zero by 2050.
Methane leaking from coal mines and gas fields accounts for about 8.7% of state emissions, according to federal government data.
But methane pollution could be two to 10 times higher than that, according to a report by British environmental thinktank Ember last month.
The government says it will work with miners on plans to slash emissions in the Queensland Resource Industry Development plan, released on Friday.
It says a new policy will lead to “substantial and consistent” pollution cuts with transparent and regular reporting.
But it won’t come into effect until 2027, meaning miners won’t have to cut any fugitive emissions for another five years.
Updated
Icac asked to investigate corruption allegations made by NSW Liberal MP
New South Wales’ anti-corruption watchdog has been asked to examine corruption allegations – made by a state Liberal MP under parliamentary privilege – against members of the party’s executive over last year’s shock gutting of a Sydney council.
The Castle Hill MP, Ray Williams, on Thursday claimed in the NSW parliament that senior members of the Liberal party were “paid significant funds” by a prominent property developer to install new councillors on the Hills Shire council to get development applications through.
Updated
New federal MPs to attend ‘pollie school’ in Canberra
From AAP:
The newest members of Australia’s lower house will be introduced to parliamentary life during a crash course on their upcoming venture.
Ahead of the opening of the 47th parliament, 35 newly elected MPs will descend on Canberra for “pollie school” next week, led by outgoing Speaker of the house, Andrew Wallace.
Described by Wallace as “like drinking from a fire hose”, the newbies will spend two days learning the parliamentary aspects of their roles.
This includes the expectations placed upon them, parliamentary systems and procedures and how to navigate the 75,000 sq metre office that is Parliament House.
Wallace wants the 47th parliament to be a place of mutual respect and vigorous debate in a way that is reflective of Australian society.
“A lot of people will think that what they see on question time – the argy-bargy in that hour and a half – constitutes what happens all day, every day in the parliament,” he said.
“Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Updated
Chris Dawson trial update
The judge overseeing Chris Dawson’s murder trial has questioned how he should use evidence in the case which the prosecution claimed implies a violent and abusive marriage.
On Friday, justice Ian Harrison said that testimony and statements in the case claimed Dawson’s wife, Lynette Dawson, had been seen with bruises or black eyes, but did not actually point to who caused those injuries.
Updated
Chief medical officer considers e-cigarettes next biggest health issue after Covid
From AAP:
Vaping laws must be enforced by all levels of government as a matter of urgency to combat an epidemic of electronic cigarette use among young people, experts say.
Cancer Council Australia is calling for stronger action from the federal government following the release of updated research by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
The NHMRC statement on e-cigarettes released on Thursday said the devices are not only harmful but there is limited evidence they help smokers quit the habit.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly considers the use of e-cigarettes the next-biggest health issue after COVID-19.
Leading expert in tobacco control Libby Jardine told AAP more must be done to enforce existing laws and stop unlawful imports of nicotine e-cigarettes at the border.
Poor enforcement of laws at all levels of government has created an “epidemic of e-cigarette use among young people”, the Cancer Council’s tobacco issues committee chair said.
“The Australian government needs to say enough is enough, public health matters,” she said.
“We’ve got this mounting evidence of the harms of e-cigarettes ... now is the time to act.”
Updated
NSW Greens criticise 'overreach' of police operation against climate activists
The NSW Greens have urged the state’s police minister to pull officers into line, after more climate activists were arrested today, amid growing concern about “draconian” anti-protest laws.
The MPs, Sue Higginson and Abigail Boyd, said climate campaigners and supporters of Blockade Australia continue to be arrested and questioned in alarming circumstances.
Higginson said:
The police operation that is under way throughout NSW today in response to peaceful protestors is a clear warning of how far down the road we are towards a police state.
The NSW Police should immediately cease using the methods that are on display across NSW today and there needs to be a full review of the processes and procedures that have allowed these oppressive policing tactics to occur.
Protest is fundamental to a democracy and plays a vital role in giving people a peaceful voice outside of law. Removing the right to peaceful protest is a dangerous and draconian step for NSW to take.
Boyd, the Greens spokesperson for attorney general, said:
This is yet more evidence of the chilling effect that these new anti-protest laws are having on our democratic right to protest in this state.
I know the people on the coast who have been subjected to this police overreach. These are peaceful residents going about their lives, with their only apparent crime being their desire to see climate justice on our planet.
That the police now feel emboldened to interrogate people on their doorsteps and pull them over on their way to work simply because of their political opinions should send a shockwave of alarm through our society. This is an assault on the basic principles of our democracy.
The NSW upper house on Wednesday passed Boyd’s call for papers which will see the government forced to release all internal documents regarding the creation and operation of anti-protest laws.
Higginson has called for an investigation into the police operation against Blockade Australia on a Colo property on 19 June.
Updated
Update on Anthony Albanese’s trip to Spain and France
There’s been an update this afternoon about Anthony Albanese’s looming trip to Spain and France.
The prime minister will depart on Sunday to participate in the Nato summit in Madrid and then will go on to Paris as part of efforts to repair relations with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
While on the sortie Albanese will meet fellow progressive, the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on the sidelines of the Nato summit – as well as the leaders of Japan, Korea and New Zealand (who have been invited to Madrid alongside Australia as part of efforts to build an Indo-Pacific focus for Nato).
Albanese will also meet the president of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen – possibly to clear the path for the resumption of discussions about a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU, as well as the prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Albanese will also give an address to the council of the OECD (Mathias Cormann runs that these days) as well as meeting French business leaders when he gets to Paris for his rapprochement with Macron.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has also invited Albanese to visit the country. The prime minister has not confirmed his plans, but hinted on the ABC on Thursday night that the offer was still being considered, saying that he was “getting national security advice on that”.
Albanese leaves Australia on Sunday and will be gone for a week. Since the swearing-in a month ago, Albanese has been to Japan and Indonesia as well as hosting his New Zealand counterpart in Sydney.
Updated
What does the Reserve Bank’s 3.5% pay rise ‘anchor’ mean for workers?
After an election fought on rising costs of living and stagnant wages, the Reserve Bank of Australia has put a figure on what most people should get for a pay rise: 3.5%.
With inflation tipped to reach 7% by year’s end, this amounts to a real pay cut for most workers, and less than those on the minimum wage and awards were recently given.
Updated
Bluey State of Origin episode tells a relatable tale of a family divided
Her neighbour Chucky must decide which state to back: his dad is from Queensland, and his mum from NSW.
“Whenever Dad’s colour is happy, Mum is sad,” Chucky says. “But whenever Mum’s colour is happy, Dad is sad.”
Updated
James Merlino thanked for his service as minister for education
Just back to Vic quickly, where the Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Meredith Peace thanked James Merlino for his service as minister for education over the last eight years.
By driving significant investment in school buildings and facilities, leading important changes and delivering additional funding for students with disability and for mental health support, and addressing excessive teacher workload, among many other things, his positive impact will be felt well into the future.
