What we learned: Wednesday, 10 August
With that, we will wrap up the blog for the night. Enjoy your evenings, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow with all the latest.
Here were the major developments of the day:
China’s ambassador, Xiao Qian, appeared at the National Press Club this afternoon, where he reiterated there was “absolutely no room for compromise” on the subject of Taiwan. Xiao said the use of force could never be ruled out and China would take “all necessary measures” to retain its “one China” policy.
The leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, has confirmed he will attend the Albanese government’s jobs and skills summit after receiving an invitation from the treasurer. It comes after the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, labelled the summit a “stunt” and “talkfest”.
The Australian women’s cricket captain, Meg Lanning, has announced she is taking an indefinite break from the sport for personal reasons.
The federal government contact tracing app you probably forgot about – CovidSafe – has been decommissioned after detecting a cool two Covid cases throughout its unsuccessful tenure.
And still on Covid, there were 133 deaths reported across the country today as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners warned against pharmacists administering anti-virals over the counter for safety reasons.
Updated
Texts reveal officials’ reaction to Morrison government’s election day demand
The Morrison government’s demand that a boat interception be announced on election day was “astonishing in form and timing” and “unprecedented”, according to the public servants involved.
Messages between the Australian Border Force and home affairs department officials, produced under freedom of information (FOI) laws, shed further light on the extreme haste to publish a statement before Scott Morrison confirmed the operation.
The boat arrival formed the basis of a last-minute text message scare campaign from the NSW Liberal party urging voters to “keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today”.
Read the full story from Paul Karp and Daniel Hurst here:
Updated
WA coroner finds Aboriginal man’s death in custody was preventable
Indigenous prisoners need culturally appropriate health care given by Aboriginal medical services to prevent more needless deaths in custody, advocates warn.
The advice comes after West Australian coroner Rosalinda Fogliani recently found an Aboriginal man Mr Yeeda’s death at the West Kimberley Regional Prison in 2018 was preventable.
The 19-year-old Miriuwung and Gajerrong man died from rheumatic heart disease complications after a referral by the prison’s medical officer for him to see a cardiologist was not progressed.
Advocates welcomed Fogliani’s recommendation for the WA Department of Justice and WA Country Health to better share information and tracking on inmate health care. But they say more needs to be done to improve healthcare outcomes for Indigenous Australians in prison.
National Justice project director George Newhouse:
The Coroner has failed to address the systemic racism in WA’s justice and healthcare systems which led to Mr Yeeda’s death. Unless culturally-appropriate healthcare delivered by Aboriginal medical services is provided to prisoners, we will see more needless deaths like that of Mr Yeeda.
The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives was critical of prison staff, saying they should have followed national protocols for rheumatic heart disease management. Rheumatic heart disease is permanent heart damage that can cause heart failure, death and disability.
Yeeda, who was serving a 14-month prison term, was diagnosed as needing heart valve replacement surgery in 2014 after he developed severe aortic valve regurgitation.
– via AAP
Updated
Japanese ambassador ‘a little concerned’ by Chinese counterpart’s Taiwan message
The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has topped the headlines this afternoon with his National Press Club address, where he reiterated the nation’s determination to uphold the “One China” policy at all costs.
Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, was on ABC Afternoon Briefing earlier, absorbing the message from his Chinese counterpart.
He said he was “surprised and a little concerned” by Xiao’s comments and the tone of his remarks – particularly in relation to Taiwan.
I thought that this was a great opportunity for them to try to, in their words, reset the relationship with Australia. But instead, I was struck by a stark contrast between the face of the ambassador and apprehensive concerned looks on the number of Australian journalists [faces].
Yamagami said the developing situation in the Taiwan Strait had been of particular concern to regional neighbour Japan.
They are conducting this massive, unprecedented military exercise around Japan, shooting missiles over Taiwan and into Japanese exclusive zones, and … these military exercises are disproportionate and destabilising.
I think it is a concern for each and every member of the community, because after all, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait affects a lot of commerce and national security of many countries concerned.
Updated
Australian cricket captain Meg Lanning steps away from game
Australian women’s cricket captain Meg Lanning has announced she is taking an indefinite break from the sport for personal reasons.
There is no timeline set for her return. Cricket Australia and the team say they “wholeheartedly support” her decision and wish her all the best.
Lanning statement: “After a busy couple of years, I've made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself. I'm grateful for the support of CA and my teammates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time."
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) August 10, 2022
Statement from Shawn Flegler, CA's head of performance, women's cricket: pic.twitter.com/ucsP7QCgkK
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) August 10, 2022
It comes just days after Lanning led her all-conquering national team to the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham.
Lanning, 30, will miss the upcoming edition of The Hundred in England where she was due to represent the Trent Rockets.
– with AAP
Updated
Nationals leader David Littleproud to attend jobs summit
The leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, has been invited to the Albanese government’s jobs and skills summit. AAP is reporting he will accept the treasurer’s invitation to attend.
#breaking : Nationals Leader David Littleproud has been invited to next month's jobs summit. The federal Liberals have rejected an invitation to attend the summit, labelling it a stunt. Littleproud has said he wants to contribute his ideas for regional and rural Aus. pic.twitter.com/bURcQOMQBC
— Oliver Gordon (@olgordon) August 10, 2022
Updated
Liberal and Labor MPs react to Chinese ambassador’s press club address
Labor’s Peter Khalil and Liberal MP Russell Broadbent just appeared on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, talking Taiwan.
Khalil said there were a lot of “diplomatic niceties” at the start of the ambassadors’ National Press Club address regarding the mutual benefits of China and Australia’s relationship which the government agreed with.
It is in both Australia and China’s interest to stabilise the relationship and that is what our government has been setting out to do instantly since we formed government … the reason we want to stabilise the relationship is because it is mutually beneficial.
He reiterated Australia would speak out in its national interest respectfully as it had done in the past to caution against escalating tension, while still maintaining the one China policy.
We will stand up and speak out on behalf of our country and our interests and that is right for the foreign minister and the acting prime minister to point out that the response, the military activity in the Taiwan Straits has been disproportionate and has been destabilising and is important to calm tensions …
Our one China policy has been a longstanding bipartisan policy. Our government hasn’t changed position on that. We have continued to call for peaceful dialogue with respect to Taiwan at the Taiwan Straits. That is something that hasn’t changed.
Broadbent said the ambassador seeking a reset of the relationship was a “good place to start” and any negotiation was “a good negotiation”.
I think we should be very nuanced in the way we approach any country you are dealing with in regard that sometimes their view of the world and their understanding of the world is different to ours.
Updated
Video: Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian’s speech to the National Press Club
Did you miss today’s National Press Club address by China’s ambassador Xiao Qian?
Xiao said China would ‘not renounce’ the use of force in Taiwan and would take ‘all necessary measures’ to retain the ‘one China’ principle.
He said Taiwan was ‘not an independent state’ but a province of the People’s Republic of China. He said that while they were waiting for a ‘peaceful reunification’, China is willing to use any means necessary.
When asked what that would look like, he said: ‘You can use your imagination’.
Catch up here.
Updated
GPs warn against over-the-counter Covid treatment
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has cautioned against allowing over-the-counter dispensing of Covid-19 antiviral treatments, following a push from the Pharmacy Guild for chemists to provide the treatments without a prescription.
The RACGP’s president, prof Karen Price, said more needed to be done to make the treatments accessible but over-the-counter dispensing was “not the answer”.
While oral antivirals are critical for the management of Covid-19, they are not without risks to patients … GPs are the key to safely prescribing these treatments. We have a strong and, in many cases, long-standing connection with our patients and we know their health history including existing health conditions or other factors which may impact their eligibility for these medicines.
