What we learned: Monday, 15 August
And with that, we will close the blog for the day. Here’s what happened today:
Anthony Albanese is seeking legal advice on the former PM Scott Morrison reportedly secretly swearing himself in as the minister for health, finance and resources during his time in office.
A spokesman for governor general, David Hurley, said Hurley had appointed former prime minister Scott Morrison to administer other portfolios, and that such appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony.
NSW treasurer, Matt Kean, said former deputy premier John Barilaro’s appointment to a $500,000 trade role in New York “should be scrutinised”.
Kean also labelled David Elliott “embarrassing” after Elliott accused Kean of harming negotiations between the government and rail union in its long-running industrial campaign.
Minister for government services, Bill Shorten, said a multi-agency investigative team will be set up to combat fraud in the NDIS.
NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord stood down from the shadow ministry after last week admitting he had been “too blunt and too direct”.
Queensland’s police commissioner will front a commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic violence this week after questions were raised about her absence from the public hearings.
Twenty-seven people died from Covid around the country today.
Updated
Lack of scrutiny of NDIS leading to rorting of system ‘has to stop’, Bill Shorten says
I wanted to just rewind a bit (it has been an understandably hectic day) to Bill Shorten’s appearance on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, where he also discussed fraud within the NDIS system.
Shorten said he was at a a loss as to how the previous government missed such a “shocking abuse of the system”, and said only a multi-agency taskforce could recoup some of the rorts:
What happens is that, all too often, service providers can put in an invoice and no one checks if the service has been done, no one properly scrutinises the price, it is automatically paid sight-unseen.
There are 100 people working on the back-office data analytics, but this fraud comes from many forms, from the extreme criminal version and over-servicing, and all the providers are more frustrated than anyone else because it gives service provision a bad name.
[The NDIS’s] problems are caused by people who are not disabled, not caused by the conscientious disability service providers and hundreds of thousands of disability care workers. This is [from] some people who have been operating in a wild west, [with a] lack of scrutiny and that has to stop.
Updated
Constitutional law expert says former PM’s secret portfolios ‘just bizarre’
Earlier this afternoon, constitutional law expert Anne Twomey was on the ABC discussing the former PM’s secret portfolios, and she said it was a “bizarre” situation:
Oh, well, look, frankly [it’s] just bizarre. The secretness of it is the weird thing. I mean, it’s not strange that [Morrison] might want to have a second person who was able to take over if the first person was incapacitated, etc. But there are ways of doing that anyway. And ordinarily if you do something like that, the basic rules are you announce it to parliament because parliament needs to know who is responsible.
Also, you can just make changes to the administrative arrangement orders, which is the other way of doing this. So that’s a way of saying – OK, in relation to the Biosecurity Act ... the minister for agriculture can seize powers and the minister of health can seize other powers. You can change that by just going to the governor general, having a council meeting and saying, yes, the prime minister can also exercise these powers.
I went through every single administrative arrangement order this morning and it’s just not there. So what an earth is going on? I don’t know, but the secrecy involved in this is just simply bizarre. I mean, you know, you just wonder what is wrong with these people that they have to do everything in secret and they can’t fess up to what they’re doing. Because if they had done it and made it public, [it] probably would have been seen [as] pretty reasonable for people. But hiding it? That’s weird.
Updated
‘Watch and act’ fire warning issued for Burawa community in WA
A “watch and act” warning has been issued for a bushfire in the Burawa community and surrounds in the Shire of Derby and West Kimberley, in Western Australia.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services downgraded their warning after the fire was contained this afternoon, but said conditions are changing and there is a possible threat to lives and homes.
03:00 PM -Bushfire WATCH AND ACT for the BURAWA COMMUNITY in the SHIRE OF DERBY/WEST KIMBERLEY: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) August 15, 2022
The DFES is advising residents to leave now if the way is clear, to make final preparations if people are planning to defend their homes, and to stay away if they are not home.
Updated
The revelation over the past few days that @ScottMorrisonMP secretly co-appointed himself as a minister (apparently, in some cases, without the knowledge of the extant minister) demands a dose of transparency. I’m here to administer that dose. #auspol #FOI pic.twitter.com/FPnNxOf1eL
— Rex Patrick (@MrRexPatrick) August 15, 2022
Dutton: I have no doubt governor general acted appropriately
Dutton continued to spar with host Raf Epstein, refusing to criticise Morrison, backing the current governor general, and confirming that he did not know if Morrison was also sworn in as defence minister:
I wasn’t consulted, wasn’t part of the decision making process. I’ve read about it in the paper in the last couple of days.
I’m the leader of the Liberal party … we had an election in May of this year, we had a new government elected, and I can tell you that around kitchen tables tonight, people are talking about how they are going to pay their power bill, how they’re going to balance their budget.
The governor general has issued a statement today, and he’s a person for whom I have the utmost respect, and he’s explained his position, his understanding of the law and constitution, and I have no doubt that he has acted entirely appropriately.
Updated
Peter Dutton says he was not aware of Morrison's secret ministries
Opposition leader Peter Dutton was just on ABC Radio Melbourne, and was pushed on whether or not it was the right decision by former PM Scott Morrison to keep secret the ministries he had taken on.
Dutton stood firm, refusing to budge on his position (that it was a matter for the then prime minister), and refused to give a moral reading of the situation:
Obviously the then prime minister had his reasons, his logic for it, but it was not a decision I was party to or was aware of. It was a decision-making process that he’s made.
The only point I’d make is that at the start of Covid, and I was in this category, I was an early adopter of Covid, I came back from the US and tested positive. It was mandated that I be admitted to hospital. And so, I suspect some of Scott’s logic at the time was, if and this was at the time obviously, when there was no vaccine and people were having all sorts of armageddon scenarios, and the briefings were pretty confronting when we first got them.
No doubt all that fits into his logic, but I wasn’t part of that decision-making process. And they are decisions, like in any government, that are within the domain of the prime minister of the day.
It’s an issue for the then prime minister, as it is for this prime minister.
I’m pretty sure that Anthony Albanese doesn’t discuss with the whole backbench and the ministry and the caucus, who it is that he has appointed to different portfolios.
I wasn’t there for the decision making, I don’t know …
Updated
Scott Morrison couldn't do his own job properly, and it turns out he didn't trust his other Ministers to do theirs either.
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) August 15, 2022
As the Libs slide from dysfunction to far-right irrelevance, I wonder what a *proper* federal ICAC with teeth will uncover about their time in office.
Morrison's multiple ministries 'more Trump than Westminster', Bill Shorten says
NDIS minister Bill Shorten was just on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, and was asked what he thought of the biggest story of the day (former PM Scott Morrison taking on multiple ministries).
Shorten said it was the dysfunction that concerned him, and compared Morrison to former US president Donald Trump, and added that it was “shocking” that a PM would accrue power.
Here’s his answer:
Viewers might say what is this to do with us? We’ve discovered that we had a prime minister who was acting more from the Donald Trump playbook than the Westminster democracy playbook.
The idea that a prime minister is accruing powers, not telling the public at large is shocking.
The fact [is] he didn’t even trust his own cabinet. When a prime minister and cabinet don’t know what each other is doing, that is a fundamental breakdown in our system of government.
If it was all above board you would have told people, wouldn’t you.
Even if they felt they needed to keep it secret, this speaks to a pathology or sickness that existed in the previous government. Mr Morrison had his ‘miracle election win’, the problem is their conduct since then was just shocking.
