What we learned: Tuesday 26 March
That’s where we’re leaving the blog for today – let’s recap the main events:
A Smith Family report found the government must invest in more careers advice and targeted early intervention support to reverse school absenteeism.
The peak union body is pushing for a 5% pay rise for the millions of Australians on minimum and award wages.
An education summit heard Australia’s inequitable school funding system is undermining choice, not upholding it.
Australia joined the UK in condemning China-backed cyber attacks.
Labor briefed the opposition on urgent legislation around uncooperative detainees, before introducing the amended detention legislation bill.
Victoria’s gambling regulator ruled Crown casino Melbourne was permitted to retain its licence.
The Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White announced her resignation as leader.
Fuel efficiency standards bill to be more lenient on some four-wheel drives, Catherine King said before defending the government’s secrecy.
Catholic schools said they were ‘concerned’ as Labor opens door to working with Greens on religious discrimination bill.
James Paterson criticised the ‘shockingly rushed’ Labor deportation bill despite the Coalition backing in lower house.
The Northern Territory corruption commissioner urged police to come forward in racism investigation.
Amy will be back with you early tomorrow morning for what will be the last sitting day until budget week in May.
Corruption commissioner urges NT police to come forward in racism investigation
Michael Riches, the Northern Territory’s independent commissioner against corruption, has issued an extraordinary statement urging current or serving NT police officers to assist in an investigation into racism within the force.
Riches is investigating allegations of improper conduct within the Territory Response Group (TRG), an elite tactical police unit, after revelations made by former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe at an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.
Rolfe said the TRG issued a series of racist mock awards to its members, and provided the inquest with several certificates he said were related to the awards.
Riches said on Tuesday that current or former officers who voluntarily provided truthful information to ICAC would not be subject to an adverse finding under the ICAC Act, would not be referred to NT police for potential disciplinary action, and would not be named in a public statement or report “for which I am responsible”.
He added:
The above does not extend to current or former officers ... whose conduct may amount to criminal conduct [or] who may have deleted documents or information from NT police systems that relate to the subject matter of this investigation.
Riches said he was briefed that morning on the evidence collected by the ICAC and NT police in relation to the investigation to date. He noted he was “not resourced” to be able to conduct the investigation without police assistance.
He said:
That evidence further supports the allegation that, in past years, awards have been issued within the Territory Response Group that are racist towards First Nations people. I have formed that view based upon the material I have been shown and the language used in that material. I express no view about who participated in those awards and who had knowledge of them. It is premature to do so.
He urged anyone with information to come forward by 5 April.
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