Keep in mind too that comparisons to other countries, such as New Zealand, do not take into account the significant differences in models of primary care, variations in required pharmacy training, and differing safety classifications of medicines – it’s like comparing apples with oranges.
These treatments can make the difference between someone suffering relatively minor effects or ending up in hospital. However, we must proceed with caution because the last thing we want to do is potentially endanger patients.
Updated
Analysis: Chinese ambassador’s speech ‘really brutal’, but ‘realistically, what are their options?’
The ANU’s professor of international security and intelligence studies, John Blaxland, just appeared on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing to discuss the National Press Club address by China’s ambassador, Xiao Qian.
Blaxland said the first half of the speech pointed to an attempt to “pitch things in a more positive light”, while the second part was “really brutal”.
Your heart sunk a little. What we saw was there are so many issues that the ambassador was dancing around, and talking about in kind of veiled speech that when you take away the veil reveals a fairly brutish approach to international relations that has kind of left us in the predicament we are in today.
On Taiwan, he said some “pretty dark scenarios” came to mind when the ambassador encouraged viewers to use their imagination on the resolve to protect the “one China” policy at all costs.
As a former intelligence petitioner, we look at most likely and most dangerous courses of action, and the most dangerous one is a very, very bleak one. But to be fair, we need to keep this in context … they want to huff and puff and blow the house down if you like, to stretch the metaphor, but beyond that, realistically, what are their options? They know that they are in this situation where they have got as much to lose as the rest of us by going there.
Updated
Opera House to be lit up in pink to honour Olivia Newton-John’s contributions to fighting cancer
The Sydney Opera House will glow pink tonight in honour of Olivia Newton-John and her contribution to cancer research.
New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced the decision after Victorian landmarks were last night also lit up pink to mark the performer’s death.
He said:
Olivia Newton-John touched the hearts of so many people around the world with her music as well as her compassion and kindness – particularly toward people living with cancer.
She radiated with positivity in her lifetime and now our most famous performance space will shine in her honour.
The building will be lit from sunset.
Flinders Street Station in Melbourne was lit up last night.
So was the National Gallery of Victoria.
And the Bolte Bridge.
Updated
Senior Liberal installed as director of thinkthank says he ‘wasn’t part of the recruitment process’
Justin Bassi, a former senior Coalition adviser, says he wasn’t part of the process that installed him as executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
The ASPI council had a different “preferred candidate” but was overruled by then defence minister Peter Dutton.
On Sky News this afternoon, Bassi said:
I wasn’t part of the recruitment process, other than I put myself up as a candidate. I was found suitable and I do feel very, very proud to be the executive director of … Australia’s best think tank with some great researchers, great analysts and I’m looking forward to continuing to be the director of a great, great think tank.”
Read more about the “captain’s call” here.
Updated
The new independent senator David Pocock will use his balance of power position in the Senate to push for the ACT government’s $100m public housing debt to be waived as part of negotiations over Labor’s new housing policy.
Legislation for the government’s new $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund also faces resistance from the Greens, with the party’s housing spokesman, Max Chandler-Mather, saying the proposal is not “good enough” to secure support in the Senate.
Pocock’s move would mirror a similar deal struck by the Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie in negotiations over the Coalition’s three-stage tax cut plan in 2019, which resulted in Tasmania’s $150m social housing debt being wiped.
Read Sarah Martin’s full story here:
Updated
Developers, experts and health professionals call for national building code amendments on energy efficiency
Energy and climate experts, property developers, architects and health professionals have joined forces to call for a building code that will stop Australians living in “glorified tents”, AAP reports.
Ken Morrison, the chief executive of the Property Council of Australia, says the country has let itself fall behind international standards over the past 10 years and now is the time to catch up.
Advocates say strengthening energy provisions in the national code and mandating a 7-star minimum energy standard would reduce the cost of living, cut emissions and improve the quality of Australia’s housing stock.
The call for long-sought amendments to the National Construction Code comes two weeks ahead of a meeting of federal, state and territory ministers.
The CEO of the Climate Council, Amanda McKenzie:
This is Australia’s opportunity to improve its energy efficiency standards which will make our homes safer, more efficient, more affordable and help to address climate change. Many Australians are currently living in glorified tents.
The statement signed by more than 100 organisations says the stricter code would cut emissions by up to 78m tonnes by 2050 and reduce deaths during extremely cold or hot weather.
The move could also lower the cost of electricity grid upgrades by up to $12.6bn by 2050 and reduce poverty by ensuring higher standards and lower power bills in new social housing and private rentals.
Mandating the 7-star energy rating could slash the average household energy bill by up to $576 a year, according to official data.
Updated
NSW building commissioner’s resignation letter referred to Icac after mentions of revoked stop-work order
New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, has told parliament the resignation letter of the state’s former building commissioner has been referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The former commissioner, David Chandler, abruptly announced his resignation from the post last month, saying it was “time for a reset”.
But media reports have subsequently claimed he raised a stop-work order made against property developer Coronation Property, which hired former deputy John Barilaro after he left parliament, in the letter. The stop-work order was later lifted.
On Tuesday it was revealed that sacked minister Eleni Petinos had met with Coronation Property twice in June. The second meeting, which Barilaro attended, took place about a fortnight prior to the order being lifted.
Despite the second meeting being listed in Petinos’s ministerial diary, Barilaro has said it took place after he had left Coronation and both have said it was a social meeting.
Petinos said yesterday the meeting was “social in nature” and was only disclosed as part of her ministerial diary “out of an abundance of caution”.
She said:
The issuing and revocation of stop-work orders is a matter for the building commissioner, not the minister.
After previously insisting he had yet to see the letter, Perrottet told parliament he had now read it and been told by the department that “appropriate action” had been taken.
Perrottet said:
I’ve been advised by the secretary that appropriate action was taken by her in relation to the contents of the letter. Out of an abundance of caution the letter was provided to the Icac for information. I understand the letter is to be provided to the upper house tomorrow.
Updated
South Australia records nine Covid deaths
South Australia Health has released today’s Covid update.
There have been 1,881 new Covid cases recorded and nine further deaths.
There are 351 people being treated in hospital with the virus including six people in ICU.
South Australian COVID-19 update 10/08/22.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) August 10, 2022
For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAmeZ6V pic.twitter.com/Zmf7ReXmkF
National Covid summary: 133 deaths reported
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 133 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
Deaths: 1
Cases: 556
In hospital: 138 (with 3 people in ICU)
NSW
Deaths: 30
Cases: 11,356
In hospital: 2,212 (with 55 people in ICU)
Northern Territory
Deaths: 1
Cases: 205
In hospital: 33 (with 2 people in ICU)
Queensland
Deaths: 35
Cases: 3,809
In hospital: 656 (with 21 people in ICU)
South Australia
Deaths: 9
Cases: 1,881
In hospital: 351 (with 6 people in ICU)
Tasmania
Deaths: 1
Cases: 669
In hospital: 76 (with 0 people in ICU)
Victoria
Deaths: 52
Cases: 5,898
In hospital: 610 (with 30 people in ICU)
Western Australia
Deaths: 4
Cases: 2,889
In hospital: 339 (with 8 people in ICU)
The Chinese ambassador has been gifted a sanctioned Australian wine by the Press Club, in a not-so-subtle nod to trade relations.
The gift to ambassador Xiao Qian after his speech to the @PressClubAust was a bottle of Penfolds Bin 389 courtesy of the club.
— David Crowe (@CroweDM) August 10, 2022
We're told Penfolds has scored a win against a copycat winemaker in China. So an Australian wine seemed like the ideal gift. https://t.co/e3c77n4YzF
Updated
In Victoria, state opposition leader Matthew Guy is continuing to face scrutiny following the snap resignation of his (former) media director Lee Anderson earlier today.