Updated
Good afternoon, and a quick thanks to the brilliant Tory Shepherd for steering us through the afternoon. This is Mostafa Rachwani, and there is still much going on, so let's dive in.
And, on that note of the “adorable but possessed lamb”, this little Shepherd is handing over to Mostafa Rachwani. Till next time!
I haven’t played a video game since Donkey Kong (does that count?) but how can you go past this as a storyline?:
An adorable but possessed lamb … has their life saved by an ominous deity; as repayment, they must form a cult to appease the deity, growing its following by launching crusades, collecting resources and venturing out into the game’s five regions to defeat rival cults.
Updated
“I would have been asking questions,” McKenzie says, when asked what she would have done had she been aware that former prime minister Scott Morrison was surfing in on others’ turf.
McKenzie: ‘We need to understand decision-making process’
“Our system relies on long-standing conventions,” McKenzie says, when asked if the appointments should have been made public.
As for former prime minister Scott Morrison, she says it’s up to him to decide what to do. “We need to understand the decision-making process,” she says:
We need to understand whether this was a precedent set, and under what authority.
Updated
McKenzie: secret ministerial appointments ‘absolutely unprecedented’
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie tells the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that the revelations of the multiple portfolios former prime minister Scott Morrison nabbed for himself are “absolutely unprecedented”. She said:
I think these revelations do bring into question our Westminster system of government, the conventions that underpin how we have confidence and trust in our parliamentary system.
As a former cabinet minister in the Turnbull and Morrison governments I took those conventions very seriously.
Who was the senior minister? What if they disagree? McKenzie says there are a lot of questions that have been raised. “Was the governor general informed or not?”
Updated
Australian government issues statement on anniversary of the fall of Kabul
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, have issued a statement on the anniversary of the fall of Kabul:
One year on from the fall of Kabul our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan community in Australia and around the world.
We acknowledge the brave contribution and sacrifices made by more than 39,000 Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel who conducted or supported operations in Afghanistan over 20 years.
In this time, Australia contributed to the Nato-led mission towards capacity building in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and national security.
We are proud of their service.
We remember the 41 Australian soldiers who died on operations in Afghanistan and will never forget their ultimate sacrifice.
Some of our people continue to live with lasting physical and mental scars, and tragically we have lost more of our people since they returned home.
The fall of Kabul led to one of Australia’s largest humanitarian evacuations.
4,100 people were evacuated from Kabul, the statement says. They’re working on the rest.
Updated
One of Australia’s top constitutional lawyers, Anne Twomey, has penned an explainer on all that prime ministerial portfolio hoarding.
Twomey, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Sydney, goes through the ins and outs and writes:
It is inappropriate for such matters to be kept secret – especially if it is kept secret from the cabinet and from the minister who was formally allocated responsibility for a portfolio by the governor general.
Such a lack of transparency is indicative of a lack of respect for the institutions of government and for the general public who have a right to know how power is allocated.
Updated
Fish and chips next on the budgeting chopping block? Gah, you can keep your iceberg lettuce. (Also, it’s fair to assume this goes for potato scallops as well…):
Can’t get enough of the multi-tasking prime minister? Sarah Martin brings you the latest on Scott Morrison hitting the override button. With pep!:
The week to come in economic numbers
Economic news this week looks like it will be dominated by labour-related numbers that may also feature prominently at the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit on 1-2 September.
The wage price index numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday will likely remind everybody how much real wages are being eroded by inflation.
The June quarter figures will show wages rose at an annual rate of about 2.7%, up from the 2.4% pace in the March quarter, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia estimates. The bank’s own indicators point that way, although the result will be far short of the consumer price index’s June quarter 6.1% increase.
Wednesday's wage price index numbers for the June quarter will be closely watched. CBA's wage tracker suggests a rise above 2.5%, with the bank predicting a 2.7% increase (or less than half the 6.1% annual rise in consumer prices). pic.twitter.com/r8TUjKwZgP
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
(It seems an age ago now but the weak WPI reading, landing just three days before the federal election, was the final of three unhappy results for the Coalition during the official campaign. The other two were the spike in CPI and the Reserve Bank lifting its cash rate the following week.)
Other labour numbers of note include Thursday’s release of July labour market figures, including whether the jobless rate remains at 3.5% - the lowest in almost half a century. A strong result, such as lots more jobs added and a lower unemployment rate, would likely stoke expectations of (a lot) more RBA rate rises to come.
Also worth watching will be average weekly earnings data, also out on Thursday, giving a twice-yearly look at how our wages are going (mostly backwards).
The RBA’s main scheduled event is the release on Tuesday of the minutes of its August board meeting when it lifted its cash rate for a fourth meeting in a row (and making it the most aggressive series of increases since 1994 – no idea whose music was popular then).
We’ll get a bit more insight into the central bank’s thinking about the pace of future rises. That said, the RBA’s quarterly statement on monetary policy, released a couple of days after the 2 August meeting, has already filled in many of the blanks.
Apropos of an earlier post about renewables keeping a lid on electricity prices today, here’s an interesting note from Aemo, the energy market operator. It says Queensland yesterday posted record low power demand, thanks mostly to a sunny day helping solar panel owners avoid tapping into the grid.
Just seven days after the previous record (3,672MW on 7 August), Queensland’s minimum operational demand dropped by nearly 200MW to a new record low of 3,490MW at 12:30pm Sunday. At the time, sunny conditions allowed rooftop solar to contribute 44% (2,777MW) of underlying demand. pic.twitter.com/Fcpbg2ksn9
— AEMO (@AEMO_Energy) August 15, 2022
Updated
Pitt: Morrison’s secret ministerial self-appointments ‘unusual’
Keith Pitt, the former minister for resources, said the arrangements around former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secretive ministerial self-appointments were “unusual” but has resisted wading further into the explosive debate.
A new book, Plagued, reports Morrison secretly appointed himself minister for health and finance during the early stages of the pandemic. A News.com.au article reported that Morrison also made himself resources minister in 2021.
Pitt, the minister at the time Morrison reportedly made himself minister for resources too, told Sky News on Monday afternoon that he hadn’t read the book or made any contribution to it.
He added that decisions around ministerial appointments are “clearly not decisions that I was involved with, generally that would be discussion between the two leaders of the parties in Coalition.”
But Pitt did respond that “certainly there’s no doubt it was unusual”.
Updated
A person’s body has been found in Melbourne’s Yarra River
AAP reports:
The body was found about 12.40pm at South Wharf Promenade on Monday and police are yet to formally identify the person.
A post-mortem would be conducted to determine their cause of death, but it appeared to be non-suspicious, police said.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Updated
Some good news out of New Zealand – signs the winter Omicron wave is easing. Tess McClure reports infections are at their lowest level in six months:
Here’s an extraordinary story from the ABC about Marley. As a toddler he began to choke and vomit when eating. Later, he started wheezing, and was diagnosed with asthma.
Years later, doctors finally worked it out. Marley had a plastic flower stuck in his throat!
Worse than the old pea up the nose, surely.
Morrison declines to comment on secret ministry swearing-ins
Sky News has reported that former prime minister Scott Morrison has declined to comment on the explosive revelations that he had himself secretly sworn into various ministry portfolios during his time in office, claiming “I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics” since losing the May election.
