The day that was, Wednesday 23 March
That’s where we will leave the blog on a big day in the news. Here’s what made the news today:
- World tennis number one, Ash Barty, announced her shock retirement from the sport at the age of 25. Barty says she is keen to do new things, and felt it was the right time.
- Hillsong global pastor Brian Houston has resigned after an internal investigation found he had engaged in inappropriate conduct “of serious concern” with two women.
- Independent candidate for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, won a legal battle to allow her supporters to erect signs in support of her election in their yards before the election has been called.
- A survey by Universities Australia has found one in 20 students have been sexually assaulted and one in six have been harassed.
- The Morrison government announced $5bn in funding for the Hell’s Gate dam in Townsville.
- Nominations to replace the late senator Kimberley Kitching in the Senate are now underway.
- There were 61,552 new cases of Covid-19 reported: 24,115 in NSW, 10471 in Victoria, 10,476 in Queensland, 8429 in Western Australia, 4594 in South Australia, 1825 in Tasmania, 1314 in the ACT and 328 in the Northern Territory.
- There were 26 additional deaths, including five in NSW, 11 in Victoria, seven in Queensland, two in SA, and one in WA.
- New Zealand is doing away with its vaccine passes and vaccine mandates for some workers.
- Doherty Institute research has found vaccine-induced T-cells provide a long-lasting immune response to Covid-19.
Until tomorrow, stay safe.
Sales of stickers calling on voters to “bin” the prime minister have surged after the Liberal heavyweight Philip Ruddock’s Hornsby Shire Council threatened residents that garbage collection services may be suspended if they weren’t removed from wheelie bins.
Placing space launch sites in Australia will help provide back-up capabilities if allies’ facilities go down and ensure continued access to critical technologies, the head of the country’s space agency says.
AAP reports that the head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, says Australia’s unique geography, climate and political landscape makes it attractive for countries like the United States to co-invest in space infrastructure.
“We’re a country that can protect sensitive technologies to develop spaceports,” the Palermo told an air and space conference in Canberra on Wednesday.
“Internationally, we can offer an alternate site as ranges fill up and exceed the demand, or are perhaps taken out by weather or other other formats. We can provide resiliency to that that launch network internationally.”
Australia’s priority remains on ensuring continued access to space, with attacks against a satellite or its ground connections possibly wiping out communications and navigation systems, as well as intelligence and surveillance capabilities, banking and the internet.
Updated
People are still using more broadband now than they were this time last year, despite the easing of restrictions meaning many people have returned to the office for the first time since the pandemic began.
NBN Co reported to the Senate in response to a question on notice from estimates that upload traffic is up between 20% and 25% in February this year compared to February last year, and download traffic is up between 10% and 15%.
Updated
The federal government should support regional newspapers through a greater share of advertising, funds for research, targeted grants and even tax rebates.
That’s the finding of a multi-party inquiry into the struggling media sector which reported to federal parliament on Wednesday.
AAP reports communications committee chair, Dr Anne Webster, said regional newspapers had experienced significant challenges over the past decade.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found between 2008 and 2018, 106 titles closed across the country leaving more than 20 local government areas without a single or regional newspaper.
Another more recent estimate put the figure at closer to 260 titles.
“For people in regional, rural, or remote communities, regional newspapers are the main source of local information,” Webster said.
“It also plays an important role in maintaining an interconnected community, and a healthy democracy.
“A diversity of opinion from all sides of the political spectrum and coverage of local, as well as national issues, is essential to public debate.
“It is important we ensure the sector remains viable in the long-term.”
The committee report included 12 recommendations including further studies into the long and short term viability of the industry, a national register of regional news providers, and partnerships between the ABC, SBS and small regional publishers and broadcasters.
As well, the government should ensure a minimum of 20% of its print advertising goes to regional newspapers to provide certainty of income.
Targeted grants should be made available, and a study undertaken into a tax rebate for regional businesses to support their local newspaper and for newspapers to hire local reporters.
Modelling by the Public Interest Journalism Initiative showed a 50% research and development style tax rebate could inject up to $711m into the sector, at a cost of $375m to taxpayers.
Updated
Bob Katter says Hells Gate dam could affect which party he supports
Kennedy MP, Bob Katter, has accused the government of telling “a flagrant lie” to him on the $5.4bn Hells Gates dam announcement that Scott Morrison made today, and says it could affect who he supports in the event of a potential hung parliament.
Morrison was in north Queensland today, announcing billions for the dam and spruiking its potential for agriculture. Katter has been a long-time advocate for the dam, saying it should help feed the “Bradfield Scheme” for irrigation in the north.
Katter claimed the announcement was a “disaster” and said the dam wasn’t being built high enough, which he said would mean it wouldn’t be as effective for irrigation.
At a press conference in Townsville, he brandished a letter he claimed to have received from the deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, saying the dam would be built to 395 metres in height – but Katter said Wednesday’s announcement was only for a “low-level dam” smaller in height than that.
“I will be considering my position,” he said when asked if the policy would affect which party he would support in parliament.
“I don’t like being lied to.”
Katter has pledged confidence and supply to the government, but says he was considering whether to withdraw that for parliament next week, and whether he would support the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament after the election.
Katter claims he rang Morrison’s office 13 times today with no response.
Updated
Labor MP Josh Burns on ABC News calls out Liberal MP Tim Wilson over the Goldstein signs case.
I found it pretty astonishing that Tim Wilson, a member for Goldstein, the so-called freedom of speech warrior, the freedom boy, has been trying to attack the volunteers and his constituents for putting up signs of his political opponents. The Liberal party has been doing everything they can to try and squash political opponents instead of actually putting forward ideas that help make our country better.
Wilson, who was not party to the court case but initially complained to the council over the signs put up by supporters of his opponent Zoe Daniel, has welcomed the decision today as a clarification to allow the signs to be put up now.
Burns said it was misguided for the Liberal party to attempt to “squash the independent movement and the Labor party and their political opponents ... it is not going to work”.
Updated
Interestingly, Liberal MP for Wentworth, Dave Sharma, was reluctant to criticise Labor’s reported potential parachuting of Andrew Charlton into the western Sydney seat of Parramatta on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
Host Greg Jennett noted that Charlton was currently a constituent of Sharma’s, but Sharma said he would leave it to Labor.
This is a decision for the Labor party and people of Parramatta to presume but I would say that I’ve known Andrew from him working with Kevin Rudd ... and I’ve looked and certainly take an interest in his work, since that time.
I believe he’s a constituent and haven’t seen him on the street, going by media reporting ... This will be a decision for the Labor party ... and on the people of Parramatta as well.
I will just point out that it’s always been a very competitive seat, that one.
Worth noting that the Liberals in NSW have been going through an even more difficult preselection process in the lead up to the election.
Updated
⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for the #Hunter district for large #hail, damaging #winds and heavy #rainfall. A large storm may impact #Singleton and #Cessnock within the next hour. For latest warning visit https://t.co/Thi0Y0D4cM pic.twitter.com/1dJ9PJYWk2
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 23, 2022
Australia’s vast north is open to attack amid the most concerning security challenge the US’s top military commander in the region has seen in recent years, AAP reports.
US Indo-Pacific commander Adm John Aquilino recently flew over the South China Sea and says China has built and militarised several artificial islands.
“They are full-fledged offensive bases,” he told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday.
“Runways, hangers, barracks, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles, jamming capability, hangers for fighter aircraft, bomber aircraft ... That is fact.”
Asked about the military threat to Australia’s north, including Darwin, Aquilino said, “There is certainly a threat”.
“Today in the Indo-Pacific, it hosts the most concerning security challenge that we have faced in a number of years.”
The admiral said he would be in Australia for several days to work closely with the chief of the Australian defence force, Gen Angus Campbell, on all aspects of the two nations’ military collaboration.
“It should be concerning to nations that are interested in changing and potentially destabilising the region,” he said.
The admiral leads the largest US military command with 380,000 personnel across 36 nations.
Reflecting on Australia’s recently announced space command, he said the US would be working through Aukus with Australia and the UK to strengthen defence capabilities in the space and cyber domains.