He played a pivotal role in early childhood education reform, cementing Victoria’s place as a national leader in the early years at a time when the issue didn’t enjoy the kind of profile it does now.
The union welcomes new coordinating minister for education, Natalie Hutchins to the portfolio. We look forward to working with her on behalf of the teachers, principals and education support staff across early childhood, Tafe and public schools in Victoria.
Updated
National Covid update
Here are the latest coronavirus case numbers from around Australia on Friday, as the country records at least 46 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 1,038
- In hospital: 99 (with 1 person in ICU)
NSW
- Deaths: 14
- Cases: 9,136
- In hospital: 1,455 (with 54 people in ICU)
Queensland
- Deaths: 6
- Cases: 4,520
- In hospital: 522 (with 7 people in ICU)
South Australia
- Deaths: 4
- Cases: 2,311
- In hospital: 200 (with 10 people in ICU)
Tasmania
- Deaths: 1
- Cases: 1,018
- In hospital: 47 (with 3 people in ICU)
Victoria
- Deaths: 20
- Cases: 7,723
- In hospital: 412 (with 27 people in ICU)
Western Australia
- Deaths: 1
- Cases: 4,749
- In hospital: 239 (with 8 people in ICU)
Updated
WorldPride 2023 bid celebration draws over 1,000 participants at Sydney Opera House
AAP reports:
Over 1,000 excited and boisterous participants clad in colourful T-shirts gathered at Sydney’s Opera House to launch next year’s WorldPride.
A global festival celebrating sexual diversity held in various cities since 2000, WorldPride has chosen Sydney as its 2023 host to mark 45 years since the city held Australia’s first Mardi Gras march on 24 June 24, 1978.
Surrounded by flamboyant drag queens hoisting flags, feathers and fans, the launch paid tribute to sacrifices made by previous activists.
Dianne Minnis, a participant in the first Mardi Gras which ended with police arresting 53 people, on Thursday remembered her generation of activists who paved the way for mainstream LGBTQI acceptance.
She told the crowd: “Who would have thought we’d still be here 44 years later?”
“Let’s remember the huge upsurge of activism that followed the first Mardi Gras,” she said, referring to NSW repealing laws criminalising homosexuality in 1984.
Taking place in February, Sydney WorldPride will run for three weeks with 300 events scheduled.
Updated
Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill has released a statement thanking the outgoing Vic health minister Martin Foley:
Short statement regarding @MartinFoleyMP #springst pic.twitter.com/oEQfE1sWMI
— Danny Hill (@DannyHill_VAU) June 24, 2022
Anti-protest bill in Tasmania undermines rights of Australians, former Greens leader says
AAP reports:
Former Greens leader Bob Brown says contentious anti-protest legislation on track to become law in Tasmania cuts across the rights of Australians to peacefully demonstrate and could face legal challenges.
The bill, brought forward by the state Liberal government, is expected to progress through Tasmania’s Legislative Council in August after passing the upper house’s second reading stage on Thursday.
Under the new laws, people who obstruct a business face fines of up to $8,650, double the old amount, or a maximum one-year jail sentence.
Penalties could be as large as $12,975 or 18 months’ jail if offenders cause a serious risk to themselves or someone else, while organisations could be fined up to $103,800.
The state government has faced hurdles in recent years in attempts to strengthen anti-protest measures, changes it says are needed to protect the safety of workers and rights of businesses to function without interference.
Human rights campaigners have criticised the proposals and similar laws already in place in NSW as unfairly punishing those exercising their rights to peacefully protest.
Updated
Queensland drops Covid vaccine mandates for teachers, with NSW to follow
Queensland has joined Victoria in removing Covid vaccine mandates for public school teachers for term three, with New South Wales on track to do the same.
On Friday, Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, revealed that from next Thursday, residents of the state would no longer require Covid vaccinations to work in schools, childcare, prisons and airports or to visit jails, aged care and disability facilities.
Updated
Police confirm more arrests and charges for Blockade Australia protestors
NSW police have released a statement, confirming more arrests and charges for Blockade Australia protestors.
NSW police:
Further charges have been laid by members of Strike Force Guard as part of ongoing investigations into illegal protest activity.
Earlier this morning [Friday 24 June 2022], police attended public parklands in Ebenezer near Windsor where they arrested two people in relation to an operation that took place at Colo on Sunday 19 June 2022.
A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with breach of bail. He is expected to be bail refused to appear at Penrith local court later today.
A 59-year-old woman was arrested and charged with wilfully obstruct police officer in execution of duty, and intimidate police officer. It is expected she will be granted conditional bail.
Today’s arrests follow the arrest of a 26-year-old woman on Monday 20 June at Springwood train station. She was charged with resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and breach of bail.
The NSW police force established Strike Force Guard in March this year to prevent, investigate and disrupt unauthorised protests across the state.
Since Sunday 19 June 2022, 10 people have been arrested and charged under Strike Force Guard. They remain before the courts.
Updated
Tasmania records one Covid death and 1,018 new cases
Tasmania has recorded one new Covid death and 1,018 cases.
There are 47 people in hospital, and of those three are in ICU.
Updated
WA records one Covid death and 4,749 new cases
Western Australia recorded 4,749 new cases to 6pm last night. Sadly, today’s report includes the death of a man in his 80s, dating back to 17 June, which was reported to WA Health yesterday.
Active cases: 28,448
Cases in hospital: 239
Cases in ICU: eight
Deaths recorded yesterday: one
This is our WA COVID-19 update for Friday, 24 June 2022.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) June 24, 2022
For official information on COVID-19 in WA, visit https://t.co/zTYXZCJrTJ https://t.co/AMkoFHAPR8 pic.twitter.com/ERcbe5OKgH
Updated
China’s ambassador asked to address Xinjiang and detained Australians
Periodic interjections from protesters aside, Prof James Laurenceson put some direct questions about Xinjiang and detained Australians to China’s ambassador, Xiao Qian.
Laurenceson, the director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at UTS, was moderating the event. He brought up two Australians who are detained in China facing national security related allegations:
I think I had to nominate one area of most intense concern amongst Australians [it] would be the circumstances that a number of individual Australians find themselves in China. This would include, Mr Ambassador, UTS alumnus, Dr Yang Hengjun, and Cheng Lei, who like me, is a University of Queensland graduate.
It would also include folks in Australia’s Uyghur diaspora who have been saying for several years that they cannot reach friends and family members caught up in detention facilities in Xinjiang, or they don’t want to contact them because they are worried they are being surveilled. Some of them themselves may have Australian permanent residency, if not citizenship.
Laurenceson noted Cheng had been “cut off entirely from communicating with her family, including her two young children”. He asked the ambassador if he could understand why Australians would feel it was “perfectly reasonable for the Australian government, for example, to not entertain an extradition treaty with China or to warn Australians visiting China about the risk of arbitrary detention.”
