The day that was, Monday 25 September
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening.
In case you missed it, here’s what made the news today:
Home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has stood aside pending an investigation after a series of leaked texts called into question whether he made partisan interventions under the Coalition governments.
The Greens home affairs spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, said Pezzullo’s position is untenable, as did independent MP Sophie Scamps.
Crossbench senator David Pocock has accused the gambling industry of acting like “big tobacco” by lobbying ministers to drop reforms designed to protect the people it harms.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has called for super theft to be included in the wage theft offence in the closing loopholes bill.
More than 125 health organisations have signed an open letter in support of an Indigenous voice to parliament.
The Law Council of Australia again backed the Indigenous voice to parliament, calling it “legally safe” and urging voters to get fully informed about the proposal for the referendum.
Qantas flagged a potential rise in ticket prices amid rising fuel costs, as the company promised to pump $80m of its record profits into customer service improvements.
Greens senator Janet Rice announced she will not stand for Senate preselection. She will retire in the first half of 2024.
The AFL’s 2023 Brownlow Medal Ceremony kicked off at Crown Palladium in Melbourne with the best players and their companions dressed to impress.
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The CEO of the AFL, Gillon McLachlan, has now opened the votes – we’ll be bringing you the results later when they’re counted. That’s it from the red carpet!
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The Brownlow Medal ceremony is under way with MC Abbey Holmes taking the mic.
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Was Ed Curnow in a rush to get ready for the big event tonight? Is he making a fashion statement? Or is Charlie Curnow simply too sheepish to tell his brother he’s managed to forget the crucial sartorial detail of tying his bow tie. Who knows.
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Not unexpectedly, a football has also made an appearance on the red carpet.
We are also seeing some impressive trains:
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More contenders for footy’s highest individual honour, Melbourne’s Christian Petracca and Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters, arrive at the Brownlow Medal ceremony:
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The other trend we’re seeing is lots of corset dresses, still riding the wave of popularity after Vogue announced the Gilded Age as the theme for the 2022 New York Met Gala.
That includes this embroidered bustier from model Annalise Dalins, partner of Josh Daicos wearing Hugo Boss.
Daniel Rioli of the Tigers and Paris Lawrence:
The pies’ Scott Pendlebury and Alex Pendlebury:
North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel and Mischa Rajch:
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Getting down to business, and the streamlined silhouette seems to be the dominating trend among tonight’s gowns:
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Brownlow baby bumps making a strong showing this evening. Who knows, these little bundles of percolating AFL joy may be making more appearances in the decades to come if they follow in their parent’s footsteps.
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Another name tipped to be in competition for the Brownlow Medal is Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who has has arrived with Neila Brenning:
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After stepping out as a couple for the first time at the opening night of Moulin Rouge last month, the host of Triple J’s the The Hook Up Dee Salmin is making her Brownlow Medal debut on the arm of Collingwood captain Darcy Moore:
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Medal favourite Nick Daicos arrives on Brownlow red carpet
Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos has arrived on the carpet with Arlette Jones wearing a hot pink cut-out:
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Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield with his wife (and high school sweetheart) Mardi Harwood in a very literally dazzling purple number.
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Who’s being tipped to win tonight? Collingwood’s Nick Daicos has been considered the frontrunner for the Brownlow for most of the season, until a knee injury ended his home and away campaign early.
Other names touted to challenge Daicos after his four-game absence include Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, Brisbane Lions skipper and 2020 winner Lachie Neale, Melbourne’s Christian Petracca and Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters.
They are yet to arrive but the incoming AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and wife Amanda Dillon have hit the red carpet in all black.
Sydney Swans player Chad Warner’s date Alice Hughes on the other hand is bringing more colour:
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Welcome to our Brownlow Medal coverage
Good evening! Tonight is AFL’s night of nights, but before the Brownlow Medal count begins at 8pm AEST, all eyes are on the red carpet where players and their partners have already started arriving at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.
