What we learned today; Wednesday 6 September
And that’s where we’ll wrap up today. Thanks so much for your company.
Here’s a little of what we learned:
Indigenous leader Marcia Langton told the National Press Club a no vote in the referendum would be “a mandate to cause us even further harm” while raising fears about setbacks to reconciliation.
The transport minister, Catherine King, has issued a fresh defence of her decision not to grant Qatar Airways additional capacity into Australia, claiming the request was “unprecedented”.
The debate spurred chaos in question time when the Coalition moved a dissent motion against the Speaker, Milton Dick, for his ruling on a response by King to the opposition’s questioning.
Labor’s industrial relations legislation contains a “major flaw” that will apply its “same job, same pay” policy to service contracts, potentially including IT, lawyers and accountants, one of Australia’s foremost academic experts has said.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has rebuffed concerns about big companies donating to the referendum campaign, saying it was “extraordinary” that there was controversy around the issue.
New South Wales coal royalty rates will be increased from the middle of next year in a move the state government says will raise $2.7bn over four years.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority says it has commenced prosecution in the land and environment court against Vales Point Power station owner Delta Electricity over a mass fish kill in the Lake Macquarie region last year.
Updated
Labor responds to Coalition’s call to list Wagner as a terrorist organisation
The Albanese government says it is deeply concerned about the Wagner mercenary group but won’t speculate on whether it is considering listing it as a terrorist organisation.
The Coalition’s home affairs spokesperson, James Paterson, earlier today renewed his call for the government to formally make such a designation after the UK announced the Russian mercenary group would be proscribed under that country’s terrorism laws.
Guardian Australia asked the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, and the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, for a response.
Spokespersons for both ministers have now issued the following joint response:
The government is deeply concerned about the Wagner group’s operations in Ukraine and elsewhere.
The foreign minister has imposed targeted financial sanctions on the Wagner group (18 May 2022) and its leaders (25 February 2022).
As per long-standing practice, the government does not comment on whether it is considering the listing of any organisation.
Updated
