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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Stephanie Convery and Natasha May (earlier)

Push to reconvene inquiry into Holgate dismissal – as it happened

Australia Scott Morrison United States China Allan Behm Anthony Albanese Taiwan
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has proposed that the Senate committee into former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate’s dismissal be reconvened. Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP

What we learned, Monday 22 August

That’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s what we learned today:

We’ll be back tomorrow morning to bring you up to speed with all the day’s events. See you then.

Updated

It’s going to be a cold morning in New South Wales on Tuesday. Don’t put your woollies away just yet.

A poll conducted for the Nine newspapers has found that Anthony Albanese is by far the preferred prime minister over Peter Dutton, with 55% of those polled by Resolve Strategic preferring Albanese, and only 17% preferring Dutton.

They’ve also given the Labor party a 42% primary vote, up from 33% at the election in May.

Keep a look out tomorrow morning for Guardian Australia’s own Essential poll, covering a range of political and economic issues, including company tax and the shape of the economy.

Updated

Lettuce back on the menu as price finally drops

The price of lettuce has finally dropped at major supermarkets from soaring highs of $11.99 to a modest $2.50, as vegetable stocks return following months of supply chain issues.

Shaun Lindhe, national manager of communications at AusVeg, said prices had gone down as the availability of produce increased, particularly in areas recovering from flooding events:

Over the last few months, we have seen good conditions in many vegetable-growing regions, as well as increased supply from growers heavily impacted by severe floods earlier in the year – particularly southern Queensland, which is a major vegetable production region in the winter months.

This is resulting in an increased supply and availability of vegetables, including fresh lettuce in the market.

Read the full story here:

Updated

In the wake of that fire on the outskirts of Darwin earlier this afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting severe fire danger for tomorrow in the Northern Territory.

A woman is taking legal action against Aldi after she was injured at a Victorian store last year amid a “special buys” frenzy involving discounted TVs.

The 73-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, is seeking compensation after she was allegedly struck by another customer’s trolley and knocked to the ground during the heavily promoted sale at the Corio store in August 2021.

The woman was knocked to the ground and suffered a fractured hip, which required surgery. According to a statement of claim filed in the Victorian county court, the incident also left the woman with ongoing trochanteric bursitis, depression and anxiety.

Read the full story here:

Sorry not sorry to all non-Collingwood fans, but regardless of your team allegiance, this piece from Caitlin Cassidy on the highs and lows and chronic anxiety of being a sports fan is a lovely read – especially after Sunday afternoon’s epic match.

Queensland inquiry into police responses to domestic violence reopens submissions to public

Queensland’s commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic violence has unexpectedly reopened submissions to the public, citing the reaction to evidence given by the state’s police commissioner as a driver for the decision.

Queensland’s police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, was interrogated for more than eight hours at a public hearing in Brisbane last week after she initially declined an invitation to attend.

The commission said it was contacted by a number of Queensland police service (QPS) members after Carroll “agreed” there were “significant cultural issues relating to sexism, misogyny and racism” within the force.

“After considering the answers to the questions put to [Carroll] at that hearing and upon receiving further communications from current and former members of the QPS … the commission has decided that it’s necessary to reopen call for submissions,” the commissioner, Deborah Richards, said during a brief hearing on Monday.

Read the full story here:

Updated

WA puts out call for hospitality workers to fill skills shortage

Not up for a holiday in WA? Perhaps you’d like to work there instead?

Western Australia is urging hospitality and tourism workers from the rest of Australia and New Zealand to consider moving to the state, as it grapples with a skills shortage ahead of summer, AAP reports.

The WA premier, Mark McGowan, announced a major campaign, Discover the Other Side, to attract chefs, wait staff, baristas, bartenders, managers and tour operators ahead of summer.

McGowan said:

Summer is the busiest time of year for our local hospitality and tourism industries, so the timing of this campaign is critical to help attract young workers to WA.

With our strong and thriving economy, relaxed lifestyle and great attractions, there’s no better time to make the move to WA and work in these high-demand industries.

As someone who relocated to WA for work in my twenties and has remained here ever since, I can safely say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The campaign has been developed with key industry and government bodies, including Tourism WA and the WA Australian Hotels Association.

It builds on the state’s Life in WA campaign launched nationally last year to target skilled workers in the construction and manufacturing industries, which was expanded to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Updated

Aaand that bushfire warning has now been downgraded to “watch and act”. If you’re in the area, please keep an eye on the situation.

Bushfire warning issued for south-east Darwin

An emergency warning has been issued for a bushfire in Darwin’s south-east.

Secure NT says the blaze is spreading on one or more fronts and effective containment strategies are not in place for its entire perimeter, AAP reports.

The risk of loss of life or threat to properties is almost certain or has occurred.

Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service is primarily undertaking defensive strategies to protect lives and property.

Locals in the vicinity of Wishart and Kirkland roads have been urged to leave if it is safe to do so. If it’s not safe to leave, they should shelter indoors immediately.

Updated

Hanson-Young continues:

We as the committee, the Senate committee that hosted this inquiry, over many months, had the finance department in front of us a number of times. We had the Australia Post board and we had a whole raft of from the two shareholder ministers and their offices in relation to it. Not once was it disclosed that the prime minister himself [was] in a position of being a shareholder minister.

Updated

Greens propose to reconvene inquiry into Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate’s dismissal

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is speaking now about the party’s proposal to reconvene the Senate committee into Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate’s dismissal. She says:

There is a serious question about due process. That’s what the Senate inquiry found. The majority report found there were serious questions about whether the process had been followed, whether Christine Holgate had been given an appropriate opportunity to respond. There were question marks over the behaviour of the prime minister just in the public reaction that he gave.

But now we find out that he actually was in an extra position of power and that was never disclosed at any moment or at any point. So it really does create an uncertainty over the lack of due process and the legality of whether Christine was removed.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Nationals leader calls for ‘maturity’ in debate of Morrison’s secret ministries

National Party leader David Littleproud is speaking to the ABC right now about the examination of former PM Scott Morrison’s self-appointment to multiple ministries. Littleproud says Anthony Albanese has been too intent on “tearing down the former Coalition government”.

