What we learned, Monday 9 September 2024
We’re winding down our breaking news blog for the day. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy this Monday:
The federal parliament accepted the final royal commission into defence and veteran suicide report, which was tabled by defence minister Richard Marles, who said the government would respond to the report’s 122 recommendations in a “timely manner”.
Industrial action season is upon us, with New South Wales nurses on strike tomorrow and rail workers planning strikes from 18 September.
The Health Services Union is calling for 12 days of reproductive leave to be made standard nationwide.
South Australia is forging ahead with plans to ban children who are under 14 from social media, while the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, followed suit.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has called for divesture powers for airlines, specifically, threatening Qantas with the forced sale of its low-cost brand, Jetstar.
The Queensland opposition has promised to create a public child sex offender register named for murder victim Daniel Morcombe.
And, in case you missed it, the government will reinstate LGBTQ+ questions in the next census.
Thank you for joining us, we’ll be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
NT chief minister Finocchiaro takes on police portfolio
Over to the Northern Territory, where chief minister Lia Finocchiaro has kept her election promises to tackle crime by taking on the crucial police portfolio and introducing a new ministry to accelerate development in the territory.
Finocchiaro pledged she would take on the police, fire and emergency services ministry in the lead-up to the Country Liberal party’s crushing election victory, where it won 17 of 25 seats, reports AAP.
The chief minister has also given herself defence and a newly created role of Territory coordinator, which she promised during the election campaign would speed up development and funding approvals.
The role was first proposed by Finocchiaro in opposition in 2020, but was voted down by the Labor government.
She said the Territory voted for change and her new cabinet would focus on rebuilding the economy and addressing crime after the landslide victory against Labor on 24 August.
“The CLP has been given a mandate to deliver change for all Territorians and our new cabinet will ensure a better Northern Territory for everyone,” Finocchiaro said.
Community safety is my government’s first priority and we are on track to deliver our promised reforms on bail and increased police powers in the first week of parliament.
Gerard Maley will be deputy chief minister and take on mining and energy as well as the renewables portfolios.
Finocchiaro made good on another election promise by putting youth detention back into corrections. The critical ministry will be overseen by Maley.
Updated
