What we learned: Thursday, 11 August
With that, we will bid adieu for the evening. As always, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning with all the latest.
Here are the major developments of the day:
The royal commission into defence and veteran suicide has released its interim report today outlining issues that need to be addressed immediately by the government. Minister for veterans’ affairs, Matt Keogh said the government would now “look into implementing” the report’s 13 recommendations.
The NRL is in shock after league legend Paul Green was reported dead at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning. Tributes have poured in for Green, a legend of the sport as both a coach and a player.
Liberal senator Jim Molan has called on the National Press Club to refuse further speaking invitations to members of the Chinese government, after the controversial speech of ambassador Xiao Qian yesterday. It comes as opposition leader Peter Dutton dialled back on his comments on Taiwan when he described it as an “independent country”. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called Xiao’s speech “concerning”.
The Greens have urged environment minister Tanya Plibersek against approving billionaire miner Gina Rinehart’s proposed expansion of a coal seam gas project in Queensland.
The federal court has ordered Clive Palmer to pay an undetermined sum for Mark McGowan’s costs in half of the defamation proceedings between the pair.
And in Covid news, there were 87 deaths recorded across the nation today including 36 in Victoria, 29 in NSW and 11 in Queensland. The latest data on Covid-related deaths in aged care found in the week to 5 August, there were 165 deaths reported by providers and 176 the week prior. But, in more hopeful news, active outbreaks in aged care have dropped.
Updated
Albanese government to permit new fossil fuel projects that ‘stack up’
The Albanese government will continue to support new fossil fuel projects so long as they “stack up” from an economic and environmental perspective, the federal resources minister says.
Labor rejected the Greens’ demand that there be no new fossil fuel projects during negotiations over the climate bill. The government is pushing states and territories to expand domestic gas supply as it attempts to shore up the local market.
Madeleine King, in a speech to the resources industry in Queensland on Thursday, praised the gas industry stating:
The government understands that natural gas is the ally of renewable energy and will support the addition of more intermittent energy sources.
Read the full story from blog Queen Amy Remeikis here:
Updated
Further Victorian Covid details released
Victoria’s department of health has provided further detail on today’s Covid update.
The 36 deaths notified to the department yesterday included people in their 30s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 100s.
“Almost all” occurred in the past week.
It brings the total number of deaths in the state since the pandemic began to 4,880. Some 3,269 were recorded this year.
Updated
Cameron Smith welcome at Australian Open
Cameron Smith will be welcome to play the Australian Open – and any other event down under he chooses this summer – even if the newly crowned British Open champion joins LIV Golf, AAP reports.
In a win for Australian golf fans, officials have opted against following the lead of the US PGA and Europe’s DP World Tour in banning Australasian Tour members who commit to the Saudi-backed breakaway league.
Smith continues to be linked to a $A140m move to Greg Norman’s so-called rebel tour immediately after the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoffs conclude later this month.
The world No.2 offered a “no comment” when asked this week about his reported plans, but Australian golf officials have given Smith the green light to tee up in his national championship in Melbourne from 1-4 December.
Australian PGA Tour chief Gavin Kirkman said while LIV Golf-aligned players had been suspended from the PGA and DP World Tours for being in “breach of their (tours’) regulations”, the rules are different for Australasian Tour members:
“(Our) regulations sit underneath the constitution and the players coming home to play, as long as there’s no conflicting event, they’ll be welcome to play,” Kirkman said after revealing a record $8m prize pool for the 16-event summer schedule on Thursday.
Updated
Video posted on social media of battle-damaged Australian vehicle donated to Ukraine
In Ukraine, footage has emerged of an Australian-donated Bushmaster IFV undergoing refurbishment after combat damage.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison and former foreign minister Marise Payne announced more than 30 Bushmasters – a type of troop carrier - would be sent to Ukraine in May as part of a military support package.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the policy seeds that ultimately produced the Australian-designed and -built Bushmaster armoured troop carrier were planted in the Hawke government’s 1987 defence white paper.
Australian-donated Ukrainian Bushmaster IFV going through refurbishment after taking combat damage pic.twitter.com/6I2BZfWsAk
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 11, 2022
Updated
A reminder to prepare yourselves for renewed rainfall this weekend if you’re on the south-east coast.
A cold front and low pressure systems will bring widespread showers and #rain to south-east #Aus in the coming days. This may cause renewed flooding for some inland rivers in #NSW.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 11, 2022
Check latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/gkTMGvu1lS and #BOMWeather app. pic.twitter.com/gAh8wLkca8
No matter what species Ronald is, he’s adorable and I am very jealous of the environment minister.
Digging deep to bring you the facts
Here’s one final update on Tanya Plibersek and the wombat - because we at Guardian Australia are committed to rigorous fact-checking and bringing you the whole story, just to totally confirm for you, the wombat that the environment minister hugged is indeed named Ronald.
As the State of the Environment Report showed us, we need to actively manage the places we have vowed to protect. Work like this doesn’t just help koalas, it benefits the other threatened plants and animals that share their habitat. pic.twitter.com/Uj7gImKDv4
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) August 11, 2022
Plibersek’s office confirmed this to us this afternoon, and also shared the extra trivia fact that the marsupial is named after the former CEO of the Port Stephens koala hospital, a man called Ron.
Updated
Federal court orders Clive Palmer pay part of Mark McGowan's legal costs
The federal court has ordered Clive Palmer to pay an undetermined sum for Mark McGowan’s costs in half of the defamation proceedings between the pair.
Earlier in August, the court found the pair defamed each other in a war of words over Covid-19 and extraordinary legislation extinguishing the billionaire’s $30bn claim against Western Australia.
Palmer received damages of just $5,000 while McGowan got a little more ($20,000) because justice Michael Lee accepted his evidence about his hurt feelings.
On Thursday, Lee ordered that Palmer pay McGowan’s costs in the cross-claim from 22 December 2021, a few days after McGowan made an offer to Palmer to walk away from the case.
Although Lee found there was an “asymmetry of responsibility” for the litigation - because Palmer launched proceedings and did not accept McGowan’s offer - he declined to award costs in the primary case.
That was because Palmer did manage to secure judgment in his favour, “curial recognition that he had been defamed and no defence was available” and that was “no small thing”. This was a more favourable outcome than McGowan’s offer, so the WA premier should not get costs for that half of the case.
The judge ordered Palmer to pay a “lump sum” that will be determined by the parties or the court registrar. Lee noted there was likely to be a “glaring disproportion” between the costs and the judgment sum, which he labelled “chump change”.
Updated
Jacqui Lambie says claims process putting veterans under strain
Senator Jacqui Lambie appeared on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing earlier to weigh in on the interim Royal Commission report into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
She said it “hit on the things” that needed to change right now before the final report is released in two years time.
The claims processing … is a big one, we’ve had a revolving door of contractors for the last nine or 10 years in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 44% of them were contracted staff.
Lambie said she “hoped” Labor would move to listen to the experts and bring them to the table in implementing the recommendations prior to 2024.
What we want to see is not just the apology, we want to see action and we don’t want to wait until the end of 2024 before you get the claims process sorted. That’s half your problems. People are trying to take their lives … and part of the problem is the claims processing. It’s putting them under financial strain and it’s not good enough.
Updated
Plibersek koala hospital visit – update
As posted in the blog earlier, minister for the environment Tanya Plibersek spent the day at the Port Stephens koala hospital – a site that, as the name implies, cares for and rehabilitates koalas.
But koalas aren’t the only animals in the hospital’s midst. Ronald, a wombat, and Errol, a possum, are also housed at the centre.
And upon closer inspection a tweeted image – which, to the unobservant eye – appeared to be Plibersek cosying up with a koala, could actually be 18-month-old Ronald the orphaned wombat.
As the State of the Environment Report showed us, we need to actively manage the places we have vowed to protect. Work like this doesn’t just help koalas, it benefits the other threatened plants and animals that share their habitat. pic.twitter.com/Uj7gImKDv4
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) August 11, 2022
Has Plibersek jumped ship? Where does her real allegiance lie? Only time will tell.