.@Kieran_Gilbert asked former Prime Minister Scott Morrison whether he wished to respond to today's revelations & PM Albanese.
— Cam Reddin (@CamReddin) August 15, 2022
Mr Morrison said -- "No, haven’t seen what he has said. Since leaving the job I haven’t engaged in any day to day politics". @SkyNewsAust #auspol
Current PM Anthony Albanese has accused Morrison of “tinpot” behaviour and running a “shadow government”.
Morrison told Sky “I haven’t seen what he [Albanese] has said.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Morrison’s office via email several times today for comment. Reached by phone, a staff member at Morrison’s electorate office in Cronulla couldn’t confirm whether the former PM would make a statement or response today, and instead suggested we send another email.
Updated
In case you were wondering, from AAP’s New Zealand correspondent, Ben McKay:
Thought best to double check. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has never secretly sworn herself into other ministries.
— Ben McKay (@benmackey) August 15, 2022
London Symphony Orchestra in town
The London Symphony Orchestra will play a series of concerts in Australia, AAP reports – only the fourth trip in its 120-year history!
The LSO will play two concerts each in Brisbane and Melbourne and five at the Sydney Opera House.
This year is conductor Sir Simon Rattle’s last season, and he will be accompanied by 114 musicians. According to AAP:
The program features John Adams’ Harmonielehre, Claude Debussy’s La Mer and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé Suite No.2.
A second program features Gustav Mahler’s epic Symphony No.7, a third will showcase Sun Poem by British composer Daniel Kidane, with extra shows at the Opera House to feature a complete performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No.7.
The London Symphony Orchestra is among the world’s best, and has recorded soundtracks including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Shape of Water.
Tickets go on sale later in August.
Updated
National Covid summary: 27 deaths reported
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 27 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
Deaths: 0
Cases: 287
In hospital: 135 (with 2 people in ICU)
NSW
Deaths: 6
Cases: 5,490
In hospital: 2,178 (with 59 people in ICU)
Northern Territory
Deaths: 0
Cases: 100
In hospital: 31 (with 1 person in ICU)
Queensland
Deaths: 0
Cases: 1,901
In hospital: 459 (with 25 people in ICU)
South Australia
Deaths: 4
Cases: 1,194
In hospital: 274 (with 12 people in ICU)
Tasmania
Deaths: 0
Cases: 398
In hospital: 62 (with 3 people in ICU)
Victoria
Deaths: 15
Cases: 3,648
In hospital: 571 (with 27 people in ICU)
Western Australia
Deaths: 2
Cases: 1,605
In hospital: 303 (with 9 people in ICU)
Weekend auction clearance rates rise above 60%
Recent weaker-than-feared increases in inflation at home and abroad (at least, in the US) may be showing up in property markets.
One weekend, of course, doesn’t make a revival, but the past week’s auction clearance rates nudged above 60% in capital cities for the first time in 10 weeks, according to CoreLogic.
The average clearance rate rose for a third week in a row to 61.5% according to preliminary data - which will likely be trimmed a couple of percentage points once the numbers settle.
One thing to note is that the number of auctions continues to be lower than this time a year ago, including by almost a third (29.6%) in Melbourne. The initial clearance rate there was 65.5%, the best since early May when the Reserve Bank began lifting its cash rate.
Sydney bucked the trend a bit, with about 12% more auctions than a year ago, CoreLogic said. The number of homes going under the hammer was up 29% on the previous week but the clearance rate remained around the 60% mark, at least on the initial snapshot.
The RBA, of course, will have a big say in whether the property market stabilises or trends lower as borrowing costs rise. As of Friday, investors were still rating the chance of another 50 basis point increase in the cash rate - to 2.35% - as a three-in-four prospect.
Signs of a pick-up in auction clearance rates this past weekend may be a sign that people expect the RBA to be less aggressive in lifting its cash rate than previously thought. Investors, though, still predict the current 1.85% will roughly double. pic.twitter.com/k7XoUtg7WB
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
Meanwhile, another sign that cost of living pressures are easing is coming from oil prices. The latest weekly readout from the Australian Institute of Petroleum charts continuing falls in average prices.
Australia's retail and wholesale prices have continued to slide, dropping to 168.8 cents per litre of unleaded petrol, from 173.6 cents a week earlier. The wholesale price has dropped by a similar amount to 155.5 vs 160.9 cents a week ago. (Source: AIP) pic.twitter.com/uxDs10355y
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
Travelling in Melbourne over the weekend, it was possible to buy fuel at around 155 cents per litre, while some service stations were charging about 195 cents. Despite suspicions, though, the average mark-up is, well, back to average levels.
The average difference between wholesale and retail prices is back to the average over the last couple of years, at about 16 cents (Source: AIP) pic.twitter.com/VTMXEAZd7R
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
Come the early hours of 29 September the federal government’s excise holiday will end, and 22.1 cents per litre will be added back on.
You can bet the average between wholesale and retail prices will widen in the run-up to that date as motorists flock to fill up - assuming treasurer Jim Chalmers doesn’t extend the excise cut.
Updated
Morrison’s appointment to other portfolios followed ‘normal process’: governor general
Government House has confirmed that governor general David Hurley appointed former prime minister Scott Morrison to administer other portfolios, after advice from the then-Coalition government.
A spokesman for Hurley said such appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony, and said that publicising such ministerial appointments is solely a matter for the government. He said:
The governor general, following normal process and acting on the advice of the government of the day, appointed former prime minister Morrison to administer portfolios other than the department of the prime minister and cabinet. The appointments were made consistently with section 64 of the constitution.
It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility. These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony – the governor general signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the prime minister.
Questions around appointments of this nature are a matter for the government of the day and the department of the prime minister and cabinet. Similarly, the decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day.
Read the original story here:
Updated
The governor general was “following normal process” in appointing former prime minister Scott Morrison to a range of portfolios, according to a statement sent to News.com.au’s Samantha Maiden.
Oh, and:
The decision whether to publicise appointments to administer additional portfolios is a matter for the government of the day.
BREAKING Governor-General’s statement to @newscomauHQ and on “shadow government” claims https://t.co/kO70MWIsyV pic.twitter.com/bAJ2bubfSA
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) August 15, 2022
Updated
If you haven’t read that Ben Doherty piece on those left behind in Afghanistan yet, please do – then follow it up with this piece on what should be done now, by Sitarah Mohammadi and Sajjad Askary:
Updated
Western Australia records two new Covid deaths
Two people with Covid have died in Western Australia overnight, with the state recording 1,605 new cases, 303 people in hospital, and nine in ICU.
South Australia records four new Covid deaths
Four people with Covid have died in South Australia overnight, with the state recording 1,194 new cases, 274 people in hospital, and 12 in ICU.
South Australian COVID-19 update 15/08/22.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) August 15, 2022
For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAlWPSN pic.twitter.com/4kZPToq7gH
Updated
Extraordinary work here from Ben Doherty on the Afghans Australia left behind:
My boys eat only one meal a day. My wife has got health and mental issues. It is a really difficult situation for my boys, starving, they are two, eight and 10 years old. They cannot go out as their visas are expired. We face police outside and the Australian government is not responding to our questions.
Thanks to Royce Kurmelovs for holding on tight to the wild ride that was former prime minister Scott Morrison apparently appointing himself to a range of ministries.
Tory Shepherd with you now – well, sort of. I can only feel half my face thanks to the wonders of modern dentistry. There may or may not be drool. Anyhoo, on with the show!