“Some of the US team is coming to Australia [tomorrow] to synchronise our exercise, operations and effects,” he said.
“Critically important. We have no separation of domain between Australia and the US.”
The admiral said the US would also increase its military collaboration with Australia and other nations to maintain stability in the region.
“We want to be able to join together quickly and operate immediately,” he said while inspecting a US Marine contingent based in Darwin.
The seasonal force, which also includes the US Army for the first time, is expected to grow to 2,200 servicemen and women over the next few months.
Aukus is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the US and the UK in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US Indo-Pacific Command is also the nation’s oldest combatant command.
Aquilino oversees all US military activities, including the army, marines, airforce and navy, in the Indo-Pacific, covering 14 time zones and more than 50% of the world’s population.
Updated
I received my booster shot here. It’s a beautiful building to get the jab in, but good to see it’s returning to hosting other things now.
Tonight at 8:30pm, the doors will shut for the last time at our vaccination centre at the Royal Exhibition Building.
— St Vincent's (@StVincentsMelb) March 22, 2022
In its year of operation our staff have created memories, shared milestones, and celebrated holidays. It’s been a privilege to vaccinate the Victorian community. pic.twitter.com/vICo5LFkKC
Trans community advocates have called for the opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, to meet with the community after he made those “not woke” comments, as well as comments that men cannot have babies.
Spokesperson for Just.Equal Australia, Sally Goldner, said Albanese’s comments to the Daily Telegraph erased sections of the trans community, and were in conflict with anti-discrimination law Labor introduced in government in 2013:
It’s very disappointing that Mr Albanese is not fully affirming vulnerable Australians and not calling out the phony ‘culture war’ against us.
During the US presidential campaign Joe Biden made strong statements in support of trans rights and won the election convincingly. Mr Albanese needs to show a similar level of allyship to trans and gender diverse people and our families.
I call on Mr Albanese to meet with everyday trans and gender diverse Australians so he can hear about our real needs and concerns.
Next week’s International Trans Day of Visibility would be the perfect opportunity for Mr Albanese to show he is above cheap political shots at the expense of trans people and to outline his policies for trans people such as inclusive health care.
Updated
I looked it up, and this case will be still holding hearings until mid-April at least. Sixteen more to go by my count.
Former NSW arts minister Don Harwin has resigned from the NSW parliament just a year before the minority Perrottet government goes to the polls, AAP reports.
President of the Legislative Council, Matthew Mason-Cox, told the upper house Harwin had handed his resignation to the governor, Margaret Beazley.
“Her excellency the governor received and accepted the resignation of the honourable Don Harwin MLC as a member of the Legislative Council of NSW,” he said on Wednesday.
“Her excellency anticipates that the premier will, in due course, recommend that she send a message to both houses with a view to calling a joint sitting to filling the vacancy.”
Last week Harwin told the Australian he was “looking forward to taking some time off and pursuing other opportunities into the future”.
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NSW government to supply rapid tests to schools until end of term one
The NSW government will continue to supply rapid antigen tests to teachers and students until the end of term one at least, the education minister, Sarah Mitchell, has announced:
A multipack of at least five RATs will be available for students and teachers at every school as needed to use when symptomatic because we know rapid antigen testing is an effective measure in mitigating the spread of Covid-19. Additional tests will also be provided for early childhood educators and staff.
Where an area is experiencing a rise in Covid cases, the department will direct the local school to respond with measures such as mask use, or moving large gatherings outdoors.
She said:
These tailored measures will support the continuity of face-to-face learning and help to protect students and staff by reducing in-school transmission of Covid-19.
With a significant proportion of new cases being school-aged children, it is important that we all do our part to help schools remain operational by staying home if you’re sick and test if you’re experiencing any symptoms or are a close contact.
It is prudent that we continue to review and adjust our settings to deal with the challenges we will face throughout the school year to ensure students continue to receive face-to-face learning.
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Optus and TPG will refund customers a total of $6.5m for charging them for speeds they were unable to achieve on the NBN, the Australian Communications and Media Authority says.
Optus will refund $4.4m to more than 34,000 customers, while TPG will refund $2.1m to over 4,400 customers.
Optus self-reported the issue to the ACMA in July 2021, while TPG reported in October 2021.
The rules state when people move onto the NBN, internet service providers must tell customers what the maximum speed their line can achieve, and when speeds advertised cannot be met.
The ACMA chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, said customers were entitled to move to a cheaper lower-speed plan or exit the contract when the speeds could not be met.
“These customers were left in the dark and denied the option to move to a cheaper contract or walk away,” she said.
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The PM says he spoke to Ash Barty about her retirement announcement today.
Great to speak with @ashbarty today and simply say, ‘Thank you Ash’. Thank you for inspiring a nation. You are all class. Your achievements will be celebrated for all time. On behalf of all Australians, all the best to you & your fiancé Garry for your wedding & new life together. pic.twitter.com/JRNvfbScAv
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 23, 2022
Animal activists caught trespassing on Victorian farms will face fines of up to $10,904 per individual and more than $50,000 per organisation under new laws.
AAP reports the Livestock Management Amendment (Animal Activism) bill passed through parliament’s upper house on Tuesday night.
The bill aims to deter animal activists from trespassing on farms, with individuals who fail to comply facing on-the-spot fines of $1,272 and organisation $8,178.
More serious offending could lead to fines of up to $10,904 for an individual and $54,522 for an organisation.
The measures follow an inquiry into the impact of animal rights activism on Victoria’s agriculture sector.
The agriculture minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, said the penalties were among the toughest in Australia.
“Farmers and workers in the agricultural industry should be able to do their work without fear of being targeted by animal activists,” she said.
“This sort of activity is highly distressing for farming families and puts the biosecurity and safety of animals at risk.”
Two opposition amendments seeking to double the maximum penalty were thrown out on Tuesday night.
The amendments sought to raise the maximum fine for an individual to $21,809, bringing Victoria in line with the equivalent maximum fine in Queensland and New South Wales.
“Doubling the maximum fine would have sent a strong message to anyone considering trespassing on a farmer’s private property that Victoria won’t tolerate illegal farm invasions,” the opposition agriculture spokesman, Peter Walsh, said.
The bill will go to the governor for royal assent, with the fines expected to kick in later this year.
Updated
NSW government will move to suspend MP Gareth Ward
The New South Wales government will move to suspend the embattled MP Gareth Ward from parliament while he awaits trial after he was charged for sexual abuse against a man and a 17-year-old boy, rather than expel him, after advice from the crown solicitor.
On Wednesday the NSW deputy premier, Paul Toole, confirmed the Coalition would not move to force Ward, a former minister, out of state parliament, despite the premier yesterday saying he would “move a motion to remove” the Kiama MP if he refused to quit. Perrotet said Ward was entitled to the presumption of innocence, but that “the standards expected of an elected member of Parliament are not compatible with the seriousness of the charges he is facing”.
Instead, after advice from the crown solicitor, Toole told parliament the government would move to suspend Ward from parliament until a verdict is reached in a criminal trial against the MP.
The decision, he said, was taken to “ensure alleged victims in this matter have their day in court”, he told the parliament.
Toole, who is the state’s acting premier while Dominic Perrottet is on parental leave, tabled a motion stating that in “the interests of alleged victims survivors having their complaints considered by the criminal justice system”, and the “fairness of criminal trials” the government would move a motion to suspend Ward on Thursday.
According to the motion, the suspension would last “until the verdict of the jury has been returned on the five criminal charges laid against him yesterday”.
The decision means Ward will likely continue receiving his $169,000 annual salary as he faces criminal charges for alleged sexual abuse against a man and 17-year-old boy.
Ward denied the allegations and said he would be fighting the charges, but did not indicate if he planned to leave parliament while he did so.
In the motion, Toole conceded the parliament “does not have the power to withhold a member’s remuneration” but said the government “has sought advice on options” to “affect the withholding” of his “remuneration and all other entitlements”.
The decision comes after Perrottet on Tuesday released a statement saying he would seek Ward’s removal from parliament after he was charged with three counts of assault with acts of indecency, and one count each of common assault and sexual intercourse without consent.