Updated
Senator calls for National Press Club not to host Chinese government officials
Liberal senator Jim Molan has called on the National Press Club to refuse further speaking invitations to members of the Chinese government, after the controversial speech of ambassador Xiao Qian yesterday.
Molan, an army Major-General before entering politics, accused the Chinese ambassador of an “outright threat of violence” and called on the NPC to not host any further Chinese officials.
“His thinly veiled aggression, deflection and blame-shifting are, unfortunately, what we’ve come to expect from the increasingly belligerent Chinese Communist Party regime,” Molan wrote in a letter he tweeted to his followers on Thursday afternoon.
Following yesterday’s disgraceful address by the Chinese ambassador, I have today written to the @PressClubAust requesting that they refrain in the future from providing the CCP with a platform to spread its lies and misinformation, and to prosecute its evil agenda. Letter below. pic.twitter.com/BUqxoHmDpA
— Senator Jim Molan AO DSC (@JimMolan) August 11, 2022
Molan called the speech a “disgraceful address” and called on the Press Club to “refrain in the future from providing the CCP with a platform to spread its lies and misinformation, and to prosecute its evil agenda.”
In the letter, addressed to NPC president and ABC 7.30 host Laura Tingle, he accused the Chinese government of a “lack of respect for Australia’s liberal democratic values, and for facts, pragmatism and reason”.
Updated
Veterans’ affairs minister to consider short-term reforms from interim report
Matt Keogh, minister for Veterans’ Affairs, just appeared on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing discussing the interim report from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
He said the commission had been a combination of “many, many reviews” into issues within defence and the Department.
This is not in any way submitted be taken lightly. It set forth … things that we as a government can get on with in the short to medium term before we get to the final report in a couple of years.
He said “certainly” something had be done to the foundations of the compensation and rehabilitation scheme for veterans, while he was also “working closely” on the backlog claims process.
But he didn’t have an “exact timeline” on when the backlog would end.
In the time I have been a minister and my engagement with veterans and service organisations, it’s one thing that comes up time and time again … it’ll see considerable improvement for veterans and serving personnel.
The department was resourced constrained and that inhibited its capacity to process claims and support veterans and that’s the key problem the royal commission has been hearing about … we’re talking about veterans, people who have served our nation and deserve to have the best service delivered to them. They can be efficiency through online portals but there has to be people involved.
Updated
More rain forecast for spring
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its latest climate outlook and its forecasting … yep, more rain come spring.
A “wetter than average” September to November is likely for the bulk of Australia, predominantly as a result of the negative IOD.
A wetter than average September to November is likely for the eastern two-thirds of #Australia. The negative #IOD is the key influence on the wetter outlooks and is likely to persist until late spring. Learn more in our #Climate and Water Outlook: https://t.co/NMbDOli1um pic.twitter.com/LtHqeKe2D3
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 11, 2022
For the next two weeks, rainfall is also likely to be higher than average for the bulk of Australia, excluding the tropics.
This will continue through to November except for in western Tasmania and parts of north-western and south-western WA, the BoM says.
Maximum temperatures this spring are likely to be above median for the tropics, parts of the west and Tasmania but below median for much of the southern mainland.
Minimum temperatures for the remainder of August through to November are likely to be above median nationwide. The negative Indian Ocean Dipole event, warmer than average waters around northern Australia, and a neutral to cool phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, are likely to be influencing this outlook.
Updated
Family of NRL coach Paul Green ask for privacy after his death
Paul Green’s family have released a statement after his sudden death at 49, asking for privacy as they process their grief.
Today we are devastated.
We have lost a devoted husband, loving father and wonderful brother and son. We cannot find the words that would come close to expressing our feelings, however we would like to extend our thanks to those who have reached out to us with their love and support.
Paul was loved by so many and we know that this news will generate immense interest, however at this time we ask for privacy.
Our family is still trying to understand this tragedy and we request space and time as we come to terms with this loss.
The rugby league community is still in shock as it comes to term with the loss of Green, a legend of the sport as a player and a coach.
- with AAP.
Updated
Return to capital-city offices reverses as Omicron and flu hit workers
A wave of Covid cases and flu infections over winter has been blamed for a significant drop in office occupancy rates across most major cities.
Melbourne had the lowest return-to-office rate in July, according to data released by the Property Council of Australia on Thursday.
The figures show the occupancy rate of Melbourne offices dropped from 49% in June to 38% in July, while in Sydney the rate fell from 55% to 52%, in Brisbane from 64% to 53%, and Adelaide from 71% to 64%.
Canberra and Perth were the only markets to record an increase in office occupancy, from 53% to 61% and 65% to 71%, respectively.
The property council’s chief executive, Ken Morrison, said a rise in illness during the winter season was a contributing factor in the decline.
Office occupancy numbers have gone backwards for the first time in six months as a wave of Omicron and flu cases kept workers away from the office.
We have been seeing a steady increase in the number of workers returning to offices, but this stalled in June and has now declined in most capitals, which is disappointing but unsurprising.
Office occupancy rates in Melbourne have remained below 50% since the start of the pandemic, while in Sydney and Brisbane occupancy rates peaked during a lull in Covid cases in early to mid-2021.
- via AAP.
Updated
Tanya Plibersek opens koala hospital
The minister for the environment has spent the day with koalas at the Port Stephens Koala hospital, which she opened today.
Some 3.7 million hectares of koala habitat was affected by the Black Summer bushfires. Thousands of koalas died during the natural disaster.
As the State of the Environment Report showed us, we need to actively manage the places we have vowed to protect. Work like this doesn’t just help koalas, it benefits the other threatened plants and animals that share their habitat. pic.twitter.com/Uj7gImKDv4
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) August 11, 2022
Koalas are now listed as endangered on Australia’s east coast, covering Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT. Their numbers have halved in the past 20 years.
Updated
Olivia Newton-John’s husband issues statement following her death
With Olivia Newton-John’s family formally accepting the Victorian government’s offer to host a state funeral in her hometown of Melbourne, her husband, John Easterling, has put out a statement thanking the world for their well wishes since her death was announced on Tuesday morning.
“Our love for each other transcends our understanding,” he wrote.
Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural. We never had to ‘work’ on it. We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever.
Easterling, who was married to Newton-John for 14 years, described her as “the most courageous woman I’ve ever known ... in her most difficult times she always had the spirit, the humour, and the will power to move things into the light.”
“Our family deeply appreciates the vast ocean of love and support that has come our way,” he wrote, signing it off with “onward ho”.
Updated
Matthew Guy loses third staff member
If you missed it earlier, a third staff member has left Victoria’s state opposition leader Matthew Guy’s office, months out from the election.
I’m told Matthew Guy’s diary manager did not resign - rather she was fired by new chief of staff Nick McGowan. She is the third staff member to leave in 8 days. @7NewsMelbourne
— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) August 11, 2022
Updated
A Victorian scrap metal recycler has been convicted and fined $50,250 after a fuel tank exploded and seriously injured a worker.
Omega Metal Recyclers pleaded guilty to four charges in Bendigo Magistrates Court on Thursday and was ordered to pay court costs for failing to provide a safe workplace in relation to the September 2020 incident.
The worker was using an excavator to move an LPG fuel tank at the scrap yard in Eaglehawk when the machine’s grab attachment struck the tank, causing gas to escape.
The tank exploded and set fire to the driver, who sustained serious injuries.
The company was hit with three charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and one charge under the Dangerous Goods Act, following a WorkSafe investigation.
-from AAP
Concerns raised over relationship between NSW minister and developer
The former New South Wales building commissioner David Chandler raised concerns in his resignation letter about the relationship between sacked fair trading minister Eleni Petinos and a major property developer that hired John Barilaro after he quit parliament.
On Thursday a resignation letter sent by Chandler last month was released through parliament.
It came a day after the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the letter, initially sent to the secretary of the Department of Customer Service, had been referred to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog.