Electricity prices remain high despite easing slightly
In the wake of Friday’s energy ministers’ meeting in Canberra, it’s worth remembering that Australia’s electricity prices remain high after tripling in the June quarter in the National Electricity Market, which serves 80% of the country’s population.
Today’s weekly readout of futures prices from the ASX shows only a gradual decline from the $264/megawatt hour averaged in the April-June period.
(As @dylanjmcconnell notes, a better measure of calculation – the volume-weighted price – puts the June quarter average slightly above $300/MWh.)
Wholesale power prices edging higher, with NSW the standout state within the NEM: (Source: ASX) pic.twitter.com/aMwvPUd28u
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
Energy ministers, as has been reported, have effectively shelved plans for a capacity mechanism – an indication perhaps that imposing a new complication on the NEM might not be the wisest course of action. “Probably fair to say it will go in a different direction to how it was originally conceived,” was one insider’s diplomatic takeout.
Kerry Schott, formerly the head of the Energy Security Board and a supporter of a mechanism to pay for idle generation capacity in the market, is reported in the AFR today as saying that states “will be largely left to implement their own schemes”.
That was probably always going to be the case, particularly as the Morrison government had largely given up on a national energy policy.
In the meanwhile, when the wind is blowing and the sun is out, wholesale spot prices are low – as they were a little while ago. Renewables were accounting for half of supplies in the NEM:
Lots of sun and wind around today, with renewables supplying half of the NEM and pushing spot wholesale prices lower. (Source: @OpenNem, @reddolphinsys ) pic.twitter.com/TzSx3yrabp
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
Still, market conditions remain tight, particularly in Queensland where there are “lack of reserve” forecasts for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from AEMO.
The gaps that the operator is looking to nudge suppliers to fill aren’t huge – in the 100MWs or so levels – but that could change if an ageing black or brown coal generator were to have any conniptions. We’ve had enough of those in recent months to be wary of more to come.
Updated
Queensland police commissioner to face inquiry over DV response
Queensland’s police commissioner will front a commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic violence this week after questions were raised about her absence from the public hearings.
Katarina Carroll, commissioner of the Queensland Police Service, is set to appear at an extra public hearing on Thursday to discuss the police’s capability, capacity and structure to respond to domestic violence, as well as cultural issues within the force.
It comes after Guardian Australia reported earlier this month that the commission had not asked Carroll to give evidence at the public hearings before they were scheduled to wrap up last week, prompting criticism from victims’ advocates.
Over the past five weeks, the inquiry has heard several disturbing allegations about the culture within the force such as officers allegedly referring to domestic violence as “foreplay” and reports police did not investigate a woman’s suspicious death because she and her husband were “a pair of scumbags who live in a shit area”.
When contacted by Guardian Australia earlier this month, the commission did not explain why the commissioner was not originally asked to give evidence at the hearings in person.
Updated
Adelaide Holocaust Museum fears antisemitic threats
The Adelaide Holocaust Museum is at risk of being targeted after news reports of antisemitic vandalism in South Australia has raised security concerns.
Kathy Kaykitch, director of the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre (AHMSEC), said the museum and its patrons were at risk of being targeted.
“The growing threat from extremist groups, both here and around the world, highlight the urgent need to ensure that school groups and patrons are safe and not subject to any antisemitic activity while visiting the museum,” Kaykitch said.
“Extremist groups are active and organising in online spaces, these disgusting acts of racist vandalism bring to the fore the critical importance of supporting the education of young people through our programs.”
Since it opened in November 2020, the museum has been targeted in acts of antisemitic vandalism.
The museum is calling the state government to take measures to help ensure it is protected.
Updated
Qantas flight crew back at work after engine malfunction forces emergency landing
Qantas flight crew have returned to work after a Sydney to Hobart flight was forced to divert to Melbourne yesterday afternoon.
A Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft, a Boeing 717, made a snap priority landing after pilots received an alert in the cockpit about an engine issue, followed by a loud noise in one of the engines.
The pilots followed all standard procedures, shut down one of the aircraft’s engines and asked for a priority landing into Melbourne, where the aircraft landed safely and without incident.
Engineers are inspecting the aircraft. We understand this would have been an unsettling experience for our customers and we thank them for their patience and cooperation.
Emergency landing at Melbourne Airport. Hobart Flight QF1533 Sydney to Hobart. Left engine malfunction. @abcnews #hobart @9NewsMelb #qantas @SBSNews @SevenNetwork @Qantas #scary pic.twitter.com/tWKU9zVtcN
— Nikko Shiboski 🌝 (@JelicicNick) August 14, 2022
A passenger onboard the flight reported hearing an “enormous bang” and experiencing “the plane shaking like it would fall apart”.
The crew were DAMP tested and have returned to work today, while passengers were re-accommodated on to flights to Hobart last night. Emergency services attended the scene, however there were no injuries.
A spokesperson for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed an engine malfunction issue had been reported and they were “gathering further information at this stage”.
Updated
ACT records no new Covid deaths
No one with Covid-19 has died in Australian Capital Territory overnight, with the territory recording 287 new cases on Monday morning, 135 people in hospital, two in ICU and one on ventilation.
(1/2) ACT COVID-19 update – 15 August 2022
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 15, 2022
🦠 COVID-19 case numbers
◾ New cases today: 287 (156 PCR and 131 RAT)
◾ Active cases: 2,429
◾ Total cases since March 2020: 198,470 pic.twitter.com/GzOUdcJMlL
(2/2)
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 15, 2022
🏥 COVID-19 hospital numbers
◾ In hospital: 135
◾ In ICU: 2
◾ Ventilated: 1
◾ Lives lost: 0
◾ Total lives lost since March 2020: 110
ℹ For more detail, including an age breakdown of case numbers, please visit https://t.co/qRDoepyJkh
Updated
PM’s press conference ends
That’s it for the PM’s press conference – strong words there from Anthony Albanese saying that his government will be investigating what has occurred before they offer detailed comments.
The prime minister made clear the ministerial power-sharing arrangement violated the customary norms of government in Australia and that Scott Morrison “should be held accountable for his actions”.
Updated
Albanese claims Morrison ‘didn’t allow ministers to do their job’
On whether Albanese has instructed the solicitor general to investigate what happened, the PM says he will be getting a “full briefing” this afternoon.
This is dripping out like a tap that needs a washer fixed and what we need is actually to get the full flow of all the information out there and then we’ll make a decision about a way forward here. But these circumstances should never have arisen. You know, we do have a non-presidential system of government in this country, but what we had from Scott Morrison is a centralisation of power, is overriding of ministerial decisions, and all done in secret.
Albanese raises the prospect that this power-sharing relationship may have compromised the operation of the Australian government:
Perhaps this explains why we didn’t order enough vaccines. I mean, the minister for health might have thought the prime minister was ordering them because he was also the minister for health and he thought the minister for health was ordering them.
He says he won’t have any more information until he has a full briefing and is able to get advice. However the PM says his government will “operate in an orderly and transparent way”.
I’ll have more to say about that when we receive advice. But let’s be clear here – this was a centralisation of power by the former prime minister and the former prime minister should be held accountable for his actions as well as the actions of other members of his government. This was a political decision, or a series of political decisions, were made. It’s not clear to me or, indeed, to anyone at this point in time how many other portfolios Scott Morrison was sworn into, but what’s very clear is that this was a sign of no confidence by Scott Morrison in the Morrison government – in the Morrison government. Because he didn’t allow ministers to do their job.