Government scrutiny minister Danny Pearson:
— Mitch Clarke (@96mitchclarke) August 10, 2022
“I know it might be difficult for Matthew Guy to arrange a press conference when he's lost his media director, but the fundamental questions still have not been answered.” pic.twitter.com/NjwYDWYQrU
CovidSafe contact-tracing app that found just two unique cases to be retired
Remember the $21m CovidSafe contact tracing app that was rolled out in the early days of the pandemic (several hundred years ago)?
Minister for health and aged care, Mark Butler, has announced it’s getting the scrap, after finding just two unique Covid cases.
We’ve acted to delete the Morrison Government’s failed COVIDSafe app. Scott Morrison said this app would be our “sunscreen” against COVID-19. All it did was burn through taxpayer’s money. pic.twitter.com/tyyj3Ovo9U
— Mark Butler MP (@Mark_Butler_MP) August 10, 2022
Read the full story here:
Updated
Matchstick grasshoppers to be released into Melbourne’s Royal park as part of biodiversity project
Now to some breaking grasshopper news.
Hundreds of tiny, flightless grasshoppers are being released into Melbourne’s Royal park as part of a pilot project to address the biodiversity emergency.
In a partnership with the University of Melbourne, the City of Melbourne are attempting to restore the local population of matchstick grasshoppers – a declining native Australian species that is extinct to the area.
The population will be monitored and assessed over the coming months, with grasshopper numbers hoped to “hop” into the thousands by 2023.
University of Melbourne’s Prof Ary Hoffmann said the “uniquely Australian species” had been part of Melbourne’s natural environment for hundreds of thousands of years, prominent in grassy areas of Melbourne that the Wurundjeri Willam managed with fire.
We look forward to these introductions being the start of a process to restore many other invertebrates that formerly called the city home.
Updated
‘Absolutely no room for compromise on the question of Taiwan’, ambassador says
The Press Club address has wrapped up.
It’s worth rewatching SBS journalist Helen Chen’s question, delivered in Mandarin Chinese to Xiao Qian.
SBS's Helen Chen asks Ambassador Xiao Qian in Mandarin whether China will drop its trade sanctions or release Aust journalist Cheng Lei - believe it's an @PressClubAust first @SBSNews @annajhenderson pic.twitter.com/AtUtVXg3L9
— Krishani Dhanji (@KrishaniDhanji) August 10, 2022
Xiao finished on his hopes for the Australian government to “respect China’s territorial integrity and national unity” on Taiwan, making a bizarre analogy to Tasmania.
It’s an issue not to be compromised … it’s an issue so sensitive to China. If we can make compromise on many, many other issues, economic issues, trade issues, any other issues, there’s absolutely no room for us to compromise on the question of Taiwan. Because it’s a question of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Just like no Australian government would ever compromise on Australia’s territorial integrity. And just like maybe it’s not a good example, but Tasmania will be part of Australia, was, is. This involves territorial integrity.
Updated
Ambassador says differences between countries should not ‘hijack’ cooperation
Xiao Qian is also asked about criticism made towards the Australian media for not reporting on China positively.
He says this is “unfortunate,” and there’s “many things” the two nations have in common and can cooperate on.
Countries have differences. Even among people, even among brothers and sisters you have different views. Even between husband and wife sometimes you quarrel.
But it’s one thing for the husband and wife to quarrel and fight at home, it’s something else if they fight down in the street. It’s going to change the nature of the marriage ... we shouldn’t allow these differences to hijack our cooperation.
Updated
No firm word on whether the ambassador will meet Anthony Albanese later this year, despite hopes for an improvement of relations between China and Australia.
Will Xi agree to meet Albanese this year, perhaps at the G20? The Ambassador doesn't rule it out but doesn't sound hugely positive: "if you are talking bad about me, why should I meet you? You humiliated me publicly, should I meet you to be humiliated again face-to-face?" 16/
— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) August 10, 2022
I think the Ambassador was referring to the diplomatic freeze over the last two years here (rather than describing the present moment) but it's not entirely clear 17/
— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) August 10, 2022
Updated
Relationship between Ukraine and Russia ‘rather complicated’, Xiao Qian says
Xiao Qian is asked how Australia can take China’s emphasis on sovereignty and non-interventionism seriously when it has failed to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Xiao says China has good relations with both Ukraine and Russia and suggests Russia invading a sovereign country isn’t a black and white situation.
He says “there’s no simple answer to a question of complexity”, including Russia’s disputes with Nato and the country’s “security concerns”.
These two countries are both friendly countries to China. We have good relations with Russia … but at the same time, we have very good relation with Ukraine as well. Also very in-depth co-operation in many areas, including technology.
There’s no reason for us to support one against the other. But these two countries used to be part of the former Soviet Union. So the relation between these two countries is rather complicated. We’re for a bilateral discussion at the table to find out a political solution between these two countries.
Updated
Xiao Qian has denied China intends to establish a military base in the Solomon Islands.
Our foreign minister and also our people have made it pretty clear on several occasions that China came to the Solomon Islands upon request of the government of that country and … there’s no reason for us to refuse to help. But the purpose is help them to stabilise, to prosper, and to improve.
There is no intention for China to set up the so-called military base in Solomon Islands and the leader of the country have stated similar thing. I think should I say the page has turned.
The Ambassador says that China has "no intention" of establishing a military base in Solomon Islands, and he suggests the page has now "turned" on the issue 14/ pic.twitter.com/CezSkVxhCU
— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) August 10, 2022
Ambassador asked about re-education of Taiwanese population
Back to the Press Club. Xiao Qian is asked about comments which China’s ambassador to France made to media that when China takes control of Taiwan, it will re-educate its 23 million people.
Can he confirm if this is Chinese government policy? He says once Taiwan is reunited, there “might be a process” for citizens to have a “correct understanding about the motherland”.
I think given the situation that the people of Taiwan … are under a regional regime for many decades. It is reasonable for us to understand that their perspective about China, their perspective about their motherland, might take somewhat different views. I think this is a fact.
But I think the key point now is not about either education or re-education. The 1.4 billion Chinese people including the … people in Taiwan, are all Chinese.
My personal understanding is that once Taiwan is reunited, coming back to the motherland, there might be a process for the people in Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China, about the motherland.
There it is. Chinese ambassador to Australia just indicated, in words to that effect, that it is Chinese policy to re-educate Taiwanese people after the PRC takes control of the island @PressClubAust
— Rory Medcalf (@Rory_Medcalf) August 10, 2022
Updated
Victorian Liberal denies reports Matthew Guy’s communications director quit after disagreement with new chief of staff
Dipping back to domestic politics for a minute, and Victoria’s shadow health minister, Georgia Crozier, has denied reports of a disagreement between Lee Anderson and Matthew Guy’s new chief of staff, Nick McGowan, following Anderson’s abrupt resignation.
She confirms Guy will remain in the top role until the state election on 26 November.
Georgie Crozier has denied reports of a disagreement between OL Matthew Guy’s communications director Lee Anderson and his new chief of staff, following Mr Anderson’s abrupt resignation. @abcmelbourne pic.twitter.com/zubzGUqDFi
— Leanne Wong (@leanne_wong1) August 10, 2022
The state opposition’s most senior MPs maintain they still believe they can win the election despite the internal drama within Matthew Guy’s office. They say they have a “young and hungry team” behind them. Georgie Crozier insists Matthew Guy will still be in the role on Nov 26. pic.twitter.com/rLwq7ZI6rX
— Mitch Clarke (@96mitchclarke) August 10, 2022
Updated
China ‘can never rule out’ use of force to stop Taiwan separation, says Xiao Qian
Back to Taiwan. Xiao Qian is asked about a new white paper released this morning which asserted China would “not renounce” the use of force and would take “all necessary measures” to retain the One China policy.