Read the full story from Tamsin Rose and Michael McGowan:
Updated
National Covid summary – at least 87 more deaths
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 87 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
Deaths: 1
Cases: 464
In hospital: 135 (with 4 people in ICU)
NSW
Deaths: 29
Cases: 10,515
In hospital: 2,223 (with 64 people in ICU)
Northern Territory
Deaths: 1
Cases: 184
In hospital: 43 (with 2 people in ICU)
Queensland
Deaths: 11
Cases: 3,358
In hospital: 596 (with 18 people in ICU)
South Australia
Deaths: 1
Cases: 1,919
In hospital: 269 (with 7 people in ICU)
Tasmania
Deaths: 1
Cases: 661
In hospital: 21 (with 2 people in ICU)
Victoria
Deaths: 36
Cases: 5,550
In hospital: 605 (with 27 people in ICU)
Western Australia
Deaths: 7
Cases: 2,739
In hospital: 323 (with 11 people in ICU)
Updated
Hobart Airport has unveiled plans to double its terminal size, with current facilities operating at almost twice their designed capacity.
The airport on Thursday released a master plan for public consultation as part of its “20-year vision”.
Chief executive Norris Carter said current terminals were designed for about 1.5 million passengers per year but are dealing with 2.8 million.
He said the number of people travelling through the airport is forecast to hit 5.5 million by 2042.
“As a result we are looking at a doubling in the footprint of the terminal from 12,000 square metres to 23,000 square metres,” Carter said.
Community consultation on the plan is open until November 2, with construction slated to begin in two or three years.
Carter said the final cost, to be covered entirely by the airport, is still to be determined but would be in the “hundreds of millions”.
He said a runway upgrade, backed by $60 million in federal government funding, would likely be completed in early 2024.
- from AAP
Victoria records 36 Covid deaths
After a delay, the Victorian Department of Health has released today’s Covid update.
There have been 5,550 new Covid cases recorded and 36 further deaths.
There are 605 people being treated in hospital with the virus including 27 people in ICU.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 11, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah pic.twitter.com/c8dLbnC1Jt
Peter Dutton: ‘My only desire is to see peace in our region’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has held a press conference in western Sydney on the issues of the day, including responding to Labor criticism about his rhetoric on China and Taiwan.
After earlier conceding he “misspoke” when suggesting Taiwan was independent, Dutton said he supported the position outlined by foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and defence minister Richard Marles and that he wanted to see “stability and peace” in the region.
My only desire is to keep peace in our region and I don’t want to see happen in Taiwan what we’ve seen happen in [Ukraine], so everything that we’re doing as a country to keep us safe the Coalition will support and I’ve been very clear about that.
He also spoke about the interim report from the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide, and urged the federal government to reinstate veterans affairs back into cabinet:
There’ll be lots of lessons here for the culture within defence and within the Department of Veterans Affairs across government, and I really want to see that portfolio back in the cabinet because I think it deserves that prominence.
Updated
More reaction to death of Paul Green
Members of parliament have also posted tributes to Paul Green on social media following his shock death.
Gold Coast Titans coach Justin Holbrook paid tribute to the 49-year-old as a “tenacious little halfback” and “great competitor”.
Devastating news about Paul Green, a gutsy and much-admired Queenslander gone too soon, thinking especially of his loved ones at such a horribly sad time #auspol https://t.co/BDPBsyZBWs
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) August 11, 2022
Shocking news re the passing of Paul Green. An incredible player and coach. Thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) August 11, 2022
Updated
South Australia records one Covid death
South Australia Health has released today’s Covid update.
There have been 1,919 new cases recorded and one further death.
There are 269 people being treated in hospital with the virus including seven in ICU.
South Australian COVID-19 update 11/08/22.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) August 11, 2022
For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAmeZ6V pic.twitter.com/W7aLTWkYZE
Parramatta Eels post tribute to Paul Green, who has died at 49
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Eel #646 Paul Green. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues for their loss 🙏
— Parramatta Eels (@TheParraEels) August 11, 2022
Rest in Peace to a great man, player & coach 💙 pic.twitter.com/4NdGKPqrVY
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Eel #646 Paul Green. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues for their loss.
Rest in Peace to a great man, player & coach.
The former Queensland State of Origin coach represented the Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters, the Brisbane Broncos and the Parramatta Eels during his time as player.
Vale Paul Green.
— NRL (@NRL) August 11, 2022
The Rugby League community has lost a legendary player and coach today.
Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the countless fans who loved him. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/dUeUc4sPEL
Updated
Union CPSU welcomes recommendations from veterans’ suicide royal commission
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents members in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), has welcomed today’s royal commission into defence and veteran suicide interim report and its recommendations.
CPSU members in the DVA said the report highlighted the understaffing and underfunding of the past federal government which had hindered the department’s ability to deliver the comprehensive support veterans needed.
They welcomed four specific recommendations: eliminating the claims backlog, improving the administration of the claims system, for the department to provide advice on its funding needs and removing the DVA average staffing level cap.
CPSU deputy president Brooke Muscat said the report highlighted the “shocking backlogs and barriers” veterans faced when seeking help.
For years, the Coalition government ignored the warnings of our members in DVA about the risk to the mental health and lives of veterans caused by understaffing, delays, and veterans’ claim backlogs.
This report makes clear that there is no benefit from policies such as the staffing cap. It costs the taxpayer more, decreases secure employment, and increases backlogs and delays.
CPSU members welcome today’s recommendations and call on the government to immediately accept them. DVA workers are committed to helping veterans and their families navigate the department to access the services they deserve, but government policy has been a clear roadblock.
The union said the federal government’s election commitment of transferring 1,000 labour hire contractors to permanent employment at DVA and creating an additional 500 jobs would “go a long way” to addressing problems, but wouldn’t fix everything.
Updated
Greens call on Labor to rule out any expansion of Senex gas venture
The Greens have urged environment minister Tanya Plibersek against approving billionaire miner Gina Rinehart’s proposed expansion of a coal seam gas project in Queensland.
According to reports today, South Korean steelmaker Posco will partner with Rinehart to lift production at the Senex venture in the Surat Basin, with work set to begin in coming weeks.
The plan still needs approval from Plibersek.
Environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said any expanded or new coal or gas projects would “blow” Labor’s 43% emissions reduction target.
Approving more coal and gas in the midst of a climate crisis is reckless and dangerous. Minister Plibersek should rule this one out too.
It is clear we need a climate trigger in our environment laws to require the minister to consider the impact the emissions from the project will have on the climate crisis. The comments from the resources minister backing in the future of coal and gas are a very worrying sign.
If the Albanese Labor government is truly committed to tackling the climate crisis, then making sure they, and the government that comes next, don’t approve projects that make it worse is a must.
Last week, Plibersek said she intended to block a coalmine project backed by mining billionaire Clive Palmer that would have dug for the fossil fuel just 10km from Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef coastline. It was her first decision in her new portfolio.
Updated
NSW weather warning for sheep graziers
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning to sheep graziers in parts of New South Wales and Canberra for unfavourable weather as a cold front moves in ahead of the weekend.
A strong marine wind warning is also active for the Eden Coast.
Warning to Sheep Graziers in the #SouthernTablelands, #SouthWestSlopes, #SnowyMountains and #ACT for cold temperatures, rain and showers and northwesterly winds expected during Thursday and Friday.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) August 11, 2022
See: https://t.co/Ss766eSCrL pic.twitter.com/DgzSWDQQmQ
The BoM:
Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, rain and showers and north-westerly winds are expected during Thursday and Friday. Areas likely to be affected include parts of the Southern Tablelands, South-west Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts. There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.
Updated
SA taskforce to examine firefighters responding to emergencies
Hopping over to South Australia, and the state’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, has announced a taskforce to look into firefighters responding to medical emergencies.
Premier @PMalinauskasMP has established a taskforce examining firefighters responding to medical emergencies. Led by Ambulance CEO and SA fire chief. @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/mfpKyIH4OC
— Hayden Nelson (@haydennelson) August 11, 2022
It comes after a man died from cardiac arrest on Monday night while waiting 42 minutes for an ambulance. The family of the South Australian man have labelled the state’s health system “broken”.
Updated
Thanks to the ripper Royce Kurmelovs for keeping us abreast of today’s news. I’ll be with you for the rest of the afternoon.
