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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Caitlin Cassidy (now) and Amy Remeikis (earlier)

Australian parliament adjourned until Monday as mark of respect to Queen – as it happened

Australia New York Julian Leeser Labor Albanese Government Optus
Boigu Island in the Torres Strait
Indigenous residents of Boigu Island in the Torres Strait were among those to file a joint complaint to the United Nations about the impact of climate change on their way of life. Photograph: Talei Elu/GRATA FUND/AFP/Getty Images

What we learned: Friday, 23 September

With that, we will wrap up the blog for this fine Friday. If you’ve just made it through two consecutive public holidays, I commend you.

If not, enjoy your weekend, I’m backing the Cowboys tonight.

Here were the major developments of the day:

  • Crossbenchers are upset that a deal between the two major parties could prevent substantial amendment to the national anti-corruption commission bill. Earlier on Friday, Peter Dutton confirmed the opposition is in talks to pass Labor’s bill.

  • In a press conference in Canberra, the Liberal leader said there is “no place for corruption” and he will consider what powers the commission requires – but “at the same time” – he doesn’t favour protracted investigations that in past he claims have driven public servants to suicide.

  • Foreign minister Penny Wong said she had ‘constructive conversation’ with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi in the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York.

  • Members of parliament have been speaking in Canberra today on the Queen’s death to conclude the 14 days of mourning. Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the legacy of the monarchy was “fraught” for Indigenous Australians.

  • In weather news, heavy rainfall overnight and this morning in northern parts of the New South Wales has eased, however, river rises are expected to continue “through Friday and begin to ease into the weekend”. There are almost two dozen flood warnings across the state.

  • Rescuers at a mass stranding of pilot whales on Tasmania’s west coast are battling to save 10 that are still alive as they make plans to tow about 200 carcasses out to sea.

  • And following the national transition to reporting Covid cases weekly, the seven-day average is down 1,234 cases to 6,260 this week, a 16% decrease on last week.

Updated

UN committee finds Australia has not protected Torres Strait Islanders from climate change

A group of Torres Strait islanders are celebrating a landmark victory after the United Nations human rights committee found the Australian government has failed to protect them from climate change.

In what the committee described as a ground-breaking decision, it found Australia’s failure to adequately protect Indigenous Torres Islanders against the impacts of climate change “violated their rights to enjoy their culture and be free from arbitrary interferences with their private life, family and home”.

The decision comes more than three years after eight adults and six children from four low-lying islands lodged a complaint against the then Morrison government, claiming it had failed to take adequate action to cut emissions or pursue proper adaptation measures and, as a consequence, has failed fundamental human rights obligations.

The committee has asked the Australian government to compensate the islanders for the harm they have suffered, engage in meaningful consultations to assess their needs and take measures to secure their communities’ safe existence.

A full story will be on the Guardian shortly.

Updated

She’s all wrapped up.

Political pooches

MPs are really getting around Dogs in Politics Day.

Speaking of which, some politicians are using the day to back a ban on dog racing and for the government to stop funding the industry.

Tim Read, the Greens member for Brunswick, who owns a greyhound named Ally, said:

No dog deserves to die for gambling profits. My Greens colleagues and I will keep up the fight to ban greyhound racing in Victoria.

Andrew Wilkie, the independent member for Clark, who owns a pup named Rocket, said:

We both agree that the taxpayer funded greyhound racing industry needs to end. It’s cruel, unnecessary and opposed by so many in the community.

Updated

'Strong argument' transparency should trump national security, judge in Bernard Collaery case says

You’ll remember that the current government abandoned the prosecution of Bernard Collaery earlier this year.

But, despite that, the Labor government is still in court, fighting to impose secrecy on one key aspect of the case.

The ACT courts are currently hearing a dispute over its plans to release a key judgment without redactions. The judgment – a key ruling lifting orders that would have hidden much of Collaery’s trial from the public – was handed down in 2021.

But the court of appeal has never been able to release its full reasons for making the decision, because the Coalition government intervened, seeking to have them redacted on national security grounds.

That approach has been maintained by the new government, which is continuing to argue that the key ruling be redacted on national security grounds.

The dispute came before Chief Justice Lucy McCallum in the ACT supreme court on Friday.

According to AAP, McCallum said the case came down to “a tension between transparency and secrecy”. She told lawyers for the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus:

You say that national security trumps transparency but there’s a pretty strong argument the other way.

Ultimately, the administration of justice must be transparent.

McCallum has reserved her decision on whether to release the judgment unredacted.

The Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Kieran Pender urged the government to drop its push for secrecy.

It was a landmark win for open justice. But that judgment saying no to a secret trial has still not seen the light of day. Rather than fighting to keep parts of the judgment secret, the new government should end this absurd pursuit of secrecy.

Bernard Collaery listens to Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta at the National Press Club in Canberra
Bernard Collaery listens to Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta speak at the National Press Club in Canberra earlier this month. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Tributes to the Queen are still flowing in parliament.

Updated

Northern NSW communities face tense night on flood watch

Queensland farmers face crop losses, roads are in ruin and northern NSW communities await a tense night amid widespread flooding, AAP reports.

A storm system moving across the Gold Coast and much of northern NSW dropped up to 220mm of rain on Thursday night, leading to flood warnings for 30 river catchments across NSW and southern Queensland.

The SES doorknocked homes in the Tweed Valley village of Chillingham overnight to warn of expected moderate flooding while people in low-lying areas of Lismore were warned they could be cut off by rising water on Friday evening.

Flood waters west of Condong near the town of Murwillumbah, NSW
Flood waters west of Condong near the NSW town of Murwillumbah. Photograph: Jason O’Brien/AAP

Storm systems will travel further south to the Blue Mountains on Saturday, bringing the risk of flash floods, strong gusts and downed trees and powerlines.

The Darling, Macquarie, Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers are key focal points for the SES, in addition to the northern rivers region.

Gunnedah, home to 9,000 people, was expecting the Namoi River to reach major flood levels on Friday evening, ahead of a peak early on Saturday.

Downstream, the well-prepared NSW cotton town of Wee Waa and its 8km levee will likely remain surrounded by flood water until Wednesday, the local council says.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast council opened three sandbagging stations on Friday, as Hinze Dam reached 102% capacity and beaches were closed.

A special school, a dental business and a storage business were among those inundated in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Updated

Today is, indeed, National Dogs in Politics Day.

The day has its roots in a televised speech by Richard Nixon in 1952 – long before he became US president – in which he used his dog, Checkers, to reach out to the public amid a campaign funding scandal.

It’s also known as “National Checkers Day”.

Updated

Australia to double its contribution to UN agency for Palestine refugees

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has committed to doubling Australia’s humanitarian and development assistance to the UNRWA – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees – this financial year.

Wong says:

Australia is a long-term supporter of UNRWA. Its work is vital. Until there is a just and sustainable solution to the refugee situation, UNRWA is the only organisation that has the mandate and central role to provide relief and social services to Palestinian refugees in the region.

In recognition of the vital work UNRWA undertakes and I am pleased to announce today that Australia plans to double our contribution to UNRWA this financial year, from 10 to 20 million Australian dollars.

Respect for all religions and people is important – the path to peace and stability requires efforts on all sides. We will continue to hold UNRWA accountable for its adherence to principles of tolerance, non-discrimination, equality and neutrality.

Ultimately, Australia wants to see a region in which UNRWA’s work is no longer necessary.

Wong says Australia remains a “strong supporter” of a two-state solution “in which Israel and a future Palestinian state co-exist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders”.

Updated

ClubsNSW whistleblower Troy Stolz and Friendlyjordies plead not guilty to contempt

We revealed earlier this month that ClubsNSW was pushing for whistleblower Troy Stolz and YouTuber Jordan Shanks, otherwise known as Friendlyjordies, to be prosecuted for contempt of court.

Stolz, a former employee of ClubsNSW, is being sued for breach of confidence by the lobby group over his alleged handling of inside information, including his sharing of documents with the press.

The federal court last year ordered Stolz be restrained from speaking publicly about the case in a way designed to place improper pressure on ClubsNSW. Any third parties deemed to have helped Stolz breach the order could also potentially face contempt proceedings.

Friendlyjordies subsequently published an interview with Stolz, in which he revealed he was dying of cancer.