Can he explain what would constitute a “compelling circumstance” that would justify a use of force across the Strait?
Xiao reiterates Taiwan is “not an independent state” but a province of the People’s Republic of China. He says while they are waiting for a “peaceful unification”, China is willing to use any means necessary.
What does that mean? “You can use your imagination,” he says.
As for our approach to the question of the Taiwan, I think it’s consistent, clear and pretty open; we have [said] that on many occasions over the past several decades actually, that the people in the mainland, even in Taiwan, are Chinese. We’re both Chinese. And the Taiwanese are compatriots of China.
And the last thing we are ready to do is use force. That is one of the reasons why China has been so patient for several decades. We’re waiting for a peaceful unification.
But we can never rule out the option to use other means – so when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means. As to what does it mean, ‘all necessary means’? You can use your imagination, but … Chinese people are absolutely determined to protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity – we will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.
Updated
‘We want to sort out’ Australian citizens in custody in China ‘according to Chinese rule’, ambassador says
Turning to the possible release of Australian citizen Cheng Lei, Xiao Qian says for “individual cases”, there are Australian citizens in China under custody according to “Chinese rules and laws”.
Their basic rights are well protected, don’t worry about that. And during the pandemic, during the severe periods of the pandemic in the cities where they were detained, there were times they were not accessible to their relatives or diplomats from Australia. It’s because of the pandemic.
Now it’s easy to get access to their relatives either in Australia or the Australian embassy in China. The cases are still under jurisdiction process and … we want to sort it out according to Chinese rule and the law.
Updated
‘A lot to be done to reset’ China-Australia relationship, ambassador says
The second question concerns the relationship between China and Australia. Xiao Qian mentioned in his speech the 50th anniversary of relations between the two nations. To mark this, could China make “practical moves” to improve relations including a possible lifting of trade restrictions or the release of Australian citizen Cheng Lei?
Xiao says the past two years have been a “difficult time” for the two countries and now marks an “opportunity for a possible reset of relationships” and is “hopeful” for the future if both sides find solutions.
Here we have a good start ever since the new Labor government came into power. But it’s a good start only. There’s a lot to be done to reset this relationship. There’s a lot of issues on the table, many disputes to be solved. Our policy is that … we’re ready to work together with Australia’s new government to put this relationship back on the right track.
Currently, there have been top-level communications, even face-to-face contacts, but we have not yet come to the stage to discuss about how to solve those specific issues – either political issues or trade issues, or some other individual cases’ issues.
As for trade disputes, he would rather not use the term “sanctions”.
One is a trade dispute at the government level. These are mainly on the tariffs … it happened, that’s true. It was official action … we’re ready to sort it out and solve this dispute through the WTO with the Labor government.
The second type is about people’s attitudes. When there was some policies taken or actions taken by the previous Australian government on some of the major Chinese companies, Chinese projects, Chinese businesses in this country … that’s a huge disruption to the normal business relations between our two countries. And these actions have been sending very negative messages to the people in China and they’re not happy, to be honest.
Updated
Peace and stability in Asia-Pacific would be guaranteed by respecting One China policy, ambassador says
The first question is, unsurprisingly, on Taiwan. How long will military drills continue, and in what way are the drills the action of a “stabilising nation”?
Qian says the question cuts to the essence of the One China policy, which he says was compromised by Nancy Pelosi’s visit.
If every country put their One China policy into practice with sincerity, with no compromise, [this] is going to guarantee the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The visit by Speaker Pelosi to the Taiwan region is exactly the reason that it has caused the violation of the commitments by the US government to One China policy and has caused the escalation of tension across Taiwan Strait, and the Chinese side is taking action in reaction to what has been done by the US side.
And our purpose is to send a message, clear-cut, to those who are violating the commitment of One China policy, who are supporting One China, One Taiwan or two Chinas … The reaction is legitimate, it’s justified.
As for how long military exercises and drills will last, he reiterates they are a “counter-measure” to the US visit and the fact that “there’s no room for compromise”.
On the question of Taiwan, it’s an issue relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity. There’s no room for us to compromise. And how long it’s going to last? In a proper time, I think there will be an announcement.
Updated
Many thanks to Natasha May for guiding us through today’s news. I’ll continue to bring you the latest from the National Press Club address.
Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has finished his speech but is taking questions from the press, the details of which Caitlin Cassidy will bring you as well as much more this afternoon.
Updated
Handle Taiwan question with caution and take One China principle seriously, ambassador says
Xiao Qian has gotten to the elephant in the room, Taiwan, at the end of his speech:
The Taiwan question has received much attention recently. On August 2, the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, visited China’s Taiwan region.
This is a serious violation of the One China principle and violation of the provisions of the three China US-China communiques. It has a serious impact on the political impact of China-US relations and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and sends seriously a wrong signal to the separatist forces for the so-called Taiwan independence.
Speaker Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan region in disregard of China’s strong opposition making it clear to the world it was the US side who first took provocative action to change and undermine the status quo. And it is the US side that should and must take full responsibility for the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
China is compelled to take counter-measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity which is legitimate and justified.
Australia’s government has reaffirmed on several occasions its commitment to the One China principle as is clearly stated in the 1972 joint communique between China and Australia.
Here I quote: “The Australian government recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and cknowledges the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China.”
The One China principle is the solemn commitment by successful Australian governments, either Liberal or Labor, for the past five decades. This principle should be strictly abided by and fully honoured. It should not be misinterpreted or compromised in practice.
We hope that Australian side can take China-Australia relations with a serious attitude. Take the One China principle seriously. Handle the Taiwan question with caution.
Updated
China has no intention to interfere in Australia’s exchanges with other countries, ambassador says
Xiao Qian says:
China respects Australia’s normal exchanges and cooperation with other countries. China has no intention to interfere in or undermine Australia’s relations with a third party.
At the same time, it is our belief that China and Australia should make independent judgments and decisions to develop our own bilateral relations based on interests of the people of China and the people of Australia, free from interference from a third party.
He has gone on to praise former prime minister Gough Whitlam who established a diplomatic relationship between China and Australia fifty years ago.
Fifty years ago, Prime Minister Whitlam overcame tremendous difficulties and challenges and made the brave decision to establish diplomatic relations between Australia and China. In the initiation of cooperation with China, an engagement with Asia, [Australia has] proven that [it] is fully capable of playing its role independently in international affairs.
Updated
Chinese ambassador says China is a partner, not a rival
Xiao Qian continues his address at the National Press Club, sharing his views on the perception of China:
I would like to share with you my views on the following points. First, to shape the perception on China, and regard China as a partner rather than a rival.
He also emphasised China’s participation in the international order:
China is a participant and a contributor to the existing international system. China is a founding member of the United Nations and the first country to sign the UN Charter. China is a member of almost all universal intergovernmental organisations.
China is the largest troops-contributing country among the P5 councils and we are the second largest budget contributor to UN peacekeeping. China attained the poverty reduction goal of the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development 10 years ahead of schedule, contributing more than 70% to the global poverty reduction efforts.
As UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, said … China has become an increasingly important contributor to the work of the organisation and a major pillar of international cooperation. In the past more than 40 years or more of reforming and opening up to the outside world, tremendous changes have happened in China.
Updated
Chinese ambassador says Albanese government is opportunity for ‘reset’
As the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, continues his address at the National Press Club, he says the new government has provided opportunity for “reset” of relations between the two countries.
