What we learned today, Monday 19 June
With that, we’ll wrap up our live coverage of the day’s news.
Here’s a summary of the main news developments:
A bill to alter the constitution and enable the Indigenous voice passed federal parliament today.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said “parliaments pass laws, but it is people who make history”, encouraging people to vote yes during Australia’s first referendum in 24 years.
No date has been announced yet, however the vote must occur no sooner than two months and no later than six months from now.
Usually during the third reading of a bill there aren’t any more speeches, but there was further commentary today. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy told the ABC this is a “momentous time” and that every senator had a chance to be involved, no matter their stance.
During her speech shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said the majority of the coalition will vote to pass the bill because of people’s “right to have a say on this issue”, but disagree with the voice itself.
Meanwhile Senator Lidia Thorpe wore a shirt with the word “Gammin” on it and said “Gammin as we know, is fake. A joke and that’s what I think”, confirming she will vote no.
Ultimately the voice referendum bill passed in the Senate with 52 votes to 19.
The $10bn Housing Australia future fund has been postponed in parliament until October after the Greens, who wanted further progress on a rent freeze, teamed up with the Coalition.
Labor’s Dan Farrell warned that the government would regard the delay as “failure to pass” the bill and this could be the first step towards a double dissolution election.
Updated
Victorian government support for Hunter Valley bus crash victims
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has announced the government will be providing up to $580,000 to the family members of Darcy Bulman, who was killed in the Hunter Valley bus crash, as well as to those from the state who were injured.
In a statement on Monday evening, Andrews announced the funds will provide immediate relief and support for immediate family members of Bulman, who lived in the Melbourne suburb of Warrandyte.
Primary victims who were injured, including up to eight players of the Warrandyte Cricket Club and their partners as well as related victims will also receive funding support. Their family members will also be offered up to $5,000 to assist with costs like loss of income and travel expenses.
He said the government, together with Manningham City Council, will also help victims apply for the icare- NSW’s equivalent to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) - and will “be there to help in the event of any shortfalls in the NSW schemes”.
Counselling and support for the Warrandyte Cricket Club and its extended community will also be provided.
Andrews said:
This should have been such a special and joyous day — the beginning of a new chapter in a young couple’s life and all of the people they love coming together to celebrate —to have that ending in such tragic circumstances, it’s heartbreaking.
We said we would stand with families from our state who are caught up in this horror crash– and that is exactly what this support package will do.
Updated
