What we learned today, Tuesday 21 March
We’re going to wrap up the live blog now. Here’s what made the news today:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has condemned people using Nazi salutes at an anti-trans protest in Melbourne on Saturday.
Tasmania announced plans to follow Victoria in banning the salute.
After a two-hour partyroom meeting, the Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, said he believes his Liberal colleagues understand his bid to expel first-term MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party room ahead of the vote on Monday.
The anti-trans activist Kellie Jay Keen was drowned out by counter-protesters at an event in Hobart.
The Coalition appears on the verge of backflipping on its opposition to the Referendum Machinery Act changes, with senior members including the leader, Peter Dutton, now favouring doing a deal with the government and supporting the amendments.
Senator Jacqui Lambie says she thinks the government could deal with a “broken promise” on the stage-three tax cuts by playing the public straight.
The Reserve Bank of Australia board meeting minutes from 7 March reveal the board will consider whether to pause rate hikes at the next meeting early next month.
ABC members of the media union have called off a planned strike for tomorrow after management returned with a better offer on long-negotiated agreements.
Amy Remeikis will be back with you again in the morning for the third sitting day of this week. Until then, enjoy your evening.
Updated
Health experts criticise National party’s views on vaping
Public health experts and doctors have roundly criticised the Nationals’ proposed vaping reforms, after the party’s leader, David Littleproud, said retailers should be allowed to dispense nicotine vaping products, but that sales should be limited to people 18 and over, and attractive packaging marketed to children should be banned.
The Public Health Association of Australia CEO, Adj Prof Terry Slevin, said by being the only major political party in Australia that takes tobacco industry money – “at least $276,062 between 2015-16 and 2021-22 from Philip Morris Ltd, the Nationals have ensured its views on vaping are worse than irrelevant”.
“It invites the community, and any serious policymakers, to see its pronouncements on tobacco and vaping to be likely to be influenced by the industry which seeks to continue to profit from ill health and nicotine addiction,” he said.
Asked by Guardian Australia if he had met with tobacco and vaping industry representatives and lobbyists recently, Littleproud said: “We’ve met with everybody.”
Asked if he had met with Australia’s leading tobacco control experts and public health experts, Littleproud said: “There’s a doctor, I can’t remember his name, that’s made representation to us.
“But this isn’t about medicine,” he said. “This is about regulation.”
Asked if big tobacco and the retailers they represent are experts in regulation, Littleproud responded: “I think they are.”
In response to allegations tobacco companies are influencing Nationals policy and big tobacco donations are part of that influence, Littleproud said: “That’s a pure, petty political statement.
“If they [public health experts] don’t want to engage in a constructive way, in an adult way about protecting children, then unfortunately, they’ve talked themselves out of the debate,” he said.
He added that he was not aware of the situation in New Zealand where vaping laws that allow retailers to sell to people age 18 and above had led to an increase in youth vaping rates.
“I’m not going to get caught up in what other countries do; the psychology and culture are different,” he said. “Each country is different.”
Updated