Updated
‘The people of Australia were kept in the dark,’ says Albanese
Albanese:
Nothing about the last government was real, not even the government itself.
The PM is also asked about Morrison’s use of the arrangement to kill the PEP11 exploration licence off the New South Wales coast.
The fact that Minister Pitt disagreed with the decision that was made by the prime minister as the minister for resources as well as Minister Pitt, is quite extraordinary. I don’t think it’s clear whether Minister Pitt was aware that his role had been usurped.
Albanese says there “was an obligation upon the prime minister at that point in time, if not beforehand, to actually reveal what the arrangements were”.
This isn’t some, you know, local footy club. This is a government of Australia where the people of Australia were kept in the dark as to what the ministerial arrangements were. It’s completely unacceptable.
Updated
Albanese questions role of governor general in facilitating Morrison’s ‘shadow government’
Albanese says the revelations raise “a whole lot of questions”:
What did Peter Dutton and other continuing members of the now shadow ministry know about these circumstances? How is it that the Australian people can be misled whereby we know now that Scott Morrison was not only being prime minister, but was minister for health, was minister for industry and science at the same time as resources, was the minister for finance, and we had the extraordinary revelation that Mathias Cormann, apparently, wasn’t aware that Scott Morrison was the minister for finance as well as himself.
Albanese then has a strong statement:
In Australia, we have a Westminster system of government that produces accountability. This is the sort of tinpot activity that we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country. Here, in parliament, I, as leader of my party, and Peter Dutton now, but Scott Morrison as the former leader of the country, would table the list of ministers. That is not some academic exercise. That is so that people can be held accountable.
Albanese also asks about the role of the governor general in facilitating the arrangement:
And how is it that the governor general could swear in Scott Morrison into ministerial portfolios without there being a transparency there about that process?
Updated
Reports of Morrison's 'shadow government' are 'extraordinary and unprecedented', Albanese says
Anthony Albanese kicks off his press conference by describing the former PM’s ministerial sharing arrangement as “extraordinary and unprecedented”.
Let’s be very clear: Australians knew during the election campaign that I was running a shadow ministry. What they didn’t know was that Scott Morrison was running a shadow government. A shadow government that was operating in the shadows. What we have when we get sworn in as ministers is that there’s some transparency there.
Updated
Lots of sun and wind around today, with renewables supplying half of the NEM and pushing spot wholesale prices lower. (Source: @OpenNem, @reddolphinsys ) pic.twitter.com/TzSx3yrabp
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 15, 2022
An inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager shot dead by a Northern Territory police officer won’t begin as planned in a remote town because of community tensions, AAP reports.
Kumanjayi Walker, 19, died on November 9, 2019 after Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, shot him three times during an outback arrest gone wrong in the remote community of Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs.
Rolfe was acquitted at trial in March of murdering the teen, igniting grief and anger in his community.
An inquest scheduled for September 5 will explore if there is systemic racism or cultural bias in the NT police force and whether Walker received adequate medical treatment before he died from his injuries on the floor of a police station.
Community members had asked coroner Elizabeth Armitage to consider holding the first few days of the inquest in Yuendumu.
But counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer on Monday said Walker’s family had changed its position citing community tensions.
Armitage agreed the plans to hold hearings in Yuendumu should be scrapped and the inquest should begin as scheduled in Alice Springs.
The coroner would still visit the community at some stage during the inquest and may use it as an opportunity to speak to locals on a less formal basis, the hearing was told.
Updated
Queensland records 1,901 new Covid cases
Queensland has recorded 1,901 new Covid-19 cases overnight, with the state reporting 459 people in hospital on Monday morning and 25 in ICU.
The state has not reported its deaths on Sunday and Monday but will include these numbers in Tuesday’s release.
Today we have recorded 1,901 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) August 15, 2022
Death numbers are not reported in our case posts on Sunday and Monday - they will appear on Tuesday.
Full details ➡️https://t.co/rKHIwroZeI pic.twitter.com/qrEPFa7DHp
And that’s the statement from Anthony Albanese and Daniel Andrews at the opening of a mRNA vaccine production facility at Monash University.
There is an expectation that the prime minister will also hold a press conference following the event, although the details are yet to be confirmed.
Updated
Australia needs to be more self-reliant, PM says
Anthony Albanese is speaking now and begins with a joke about how he was suspended from Sydney University for “various political activities” but is now welcomed as a hero.
Albanese says the “future is made in Australia” and that the lesson from the pandemic has been that Australia needs to maintain a minimum of sel- reliance.
There are a range of lessons from the pandemic, but one of them is we need to be more resilience and more self-reliant, we need to make more things here, we can’t continue to assume that it’s OK to be at the end of global supply chains because we know that what Covid represented, of course, was that a massive global disruption to those supply chains and that Australia has become, I think, particularly vulnerable. We have become complacent for a long period of time, that it was OK for us to just meander along. It’s not.
Updated
Daniel Andrews and Anthony Albanese announce Moderna's new mRNA manufacturing facility
The press conference has started now with Daniel Andrews speaking about the partnership between Moderna and Monash University to establish onshore manufacturing of mRNA vaccines in Australia.
Andrews and prime minister Anthony Albanese are speaking at the site of the new facility.
Once operational the facility will produce 100 million vaccine doses every year.
This will be the only facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
When we think about great science, we think about London and Oxford. We think about Boston and we think about Melbourne.
Updated
Albanese speaks at Melbourne press conference
Just before this press conference gets underway I just want to create a short list of what is being reported on Monday about the ministerial arrangement set up under the former Morrison government:
Scott Morrison was sworn into the health portfolio;
He was also sworn into a ministerial position overseeing the entire Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio;
And the former PM was sworn in to the finance portfolio – and Matthias Cormann says he had no idea;
Nationals leader David Littleproud says he didn’t know the former PM held dual roles.
I may have missed something, but one thing is clear: the more we learn, the more questions there are.
Updated
Northern Territory schools to open during strike
Northern Territory schools to be hit by strike action this week will all remain open, authorities say.
The NT Department of Education says it has been advised of the four-hour industrial action planned for Friday over the public sector’s four-year pay freeze.
The walkout will involve schools across Darwin and Palmerston as well as those in Humpty Doo and Taminmin.
The department says principals will communicate arrangements for their schools with parents and carers.
The industrial action is scheduled for the day before the byelection for former chief minister Michael Gunner’s seat of Fannie Bay.
– from AAP
Updated
Woman in hospital after cow attack in Kemps Creek in Sydney
Cow attack: We have responded to an incident involving a cow attacking a woman on Mamre Rd in Kemps Creek. The woman has been treated for head injuries and taken to Liverpool Hospital. #nswambulance
— NSW Ambulance (@NSWAmbulance) August 15, 2022
Updated
Northern Territory records no new Covid deaths
No one with Covid-19 has died in the Northern Territory overnight, with the state recording 100 new cases on Monday morning, 31 people in hospital, and 1 in ICU.
Proposal for specialist Indigenous-run prison in NSW
New South Wales corrective services is reportedly investigating the possibility of establishing a specialist Indigenous-run prison.
The Daily Telegraph reports a “masterplan” is being developed to establish the facility and have it operated and managed by an Indigenous organisation.