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I’m going to hand over the blog here to my colleague Natasha May who will be bringing you all the fashion from the Brownlow red carpet arrivals. Enjoy!
Tariffs on Russia and Belarus extended
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, and trade minister, Don Farrell, have extended the tariffs imposed on Russia and Belarus for a further two years out to October 2025.
The 35% tariff on Russian imports, along with prohibition on gold and energy imports has led to imports from Russia falling by over 95% in the second half of last year, the government said, in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Australian government repeated its call for Russia to withdraw forces from Ukrainian territory and for Belarus to stop supporting the war.
Wong said:
The extension of punitive trade measures shows Australia’s unwavering determination to diminish President Putin and Russia’s ability to fund this illegal and immoral war.
Russia’s actions against Ukraine’s sovereignty, the rule of law and the UN Charter, are reprehensible.
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A review into controversial strip searches at music festivals has revealed low standards of record keeping and training for officers, AAP reports.
Less than half of NSW police officers who carried out strip searches at five music festivals in 2021 and 2022 completed specialist training, the NSW Police and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission found.
The audit, released on Monday, reported that 47% of officers completed a specific music festival training package within the required time and 28% did not complete the training at all.
It also revealed officers had failed to properly complete official music festival field processing forms, intended to ensure searches were conducted lawfully.
It found that 74% of general search records and 68% of strip search records adequately reflected reasonable suspicion, while 27% of strip search records showed police had followed the rules.
While training for police attending music festivals had improved, there were gaps in the training actually being rolled out, the review found.
The report noted the legality of a search might be challenged in court or in a misconduct investigation, and questions regarding an officer’s actions could be raised months or years after the search.
Car crashes onto Sydney beach
A car flipped over onto Balmoral Beach on Sydney’s north shore, while attempting to leave the carpark.
NSW police said the incident occurred at around 1.15pm on Monday, with a 33-year-old woman driver and a 55-year-old male passenger able to free themselves from the car. The driver was treated by NSW paramedics on the scene for minor injuries, while the passenger was not injured.
No one on the beach was injured, but those on the beach told Nine News they were very lucky that the car didn’t hit anyone.
NSW police said the driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result.
The vehicle was lifted out of the beach on Monday afternoon.
Beachgoers on the north shore ran for for their lives this afternoon, after a P-plate driver crashed through a concrete wall and onto busy #Balmoral beach. @biancabalzer #9News
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) September 25, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/FaKgMei1CS pic.twitter.com/nOUgmo52mq
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Daniel Johns has responded to speculation about the removal from iView of an ABC documentary featuring his former Silverchair bandmates, Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Sunday night, the singer claimed drummer Gillies and bass player Joannou repeatedly denied him an opportunity to read an advanced copy of their tell-all memoir, Love & Pain, ahead of the airing of the two-part Australian Story documentary A Silver Lining, released to coincide with their upcoming book.
Industrial relations legislation will harm jobs, Chamber of Commerce chief says
Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program to talk about the jobs white paper.
He says the paper broadly is a step in the right direction, but criticises the section on secure jobs and wages for not taking into account the industrial relations legislation currently before the parliament – which he says will harm jobs.
If we’re going to sustain full employment under its definition, then we have to continue to grow the economy. But to do that, you have to be boosting productivity, you have to be investing in more skills, you have to be encouraging more groups, more people who have traditionally not been strong in the labour force to come in, and unfortunately its industrial relations agenda pushes in completely the opposite direction. It does nothing to encourage productivity at all.
In fact, it will make it much harder for many businesses to make the decision to employ people in the future.
He says the legislation needs to be pulled from the parliament if the government wants to succeed with the strategy outlined in the paper issued today.
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South Australia records case of Meningococcal disease
South Australian Health has reported a new case of Meningococcal in the state, with a 48-year-old man from Adelaide admitted to hospital.
He is in a stable condition, and two identified close contacts have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.