I think we need a level of maturity to this debate now. That’s what the Coalition will bring to it.

OK, sure.

David Littleproud
Nationals leader David Littleproud. Photograph: Jane Dempster/AAP

Updated

New black hole song

New album from Nasa just dropped, and it’s the sound of a black hole. Quite literally.

Updated

NSW facing extension of industrial action by rail union

Industrial action by NSW rail unions could continue next month as the state government and opposition call for an end.

The potential extension came after workers refused to operate 37 trains they said did not meet minimum maintenance standards, leading to delays on the T1, T2, and T8 lines on Monday, AAP reports.

Rail, Tram, and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens said:

People are in my office talking about a calendar for September. Everybody is very frustrated and angry and something’s got to give here.

Claassens said trains that did not meet minimum maintenance standards could be affected by a range of issues “from safety all the way through to cleanliness”. He blamed outsourcing and extended time between maintenance inspections for failure to meet standards.

Meetings took place on Friday, Sunday, and Monday to try and resolve the long-running dispute over a new enterprise agreement and the union’s safety concerns with the mothballed Korean-built fleet of intercity trains.

While the action that took trains out of service on Monday was in the union’s advised calendar, Claassens said the union did not expect so many trains would not meet the standards.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said trains being out of action was incredibly disappointing and dismissed the industrial action the union has been engaged in throughout this month as “political games”.

Perrottet said Monday’s action was “unplanned”, although the union advised weeks ago it would not be operating trains that did not meet minimum standards. The premier said the trains did meet those standards.

This is just the union once again taking action and inconveniencing people for their own political benefit.

None of us understood that it was going to have that massive impact, and that again has highlighted the problem that we’ve got.

Passengers wait for a train at Circular Quay in Sydney
Passengers wait for a train at Circular Quay in Sydney. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Updated

The blustery sunny day in Victoria has turned into blustery rain and hail and potential for minor floods. Please keep an eye on local warnings.

A little interlude: here is current federal treasurer Jim Chalmers and former Labor prime minister (and treasurer) Paul Keating having a chinwag this morning.

I’m informed that Chalmers wrote his PhD thesis on Keating’s leadership.

The Greens are calling for the senate committee that held an inquiry into the sacking of Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate to reconvene, after revelations that Scott Morrison was a “shareholder minister” at the time.

Thanks so much to Natasha May for her intrepid blogging, as usual! I’ll be with you until early this evening.

Thanks for your attention – I hand you over to the splendid Stephanie Convery who will keep you updated for the rest of this Monday.

Qantas frequent flyers struggling to claim "apology” perks due to technical issues

Qantas frequent flyers have been offered a $50 voucher as an “apology” from the airline for flight cancellations and delays in recent months.

However news.com is reporting that the airline’s app and website has crashed after frequent flyer members rushed to redeem the vouchers.

The perks offered also included status extensions for Qantas frequent flyers in silver and above, also increased lounge access and extra award booking availability as well.

Parliament could have “different view” from solicitor general on legality of Morrison’s actions, Shoebridge says

Greens Senator David Shoebridge appeared on Sky News earlier, weighing in on the Scott Morrison secret ministries saga as the public awaits the findings of the solicitor general.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, revealed just before midday that the solicitor general has released his findings on the legality of Morrison’s actions and that he will make those findings public following a briefing this afternoon.

Shoebridge said the parliament may have a “different view” from the solicitor general on the lawfulness of Morrison’s actions.

Shoebridge said the solicitor general’s report would not be the end of the investigation. He said:

Both the Senate and the House have very distinct interests to the government of the day when it comes to … the power to, secretly or otherwise, appoint ministers.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge
Greens Senator David Shoebridge. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

ACT records no Covid deaths and 121 people in hospital.

There were 213 new cases in the last reporting period, and one person is in intensive care.

Northern Territory records no Covid deaths and 36 people in hospital.

There were 132 new cases in the last reporting period, and one person is in intensive care.

Brisbane man shot twice by police officer as children hid in bushes, police say

A man will undergo surgery after being shot twice by a Queensland police officer he had allegedly lunged at with a large metal sharpening file during a “horrible incident” at a house in Brisbane’s south, AAP reports.

Queensland police said the 43-year-old’s wife and four sons – aged seven to 14 – were at home during the confrontation on Sunday night.

Updated

WA records no Covid deaths and 237 people in hospital.

There were 786 new cases in the last reporting period, and eight people are in intensive care.

Man lucky to survive plane crash in NSW

A 71-year-old pilot is “incredibly lucky to walk away” alive after his light plane crashed into trees, flipped and landed on its roof on the NSW Central Coast, AAP reports.

Emergency crews were called to the crash site near Warnervale airport, north of the Central Coast town of Wyong, just before 11am on Monday.

The plane crashed while attempting to land, NSW Police were told.

When paramedics arrived they found the aircraft had crashed into trees and come to rest on its roof, NSW Ambulance Inspector Andrew Craig said.

The pilot has been incredibly lucky to walk away from this crash with minor injuries.

Our paramedics know that incidents involving aircraft can be extremely serious and it’s a relief that the man involved today was not badly injured.”

Multiple ambulances attended the scene and were helped by off-duty paramedics, who were nearby when the plane came down, NSW Ambulance said.

The pilot suffered only a minor injury to his hand and was taken to John Hunter hospital in a stable condition.

NSW Police are investigating and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have been notified.

Updated

Flood warnings for parts of regional Victoria

Appointment disclosure should change: Office of Secretary to the Governor-General

A spokesperson for the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor General has defended its role in non-disclosure of Scott Morrison’s ministerial appointments.

The spokesperson said:

There is a difference between the governor general swearing-in a minister to hold office and approving an existing minister to administer a department. The instances in question are examples of the latter. They are neither the first nor the last examples.