That prompted ClubsNSW to apply to the court to have both criminally charged with contempt. The matter appeared before the federal court earlier this morning for a case management hearing. Both Stolz and Shanks entered pleas of not guilty. The matter will return to court at a later date.

Updated

Crossbench concern over potential deal on integrity commission

Crossbenchers are upset that a deal between the two major parties could prevent substantial amendment to the national anti-corruption commission bill.

Earlier on Friday, Peter Dutton confirmed the opposition is in talks to pass Labor’s bill.

The independent MP Zoe Daniel said:

How to compound cynicism in an already cynical electorate. Missing the point much?

Senator David Pocock said:

The major parties teaming up to agree to a watered down integrity commission would be flipping the bird to the strongest message the electorate sent at the election. Australians want more integrity. That’s never been more clear.

Updated

Liberal senator hails ‘really respectful’ condolence motions for Queen

The Liberal senator Jane Hume is appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, following condolence motions in parliament for the late Queen.

She says the contributions today were “really respectful”.

Many people spoke about their personal interactions with Her Majesty, or with the now King Charles. It was really nice that people very much personalised their condolence motions. We also heard opportunities to look forward and there were some different views across the chamber. Certainly in the Senate.

I think all of the debate was held very respectfully today … this is a real opportunity for both chambers to reflect and give thanks for an extraordinary reign by an amazing monarch.

Updated

No new monkeypox cases but people at risk urged to get vaccine

Some good medical news.

There have been no cases of monkeypox detected in Victoria for the past few weeks following “significant early growth”.

With high transmission overseas, though, the chief health officer is urging people at risk to get the vaccine as it becomes available.

Updated

All of Queensland is behind the Cowboys, Palaszczuk says ahead of NRL final

Not to be biased towards the AFL, there’s an NRL final on tonight, too – the North Queensland Cowboys v the Parramatta Eels.

Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is getting behind the Cowboys:

Some 25,000 fans are expected to pack Townsville’s Country Bank Stadium for its first NRL preliminary final.

No tweets from the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, though, who may still be reeling from the State of Origin loss.

Updated

Victoria police reveal AFL grand final ‘game plan’ after three-year hiatus

Victoria police has released a “game plan” after a three-year hiatus from the state hosting the big dance – including a boosted presence in Melbourne and Geelong over the weekend.

Bag checks and wanding will be at the MCG tomorrow, with “extra time” required to get through the gates.

Public transport and nearby roads are likely to be busy so those coming into the city are urged to be patient and plan ahead.

Extra police officers will also be deployed right across the Geelong region, which is expected to be a hive of activity on grand final day.

Weather-wise, we’re looking chilly, but dry:

Updated

More storms for NSW this weekend but flood threat will begin to ease

The Bureau of Meteorology has provided an update on what we can expect in New South Wales over the weekend.

Heavy rainfall overnight and this morning in northern parts of the state has eased, however, river rises are expected to continue “through Friday and begin to ease into the weekend”.

The BoM says:

Minor to moderate flood warnings are current for the Tweed and Wilsons rivers, while inland flooding continues following renewed rises after a low pressure system moved across NSW this week.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast for coastal areas from the Queensland/NSW border to Port Macquarie on Friday, with the chance of thunderstorms extending further south to the Blue Mountains on Saturday. This will bring the increased risk of flash flooding, hazardous driving conditions, and gusty winds may bring down trees and powerlines.

This is an evolving situation and the Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring rainfall and river heights closely. The bureau will update its forecasts and warnings regularly.

If you hadn’t noticed, it’s been raining a lot in NSW this year:

Updated

Australia's seven-day average of Covid cases falls 16% this week

Australia has transitioned to reporting Covid cases weekly, rather than daily.

The seven-day average is down 1,234 cases to 6,260 this week, a 16% decrease on last week.

Here’s a nifty graph of the breakdown by state and territory:

Updated

Penny Wong meets with Solomon Islands foreign minister

Here are some more happy snaps from Australia’s foreign minister, who’s had a busy day today:

Updated

Gunnedah residents warned of flooding ‘higher than last weekend’

There are almost two dozen minor to major flood warnings in place across New South Wales ahead of the weekend as a low pressure system slowly weakens.

In Gunnedah, major flooding “higher than last weekend” is expected tonight.

The BoM:

The flood peak from the Peel River, currently approaching Carrol Gap, will combine with outflows from Keepit Dam and a flood peak from the Mooki River, currently near Ruvigne, to cause major flooding at Gunnedah tonight.

A major flood peak is expected at Gunnedah early Saturday morning which may be higher than the flood levels experienced last weekend.

The flood peak is forecast to approach Boggabri on Sunday and Narrabri on Monday.

Updated

Many thanks to Amy Remeikis for guiding us through today’s news. May we suffer together tomorrow.

I’ll be with you for the rest of the afternoon.

Fellow Pies tragic Caitlin Cassidy will guide you through the rest of the afternoon, so please make her feel welcome.

It’s a tough day for Collingwood fans.

Parliament is back next week and I’ll be back on Monday to take you through the ins and outs of Politics Live, now that it is back to business as usual.

Until then, please, take care of you.

Coalition senator says Joe Biden’s presidency ‘starting to look almost like elder abuse’

The Coalition senator and shadow minister Hollie Hughes has described Joe Biden’s presidency as “starting to look almost like elder abuse”, claiming it is “a very frightening time” for America.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said he hadn’t seen the comments, made on Sky News when Hughes was appearing alongside former Liberal-turned-independent senator Cory Bernardi and One Nation staffer James Ashby last night.

Hughes, the shadow assistant minister for climate change, joined Sky where the discussion turned to Russia. Bernardi, hosting the show normally fronted by Paul Murray, asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was deliberately challenging the western world’s leaders with his heightened rhetoric.

Hughes responded that President Biden and some others “are perhaps not showing the strength in leadership they have in the past”, claiming they had fostered a society “more interested in pronouns than perhaps what strength they should be showing ... the west is sitting around looking at their navel”.

Ashby, Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff, later claimed Biden didn’t have “the cognitive ability to run a country like the US”. Hughes replied “it’s starting to look like almost elder abuse”.

“[Vice-president] Kamala Harris likes to read storybooks to preschool children. I don’t know, is that who is going to step up. I mean, it’s a very frightening time, I think, for the US government when you look at who’s in charge over there,” Hughes continued.

Asked about his shadow minister’s comments, Dutton told a press conference he hadn’t watched the show.

“I haven’t seen those remarks, so I don’t have any comment to make in relation to them,” the opposition leader said.

Hollie Hughes at yesterday’s national memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II at Parliament House in Canberra
Hollie Hughes at yesterday’s national memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II at Parliament House in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Nigel Farage arrives in Australia for C-Pac conference

The professional media identity Nigel Farage is taking advantage of Australia’s conservative haven industry to get his regular dose of cameras, arriving in the nation ahead of the conservative love-in that is the C-Pac conference early next week.

He is holding a press conference in Sydney.

It has a theme:

“The history and identity of the west is under threat from enemies abroad and here at home. It’s time to stand and fight.”

He is also selling tickets to his show, An entertaining evening with Nigel Farage, for the bargain price of $89.

I feel if you have to include the qualifier “entertaining” in your show’s title, then maybe it’s not as entertaining as you think, but that’s just me.

Updated

David Pocock pushes Senate to sit extra day to debate territory rights bill

The independent senator David Pocock has criticised the government for only agreeing to a shortened parliament sitting week next week and not making time to debate its own “territory rights” bill about euthanasia, fearing the issue will “drag out” beyond the end of 2022.


It’s frustrating now it’s getting caught up with all the other legislation.

The Senate adjourned after less than five hours of sitting on Friday, with condolences for Queen Elizabeth II the only business discussed on the day. When the government Senate leader, Katy Gallagher, moved to adjourn the chamber and set next week’s sitting calendar for only Monday to Wednesday (not including the Thursday as in a regular sitting week), Pocock rose to attempt to amend that order so the upper house would sit for four days.

I understand we’ve had a period of mourning but we’ve also lost an entire day of Senate business. There’s some incredibly important pieces of legislation before us, including territory rights, which I fear will continue to drag out for the rest of the year.

On a broader note of how much the Senate will sit this year, by my calculation it’s 29 days ... I don’t feel like the extra day is a huge imposition.”