With the recent federal election, we have a new Australian government … it did provide us with a possible opportunity to reset the relationship between our two countries. Chinese premier Li Keqiang sent his congratulatory messages to the new prime minister of Australia, and prime minister Albanese returned with a letter of thanks.
Defence ministers, foreign minister from our two countries, held their bilateral meetings. We have also seen ministerial communications between the two countries on education, on economy and on trade.
The meeting between the two foreign ministers was especially productive. An important consensus was reached. The two sides reaffirmed their comprehensive strategic partnership and expressed willingness to engagements, enhance mutual trust, properly handle differences, remove obstacles and promote cooperation in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
These consensus are significant for the future development of China-Australia relations. The positive progress in our bilateral relations is encouraging – is an encouraging start, and of course, there’s a lot of work to be done.
It’s very important for both sides to make further efforts to keep the momentum, take actions for substantial progress and to strive to bring our bilateral relations back on the right track.
Updated
Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian begins press club address
The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has begun his address at the National Press Club.
The speech comes as tensions are high after officials in Beijing warned Australia to stop criticising China’s military drills near Taiwan over the weekend, but the ambassador is striking a positive tone in his address.
I feel very much honoured to be Chinese ambassador to this country. Both China and Australia are great countries. We are two great peoples. Our two peoples have always cherished friendly sentiments towards each other.
He says in the past six months since coming to Australia as ambassador, “my feeling [is] very strong about the hospitality and friendship that Australian people are having towards Chinese people, towards China”.
I also feel very strongly about their expectations for a sound, stable, friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries. And as ambassador, and a new ambassador [at a] special juncture, I have been very, very encouraged.
He has also presented statistics highlighting the positive economic partnership between China and Australia.
Updated
Former government wasted $21m with CovidSafe app which only detected two cases, Butler says
The Albanese government has deleted what it calls “the wasteful and ineffective CovidSafe app”.
A statement released by Mark Butler, the minister for health and aged care, said:
The former government wasted more than $21 million of taxpayer’s money on this failed app.
Since it was launched in April 2020 only two positive COVID-19 cases were identified through the app, which were not found by manual contact tracers.
The app only identified 17 close contacts that hadn’t already been identified through manual contact tracing.
There was a total of 7.9 million registrations of the COVIDSafe app between April 2020 and May 2022, but fewer than 800 users consented to their data being added to the National COVIDSafe Data Store for contact tracing.
This failed app cost taxpayers more than $10 million in developing the app, a further $7 million on advertising and marketing, $2.1 million on upkeep and more than $2 million on staff.
The last upload of data from users to the National COVIDSafe Data Store occurred in May 2021, and there has been no access to the data store by state and territory authorities since January 2022.
Updated
Antique columns worth almost half a million dollars stolen in WA
More than 40 cast iron Corinthian columns made more than a century ago have been stolen from a commercial property in Western Australia.
Police have released a statement today seeking information about the columns they say are “very distinctive Corinthian style capitals and fluted bases”.
The statement said the columns were made in 1912 and used in the Boans department store before it was knocked down.
They are valued at approximately $490,000 and weigh about 3 tonnes each according to police.
Unusual crime in WA – thieves have stolen 41 cast iron columns, weighing 123 tonnes in total and worth about $500,000. The six-metre-tall columns were made in 1912 for the Boans department store in Perth. pic.twitter.com/DU3TNg3qgj
— Patrick Keneally (@patrickkeneally) August 10, 2022
Updated
Liberals’ refusal to collaborate is out of step with mainstream Australia, treasurer says
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke in Brisbane earlier this morning responding to the opposition’s decision not to attend the government’s upcoming jobs summit.
The September summit plans to bring together representatives from business, industry, union and community sectors. Sussan Ley labelled it a “stunt” on Sky News earlier today.
Chalmers said he’s disappointed but not surprised the opposition won’t be attending.
Peter Dutton is always looking for an excuse to trash consensus and to trash collaborative efforts everyone else is engaged in. His position does not reflect the position of mainstream Australia, the position taken by the business community, by the union movement, by different levels of government, different political persuasions of state governments and local councils. … He is a destructive figure in a country that wants to collaborate and seek consensus. We are representing those efforts, guiding and leading those efforts to work together at the same time as he’s tried to wreck it. He will come up with all kinds of excuses for why he knocked back this invitation.
Chalmers flagged the government will later publish the full invitation details.
We will make it clear down the track who else has been invited and accepted.
Updated
Victorian Liberals’ media director quits
Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy’s director of communications has quit, less than 48 hours after a new chief of staff was appointed to the office.
Lee Anderson, who held the position since August last year, quit on Wednesday after what sources say was a disagreement with Nick McGowan, who was announced as Guy’s new chief of staff on Monday afternoon.
Anderson, a former executive producer at Channel Seven, will be replaced by Alex Woff, who already works in the opposition’s media team. Anja Wolff will be promoted to deputy director of communications.
McGowan replaced 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 marketing company, Catchy Media Marketing and Management, for services described as “supporting business interests”.
Updated
Littleproud says Nationals need place at jobs summit to represent regional interests
Following on from the news we brought you earlier that the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, said he would go to the government’s jobs and skills summit if given the invitation, he has now has criticised the government for not inviting the National party to the summit as a failure to represent regional and rural Australia.
Littleproud told SBS:
I believe Labor is failing regional and rural Australia in understanding the unique nature of the requirements for Labor in regional Australia, not just in the agricultural sector but also in terms of skills.
It’s important regional Australia gets a voice, this government … we haven’t had a voice, and I think it’s important we do have a voice at whatever forum is provided.
Littleproud has affirmed he would go if invited. He said:
The leader of the Liberal party gets to determine what the Liberal party does, but on behalf of the National party we’ll make that determination on ourselves.
The Opposition leader says no liberals will be attending the upcoming Jobs summit - describing it as a union stunt. Nationals Leader David Littleproud wasn't invited but would attend if he was, to represent the interests of regional Australia. #auspol @SBSnews pic.twitter.com/3kzbAWnZJa
— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) August 10, 2022
Updated
Victoria's largest-ever transport project given green light
The first part of the Victorian government’s suburban rail loop, described as the biggest transport project in the state’s history, has been given the green light to go ahead after an assessment of its environmental effects.
The suburban rail loop minister, Jacinta Allan, announced the “important milestone” at a press conference on Wednesday.
She said the state’s environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, found the environmental effects of the first 26km of the project, called SRL East, acceptable, with many impacts avoided by putting the line underground.
This section of the 90km underground railway line, which will run between Cheltenham and Box Hill, is expected to be completed by 2035, with an end-to-end trip taking just 22 minutes. It is expected to cost $34.5bn to complete, with early work already under way.
During the federal election, the Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, committed $2.2bn to the project. We wrote an explainer on it at the time:
Updated
Animal activist case on secret recordings divides high court
We mentioned a little earlier that the high court had rejected a challenge by animal activists to New South Wales laws that criminalise the use of covert recordings.
The case was brought by the Farm Transparency Project, which argued the laws prevented them from exposing animal cruelty and abuse in a way that unfairly imposed on the implied right to freedom of political communication.
In a statement after the decision, Chris Delforce, a Farm Transparency Project activist, said the ruling would not stop his organisation from conducting its important work.
Regrettably, the case avoids deciding whether the ag gag law itself is invalid, and decides only that a person who has unlawfully trespassed to obtain footage of animal cruelty can be forbidden from publishing that footage. We were found to have been such persons.
Despite an enormous amount of work and funds raised by our small organisation and legal team to seek a definitive answer to that question, the court has dodged it.