The charges relate to two alleged incidents involving a 27-year-old man and 17-year-old boy.
Updated
Nominations to open to replace senator Kimberley Kitching
The national executive of the ALP will meet this afternoon to determine the process for replacing the late senator Kimberley Kitching.
Guardian Australia understands that nominations are likely to open today, and close early next week before a ballot on Tuesday.
Contenders are expected to include the Victorian corrections minister, Natalie Hutchins, and the barrister and former Higgins candidate, Fiona McLeod.
Updated
Whitehaven Coal lodges application for new exploration licence in NSW
Whitehaven Coal has lodged an application for a new coal exploration licence near Narrabri in the north-west of New South Wales.
The application is to explore for coal in an area known as Gorman North, which the former deputy premier John Barilaro nominated for new coalmining in his strategic statement on coal in 2020.
The proposal, first flagged last year, has sparked concerns from community members who fear a licence may be granted for exploration without community consultation.
A similar land release proposed at Rylstone, near the Wollemi national park, went to public consultation before mining companies were able to submit exploration applications and resulted in the state government ruling out exploration in two areas.
The Boggabri farmer Sally Hunter said the application from Whitehaven, through its subsidiary Narrabri Coal, demonstrated the “industrialisation” that was occurring in the north-west of NSW:
Fossil fuel companies like Whitehaven are hammering the Namoi Valley in their rush to exploit coal because they know these projects won’t be approved in just a few years’ time.
She said Namoi Valley residents deserved the same opportunity to respond to new land releases for exploration as the Rylstone community received.
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A top Indian diplomat has urged Australian business executives to put aside “old prejudices” about his country as the two sides scramble to reach an interim trade deal.
With a trade deal now three months later than originally planned, India’s high commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, said too many boardrooms had placed the country in the “too hard basket” based on “old notions”.
Vohra said the Covid-19 pandemic had further “exacerbated divides that we see, the fissures that we see, in what seemed to be a very cosy way that the world was going along”.
He said India and Australia had “rediscovered that we are actually natural partners” – but many Australian investors had failed to “seize the opportunity” of India’s growth.
Last year, during the pandemic, India attracted about $82bn of foreign direct investment but “the Australian part of that is extremely low”, the high commissioner said. Australia’s foreign direct investment in India was worth less than $1bn in 2020.
Vohra called on Australian businesses to develop their “India literacy” and “look at India in a different light”.
He said one factor may be “the old notions and prejudices amongst many in Australia, certainly many Australian businesses, that they decided 30 years ago when they might have looked at India that we are a difficult place to do business”.
“But I suggest to you that it is actually a new India today,” he told an event hosted by the Perth US Asia Centre at the University of Western Australia.
Australia and India had previously said they wanted to reach an interim trade deal by December 2021 – a deadline that has now been missed – and a comprehensive agreement by the end of 2022.
India was Australia’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2020, when the two-way value of trade in goods and services was $24.4bn. Australia’s top exports to India were coal and education-related travel.
On Wednesday a new paper called on the two governments to follow an “investment-led strategy” for building the economic relationship.
Updated
South Australia reports two Covid deaths
I don’t think we got to the SA numbers yet, so here they are. There were 4,594 new Covid-19 cases reported in South Australia, and two additional deaths.
South Australian COVID-19 update 23/03/22. For more information, go to https://t.co/XkVcAmeZ6V or contact the South Australia COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/urd54Jvo9T
— SA Health (@SAHealth) March 23, 2022
Updated
The NSW government will not try to pass a motion to remove the Kiama MP, Gareth Ward, from parliament pending his historical sexual abuse charges being heard in court, as the premier, Dominic Perrottet, flagged yesterday, after receiving legal advice. The government will instead try to suspend him.
After legal advice from the Crown solicitor, the NSW government is seeking to suspend, not expel, Gareth Ward from the NSW Parliament, until his legal case is complete to "endure alleged victims in this matter have their day in court". Means Ward keeps collecting his pay cheque.
— Michael McGowan (@mmcgowan) March 23, 2022
Updated
Some more tributes to Ash Barty from politicians:
An inspiration, a magician on the court, a champion of Wimbledon and the Australian Open – World Number One.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 23, 2022
As you climbed to the very top, you lifted us all.
Congratulations to Ash Barty on a magnificent career. 🇦🇺🎾 pic.twitter.com/Us2B3Z5Ob0
She came, she played, she conquered. Congratulations on a stellar career @ashbarty You have inspired us all with your talent, kindness and spirit. pic.twitter.com/yJNlkjgeLB
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) March 23, 2022
❤️💛🖤✊🏾 https://t.co/gv0PWtQqd2
— Senator Dorinda Cox (@dorinda_cox) March 23, 2022
Congratulations Ash Barty on an amazing career, capped off with an incredible Australian Open win.
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) March 23, 2022
Always hit the court with such amazing drive and will be long remembered in Australian sporting history. pic.twitter.com/aDhW46sv4I
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The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has responded to the news of Ash Barty’s shock retirement from tennis.
He said:
I particularly want to say thank you to you, Ash, for inspiring a generation of young people and particularly a generation of young Indigenous people in this country. You are all class. Your commitment to excellence in your chosen field in tennis, you’re a great cricketer, great tennis player, I’m sure anything you turned your hand to you will be a great success.
I have no doubt that will be the case as you go forward with the next chapters in your life.
I do want to say thank you, Ash, for inspiring a country, inspiring a nation, at a time when this country really needed a good shot in the arm. None of us will forget, of course, her triumphant win in Wimbledon and none of us will ever forget that incredible comeback down there at the Australian Open this year, which, once again, showed everybody what you can do when you really apply yourself to it.
Thank you, Ash, on behalf of a very grateful nation.
Hillsong global pastor Brian Houston resigns
The suspended global pastor Brian Houston has resigned from the Hillsong church following revelations of his alleged mistreatment of women.
The global board said in a statement on Wednesday:
We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation.
We understand there will be much emotion at this news, and we all share these feelings. Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and (his wife) Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades and that their ministry has resulted in millions of people across the world being impacted by the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ.
As you can appreciate, there is still much to be done and our church leadership continues seeking God for His wisdom as we set the course for the future.
We acknowledge that change is needed. We have committed to an independent review of our governance structure and processes, understanding that this is a time of humble reflection and we are committed to doing what is necessary to ensure God is honoured, and our eyes are fixed on Jesus.
The resignation follows an apology issued by the church on Friday over allegations of Houston’s conduct towards two women.
Updated
Tasmanian premier in Covid isolation
The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, will be in isolation for seven days after one of his family members tested positive to Covid-19, AAP reports.
Gutwein on Wednesday released a statement, saying he had returned a negative rapid antigen test and would continue to work from home where possible.
“The deputy premier, Jeremy Rockliff, will undertake those duties and responsibilities that I would normally perform as premier during question time and for matters before the parliament,” Gutwein said.
It comes after nearly 20 Tasmanians who had Covid-19 were incorrectly told they had tested negative on their PCR tests.
Tasmania’s health commander, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, confirmed 19 people were on Tuesday wrongly notified.
The department said the error was corrected within three hours.
Morgan-Wicks said the RHH Laboratory was improving its system to ensure another mistake won’t happen.
“On behalf of the Department of Health, I apologise for the error and for any inconvenience caused to the recipients of the incorrect results,” she said.
Tasmania reported 1,825 new cases on Wednesday.
There were no further deaths but 32 people were in hospital.
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Labor says it “welcomes the commencement of Australia’s Defence Force Space Command”.
The defence minister, Peter Dutton, announced yesterday that the new space command within the air force had begun operations, a move first flagged last year.
Labor’s defence spokesperson, Brendan O’Connor, issued a statement today saying it backs the move:
Investment in space capabilities is crucial in protecting Australia’s interests in our evolving world.
The increase in hypersonic missile activity, grey zone activities and targeting of satellites and space systems and networks has hastened the need for capabilities in this area.
Improving our space capabilities strengthens our cooperation with like-minded partners continuing to build on those relationships.