Pocock noted the Senate would next week have to consider the cashless debit card bill, Labor’s election commitments on improving aged care, and numerous other critical pieces of legislation.

Gallagher did not back the amendment, saying the sitting week was in school holidays. The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young also opposed the amendment, saying senators had made travel arrangements already, but backed the idea of extra sitting days, saying she didn’t want the territory rights issue to “slide off into the never-never”.

Senator David Pocock speaks in parliament
Senator David Pocock has expressed frustration over a lack of time to debate a territory rights bill about euthanasia. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Pocock, the Australian Capital Territory senator who campaigned strongly on territory rights, had initially planned to introduce his own bill on the issue, but sidelined it after Labor MPs brought on a private member’s bill in the House of Representatives. That passed easily, and is before the Senate – but there is only a limited amount of time for private bills in the Senate each week, and Pocock said he feared the issue would not get time to be debated before year’s end.

He is asking the government to make more time for it, but says he has been disappointed at a lack of response.

There’s very limited time every week.

I’ll keep agitating to carve out time so everyone can speak and we can get down to it and vote.

Updated

Rescued whales strand themselves on Tasmanian beach for second time

Rescuers at a mass stranding of pilot whales on Tasmania’s west coast are battling to save 10 that are still alive as they make plans to tow about 200 carcasses out to sea.

On Friday, 32 of the pilot whales – which are actually large oceanic dolphins – were pulled from the beach and carried on the side of boats back out to the ocean.

But this morning, small numbers had returned leaving up to 10 still alive. One of yesterday’s rescued animals returned and died overnight, one animal was euthanised, and another that re-stranded was taken back to deeper water.

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania staff,
volunteers and local aquaculture company personnel make up the rescue team, alongside researchers and vets. The incident controller Brendon Clark said:

The priority today is to rescue and release the remaining surviving whales along
with any others that may re-strand, before the team begins to focus on removal and disposal operations of about 200 deceased whales.

Clark said only about 40 of the 230 or so whales found at Ocean beach, west of Strahan, were alive when teams reached the location on Wednesday.

Wildlife services personnel stand beside the carcasses of pilot whales found beached on Macquarie Heads on the west coast of Tasmania
Wildlife services personnel stand beside the carcasses of pilot whales found beached on the west coast of Tasmania. Photograph: Glenn Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

On Friday rescuers were trying to reach three live dolphins in a less accessible area of the beach to the north. Checks were to be made in nearby Macquarie Harbour to investigate reports earlier in the week of up to 30 live whales.

The carcasses – many of which weigh more than two tonnes – are being grouped together using a specially adapted forklift truck.

The department is looking at favourable weather on Sunday as an opportunity to tie the carcasses together and tow them into deep water.

The mass stranding comes almost exactly two years after the biggest cetacean stranding on record in Australia, when 470 pilot whales were stranded inside the harbour and on the beach. Some 111 were saved in a mammoth week-long effort.

Updated

Oz Minerals gets traditional owners’ permission for $1.7bn copper-nickel mine

AAP reports Oz Minerals is moving ahead with a copper-nickel mine in Western Australia after the traditional owners of the land gave their permission for the project:

The $1.7bn West Musgrave project, 30km south of Jameson/Mantamaru, will create 1,500 jobs during construction and around 400 during ongoing operations.

Once brought into production in the first half of 2025, the open-pit mine will be one of the world’s largest, lowest cost and lowest emission copper-nickel projects, Oz Minerals says.

“Investment approval for West Musgrave unlocks one of the largest undeveloped nickel projects in the world and, with expected lowest quartile costs, it is set to generate ~ $9.8bn undiscounted cashflow over its 24-year operating life,” the Oz Minerals chief executive, Andrew Cole, said in a statement.

The company has all the regulatory approvals required from the WA government and $1.2bn in bank financing in place, Cole said.

The projects executive Debbie Morrow said the mine is located entirely on the land of the Ngaanyatjarra people, whom she said have been widely consulted on the mine since 2017.

While the Covid-19 pandemic restricted in-person consultations in 2020 and 2021, Oz Minerals worked with the Ngaanyatjarra council remotely during that time and extensively on-country in this past April through June, culminating with the signing of a land access agreement on Thursday.

“We thank the Ngaanyatjarra people for sharing their knowledge and helping us design different elements of the project and look forward to continuing to work together into the future,” Morrow said.

The mine will use renewable energy sourced from wind and solar and has the potential to transition to an electric haulage fleet at “first engine changeout”, Oz Minerals said.

Cole said Oz Minerals indicated on a conference call that the company couldn’t make definitive statements about that until it sees what technology is available at the time.

“Certainly our intent is to remove as much carbon from the asset as we can possibly can, as soon as we can,” Cole said.

“Even with our current base case, West Musgrave is still going to be one of the lowest emitters out of all the hardrock nickel mines in the world.”

Oz Minerals has pledged to be a net-zero carbon emitter by 2038.

Updated

Optus starts to email customers about data breach

Looks like Optus is beginning to email customers about the data breach, from what we are seeing on social media.

The key advice is to change passwords. But also, if you are contacted by Optus, don’t disclose any further information and call back on the actual Optus number 133 937 just to be sure.

Updated

Jim Chalmers says federal budget will start a conversation about the economic choices we need to make

Jim Chalmers’ office has sent out the op-ed the treasurer wrote for the Australian newspaper.

It is all about laying the groundwork for next month’s budget. But here is the bit that should prepare everyone to not expect too much:

We know it’s unusual to hand down a second budget this year, but this is a new government and these are unusual circumstances. It made no sense to us to wait 13 months between budgets when the tasks are so urgent, the challenges so confronting and the needs so substantial.

This will be a fairly standard bread-and-butter budget because, for the times we are in, that’s what it needs to be. It shouldn’t be viewed in isolation from the other two or three we hand down this parliamentary term. It’s the beginning, not the end, of a big national conversation about our economic challenges, the structural position of the budget going forward, and the kinds of choices we need to make as a country in the future about what our priorities are, what’s affordable and what’s fair.

Our efforts to measure what matters in a wellbeing budget, a new intergenerational report next year, the RBA review, work on climate financing, new analysis of tax expenditures, an investor roundtable focused on national priorities – all of this will be key to bringing people together around our challenges like the Jobs and Skills Summit did so successfully.

I’m more convinced than ever that Australians are up for real talk about the state of their economy and the budget, and that there’s a hunger to work together. Australians know there’s no switch we can flick to make our challenges disappear; their expectations are realistic and tempered; they’re aware of the tricky terrain we’re navigating. No one budget can deal with pressures that have been building for a decade, but the hard work has begun.

Updated

We have reported the statement, but here are the happy snaps:

The key words which are being repeated here “constructive” and “stabilisation”.

Updated

Unions NSW secures 20 days paid domestic and family leave for employees

Unions NSW has claimed a win with NSW government employees now entitled to 20 days of paid domestic and family leave (doubling the previous entitlement of 10 days).

Casual employees can now also access it.

From January next year, NSW government employees will have access to 20 days of paid leave per calendar year. Casual employees will also receive the entitlement having previously been denied it.

The provision was initially agreed upon in negotiations for Sydney Trains but encountered resistance from a number of cabinet ministers.

Unions NSW gender equity officer Karen Willis said good sense had prevailed.

When you give people the right to paid family violence leave you give them more than a entitlement, you shift the culture.

That is why we have campaigned so hard for this new entitlement, both at Sydney Trains and across the NSW public sector.

When people are leaving a violent home they shouldn’t have to think twice about whether they will have leave to do so. A difficult conversation with the boss is the least thing someone wants to navigate.

This is a very positive development and we will closely monitor it implementation.

Updated

Condolences for the Queen call for greater reflection on impact of colonisation

There have been a lot of contributions during the Queen’s condolence motions in the House and Senate.

And as AAP reports, it is not as cut and dried as some people would like:

The ongoing pain and trauma inflicted on Indigenous Australians by the British monarchy has been raised in powerful speeches to parliament.

Federal politicians used condolences for Queen Elizabeth II to call for greater reconciliation and reflection on the impact of colonisation.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, a Wiradjuri woman, said there had been a range of emotions among the community following the Queen’s death.

“For many Indigenous Australians, the legacy of the monarchy is fraught – a complex, difficult and painful reminder of the impact of colonisation,” she told parliament.