It would house Indigenous prisoners and be staffed by First Nations people.
A location for the prison has yet to be chosen and while it was still being developed it is suggest it could be expanded into regional areas across NSW.
Updated
It’s looking increasingly like the upcoming press conference called by prime minister Anthony Albanese is going to be a big one with a lot on the agenda.
amid everything else going on today, PM Anthony Albanese and VIC Premier Andrews have announced Moderna will build a vaccine facility at Melbourne's Monash University - the finalisation of a long process started under the Coalition government 💉 pic.twitter.com/pCDU22pVFs
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) August 15, 2022
Updated
Beach Energy cashed up for gas expansion
Oil and gas company Beach Energy has reported increased earnings and cashflow on rising gas prices and high demand, giving more fuel to expand.
The company on Monday reported an underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $504m, up 39%, on higher prices and revenue, reduced depreciation from lower production, and “minimal” exploration expensed.
Total revenue rose 13% to $1.8bn and underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 17% to $1.1bn.
Beach, which has its headquarters in Adelaide, is planning several gas projects including in the Otway Basin, offshore South Australia and in Victoria near the Twelve Apostles.
-from AAP
Updated
A traveller’s view of Sydney airport chaos
Those waiting in queues at Sydney domestic airport on Monday morning might be wondering if they had been better served by turning up early – but not so according to Guardian Australia economics correspondent, Peter Hannam, who dove into the weeds:
On Friday morning I rocked up for a Melbourne flight on Rex, departing at 7am. I was at the airport a bit over 75 minutes prior to the flight, figuring that there wouldn’t be a big crowd so early on.
When I arrived, the overflow room, that now looks a little like a cattle yard, was pretty much empty.
This was the empty ‘queue shed’ at the domestic terminal at Sydney Airport at 545am on Friday… pic.twitter.com/aDPns7G5Tg
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 14, 2022
But as soon as you joined the main column of passengers, you found airline staff walking up and down, pulling people out as each flight departure time neared. They held signs and called out: “All passengers on flights at 6.30am or earlier, come forward now.”
In other words, there was no real advantage in turning up early as latecomers were continually extracted from the main line and given express treatment at security. There was also only an occasional check to see if queue-leapers were actually on a flight at that time.
Turn up early and you’re likely to spend a long time queuing. Chance your luck and you’ll get an easy ride as airlines can’t afford to have constant delays (that cascade through the day).
It’s not clear what the solution can be except more surge capacity at security – or more bumped passengers.
(My Rex flight took off a couple of minutes early, or so the pilot said, so the passenger management system worked at least for that one ... )
Updated
Anthony Albanese is expected to give a press conference this morning about 10am on the east coast. We will bring you the latest as it develops.
Updated
Police fear revenge attacks after Sydney shooting
Police are bracing for revenge attacks after two women were killed in a targeted shooting on Saturday evening.
Speaking to 2GB, homicide squad commander Danny Doherty said the killing broke an unwritten rule that protected women and children from attacks:
It’s been long held, in the past that you don’t target children and women and family.
If there’s a conflict between two criminal networks they will target each other.
In this case we’ve just seen the rule book completely ignored and thrown out the window.
Doherty said police were now bracing for more violence as they expect retaliation:
There’s always a fear of ... some type of retribution.
Burnt-out cars were found in nearby suburbs in the hours after the attack and police are investigating if they are linked to the shooting.
The victims have been identified in reports as 48-year-old mother of two Lametta Fadlallah and Amy Hazouri, 39.
The women were killed on Saturday night when the car they were sitting in was sprayed with bullets. A 16-year-old girl and a man, 20, were also in the car and police say they were “very lucky they were not killed as well”.
There have been more than a dozen fatal shootings in Sydney over the past two years as gangs feud over turf and drugs.
– from AAP
Updated
Matt Kean labels David Elliott ‘embarrassing’
The NSW treasurer Matt Kean has labelled his cabinet colleague David Elliott “embarrassing” in the latest public spat between the two ministers.
Elliott on Monday launched an extraordinary attack on Kean, accusing him of harming negotiations between the government and rail union in its long-running industrial campaign.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the transport minister said of Kean’s involvement in the negotiations:
No wonder the union is sceptical of us. Hard to put the genie of distrust back in the bottle when it’s so freely moving amongst us.
It’s very hard for me to look [the unions] in the eye and expect them to believe me after I had the rug pulled out from under my feet last time, but that’s what you get when you send a boy in to do a man’s job.
Speaking on the ABC on Monday, Kean labelled Elliott’s contribution “embarrassing”:
David Elliott is the transport minister, he has responsibility for that area of government. I’m not going provide a running commentary on these embarrassing outbursts.
Kean and Elliott have been involved in a number of clashes. In the lead-up to the election of a new deputy Liberal party leader, Elliott threatened to strip Kean of his treasury portfolio if he were elected to the job.
Elliott eventually decided not to run for the role and Kean was elected unopposed.Premier Dominic Perrottet told both ministers to focus on “unity”.
Kean today refused to say whether he still supported Elliott maintaining his transport ministry saying:
That’s a matter for the premier … I’m focused on my responsibilities.
Updated
How quickly things change …
This was the empty ‘queue shed’ at the domestic terminal at Sydney Airport at 545am on Friday… pic.twitter.com/aDPns7G5Tg
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 14, 2022
Updated
Flood warning in Gippsland
Heavy rainfall has led to rising rivers and a major flood warning in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Up to 90mm of rain has been recorded in the Latrobe River catchment over the past 24 hours to 4am today, with 10mm to 20mm forecast across the area for the rest of the day.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for the Moe River at Darnum, east of Warragul, after it exceeded the major flood level early this morning. The river level is now at 4.64 metres and rising, the bureau says.
Minor flooding has eased in the Morwell River catchment but it could develop along the Latrobe River at Rosedale on Tuesday.
Other minor flood warnings are active for the nearby Traralgon Creek, and parts of the Murray and Kiewa rivers to the north of the state.
– from AAP
Updated
NSW records six Covid deaths
Six people with Covid-19 have died in NSW overnight, with the state recording 5,490 new cases this morning, 2,178 people in hospital, and 59 in ICU.
COVID-19 update – Monday 15 August 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 14, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
- 96.9% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 95.3% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine* pic.twitter.com/ghcIpj5o4j
- 69.3% of people have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine**^
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 14, 2022
- 82.3% of people aged 12-15 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 78.6% of people aged 12-15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 49.7% of people aged 5-11 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
- 2,178 hospitalisations
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 14, 2022
- 59 people in ICU
- 6 lives lost
- 5,490 positive tests: 2,875 RAT & 2,615 PCR
Updated
Victoria records 15 Covid deaths
Fifteen people with Covid-19 have died in Victoria overnight, with the state recording 3,648 new cases this morning, 571 people in hospital, 27 in ICU and seven on ventilation.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 14, 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 pic.twitter.com/xpkn2xaiIu
3 doses (16+): 69.5%
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 14, 2022
2 doses (12+): 94.7%
Doses total: 6,335,114
Hospital: 571
ICU: 20
Ventilated: 7
Lives lost: 15
New cases: 3,648 (Rapid antigen test cases: 2,885, PCR test cases: 763)
PCR tests: 7,123
Active cases (all): 28,621
Updated
First Nations group fights SA nuclear waste dump plan
A First Nations group fighting to stop a nuclear waste dump being built on their traditional country in South Australia are due to appear in court today.