For more on what the new head of the space command said, see yesterday’s story:
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One in 20 university students have been sexually assaulted and one in six sexually harassed, survey finds
One in 20 Australian university students have been sexually assaulted since starting university and one in six have been sexually harassed, a survey of 43,819 students has found.
The findings come from the National Student Safety Survey, which was released by Universities Australia this afternoon. It follows a survey in 2016, which found higher rates of sexual assault and harassment, but was criticised for not using a best practice approach to sexual harassment research. The questions in the 2021 survey were changed to ask about behaviours which would be considered sexual harassment or assault, rather than asking people to nominate whether they have been sexually harassed or assaulted.
Rates of sexual assault and harassment were highest among non-binary, trans, First Nations and disabled students. Thirty per cent of all students had been sexually assaulted at least once in their life — but for non-binary or gender-diverse students that figure was 56.1%. Students who lived in student accommodation were also more likely to have been impacted, with 6% reporting having been sexually assaulted in the past 12 months, and 19% reporting being sexually harassed.
Those figures are still lower than in previous reports, a fact that Universities Australia say may be attributed to fewer people being on campus due to Covid.
The report also found a spike in online harassment, particularly in private messages sent over Zoom. The Universities Australia chair, Prof John Dewar, said the survey results were “distressing, disappointing and confronting”.
The results of this significant survey are distressing, disappointing and confronting.
The survey results are part of a growing body of evidence in Australia which shows that sexual harassment and sexual assault are pervasive in all corners of our society. As a nation, this cannot be tolerated, and as a sector, we will continue to be part of the solution.
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Max Walsh, a highly influential economics journalist who rose to lead the Australian Financial Review and was a popular commentator on Channel Nine, has died aged 84.
The former editor-in-chief and chief political correspondent of the AFR died on Wednesday morning with dementia, the AFR reported.
Walsh played a significant role in the opening up of the Australian economy in the 1980s and was editor-in-chief of the former Fairfax financial daily when it was profitable in the 1970s and 80s.
All hail and farewell to the great oak of Australian journalism, Max Walsh. A huge figure in mine as so many lives, as exemplar and mentor and friend. I'm glad he is free, but so sad we have lost him
— jennifer byrne (@Jennifer__Byrne) March 23, 2022
He wrote about politics for the Sun-Herald and the Bulletin and enjoyed a second career as a regular contributor on Channel Nine’s now defunct Sunday program.
He was described as “the great oak of Australian journalism” by former Nine Sunday journalist Jennifer Byrne.
Walsh is survived by his wife, Geraldine, daughters, Flicc and Sophie, and grandson, Xavier.
The journalist and editor Max Walsh died today, aged 84. A significant figure. Detailed obituary in the AFR by Andrew Clark: https://t.co/7HhHhg5rQc
— Malcolm Farnsworth (@mfarnsworth) March 23, 2022
The video is Channel 10's The Walsh Report from March 25, 1990, the day after the 1990 election. https://t.co/zR7EbRwLTG
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Barty, a three-time grand slam champion, is just 25, but says she is spent:
Success for me is knowing I’ve given absolutely everything I can ... I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself ... I don’t have that in me any more. I don’t have the physical drive, the physical want ... what it takes ... I’m spent, I know physically I have nothing more to give ... I’ve given everything to this beautiful sport of tennis.
Here’s Emma Kemp’s full report:
Updated
Ash Barty announces shock retirement from tennis
The women’s tennis world No 1, Ash Barty, has announced her retirement from tennis in an Instagram video with her friend Casey Dellacqua.
I’ll be retiring from tennis. It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, and it’s hard to say. But I’m so happy and I’m so ready. I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person this is right.
She says winning the Australian Open feels like the perfect way to go out.
I want to chase after some other dreams I’ve always wanted to do.
She’s holding a press conference tomorrow.
wow Ash Barty is retiring from tennis
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 23, 2022
"Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement"
In a video she says "the time is right for me now to step away and chase other dreams" https://t.co/6F5IPjWzda pic.twitter.com/xlRGD7NqVs
Updated
Foster points to the prime minister’s comments regarding taking in refugees from Ukraine, and says it’s a “cynical lie” to suggest they can go to the front of a queue because there is no queue.
Scott Morrison quickly said that Ukrainians will go to the head of the queue, that’s another cynical lie used to conjure magical notions of legitimacy. There is no queue.
There is no queue! Only a human lottery and the media must refuse to propagate these dangerous narratives that cloud the judgments of Australians. Given our involvement in Afghanistan, we have a duty to welcome more than just 15,000 Afghans, the number split over three years and taken from the existing intake of just 13,750. Do you see now how others who have been waiting for years to be part of that number are arbitrarily left out and have no certainty whatsoever?
He says Australia’s ability to combat the human rights transgressions in other countries is hampered by our own.
Our own human rights transgressions undermine our capability to be the force for good we can be. Until we stop the torture of refugees, imprisonment of Indigenous children, disproportionate incarceration, stop raiding journalists, increase public accountability, leave our charity sector be, provide greater scrutiny of political donations and state capture, and reverse the national shame of Indigenous disadvantage, our credibility on democratic principles and human rights is very damaged when we should be a world leader as a multicultural nation.
He says he hopes the “I Stopped These” boat on the prime minister’s desk will be replaced one day.
One day, I hope that the prime minister will not have a boat but an outstretched hand on her desk.
To signify support for all in need, for diversity, multiculturalism and anti-racism and the resolve of Australia to let no one suffer, go hungry or without a roof over their head. An outstretched hand to our global family to impart our strong sense of equality, the humane treatment of all and solidarity on existential challenges.
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Foster pleads with media to cease using the government’s language around its treatment of asylum seekers:
Media must stop perpetuating the terminology that misses torture and masks obscenities. Terms like illegal detention – not prison, transitory persons – not vulnerable people, border security – not immigration.
Word by word, a conceptual infrastructure indefinitely detained the national mind. Xenophobic language that Australia risks being swamped, invaded, the floodgates opened, have repeatedly and endlessly been used for 200 years to divide communities, score political victories and scare the population into acquiescing with racist, xenophobic and lethal policies through our pre- and post-colonial history.
None of them were real, but they were devastating and effective and culturally corrosive. Can’t you see the pattern? Please recognise when and why these terms are being used and Australian media, stop using them.
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Foster argues Australia is full of care and compassion, but highlights the weaknesses:
Beating up on innocent refugees, the family from Biloela, gay kids, the homeless and unemployed, lying about asylum seekers to justify shameful policy is weak. Legislating so that medical professionals can’t tell the truth about torture is weak. Leveraging asylum seeker lives as political collateral is weak.
He says Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers will be a stain forever.
It’s staggering, actually, to think what we have done to innocent humans. It’s a stain that will live with us forever. The boat people who tortured boat people – immigrants who tortured immigrants. It’s insanity on every level – financially, humanitarian, global citizenry and reputationally.
Updated
Craig Foster gives National Press Club address
The human rights activist and former Socceroo Craig Foster is giving the National Press Club address today.
He says Australia’s refusal to look back on its history is at the heart of inequities today:
Racism underpinned colonisation, fuelled federation and still infests much policy and media coverage 121 years later.
It’s a festering sore on the national psyche that manifests in dehumanisation and mistreatment of innocent people and ongoing Indigenous disadvantage. So let’s all take a deep breath then because we must go back to move forward and, yes, we need to talk about boats.
Whether the first fleet’s arrival on invasion day 1788, asylum seekers fleeing persecution or citizen-led flood rescues, it’s a fitting starting point as the east coast of Australia drowns. And let’s not forget the boat trophy that sits proudly in Australia’s prime ministerial office.
That boat symbolises suffering, death, racism, xenophobia, deception, lies and propaganda, myopia and the degradation of Australia’s humanity. It encapsulates perfectly who we have become – that it sits lovingly on Scott Morrison’s desk speaks volumes about him and us.
Australia has been so bombarded by decades of dog whistling, xenophobia and racist portrayal of other that we literally are willing to let innocent people rot and die. The most vulnerable people on earth – refugees.