How these appointments are communicated is the prerogative of the government of the day. The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor General is not responsible for publishing these sorts of administrative appointments. As such, they are not and have not been included in the Office’s annual reports, nor would the act of signing an instrument approving an administrative appointment be included in the governor general’s program on the website.

In response to current media commentary, there is no secret or conspiracy in the office’s reporting. The office routinely publishes details of swearing-in ceremonies and gazettes the details of when the governor general has directed a minister to hold office. However, the office is not responsible for publishing changes to the administrative arrangements for departments. Again, that is the prerogative of the government of the day. There has been no deviation by the office from past practice.

Acknowledging that the administrative appointments were not communicated – as expected, by the government of the day – the office supports a more transparent process to ensure that any appointments made under section 64 are made public. Noting that these reporting responsibilities are the prerogative of the government of the day, the office will await the recommendations of the current process before commenting further.

Governor general David Hurley
Governor general David Hurley. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Global stars feature on Melbourne’s virtual art trail

A new augmented reality art trail has seen giant worms, skulls and spiders installed in Melbourne’s public spaces - virtually, of course, AAP reports.

AR. Trail, which can be viewed through a smartphone app, features some big names in global contemporary art, including KAWS, Olafur Eliasson and David Shrigley.

With constant phone use becoming the norm, it’s hoped the virtual exhibition will attract new audiences that may find museums and galleries intimidating, Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation chief executive Katrina Sedgwick told AAP.

It’s your perfect selfie paradise because you’ve got these works, you and your friends can hop in there and you can take those images, it’s already beautifully set up on the screen.

The free show stretches from Federation Square down St Kilda Road to NGV International, and people can use a QR code to access an app, enabling them to see the works on the camera screen of their phones.

It also includes commissions by celebrated Australian artists Reko Rennie and Ron Mueck, and the first virtual reality work by Patricia Piccinini.

Updated

Cold front moving over Victoria

Victoria will see showers today before a cold front moves in tomorrow.

Farmers warned cold temperatures to affect sheep and lambs

Did you know the Bureau of Meteorology has a special warning to farmers to keep their sheep warm amidst frosty conditions?

One has just been issued for sheep graziers across NSW, as cold temperatures, rain and showers and southwesterly winds are expected during later today and into Tuesday.

The bureau says:

There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

The warning is in place for the Mid North coast, Hunter, Northern Tablelands, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes & Plains, Central West Slopes & Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Upper Western, Lower Western, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts.

One-in-100 year weather events becoming more frequent: Ardern

The prime minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has travelled to the South Island city of Nelson, where residents are still recovering after a huge week of rain brought flooding and destruction.

You can hear what she had to say, reflecting that these events would become more frequent.

Updated

Northern Territory hospitals carry on after supplies fire

Health officials in the Northern Territory continue to assess the effect of a weekend warehouse fire in Darwin that destroyed crucial hospital supplies, with early estimates putting the damage bill at about $30m, AAP reports.

The blaze has left hospitals in Darwin, Katherine and Palmerston with about three days’ worth of some items including theatre consumables, disposable sheets and gloves but officials say there will be no effects on services or patient care.

Supplies of most items are also kept in other facilities.

Nursing and emergency medicine director Kylee St George said all services, including theatre procedures, would be uninterrupted.

She said there would be a full system review of what stock is on hand and what is available and where the vulnerabilities are. She said:

So we have until Wednesday to put in contingency plans on ensuring our current position that no patient care or staff ability to perform their duties will be affected.

NT chief minister Natasha Fyles said some fresh supplies would arrive on Wednesday and work was continuing to identify what gaps might remain.

The chief minister said there was no information to suggest there would be issues or delays with restocking, though checks were being made to determine if sourcing some specialised equipment could take longer.

Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles
Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles. Photograph: Aaron Bunch/AAP

Updated

Cold front coming for NSW and ACT

Cold temperatures, rain and southwesterly winds starting later today and continuing tomorrow are being predicted for NSW and the ACT by the bureau of meteorology.

Independent MP calling for sanctions on the Myanmar junta

Independent MP for Goldstein and former ABC South East Asia correspondent, Zoe Daniel, is calling on Australia to introduce sanctions on the Myanmar junta who took over the country in a military coup eighteen months ago.

Daniel is urging for Australia to follow the lead of the US, UK, the European Union and India who have all imposed targeted sanctions on Myanmar individuals and businesses.

Daniel is calling on sanctions for the two largest military-owned conglomerates and their subsidiaries in order “to cut off vital foreign revenue to the junta.”

Updated

Star Entertainment says $198.6m loss largely due to Covid closures at casinos

Star Entertainment Group has posted a full year loss of $198.6m as Covid-related closures during the year and a writedown against its flagship Sydney casino hit the casino operator, AAP reports.

Australia’s second-biggest casino operator today said it has slashed the value of goodwill for the Star Sydney property by $162.5m “due to regulatory and other uncertainties”.

The Star Casino exterior in Pyrmont, Sydney
The Star Casino in Pyrmont, Sydney. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Updated

South Australia records no Covid deaths and 227 people in hospital

There were 786 new cases in the last reporting period, and eight people are in intensive care.

Updated

Albanese says services for long-term unemployed need examination

The PM was also asked about jobs again, and he made an interesting comment about employment services – interesting particularly in the wake of my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes’ ongoing coverage of jobseekers’ “mutual obligations”.

For a lot of long-term unemployed who have been shut out of opportunity, with the tight labour market, it may well be that those opportunities open up to them again. Some of that means you need one on one support. We need to look at employment services in the way that it has been operating as well because the advice from both long-term unemployed but also from employment services providers is that the structure that said if you have made 20 phone calls a week and ticked those boxes, that is what it is about. If it hasn’t advanced the opportunity for you to get into employment, then that’s just a paper shuffling exercise.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese and NSW minister for skills and training, Brendan O’Connor speak to employees during a tour of Cerrone Jewellers
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and NSW minister for skills and training, Brendan O’Connor speak to employees during a tour of Cerrone Jewellers in Sydney. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Updated

Albanese says government will release report on Darwin port

Just circling back to the end of that press conference with the prime minister this morning. He was asked about the current status of the review into the lease of the Darwin port by the Chinese-owned company Landbridge, which was considered a security concern by the Labor party.