The Barngarla are seeking a review of a federal government decision choosing the regional town of Kimba as the site of a storage facility for low- and medium-level nuclear waste.
Former minister Matt Canavan made the decision to choose Kimba as the site after a campaign to secure community support.
Today’s hearing concerns a fight over documents the Barngarla are seeking through discovery that the government has so far refused to provide.
Jason Bliney, chair of the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation, said yesterday that he hoped the new government would reconsider plans for the facility:
We hope the new Government will quickly realise how badly the former government mishandled this project and withdraw the declaration.
We fought 21 years to win our native title and if we have to fight 21 years to stop this nuclear waste dump damaging our country, then we will have to do it.
Updated
Another snap from Sydney airport check-in:
Pies trying to score at the SCG yesterday pic.twitter.com/botVC9poLc
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) August 14, 2022
Updated
Aged care workers doubt reform goals can be met
Aged care workers are sceptical the federal government’s ambitious planned reforms to the sector can be achieved, a survey suggests.
About half of the 1,100 workers canvassed shortly after the May election said they planned to leave the sector within the next three years, according to the report published today by aged care service consultants CompliSpace.
More than half believed it would be impossible to achieve new minimum care mandates in the proposed timeframes.
The Albanese government has introduced legislation requiring all aged care facilities to have a registered nurse on site 24 hours a day. They will be required to provide residents with a minimum of 215 minutes of care a day from October 2024 under a planned $2.5bn overhaul of the sector.
CompliSpace chief executive David Griffiths said the increase in care was needed but could not be achieved under existing staffing levels. He said increased funding was needed to maintain the existing workforce and attract up to 50,000 additional nurses and support staff.
– from AAP
Updated
Covid case numbers drop – but new subvariants emerging
Australia’s latest wave of Covid-19 infections may be nearing its end but new subvariants could soon bring a further spike in cases, an epidemiologist warns.
Yesterday’s tally of 15,728 new cases was the lowest reported since 28 December.
The seven-day average for case numbers in Australia has dropped to the lowest level since mid-February, according to Johns Hopkins data.
University of South Australia epidemiologist Adrian Esterman says while the wave of cases linked to the highly infectious BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants appears to have reached a trough, new subvariants continue to emerge:
We’re seeing a wave [of infections] due to new subvariants every three to four months, and we have done for the last eight months. So if the same pattern continues, we might expect a new wave from a new subvariant around November. And there’s already a couple on the horizon.
Esterman said the BA.2.75 variant was taking over as the dominant strain in India, while BA.4.6 had begun to take hold in parts of the US.
Those strains were almost certainly already in Australia but it was too soon to know whether they would become dominant or whether a subvariant that caused more severe infections would assume their place, he said:
There’s absolutely no guarantee that the next wave that comes along isn’t going to be incredibly severe. We simply don’t know.
States and territories have largely rolled back protections including mask mandates.
But Esterman said the persistence of the virus meant there was a need for more public health measures including greater education about mask-wearing and the importance of booster shots:
More important than the peaks of the waves is the height of the trough in between them. That’s staying relatively high, and that means that there’s constant pressure on our hospital systems and there’s constant pressure of people getting long Covid.
– from AAP
Updated
Meanwhile, Sydney airport is once again in chaos with long queues and long waits.
Sydney Airport queue out the door once again @RoyceRk2 pic.twitter.com/tRrIdXte6K
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) August 14, 2022
I thought post school holidays it'd be fine but nup. pic.twitter.com/3bIFrDfP6T
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) August 14, 2022
Updated
Walt Secord stands down from NSW shadow ministry
NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord has stood down from the shadow ministry after last week admitting he had been “too blunt and too direct”.
He released a statement this morning saying he did not want to be a distraction from the “important work that needs to be done” in implementing the recommendations from the Broderick report into Parliament House culture that was released last week:
After long reflection and with more than 30 years in the Labor Party, I have asked NSW Labor leader Chris Minns to let me stand aside from the shadow ministry.
Chris, myself, and the NSW Labor Party have committed to adopting the recommendations of the Broderick review and working across party lines to make the NSW Parliament and NSW politics a workplace we can all be proud of.
I fully support the Broderick Review and the change it will hopefully lead to. But my remaining in the shadow ministry at this time has become a distraction from these major revelations and the important work that needs to be done.
Guardian Australia understands that multiple former staffers made submissions to the Broderick review in relation to Secord’s past behaviour. They relate to accusations of bullying of staff outside his own office.
Last week he said while he did “not have the same recollections from the staff in the former leader’s office – especially in relation to raised voices in the workplace”, he accepted “that I can be too blunt and too direct in a fast-paced workplace”.
Updated
Greens propose shutting down Victoria’s coal plants within eight years
Victoria’s last coal-fired plants would be shut down over the next eight years under a plan by the Greens which will be introduced to parliament this week.
The energy legislation amendment (transition from coal) bill 2022 is expected to be introduced tomorrow. It proposes that Victoria’s three remaining coal plants be shut down by 2030, ahead of the planned 2046 timeframe.
The Greens are releasing the bill alongside a climate policy package for the November state election. It is expected to be debated and voted on next month, with the party also pitching a job-for-job guarantee for coal workers.
Victorian Greens acting climate spokesman Dr Tim Read said the “writing is on the wall” for Victoria’s brown coal plants:
They’re old, unreliable and spew toxic pollution that is harming the health of local communities.
Under the bill, the deadline for Yallourn’s closure would be set for 2024, compared with the 2028 timeframe.
Loy Lang A would shut in 2027 under the legislation, as opposed to by 2045, and Loy Yang B’s closure would be shifted from 2046 back to 2030.
The Greens’ bill would also increase Victoria’s legislated renewable energy target to 100% by 2030, a move it says would be supported by a $10bn investment into renewables.
Along with the job guarantee for coal workers, the Greens want secure funding to 2035 for an independent Latrobe Valley authority.
Under their pitch, the authority would be tasked with the power plants’ closure, and developing new industries in the region including offshore wind, clean manufacturing, and mine site rehabilitation.
from AAP
Updated
Ed Husic pushes for ‘brain regain’
Industry minister Ed Husic will this week host a series of five roundtable meetings with science and technology leaders in the lead-up to the federal government’s jobs summit, in a bid to kickstart what he called “brain regain” – attracting Australia’s bright minds working overseas to return home, to combat the so-called “brain drain”.
Husic will host meetings on science and commercialisation, digital skills, advanced manufacturing, industrial unions and artificial intelligence this week, with a key focus on the worker shortages those areas are facing. The minister said those roundtables would help inform the jobs and skills Summit, to be held in Canberra early next month:
These discussions will also include ways to increase the representation of women and people of diverse backgrounds in skilled occupations. One of my priorities is on “brain regain” – encouraging Australian researchers and innovators to return home. I am interested to hear ideas on how this can be best achieved.
Skills minister Brendan O’Connor and home affairs minister Clare O’Neil flagged potential raises to the skilled migration cap on Sunday. Husic said his priority was on upskilling the local workforce, but that “managing appropriate skilled migration will also have an important role to play and will be on the agenda”:
I can’t emphasise strongly enough that this is the start of engagement with these industry sectors. After the jobs and skills summit I will continue the work with industry leaders to ensure we apply practical solutions to accelerate Australia’s pathway to high-skilled, high-value economy.