But I know what Australians are capable of. The force of our goodwill and compassion in the extraordinary capability of this country from the sports field to the bushfires, from the floods to Save Hakeem.
Updated
With that, I will pass the blog on to Josh Taylor who will keep you company for the rest of the afternoon.
ACT records 1,314 new Covid cases
The ACT’s Covid update has just been released. There have been 1,314 new cases detected, roughly half from rapid antigen tests and half from PCR tests.
There are 42 people being treated with Covid in hospital including one person requiring intensive care.
There have been no further deaths.
ACT COVID-19 Update – 23 March 2022
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) March 23, 2022
💉 COVID-19 vaccinations
◾ Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 79.8%
◾ Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 38.7%
◾ Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 96.7%
◾ Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 72.0%
🦠 COVID-19 case numbers
◾ New cases today: 1,314 (653* PCR and 661 RAT) pic.twitter.com/V12jlEBPYy
Updated
The Queensland education minister, Grace Grace, has confirmed all six schools that have remained closed due to flooding – Milpera state high school, Aviation high, Rocklea state school, Milton state school, One Mile state school, and St Helens state school – are hoping to reopen on site in time for the start of term two.
We’re getting on with the work to get the six seriously flood-affected schools fully reopened, hopefully in time for the start of Term 2.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 23, 2022
Crews are cleaning and repairing the six schools and it’s all going well.
Education Minister @Gracextwo checked on the work at Milpera today. pic.twitter.com/hKPCkdHH6W
Updated
National Covid-19 update
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 26 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 1,314
- In hospital: 42 (with 3 people in ICU)
NSW
- Deaths: 5
- Cases: 24,115
- In hospital: 1,162 (with 44 people in ICU)
Queensland
- Deaths: 7
- Cases: 10,476
- In hospital: 252 (with 7 people in ICU)
South Australia
- Deaths: 2
- Cases: 4,594
- In hospital: 161 (with 8 people in ICU)
Victoria
- Deaths: 11
- Cases: 10,471
- In hospital: 243 (with 23 people in ICU)
Western Australia
- Deaths: 1
- Cases: 8,429
- In hospital: 194 (with 9 people in ICU)
Updated
The Victorian Liberal Democrat MP David Limbrick has been designated a close contact and will miss parliament this week.
Unfortunately I am not able to attend Parliament and do the things I planned this week as I am a close contact and need to isolate. I am personally fine and will be back in action as soon as I’m able.
— David Limbrick MP 🌸 (@_davidlimbrick) March 23, 2022
Updated
Queensland reports 10,476 new Covid cases
Queensland’s Covid update has been released. There have been 10,476 new cases detected.
Sadly, seven people have died overnight.
There are 252 people being treated in hospital with the virus including seven people requiring intensive care.
Today we have recorded 10,476 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) March 23, 2022
Sadly, 7 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
Full details ➡ https://t.co/2vvTmli7qN pic.twitter.com/3kLCgQIPpn
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Demand for workers remains strong, even as the unemployment rate hits historic lows and is destined to go even lower, AAP reports.
The National Skills Commission said job advertisements posted on the internet rose by a further 3.6% in February to stand at 269,700.
Job ads are now 36.2% higher than a year earlier and massive 60.4% above levels prevailing before the pandemic.
Advertisements increased in all eight occupational groups monitored by the commission, with community and personal service workers leading the way with a 7.6% increase in the month.
Recruitment activity rose in all six states and the ACT, but declined 0.5% in the Northern Territory. The sharpest increase was in Tasmania, up 6.6%.
The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed the jobless rate had fallen to 4%, a level not seen for almost 14 years. The federal finance minister, Simon Birmingham, on Wednesday hinted next week’s federal budget will point to an unemployment rate below 4% in 2022/23.
However, rising cost-of-living pressures and a downturn in consumer confidence is raising concerns over the outlook for household spending – a key plank for economic growth.
Figures released on Tuesday showed confidence has now sunk to levels last seen in September 2020 when Victoria was enduring the second Covid-19 wave.
At the same time, consumer inflation expectations have also hit their highest level in 11 years at 6%, almost double the current annual rate at 3.5%.
The Reserve Bank of Australia governor, Philip Lowe, has warned inflation could hit at least 4%, while economists believe it could reach 5% or more. Fitch Ratings believes the outlook for global growth has deteriorated significantly as inflation challenges intensify.
Updated
Opposition leader Matthew Guy back at parliament today after a negative PCR test. pic.twitter.com/WQoGFQykE6
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 23, 2022
In Queensland, the health minister, Yvette D’Ath, will speak with the media at 12.30pm Brisbane time.
Updated
Today the Assembly unanimously agreed to express its support for the Ukrainian people, including those in Canberra, and their democratically elected government 🇺🇦 🇦🇺
— ACT Legislative Assembly (@ACT_Assembly) March 23, 2022
Speaker @JoyBurchMLA will now write to @UKRinAUS to share this support pic.twitter.com/kMqMYPrSlt
Vaccine impact shown on long-term Covid immune response
Vaccine-induced T-cells provide a long-lasting immune response to Covid-19, new research from the Doherty Institute has found.
Tracking the responses of Covid patients following 15 months after infection, researchers have shown that the body’s T-cells provide memory against the virus following vaccination or infection.
Dr Jennifer Juno, a senior research fellow at the Doherty Institute, said despite an initial contraction of the immune response immediately following infection, the T-cells stabilised at six months and remained level after 15 months of monitoring:
Even though some parts of the immune response wane, we can now see that T-cells recognising the virus are quite stable over time. After more than a year, they were still roughly 10-fold higher than someone who had never been exposed to the spike protein through infection or vaccination.
While B-cells are responsible for producing Covid antibodies, T-cells support the development of the B-cell response. Juno said vaccination boosted the T-cells by up to 30 times:
In general, we saw that the vaccines generate the same amount of T-cells as someone who had been infected. We also saw that the third dose does an incredible job at reactivating those T-cells and bringing the levels back up again.
Updated
Ongoing protests are again disrupting transport in the nation’s capital.
Due to protests routes 57 and 58 continue to be diverted until further notice.
— Transport Canberra (@Transport_CBR) March 23, 2022
Due to protests routes 57 and 58 continue to be diverted. More here: https://t.co/saKcMALB5x pic.twitter.com/DLtuENdD3w
Updated
The member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, has responded to the supreme court’s ruling allowing the independent candidate Zoe Daniel’s campaign signs to be erected before the federal election is announced:
The decision is welcome, we have only ever wanted a consistent Council rule that applies to all candidates equally, and now we can get on with erecting our signs in the coming weeks, just as Simon Holmes a Court’s campaign to buy our community’s voice has been doing for months.
Updated
Scott Morrison is asked if there would be any avenues for the government to pursue allegations of bullying following Kimberley Kitching’s death after Anthony Albanese said no formal complaint had been made.
He doesn’t answer directly:
What I find distressing about this is, firstly, [is] the double standard that he’s applying. He’s very quick to throw stones on these issues but when it comes to actually meeting the very standard that he seeks to apply to others, then he fails at the first hurdle and he goes to ground. So I think the hypocrisy and double standard of that I think really just doesn’t sit well with the Australian people.
But the second thing about this is if – if Anthony Albanese cannot stand up to the bullies in his own party, then how on earth is he going to have the strength to stand up to the bullies in our own region? How is he going to stand up to the bullies who seek to coerce Australia’s interests? That’s not – that’s not a good sign. And so our government, I think, has been really clear that we stand up for the interests, we stand up for building dams, we stand up for the big projects that make a big difference that actually drive the wealth of this nation ...
Updated
Barnaby Joyce and Scott Morrison are asked whether Bob Katter’s opposition to a dam proposal below 395 metres will be a worry as they head into the federal election.
The dam would be Queensland’s largest, sitting at 2,100 gigalitres.
Joyce:
If we facilitated every inquiry that’s ever been made, there would never be a dam built in this nation, never be a railway built in this nation, ever be a road built in this nation. And you get to a point where you just got to go, you got to go, go, go get moving.