Updated
Shocked and saddened to hear of Paul Green's death. Deepest condolences to his friends and family.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 11, 2022
Veterans minister stops short of endorsing royal commission recommendations on immunity and privilege
Veterans minister Matt Keogh has acknowledged concerns had been raised by the royal commission about access to information from government departments, but stopped short of immediately endorsing the interim report’s recommendations to reform parliamentary privilege and public interest immunity claims.
Commissioner Nick Kaldas told Radio National this morning that he was “still awaiting some things to be resolved”, noting “a number of problem areas we’re trying to navigate … privacy, national security issues”.
Kaldas has previously said the royal commission had found some relevant information “difficult to obtain”. When asked if that information had been more forthcoming in recent months, Kaldas replied: “not as yet”.
The interim report said it had been “constrained – unreasonably so” by parliamentary privilege and public interest immunity claims in its investigations, as well as raising serious concerns about a lack of legal protections for sources to engage with the royal commission.
The report said previous related investigations had been conducted by the Australian National Audit Office and various parliamentary committees, but that parliamentary privilege “presented a barrier to the royal commission making full use of, or fully reviewing, these reports”.
It recommended the government make changes to public interest immunity claims, introduce exemptions for parliamentary privilege for future royal commissions, as well as provide further legal protections for serving members of the ADF who wish to engage with the commission.
Keogh acknowledged concerns but said he had “not formed a view” on the recommendations about immunity and privilege.
The minister said it was “vitally important” the royal commission get the information it requested, but flagged administrative difficulties in sourcing and providing some information. Keogh noted more than 500,000 people in Australia today had served in the defence force, and that not all records were digitised for easy access.
Updated
Greens leader Adam Bandt has attacked a Climate Change Authority report on the international offsets market by calling on the government to “reject international offset accounting tricks”.
Bandt said the report, commissioned by former federal environment minister Angus Taylor, “should be binned”.
We need to cut emissions here in Australia so that we get the benefits of transitioning to a zero economy. These international offsets just delay action and could also undercut our farmers, who could earn income from helping draw down pollution locally.
The EU no longer allows international offsets and Australia should ban them too.
If climate action is left to accounting tricks, pollution will go up and we won’t stop the climate crisis.
AMP to return $1.1 billion to shareholders
AMP move comes after downsizing and simplifying its business through the sale of its funds management arm and asset management business.
The company isn’t paying a dividend but will immediately begin a $350 million on-market share buyback. It has further resolved to return another $750 million to shareholders via a special dividend or further on-market share buyback, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.
“We’re pleased to be able to deliver on this commitment to our shareholders,” chief executive Alexis George said.
AMP also announced on Thursday that its first-half underlying net profit was down 24.5% to $117 million, compared with a year ago.
George said it was the result of both a more challenging economic environment and deliberate actions that AMP took to reprice its wealth management offerings and better set it up for longer-term success.
The slimmed-down company is focusing on being a leading wealth management and banking business in Australia and New Zealand following the roughly $2 billion in sales of its various Collimate Capital business, formerly known as AMP Capital.
It is also using $400 million from the sales to pay down debt.
-from AAP
Updated
NSW is failing on key commitment of Murray-Darling Basin Plan, report says
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority report shows that as of June 30, NSW has only formally submitted one of 20 water resource plans, with five more provided for review ahead of formal submission.
Plans for Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory are listed as “on track”, while NSW is listed as at “high risk”.
The report notes that just 2 gigalitres of 450GL needed for the environment have been delivered, with another 22.1GL contracted.
Water minister Tanya Plibersek has promised “nothing is off the table” when it comes to delivering the plan in full.
Updated
Senex expansion: output for 2022 and 2021 was 20PJ, so plan is to triple production
Senex has been asked about their current gas production, so we can get some yardstick against today’s announcement that they plan to invest $1bn-plus to raise annual output to 60 petajoules a year.
Graeme Bethune, head of EnergyQuest consultancy, said by their reckoning Senex produced 19.5PJ of gas last year, up from 13.1PJ in 2020.
On that score, the expansion would be triple last year’s output, which is in line with their roughly tripling of investment.
Senex has confirmed to Guardian Australia that this year’s and 2021’s output was in the order of 20PJ, so the plan would be to triple the production.
A spokesperson for the company said current output is about 50/50 for the domestic and export markets, and that the “vast majority” of the new production would be earmarked for use in Australia.
Updated
Covid outbreaks in aged care down for first time since mid June
The latest data on Covid-related deaths in aged care makes for grim reading.
In the week to 5 August, there were 165 new deaths reported by aged care providers. The week prior, the number of deaths was 176, by far the worst since the January Omicron wave, according to a Guardian analysis.
But there are some encouraging signs.
The number of active outbreaks in aged care has dropped to 952 in the most recent data. That’s down from 1,064 and 1,013 in the two weeks prior. In fact, it’s the first time the number of active outbreaks have fallen since mid-June.
The number of resident and staff cases associated with active outbreaks has also dropped for the first time in more than a month. There were 14,554 resident cases and 7,170 staff cases associated with active outbreaks in the week to 5 August. That’s down from 15,072 residents and 8,190 staff in the week prior.
Updated
Veteran suicide inquiry report makes 13 recommendations including more DVA resources to clear 40,000-claim backlog
The interim report of the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide has made 13 recommendations to government, seeking to improve the process for veterans dealing with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The commission, which was chaired by Nick Kaldas, calls for the government to clear the claims backlog by March 2024, with more than 40,000 claims still outstanding.
It also recommends simplifying and harmonising the legislation relating to compensation and rehabilitation, with new legislation to be drafted by the end of next year.
To help clear the backlog, the report says the Department of Veteran Affairs will need additional resources, and will need to have a controversial staffing cap removed to ensure it has the resources required to process claims.
“The allocation of these resources to DVA should not be offset by reductions in other resourcing of DVA,” the report says.
Ahead of the commission’s final report in mid 2024, the report also calls for increased protections for people engaging with the commission, saying there needs to be changes to the royal commission act to ensure that serving Australian defence force members can disclose sensitive personal information, and changes to Criminal Code so that information can be conveyed to the royal commission without being in breach of secrecy offences.
Other recommendations go to administrative issues within the department, including improving access to information for veterans and their families, changes to trauma practices for those seeking DVA information and education programs for families of veterans seeking information.
Updated
NRL in shock after league legend Paul Green reportedly found dead
The NRL is in shock after league legend Paul Green has been reported dead at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning.
The Courier-Mail reported news of the 49-year-old’s passing, saying it has left the NRL in shock as Green had not complained about being ill and had been present last weekend for a Cronulla Sharks reunion.
An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.
Green is survived by wife Amanda and two children.
More details to come …
Updated
Western Australia records 7 new Covid deaths
Seven people with Covid-19 have died in Western Australia overnight, with the state recording 2,739 new cases on Thursday morning, 323 people in hospital, and 11 in ICU.
Media statement: COVID-19 update 11 August 2022 https://t.co/gQaqRjfj1d
— WA Health (@WAHealth) August 11, 2022
Judgment in Palmer defamation case at 4.15pm
The federal court is considering who should pay what costs in Clive Palmer’s defamation case against Mark McGowan.
Earlier in August, the court found the pair defamed each other in a war of words over Covid-19 and extraordinary legislation extinguishing the billionaire’s $30bn claim against Western Australia. Palmer received damages of just $5,000 while McGowan got a little more – $20,000 – because justice Michael Lee accepted his evidence about his hurt feelings.
The costs hearing on Thursday centred on an offer from McGowan to Palmer for the pair to walk away, accepting dismissal of both Palmer’s claim and McGowan’s cross-claim.
Palmer’s counsel told the court that Palmer’s case had achieved a “finding by the federal court” that he had been defamed, which was “very significant” and “far more favourable” than dismissal, notwithstanding the small damages bill. His counsel noted Palmer had a high reputation in sections of the community, and the court found the defamation was actionable (if not serious). Palmer’s counsel submitted a more reasonable offer would have been judgment for both sides, rather than dismissal.
McGowan’s counsel, Bret Walker, countered:
There is nothing inappropriate about a walkaway offer between two people in the middle of a slanging match that moved from media to the court.