I mean surely if a Chinese citizen was subjected to the same treatment in Australia, I imagine Beijing and the Chinese public would be up in arms. What would your message to those Australians be? Or if I could go one step further: is there any message of hope that you can give to those Australians who are worried sick right now about their loved ones?
The ambassador replied that national security related cases were not necessarily heard in open court in other countries, either.
For the individual case of the Australians in China, first of all, there’s been very intense communication between China and Australia through the diplomatic channels – in Beijing and in Canberra. And on these cases, these are individual cases and the Chinese relevant authorities are dealing with the cases according to Chinese laws and regulations.
Xiao played down the risk of arbitrary detention in China, saying there were “so many people from other countries” who enjoyed life in China including diplomats, media, tourists, businesspeople, and other visitors. He said as long as people respected rules and laws, there was “no reason for them to worry”.
Regarding Xinjiang, the ambassador repeated the Chinese government’s argument that “terrorism is a serious challenge” and “necessary measures have been taken”.
Xiao went on to make a general remark that he would not comment on the domestic affairs of Australia, including the recent federal election.
He said: “I absolutely support the territorial integrity of Australia.”
Even though he conceded it may not be a good example, Xiao added:
Tasmania is part of Australia – no one should ever challenge that.
Updated
‘No such thing as absolute freedom,’ China ambassador says
China’s ambassador, Xiao Qian, was not impressed by the protesters who periodically interrupted his speech to raise human rights.
He told the event at the University of Technology Sydney:
Again, freedom of speech is different from absolute freedom. In this world, there’s no such thing as absolute freedom. Freedom is freedom within rules and laws.
Just like we’re having a meeting today, we’re having a public event, and those who are attending should respect the law and order: keep quiet while we’re speaking. So, those number of people who are coming again and again to disrupt the process, that’s not expression of freedom of speech in my views, so this should not be welcomed.
Updated
South Australia records four Covid deaths and 2,311 new cases
South Australia has recorded four Covid deaths and 2,311 new cases in the past 24 hours.
There are 200 people in hospital and of those, 10 are in ICU.
South Australian COVID-19 update 24/06/22.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) June 24, 2022
For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAmeZ6V or contact the South Australia COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/c5sr5A7JQv
Updated
Ita Buttrose puts Chris Kenny in his place as Sky News’s ABC doco draws blanks
Ita Buttrose singled out Sky News presenter Chris Kenny during her Andrew Olle address last week, scolding him for saying she was too old when she was appointed to chair the ABC, aged 77, in 2019.
“I know a bit about career obstacles,” Buttrose said as she glared at Kenny, who was on the Sky News table at the ABC function. “There was always a reason for someone to say no. I was either too young or too old. When I was appointed chair of the ABC, too old. Thank you Chris Kenny.”
Updated
Hello everyone, this is Cait Kelly – I will be with you for the rest of the day.
Let’s get into it!
Updated
I will hand over now to Cait Kelly, who will take you through the afternoon.
Take care and be kind to airport staff.
Actions taken by China against Australian exports were not sanctions, Xiao says
China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, continues to defend the trade actions taken against a range of Australian export sectors on technical grounds. He objects to labelling these as “trade sanctions”.
The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said last night it was good the defence ministers had met this month, but repeated his call for Beijing to remove the trade sanctions, saying that would “go a long way towards restoring improved relations”.
Albanese told the ABC’s 7.30 program he looked forward to “further dialogue between ministers of our respective governments”, while predicting that it would remain “a problematic relationship”.
Beijing introduced steep tariffs, unofficial bans and higher screening requirements on Australian exports such as barley, beef, wine and coal in 2020, prompting Australia to denounce “economic coercion”. Some of those measures are now subject to challenges through the World Trade Organisation.
Xiao argues Chinese authorities were acting on anti-dumping concerns, after complaints from Chinese business groups. He also cites “reaction from the Chinese public”.
Some Chinese businesses had become more cautious because they were worried it might be too risky to continue the trade relations. Xiao adds:
But there’s no government official sanction measures, per se.
Updated
People urged to get booster shot amid rise in Omicron reinfections
The Australian chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, has urged people to get their booster shot in the wake of a growing number of reinfections from the Omicron variant.
Kelly told Sky News:
We are seeing reinfection, we know that Omicron, having had a previous dose of one of the other variants of Covid-19, did escape that immune protection from both a previous dose and from only two doses of vaccine.
Sub-variants of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 have now become the dominant strain in the UK [and are] growing particularly on the east coast of Australia.
But he said there had not been an uptick in the severity of the disease.
We will see reinfections over the coming weeks and months, unfortunately with that one, but what we’re not seeing is a large increase in severe disease.
That’s really due to the vaccine protection which can be boosted with a third and fourth dose.
Updated
Australia must respect China's sovereignty, ambassador says
China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has urged Australia to respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
(That would tend to suggest not speaking out about Hong Kong and Taiwan.)
Xiao says:
First on the political front, is it important to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, political system and development mode. These are just some of the basic principles for sound and healthy relationships between two sovereign states.
Xiao went on to urge Australia not to see China as a security threat:
China’s development is an opportunity, not a so-called threat to Australia. And there’s every reason for China and Australia to be friends and partners, rather than adversaries, or even the so-called enemies.
Xiao stresses the need to “properly handle differences”.
He suggests the two countries should cooperate on areas of common ground, although “there are undeniably certain areas where China and Australia have different views”. He suggests constructive dialogue to minimise the differences if possible, and enlarge the common ground if possible.
He says Australia and China should handle “differences even disputes” so that they don’t affect overall relationship between the countries or overall cooperation between the two nations.
We’re on to questions now from Prof James Laurenceson. He’s asking about the 2020 deterioration, including the trade actions against Australia. Laurenceson says most Australians would view the Covid inquiry call as a fair and reasonable call.
Xiao says the Chinese government has publicly supported the need for scientists to determine the origin of the virus. But he says for certain countries to be calling it the “China virus” or that a Chinese laboratory deliberately or accidentally leaked the virus would be “absolutely unfounded”.
So if that happens, I think it’s fair and reasonable for 1.4 billion Chinese people to be very angry about it.
On the so-called “list of grievances”, issued by the Chinese embassy in late 2020, before Xiao’s arrival, he blames “twisted reports” in the media. He says it was wrong to present them as “preconditions” or “demands” for dialogue. He describes Australia’s ban on Chinese telco in the 5G rollout as “the first shot” that damaged normal business relations. Xiao says he doesn’t have his own “list” of demands.
Updated
ACT records no Covid deaths and 1,038 new cases
The Australian Capital Territory has recorded 1,038 new cases of Covid-19 and no new deaths.
There are currently 99 people in hospital with Covid, one in intensive care, and none on a ventilator.
