What we learned, Thursday 28 August
Another busy final sitting day of the week. We are wrapping up the live blog here. This is what made the news:
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja met the prime minister to discuss gambling ads and Gaza, with the meeting initially cancelled but eventually rescheduled.
The Pentagon walked back a statement describing defence minister Richard Marles’ meeting with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, and vice-president JD Vance as a “happenstance encounter”.
Marles and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, faced questions on that in the final question time of the week, as well as Australia’s relationship with the US and Israel.
Albanese said the South Australian algal bloom was directly related to climate change.
Richard Boyle has avoided jail time for blowing the whistle on unethical debt recovery practices at the Australian Taxation Office.
Bob Katter told a journalist “I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that” for mentioning his Lebanese heritage during a press conference where he threw his support behind the anti-immigration, so-called “March for Australia” rallies planned for 31 August.
Qantas’ net profit rose by a third to $1.6bn in the year to June as customer numbers surged and Jetstar revenue surged while fuel costs fell.
We’ll be back tomorrow with a regular live news blog. Take care until then.
Updated
ABC welcomes decision not to convict ATO whistleblower
The ABC has welcomed the decision not to convict ATO whistleblower, Richard Boyle and again called for strengthened whistleblower protections.
Boyle gave information to investigative journalist Adele Ferguson in 2018 on tactics used on taxpayers who owed money that resulted in a joint Nine and Four Corners investigation in 2018.
ABC director of news Justin Stevens said:
We acknowledge the seriousness of these offences. However, Boyle had principled intentions, and his actions were in the public’s interest. His allegations were vindicated. He received no personal gain and has paid a high personal price for his whistleblowing.
If it wasn’t for whistleblowers such as Richard Boyle coming forward to journalists, there are many important issues affecting people’s wellbeing and livelihoods that the public would never know about.
Updated