The strong implication is that a media outlet not involved in any trespass to obtain the footage would have won the case. We call on a media outlet to challenge this ag gag law in the high court.
In a summary of its judgement, the high court said the laws had a legitimate purpose: the protection of privacy. It said:
The high court, by majority, held that [sections 11 and 12 of the Surveillance Devices] Act did not impermissibly burden the implied freedom in their application to, respectively, the communication or publication by a person of a record or report, or the possession by a person of a record, of the carrying on of a lawful activity, at least where the person was complicit in the record or report being obtained exclusively by breach of [section eight of the Surveillance Devices Act].
The court also said the schemes of other states and territories – which contain public interest carve outs – were “not obvious and compelling alternatives”, because they did not “pursue the same purpose and were broader in application”. It said:
Sections 11 and 12 achieved an adequate balance between the benefit they sought to achieve and the adverse effect on the implied freedom.
The case sharply divided the court. Three high court justices dissented from the majority ruling.
Updated
Nationals leader says he would go to jobs summit if invited
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has told Sky News he would go to the government’s jobs and skills summit if he was invited.
Littleproud’s comments come after the Liberal deputy leader, Sussan Ley, told Sky News earlier this morning no opposition member would attend.
Ley said:
No, because it’s just a stunt … That’s all this is going to be, a talk-fest designed to look after union mates.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, had last night extended the liberal leader, Peter Dutton, an invitation to the summit as a gesture the government is serious about finding common ground.
Updated
Queensland records 35 Covid deaths
Queensland has reported 3,809 Covid cases over the last reporting period, and 35 deaths. There are 656 people in its hospitals being treated for the virus.
Today we have recorded 3,809 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) August 10, 2022
Sadly, we have reported 35 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Full details ➡️ https://t.co/HPyD6fmoQC pic.twitter.com/YboM2nlRv9
Updated
‘I want the rule of law to apply’: Dutton says he’s not criticising Chinese people
Dutton went on to discuss his other concerns surrounding China beyond the military drills, highlighting the Liberals’ record on Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and taking a strong stance preventing Chinese interference in Australian telecommunications.
If you look back at comments I made as defence minister or home affairs minister, we took a decision in relation to 5G in this country to refuse high-risk vendors like Huawei. We’re standing here looking at a robot which will operate on the 5G network. Autonomous vehicles will operate on a 5G network. Remotely monitored health device [will] also be, you know, over coming years, remotely monitored by health officials with people able to stay at home and out of hospital or aged care facilities, but they need to operate on a network which is secure and it was untenable for us, knowing what we knew through the intelligence and the actions we were seeing from China online, that we would allow that system to be compromised. That’s us standing up for national interests. It’s not a condemnation of people of Chinese interests.
I’m not criticising the Chinese people, far from it. In fact, the complete opposite. I want the rule of law to apply, you know, in our region. I don’t want corrupt practices to take place. I want there to be respectful relationships towards us and I want tows have a respectful relationship towards the Chinese government as well.
Updated
China’s status as trading partner doesn’t mean Australia should tolerate bullying – Dutton
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, speaking in Brisbane earlier this morning ahead of the Chinese ambassador’s address at the National Press Club today, said:
I’ve been at pains to point out you can go back numerous speeches, press conferences I’ve attended where pointed out we have an incredibly diaspora community of people of Asian heritage in our country and they’re in a country like ours because they value peace and they want to be part of a wonderful democracy where we value the rule of law and we call out people like President Putin and President Xi for their activities and actions and we want, as I said a normalised relationship with China.
They’re an important trading partner but we don’t tolerate the sort of bullying behaviour and the reactions we’re seeing to the visit by Speaker Pelosi to Taiwan in the last week. I think a frank [dialogue] is what we need to have.
Dutton went on to say it’s not only the military drills near Taiwan which are concerning, but also other activities like cyber attacks.
The foreign interference, not just the military exercises that we’re seeing now, but the covert activity online, the cyberattacks. Industrial-scale cyberattacks, the collection of people’s health records, of aged care records that we’re seeing China undertake those attacks online at the moment. We can do that in a respectful way and to be condemned for it is an absurdity and we should be honest about the situation we face. If we’re not, we’ll find ourselves two or three or five years down the track on a path we can’t correct.
Updated
Peter Dutton says Australia must call out China’s actions in Taiwan
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has this morning said Australia must continue to call out the actions of the Chinese government to ensure peace in the region. He has compared the situation in Taiwan to that in the Ukraine.
We have to be realistic about where we are in the world at the moment. Over the last couple of years, we’ve spoken about our region being in a period similar to the 1930s and that’s the reality of it. It’s what the intelligence showed to us when we were in government and it’s clearly the intelligence that the government is reading at the moment. It’s the intelligence that the French are seeing, the Canadians, the Brits, the Americans and it’s a time for countries to come together to condemn the actions of President Putin in the Ukraine – which we’ve done collectively.
Of course you could argue that the world could have spoken up more against President Putin to prevent him going into Ukraine. The carnage that we’ve seen in the Ukraine we don’t want to see repeated in Taiwan and so I think it’s appropriate to be frank and honest and open. If we don’t shine a light on the activities and behaviour of somebody like President Putin or bike President Xi, we will find ourselves in conflict in this region.
The Chinese Communist party has been clear about their intent in relation to Taiwan and nobody’s exaggerating. Nobody is making this up. If we want to be frank and honest, then that’s better than a model of appeasement. I’ve always believed the only way to maintain peace in the region is if we call out bullying behaviour and bad practice and if we do that we can have … a normalised relationship with China.
Updated
Calls for energy-efficient building code to stop Australians living in ‘glorified tents’
Energy and climate experts, property developers, architects and health professionals have joined forces to call for a building code that will stop Australians living in “glorified tents”, AAP reports.
The Property Council boss, Ken Morrison, says Australia has let itself fall behind international standards over the past 10 years and now is the time to catch up.
Crippling power bills and deaths from increasingly hot summers and cold winters have given fresh impetus to minimum energy-efficiency requirements for new homes.
Advocates say strengthening energy provisions in the national code and mandating a 7-star minimum energy standard would reduce the cost of living, cut emissions and improve the quality of Australia’s housing stock.
The Energy Efficiency Council chief executive, Luke Menzel, said today:
As we’ve learned in the pandemic, our homes are our shelter and places of refuge.
Improved energy-efficiency standards are a “no-brainer” and will play a big part in cutting emissions, he said.
The call for long-sought amendments to the national construction code comes two weeks ahead of a meeting of federal, state and territory ministers.
The Climate Council chief executive, Amanda McKenzie, said:
This is Australia’s opportunity to improve its energy efficiency standards which will make our homes safer, more efficient, more affordable and help to address climate change.
Many Australians are currently living in glorified tents.
The statement signed by more than 100 organisations says the stricter code would cut emissions by up to 78m tonnes by 2050 and reduce deaths during extremely cold or hot weather.
The move could also lower the cost of electricity grid upgrades by up to $12.6bn by 2050 and reduce poverty by ensuring higher standards and lower power bills in new social housing and private rentals.
Mandating the 7-star energy rating could slash the average household energy bill by up to $576 a year, according to official data.
The proposed changes to the code include introducing a whole-of-home “energy budget” for fixed appliances for hot water, heating, cooling and pool pumps.
Industry would be granted a 12-month transition period under the proposals.
Updated
Images of yesterday’s fire at NSW waste depot released
A fire occurred yesterday at a waste depot in New South Wales. Fire and Rescue NSW has just released images of the damage.
Emergency response crews say they were “confronted with large amounts of burning waste that may have contained unexploded ammunition”.