ACT COVID-19 Update – 24 June 2022
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) June 24, 2022
💉 COVID-19 vaccinations
◾ Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 80.6%
◾ Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 68.7%
◾ Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 97.3%
◾ Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 77.2% pic.twitter.com/pnS3jlKlAW
Updated
Queensland reports six deaths, 4,520 new Covid cases
Six people have died with Covid in Queensland, the state’s health department has reported.
Queensland also reported 4,520 new cases. There are 522 people in hospital and seven in ICU.
Today we have recorded 4,520 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) June 24, 2022
Sadly, we have reported 6 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Full details➡️ https://t.co/rKHIwrGADi pic.twitter.com/kvB7iL0cI8
Updated
A brief word on Victoria, factions and the nomination of deputy premier
A few words on the announcement from premier Daniel Andrews a short time ago, that he and his leadership team are endorsing Jacinta Allan as his deputy.
To most people this probably makes sense – she’s now one of the most experienced remaining ministers following today’s resignations.
But for those within the Labor party, it’s quite significant.
Allan, like the premier, comes from the left faction. If she becomes deputy, it will break with a tradition of having a leadership team consisting of both a member from the left and right of the party.
Andrews told reporters he doesn’t want to get into factional “games” and that Allan is the best person for the role.
But given the fractured relationship between factions it’s worth watching to see what happens at Saturday’s meeting.
Updated
China and Australia can ‘coexist peacefully’ with respect, ambassador says
China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, says relations between the two countries “enjoy greater potential for cooperation”.
The focus of his address is the state of relations between Australia and China “and my personal views on what we could do in the immediate future”.
After the recent federal election, Australia has a new Labor government. This is a choice for the Australian people – and it’s a domestic affair of this country. Nonetheless, it has provided with an opportunity of possible improvement of our bilateral relations.
Australian government ministers were blocked from meetings or calls with their direct Chinese counterparts for more than two years as the relationship deteriorated, although lower-level diplomats and public servants kept in communication.
The high-level freeze finally ended when the new deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, sat down for an hour with China’s defence minister, Wei Fenghe, in Singapore earlier this month.
Xiao says recent face to face contacts – including the meeting in Singapore – were “obviously very significant for the bilateral relationship”.
The more important question, Xiao says, is: “How we can keep the momentum and put our bilateral relationship back on the right track?”
There continue to be interjections from members of the audience at the University of Technology Sydney, including about the crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.
After one audience member was removed for interjecting, Xiao was met with applause after saying:
I think I should continue.
He went on to say there is “no reason that we cannot coexist peacefully when we respect each other”.
Updated
Vaccine mandate for teachers dropped in Queensland, NSW likely to follow
Queensland is removing Covid vaccination mandates for teachers from next week and New South Wales is considering a similar proposal.
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said that from 1am next Thursday, people will no longer need to be vaccinated to work in schools, childcare, prisons and airports or to visit jails, aged care and disability facilities. Individual employers will still be able to enforce their own mandates, she said.
Restrictions that have protected us have eased in sensible stages, and today I announce with the advice of the chief health officer, we are removing some of the last remaining Covid restrictions.
Mandates will remain in place for workers in healthcare, hospital, aged care and disability care facilities in Queensland.
In NSW, the education department will take a proposal to key stake holders to remove the vaccine mandate for all but staff who work in schools for specific purposes. Staff in those facilities will be required to keep up to date with Covid boosters.
If implemented, the policy change means that 965 casual staff who are currently not working due to vaccine mandates will be able to return to onsite teaching, and teaching staff who resigned due to the vaccine mandate will be able to reapply for advertised roles.
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Protester interrupts beginning of address by Chinese ambassador to Australia in Sydney
A protester has interrupted the beginning of a speech by China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, in Sydney.
Xiao, who arrived in Australia in January, had only started addressing the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney when an audience member started shouting “Stop the genocide” and “Tibet remains colonised”.
The event includes an in-person audience – but the webinar was temporarily suspended. Two minutes later, when it resumed, Xiao said: “Obviously it is not a good start.”
An audience member shouted: “How about freedom of speech in China?”
Xiao resumed his speech.
It’s my pleasure really to be here for this event, although there are different views. And I respect the invitation from the UTS and ACRI. It is upon the invitation from UTS and ACRI that I come here it exchange views with you.
He said he would also listen to audience views through questions.
I think it’s a good opportunity – we have different views but they should be expressed in a way that is appropriate.
Updated
Andrews nominates Jacinta Allan to be deputy premier
Daniel Andrews has announced that the new leadership team will recommend that Jacinta Allan be named deputy premier. That recommendation has to be confirmed by the Labor caucus.
Allan and Andrews are both from the left faction of the Labor party, which breaks with a common practice of having the leader and the deputy be from different factions. But Andrews says it is not the first time the one faction has held both roles.
My recollection is that while, for instance, Rob Hulls [deputy premier under John Brumby] did a very good impersonation of someone from the left, he was not from the left. Likewise, while John Thwaites was a progressively progressive member of that government, he was not a member of the left. So, let’s not get into these sorts of games.
I am very confident, just as my senior leadership team colleagues are very confident, that the caucus will make the right decision.
Updated
Merlino continued:
Time comes for everyone, and in politics sometimes that is beyond your control. You lose preselection, you lose your seat at the election. For some lucky ones, and I consider myself to be incredibly lucky, we get to call time on a career.
There is never a right time. This is hard. It is hard to leave my beloved portfolio of education and mental health. It is hard to do it. But there does come a time for everyone ... For me it is 20 years. For others, they have more energy, more ideas.
I know I can go 100 miles an hour, 100%, through to November, but I know deep in my heart I could not commit to another four years. The seat of Monbulk will always be a marginal seat ... I did not want to have a by-election in the seat of Monbulk [but] I did not have four years in me to continue as a member of parliament.
He directed this comment at the press pack:
Thank you to the media. There are times I won’t miss you and times I will miss you. But thank you for the work that you do.
Updated
Merlino then stood up to give his final statement.
Thanks very much Dan. It is good to be here for the last time.
Updated
‘No premier could ever have had a better deputy’ than Merlino, Andrews says
Daniel Andrews gave a personal send-off to deputy premier, James Merlino – who was standing right behind him, smiling awkwardly through the praise like it was a best man speech at a wedding.
Andrews said:
James and I came into the parliament at the same time. James is not only a trusted colleague, but a dear friend. No premier – no premier – could ask for a better deputy than James Merlino. He is a person of courage and conviction. He is defined not just by his work – and I will come to that in a moment – but he is defined by his character, decency, his hard work, his determination to stand up to his local community, and for everybody across our community who needs a champion.
In each of the portfolio areas that he has been honoured to serve in, he has brought that sense of compassion, that sense of urgency, that effectiveness to bear ... More recently, James has, of course, taken on responsibility for the implementation of Australia’s first and only royal commission into mental health, acknowledging, as I do, that that system is broken, and that we need to do more and that we need to do better.