Walker accepted the concept of vindication of reputation, but noted the case had resulted in a “modest” award of $20,000 for McGowan and “even more modest” award of $5,000 for Palmer. Lee quipped that it is “an interesting stage of [a barrister’s] career, when your daily fee exceeds the cost of damages”.
Walker noted the judge had said the “game was not worth the candle” and suggested he might be tempted to conclude vindication was “pretty much even” so no costs order should be made.
But Walker urged the judge to take the settlement offer into account, which he said should tip the balance in McGowan’s favour for a costs order. To save tallying up costs, Walker proposed a lump sum.
The judge accepted there was “an asymmetry in responsibility in starting the proceedings” – because Palmer had started them - and “also an asymmetry in continuing them” – because McGowan had offered to walk away.
Judgment will be given at 4.15pm.
Updated
In fairness, I had the same reaction when I caught this press release.
This is certain to end well for everyone#auspol #vicpol pic.twitter.com/35XoUuYOnn
— Nick Splitter (@nicksplitter) August 11, 2022
Olivia Newton-John to be given state memorial service
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says he’s spoken to Olivia Newton-John’s niece, Totti Goldsmith, who has accepted the government’s offer of a state memorial service.
[It] will be much more of a concert than a funeral but it’ll be an appropriate celebration of such a rich and generous life.
Newton-John, who found enduring fame for her leading role in the film Grease, died earlier this week. She was 73.
Updated
ACT records one new Covid death
One person with Covid-19 has died in Australian Capital Territory overnight, with the territory recording 464 new cases on Thursday morning, 135 people in hospital, and four in ICU.
ACT COVID-19 update – 11 August 2022
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 11, 2022
🦠 COVID-19 case numbers
◾ New cases today: 464 (294 PCR and 170 RAT)
◾ Active cases: 3,032
◾ Total cases since March 2020: 197,094
ℹ For more detail, including an age breakdown of case numbers, please visit https://t.co/qRDoepyJkh pic.twitter.com/3NyZoFRWPb
🏥 COVID-19 hospital numbers
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 11, 2022
◾ In hospital: 135
◾ In ICU: 4
◾ Ventilated: 3
◾ Lives lost: 1
◾ Total lives lost since March 2020: 108
COVID-19 vaccination data is reported weekly on Fridays.
Updated
Final few questions are about plans for an additional 500 staff to help process claims and whether the culture in the ADF can actually be fixed – the answers are mostly a repetition of what was said previously before Keogh calls an end to the presser.
And just a quick reminder for those reading, that if you are a serving ADF member or a family member of a serving ADF member, you can access all-hours support on the Defence Family Helpline at 1800 628 036, or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
Support can also found with Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.
Updated
Government ‘calling for a de-escalation’ over Taiwan, Matt Keogh says
Questions now moving into unrelated topics – the first one being the Chinese ambassador’s statements overnight that there can be no compromise on Taiwan.
Keogh:
I think the government’s been pretty clear in its response to what has been ongoing escalation of tension across the Taiwan Strait, that we join with other countries in the region in calling for a de-escalation and a sort of a reversion to normal conditions in terms of the now-escalating tension that is existing there. And that’s all I’ll say about this for now.
Updated
Keogh is asked about whether the report itself is a “massive cultural failing within the ADF”.
He doesn’t respond directly to the question, but does say “there is a great degree of difficulty in assisting people to transition from their lives in defence through to civilian life”.
Updated
Minister asked about whether ADF blocked information to inquiry
There is a curly question now about whether the royal commission was prevented from accessing information by the Australian defence force.
Keogh:
We’re aware of a general concern that some information may not have been flowing to the commission in the way it would have liked and we made clear to agencies that whatever the view might have been under a previous regime, that this royal commission is doing important work and that we are all benefited by making – giving it as much of the information as it can be given, to make sure we get the best outcomes in terms of recommendations for government coming out of the royal commission.
And as I say, that proposition and working closely with the royal commission was absolutely accepted by our government agencies as well.
Keogh says he isn’t suggesting the previous government did not want to information given to the royal commission but does say he knows “they did’t want a royal commission in the first place”.
Updated
Another question points out the interim report recommends the backlog is cleared by 31 March 2024 and that this timeline may mean lives are lost.
Matt Keogh says he wants the backlog cleared “as soon as possible”.
It is important to recognise, though, that for veterans that are making claims through DVA, they do have access to income support and they do have access to medal support for conditions that are of the nature that we know are nearly always found to be related to defence service so they can start accessing those supports and rehabilitations as soon as possible while still waiting for formalisation of their claims.
Not clear what “income support” Keogh is referring to there, but it probably needs a reminder that current social security payments remain well below the poverty line.
Updated
Minister ‘working closely with the department’ to clear veterans’ claims backlog
Next question is whether the claims backlog – which numbers around 42,000 unprocessed claims – will be cleared, particularly as three ADF members have died by suicide in the past three months.
Keogh says he “can’t comment on specifics of the cases” but offers his “condolences” to “their families, friends and colleagues”
In terms of working through the backlog with veterans’ affairs, it’s something that I’m working closely with the department on as we engage the additional staff, implement other recommendations from the McKenzie report which the previous government tried to keep secret.
I don’t have a timeframe by when we will be able to get through that backlog as yet, but getting greater clarity on that is something that I’m really committed to getting at the moment.
Updated
Minister ‘deeply sorry about’ any failings of Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Next question is whether Keogh he believes the government owes an apology to current defence force members and families who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Keogh says:
If there have been failings in the way in which defence has operated, failings in the way that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has operated, I’m deeply sorry about that. That is not what these agencies are set up to do.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs which I’m directly responsible for is an agency that is there to support veterans and if it hasn’t been doing its job, as a government, we’re sorry about that.
So absolutely, to people that have felt they have not got the treatment that they deserve, you know, I apologise for that. It wasn’t under our watch, but as a government of this country, veterans always deserve the best and we should be delivering that.
Updated
First question now about whether the government has looked at similar recommendations made by the Productivity Commission which have covered similar ground. Keogh says:
As you can see now, recommendation 1 of the royal commission does provide some detail about how they think that should be approached – and certainly this is something that I want to be diving into how we best approach that, in as timely a way as possible, but in the way that puts veterans first.
Updated
Report will be ‘confronting reading’ for many, veterans’ affairs minister says
Keogh says that “in the interest of transparency” the government has released it “at the first available opportunity today” and that as a result the government is also just seeing its conclusions now.
Keogh says it will be “confronting reading” for many:
It is vital that these [recommendations] are now addressed as a priority. I’m also happy to say that some of the matters raised in the royal commission’s interim report are also being addressed by the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, such as increasing the staffing and resources available to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to reduce the current claims backlog.
Updated
Veteran suicide rate ‘a national tragedy’, says minister
Minister for veterans’ affairs, Matt Keogh, is speaking now about the interim report from the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide.
Keogh says the government will now “look into implement” the report’s 13 recommendations:
Unfortunately, the rate of veteran suicide in Australia is a national tragedy and it is a rate that is significantly higher than across the general Australian population. It is devastating that Australia has lost more serving and former serving personnel to suicide than it has lost through operations over the last 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Updated
In case you were wondering about Victoria …
There is a delay in this morning’s COVID-19 update. We will share the update as soon as possible.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 10, 2022
Updated
Queensland records 11 new Covid deaths
11 people with Covid-19 have died in Queensland overnight, with the state recording 3,358 new cases on Thursday morning, 596 people in hospital, and 18 in ICU.
Today we have recorded 3,358 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) August 11, 2022
Sadly, we have reported 11 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Full details ➡️https://t.co/rKHIwrGADi pic.twitter.com/QXaiEdgUUF
New South Wales records 29 new Covid deaths
29 people with Covid-19 have died in New South Wales overnight, with the state recording 10,515 new cases on Thursday morning, 2,223 people in hospital, and 64 in ICU.