“The Queen’s relationship with Indigenous Australians reflects both how far we have come and how far we still have to go.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt called for a treaty with Indigenous people following the Queen’s death.

“We must recognise the cultural, structural and institutional ways in which the crown, which we remain a part of, has oppressed First Nations people here and around the world,” he said.

“When it comes to our history, there is no glory and make-believe because the pain of colonisation is real.”

Greens senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, said feelings among Indigenous people ranged from anger to stress, hurt and frustration.

“We are a mature nation, people will have conversations that both commemorate the life of a public figure, while calling out the problematic legacy of the British Empire,” she said.

Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman, spoke of the mixed feelings felt among her own family.

“We reflected on what the monarchy has meant, and what the world of colonialism has meant and know deeply, the pain of the frontier wars and the conflicts that came with that,” she said.

“Maybe the Queen was not directly responsible for that, but we know these are the mixed feelings and emotions of so many across the globe in the Commonwealth lands for First Nations people.”

Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a Warlpiri woman, said Australia should be “grateful” for the British invasion.

“Like every nation around the globe, our history features dark and shameful incidents, we must never shy away from acknowledging these as they are part of our identity,” she said.

“This landmass we call home was never going to be left untouched by anyone other than our first peoples.

“We can be grateful it was in fact the British who settled here before the many other possible colonists.”

Updated

AFL clubs need to ‘get their house in order’: NT Aboriginal land council chairman

The chairman of the NT’s biggest Aboriginal land council says the AFL and its clubs have to “get their house in order” in looking after Aboriginal players in the code, or they will stop coming down from the NT to play.

The Northern Land Council has offered to provide support and guidance to the AFL and the club, chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said.

Despite all the fine words and handwringing about how important Aboriginal players and cultures are to the AFL, when push comes to shove those players can be treated terribly and our cultures ignored. The AFL needs to lift its game and must make sure the clubs do as well.

Every Aboriginal person in the NT has a family member who has been or is playing in the AFL or wants to. If this goes on for much longer then I can’t blame families for looking at other clubs for their family members to play in.

For them these scandals represent a shameful betrayal of the fundamental trust they put in the clubs and the AFL when they send their loved ones south to play.

Updated

Peter Dutton reiterates support for national anti-corruption commission

In a press conference in Canberra, the Liberal leader said there is “no place for corruption” and he will consider what powers the commission requires – but “at the same time” – he doesn’t favour protracted investigations that in past he claims have driven public servants to suicide.

He said:

So we will continue our discussions with the government in relation to that. That’s been the direction of my party room and we’ll continue that discussion. But I support the principle ... and the form of that and the way in which we want to work with the government, we will make more comment on that in due course.

Asked if the NACC should have powers to investigate actors outside government even if they have no public sector contracts, Dutton said the body should root out corruption “wherever it exists”, but he doesn’t support “show trials”, or lengthy unresolved complaints after which subjects of investigation are not cleared.

Asked specifically about unions, he noted if they provided training services they would be captured by the bill.

He said:

I’m not going to have a clause by clause discussion about it at the moment ... But at the moment we’re having discussions, as I pointed out I’ve spoken to the prime minister about the issue and we continue that in good faith.

Updated

Rescue operation for stranded pilot whales continues in Tasmania

The rescue operation to save the last of the surviving pilot whales in the latest Tasmanian mass-stranding is still underway.

Thirty-two of the 35 surviving whales (approximately 200 died before rescuers could act) have been refloated. The operation is now working on getting the last whales back into the ocean.

As AAP reports:

The majority of the pilot whales died after becoming stranded on Ocean beach near Macquarie Harbour, south of Strahan, on Wednesday.

However 32 of the 35 surviving whales were on Thursday refloated in what rescuers described as a “terrific result”.

The focus will shift on Friday morning to freeing the three remaining surviving animals, which rescuers have been unable to access because of the challenging location and tidal conditions.

Then, over the coming days, the team will prioritise removing and disposing of the about 200 dead whales.

More than 50 Tasmanian government staff, volunteers and workers from a local aquaculture company banded together for Thursday’s rescue effort, incident controller Brendon Clark said.

Updated

Penny Wong says she had ‘constructive conversation’ with China’s foreign minister

Penny Wong has issued a very brief statement about her meeting with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi:

Today I met China’s state councilor and minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, in the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York.

The meeting reaffirmed the Australian government’s view that it is in the interests of both sides to continue on the path of stabilising the relationship.

We had a constructive conversation, where I expressed Australia’s views on a range of bilateral, trade, consular and human rights issues, as well as international and regional security.

Australia will seek to cooperate in areas of mutual benefit. We remain open to dialogue and engagement with China, including to address shared challenges.

Australia continues to work towards productive and stable relations with China, based on mutual benefit and respect.

Updated

‘We need to see outcomes’: Dutton on Wong’s meeting with China’s foreign minister

Peter Dutton is happy about the meeting Penny Wong held with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, but he also seems to think that all the issues with the China-Australia relationship should also be fixed by now:

We want to support the government in international relations. I made it very clear when Penny Wong and the prime minister engaged with the Solomon Islands.

As Labor pointed out when they were in opposition, you have to pay on results and in Solomon Islands, the situation has only deteriorated.

Since Penny Wong first engaged in relation to her engagement with the Chinese, I hope we can have an outcome in relation to human rights issues raised.

I hope we can have an outcome in relation to other issues including the trade sanctions in place now. And the talk is one thing but the outcome is really what we need. Those farmers … affected by the trade sanctions at the moment the Chinese imposed, we need to see the outcome, not just the talk. I hope minister Wong’s discussions can lead to the outcomes we want but so far, that hasn’t happened.

Updated

Peter Dutton criticises government’s handling of Optus breach

The opposition leader suddenly believes governments should be very free with information:

This may well be the biggest data breach in Australia’s history. Nine or 10 million people have had their personal information potentially compromised. We don’t know much more detail than that because the minister Clare O’Neil is missing in action and I think there are a lot of Australians who rely day to day on their internet connection, on the telephone and devices otherwise that they would be using in their homes.

People may have shared passwords. There are a lot of people who are very concerned, particularly older Australians and need assurance from the government to provide the understanding of what is happening. Is there a further likelihood of an attack by this group? Do we know whether it is an organised crime group? Or do we believe it is a state actor that is involved? Do we believe that there is a further compromise potentially? Is the system integrity, has it been restored?

These are questions Clare O’Neil should be answering and we asked for a brief from the ACSC and hope to receive that soon. This is a significant problem for the government and the government had all the answers before the election, including how they were going to help families and cost of living and the best and completely walked away from any of that responsibility. It is important for that information to be provided by the minister and provided today, to provide reassurance to those customers that are most affected by this most egregious breach.

Updated

Save the Children Australia calls for more financial aid to worst-affected hunger hot spots

Save the Children have also weighed in on Australia’s $15m contribution to the Horn of Africa and Yemen food security crisis.

CEO Mat Tinkler said it was a start but no where near enough:

This funding is a solid down payment and a welcome indication of the political will needed to address the desperate humanitarian need of nations hit hard by the global hunger crisis.

However, there is much more Australia, and the international community can, and must, do.

Save the Children Australia wants the Australian government to commit $150m to emergency relief in the world’s worst-affected hunger hot spots, including the Horn of Africa, with a further $200m annually over three years, and to implement a long-term strategy to address food security worldwide.

In Somalia 50% of the population, or 7.8 million people, are now facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse. This includes 1.48 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.

In some areas of Uganda, it is estimated that 40% of the population is going hungry, including tens of thousands of children.

In Kenya an estimated 942,000 children under five are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.

Updated

Government approves two proposed mergers of community owned banks

Now it is up to the customers to decide if it goes ahead.

Jim Chalmers has made the announcement:

Today I am announcing my approval of two proposed mergers of customer-owned community banks under the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998, the Financial Sector (Transfer and Restructure) Act 1999, and the Banking Act 1959.

The first is between Heritage Bank and People’s Choice Credit Union, and the second Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent Building Society.

The proposed mergers are expected to support competition and innovation in the banking sector by allowing these customer-owned banks to better compete with the larger players and deliver higher quality products and services to members.

Customers from the banks will vote on the proposals as part of their annual general meetings. The banks’ mutual ownership structures will be maintained following the mergers.