Yesterday, #NSWRFS and @FRNSW crews responded to a fire at a waste depot. On arrival crews were confronted with large amounts of burning waste that may have contained unexploded ammunition. Machinery was used to spread out the material, allowing firefighters to extinguish it. pic.twitter.com/x1WT7YLV3e
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) August 10, 2022
Updated
Assistant treasurer responds to Commonwealth Bank’s nearly $10bn profit
The assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, has been asked on Sky News about the almost $10bn cash profit the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has announced this morning, and whether this is where increased mortgage payments are going.
Jones says the CBA has a huge slice of the mortgage market, and a significant slice of the business market and while he wants banks like CBA to be lending, “we want to ensure they get the balance right.”
He says the government want to ensure the CBA and others are passing on profits to their customers.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has released its submission ahead of the government’s jobs and skills summit, saying the Reserve Bank of Australia is focusing too much on inflation and it should be giving more attention to full employment and secure employment.
Jones is asked if he would consider implementing them but the connection is lost leaving us hanging.
Updated
Animal activists lose high court case against NSW secret recording laws
Activists have lost their high court case against New South Wales laws criminalising the use of secretly recorded vision of animal cruelty and abuse.
The state’s Surveillance Devices Act criminalises the use of footage or audio that was obtained using a listening device or hidden camera, but, unlike other states, gives no public-interest exemption.
The Farm Transparency Project, an Australian animal advocacy group, launched a case last year arguing the laws were an unfair burden on freedom of political communication.
The laws have been used to pursue activists on criminal charges and have prevented media outlets from using footage depicting cruelty or abuse in abattoirs and knackeries across the state.
Prior to the high court case, the laws prevented the Guardian from showing secretly recorded footage of ex-racehorses being sent for slaughter at NSW pet food factories, a clear breach of industry rules.
The high court on Wednesday morning ruled that the laws do not pose too great a burden on speech. The laws were upheld and the Farm Transparency Project ordered to pay costs.
The case split the court. Three high court justices dissented from the majority ruling.
Updated
Community consultation on refugee program begins
The minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs, Andrew Giles, has shared this morning that he begun community consultations on Australia’s refugee and humanitarian program yesterday.
Yesterday I began community consultations on Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program.
— Andrew Giles MP (@andrewjgiles) August 9, 2022
This discussions are so important, bringing together evidence, experience and understanding to inform an approach that is non-discriminatory, and focused on meeting the greatest needs.
You can read more about Labor’s refugee policy from my colleague Paul Karp:
Updated
Acting PM wants to see China relationship ‘in a better place’
Circling back to the defence minister and acting prime minister, Richard Marles’ appearance on ABC News Breakfast, as tensions continue to rise with China’s military drills around Taiwan.
Marles was asked if he is worried now that “relations between the two countries are now well and truly back in the freezer”:
I’m not going to speculate on that. What we can do is control our side of the equation and what we will do is have a different tone to the former government.
We’re going to engage with the world, including with China, on a respectful, professional diplomatic basis. We believe in the power of diplomacy. We want to have – and we value – a productive relationship with China and we would like to see the relationship in a better place.
China is going to say what China says. We control our end of this equation. And in describing that end, it’s this. We will engage with the world with respect, with professionalism, with sobriety. With a faith and diplomacy. We will continue to do that. While the Government has changed, our national interest hasn’t. We will also speak to our national interest and we will speak to it with vigour.
Updated
Victoria records 52 Covid deaths and 610 people in hospital
Victoria has recorded 5,898 new Covid cases in the last reporting period and 52 deaths, with 610 people in hospital and 30 in intensive care.
Victorian Health said: “Of today’s 52 reported deaths, 40 occurred in the past week, 10 occurred in the past fortnight and 2 deaths occurred in late July.”
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 9, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/eUcG51gd78 pic.twitter.com/aLAVrK6DRK
Updated
Reactions to opposition’s snub of jobs summit
The opposition has declined Labor’s invitation to the jobs and skills summit, which was extended to the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, last night.
The deputy leader, Sussan Ley, has said this morning no one from the coalition, including Dutton, will go.
Members of the coalition including the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, had previously said the Coalition should be represented at the summit.
Angus Taylor, July 11: “If the government is serious about building genuine consensus behind the summit… they must ensure parliamentarians from all parties, including the opposition, have a seat around the table” https://t.co/hQPXK7TGV2
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) August 9, 2022
The agriculture minister, Murray Watt, has said on social media the opposition’s stance indicates “they don’t want to be part of the solution” the summit is setting out to create.
After 10 years of creating the problems, they don’t want to be part of the solution. https://t.co/XimlZ9CcbZ
— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) August 9, 2022
Updated
Coalition calls Labor's jobs and skills summit a 'stunt'
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, will skip the Albanese government’s jobs and skills summit, which has been branded a “stunt” and a “talkfest” by the Coalition, AAP reports.
The summit – a Labor election promise – will aim to address Australia’s economic challenges and will bring together about 100 representatives from the business, union, and community sectors.
The Liberal deputy leader, Sussan Ley, said no one from the coalition, including Dutton who was invited by the government, will go. She told Sky News today:
It’s just a stunt.
All this is going to be is a talkfest designed to look after union mates.
The Labor party dropped the invitation to the media ... they briefed out the story first, which just goes to show their level of insincerity about it.
Updated
Police call for help to identify man hit by train in Victoria
An unidentified man has been laying in hospital for more than a month after being hit by a Melbourne train, AAP reports.
The man was struck between Royal Park and Jewell railway stations in Brunswick on 7 July, and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in a serious but stable condition.
No phone, wallet or cards were found on the man at the time and police haven’t been able to identify him despite extensive inquiries.
From his hospital bed, the grey-haired patient has mumbled the names “Roy and Ryan from Coburg” but it is unclear if he is referring to himself or someone he knows.
A facial composite image of the man, believed to be 65 to 75 years old, has been released in the hope someone will recognise him and contact Crime Stoppers.
He is described as white, about 175cm tall and of medium build with a prominent mole below his left eye, and no identifying scars or tattoos.
Updated
Chair of NSW flood inquiry calls for government to release full report
The NSW Labor MP who chaired the inquiry into the Northern Rivers flooding, Walt Secord, spoke to ABC radio, after findings of serious failures by agencies during the devastating floods earlier in the year.
The full report is yet to be released but the parts which have been leaked were scathing.
Secord said the members of the “tinny army” – the men and women who jumped into boats, surf boards, to rescue neighbours – did so against the orders of state officials.
But he said, “if they didn’t things would have been a lot worse”.
He said the want to see SES engaging with more local volunteer recruitment and is calling on the government to release the full report.
You can read the full story about what the flood inquiry found from my colleagues Tamsin Rose and Josh Butler:
Updated
NSW records 30 Covid deaths and 2,212 people in hospital.
New South Wales recorded 11,356 new Covid cases in the last reporting period and 30 deaths. There were 2,212 people in hospital and 55 in intensive care.
COVID-19 update – Wednesday 10 August 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 9, 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/zZAA8SkMfE
Updated
Bulk-billing statistics dishonest, minister says
Claims by the former government that most patients are being bulk billed are “not honest”, the federal health minister, Mark Butler, has said, as a taskforce prepares to examine why basic healthcare is increasingly unaffordable.
In December the previous Coalition government said GP bulk-billing rates were at a “record high” of more than 88%, with almost nine out of 10 visits to the GP in 2021 resulting in no out-of-pocket cost for the patient.
But as Guardian Australia revealed this year, it is a rate that consumer groups and health policy experts have questioned. They say the bulk-billing figures have been artificially inflated by non-compliant billing practices, and that government statistics don’t reflect the number of people saying it is hard or even impossible to find a bulk-billing doctor.