SA Health says this is the 20th such reported case in the state this year, compared to 12 last year.
HEALTH ALERT: Meningococcal case - 25 September 2023 pic.twitter.com/wP8awRJ5hh
— SA Health (@SAHealth) September 25, 2023
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Hazard reduction at Lake Macquarie completed
Fire and Rescue NSW, along with NSW Rural Fire Service completed a major hazard reduction operation at Cameron Park at Lake Macquarie over the weekend.
More than 40 firefighters and six water tankers worked with RFS volunteers to reduce built up fuel on 38 hectares of bushland near homes and transmission lines.
More burns are planned this week, including tomorrow at Lindfield on Sydney’s upper north shore, and on Friday at Allambie Heights.
CAMERON PARK | Firefighters carry out hazard reduction burn to protect homes - VIDEO. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has joined forces with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to complete a major hazard reduction operation to protect homes at Cameron... https://t.co/gP5Zet9fKE
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) September 25, 2023
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Residents rescued from ‘suspicious’ fire in Melbourne’s east
Residents trapped inside a burning Melbourne care facility have been rescued from a suspicious fire, AAP reports.
Many made panicked phone calls to triple zero just before 10pm on Sunday as smoke filled the two-storey building in Mangan Street, Balwyn.
Firefighters rescued 14 people, including seven from balconies.
Fire Rescue Victoria commander John Dakis told ABC radio the scene was chaotic.
“Some of the residents were extremely lucky, we were getting calls through triple zero on scene informing us that there were residents trapped in certain apartments,” Dakis said.
All residents were ultimately evacuated and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has put up 14 in hotel accommodation at Kew in Melbourne’s east.
The remaining residents found their own accommodation after their homes were badly damaged.
“They won’t be coming back in this building in the near future,” Dakis said.
The department thanked firefighters who rescued residents from the building.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation and another taken to hospital with chest pain. No one was seriously injured and all people living at the residential care facility have been accounted for.
Detectives are treating the fire as suspicious and the circumstances surrounding the blaze are under investigation.
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Pezzullo’s position untenable, Greens senator says
The Greens home affairs spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, is on ABC’s afternoon briefing, and again says the home affairs secretary, Mike Pezzullo’s, position is untenable since the Nine Newspapers reported messages sent between Pezzullo, and Liberal powerbroker Scott Briggs.
He said it shows that Pezzullo “really has no respect for the concept of accountability and the Senate estimates process” and doesn’t understand the line between being a public servant and a politician.
He said:
[Pezzullo] has significantly and grievously overstepped that line in attempting to interfere in and influence ministerial appointments and even on one occasion a Liberal leadership spill.
He says it was an extraordinary decision in the first place for the Albanese government to reappoint Pezzullo to the role on assuming government. He says he has never personally messaged Pezzullo, and the limited contact he’s had has been on the sidelines of Senate estimates hearings to talk about the Lord of the Rings.
Some background on this story from the Guardian’s Paul Karp:
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Pharmacy trial to be rolled out across Queensland
Pharmacists across Queensland are set to be granted the right to prescribe scores of everyday drugs as part of an expanded pilot program.
The Queensland health minister, Shannon Fentiman, today announced a state government trial - currently covering just north Queensland - would be expanded to include the rest of the state.
Under the nation-first scheme patients can get a range of vaccinations at the chemist, plus drugs like the pill, support to quit smoking, and medication for asthma, nausea and mild skin conditions, among others.
Fentiman said better-trained pharmacists would take pressure off higher levels of the health system like emergency departments and GPs.
This is not about replacing any of our existing services. This is about adding to it and making it so much easier for Queenslanders to get the healthcare they need, close to home.
About 300 pharmacists are due to complete additional university training by March 2024. The full rollout of the expanded pilot will take place between 2024 and 2025.
Pharmacy guild president Trent Twomey said the expanded scope of practice would convert chemists into “primary health care hubs”.