Updated

The AFL grand final parade is keeping Melbourne occupied and very happy and the Swans (boo) and Cats (whatever) are answering questions in front of the crowd.

They both think they can win.

Australia pledges $15m for food aid in the the Horn of Africa and Yemen

The government has been lobbied to do more to address hunger crises across the world. One of those is the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, which was exasperated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine holding up grain supplies.

Australia has pledged $15m to help in that region and Anthea Spinks, Oxfam Australia’s program director, said in response:

We welcome the announcement of $15m to address the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa and Yemen as an important first step, however it is far short of the $150m that we have been calling on the Australian government to provide to prevent people sliding into famine.

It is estimated that one person is dying every 48 seconds in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia alone, where the worst climate-fuelled drought in decades is being exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19 economic fallout and surging food prices. The warning that famine is expected in Somalia as early as October highlights the urgent need for action.

Governments can and must mobilise enough resources to prevent catastrophic hunger and a worsening humanitarian crisis. It is critical that the Albanese government act now and increase their contribution to address this global hunger crisis and fulfil its duty as a wealthy country.

Updated

Liberal senator says anti-monarchist Greens are ‘radicals’

I think people who vote for the Greens do so with clear minds and open eyes, but Simon Birmingham seems shocked that some Greens MPs are not fans of the monarchy.

Q: We’ve heard the Greens carrying on about how King Charles is not their king and attending protests and stuff. What do you say about that?

Birmingham:

The there are many well-meaning Australians who voted for the Greens, but the complete disregard and disrespect the Greens show should be a message to those Australians. Don’t flirt with the radicals.

Or – just maybe, just as with those who vote for any other political party, there are voters who share the Greens views and are happy for those views to be aired in the parliament by their representatives. Just a thought.

Updated

Severe weather warning for NSW northern coast line has been cancelled

The severe weather warning for the NSW northern coast has been cancelled, which is great news. The situation still needs to be watched though – there are thunderstorms on the horizon, but the main danger of flooding has passed.

From the BOM:

The low pressure system that led to heavy rainfall over the northern New South Wales coast overnight is weakening. Severe weather is no longer occurring in NSW.

The immediate threat of widespread severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored closely. There remains a risk of severe thunderstorms developing about the coastal fringe from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. Severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued if necessary.

Updated

Penny Wong calls on China to use its influence to end war in Ukraine

The freign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has again condemned the Russian president Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats and has called on China to use its influence to end the war in Ukraine.

In New York for the UN general assembly, Wong said this morning she had a “constructive” meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

She urged restraint and de-escalation on Taiwan, spoke about the detention of Australians Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun in China, and discussed the ongoing trade restrictions China has imposed on Australian goods. She said “continued engagement and goodwill on both sides” was needed to stabilise the fraught relationship. Wong said:

It’s a long road in which many steps will have to be taken by both parties to a more stable relationship.

She also called on China as a “great power” and signatory to the UN charter to use its influence on Russia:

We believe, as does every country, with the exception of Russia, that Russia is in breach of the UN charter through its illegal invasion of Ukraine. And we encourage China… to uphold the UN charter, to use its influence to end the war.

She also repeated her comments that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s threats to resort to nuclear weapons were “both unthinkable and irresponsible”. She said:

We cannot allow Mr Putin’s irresponsible threats to be successful in shaping an outcome, which goes to Ukrainian sovereignty being abrogated.

Wong has also met with leaders from Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations, and discussed the Aukus partnership with the UK’s new foreign minister, James Cleverly.

Updated

Wong: meeting with China’s foreign minister ‘constructive’

Q: What is the main takeaway from the meeting with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi? How would Australia’s foreign minister describe the relationship between the two countries?

Penny Wong:

I think it was another constructive meeting. I think it is a long road on which many steps will have to be taken by both parties to a more stable relationship.

Updated

Wong: Putin’s comments ‘unthinkable and irresponsible’

On Russia, Penny Wong says:

I think in relation to Mr Putin’s comments, I said yesterday they are both unthinkable and irresponsible. That is how we should frame them. They should be the consistent position from the international community.

This is a difficult time. The time of great change. A time where we need to be behaving in a way that is responsible, calm and considered. We need to work to expand Australian power and our influence as much as we are able on the changes that are occurring. We have to fight for those things we believe are really important.

Updated

Wong: initial focus of China meeting was trade

Penny Wong is not going into detail on the meeting and is choosing her words very carefully.

She says she raised consular cases, as is normal, and reiterated Australia’s position on Taiwan – urging the de-escalation of tensions.

On the issues covered, Wong said:

China articulates their position. We articulate ours. In terms of issues of difference first amongst them is the issue of trade blockages. That is the issue I focused on in the outset. I think that is what the Australian people would anticipate. We do raise consistently the issue of human rights.

Updated

Wong: ‘We will continue to engage with China’

And on the meeting with Wang Yi?

Penny Wong:
As I said to the minister, Australian interests are constant and the government will continue to speak of those issues we see as necessary and continue to engage with China in order to stabilise the relationship. That will require engagement and goodwill on both sides.

Updated

Foreign minister speaks after international meetings in New York

Penny Wong has spoken in New York – they haven’t been showing these live, but given the meeting with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, we are getting it pretty quickly.

Tory Shepherd will have more for you, but Wong has said it was a “productive day”:

I joined a meeting of Mikta countries – Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia – and we are also pleased to have Poland attending for some of the meeting. We had a constructive conversation about how we can collaborate and partner in support of multilateralism.

I also [took] the opportunity to catch up with the minister from Solomon Islands. We value our position as a partner of choice with the Solomon Islands. It was a good opportunity to talk to him about their development priorities and how we can continue to support them. The focus of this afternoon was the Pacific family, our Pacific family.

Updated

Sydney to host world’s largest space forum in 2025

The winner is….Sydney. When it comes to space. Or at least space forums.

As AAP reports:

The world’s largest space forum will be held in Sydney in 2025, attracting thousands of visitors and bringing millions of dollars in tourism to the state. The International Astronautical Congress will bring together academics, space industry professionals and space organisations to improve the global cosmic agenda.

Sydney beat Bangkok, Beijing and Istanbul to secure the coveted 2025 hosting rights. Investment NSW’s chief executive, Kate Knight, said the win was evidence of NSW’s “rapidly growing standing” on the world space stage.

“Our state already generates up to 75% of Australia’s space-related revenue and 41% of the country’s space businesses are based in NSW,” she said in a statement.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

The successful bid was backed the Australian Space Agency, the Space Industry Association of Australia and Business Events Sydney.

Updated

Four Corners announces Monday program on Peter Dutton.

The ABC’s Four Corners have announced their Monday program – it is on Peter Dutton. And opposition leader Dutton is doing something home affairs minister Dutton would never do: be interviewed for the program.

Previously, Dutton had declared the ABC (and the Guardian) “dead” to him. Looks like there has been a resurrection.

The program has also spoken to people who have been impacted by his words as minister.

Updated

Optus CEO says 9.8 million customers affected by data attack under 'worst case scenario'

Optus customers dating back to 2017 may be caught up in the massive hack of the telco’s customer database, the company’s CEO has revealed.

Kelly Bayer Rosmarin told reporters on a media call on Friday that the company is still not sure exactly how many customers had their personal information – including name, phone number, date of birth and in some cases passport or driver’s licence numbers – compromised in the attack, but that 9.8 million was the “worst case scenario”.

She said:

We have reason to believe that the number is actually smaller than that. But we are working through reconstructing exactly what the attackers have received.

The data goes back to 2017 because under law Optus is required to keep identity verification records for six years. Until Optus determines who is affected, then Optus will be able to directly contact those customers. Bayer Rosmarin said even those customers not directly affected will hear from Optus.

There have been no ransom demands, and Optus has not yet determined whether it was a criminal organisation or state actor attack on the company. She wouldn’t go into detail about how the attack occurred, saying it was “the subject of criminal proceedings”.

The IP address of the attacker “came out of various countries in Europe”, she said.

Bayer Rosmarin said the whole country needed to respond to the attack together:

We don’t yet know who these attackers are and what they want to do with this information, which is why we really need a Team Australia response.

Updated

Julian Hill, Matt Thistlethwaite and Scott Morrison speak on condolence motion

We’ve tracked down a list of speakers who will be talking on the condolence motion for the Queen, and there’s obviously a few interesting contributions we’re looking out for. Labor MP Julian Hill, a staunch supporter of an Australian republic, was one we had our eye on.

