What we learned today, Thursday 22 June
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today – thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s biggest stories:
Greens senator David Shoebridge has said PwC won a contract with the Australian federal police without a tender process and public discussion, and was ironed out between “two mates, some other partners from PwC and the chief operating officer from the AFP”.
The Senate has set up an inquiry into the rental crisis, a process designed by the Greens to pressure the Albanese government into agreeing to freeze or cap rising rents.
Deputy leader of the Liberal party, Sussan Ley, accused the prime minister of having a “bullying attitude” towards Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather.
Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has issued a legal notice to Twitter, the social media giant headed by Elon Musk demanding an explanation about what it is doing to tackle online hate.
The NSW government has been accused of bowing to pressure from gambling lobbyists after confirming its promised expanded cashless gaming trial was delayed.
Newcrest’s Cadia Hill goldmine in central west NSW – one of the largest goldmines in the world – is releasing “an unacceptable level of dust” and failing to meet clean air standards.
More than 1,000 private schools will be overfunded by $3.2bn as inequity in the education system deepens, documents released through freedom of information reveal.
Prominent Indigenous voice campaigner and senior Australian of the Year, Professor Tom Calma, has lashed out at politicians for deliberately “peddling misinformation” about the referendum, saying they “should know better, if they’ve got a conscience” than to “mislead” voters.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has confirmed a decision on who will take on the role of Reserve Bank for the next term will be made next month.
Updated
Speakman queries police explanation for silence over Tasering of Claire Nowland
NSW opposition leader, Mark Speakman, today again questioned the police commissioner’s explanation for why the public was not told for two days about the Tasering of 95-year-old Claire Nowland.
NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, said the priority was to ensure Nowland’s family was informed directly and the integrity of the investigation was maintained.
But Opposition leader Mark Speakman cast doubt on that theory today:
You can put plenty of labels on it but there is a lack of accountability and a lack of transparency.
There was an initial failure to disclose that Mrs Nowland had tragically been Tasered.
That delay took up to 54 hours and although a reason has been offered that they needed to talk to the family, it hasn’t been explained why it took up to 54 hours.
Following AAP revealing yesterday that several key details were slashed from the first public statement about the incident, Speakman said police could have mentioned the Taser and other details while de-identifying Nowland.
Police minister Yasmin Catley deflected a barrage of questions in parliament today about when she saw the first police statement and when Nowland’s next of kin were informed.
The minister reiterated the police decision to not release “graphic details” until the family was fully informed and stressed the steps police took to ensure the incident was properly investigated.
Updated