He said:
What we know is that Queenslanders are having to unnecessarily wait up to four hours in our emergency departments, up to four days to see a GP or sometimes, in regional areas, up to four weeks to get medical attention.
Now these 1200 pharmacies are perfectly positioned to be able to be more and provide more to Queenslanders.
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David Pocock compares gambling industry to tobacco, criticises ‘disturbing’ lobbying campaign
Crossbench senator David Pocock has accused the gambling industry of acting like “big tobacco” by lobbying ministers to drop reforms designed to protect the people it harms.
Gambling companies and the industry’s peak body, Responsible Wagering Australia, have been lobbying federal ministers to water down the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into gambling harm, which found “powerful evidence” of community harm.
The inquiry has called for an immediate ban on online inducements before a total ban on advertising is introduced within three years. This would heavily impact the sector’s revenue stream and reduce its association with live sports coverage.
Pocock’s comment comes after a dozen public health experts from Australia and abroad called for a rethink on how governments engage with the gambling industry given the scale of community harm. Earlier this month, a landmark study linked gambling addiction to 184 suicides in Victoria over an eight year period.
Pocock said:
Tobacco companies and lobbyists wrote the playbook on how to delay and limit regulation of their products, it’s disturbing to now see the gambling industry running those same plays.
The average Australian doesn’t have this type of access to Parliament House. I think if you were to ask Australians whether gambling companies should have this level of priority access, they would say no. Clearly it’s not in the public interest.
We’ve seen a cosy arrangement develop here in Australia where industry helps set their own advertising rules through co-regulatory codes.
The online gambling inquiry was a strong multi-partisan statement that we cannot keep going the way we have been with gambling advertising. We’re the biggest losers per capita in the world and are seeing gambling have an impact on young Australians. People have had enough and are fed up, particularly parents who want to be able to watch sports with their children.
We will see the level of influence the gambling industry has when the government hands down its response to the online gambling inquiry.
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ACTU pushes to make super theft illegal
Two weeks ago Guardian Australia revealed that Labor had not included failure to pay superannuation in its proposed wage theft offence, and the Australian Taxation Office has never issued a direction to pay super, which can result in criminal penalties.
Since then the Greens and now the Australian Council of Trade Unions have called for super theft to be included in the wage theft offence in the closing loopholes bill.
ACTU president, Michele O’Neil said:
Wage theft robs working people of money they are rightfully owed for their work. Super theft compounds this, taking money from workers that would be built on due to interest over decades to provide security and dignity in their retirement.
Industry Super Australia estimates that superannuation theft alone accounts for up to nearly $5bn each year. Super theft is a serious problem that needs addressing and should be covered by the wage theft provisions in the closing loopholes bill.
But business groups are pushing back.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Andrew McKellar, said:
Such a change would be superfluous. Legislative changes earlier this year inserted a right to superannuation in the National Employment Standards (NES).Including superannuation in the NES ensures that employees covered by the Act have an enforceable right to superannuation.
Threatening employers with jail for unpaid super will do nothing to rectify the major cause of underpayments in our country – Australia’s unreasonably complex workplace relations system.
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Refugees march to Canberra for equal treatment
Twenty refugee women from Iran and Sri Lanka are marching 640km - from the Melbourne office of immigration minister Andrew Giles to Parliament House in Canberra - to demand equal treatment for refugees and asylum seekers who have been living in Australia for nearly a decade.
The women have been walking since Friday. Today, they have been on the road to Nagambie, in central Victoria.
The women are walking calling for permanent protection for the 10,000 refugees forced into the former government’s ‘fast track’ assessment process.
In February this year, 19,000 refugees who arrived in Australia by sea between 2012 and 2014 and who had been granted only temporary protection, were given the option to apply for permanent residency. However, more than 12,000 asylum seekers and refugees who arrived over the same period were excluded from that announcement.
