What we learned: Tuesday 27 February
And with that, I am going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
A new YouGov poll of 1,060 Australian adults indicates about four in five Australians support a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Greens lost a Senate motion on restoring UNRWA funding 27 to 10.
Redirecting $1.5bn in federal money committed for the Middle Arm industrial precinct in Darwin to greener alternatives would create more than 7,000 jobs in the Northern Territory, a new report argues.
The deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, responded to the inaugural workplace gender pay gap data by the workplace gender equality agency by targeting corporations who are underperforming.
Katy Gallagher has called on Peter Dutton to distance himself from comments made by Matt Canavan, after the opposition senator called the release of a national gender pay gap report today “useless data” that “breeds resentment and division”
Angus Taylor was among Coalition MPs ejected from question time amid fuel efficiency debate
The trade minister, Don Farrell, is at the World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi where he had a sideline chat with China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, overnight.
Liberal senator Simon Birmingham said Mardi Gras should reconsider the withdrawal of their invitation to NSW police to march in the parade. However, the independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe welcomed the decision.
Coles has recorded a lift in half-year sales revenue from its supermarkets division to $19.8bn, while keeping its profit margins elevated above pre-pandemic levels.
Catastrophic fire danger warnings were issued for Victoria’s Wimmera region.
Scott Morrison gave his valedictory speech, and included references to Taylor Swift. Our reporter Amy Remeikis also gave her analysis on his prime ministership.
Updated
Canavan’s comments on gender pay gap report ‘dangerous’, says Rishworth
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, has branded as “dangerous” comments made by the Nationals senator Matt Canavan about the gender pay gap.
Responding to today’s latest figures on the gender pay gap, Canavan claimed it was “useless data” and derided it as an “annual Andrew Tate recruitment drive. It just breeds resentment and division.” The comments have been roundly criticised by government and Greens MPs.
Rishworth tweeted that the comments were “not just appalling, they’re dangerous”.
“Linking Australia’s first major report on the gender pay gap to ‘influencers’ like Andrew Tate who glorify violence against women is unacceptable,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
When gender-based violence and gender inequality persists in Australia, comments like this from Nationals Senator Matt Canavan are not just appalling, they’re dangerous. pic.twitter.com/kQTGY5k4Vj
— Amanda Rishworth MP (@AmandaRishworth) February 27, 2024
Updated