Updated
John Barilaro’s appointment should be scrutinised, Kean says
Matt Kean is now being asked whether former deputy premier John Barilaro is a victim. He says:
He’s applied for a job and that’s coming with a significant degree of scrutiny, as it should do. That’s part of the territory if you’re going to put yourself forward for those roles.
Kean is also asked for his reaction to news Scott Morrison swore himself into multiple ministerial portfolios, partly to cancel the PEP11 gas exploration licence off the coast of NSW.
He says he “congratulates” the former PM for making the decision to cancel PEP11 but Morrison should not have made the unorthodox ministerial arrangement a secret.
If he felt the need to protect the environment from offshore drilling for gas off Sydney’s northern beaches and he felt he needed to swear himself in as minister, that’s something I support.
For Kean it seems that when it comes to PEP11, the ends justifies the means.
Updated
‘There is no place for bullying’ in NSW parliament, Matt Kean says
NSW treasurer Matt Kean is speaking to told ABC Radio National, saying he broadly supports the recommendations of the Broderick report that found deep-seated issues with bullying and sexual harassment in the state parliament:
I want to make it clear from the outset there is no place for bullying or misconduct in any workplace. It’s clear the parliament has some serious issues to address.
Kean said he supported the aims of the report, including a ban on alcohol consumption within parliament:
What we need to see is the type of behaviour that’s been called out, stamped out. We’ve all got a responsibility to make sure the parliament is a safe place for everyone.
Updated
PM seeking legal advice on former government’s power-sharing arrangement
Immigration minister Andrew Giles says Anthony Albanese is seeking legal advice on the legality of former PM Scott Morrison reportedly secretly swearing himself in as the minister for health, finance and resources during his time in office.
Giles, appearing on Radio National this morning, called the reports “absolutely extraordinary and quite shocking”.
the PM is seeking advice on legality of these revelations - do we know what the consequences will be?
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) August 14, 2022
"what we've heard is a repudiation of the cabinet model we've had in Australia for well over 100 years, it's consquences frankly I'm not sure about"
- @andrewjgiles (PART 1)
Those reports, published in the Australian newspaper and news.com.au at the weekend, said Morrison had sought legal advice from the then attorney general that two ministers could be sworn into the same portfolio, so Morrison could swear himself into the role via an administrative legal instrument.
The Australian reported that Morrison swore himself in as health and finance minister during the early stages of the pandemic, partly to safeguard against those ministers being struck down by Covid. Last night news.com.au reported that Morrison was sworn in as resources minister in late 2021, after a dispute with resources minister Keith Pitt over the PEP-11 fossil fuel development off the NSW coast.
Albanese is back from a week of leave and will hold a press conference in Melbourne at 10am. We’ve contacted his office for more information.
Updated
Reports Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as minister labelled ‘amazing’
NDIS minister Bill Shorten has described as “amazing” reports that former PM Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as minister for three different portfolios, claiming the former Liberal leader had a “messianic complex”:
If he felt the need to do it, why not tell people? Why be secretive?
This is about the constitution, our whole system of government. It’s a very unorthodox manoeuvre, and if you’re going to do things that are unorthodox, you really need to have a very good explanation and I haven’t heard one yet.
Shorten claimed Morrison “didn’t trust his colleagues”.
Updated
NDIS investigation to be launched after ‘millions’ taken in fraud
Minister for government services Bill Shorten is speaking to ABC Radio National, discussing his plan to tackle fraud in the NDIS.
A multi-agency investigative team will be set up after an investigation by Nine.
Shorten said “millions” had been taken from the scheme:
They may boast among themselves about how clever they are. The rest of Australia despises this. What we’re going to do is make sure the NDIS is only for the people who need it.
He also welcomed comments by Malcolm Turnbull in Guardian Australia this morning saying he will be voting yes in any referendum to establish an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Shorten said Turnbull had “shut the debate down” on the voice in the past as he was “battling the conservatives in his party”:
It’s great that Malcolm’s on board with this. Hopefully that signals other people are thinking about the issue. It’s not a Labor or Liberal issue, it’s a question of whether we want to see First Nations people on the nation’s birth certificate.
Shorten was also asked about revelations Scott Morrison had himself sworn in as health minister and energy minister in a “unorthodox” power-sharing arrangement within his government.
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Ravi the red panda’s great escape
A seven-year-old red panda named Ravi escaped his enclosure at Adelaide zoo on Friday, sparking a two-day search that ended when the animal was found up a tree in the nearby Botanic Park, dining on figs.
ABC News reports that zookeepers spent the majority of yesterday trying to convince Ravi to climb down with offers of treats but were eventually forced to use a tranquilliser dart and blankets to catch him.
Ravi, who only arrived at Adelaide zoo last week, has now been returned to his enclosure with zookeepers reviewing video footage to work out how he got out.
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Weather warnings for WA and Victoria
Western Australia is in for some wild weather this morning. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning as a cold front approaches the west coast.
A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for parts of western #WA. A cold front approaching the west coast will combine with a moisture laden cloud band to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and impact road travel from late Monday in the warning area. pic.twitter.com/zC1XVusDRP
— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) August 14, 2022
A major flood warning has been issued for the Moe River in Darnum in Victoria and minor flood warnings for the Latrobe River at Rosedale.
⚠️ Major flood warning for #MoeRiver at #Darnum & Minor flood warning for #LatrobeRiver at #Rosedale. See https://t.co/zQk6fgvnx0 for details and updates; follow advice from @vicemergency #VicFloods @vicsesnews pic.twitter.com/gM18hEykuP
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) August 14, 2022
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Alleged Canberra shooter to appear in court this morning
A 63-year-old man has been charged with three weapons offences, including unlawful possession of a firearm, after a shooting at Canberra airport yesterday that forced the grounding of planes and the evacuation of the terminal for several hours.
The man was arrested at the airport yesterday after allegedly firing five shots into glass windows of the building.
ACT police said:
Police will allege that the man arrived at Canberra Airport at approximately 1.20pm before sitting on seats near the southern check-in desks on the first floor. At about 1.25pm he drew a firearm and deployed a number of shots into windows of the building.
No injuries were reported and police said they were confident the man was operating alone. He was taken into custody and overnight was charged with discharging a firearm at a building, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm near a person causing alarm. He will appear in a Canberra court this morning.
Police yesterday could give no immediate information on the possible motivations of the man or what sparked the alleged shooting.
ACT police are urging any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Good morning
And welcome to another Monday morning Guardian Australia live blog.
A 63-year-old man has been charged with three weapons offences, including unlawful possession of a firearm, after a shooting at Canberra airport yesterday that forced the grounding of planes and the evacuation of the terminal for several hours. The man was arrested at the airport yesterday after allegedly firing five shots into glass windows of the building. Police yesterday could give no immediate information on the possible motivations of the man.
A second US delegation arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a two-day trip including a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen. The delegation is being led by Senator Ed Markey, who is travelling to the region as part of a wider tour of the Indo-Pacific. The second delegation in a matter of weeks is likely to spark a reaction, with the Chinese embassy saying in a statement that it shows the US “has spared no effort to stir up confrontation”.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs, taking the blog through the day. With so much going on out there, it’s easy to miss stuff, so if you spot something happening in Australia and think it should be here, you can find me on Twitter at @RoyceRk2 where my DMs are open.
With that, let’s get started ...
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