The outspoken backbencher told the House he was “a loud and proud republican”, and began his speech by telling the House that “contrary to speculation of my colleagues, there’s no risk of a breach to standing order 88”.

We had to go look this one up. The rules of the House state that “a Member must not refer disrespectfully to the Queen, the Governor General, or a State Governor, in debate or for the purpose of influencing the House in its deliberations” – which has obvious relevance to today.

But there was no need for worry, as Hill made a surprise confession that he kept a “small secret collection of royal glassware” – including Queen Elizabeth coronation glasses, cups from her Australian tour in 1954, coffee cups for the Queen’s jubilee, and glasses for Charles and Diana’s wedding. The collection had been handed down from his grandmother.

Another one we circled in the speakers’ program was Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for the republic, whose job is to start preparing Australia for a potential republican referendum in Labor’s second term. He has, for obvious reasons, kept rather quiet in recent weeks.

But perhaps unsurprisingly, Thistlethwaite didn’t mention the republic or push the issue. Instead, he spoke warmly about how often the Queen had visited his electorate of Kingsford Smith (because, as he noted, that’s where Sydney airport is) and her love of racehorses.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison made a brief contribution as well, in what might be his first major contribution in the parliament since losing the May election.

Morrison praised the Queen for a “remarkable life” and spoke of her dedication to dignity, duty and compassion. He also talked of her religious conviction, “her deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ”.

Updated

Malarndirri McCarthy says Indigenous Australians reflecting on pain of frontier wars

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said some First Nations people had “mixed feelings” after the death of Queen Elizabeth, saying Indigenous Australians were reflecting on “the pain at the frontier wars”.

McCarthy, the assistant minister for Indigenous Australians, spoke in her condolence motion in the Senate about how her family members had shared different thoughts about what the monarchy meant to them, and “the world of colonialism”.

Now deeply, still, the pain at the frontier wars and the conflicts that came with that.

We know that these are the mixed feelings and emotions of so many across the globe in commonwealth lands for First Nations people.

McCarthy said the British system of Westminster democracy had been a “wonderful” thing, but emphasised the feelings of Indigenous people about what the Queen represented as a symbol.

There will always be a time to talk about those things that have hurt in the past, and that time will come. But for now we acknowledge the incredible memory of an incredible woman who impacted the globe and millions of people over seven decades.

Updated

Women's march attendees will be asked to asked to excuse themselves from Lehrmann trial

The ACT supreme court had a brief pre-trial mention today in relation to the alleged sexual assault of Brittany Higgins by Bruce Lehrmann.

The chief justice, Lucy McCallum, told the court on Friday that she intends to tell members of the jury panel they should seek to excuse themselves if they attended any event at which Higgins had spoken about the matter, including the women’s march in 2021 and her appearance alongside Grace Tame at the National Press Club.

I also thought to flush out any person who follows Ms Higgins on Twitter,” McCallum said.

McCallum said she will not seek to exclude “anyone who knows who Lisa Wilkinson is” – the journalist who conducted a TV interview with Higgins.

But she will ask anyone who has “effectively indicated ... that they’re a champion of the cause” or anyone with strong views on the other side, such as people who may have protested against the women’s march. The judge described her task as asking people “to search their souls about whether they can be impartial”.

Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Higgins, the former Liberal staffer, at Parliament House in Canberra in 2019. The case goes to trial on 4 October for up to seven weeks of hearings.

Updated

Vegetarian food reportedly returning to Qantas

Chalk this up as a win – Qantas has caved and is bringing back vegetarian offerings for its flights.

That’s down to John Dee, who broke the news when he was told there would be no more vegetarian options on flights, and went public.

Now they’ve told him they are bringing it back.

Updated

Optus CEO addressing media

The Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin is addressing media on the cyber-security breach.

Josh Taylor is listening to that and will give you an update when he can.

Updated

Greens senator says Labor must stay course on integrity

The Greens senator David Shoebridge is getting ahead of any potential deals between the government and the opposition when it comes to the integrity commission, saying a deal between the two would prove “they were never serious about stamping out corruption and ending the rotten bipartisan culture of favours for mates”.

To be clear, it is just talks at the moment – as it is with all of the parties and independents who want to have a chat – and the Coalition has not announced its position as yet. Labor’s position on the bill (we haven’t seen the legislation as yet) is stronger than the previous government by some way and, during the election campaign, Labor had said they would want it to be retrospective. Mark Dreyfus has since said perhaps by up to 15 years.

That is not something the Coalition has been comfortable with.

Shoebridge says Labor needs to stay the course on integrity:

Millions of Australians voted at the election for a fresh take on politics and to clean out the rottenness of the Morrison government, not for Labor to cut a new grubby deal with them.

The only deal on offer from the Coalition is a Morrison-lite anti-corruption commission and if Labor takes that path they will have surrendered integrity within six months of taking office.

A Liberal-Labor cabal on integrity would prove once again that they are more interested in protecting their special deals and special interests than the public interest.

The integrity commission’s jurisdiction must extend to potentially corrupting conduct by third parties in relation to government policies – the serious money is made by corporations when they change government policy on things like climate and privatisation, not through one-off contracts.

The Greens are also in negotiations with the government on the bill, but have yet to come to an agreement. The Greens Senate bloc will be crucial to passing the legislation, if the Coalition opposes it.

Updated

Linda Burney says legacy of monarchy ‘fraught’ for Indigenous Australians

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, a member of the Wiradjuri nation, has spoken on the Queen’s death in the parliament and the effect the last two weeks have had on Indigenous people:

In Aboriginal culture, sorry business is deeply important. Just this week, I have been to two funerals of women of Elizabeth II’s generation. Aunty Esther Carol in Sydney on Monday and Aunty Nita Scott in Narromine on Tuesday. Two extraordinary women, born at a time in this country where they were subject to the horrors of a New South Wales Welfare Board, which rendered every Aboriginal person a ward of the state.

It had total control. Both women grew up on Aboriginal reserves and experienced the welfare board. But they were women of great determination and courage and, like the Queen, full of grace and dedicated to service. For many Indigenous Australians, the legacy of the monarchy is fraught, a complex, difficult and painful reminder of the impact of colonisation.

This week has seen many wrestling with the swirling emotions, as Stan Grant has said, but equally there are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that have respect for the Queen, especially as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. The Queen’s relationship with Indigenous Australians reflects both how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

Updated

Wong expected to discuss meeting with China’s foreign minister

Penny Wong has announced a doorstop interview at 11.20 AEST, so we should hear more about the meeting with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi quite soon.

Updated

Shadow minister says Optus attack ‘most significant breach’ in recent cybersecurity history

The shadow minister for cybersecurity, James Paterson, has asked the government for a briefing on the Optus data breach.

He told the ABC this morning:

It would be the most significant breach of Australians’ user data in any recent cyber attack. There’s certainly been other Australian based companies that have been attacked, but none who hold so much personal detail of Australian users. And it is the nature of the information which appears to have been stolen which is particularly concerning. It’s personally identifiable, identifying information like people’s names, their phone numbers, their email addresses, their home addresses and in some cases even identification document numbers like passport numbers. And the worrying thing about that is that that is the building blocks for engaging in identity theft, and it could be used to victimise those people to further crimes.

Updated

‘Dynamic’ flood risk on Queensland-NSW border

Meanwhile, exhausted communities are facing the possibility of another flood, as AAP reports:

Communities on the Queensland-NSW border are on high alert for flash flooding after more than 20 centimetres of rain fell in three hours in some areas.

An intense weather system moved east overnight across the Gold Coast and the already-soaked NSW’s Northern Rivers, prompting emergency text messages to be sent to some residents.

Several areas received 100mm of rain in a few hours with the highest totals 30 kilometres inland of Coolangatta, at Couchy Creek and Upper Springbrook, which each copped 222mm in three hours.

“This type of intense rainfall on top of our wet catchments does lead to flash flooding and results in some rivers rising very quickly,” NSW SES superintendent Tony Day said.

“It’s a dynamic situation that puts vulnerable communities at risk.”

All residents and visitors should consider their travel plans, check on neighbours and review their emergency plans.

“Just because it was safe last time doesn’t mean it will be safe again,” Mr Day said.