COVID-19 update – Thursday 11 August 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 10, 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/WiENKGhCFW
- 69.2% of people have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine^*
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 10, 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*
- 2,223 hospitalisations
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 10, 2022
- 64 people in ICU
- 29 lives lost
- 10,515 positive tests: 5,304 RAT & 5,211 PCR
*Data as at 7 August 2022 updated weekly
^ Data as at 9 August 2022
Victoria’s Bellbird private hospital to become public elective surgery centre
Another private hospital in Victoria will be converted into a dedicated public elective surgery centre.
The premier, Daniel Andrews, and health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, announced on Thursday morning Bellbird private hospital in Blackburn will reopen later this year for elective surgery.
The centre will be operated by Eastern Health and consist of four operating theatres, a 10-bed day procedure unit, 43 inpatient beds and will offer a range of services including gynaecology and general surgery.
All 95 staff at the hospital will be offered equivalent ongoing roles with Eastern Health.
Andrews says once operational, the new centre will help more than 5,700 Victorians get the surgery they need.
It follows the announcement earlier this year that Frankston private hospital will also be converted into a public health service in September.
On Saturday the government announced there were 87,275 Victorians on the elective surgery waitlist as of June.
Updated
The interim report of the royal commission into defence and veteran suicides has just been made public and it is expected there will be a media conference by the federal minister on its recommendations shortly.
We will bring you the latest as it happens.
Updated
Oil and gas company Senex announces planned major expansion of gasfields
Senex has made some market waves this morning, announcing (via a drop in the AFR, but also here) that it was planning a $1bn-plus “major expansion” of its coal seam gasfields in Queensland’s Surat Basin.
The development was touted as bringing a boost to domestic supplies of the fossil fuel even though it was also noted the company is owned by “one of Australia’s biggest Asian energy allies”, as the AFR put it.
The company was taken over by South Korean steel giant Posco last December for $610m that now looks like a savvy buyout. It was delisted from the ASX in April but not before billionaire Gina Reinhart’s Hancock Energy snapped up a 49.9% indirect stake.
The company looks to have timed its announcement to coincide with a conference including Madeleine King, the federal resources minister, who has been talking up the need for Australia to develop its fossil fuel resources (the 2030 and 2050 emissions targets notwithstanding).
So Senex says it is ready to increase its “natural” gas production to 60 petajoules a year “with work planned to begin in coming weeks”. What’s not clear from the statement (nor the AFR) is what the current production level is. That makes it a bit tricky to tell immediately if the new flows are significant or not.
(As a comparison, though, the ACCC said last week that eastern Australia faced a 56-petajoule shortfall of gas next year if the big LNG exporters sent all the uncontracted gas offshore, as they seem wont to do.)
Senex chief executive, Ian Davies, said:
This new investment to significantly boost domestic natural gas supply supports Australia’s energy security and continues to underscore Queensland’s position as a reliable energy provider.
(But didn’t say how much more ...)
Still, if approved, the $1bn expansion would effectively triple the company’s investment “in new supply” in the past three years.
The gas industry’s peak body, Appea, welcomed Senex’s investment (without saying how much more gas it will produce). Appea acting chief executive, Damian Dwyer, said:
This is a massive investment to help secure Australia’s energy future and ensure local natural gas keeps flowing to manufacturers, homes and businesses.
The AFR noted that the project “still needs approval by environment minister Tanya Plibersek” and would create more than 200 construction jobs at its Atlas and Roma North projects.
As mentioned in an earlier post, the energy ministers are meeting this evening in Canberra ahead of a formal gathering on Friday. Ensuring there is sufficient gas for local use is among the top issues likely to be raised.
Updated
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been snapped tucking into a dagwood dog on Ekka People’s Day in Queensland at the Royal Queensland Show.
Here is the blow-by-blow:
The reactions have been as anticipated.
"watch out"
— cammyboo AO (@cameronwilson) August 10, 2022
"here's trouble" pic.twitter.com/OK13wzWOWO
Updated
Matthew Guy loses third staff member after resignation of diary manager
Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, has lost a third staff member in eight days.
Sources have told Guardian Australia Guy’s diary manager resigned on Wednesday night.
It follows the abrupt resignation of his director of communications, Lee Anderson, earlier on Wednesday.
Anderson, who had held the position for 12 months, quit after what sources say was a disagreement with Guy’s new chief of staff, Nick McGowan.
McGowan was appointed to the position on Monday afternoon, replacing Mitch Catlin who resigned last week after the Age reported he had proposed to ask a Liberal party donor to make more than $100,000 in payments to his private marketing company for services described as “supporting business interests”.
Updated
Detectives identify man hit by Melbourne train in July
A man who was hit by a Melbourne train last month has been identified by detectives.
The man is in hospital with serious injuries after he was struck by a train in Brunswick on July 7.
He cannot properly communicate and has no phone, wallet or cards in his possession.
Victoria police on Wednesday provided a facial composite image to the public with the hope someone could identify him.
Police confirmed detectives have identified the man and said in a statement on Thursday they would not be providing further information “but would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance”.
- with AAP
Updated
Tasmania records one new Covid death
One person with Covid-19 has died in Tasmania overnight, with the state recording 661 new cases on Thursday morning, 21 people in hospital, and two in ICU.
11 Aug 2022
— COVID Tasmania (@CovidTasmania) August 11, 2022
Sadly another reported death
See tablet for daily stats
ICU doughnut only lasted 1 day pic.twitter.com/ntdu1hajgw
11 Aug 2022
— COVID Tasmania (@CovidTasmania) August 11, 2022
Daily reported cases, hospital and ICU pic.twitter.com/8KRUV3CYjO
Interim report from veteran suicide inquiry expected today
The royal commission into defence and veteran suicide is expected to deliver its report today outlining issues that need to be addressed immediately by the government.
Chairman, Nick Kaldas, and his fellow commissioners have spent eight months traversing Australia to gather evidence in a series of private and public hearings.
At every turn commissioners have flagged concerns about the urgency of their task, amid an alarming suicide rate among defence members and veterans.
The inquiry has resulted in some startling revelations, including a frank admission by the secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Liz Cosson, of failings so profound the agency was “not fit” for their needs.
Cosson conceded a backlog of 60,000 claims by injured defence members and veterans, which has left some people waiting for years, may have contributed to a spike in suicides.
Thursday’s interim report is expected to recommend emergency measures to begin a wholesale reform of the department’s claims system which has been dysfunctional for decades.
More resources and comprehensive support services for traumatised families of veterans has also been identified as a priority.
- from AAP
Updated
Telstra to return $1.9bn to shareholders
Telstra has raised its total dividend for the first time since 2015, returning $1.9bn to shareholders following what chief executive, Andy Penn, says has been the successful transformation of the company.
Penn said Telstra set out four years ago with its T22 strategy to “fundamentally transform the company, to simplify and digitise, to set bold aspirations and radical interventions, and that is what we have done.”
Telstra will pay a fully-franked final dividend of 8.5c per share, from 8c a year ago.
- from AAP
Updated
Peter Dutton walks back comments on Taiwan: ‘I respect China’s position’
The Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, has conceded that he misspoke when he described Taiwan as an “independent country” when commenting on US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit.
Asked if he had misspoken, Dutton told Radio National: “Yes, I did”, and noted immediately after he had been clear about “keeping the status quo”. “I don’t support the independence or breaking away of Taiwan, I respect China’s position,” he said, adding that he didn’t want conflict involving a population of 26m living peacefully.
Dutton said the Coalition has “strongly supported” the government’s position on China, and although it wants peace to prevail, we’ve “got to be frank” – and “no imagination is required” because the ambassador had set out very clearly the aim to reunify with Taiwan, by force if required.
Dutton rejected Kevin Rudd’s criticism labelling him the architect of Australia’s megaphone diplomacy, and noted that Rudd had described the Chinese government as ratfuckers – although Dutton omitted the expletive after “rat” – over its handling of climate talks.
Updated
Treasurer intends to leave stage 3 tax cuts in place
Federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says the government is welcome to suggestions from the upcoming jobs and skills summit but it is committed to delivering stage 3 tax cuts.
Speaking to ABC Radio National on Thursday morning, Chalmers said the government wouldn’t go ahead with the tax cuts if it didn’t think they were necessary.