Updated
The prime minister and deputy prime minister have said in today’s press conference that nobody has ever tried to tear down a dam.
Were they right?
Attached is Worldwide Attacks Against Dams, a snapshot historical overview of attempted and successful attacks against dams around the world.
Scott Morrison is asked when he expects work will begin on the dam once the business case has been approved. He says he is “very confident” the case “stacks up”:
But we have had to do the work to make sure it does stack up. You know, this is not been plucked out of the air, in any stretch. This has been a four-year process to get to this point to know this is the right dam, to be built in the right way ... and so ... as soon as we can get the state government to approve building this dam, then we can get under way and so that is the next key step.
Asked why it wouldn’t be approved if the business case was so strong, Morrison says he can’t speak for the Queensland government but it’s “taken a long time to get Adani under way”:
I don’t think there’s a case against this dam. I think there’s only a case for this dam ... the only thing that would stop it, I think, is if the Greens get in the ear of either the federal Labor party, which we have seen them do that before, or they get in the ear of the state Labor government. But as far as the LNP is concerned here in Queensland, we’re all for building this dam and many more.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce continues:
We understand the task before us in these uncertain political times, we get it, we are planning for it, building forward, and we know that a lot of cynics will turn up, a lot of green cynics will turn up.
There is a frog, there is a beetle, there is something that will stop it, but we know that the future of this nation depends on us doing it. We are doers, not talkers, we are builders, makers, the people that you have to give the security and the strength of the nation to someone who is strong enough, competent enough to push through these things that make us stronger, make us thrive and survive into the future, and dams are but one section of it – dams, railroad, health, education – right through to all the things that manifestly make this a great place it is to live, our freedoms, liberties, which we want to protect.
Updated
Barnaby Joyce is getting a little philosophical here – from what I can gather he is discussing how dams broadly contribute to the global supply chain and strengthen Australia’s economy:
Just think of your own lives, what you wear, the shirt you are wearing right now watching this, and if you have a tie and a watch on, where did your shirt and watch come from, the car you drive, the fuel inside it, think of your stove, television, of your fridge – I am buying a new one today – think of all these things, they all came in on a boat, and somebody, somewhere must be putting something on the boat and sending it on the other direction.
Updated
Scott Morrison throws to Barnaby Joyce, saying:
He is so passionate about building dams, and we need them.
Joyce is up and about straight away, chatting dams. He says the $5.4bn in funding is a “marvellous outcome”:
Water is wealth and a dam is the bank, and this is the biggest bank in north Queensland – a marvellous outcome. We say all the time, Australia has to become as strong as possible as quickly as possible. Has to become as strong as possible as quickly as possible. But they are merely words unless you back it up with the capacity to grow the economy, to give us that strength. And this grows the economy, to give us that strength.
As the prime minister rightly pointed out to you – and quoted from a veritable source, no one other than myself – no one in the nation in history has wanted to pull down a dam, wanted to get rid of a dam. Why? All the wealth attached to its downstream, 60,000 hectares of irrigation, creation of food, not only for Australia but for the world.
Updated
Morrison and Joyce announce plans for Hells Gates Dam
Prime minister Scott Morrison is fronting the media now in Townsville alongside deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.
After the announcement of $5bn for Hells Gates Dam, Morrison assures “nobody has ever tried to tear down a dam” (would love a fact check on this):
They are the sorts of projects that shift the dial, that move the metre when it comes to the wealth and the jobs and the strength of the economy that our country needs, because it is in these uncertain times, what you need is an economy that is resilient, strong but has been built to last for the future, and no one has ever wanted to tear down a dam because they know how important those dams are to their economic success, so why are we standing here announcing the building of a dam?
I will tell you why. Because the agriculture that is going to be produced and the 10,000 jobs that are in the benefits of this dam being built, that produce is going to come to this port, go out on ships and in seven days it will be in Singapore.
That is what these dams do. They unlock the opportunity and the wealth of this region that is there, ready to be tapped, and that will generate the incomes ...
Updated
Premier @DanielAndrewsMP says 42,000 Victorians have snapped up tickets to Shane Warne’s state memorial service at the MCG next week. Free tickets still available. @abcmelbourne #springst
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) March 22, 2022
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast to return to eastern Australia, including over flood-hit regions of northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland, ending the longest dry spell many areas have had for a month.
A frontal system will move through Sydney this morning, bank around the Blue Mountains and form a line of storms up through the Hunter Valley and the mid-north coast. Tomorrow the unstable conditions will shift further north, with the northern tablelands rather than Lismore likely to get a soaking.
Friday, though, is where the “problem comes in”, as uncertainties between weather models create a range of projections about the location and quantity of rain.
Updated
My colleague Josh Taylor has brought up an interesting aside.
Technically this reads as though Liberal MP for Goldstein Tim Wilson – a vehement opponent of the signs – would need to get permission to erect his own signs. The ruling only refers to Zoe Daniel’s.
INAL but it's interesting the Zoe Daniel judgment only refers to Zoe Daniel signs and not election signs in general. pic.twitter.com/mwWaF9E8Lw
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) March 22, 2022
Updated
He brought the weather with him!
The Prime Minister has arrived in Townsville to announce more than $5bn for Hells Gates Dam. #auspoll #townsville @tsv_bulletin pic.twitter.com/TxxQso1AQq
— Caitlan Charles (@ccharles93) March 22, 2022
Victoria’s opposition are urging premier Daniel Andrews to retract his claim that the state’s ambulance call centre met all its monthly benchmarks between 2016 until before the pandemic.
On Tuesday Andrews came under fire, with the state opposition accusing him of misleading Victorians about ambulance wait times. The state’s triple zero emergency service failed to reach its code one ambulance dispatch benchmarks between 2016 and 2020.
Opposition government scrutiny spokesperson Louise Staley on Wednesday said Andrews should “come into parliament today and say he got it wrong”:
I’m going to say it was a mistake. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Andrews dismissed the opposition’s claim that he misled the public.
“Political games don’t do anything to save lives,” he said.
He said his comments on Tuesday referred to ambulance call times and not dispatch benchmarks.
Updated
New Zealand drastically loosens Covid restrictions
New Zealand has done away with vaccine passes and vaccine mandates for some of the workforce in a major loosening of its Covid-19 restrictions.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced the changes on Wednesday morning, citing high vaccination rates and better data to be able to identify which environments are high risk.
The changes also include the removal of all gathering limits in outdoor settings and scrapping the requirements for people to scan in using the Covid-19 contact tracing app. Hospitality and other venues can increase their indoor gathering limit from 100 to 200 from Friday.
From 4 April – when the Omicron outbreak is expected to peak – vaccine passes will no longer need to be used to get into shops and venues, and vaccine mandates will be dropped for workers in education, police and the defence force.
Those working in health, corrections, aged care and at the border will still need to be vaccinated to work.
The Covid protection framework, known as the traffic-light system, will stay in place and will remain flexible to change, including if new variants of the virus emerge. Mask-use will also remain to keep vulnerable communities safe:
Ardern:
This is not the end, but in some ways it is also a new beginning.
Covid is still with us and it will be for some time to come, that’s why we are keeping in place our Covid protection framework.
She thanked New Zealanders for the sacrifices they made to keep the country safe:
While we’ve been successful it has also been bloody hard. Everyone has had to give up something to make this work. Some more than others.
Updated
Zoe Daniel wins supreme court challenge over campaign sign ban
Independent candidate for Goldstein Zoe Daniel has won her supreme court challenge against a Victorian council ruling that her signs couldn’t be erected before the federal election was called.
The signs are free to go up henceforth.
I am pleased to have clarity from the Supreme Court just now, confirming that our campaign signs are legal. For those of our supporters who have signs up, thank you. For those who have been waiting for the judgement, you are free to put your signs up. Onward.
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) March 22, 2022
You can read more about the significance of the case here:
Updated
Victoria reports 10,471 new Covid cases and 11 deaths
Victoria has just released today’s Covid numbers and a further 10,471 new Covid cases have been detected. Sadly, 11 more lives have been lost overnight.