Anthony Albanese:

I have said that we will be reviewing the Darwin port ownership of the lease. People would be aware that it was leased out to a company connected, very directly, with the government of the People’s Republic of China. We opposed it and I was the shadow minute at the time and we were concerned about that. We expressed our opposition. I have asked for advice and when we receive it, we will make it public.

Updated

The hearse carrying Archie Roach paused outside Charcoal Lane for a minute’s silence.

The hearse carrying Archie Roach stops for a minute's silence as people line the street and raise their fists in the air.
Men stand behind the hearse, bearing the numberplate MUNGO1, with their arms around each other.
A motorcycle flying the Aboriginal flag rides past a woman raising her fist in the air.

Archie Roach honoured in Melbourne

Images from the late Archie Roach’s final journey past Charcoal Lane in Melbourne have started to come through from Guardian Australia photographer Ellen Smith.

Motorcyclists lead the hearse up Gertrude Street in Fitzroy
Motorcyclists lead the hearse up Gertrude Street in Fitzroy Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian
The hearse stands in front of a line of people on Gertrude St

Updated

Kean answers questions at estimates about trade job saga

The New South Wales Treasurer Matt Kean sent a text message of support to former deputy premier John Barilaro when he expressed an interest in a highly paid New York trade role last year.

Speaking at budget estimates, Kean said he then “didn’t give it a second thought” because it was “not usual” for Barilaro to text him ideas:

I received a text from John Barilaro, texted back something supportive and I didn’t give it a second thought.

I got lots of strange and wacky requests from John Barilaro. He texted me that he wants to build nuclear power plants all over the state, he texted me that he wanted to go to the federal parliament, he texted me that he wanted to take the Nationals party out of the government.

He said the exchange about the job was “some time in December” but he was not sure exactly when.

Kean said he did not think Barilaro was “genuine” in his interest “and I never heard from him again”.

Barilaro was eventually appointed to the role before he relinquished it amid public backlash.

Here is our previous reporting:

Updated

Christine Holgate 'disappointed' Morrison was secretly finance minister during Australia Post inquiry

The former managing director of Australia Post, Christine Holgate, has weighed into the controversy surrounding Scott Morrison and his secret ministries.

In 2020 Morrison called on Holgate to resign after it was revealed she gave Cartier watches to executives, saying she should stand aside “or she can go”. Shortly thereafter, the finance department undertook a review into expenses at Australia Post.

Christine Holgate and Scott Morrison
Christine Holgate and Scott Morrison. Composite: Mick Tsikas/AAP

It has now become clear that Morrison was secretly the finance minister at the time, having sworn himself in to the portfolio in March 2020.

In a statement provided to Guardian Australia, Holgate said:

I was as disappointed as everyone else to learn the former PM had secretly taken on the most important roles in cabinet. The fact he was secretly Finance Minister, when the finance department were apparently conducting an “independent” inquiry into my matter, is very concerning.

Updated

Wage increases in common interest for unions and employers, PM says

Asked, “On the enterprise bargaining reform, what do you think about the ACTU/BCA proposal?,” Anthony Albanese says:

Enterprise bargaining is not working. We know that is the case, wages haven’t been keeping up with inflation and the difference between the new government and the old government is that the old government of the Coalition had a policy of putting downward pressure on wages.

They wanted low wages to be a key feature of the economic architecture. They fessed up on that. That is not the Labor government’s approach.

We want to see wages increase over time and we want it to occur in a way that is cooperative. I see that there are common interests between unions and employers. It has been a theme of mine for a long, long period of time. It is a part of my philosophical view around the creation of Infrastructure Australia, the creation of jobs and skills Australia, how do we create that common purpose structures?

Enterprise bargaining is about employers and unions coming to common interest to benefit both and anything that can do that I see as very positive.

Updated

PM stands by promise to reduce power prices

The questions have returned to policy. Anthony Albanese is asked if he is still committed to the campaign promise to cut electricity bills by $275:

What occurred was that unbeknownst to the Australian public, again a lack of transparency, the government knew that wholesale prices were going to have considerable increases.

They deferred those increases until after the election campaign and then they went up. Our commitment is that because of our policies they will drive down energy prices.

We stand by the modelling which we released, which is that, from a business as usual, as the government – the former government was sitting there for a decade with no structure to encourage investment, where it was needed in renewables and at the same time as it was presiding over the closure of plants like Liddell, that it would reduce power prices our policy.

Our policy will reduce power prices and we stand by that and we stand by the modelling.

Updated

Albanese commits to releasing solicitor general’s advice

The PM is asked if he thinks there should be a broader inquiry into this:

Quite clearly, there are real questions to be answered here. There is a question of legality. There hasn’t been a suggestion of illegality but there are – there have been questions raised about how this could occur, how it fits in with the conventions and the normal accountability mechanisms and checks and balances that are there in our parliamentary democracy. They are matters that need to be considered.

I will await and consider the advice properly. I will release it publicly. I am giving that commitment, so that everyone will have the opportunity to see the advice for themselves, but I would have thought that Australians are concerned that this could ever occur.

There is a basic fundamental weakness in checks and balances if no one knows who the minister is, then how can they be held to account for decisions which are made?

Updated

Albanese to release legal advice on Morrison tomorrow after briefing this afternoon

Anthony Albanese has just addressed the elephant in the room – the legal advice on Scott Morrison’s secret ministries.

I will be briefed by the secretary of my department, Glynn Davis, on the advice. My understanding is he has received the advice. I will be briefed on it this afternoon. I intend to release that advice so that people can see it and be transparent about it and we will, because my government, as an orderly government, we have cabinet meetings tomorrow.