James leaves the ministry and will leave the parliament knowing that just yesterday, introducing the most profound rewrite of the Mental Health Act in the history of our state, leading our nation. Work has begun on a 90% of the recommendations of the royal commission. James can be very, very proud of that work as well. That will change lives. It will save lives.
On a very personal note, I will never be able to repay James for his loyalty, for his friendship, for his care and comfort to me. No premier could ever have had a better deputy, and I don’t believe Victoria could have had a better acting premier than we had for an extended period last year.
To not doubt for one moment that the government, the cabinet and the state was in the safest of hands allowed me and my family to deal with almost a life-changing injury. Less than one millimetre – it would have been a life-changing injury. He allowed me to focus on them and I will never be able to thank him for stepping up like he did.
He is an outstanding person, a great Victorian. He has been an outstanding deputy premier and while I am saddened by his decision, I understand.
And if you look at, I think, almost the last line of this statement today where he indicates that his kids – three beautiful kids – are “super excited” that he was not going to be in politics anymore, I think that says it all. When it is right, it is right.
Updated
Daniel Andrews gives press conference and thanks ministers departing cabinet
Daniel Andrews is speaking now, partly to announce those new appointments and partly to send off those who are leaving.
He also headed off the inevitable questions about the impact of losing so many senior ministers, saying: “There is great depth in our cabinet, there is great depth in our caucus.”
The changes will mean that more than half of the leadership team is made up of women.
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Daniel Andrews appoints coordinating ministers to fill roles of resigning cabinet members
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has appointed a series of coordinating ministers – holding positions, basically – to fill the roles of the four senior cabinet ministers who have announced their resignation.
There will be a caucus meeting tomorrow to confirm new cabinet appointments.
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Two-thirds of aged care providers are operating at a loss – report
Two-thirds of Australia’s aged care providers are now operating at a loss, and the sector is warning the situation will only worsen in coming months.
Late Thursday, aged care accountancy firm StewartBrown released its latest data on the financial situation of the sector. It showed 64% of residential aged care providers were operating at a loss in the nine months to March. Providers had an average operating loss of $12.85 per bed each day.
Those figures continue a trend of deteriorating financial sustainability in the sector since 2018. The data forecasts that losses will worsen in coming months to $15.59 per bed each day. The sector has consistently warned it is facing financial crisis.
Paul Sadler, head of peak body Aged & Community Care Providers Association, said:
Based on these figures, many providers could be forced to leave aged care unless there is additional funding to allow providers to meet the increasing costs of providing quality care and support.
It is clear that aged care workers need a significant pay rise, but without additional support, aged care providers will be unable to attract more workers and to realise improvements in the quality of care.
The sector has lobbied the new government to adjust the indexation arrangements to increase subsidies to aged care providers. It also wants the new government to create an independent pricing authority, to properly assess the cost of aged care services, as recommended by the royal commission.
Updated
Arrow Energy withdraws from two coal seam gas leases in Queensland
Arrow Energy has formally withdrawn from two coal seam gas leases in Queensland’s Scenic Rim region after a decade-long campaign by locals against its plans, AAP reports.
State resources minister, Scott Stewart, says the company has withdrawn its application to renew two exploration permits near the town of Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.
“My department have accepted these withdrawal applications meaning these exploration permits no longer exist,” he told parliament on Friday.
Arrow halted operations at the two leases a decade ago following an 18-month community blockade of its drilling sites.
The company quietly applied to extend the leases in 2018, and as part of those applications had to submit a plan for commercial gas extraction by 2033.
The Scenic Rim mayor, Greg Christensen, community groups, activists, and state MP Jon Krause were deeply concerned when they found out about the applications earlier this year.
Stewart spoke with Christensen over Zoom two weeks ago about Arrow Energy’s applications and promised not to make a final decision until they had met in person.
After Arrow withdrew the applications, the minister said the matter had been responsibly handled by all parties.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to all those who engaged with me in a respectful manner in relation to this matter, including Arrow Energy, the mayor of Scenic Rim regional council, Greg Christensen, and the member for Scenic Rim [Jon Krause],” Stewart said.
Updated
Aemo to return to regular operations of national energy market today
As flagged by the energy minister, the Australian Energy Market Operator will formally end the suspension of the wholesale electricity spot market at 2pm today.
In a statement, Aemo said:
The current energy challenge in eastern Australia is the result of several factors across the interconnected gas and electricity markets. This includes periods of high electricity demand, coupled with a large volume of generation unavailable due to maintenance or unplanned events, planned transmission outages and high energy commodity prices.
Returning to regular operations of the [National Energy Market] is now possible, as we are currently seeing more normal electricity bidding and dispatching through Aemo’s automated resources, along with reduced electricity shortfalls and fewer manual interventions needed by Aemo.
It added that it expects “conditions to remain dynamic in the short term once the suspension is lifted”.
AEMO will formally end the suspension of the wholesale electricity spot market in all regions of the National Electricity Market from 2pm today (AEST). Our statement: https://t.co/fBBX4fCivi pic.twitter.com/omeLDit4MB
— AEMO (@AEMO_Energy) June 24, 2022
Updated
Asked if he could guarantee energy security through winter, Bowen said:
I can guarantee the government is fully focused on the task at hand. I can guarantee that every single action that needs to be taken will be taken as it has been over the last three weeks. Every single action has been taken.
Government has been ‘very active’ in working to avoid blackouts, Bowen says
Bowen said the government had worked with both the energy regulator and Aemo to keep the lights on.
The government has been very active and the fact that we have managed collectively, the regulators, the operator, working cooperatively with states and territories to avoid any load shedding to avoid any blackouts is a testament to all those who work so hard over the last three weeks.
No help from the people who created the situation, in the previous government. The regulator, operators, state and territory governments [are] working very cooperatively with the commonwealth [and] have managed to keep the lights on, no load shedding, no blackouts.
Asked by Guardian Australia’s economics correspondent, Peter Hannam, if the Australian Energy Regulator has contacted retailers to seek more information about the financial stability of those retailers, Bowen said:
It would be irresponsible of me to start speculating about liquidity matters. I remain in constant contact with the regulator. The government remains very alive to the issues to be considered as the market returns. I will not start commenting on financial viability.
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Energy minister Chris Bowen says 'normal market conditions' have returned
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, has told reporters in Sydney that the Australian energy market has returned to “normal market conditions” after a bumpy few weeks.
We are aware of the long term challenges, the need to get more renewables and storages into the system that work will continue and in the meantime we are managing very vigilantly a short term crisis.
He dismissed criticism from the Coalition – who were very recently in government and therefore very recently responsible for the conditions that resulted in an energy crisis – saying the opposition party could either decide to be taken seriously as a credible alternative government, “or they can be a laughing stock”.