A number of inland river catchments are flooded and are expected to stay that way over coming months.

Multiple climate drivers were behind the scenario, including a rare third consecutive La Nina year.

Sandbags in the CBD of Lismore on Thursday as rain in the region threatens more flooding.
Sandbags in the CBD of Lismore on Thursday as rain in the region threatens more flooding. Photograph: Jason O’Brien/AAP

Updated

The NSW premier has just been greeted with applause for telling a room “the Swans will smash it tomorrow”.

‘It’s time for some honest conversations’: Dorinda Cox on treaty and republic

The Greens senator Dorinda Cox has been working on her speech to the Senate since the Queen’s passing:

Updated

Marles and Dutton trade blows on cost of living

On the Nine network, Richard Marles and Peter Dutton also signalled it was politics as usual, as they pair exchanged pot shots at each other over, well, everything.

Marles was asked about cost of living measures and said the government was being responsible and dealing with the situation it inherited from the Coalition.

Marles:

We are in a world where there are some pretty significant headwinds, as Jim described this morning, in his opinion piece. We’re looking at both North America and Western Europe, with rising inflation, rising interest rates, and even China’s economy is not performing as expected, given their Covid-zero policy. A decade – a lost decade of reform within our own economy has not placed us well in terms of dealing with this moment. We are confident that with a government which is actually going to manage the economy, and focus on cost of living pressures, that we can get through.

Dutton responded:

As every economist will point out, the fundamentals of the Australian economy are stronger than almost any other country in the world. So, put aside the rhetoric that Richard’s just given you about lost decade and all that nonsense, the increase in the pension was what happens every year. It is indexed by CPI. It goes up. It’s gone up more because inflation is higher. Every government gets a curve ball thrown at them. It is how the government of the day deal with it. I’m worried Labor is going to make a bad situation worse because they can’t manage money.

They can’t manage the budget. And we’ll see attacks and spend budget, which is what Labor does. Probably at the wrong time. The child care support that Richard’s talking doesn’t come in until mid next year. They are increasing petrol prices by 22 cents a litre. So, when families need support, they are not getting it from this government.

Nature is healing, etc.

Updated

Dreyfus responds to questions over Morrison’s AAT appointments

Attorney general Mark Dreyfus has responded to a story in the AFR which raises questions over whether the Coalition’s final appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal were valid.

From the Michael Pelly story:

Two former judges have questioned whether the final batch of Morrison government appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal breached the constitution by reappointing members well before their terms expired.

Keith Mason, KC, a former president of the NSW court of appeal, and Leslie Katz, SC, a former federal court justice, say there are “serious questions” about the validity of some appointments – announced in April – that could even affect the rights of litigants in the AAT.

Mr Mason and Mr Katz have written to attorney general Mark Dreyfus about their concerns, which include a breach of the convention that future appointments should be left to the incoming government. They are seeking access to “key primary documents” held by the AAT and others as they prepare a journal article.

Dreyfus says he is responding:

I will be responding to Mr Mason’s letter.

The Liberals spent years trashing the AAT by filling it with failed Liberal candidates, dumped Liberal MPs, former Liberal advisers and other Liberal mates.

Disgracefully, on the eve of the election, they extended the terms of a slew of tribunal members to ensure it would be stacked out with Liberal mates for years to come.

The Liberals treated the AAT as a political toy. The Albanese government will ensure appointments to the tribunal are transparent and based on merit.

So watch this space.

Updated

Tony Burke says anyone who wishes to speak in parliament can have five minutes.

“Many members will want to make speeches,” he says.

But there will be no further divisions or quorums (so no parliamentary games) and there will be more than enough time for everyone who wants to, to speak.

Peter Dutton speaks during condolence motions in the House of Representatives.
Peter Dutton speaks during condolence motions in the House of Representatives. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Tania Mihailuk dumped from NSW shadow cabinet

New South Wales Labor MP Tania Mihailuk has been dumped from the shadow cabinet after using parliamentary privilege to launch a scathing attack on her own party.

Opposition leader Chris Minns on Friday morning announced he had sacked her from the frontbench.

Minns told 2GB:

I’ve spoken to Tania Mihailuk and said that she cannot stay in the shadow cabinet and launch political attacks by parliamentary privilege.

I haven’t heard back from her… so I’ve come to the conclusion reluctantly that she can’t stay in the shadow cabinet.

There needs to be discipline in the shadow cabinet. There are correct ways of presenting information about potential or alleged illegal conduct and using parliamentary privilege at 11.30 at night in the NSW parliament is not one of them.

In her extraordinary speech before this week, Mihailuk linked a Labor candidate for the upcoming election with former minister Eddie Obeid and accused party leaders of ignoring the “horrific influence” of property developers.

Tania Mihailuk is out of the shadow cabinet.
Tania Mihailuk is out of the shadow cabinet. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

She made a series of accusations against Canterbury-Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour – set to run on the party’s upper house ticket – about the redevelopment of land in the area, including alleged links to Obeid.

She said:

Candidacy for such a privileged position, you would expect, warrants comprehensive scrutiny, particularly given Labor’s recent Icac woes and the well-documented Icac findings against former ministers, which marred the last NSW Labor government.

I raise my legitimate and longstanding concerns regarding Asfour’s character and his unprincipled actions in furthering the interests of developers and identities, in particular Eddie Obeid, who went to his wedding, adorning him with a generous gift, as Asfour boasted at the time, and remained steadfastly committed to ensuring Asfour would be mayor throughout the period of redeveloping the landholdings in Bankstown.

On Wednesday, Asfour challenged Mihailuk to “repeat those outrageous and unsubstantiated claims outside the parliament”.

“She has used parliamentary privilege to launch a cowardly attack on me and my family and I call on her to produce evidence of any wrongdoing to the relevant bodies,” he said.

“She is citing matters from 2012, this reeks of sour grapes at being overlooked on Labor’s upper house ticket.”

Mihailuk was also recently the subject of reports about alleged bullying inside her electoral office, a claim she has denied.

Updated

David Littleproud is now giving his condolence motion.

He’s speaking about the chair the Queen sat on while visiting a homestead in Longreach (western Queensland) and how after she left it became known as “The Throne” and it is still pointed out to visitors.

Updated

Independent MPs push for government to sign treaty outlawing nuclear weapons

Continued from previous post:

Zoe Daniel MP, the independent member for Goldstein, argued threats by the Russian president, Vladmir Putin, to deploy nuclear weapons “shows that the threat of nuclear conflict is as great as it has ever been and that it is simplistic to believe that the threat of the devastation they would unleash is a sufficient deterrent against their use”.

ACT senator David Pocok said: “As geopolitical tensions escalate it is more urgent than ever to keep pushing for nuclear disarmament. I urge the Australian government to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the earliest opportunity.”

The former Coalition government consistently rejected the nuclear weapons ban treaty, saying it would not reduce nuclear arsenals or increase security and would undermine existing disarmament efforts.

‘The threat of nuclear conflict is as great as it has ever been’: Zoe Daniel
‘The threat of nuclear conflict is as great as it has ever been’: Zoe Daniel. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

But the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been a longstanding and public supporter of a Labor government signing and ratifying the new treaty.

At the 2018 ALP conference, he proposed the resolution that committed the party to sign and ratify the treaty in government.

“Nuclear disarmament is core business for any Labor government worth the name,” Albanese said. “Labor in government will sign and ratify the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

“I don’t argue that this is easy. I don’t argue that it’s simple. But I do argue that it’s just.”

The motion was passed, and the ALP’s formal party platform states: “Labor in government will sign and ratify the ban treaty”, contingent on ensuring an effective verification and enforcement architecture, and the ban treaty’s compatibility with the existing nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons co-founder Associate Professor Tilman Ruff said previous Australian government had joined treaties banning biological and chemical weapons, landmines and cluster munitions.

“It is time for us to join the treaty that bans the most destructive weapons of all.”

Updated

Independent MPs push for government to sign treaty outlawing nuclear weapons

Ten independent parliamentarians have told the federal government it should honour its commitment to join a global treaty outlawing nuclear weapons.

Labor was elected to government with a policy platform it would sign and ratify the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which outright prohibits the development, testing, production and use of nuclear weapons.

The treaty, which came into force in January last year, has been ratified by 66 nations around the world, including most countries in the Pacific and Asean regions, though not by any nuclear weapons powers.