I think politeness and proper process means that they should have access to it. I will do that and I intend to release the advice tomorrow. As I said, I haven’t had the opportunity, because I have been here, it came through while we were downstairs, so I will get briefed on it this afternoon at the commonwealth offices and then it will be considered, or released – I don’t know that there is any decisions to be made, I am not sure because I haven’t examined it yet, by the cabinet, but I will release it tomorrow in Canberra.

Updated

All state and territory leaders to attend jobs and skills summit

Anthony Albanese is asked about NSW treasurer Matt Kean calling the summit unnecessary. He responds:

Dominic Perrottet is very keen to attend and accepted the invitation, as did every single premier and chief minister.

You advance the country when there is more collaboration.

Updated

PM acknowledges skills shortages are a ‘handbrake on business activity’ but affirms visas are federal domain

The ministers are asked if they would support the NSW government bringing in its own visa to meet the skills demand.

Anthony Albanese responds:

The Australian government conducts visas in this country, in terms of migration, and that hasn’t changed. We want to work with all of the state and territory governments. I will ask Brendan to make some comments on this as well. We will have the day before the jobs and skills summit, we will have a meeting of the national cabinet.

I have already had constructive discussions about this, including with Dominic Perrottet, and I know that all of the state and territory governments are concerned about the skills shortages. They are a handbrake on business activity and Daniel Andrews and Dominic Perrottet both wrote to me a little while ago and that is part of the context of having the jobs and skills summit, but I might ask Brendan to come and add some comments.

Updated

Engagement with jobs and skills summit ‘already a success’, PM says

Anthony Albanese is taking questions. First one up asks him if he is worried that the jobs and skills summit could “fizzle out like the Rudd summit did which recommended the Henry tax review, which wasn’t a shining success”.

Albanese responds:

The Rudd 2020 summit was the first time anyone heard of the national disability insurance scheme. Pretty significant reform that came out of that process.

Already I regard it as a success. The fact that you are all here and we are talking about jobs and skills is part of the process of what we are doing here. Making sure that people understand that there are significant skills shortages.

If you look at the front page of every newspaper today, many of them are talking about skills shortages and about what is required. That is part of why we are calling the jobs and skills summit to provide that focus.

Updated

‘It is really important for employers to get the skills they are crying out for’

The minister for skills and training, Brendan O’Connor, has begun speaking:

It is not a coincidence that the prime minister and this government wanted to introduce, as the first piece of legislation, the Jobs and Skills Australia. That is an independent body [to advise] the government as to what skills are in need now and what skills will be needed in the future. That will be advised and formed by employers and unions and universities in the VET sector, state and territory governments.

We want to make sure we are able to invest wisely in areas where there are skills shortages. We know the skills shortages are very significant across the economy, across the labour market, and so it’s a priority of the Albanese government to invest in skills, invest in our own work force and invest in those students coming through. Along with, of course, dealing with the skilled migration pathways. It is really important for employers to get the skills they are crying out for.

Updated

Anthony Albanese highlights diversity of skills needed

The PM says:

I wanted to come here [Cerrone Jewellers] with Brendan O’Connor, our minister for skills, employment and training, to very much emphasise that when people speak about skills, including in National Skills Week, often they will think about plumbers and apprentices, but it is about other skills that are needed as well.

I have spoken often during the campaign about a future made in Australia, about ways in which we take our resources and value-add and then export to the world, as well as for domestic consumption. This is a great example of it. A business that has employed over the years hundreds of employees. A business that is well run, you can always tell because when you walk around, when people say to you, “I have worked here for 40 years and 35 years,” which is what we heard down stairs.

I want to acknowledge the presence of Senator Jacobi, one of the Oceania representatives in the Italian parliament, who has joined us here as well.

Updated

Albanese speaking

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has begun to speak in what is a doorstop interview at a Sydney business.

He is spruiking Cerrone Jewellers in his electorate, which he says has hosted clients like Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion in Leichardt.

The visit highlights the start of Jobs and Skills Week, and is part of his government’s promise of a “future made in Australia.”

Updated

Ministers may administer other portfolios, footnote said

Last week Guardian Australia reported a wrinkle in the claim Scott Morrison had misled parliament about his multiple ministries.

After several reshuffles, Morrison presented lists of his ministry to parliament that omitted his double appointments, including one on 30 October 2020 claiming to be the “full ministry”.

But, the lists contained a footnote that said:

Ministers are sworn to administer the portfolio in which they are listed … and may also be sworn to administer other portfolios in which they are not listed.

AAP is reporting today that Morrison’s first ministry list, dated 28 August 2018, contained the disclaimer. That is more than 18 months before Morrison got his first extra ministry (health) in March 2020.

Before Morrison becoming prime minister the disclaimer was:

As a general rule, there is one department in each portfolio. However, there is a Department of Human Services in the Social Services portfolio and a Department of Veterans’ Affairs in the Defence portfolio. The title of a department does not necessarily reflect the title of a minister in all cases.

It is unclear if the disclaimer is related to secret multiple ministries or whether it is just more precise language to reflect administrative arrangements that ministers’ responsibilities often overlap.

Updated

Queensland records no Covid deaths and 383 people in hospital.

There were 1,587 new cases in the last reporting period, and 11 people are in intensive care.

AiGroup raises concerns about Labor’s paid domestic violence leave

Employers appearing before the Senate inquiry into Labor’s paid domestic violence leave bill have raised concerns that it goes further than the Fair Work Commission model.

The FWC suggested that 10 days of leave should be paid to permanent employees, should accrue progressively and be paid at workers’ base rate of pay.

Labor’s bill is more generous in several respects: it applies to casuals; is given as 10 days upfront; and it is paid on workers’ expected earnings if they had been available to work the shift.

The Australian Industry Group’s head of national workplace relations, Brent Ferguson, told the inquiry Labor’s proposal for rates of pay was “completely unworkable” and “out of step with how other paid leave is calculated”.

The bill would require employers to “speculate” about what would have occurred on a given day, and pay workers for “disadvantages of having to work” even though they weren’t available. For example, he said, reimbursement for expenses that were not actually occurred, or penalty rates for working unsociable hours of overtime or on weekends would have to be paid. Ferguson also called for a longer transition period.