They appear to be taking the latter approach by somehow claiming that the last 10 years of denial and delay don’t count and somehow claiming that the government that’s been in for four weeks is somehow, you know – by talking about renewables – is somehow spooking the coal fire generators to not working.
That’s apparently what Sussan Ley said yesterday, all the talk of renewables spooked the market. Renewables don’t spook people and they don’t spook coal-fired powered generators into not working. If the Liberal party wants to be taken seriously they might start being a bit more mature about the discussion.
Updated
Three men arrested after 45kg of cocaine found in jukebox shipped from Greece
Two Australians and a Greek foreign national have been arrested after $20m worth of cocaine was allegedly smuggled into Australia inside a jukebox, AAP reports.
The 45kg consignment from Greece was detected by Australian border force officers and tracked to a home at Sunshine North in Melbourne’s west.
A 39-year-old Spotswood man, a 26-year-old Reservoir man, and a 66-year-old Greek foreign national were arrested by Victoria police and Australian federal police officers on Tuesday.
Police searched the Sunshine North property as well as homes in Spotswood and Reservoir and commercial premises in Toorak and Kingsville.
Two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a Harley Davidson motorbike, luxury watches, jewellery, clothing, drugs, and a significant amount of cash were seized.
The Spotswood and Reservoir men were each charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
They faced court on Wednesday and have been remanded in custody. The Greek man was released pending further inquiries.
The men are believed to be significant members of a crime syndicate, AFP Detective Inspector Mark McKiernan said.
“We also know drug trafficking can lead to drug wars in our streets and in source countries, and often law-abiding citizens can be the collateral damage to that violence,” McKiernan said.
Updated
Blockade Australia says 25 NSW police officers attended their campsite this morning and arrested two people.
We have sought confirmation from NSW police.
The environmental activist group says one of the activists arrested was a 62-year-old Aboriginal woman who was staying at the campground.
We’ll bring you more as soon as we can.
Updated
Victorian police minister and tourism minister confirm resignations
Police minister, Lisa Neville, and minister for tourism, sport and major events, Martin Pakula, have also confirmed their retirement. That is the last of the expected resignations.
Neville, who has been in parliament for 20 years, said she is resigning due to health issues: she was forced to take six months’ leave last year to recover from surgery for Crohn’s disease.
Here’s part of her statement:
I have only known one way to approach public life and that is to invest every ounce of energy into it. Being an MP and a Minister is a unique privilege and one that demands your total focus. My recovery in 2021 allowed me to resume work in late 2021, but I know I cannot give another four years. I wish it were otherwise, but I must be honest with myself, the wonderful people I work with and the Bellarine community.
She added:
While it is no longer sustainable from a health perspective for me to commit to being Minister and local member for the next term, I am not finished with public service and look forward to finding other ways to continue to contribute to public life after the election in November.
Daniel Andrews, who was elected the same year as Neville, said he had “long admired Lisa’s openness about her battle with Crohn’s disease”.
Lisa has always tried to make things easier for others.She’s also always put her responsibility to the people of Bellarine and Victoria first. She’s put her job ahead of her health for a very long time – and now it’s time for Lisa to put herself first.
Pakula has been in parliament for 16 years. His lower house seat of Keysborough was recently abolished as part of an electoral redistribution but he was expected to make a move to the upper house. Instead, he’s leaving.
Politics, he said, was “a job which often demands an unhealthy measure of emotional and mental commitment”.
As politicians, we are notoriously bad at appreciating when considerations for our own well-being demand that we stop and find something else to do with our lives. I’d like to think I’m not one of them.
Andrews is not expected to announce his new cabinet until next month.
Updated
The writs for the 2022 election have now been returned.
Writs for all 151 House of Representatives elections, and for the Senate elections in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, were returned to the governor general, David Hurley.
Writs for Senate elections in all states have been returned to state governors throughout the week.
Tom Rogers, the commissioner of the Australian Electoral Commission, said the return of the writs marks the completion of the “most complex and challenging election in Australia’s history”.
Updated
Victorian health minister Martin Foley confirms resignation
Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, has also confirmed he is resigning and will not be seeking re-election in November.
Foley, who is also minister for ambulance services and equality, thanked nurses, doctors, paramedics, allied health professionals and scientists for their work during the pandemic. He said working with them has been the “greatest revelation” of his professional life.
Here’s part of his statement:
Today I have informed the Premier that I will not contest the seat of Albert Park at the November state election.
Consequently, I will also be stepping down as a Minister in the Andrews Labor Government...
The past two years have been a tough time for all Victorians. Many of us have come to reflect on what we aspire to achieve. I am no different. I am looking forward to contributing to a better, fairer, sustainable Victoria in a different capacity. One that allows me more time to focus on my family and wellbeing and different interests.
Foley took over from Jenny Mikakos as health minister after her resignation in September 2020, and has served in parliament for 15 years.
Daniel Andrews said:
From being a senior leader in the trade union movement organising on behalf of some of the lowest-paid workers, to being Victoria’s first Equality Minister, nobody has fought harder than Martin to give a voice to those who needed it most. Those who, for too long, have been powerless, unsafe, persecuted.
We often say that in Victoria, equality is not negotiable. And that’s in no small part thanks to the community ally Victorians have had in Martin Foley. Martin has never been afraid to face difficult issues, and make difficult decisions, when he knew it was the right thing to do – and when he knew it would help people.
Andrews said without Foley, there would be no royal commission into mental health or the establishment of Victoria’s first medically supervised injecting room.
Updated
You can read Merlino’s full statement here:
Deputy premier James Merlino first to confirm he is resigning at the state election. Here's his statement: pic.twitter.com/E8proAi1Gk
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) June 23, 2022
Victorian deputy premier James Merlino confirms resignation
We have our first confirmed resignation from Victoria’s cabinet in deputy premier, James Merlino.
He’s issued a statement this morning:
Today I advised the Premier of my decision to resign as Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Education and Minister for Mental Health. I will also not contest the seat of Monbulk at the election in November.
A twenty-year journey is coming to an end. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve in the Victorian Parliament and represent my community of Monbulk. I leave with feelings of deepest gratitude, a little sadness and excitement for the future.
The premier, Daniel Andrews, has also issued a statement:
James Merlino – Deputy Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Member for Monbulk – has advised me he will not seek re-election in November this year. He will also step down from Cabinet.
While our Government is often referred to as the Andrews Labor Government, nothing we’ve achieved in infrastructure, in health and education, in equality, in jobs and skills, in any area – would have been possible without the hard work, determination and leadership of the best Deputy any Premier could ever wish for.
Victoria has also never had a better Acting Premier.
In 2021, James seamlessly took over chairing the Cabinet and leading the Government at a difficult time for our state and a tough time for me and my family.
I will forever be grateful for his care and concern but moreover, his competence – allowing me to focus on recovering from very serious injuries, confident, indeed certain, that the state was in the best of hands.
Andrews said he has asked Merlino to stay on in the role of campaign chair ahead of the 26 November election.