There are 243 people being treated in hospital with the virus, including 23 requiring intensive care and four on ventilators.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) March 22, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/dxWCSvb7II
Updated
Pre-departure testing for international travellers could be removed
International travellers could soon have their pre-departure testing requirements removed after the prime minister flagged a further easing of restrictions, AAP reports.
Travellers need to show a negative Covid-19 test result in order to board a flight to Australia, even if they’re fully vaccinated.
Scott Morrison says the removal of pre-departure testing is an important milestone for Australia and has told Cairns reporters health minister Greg Hunt will be making an announcement on the matter soon:
While we’re never complacent about the challenges Covid can present and new variants, we’re watching all of those closely as we keep looking through that windscreen.
Hopefully we can continue to see Covid in the rear-vision mirror.
The current biosecurity declaration is due to lapse on 17 April, aligning with international cruise ships returning to Australian waters for the first time since March 2020.
Updated
⛈RENEWED SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE THIS WEEK
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) March 22, 2022
Isolated showers and thunderstorms will feature across much of the state this week with rainfall increasing in the north/northeast NSW into the weekend.
Stay up to date over the next few days by monitoring the @BOM_NSW website. pic.twitter.com/msnhqcczco
Speaking of Sirius Road, a 23-year-old has been arrested as the protest continues. Significant traffic delays are expected in the area.
UPDATE: A 23-year-old male protestor has been arrested. https://t.co/4gDf9mQhGk
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) March 22, 2022
Updated
Blockade Australia has shut down the Port of Botany for the second day in a row in protest against climate inaction.
Arno, a 21-year-old, has been suspended on a steel bipod structure hanging over a bridge on Sirius Road. The structure is tied off to the other side of the bridge, blocking traffic:
Port Botany is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the Australian project. Australia is built to exploit and that’s never going to change unless we get in the way.
Below Arno’s structure hangs a banner which reads: “No Borders, No Nations, Stop Australia’s Operation.”
BREAKING: Port Botany has been blockaded for the second day in a row! Watch the livestream here: https://t.co/aKj1PdxeVU
— Blockade Australia (@BlockadeAus) March 22, 2022
Updated
Would Scott Morrison welcome his daughters entering politics?
If they wish to, I want that to be a safe workplace for them as I want every workplace for them ... there are serious issues we have been addressing in the parliament and we have and are continuing to ... I would want them to be safe in any way, if they want to be a journalist, I would want them to be safe in your newsroom ... or if they wanted to become teachers. Or if they wanted to become scientists, the defence force, I would want all those workplaces to be safe for women.
Updated
Scott Morrison is asked whether it is a “tit for tat” as to whether Labor or the federal government has the worst workplace. The PM says these issues were solved by the commonwealth a year ago:
We did this a year ago, we moved immediately to establish an inquiry and put in place new complaints mechanisms, independent support ... the review done on a bipartisan basis, they delivered the report and we are implementing the report and we are implementing the recommendations. What we are talking about here, not those issues, what we’re talking about here is the Labor party, they have been quick to throw stones through this process as we have been working with the very serious issues that are raised. These are claims and allegations and issues being raised by their own members. By unions, others in their own ranks.
Updated
NSW records 24,115 new Covid cases and five deaths
New South Wales has again seen a rise in Covid cases, with 24,115 positive tests recorded overnight – the majority from rapid antigen tests.
Sadly, five lives have been lost.
There are 1,162 people being treated in hospital, including 44 people requiring intensive care.
COVID-19 update – Wednesday 23 March 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 22, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
- 96% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 94.5% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/3oK4xPST1G
Updated
For context to the prime minister Scott Morrison’s assurance he is “not woke”, he was just asked on Sunrise whether he was in hiding in Lismore, as Anthony Albanese claimed. His media visit was largely camera-free:
As you know when I was in Lismore I was meeting directly with people on the homes, farms, businesses. I didn’t think it was appropriate to have cameras shoved in the face when they were opening the heart to me about the thanks and support they needed and that support has been delivered. $1.7bn of support has gone particularly to NSW to support those floods ... so I don’t accept that from Anthony Albanese, he is dodging the questions over what happened with the bullying in his party.
If he won’t stand up to the bullies in his own party how can Australians trust him to stand up to the bullies in our region and those who seek to coerce Australia? That is what this job involves and what my government and those who seek to coerce Australia? That is what this job involves and what my government, and I is the premise has always done, I stood up for Australia. People know where I stand on these issues, I don’t have to do interviews running around telling people I am not woke, people know that is not the case and leopards don’t change their spots.
Updated
If you missed the front page of the Daily Telegraph today, it was splashed with an image of Anthony Albanese headlined: “I AM NOT WOKE.”
Morrison: "I don't have to do interviews running around telling people I am not woke, people know that is not the case" pic.twitter.com/Rb9mrvtETo
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 22, 2022
Updated
Today’s episode of Full Story is a highly moving account of the first national map of Australia’s frontier massacres with Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam.
Based on its findings, Aboriginal deaths are estimated to be 27 to 33 times higher than colonisers’ deaths.
Nearly half of all massacre were conducted by police or govt forces, including the Forrest River massacre in 1926. An Aboriginal reverend & his wife discovered evidence of this killing and helped bring it to trial + trigger a royal commission. 3/6 https://t.co/iQXUYgeSd9
— Laura Murphy-Oates (@lauramoates) March 22, 2022
Updated
Last question for Anthony Albanese’s media round. Labor is yet to pre-select a candidate for Parramatta, a multicultural seat, with sitting member Julie Owens to retire:
“Is it true you’re supporting former Rudd adviser Andrew Charlton to be dropped into that seat?
Guardian Australia has reported that Owens has expressed disappointment at her party’s plans to parachute the candidate into her western Sydney seat, saying local branch preselections are “the way it should be”.
Albanese says he’s had discussions with the local member and has been “talking to others as well”:
We’ll be calling nominations for that process and I’ll allow the party’s processes to take place. But I’ll say this about Andrew Charlton – he’s someone who established a business, was a successful business. He sold that business, he’s a great success story. He’s someone who is an outstanding contributor to public debate, particularly in the area of economics, but there are other people as well who are entitled to put forward their views.
One of the great things about the Labor party is that there’s a lot of people who want to represent us, who are talented, who have something to offer the Labor party.
Updated
Here’s a fun little bit of news for residents of Melbourne’s east:
The new combined station replacing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert will be called Union Station. #springst
— Richard Willingham (@rwillingham) March 22, 2022
Union Station has been chosen as the name for the new modern station servicing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert commuters. The name reflects the “coming together of two existing stations to form one premium station with modern, state-of-the-art facilities for locals”.
The combination will allow for more train services and will reduce the amount of excavation and tree removals required. Some 52,000 trees, plants and shrubs will be planted in the project area, and new paths and cycling links through Lorne Parade Reserve will be installed.
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Anthony Albanese is asked to respond from comments made by Penny Wong that if Kimberley Kitching had kids she’d understand the climate emergency. Albanese says Wong has his complete confidence:
Penny Wong is an outstanding leader of the Labor party in the Senate. She has completely my confidence. What that says is that Penny Wong, as she said, regrets the statement. She said something where – in a context, I’m not sure what it was, but it was clearly inappropriate. Kimberley Kitching was offended by it. She apologised.
Michael, I don’t know if you can put your hand on heart and say you have never said anything to anyone that caused offence. I can’t. I can’t. In politics, let me tell you, let me tell you this, Michael: From time to time there would barely be a week go past, myself as leader of the Labor party is not offended by by a statement made by someone in politics or indeed someone in the media.
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Albanese is again asked why he won’t set up an independent investigation to investigate claims of bullying in the party. He says Labor already has its processesin place:
They were established in 2018. They were updated in 2021. They’re in place, a comprehensive process. Any complaints that are made can go through that process. We’re quite happy, Michael, I did with the update in 2021 to look at our procedures, we can always do better.
We need to make sure, though, that we draw a distinction over what is a competitive business from time to time because people are passionate about their views, sometimes those debates can be robust, but the issue that’s been raised with me is the issue of that’s been raised publicly as well is Kimberley Kitching’s position on the tactics committee.