Updated

Inquiry into Queensland police calls for further submissions

The commission of inquiry into Queensland police responses to domestic violence is calling for further submissions after police service’s commissioner Katarina Carroll’s evidence last week.

This latest news comes from Guardian’s Queensland reporter Eden Gillespie. You can read more about Carroll’s evidence from Gillespie here:

Updated

Albanese to give press conference shortly

The prime minister Anthony Albanese is due to take the mic in Sydney shortly after 10.30am this morning.

Albanese will appear with the minister for skills and training, Brendan O’Connor, in a visit to Cerrone Jewellers to highlight the start of Jobs and Skills Week, and will hold a doorstop.

The media conference comes as the nation continues to await what the solicitor general has to say about the legality of Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments.

Solicitor general Stephen Donaghue will hand the much-anticipated legal advice to Albanese today but no updates have yet been released.

Updated

‘The people and the parliament were being held in contempt,’ Bandt says of Morrison saga

Greens leader Adam Bandt spoke to ABC Breakfast News this morning about Scott Morrison’s secret ministries, continuing calls for the privileges committee to find out if he mislead parliament:

Governments and ministries are not play things just for political parties. They are fundamental institutions and the public has the right to know what is going on, who the ministers are.

All of the so-called explanations that are coming in from his former colleagues about who knew what when just add to the case, not only for a broader look at what is going on, but add to the case that the people and the parliament were being held in contempt.

Bandt was also critical of comments made from former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce on ABC Insiders yesterday that he hadn’t pushed back on Morrison’s actions taking on the resources portfolio because he feared the Nationals could lose the portfolio altogether.

Updated

Easy Book Week costume ideas

It’s Book Week and if you’re stuck on ideas how to dress up the small person in your life, Guardian Australia has you covered!

Celina Ribeiro shares easy costume hacks you can put together with items you probably have at home.

And, frankly, the pictures are an absolute delight even if you don’t need the inspiration for practical reasons.

Updated

Disability job summit as sector overhauled

Social services minister Amanda Rishworth says she makes no apologies for a decision to shutter multiple disability employment providers due to poor performance, AAP reports.

Before a national roundtable in Canberra later today, Rishworth said eight jobs providers would be closed, while half of the country’s 104 providers faced the prospect of being wound back. The moves come amid a wide-ranging review of the sector.

Rishworth said she was confident the more than 15,000 people with a disability affected by the decision to close providers would be transitioned to more effective services.

She told Sky News today:

I’m not going to make any apologies for standing by and watching what has been very poor performance over a long period of time continue to provide bad service for people living with a disability.

It was absolutely time to take action on this.

Rishworth said it was critical the roundtable examined how barriers to people with disability finding employment could be removed:

Businesses changing their mindset, changing some of their HR processes are really critical, and of course community changing their attitudes in how we support people living with a disability get a job.

There are a lot of people living with a disability that want to work, but have these barriers in front of them.

The decision will mean only the most effective disability employment services providers will continue to receive commonwealth funding.

Updated

David Littleproud would support closing ‘loopholes’ revealed by solicitor general

The Nationals leader David Littleproud has just spoken to Sky News in the lead-up to the release of the legal advice from the solicitor general regarding Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments.

Littleproud says he is awaiting to see what the advice is but emphasises that political leaders have a “responsibility to be custodians” of the nation’s faith in democratic institutions.

He said he has had conversations with opposition leader Peter Dutton. He said he would support closing any “loopholes” revealed by the Morrison saga to “protect that inbuilt trust in our democratic institutions”.

Updated

Archie Roach's family sends musician off in style through streets of Melbourne

Legendary musician and Gunditjmara-Bundjalung elder Archie Roach, who died in late July, is to be farewelled through the streets of Melbourne this morning.

Amos Roach, his son, took to Facebook with the following announcement:

Amos and Eban Roach and family are taking Archie Roach Home.

Escorted by the Southern Warriors Aboriginal Motorcycle Club, Archie Roach will journey one last time through the streets of Collingwood, Fitzroy and St Kilda.

You are welcome to join along the journey and send Archie off in style.

Guardian Australia’s photographer Ellen Smith is in Melbourne and we’ll bring you more photographs from that event.

Updated

Largest opioid shipment on record seized by federal police

Australian federal police have seized the largest shipment detected in Australia of the deadly opioid fentanyl.

The shipment contained more than 5m potentially lethal doses of the drug, but was stopped by a joint operation with Australian Border Force.

The AFP said:

More than 11kg of pure powdered fentanyl and 30kg of methamphetamine were hidden inside in an industrial wooden lathe sent from Canada that arrived at the Port of Melbourne in December, 2021.

The AFP, ABF and the Department of Home Affairs have established a joint operation to identify those responsible for importing the fentanyl – due to the seriousness this criminality poses to the Australian community.

Australian authorities have only ever detected illicit fentanyl importations in minor amounts - all less than 30g - with the first case in 2017.

The investigation into the importation began after ABF officers inspected a container in Melbourne on 3 February, 2022.

The officers detected nearly 60kg of powdered substances hidden inside military-style ammunition boxes concealed within a three tonne lathe.

Updated

Industrial action delays Sydney trains

There are cancellations and delays on Sydney’s west and south-west train lines as the rail union takes action, AAP reports.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union is undertaking rolling stoppages throughout August and additional action was imposed today after workers refused to operate 37 trains, saying they did not meet minimum maintenance standards.

The action is affecting trains on the T1, T2, and T8 lines.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland says the action has put pressure on services and commuters should expect delays. He told Sydney radio 2GB:

That is creating gaps and will continue to create gaps across the day, mainly in the west and south-west.

RTBU NSW secretary Alex Claassens said trains that did not meet minimum maintenance standards could be affected by a range of issues “from safety all the way through to cleanliness”.

The rail union and management will meet again today to try to resolve the long-running dispute over a new industrial agreement and the union’s safety concerns with the mothballed Korean-built intercity trains.

