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.
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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:
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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.
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