Merlino is one of four senior ministers in Victoria expected to announce their resignation today.
Updated
People camping outside Sydney passport office to beat queues
While we’re on travel-related queues, people are reportedly camping outside Sydney passport office in order to beat the queues.
There were five people, with sleeping bags, already lined up at midnight, according to journalist and queuer Barbie Dutter.
Camping outside the passport office in Sydney. Already 5 of us here by midnight. One more working day left to get my kid’s passport. Send luck please. pic.twitter.com/gE5FYDa524
— Barbie Dutter (@barbiedutter) June 23, 2022
By 7am, Dutter reported, the queues were snaking around the block.
Updated
Travellers warned to expect long airport delays as school holidays begin
Travellers have been warned to again prepare for lengthy delays at Australian airports, with millions of people due to jet off for the start of school holidays.
Schools in Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory are on holidays from tomorrow, while NSW, WA, and the ACT have one week to go.
Melbourne airport is expecting 2.1 million people to pass through the airport between today and 14 July, Nine News reported. That’s compared to 1.7 million people at Easter.
Nathan Currie, a reporter for Channel Seven’s Sunrise program, reported that queues at Melbourne’s T3 were out the door at 6.18am.
Line already out the door at @Melair Virgin domestic - even the airport chaplain is helping with baggage! @sunriseon7 pic.twitter.com/6k9luAFZi5
— Nathan Currie (@NathanJCurrie) June 23, 2022
Sydney is also expecting to see 2.1 million people between 27 June and 17 July, compared to 1.8 million over Easter.
South Australia and Tasmania will break from 9 July.
Updated
NSW records 14 deaths, 9,139 new Covid cases
New South Wales has recorded another 14 deaths of people with Covid-19.
There are also 1,455 people in hospital, including 54 in intensive care. There were 9,139 positive test results recorded in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday.
COVID-19 update – Friday 24 June 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 23, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
- 96.6% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 95.1% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/v2lz6jB4Vq
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Victoria records 20 deaths, 7,723 new Covid cases
Victoria has recorded another 20 deaths of people with Covid-19, with 412 people in hospital, 27 in intensive care and 11 on ventilators.
There were 7,723 new cases reported yesterday, with a total of 42,037 active cases.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 23, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAcOZP#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/AcJfSNEEsd
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Qantas announces $5,000 payment for staff, forecasts return to profit next year
Qantas is forecasting a loss of up to $550m this year, despite strong demand for domestic and international flights allowing it to reduce its net debt to $4bn by the end of this financial year.
That’s a $1.5bn improvement in the past six months.
In a market update on Friday, the airline forecast it would make a significant loss this year of between $450m and $550m, with Qantas group predicting it would return to underlying profit in the next financial year.
It also announced that it will give 19,000 EBA-covered employees a $5,000 payment to share the benefits of its recovery. The payments will be made once the new enterprise bargaining agreements covering them are finalised. Qantas will spend about $87m on these $5,000 staff payments.
Qantas will also further cut its domestic flying schedule in response to rising fuel prices. For July and August, it will cut a further 5% of capacity on top of the 10% it already announced. The 15% reduction in capacity will last through September, with capacity cut by 10% from October to March. The airline will contact customers booked on flights that are cut.
While Qantas has not announced any reductions in its international capacity today, it said the group will be flying at 83% of pre-Covid levels by the fiscal quarter beginning in July – down from 90% in the current quarter.
Ahead of the July holidays, Qantas has also sought to thank customers “for their patience and understanding” during what has been “a challenging restart for the industry globally”. Qantas has been heavily criticised for delayed baggage and poor on-time performance this year, with the Transport Workers Union claiming the airline’s decision to outsource baggage handling staff is contributing to the issues.
Qantas said there will be a 15% increase in ground handling staff during the July holiday compared with staffing levels during the Easter holidays.
Qantas group chief executive, Alan Joyce, also announced that budget carrier Jetstar’s chief executive, Gareth Evans, will step down from his role in December.
Updated
PM to receive national security advice on possible Ukraine visit
Some more on Anthony Albanese’s potential visit to Ukraine.
The prime minister told ABC 7.30 last night that he was getting national security advice on whether to accept the invitation from the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, saying:
We don’t want a circumstance whereby there’s risk to Australian personnel by undertaking such a visit, but we’ll take that advice and we’ll act accordingly.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has urged Albanese to give the proposal serious consideration, telling AAP on Friday:
We’ve formed a special bond with Ukraine. President Zelenskiy is one of the century’s great heroes, and he’s provided inspiration not only to his people but to the rest of the world as well.
I hope that we can visit in due course and if the prime minister is able to visit, if that’s the security advice he’s received, that it’s safe for him and for his delegation to visit, then I think it’s entirely appropriate that he would.
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Review of John Barilaro’s appointment to trade commissioner role to be made public once completed
The “legitimate public concerns” over the appointment of the former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro to a highly paid trade commissioner role will be dealt with in a review to be made public, according to the customer service minister, Victor Dominello.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced the review yesterday.
Speaking on 2GB radio on Friday morning, Dominello said:
The premier has acknowledged that there are some legitimate public concerns around this and that’s why he’s ordered a review from [Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary] Michael Coutts-Trotter. We wait for the outcome of that review, which the premier’s indicated will be made public.
Asked if he thought Barilaro would make it over the the US to start the job, Dominello said:
I’m not going to second guess the process. I’ll wait and see what the review reveals.
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Pacific policy: Dutton pledges to 'support the government in any way'
Peter Dutton says he will seek a unity ticket with Labor in the Pacific after tensions strained Australia’s relationship with Solomon Islands.
The opposition leader told reporters in Canberra on Friday that he will continue to build on the relationships the Coalition established while in office.
I’ve met with the leaders ... to the extent that we could over the course of Covid, most of it obviously virtually.
I’ve been friends and met with delegations and spoken with Pacific Island leaders over my time in parliament, and I’m very, very keen to continue that relationship, to build that relationship, to offer bipartisan support.
Dutton emphasised the importance of the region to Australia.
We’re talking about family and near neighbours that we need to work even more closely with.
So I’d be very happy to support the government in any way.
Updated
Group of senior Victorian ministers set to retire, forcing cabinet reshuffle
Four senior Victorian ministers are expected to announce their retirement from politics as early as today.
The big names expected to announce their departure are the deputy premier, James Merlino; health minister, Martin Foley; police minister, Lisa Neville; and minister for tourism, sport and major events, Martin Pakula.
Guardian Australia’s Victorian state correspondent, Benita Kovolos, attempted to contact all four ministers but they’re keeping mum.
It continues the changing of the guard in the Andrews government, after the former attorney general Jill Hennessy and the planning minister, Richard Wynne, announced last year that they would retire at the state election in November.