When presented with these concerns, Butler said he had asked for more information from his department “to obtain a more complete and accurate picture of the state of bulk billing”:
The former government was not honest with Australians about the true state of bulk billing in Australia by selectively quoting only this [88%] figure
Primary care is in its worst shape since Medicare began. Across the country we hear stories of Australians not being able to get in to see a bulk-billing doctor, or GPs changing from bulk billing to mixed billing.
Read more:
Updated
CBA profit jumps to nearly $10bn
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has posted a robust rise in full-year profit, buoyed by strong home and business lending, AAP reports.
The country’s biggest lender today reported cash profit of $9.59bn for the year to 30 June, an 11% increase from the year earlier. Its statutory bottom-line result was up 9% to $9.67bn.
It will pay a fully franked final dividend of $2.10 a share, up from a $1.75 a share interim payment in the first half.
The chief executive, Matt Comyn, says the bank’s focus on strengthening customer engagements helped in growing its core deposit and lending volumes to retail, business and institutional customers:
Our operating performance was higher as a result of this continued volume growth and profitability was further supported by sound portfolio credit quality.
Updated
Newton-John family would accept state funeral
Olivia Newton-John’s niece, Tottie Goldsmith, has revealed her family would accept a state funeral, though a formal offer from the Victorian government is yet to be made, AAP reports.
A spokesperson for premier Daniel Andrews said today that “no offer or acceptance has occurred” at this time but did not rule out the possibility.
Goldsmith, an actor, appeared on A Current Affair on Tuesday night to remember the Grease star. She said her family would accept an offer of a state funeral:
On behalf of not just our family, but I think Australia needs it – she’s so loved. I think our country needs it, so we’re going to accept it.
Updated
Defence minister calls Chinese military activity near Taiwan ‘very concerning’
As China escalates its military activity with drills in waters near Taiwan, officials in Beijing have warned Australia to stop criticising China.
The defence minister and acting prime minister Richard Marles appeared on ABC Breakfast News saying de-escalation and maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait is in the national interest.
Marles was asked if he shares the concerns expressed late yesterday from Taiwan’s foreign minister saying China is using those drills to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan:
Well, I think what we are seeing is very concerning which is why it is – we do want to see … a return to a greater sense of peace in the region. And a greater sense of normality and that’s what we’re advocate advocating for. It’s what the world is advocating for.
Asked about the possibility a miscalculation in waters off Taiwan and the air over Taiwan could seriously escalate tensions, Marles said:
I think the more that we are seeing drills of this kind, the greater the risk of miscalculation. So it definitely is a concern and that a product of intentions that have escalated. That’s why we have been saying for some time new that we really want to see a de-escalation of tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Our position, as I say, is underpinned by not wanting to see any change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. That means as a country we have adopted a one-China policy that we had in the place since the 1970s.
China’s ambassador to Australia will address the National Press Club in Canberra today in his first speech since taking on the role at the beginning of the year.
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CovidSafe app decommissioned
The troubled government contact tracing app CovidSafe is being put out to pasture – but there won’t be a whole lot of tears shed.
At the end of 2021, as Covid-19 vaccination rates reached more than 90% of eligible Australians, contact tracing began to be scaled back. But even before the scaling back, there weren’t a whole lot of cases being identified by CovidSafe.
The app was largely ineffective and will be remembered, as a “lemon” – as one industry expert, Electronic Frontiers Australia’s chair, Justin Warren, called it. As my colleague Josh Taylor reported in July 2021:
As England and Wales experience what is being called a “pingdemic” – with more than 600,000 isolation alerts sent to users of its NHS app in one week earlier this month – Australia’s CovidSafe app has managed to identify just 17 close contacts who were not picked up by other means since it launched in April last year.
RIP pic.twitter.com/rmxScxS3VY
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) August 9, 2022
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Government would consider funding Solomon Islands elections, Pacific minister says
Pat Conroy, the minister for the Pacific, has just appeared on ABC Radio after his return from a trip to Honiara where he met Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.
The visit follows a bid by the Solomon Islands government to delay upcoming elections until after the Pacific Games in December next year, which has raised alarm.
Solomon Islands opposition members have suggested Australia could fund the election, Conroy is asked if he is open to that:
He says as far as the parliamentary bill being debated about that decision is concerned:
This is a question for the Solomon Islands parliament and the people of the Solomon Islands.
Asked if he will offer monetary support, if this is the barrier, Conroy responds:
I think it’s very important we respect the internal processes of other countries, historically we have provided funding for elections and if asked we would consider such requests.
Would Australia be concerned about the delaying of an election?
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) August 9, 2022
"we believe that having regular election cycles is a key aspect of democratic norms and values we share across the region.. we are going to respect the internal processes of neighbouring countries"
- @PatConroy1
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Serena Williams announces retirement, wishing she could feel as Ash Barty did
Serena Williams has announced her pending retirement in an article she has penned in Vogue.
The tennis superstar revealed she is putting away her racket because, at 40, she really wants a second child (and her daughter is campaigning hard for a little sister). But she talks about the conflict that creates in her mind, with her ambitions in tennis at war with her love of motherhood.
Australia’s Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles is of course the one Williams didn’t beat. With 23 grand slams, she was one tournament away from equalling it. In the article Williams says, “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record.”
There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the “open era” that began in 1968. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help. The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams. I had my chances after coming back from giving birth. I went from a C-section to a second pulmonary embolism to a grand slam final. I played while breastfeeding. I played through postpartum depression. But I didn’t get there. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I didn’t show up the way I should have or could have. But I showed up 23 times, and that’s fine. Actually it’s extraordinary. But these days, if I have to choose between building my tennis résumé and building my family, I choose the latter.
Williams is candid about her reticence in making the decision, reflecting that she wished she could welcome retirement the way that Australia’s Ash Barty did:
I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way. Ashleigh Barty was number one in the world when she left the sport this March, and I believe she really felt ready to move on.
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NSW train services cancelled amid industrial action
NSW train commuters are being affected by industrial action, with some services cancelled as the rail union continues its campaign to secure changes to a new fleet of intercity trains and reach a new enterprise bargaining agreement, AAP reports.
Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said the strike would affect about 70,000 commuters who regularly travel on Sydney’s T4 Eastern line, the Illawarra and South Coast lines.
Services will operate normally until about 9am, when trains will be taken back to stabling yards and depots before the industrial action starts at 10am.
He told Sydney radio 2GB this morning:
We won’t be back to a full timetable on the T4 service until around about five or 5.30 in the afternoon.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Alex Claassens said the train services should not have been suspended, with about 90% of train crews still available to work. He said on Monday:
If [the network] is shut down, it will be because transport bureaucrats have simply decided they don’t want to run the trains, not because they can’t.
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Good morning!
The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, will address the National Press Club today after officials in Beijing warned Australia to stop criticising China’s military drills near Taiwan.
The Albanese government is calling for a de-escalation of tensions in the region, as acting prime minister Richard Marles has affirmed on ABC Breakfast Television this morning.
In more diplomatic news, Australia yesterday committed $16.68m to the Solomon Islands to support preparations for the Pacific Games. Manasseh Sogavare’s government has said it wants to extend parliament until after it hosts the 2023 games.
Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy will be speaking soon on ABC Radio. We’ll bring you those updates.
An Australian Council of Trade Unions discussion paper is also out this morning, criticising the Reserve Bank’s over-reliance on interest rates to contain inflation.
The government’s jobs and skills summit in September remains a hot ticket but when Labor announced the event it was unclear whether opposition members would receive the invite. We now know Labor has invited opposition leader Peter Dutton to the September summit with treasurer Jim Chalmers saying it is a sign the federal government is serious about finding common ground.
Let’s jump in!
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