We intend to leave them in place ... we think that there are steps that can be taken now in the tax system particularly in relation to multinational tax avoidance.
That’s where our priorities should be.
- with AAP
Updated
Energy ministers to meet in Canberra
The electricity and gas supply squeeze that occurred in May and June in eastern Australia thankfully hasn’t been repeated, even with the current flurry of cold and wet conditions across much of the south.
Federal, state and territory energy ministers will meet in Canberra today and tomorrow to discuss what caused the suspension of the national electricity market for nine days in June. The meeting will be the first such meeting in years which will kick off with dinner followed by more formal discussions on Friday.
We looked at what’s expected, particularly the addition of “emissions” finally to the national electricity objective. Heading down that road may lay the basis for a carbon price, at least implicitly.
Environmental concerns had been part of the original design for the market during the Hawke-Keating years but they got scrapped under the Howard government, said Bruce Mountain, the head of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre.
The proposal for updating the NEO has lately been led by the ACT’s Shane Rattenbury and his Queensland counterpart Mick de Brenni. However, it’s also worth noting Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s energy minister, proposed similar changes back in 2016 to both the electricity and gas objectives, but didn’t get sufficient support from counterparts at the time.
D’Ambrosio, though, tells us her state wasn’t deterred, and proceeded to become the first state to legislate a net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Explicitly including emissions in the national energy objectives will provide strategic guidance to new investments to help to achieve net zero at least-cost.
Flagging another issue that will likely be debated at the ministers’ meeting, D’Ambrosio also stressed the need to secure more gas for domestic use rather than export.
It is unacceptable that Australia produces so much gas, yet we have a gas crisis because exporters are making super profits.
We’ll be seeking agreement for [the Australian Energy Market Operator] to have the power to make sure national gas storage facilities have sufficient domestic reserves, and greater market monitoring by the Australian Energy Regulator to stamp out dodgy behaviour that costs households and businesses.
Woodside results are expected to land soon, and may foster more debate about those “super profits”.
Updated
PM and foreign minister have avoided China’s ‘political bait’, Kevin Rudd says
Kevin Rudd also praised the way Anthony Albanese and the foreign minister, Penny Wong, are dealing with the China relationship.
He told Radio National the government has “got the balance right by rejecting China’s list of demands, ignoring it and getting on with the quiet business of de-escalating the relationship”.
Rudd said the pair had avoided the “political bait” of China’s 14 demands, rejecting them on principle. He reiterated the demands “never will be” met by a democratic Australian government and called for “our Chinese friends to move on”.
Asked about Peter Dutton’s comments about appeasement, Rudd accused the Liberal leader of being the “architect of Australia’s megaphone diplomacy to Beijing” that hadn’t solved anything, but rather was aimed at “domestic political posturing”. Rudd also charged the Coalition of failing to stop the lease of the Port or Darwin and to construct submarines.
Updated
‘We’re on a 27-year slide into difficult strategic circumstances,’ Kevin Rudd says of China
Australia’s former prime minister Kevin Rudd has commented on the Chinese ambassador’s warning that Beijing will use “all necessary means” to achieve the reunification of Taiwan.
Rudd said this was the “standard position” from China in the last 25 years but what had changed was Xi Jinping had set a timeframe that reunification should occur by the centenary of the people’s republic of China, 2049. This means “we’re on a 27-year slide into difficult strategic circumstances” for China, Taiwan, the US and its allies, Rudd told Radio National.
The former PM said he was “deeply concerned” about possible use of armed forces in the late 2020s or early 2030s, “when China believes it has a bigger balance of power advantage against the US and Taiwan in that time” and “greater financial and economic resilience against Russia style sanctions”.
Asked about suggestions of re-education camps, Rudd said:
Regarding what China would then do if it was to bring Taiwan forcefully under Chinese sovereignty through military invasion, I think it is inevitable it would use ... within Taiwan the same suppression tactics used in the mainland in 1949 and more recently in Hong Kong. That’s why all policy actions by the US and its allies should be directed towards maintaining the status quo over Taiwan, and that means increasing long-term deterrence.
Rudd said the best way to deter China was for the US to supply Taiwan with more weapons to help it achieve a “porcupine defence” and to attempt to “close the military gap” with China in east Asia and the west Pacific.
Asked if the US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit was a mistake, Rudd said she had the right to visit Taiwan. But was it wise to do so?
He said:
From a Taiwanese perspective, is its own security better or worse after the visit? The analytical consensus here [in the US] is on balance it’s worse because China has been able to war game effectively for the first time what an invasion would look like and change the parameters for possible military action.
The visit also didn’t help the US stabilise its bilateral relationship. Rudd concluded:
Did she have the right? Yes. Was it wise? No.
Updated
Australian GPs ‘exhausted’
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Adjunct Prof Karen Price says the current generation of GPs are “exhausted” and warns the country doesn’t “have enough future doctors choosing this career path”.
Minister for health and aged care Mark Butler told the Australian Medical Association national conference in late July that the current situation was a “terrifying trend” with not enough future doctors opting for a career in general practice, leaving primary care “in worse shape than it’s been in the entire Medicare era”.
Price said on Thursday morning that the minister was “spot on” and the issue “must be front of mind for the new government”:
If primary care were a patient, it would be in dire need of an urgent trip to an emergency department due to multiple issues not being properly managed over many years.
Medicare rebates for GP consultations haven’t kept pace with the cost of providing high-quality care, and the full impact of the rebate freeze stretching from 2013 to 2019 is still being keenly felt.
Price said Medicare patient rebates had increased on 1 July this year by 1.6% which “equates to 65 cents for a standard consult”.
When you consider the most recent inflation figure of 6.1% and the enormous costs practices are shouldering while managing patients during a pandemic you can see what we are up against.
Guardian Australia has been investigating the difficulty in finding bulk-billing GPs, with the health minister saying the way bulk-billing statistics were put forward by the previous government was misleading.
For more on this story, read the latest report by Guardian Australia reporters Melissa Davey and Stephanie Convery:
Updated
ACT warns of scam health texts
ACT Health says it has been made aware of scam text messages claiming to be services such as HealthDirect or Medicare.
The messages tell recipients they have either been in contact with someone who has tested positive to Covid-19 and asks them to either order a free PCR test or click on a link to book a test.
Both are scams that redirect users to malicious websites.
📢 If you get a suspicious text message, report it to Scam Watch https://t.co/E9WU65AJMW This helps warn people about current scams, monitor trends and disrupt scams where possible.
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 10, 2022
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China ambassador’s speech ‘concerning’
Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers has told ABC Radio National this morning that the Chinese ambassador’s language in his address to the National Press Conference last night was “concerning”.
He was followed by opposition leader Peter Dutton who said “we’ve got to be very frank about the threat that is there” and warned against a repeat of what occurred when people doubted Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would invade Ukraine.
More on this story shortly …
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Queensland windfarm project wins federal funding to fast-track connection to grid
Queensland could soon host one of the southern hemisphere’s largest wind projects as the federal government commits to fast-tracking its connection to the national energy grid.
The state’s Southern Downs renewable energy zone will receive a $160m federal investment for new infrastructure to connect power generated from windfarms to the grid.
Powerlink, run by the state government, will use the funds to build and operate 65km of high-voltage overhead transmission lines and two new switching stations.
Climate change minister Chris Bowen said the agreement between state and federal governments would deliver more renewable energy to households and businesses in south Queensland and the east coast.
We are delivering on our Powering Australia plan which includes a major boost to renewable energy supplies to help create jobs and reduce emissions across the nation.
The best way to put downward pressure on energy prices is to ramp up investment in renewables, transmission and storage.
The investment is the first account between the federal Clean Energy Finance Corporation and a Queensland government-owned company. It is expected to help establish one of the largest wind projects in the southern hemisphere.
BREAKING: Australia’s largest renewable energy zone will be delivered right here in Queensland.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 10, 2022
We’ve signed a landmark deal with the Australian Government to fast-track the connection of Australia’s largest wind farm precinct to the National Electricity Market.@MickdeBrenni
– from AAP
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Calls for Albanese government to back international carbon offsets
The Climate Change Authority has recommended that the Albanese government open the door to greater use of international carbon offsets to meet national and business climate change goals.