Updated
Youpla funeral fund collapse leaves 31 Aboriginal families struggling to pay for burials
At least 31 Aboriginal families are struggling to pay for funerals for loved ones who died since the collapse of the ACBF-Youpla funeral fund, Lorena Allam and Ben Butler report.
They write:
Veronica Johnson, a financial counsellor with the Broome Circle community support group, says three of her clients have been left desperately out of pocket since the Youpla collapse in March.
“One of them was buried, but it was a pauper’s funeral that [was] funded by the government, just a very basic funeral. And the beautiful lady who passed away, she had paid religiously [into the fund] till the day that she died,” Johnson said.
“She was sitting in a morgue for nearly two months until eventually the family got the pauper’s funeral from the WA Department of Communities. So, obviously, [the] family had to become financially stressed to pay for it. And that’s not what she signed up for.”
Johnson said another family is seeking to raise $2,000 by asking people to collect tin cans so that they can cash them in to pay for their mother’s funeral.
“We want people to see this is the level of financial human disaster that this has caused,” Johnson said.
You can read the full story here:
Updated
New design of points-based mutual obligation system for jobseekers to be announced shortly, Burke says
Burke was also asked what tweaks he is planning to make to a controversial points-based mutual obligation system for jobseekers, which was introduced by the Morrison government and which Burke said it was “too late” to change.
He says the full brief arrived at his home last night and he is still reading through it, “so I’m very close to being able to make a decision”.
He says he will be working to the following three design principles:
- People will have to move over to the new points-based system, but those who were meeting their points requirements by making 20 job applications a month will be able to keep doing so if that works for them.
- Everyone will start the new system with a blank slate, even if they had accrued penalties under the current system.
- People will be able to undertake skills training or other courses as part of their mutual obligations, and will not have to abandon that course if they are offered a job interview.
• An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the points-based system would be “opt-in”.
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Tony Burke says real wages can and should rise while inflation is high
Employment minister, Tony Burke, has told Radio National that he does not accept arguments from some economists suggesting that wages cannot rise while there is high inflation.
Burke was asked about comments made by Reserve Bank governor, Philip Lowe, who said that 3.5% was a “good anchor point” for wage rises, and added that: “If wage increases become common in the 4–5% range, then it is going to be harder to return inflation to 2.5%.”
He said Lowe’s comments had been taken out of context, because Lowe also said he wanted to bring inflation back to between 2 and 3% – which would put wage growth, at 3.5%, ahead of inflation.
Burke said 3.5% was offered not as a cap but an “anchor point,” meaning some workers may get higher wage increases:
It’s not like 3.5% is there as a cap, but he is issuing a warning that we are not currently in a wage crisis spiral and we should avoid being in one.
The wage price index is currently running at 2.4%.
Even that anchor point would require a significant increase in wages on where people are today ... I do agree that it would be very difficult to imagine a scenario where that wage price index gets up to 4s and 5s.
Burke said Australia was not currently in a wage spiral because real wages are not rising, and he criticised economists who say Australia cannot afford wage increases with inflation heading to 7%. Real wages needed to rise, he said.
We were told for a decade wages could not go up because inflation was low. Now some people are saying wages can’t go up because inflation is high. We were told that wages could not go up until unemployment was low. Well now unemployment is low, and we’re told that wages cannot go up.
Asked which workplaces might have the highest wage growth, he said it would be those with the highest union density.
I expect it will be the case that there are union agreements that are higher and non-union agreements that are lower ...
There are two household truths: that is if you shop around you’ll spend less and if you’re in a unionised workforce you’ll earn more.
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Greens to push Labor to ditch ‘unfair’ tax cuts
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, will address the Queensland Media Club today, outlining their strategy for the balance of power in the Senate: that they will be “constructive” but not a “rubber stamp”.
In excerpts of the speech, seen by Guardian Australia, Bandt renews his call for a gas company windfall tax:
Australia already has a windfall tax, it’s called the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax. The only problem is it is completely broken. Gas corporations have figured out how to game it so they will never pay tax.
Gas corporations have built a pile of $282bn in tax credits between them. That means they have to work through $282bn of profits – the GDP of Finland – before they would have to pay any tax.
All we have to do is make a simple change to the law preventing the use of these tax credits and we can scoop up some of the windfall these gas companies are making off us. The money raised from closing this loophole and fixing the tax more broadly would raise $59bn over the estimates, which we can use to help homes and businesses weather the crisis and get off gas.
Bandt will also reiterate his call for Labor to scrap the stage three income tax cuts.
He says:
In balance of power in the Senate, we will push Labor to ditch these unfair tax cuts that will rip $244bn out of the public purse. Labor must rethink these tax cuts for billionaires and save our progressive taxation system before it is too late.
If these tax cuts for the very wealthy proceed, we will move a step closer to US-style inequality, where the government fails to provide the basic essential services people need to survive.
Labor shouldn’t give Clive Palmer a tax cut while people can’t afford to get their teeth fixed. The Greens would rather get dental into Medicare than give Clive Palmer a $9,000-a-year tax cut. Two-thirds of these tax cuts will go to men, just one-third to women. The wealthiest 1% will pocket as much from these tax cuts as the poorest 50% of the population combined.
These tax cuts haven’t come into effect yet. We can reverse them without asking everyday people to pay a single dollar more tax than they are at the moment.
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Good morning and welcome
Good morning,
Anthony Albanese has admitted the government will have to place a cap on spending when it hands down its first budget in November, saying that while it will deliver on election commitments there is a difficult fiscal repair job ahead.
The prime minister told ABC’s 7.30 program:
We’re going to have to really put the brakes on some of the spending which is there.
There are a range of things we would like to do that we won’t be able to do in our first budget.
Albanese also confirmed he will make a stop in France during next week’s trip to Europe for the Nato summit to meet the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and is considering also travelling to Ukraine.
The detour to Paris around the meeting in Madrid is a bid to repair the relationship with Macron, damaged when Australia scrapped the submarine contract with French builder Naval Group in favour of the Aukus deal and Macron called Scott Morrison a liar.
He told Leigh Sales:
I’ve been invited by president Macron to meet with him in France. I’ll be doing that in a week’s time. We do need to reset. We’ve already had very constructive discussions.
Speaking of Macron, a study by the Australian National University has found that Morrison and Barnaby Joyce were, at the time of the May election, the most unpopular party leaders since the study began in 1987.
The Australian Electoral Study is a survey of 3,500 voters. On average, voters rated Morrison a 3.6 out of 10 on a scale of popularity, while Joyce was 3 out of 10.
In other news, Ukraine has been given candidate status in its campaign to become part of the European Union, a move that the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has described as a “victory”. The application usually takes years, but Ukraine’s has been sped up due to the Russian invasion. Although as Zelenskiy noted, the country has been knocking at the door of the EU for years. He tweeted: “We have been waiting for 120 days and 30 years.”
Let’s crack on. You can reach me at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com or on Twitter at @callapilla.