The 10 parliamentarians – seven so-called “teal” independents, Senator David Pocock, member for Clark and former intelligence analyst Andrew Wilkie, and the member for Indi, Helen Haines – have urged the government to join the weapons ban treaty.

“This treaty comes at a critical time,” the 10 parliamentarians have written. “With growing international risks, the danger of nuclear war is widely assessed to be at least as great as during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, and perhaps ever. The impacts of any nuclear war would be cataclysmic, with unthinkable humanitarian consequences and climate impacts that would jeopardise the very survival of humankind.

“We welcome Labor’s National Policy Platform commitment to sign and ratify TPNW when in government, and look forward to working with the Albanese government in leading Australia to achieve this historic move towards global nuclear disarmament.

“The United Nations General Assembly opening this week provides a major opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Australia has a new government stepping up to address vital global issues.”

Senator David Pocock is among 10 independent MPs pushing for Australia to join the nuclear weapons ban treaty.
Senator David Pocock is among 10 independent MPs pushing for Australia to join the nuclear weapons ban treaty. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Yup. It’s officially business as usual.

The republicans have deemed it safe to pop their heads back up.

Updated

Peter Dutton, who had previously described the Queen as possibly the most decent human in modern history, is giving his condolence motion.

It is as gushing as you would expect.

Sydney airport busy but moving

Sydney airport is keeping a very close eye on the weather, but so far, today seems better than yesterday. Which is a good thing for the first day of NSW school holidays – and so far it seems that most Swans fans are unfortunately getting to their Melbourne destination.

Unfortunately. (Collingwood forever).

Now that I have alienated a large chunk of our audience, making sure you get to the airport with plenty of time is a good idea over the next week or so.

Updated

In New South Wales politics this has just happened:

The Senate is also up and about with a condolence motion being held in the upper house as well.

Updated

Parliament’s condolence motion begins

The parliament has opened and the condolence motion has begun.

Anthony Albanese is addressing the parliament, praising the Queen for her service.

Updated

ACCC warning to Optus customers

Australia’s competition and consumer watchdog has warned Optus customers they could be at risk of identity theft after a major data hack.

AAP reports:

Cyber criminals could have access to enough information to steal the identities of millions of Optus customers, the consumer watchdog has warned.

The telco confirmed on Thursday users’ names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, driver’s licence numbers, passport numbers or addresses could all have been accessed in a major breach.

Australian Consumer and Competition Commission deputy chair Delia Rickard said the cyber attack was extremely worrying due to the large amount of personal information fraudsters might be able to access.

These are all the things that you need for identity theft and also all the things you need to personalise a scam and make it much more convincing,” she told Nine’s Today program on Friday.

Optus said users’ payment details and account passwords had not been compromised and it was working with the Australian Cyber Security Centre to limit the risk to both current and former customers.

Australian Federal Police, the Office of the Australian Information Regulator and other key regulators have also been notified.

Ms Rickard said any Optus customers who suspected they were victims of fraud should request a ban on their credit records and be highly sceptical of unexpected calls from people purporting to represent banks or government agencies.

The government has initiated a review into data security on social media platforms, however opposition communications spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said the action was “too little, too late”.

Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said the telco took action to block the attack as soon as it learned of the breach.

While not everyone may be affected and our investigation is not yet complete, we want all of our customers to be aware of what has happened as soon as possible so that they can increase their vigilance,” she said. “We are very sorry and understand customers will be concerned. Please be assured that we are working hard ... to help safeguard our customers as much as possible.”

Scamwatch has advised Optus customers to secure their personal information by changing online account passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication for banking.

Affected customers should also place limits on bank accounts as well as monitoring for any unusual activity.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner said it would engage with Optus to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

Under the framework, organisations covered by the Privacy Act must notify affected individuals as quickly as possible if they experience a data breach likely to result in serious harm.

Updated

Fewer women board members on freshly listed companies, analysis reveals

Freshly listed companies are lagging the rest of corporate Australia in appointing women to their boards, the Australian Institute of Company Directors says.

Its annual gender diversity report, out today, shows that women make up 35.1% of board members at the top 200 listed companies.

However, among companies that have just listed on the exchange through an initial public offering of shares, only 11.4% of directors are women. The average is worst in the materials sector, which includes mining, where only 5% of directors are women.

The AICD’s chief executive, Mark Rigotti, said companies preparing for an IPO had a lot on their plates, but they were “about to join the adult table” and needed to devote resources to ensuring board diversity rather than sticking to the network of people they already knew.

“In an IPO market, it’s easier to default to that, rather than to make the extra effort to look further afield to find capacity that frankly, your investors are going to require you to have down the track,” he said.

He said mining companies also tended to be smaller IPOs with boards of as few as three people that often include a geologist - a male-dominated profession at senior levels.

At big companies, the next frontier is to increase the proportion of women who chair boards and important sub-committees that oversee areas including remuneration, risk and environmental, social and governance issues.

Rigotti said getting more women into chair positions could be a big change because investors typically do not approve of the same person holding the position at more than two companies.

“That would open up a lot of roles over time,” he said.

Updated

National Retail Association opposes multi-employer bargaining changes

The National Retail Association has kicked off the first day of politics as usual with a push back against the multi-employer bargaining talk.

That is one of the things which came out of the jobs summit – with the government now examining how multi-employer bargaining could work. It’s not sector or industry wide – we know that much – and we know any potential move towards it would not interfere with agreements already made. It’s designed to help workers in smaller organisations be able to get a better deal – because they wouldn’t have to negotiate alone. Given the lack of wage growth, this has been seen as a potential positive, but of course there are reservations.

Like the NRA’s.

Here is part of their statement:

The National Retail Association analysis of the proposed changes says they would create an enterprise bargaining system that was “simply blind to the intricacies and individualities of independent businesses and their employees”.

“Industry-wide bargaining is not a targeted or means tested approach. It is a ‘one-size fits all’ view which will see groups of employers and employees left behind,” it says.

“Industry-wide bargaining would see small and medium sized employers, who otherwise would rely on modern award entitlements, forced to engage in the time and cost of bargaining, or face being subject to agreements bargained for by other businesses which may be prejudicial or detrimental to their business.”

Such a scheme would not make any allowance for the size of a business, the needs of their employees, the different conditions and roles of different businesses, or even the cost of engaging in bargaining.

Updated

Parliament will resume for normal business from Monday, but the PM won’t be there – he will be in Japan for Shinzo Abe’s funeral.

Australia’s delegation includes former prime ministers Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.

Coalition calls for tougher data protection laws

Remember how we said it was politics as usual?

Here is Sarah Henderson’s response to the Optus data breach:

For months, the opposition has been calling on the Albanese Government to deliver tougher online privacy and data protection laws.

While the cause of this massive data breach is under investigation including assessing whether Optus customers have suffered any harm, this incident must serve as a dramatic wakeup call for the government.

In July, I joined with Shadow Attorney-General, Julian Leeser, to call on Labor to adopt the Coalition’s Online Privacy Bill.

Earlier this month, I joined with Mr Leeser and Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Countering Foreign Interference, Senator James Paterson, to condemn the Albanese Government for its failure to strengthen online privacy and data protection laws.

While the government has initiated a Department of Home Affairs review into data security on social media platforms such as TikTok, this won’t be completed until next year. This is all too little, too late. It is also concerning that Labor’s Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, has shown no interest in this issue.

Rather than kick the can down the road, Labor must urgently consider all regulatory options and act immediately to improve the privacy and safety of Australians online.

Updated

If you are reading this from Victoria, we hope you are enjoying your Friday public holiday.

Good morning

Parliament is back (sort of) and with the national day of mourning past, it is back to politics as usual (also sort of)

The condolence motion for the Queen kicks off at 8am for this special parliament sitting. As you would expect, the prime minister is first off the line, with all the party leaders following.

Once that is all done and dusted, any other MP who wishes to speak gets a five-minute speaking slot.

There is going to be a lot of repetition and tenuous links to the Queen, so brace yourself.

Meanwhile, in New York, Penny Wong is preparing to meet with her Chinese government counterpart, Wang Yi, for what would be a second meeting.

We say preparing because these things don’t happen until they happen.

We’ll be keeping an eye on the rain in NSW as well and anything else which pops up.

It is going to be a five-coffee day. At least.

Ready?

Let’s get into it.

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