Trains services will be stopped tomorrow between 10am and 4pm on the Blue Mountains and Newcastle lines, affecting stops from Newcastle to Lithgow.

On Thursday Sydney’s City Circle line will be impacted, with workers refusing to run trains from 10am to 4pm.

Updated

Victoria records six Covid deaths and 414 people in hospital

There were 2,600 new cases in the last reporting period, and 28 people are in intensive care.

Updated

NSW records four Covid deaths and 1,962 people in hospital

There were 5,013 new cases in the last reporting period, and 50 people are in intensive care.

Updated

ACTU calls for national renewables strategy

You’ll be hearing a lot about next week’s jobs and skills summit and there are a lot of submissions to get through, but it’s good to have a look to see where the stakeholders are taking this opportunity for roundtable discussions.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions wants the government to “quickly establish” a national energy transition authority, making the point that climate and mining jobs are linked.

It has released its report, Secure Jobs for a Safer Climate, laying out how 12 coal-fired power stations have closed so far in the last 10 years, with no plan for transitioning the communities that relied on those assets.

ACTU president Michelle O’Neil said there was a better way, with the renewable sector capable of creating “395,000 secure and well-paid jobs and $89bn in revenue by 2040 in export industries alone”.

To realise this, the report recommends that the Albanese government:

  1. Establish an independent and properly resourced national energy transition authority to manage an orderly and fair transition process for affected workers – including supports for redeployment, skills and training, and secure jobs opportunities.

  2. Develop a national renewables strategy, ensuring Australia becomes a renewable energy superpower with local industries, supply chains and good unionised jobs.

  3. Build a national disaster response capability that seeks to mitigate, prepare for, respond, and recover from extreme weather events.

  4. Take a leading role in developing climate mitigation and adaption policies and programs.

  5. Ensure that industries and households have access to reliable and affordable energy.

  6. Reach a net-zero emissions public service by 2030, with full engagement of workers.

O’Neil said it was about not having to choose between climate action and jobs:

Through support for skills and training, redeployment, and secure jobs in new industries we can ensure no worker or region is left behind.

Climate change is already with us, with workers across all industries suffering the health impacts of extreme heat and climate-related disasters, while dealing with the rising cost of living due to crop and land degradation – there needs to be a mitigation and adaptation plan from the government.

Updated

$11bn facelift for Sydney’s Central station, with more affordable housing on offer

An ambitious $11bn revamp of Sydney’s Central station precinct has been unveiled, with plans for high-rise towers, a public square and parklands, AAP reports.

The redevelopment at the southern end of Sydney’s CBD will be built over 20 years and cover a 24-hectare site to include office space and housing, as well as new city connections.

Central station from the air
Central station from the air. Photograph: Lewis Isaacs

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet revealed the plans today, saying they would utilise unused space over the rail corridor to deliver a vibrant destination and provide much-needed space for the expansion of the city centre:

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine this iconic part of our CBD and transform it into a world-class precinct of shops, restaurants, office spaces, parkland and additional housing.

Infrastructure minister Rob Stokes said:

The masterplan celebrates the heritage of the precinct while also offering a grand new public square, three new parks, new community and social services hubs as well as at least 30% of affordable and diverse housing.

Updated

Stronger crypto regulation coming

Crypto will face more regulation in Australia, with the Albanese government set to open consultation on how to better help Australia’s regulatory framework deal with the crypto asset sector.

The Australian Taxation Office estimates that more than 1 million taxpayers have interacted with the crypto asset ecosystem since 2018.

Stephen Jones and Andrew Leigh are going to lead the charge, with the first step in the reform agenda to be prioritising “token mapping” work in 2022.

(I am no expert but essentially that means mapping back the token to the digital wallet it belongs to.)

Jones and Leigh say no one else in the world has done it yet, so it should be quite the ride. The pair say in a joint statement:

With the increasingly widespread proliferation of crypto assets – to the extent that crypto advertisements can be seen plastered all over big sporting events – we need to make sure customers engaging with crypto are adequately informed and protected.

The previous government dabbled in crypto asset regulation but prematurely jumped straight to options without first understanding what was being regulated. The Albanese Government is taking a more serious approach to work out what is in the ecosystem and what risks need to be looked at first.

A public consultation paper on token mapping will be released soon.

Updated

Husic defends parliamentarians deciding on grants

On ABC Radio this morning both minister for industry Ed Husic and Liberal MP Bridget Archer were asked about the Grattan Institute’s report about pork barrelling.

Husic was wary of taking ministerial discretion away on grants and leaving it up to the bureaucrats:"

I think parliamentarians are elected to represent both community and national interest. I don’t think we should all be tarred with a Coalition brush.

Parliamentarians, they are up for the judgment of people every three years or so. And if they’ve done the wrong thing that should be done that way.

I do get concerned if you just spin it all off to departmental people. With the greatest respect, the accountability is much sharper when you come to an election.

Archer, who followed Husic on ABC RN, hits back at the suggestion that all parties shouldn’t be “tarred with a Coalition brush”:

I don’t think it is a Coalition issue, I think it’s an issue broadly and has been for quite some time … I think there needs to be a level of confidence and accountability in the decision making.

Updated

Departments – not politicians – should decide government grant recipients, Grattan Institute recommends

The Grattan Institute has a very timely report out today with a plan to end pork barrelling, which calls for departments rather than ministers to make the call on who receives grants.

As the authors of the report write in the Conversation:

Ministers should be able to establish grant programs and define the selection criteria, but they should not be involved in choosing grant recipients.

Shortlisting and selecting grant recipients is an administrative function for the relevant department or agency. Ministers should have bigger fish to fry.

Danielle Grattan, an author of the report and chief executive at Grattan, was asked about whether a federal Icac would produce the same outcome, but she said it would be more effective to tackle the problem “upstream”.