The authority – an advisory body that faced deep cuts under the Coalition and is about to be newly empowered under Labor – today released a review of the use of international offsets, which some businesses and organisations buy voluntarily to meet self-imposed emissions targets.
It found the carbon market in Australia was “fragmented, inefficient and complicated” and called for a national strategy to help fix it. It said it would be in Australia’s interest for the government to play a leading role in developing a “robust, liquid, high-integrity, trusted and effective global carbon market”.
Carbon offsets, also known as carbon credits, are bought by governments and businesses as an alternative to making emissions cuts. Each carbon credit is said to represent one tonne of carbon dioxide that has either been stopped from going into the atmosphere or sucked out of it.
The authority’s recommendations are likely to be controversial due to concerns about the integrity of some international credits and plans by some companies to rely on access to cheap offsets to meet emissions reduction targets, rather than cut their own pollution.
The authority said the international carbon market was still evolving in the wake of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. It suggested a national carbon market strategy would help clarify the separate roles played by Australian carbon credits and much cheaper international offsets.
But the authority’s chief executive, Brad Archer, said using offsets should not be seen as a substitute for a “plan to decarbonise”:
We need to be reducing emissions wherever we can, as quickly as we can, where that makes sense to do it, but there’s always going to be a need for offsets.
The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said the government would formally respond to its recommendations in due course but its immediate focus was on the “integrity and growth of the domestic carbon market”.
Critics including the Australian National University’s Prof Andrew Macintosh – a former chair of the government’s emissions reduction assurance committee who used to be responsible for the integrity of the system – have released academic papers arguing that most credits do not actually represent real or new emissions cuts. The clean energy regulator, which is responsible for the system, has rejected this.
Labor has commissioned a review of the Australian system headed by the former chief scientist, Prof Ian Chubb. It is due to report back by the end of the year.
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Australian scientists say the world’s largest ice sheet can still be saved if the Paris climate change agreement succeeds.
The East Antarctic sheet is due south of Tasmania and holds the vast majority of Earth’s glacier ice. Sea levels would rise by 52 metres if it all melted. It was thought to be stable, but is now showing signs of vulnerability, the scientists said.
The EAIS is far larger than the West Antarctic ice sheet (WAIS), which hosts the so-called “doomsday” Thwaites glacier, which has lost significant stability. Total loss of the WAIS would cause 5 metres of sea level rise.
Sea level is rising faster today than for at least 3,000 years, as mountain glaciers and the Greenland ice cap melt, and ocean waters expand as they heat. Even a few metres of sea level rise will redraw the map of the world, with profound consequences for millions of people in coastal cities from New York City to Shanghai.
The Greenland ice sheet, which could deliver 7 metres of sea level rise, is on the brink of a tipping point after which accelerated melting would become inevitable, scientists warned in 2021. While the full impact of melting ice is felt over centuries, researchers warned that the level of carbon emissions over the next few decades will lock in future sea level rise.
For more on this story read the full report by the Guardian’s environment editor Damian Carrington.
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Inflation forecasts
Australia’s RBA and Treasury (and so the Albanese government) are forecasting inflation to peak at just under 8% by the end of 2022, with commercial banks (but not investors) tipping the RBA’s cash rate to peak around the same time.
The US provided some indication overnight that higher official interest rates are taking the steam out of price rise, with inflation in July coming in at 8.5%, down from 9.1% in June. Prices were unchanged on a monthly basis.
The impact on financial markets has been notable, with Wall Street up 1.6% to 2.9%, depending on your index.
The prospect of fewer interest rate rises to come – based on the latest inflation numbers, at least – also sent the US dollar tumbling. That sent the Australian dollar bolting over the 70 US cent mark, rising about 1.6 cents to 70.8 US cents.
One month doesn’t make a trend, of course, with much hinging on what happens to oil and food prices. Vladimir Putin and wild weather are tough to predict.
Still, there may be some short-term reassessment of inflation prospects in Australia, too. Before the release of US data, investors were still predicting a steady march higher of the RBA’s cash rate. That may ease back a bit.
Prior to the slightly weaker US July inflation data, investors were tipping a 3-in-4 chance the RBA will lift its cash rate 50 basis points to 2.35% at its Sept meeting. Presumably these odds will be pared back to the extent Australia's inflation trajectory will be lower too. pic.twitter.com/0rbfeGiAZ1
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) August 10, 2022
A side note: the ABS yesterday set a timetable for when it will finally start releasing monthly consumer price index data – rather than just quarterly ones.
From October, the stats bureau will start providing monthly numbers that will “be an important tool for policy makers, academics and businesses”, said David Gruen, the Australian statistician (who knew there was such a title?). (Media types might also find them useful.)
A caveat, though:
One important point of distinction with the monthly Indicator is that, while it will include prices for all the items in the CPI basket, not all these prices will be updated each month.
So it won’t be quite apples and apples, for now at least.
What’s not clear is when the equivalent wage price index will have a monthly readout (so we can see how much our real wages are falling). The next iteration of that will land on 17 August, when the June quarter WPI lands.
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NSW teachers could be offered higher-paid roles
Top teachers in NSW could be offered higher-paid roles under a plan being considered to stop the best educators leaving the classroom.
Education minister Sarah Mitchell said creating a stronger career path for classroom teachers which better rewards excellence was key to modernising the education system and attracting more people to the profession.
NSW has some of the best teachers in the world, but they often leave the classroom and move into management roles to secure higher pay and career progression.
This model is not “performance pay”, this is about expanding the career options for teachers and keeping our best in the classroom.
Teachers in NSW start on a salary of $73,737, which increases to a maximum of $117,060 if they gain accreditation as “highly accomplished” or lead teacher, while assistant principals get $126,528.
The announcement comes a day before the nation’s education ministers meet to discuss the ongoing issue of chronic teacher shortages.
NSW teachers’ unions are at loggerheads with the Perrottet government over pay and staff shortages they say have led to unmanageable workloads.
Public school teachers have walked off the job three times this year, and NSW Teachers Federation president Angelos Gavrielatos says the crisis is putting the state’s education future at risk, with some 3800 teachers needed by 2027.
The unions want a pay rise of 5% to 7%, while the NSW government has offered 3%.
– from AAP
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NSW building commissioner’s resignation letter to be released
The NSW building commissioner’s resignation letter which reportedly exposes his “problematic” relationship with a former government minister is set to be released today.
The government has passed the controversial letter on to the state’s anti-corruption body.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said during question time yesterday that he had read David Chandler’s letter and it would be provided to the upper house on Thursday.
This is a letter related to an employment matter.
Out of an abundance of caution the letter was provided to the ICAC for information.
Labor successfully managed to force the government to release the letter from Chandler, who tendered his resignation in June and will finish in November.
All emails, texts and instant messages sent in the past eight months between then fair trading minister Eleni Petinos, her current and former staffers, former deputy premier John Barilaro and Chandler will also be released.
- from AAP
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More wet weather on way for NSW
New South Wales residents have been warned by the Bureau of Meteorology to expect fresh rains with flood warnings current.
From Thursday a trough and low pressure system will bring wet weather to #NSW, mainly to areas west of the Divide, including over areas that have recently seen significant rainfall. #Flood warnings and a #FloodWatch are current.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) August 10, 2022
Monitor conditions at: https://t.co/UqlGxUsuBw pic.twitter.com/rELR37JmcP
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Good morning
And welcome to Thursday’s Guardian Australia live blog.
Chinese ambassador to Australian Xiao Qian addressed the National Press Club yesterday with a surprisingly candid speech. Over the course of 90-minute address Xiao drew a line in the sand on Taiwan while indicating that a thawing in relations between China and Australia on trade relations may be possible – and the terms under which China would re-engage.
The speech will be expected to add to heightened tensions as Xiao made clear that China was intent on reunification between Taiwan and the mainland, saying it would use “all necessary means”. When asked what “all necessary means” meant, Xiao responded by saying: “Use your imagination.”
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 in the blog, you can find me on Twitter at @RoyceRk2 where my DMs are open.
With that, let’s get started ...
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