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Anthony Albanese was just up on ABC News Breakfast, starting with the budget, with speculation the federal government will introduce a temporary reduction in fuel excise in response to steepened gas prices. “If it does that, is it something Labor will support?” he is asked.
Labor will “wait and see what they do”, he says, but the “real problem” is the cost of living is steepening while wages are stagnating:
Wages simply aren’t going up but everything else is. Petrol was almost $2 a litre prior to the actions of – the outrageous actions of Russia in the Ukraine. Housing costs are going up, the cost of food and groceries are going up. These are all having an impact on people’s capacity to pay their bills and to get by.
The only thing that isn’t going up is wages and wages are projected to fall in real terms again further over the next four years. This is a government that have been in office for more – for almost a decade, they’re shooting for more than that for their second decade in office, they don’t have a plan to lift living standards. We have a plan for cheaper childcare, for lower electricity prices and for taking pressure off families by lifting wages ...
We’ll wait and see. We will support action that takes pressure off family budgets.
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Returning to the Beetaloo Basin, resources water minister Keith Pitt appeared on RN this morning discussing a “gas-led recovery” as global prices surge amid supply uncertainty.
The govt is looking to develop the Beetaloo basin in the NT farmers have warned there isn't enough water for fracking, will it still go ahead?
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) March 22, 2022
"we will develop the Beetaloo Basin.. it's important for our national security.. we'll make sure we meet requirements"
- @keithjpitt
Experts say the basin could exceed Australia's total emissions now,is that he wants to see? "@keithjpitt avoided the question, but said:
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) March 22, 2022
"Well we've already reduced emissions by 20%"@PatsKarvelas interjected "but the basin plan puts more emissions into the environment"
UN secretary general António Guterres this week said Australia’s investment in coal was “stupid” and the country was a minority “holdout” on strong 2030 emissions targets.
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David Koch:
Have you spoken to the “mean girls” – Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong – in the last week or so since Kimberly Kitching’s death about the allegations of bullying?
Anthony Albanese:
I think that term is really unfortunate.
Koch:
She used it, it is not just us.
Albanese:
There is a lot of people speaking on other people’s behalf at the moment. I think that in politics, there are a range of people who are involved in party politics who play it pretty hard. One of those was Kimberly Kitching. She was somebody who engaged in politics and was passionate about her belief and from time to time that could produce some conflict. But it needs to be done in a way that is respectful, in a way that is understanding, and attempts to reach consensus.
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Anthony Albanese was just up on Sunrise, again asked about fallout over Kimberley Kitching’s death. Asked whether Scott Morrison’s suggestions he is “gutless” and “hiding from tough questions” are accurate, the Labor leaders retorts that he has fronted up for 10 media appearances in the past week:
It is rather bizarre ... I am always available and indeed I lobby regularly to be on the Sunrise program. I am always happy to discuss things with the media, but I won’t be taking lectures from a prime minister who visited Lismore and had strict streets shut off so victims of floods could not get near him.
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After a brief interlude, wet weather is returning in New South Wales.
Over the next 4 to 5 days parts of #NSW could see up to 100mm of rain, including #CentralCoast, #Hunter, #MidNorthCoast and #NorthernRivers. Monitor warnings as severe thunderstorms with heavy rain are possible which could lead to flash flooding. Warnings: https://t.co/ncxWzmt56z pic.twitter.com/qSQRIf4cnQ
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 22, 2022
In the Northern Territory, Greens senators Dorinda Cox and Lidia Thorpe will appear in Darwin this morning alongside First Nations women condemning Beetaloo Basin “climate bomb” projects.
The Northern Territory government has opened up the basin south of Darwin to $50m worth of grants to oil and gas companies.
Traditional owners provided testimony to a Senate inquiry overnight saying they don’t consent to the projects that threaten cultural heritage, sacred sites and water supply.
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Anthony Albanese will be up next on Sunrise, then the ABC. It’s likely we can expect a similar line of questioning.
Doing the rounds of breakfast TVs this morning from 7:30am.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 22, 2022
- @thetodayshow
- @sunriseon7
- @BreakfastNews on @abctv
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Anthony Albanese says Kimberley Kitching’s death is a “tragedy” and many MPs are under “enormous pressure”:
But in terms of moving forward, there was no complaint put in by Kimberley. My office is open to every member of the caucus. I had a number of one-on-one meetings with Kimberley since I’ve been leader and at no stage was any issues raised with me. We have processes in place now, Karl. If we can improve those processes, I’m certainly up for it ...
There are other people now who are under enormous pressure. Do I have confidence in Penny Wong as Senate leader? Yes I do, yes I
do. And Katy Gallagher and Kristina Keneally are part of the solution. They’re not part of the problem. We have moved towards 50% representation of women. We’ve established cohesive processes ... every single time that a complaint has been received it has been dealt with. It has been dealt with appropriately, independent, at arm’s length in a way that is transparent.
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Anthony Albanese says there is from time to time “argy-bargy” in the Labor party – “the normal things of politics”. Turning to allegations Kimberley Kitching raised bullying complaints with Richard Marles, Albanese says it is “on the record that apparently there was a draft that was never given to Richard Marles or anyone else”:
The one issue that I’ve heard an inappropriate comment made to Kimberley Kitching was apologised for and that was an appropriate action.
There were no complaints put in any formal sense at all about issues. The one issue that was raised was Kimberley’s position on the tactics committee. From time the time on the Labor party there’s a lot more people want to be in the cabinet, in the outer ministry, in assistant minister roles, on tactics committee ... that is the issue that was raised with Richard Marles.
Albanese denies Kitching spoke to Marles about bullying inside the party:
Kimberley Kitching spoke to Richard Marles about the tactics committee and whether she would be on the tactics committee. I wasn’t a party to that conversation, Karl. There were only two people in the room. It’s difficult for anyone, frankly, to comment on that. But what I know is that that was about Kimberley’s position on the tactics committee. She didn’t want to be suspended from that.
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Labor leader Anthony Albanese is appearing now on the Today show. After the funeral of senator Kimberly Kitching, he is asked whether he will call an inquiry into her death.
“No, I won’t, Karl,” Albanese replies:
What I’ll do is take the words from Bill Shorten at the funeral, which is that Kimberley Kitching would want us to move on and dedicate ourselves to a Labor victory at the election. This is a tragedy. This is a 52-year-old taken from us far too early but in terms of going forward, we have an ongoing review of all of our internal processes. I did that between 2018 when we adopted processes, it was updated in 2021 unanimously. They’re in place. If we can improve in any way those processes I’m certainly happy to hear that. But no independent inquiry.
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Former federal Labor MP Craig Thomson is facing new charges this morning after his arrest over an alleged AVO breach yesterday.
Thomson has been charged by police with fraud over his alleged involvement in seeking Covid-19 business grants, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Police will allege Thomson falsified information to obtain $25,000 from the NSW state government Covid-19 small business grants.
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Good morning
Caitlin Cassidy here to guide you through today’s news, with Covid-19 again at the top of the agenda.
Australia’s top health authorities are meeting today to review isolation requirements and booster recommendations that were agreed to at the last national cabinet meeting.
Scott Morrison and the premiers have agreed to transition away from mandatory quarantine for all close contacts, while medical experts are examining a second round of booster shots in the lead-up to winter.
It comes as Covid cases again rise in several states as the Omicron subvariant BA.2 threatens to become the dominant Covid variant. Queensland reported a 15% increase in cases on Tuesday, while New South Wales recorded nearly 21,000 infections and numbers also rose in Victoria.
As flood cleanup continues, residents of the northern rivers are again bracing for possible flash flooding this week with heavy rain forecast in NSW. Up to 25mm of rain is expected in Sydney on Friday.
Still in NSW, the state MP Gareth Ward is facing threats of being forced out of parliament after being charged by police yesterday over allegations of sexual abuse of a man and a 17-year-old boy. Premier Dominic Perrottet is demanding he resign immediately.
And in Ukraine civilians are being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the city of Mariupol besieged by Russian military and rebel forces.
Let’s dive in.
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