Updated

‘They are talking about it’: Archer on Morrison saga

Bridget Archer also rejected the argument that has been coming from certain members of the Coalition – including Barnaby Joyce on ABC Insiders yesterday – that nobody was talking about the Morrison saga:

Updated

Fallout of Morrison saga on other colleagues is unfair, Bridget Archer says

Bridget Archer has welcomed the idea of an independent review into Scott Morrison’s conduct, saying he should consider his position.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer
Liberal MP Bridget Archer. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Asked by ABC Radio whether the governor general and the public service should be included in this, Archer said:

I don’t necessarily see any reason why not, if it is a broad examination of this issue.

Asked whether she believes Morrison should resign, she says she is reluctant to call on other MPs to resign:

I would ask him to reflect on that, on his role going forward.

It’s forcing other colleagues to defend themselves and their own records, and I think that’s unfair.

Updated

Governor general disrespected by being put on the spot, industry minister says

Ed Husic has said he feels for the governor general “being put in that position”, and he believes he was “disrespected by putting him in this spot”.

The talk then turns to republicanism and whether an Australian republic could have avoided the Morrison saga, as assistant minister for the republic Matt Thistlethwaite says. Husic is asked if he agrees.

Husic says he supports the idea of a republic but that “in this case it’s about us and the Coalition respecting the way things should work”.

Updated

Government reviewing modern manufacturing initiatives approved by Morrison

Ed Husic is asked when did the review begin of the grants for the modern manufacturing initiative under Morrison’s control as industry minister (17 projects were approved before the federal election):

I took that step to look at those grants … when I’d learnt a number of things as an incoming minister.

Asked if all 17 projects Morrison gave the OK as industry minister would go ahead, Husic responds:

We’re going through the review and we’ll make a decision … it is a very big call to take money off the table for industries and businesses that have factored that in.

I’m going through it and consulting with the department and considering the advice I’m being given.

My intent is to do it before the budget.

Updated

Coalition prioritised political interest, Husic says

Ed Husic says he does not accept “whatsoever” the explanation that the former prime minister needed to give final approval because the projects covered several ministerial portfolios:

Instead of prioritising the national interest the Coaltion prioritised the political interest and they announced the bulk of these right before the election.

Updated

Industry minister responds to Morrison’s decision on modern manufacturing initiative

Ed Husic, the minister for industry and science, is speaking to ABC Radio.

This follows the revelation that former prime minister Scott Morrison, under the industry portfolio, took control of the modern manufacturing initiative and approved 17 projects before the federal election, with more than half in Coalition seats.

Asked whether Morrison’s actions in approving $828m in grants in March, with just three of the projects in a safe Labor seat, constituted pork barrelling, Husic responded:

I was concerned last year when I saw Morrison had made himself the decision maker, wrote to him and his people didn’t think there was any issue.

If you’re still trying to get across which ministries Morrison assumed, this article will help you:

Updated

Queenslanders call for raise in age of criminal responsibility

More than 25,000 Queenslanders have signed a petition calling for the state government to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14. The petition contains 26,853 signatures and has been backed by a coalition of legal and community services.

It comes after Labor voted with One Nation, Katter’s Australian party and the LNP to defeat a Greens’ bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility in parliament last week.

Queensland attorney general Shannon Fentiman opposed the bill and said raising the age would be “irresponsible” ahead of a national approach that would promote “consistency” and “fairness”.

Across Australia, children as young as 10 can be held in watchhouses and hauled before courts to face criminal charges.

The chief executive of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, Shane Duffy, said the government needed to examine root causes of behaviour rather than locking children up:

We need more services, not sentences. How would you personally feel about your 10-year-old being locked up?

PeakCare Queensland’s executive director Lindsay Wegener was a former director of Queensland youth detention centres. She said the laws were “dangerous and cruel”, putting children on a lifetime trajectory of crime.

The chief executive of the Youth Advocacy Centre, Katie Acheson, said raising the age would bring Queensland into line with international human rights guidelines.

Fentiman will meet with the coalition today to receive the petition.

Queensland is the fourth state government to be presented with a petition, as part of the national Raise the Age campaign.

Updated

Australians more afraid of Chinese attack than Taiwanese believe China will attack Taiwan

The Australia Institute’s International and Security Affairs program has polling out showing that more Australians are afraid China will attack Australia than Taiwanese believe China will attack Taiwan.

Two surveys were carried out this month, one in Taiwan (of 1,002 people) and one in Australia (of 1,003 people).

The poll shows Australians are more skittish than Taiwanese people about the prospect of an attack by China – nearly one in 10 Australians believe an invasion will come “soon”, compared with one in 20 Taiwanese. Australians are also more pessimistic about an invasion of Taiwan compared with those who live there – one in four respondents believed China would move on Taiwan “soon”. Both groups were on the same page though when it came to the US and China working out any grievances peacefully.

Allan Behm, the director of the Australia Institute’s international and security affairs program and a former senior foreign affairs, attorney general’s and defence official said the more “the anti-China lobby beats the drums of war, the more afraid of China Australians become”.

The rhetoric on China and the “fearmongering” was impacting public opinion. He said:

It is astonishing that Australians are more afraid of an attack from China than the Taiwanese are.

The results show popular opinion is detached from geopolitical and geostrategic reality. The results support the case for a reset in the Australia-China relationship and the manner in which we hold this important national conversation. Such a reset should be based on facts and the national interest rather than the fear peddling we saw in the recent Australian federal election by some for domestic, partisan interests.

Updated

Good morning!

Solicitor general Stephen Donaghue is set to hand down the much-anticipated legal advice regarding former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese will receive the advice about whether Morrison breached any rules after he secretly appointed himself to five portfolios.

But before Albanese receives this advice he is also flagging a separate investigation into Morrison’s actions, telling Sky News yesterday that there was “a need for proper scrutiny of what occurred”.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer has also told the ABC she believes there is need for further investigation or an inquiry.

In employment news, the government has released a list of the top 10 in-demand professions over the next five years in the lead-up to the jobs and skills summit next week.

The list is based on the skills priority list, data on job vacancies and projected growth in employment, and the roles include nurses, construction managers and chefs.

Let’s get going.

Updated

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