Geetha Ramachandran, a mother of three from Sri Lanka, is leading the march:
I am a mother of three young children, one of whom was born in Australia and knows no other home. Like tens of thousands of other women, I grew up surrounded by the violence of the civil war in Sri Lanka. My parents were refugees, I am a refugee, my children are refugees. We transmit that violence and uncertainty from one generation to another. I am marching to bring this to an end – not just for me and my family, but for all people condemned to uncertainty.
Samira Turkian Zadeh, an asylum seeker from Iran:
My little ones are denied access to medicare and other government support. Visa restrictions shackle our skills, blocking us from pursuing our true potential. For years, we’ve endured the relentless turmoil of a civil war in Iran. I sought refuge in this country, yearning for the safety I never knew back home. Why does the Australian government continue to subject us to this cruelty?
The women are calling for: permanent protection visas for refugees in Australia; work and study rights for all refugees; the abolition of the fast track system; and permanent settlement in Australia for refugees from the offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Refugee women from Melbourne walking to Canberra demanding permanent visas for 10,000 refugees left behind by the Labor Government @AlboMP @DanielAndrewsMP @theage @abcnews @9NewsMelb @abc730 @SkyNewsAust @MIAuniverse @PatsKarvelas @abcmelbourne why maintain silence? pic.twitter.com/ETVQU8nNrF
— Refugee Women Action for Visa Equality (@refugeewave) September 23, 2023
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$100m pledged for SA hydrogen export terminal
The federal and SA governments have promised $100m for the state’s first large-scale hydrogen export terminal in Whyalla, AAP reports.
Whyalla, located on the tip of the Spencer Gulf, was earmarked as a potential hydrogen hub in 2021.
The SA premier, Peter Malinauskas, last year confirmed plans to build a 250-megawatt hydrogen electrolyser, a 200-megawatt power station and a 3,600-tonne storage facility in the Whyalla region.
He said wind and solar resources, critical minerals, strong renewable energy penetration and well-developed industrial hubs put SA in prime position to lead the world in the burgeoning technology.
“(It) would represent a huge economic opportunity for the state in effectively exporting our sun and wind resources to other parts of the world that will want clean fuel for the future,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.
The new funding will go towards developing infrastructure to enable the Port Bonython hub, which is expected to host up to $13bn in hydrogen projects and generate as much as 1.8m tonnes of hydrogen by 2030.
The SA government previously pledged $600m to help develop the project.
State opposition leader David Speirs said he supports the plans but was sceptical that the government funding would come anywhere near what is required.
“It just hasn’t been done anywhere else in the world,” he told ABC Radio.
“There’s just lots of questions to be answered.”
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Sydney-Perth plane forced to turn around after passenger allegedly verbally abused cabin crew
A plane en route to Sydney from Perth last night was forced to turn around and return to Perth after an allegedly intoxicated passenger allegedly verbally abused cabin crew and failed to comply with the direction of staff, the Australian federal police say.
The 33-year-old man from Baldivis in WA was removed by AFP officers upon the flight’s return to Perth airport and charged with offensive or disorderly behaviour on an aircraft and failing to comply with safety instructions by cabin crew.
He faces a fine of up to $13,750 for each offence.
Supt Peter Hatch said:
Airline staff are there to ensure the safety of passengers and they, along with every other passenger onboard, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Verbally abusing airline staff and failing to comply with their directions are serious offences. These matters are not something the AFP takes lightly.
The aircraft was forced to drop fuel in order to land safely.
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‘I’m back at work and I’ll get on with it’, says NT chief minister
The Northern Territory chief minister, Natasha Fyles, has been left with a slightly blackened eye after a cream-covered crepe was shoved in her face at a Darwin market, AAP reports.
The territory leader fronted the media on Monday afternoon with a faint mark under her left eye, saying she won’t be deterred from doing her job:
It was a pretty firm whack to the face, but I’m OK as you can see.
I will be getting checked out by a medical team just to make sure. I was in a little bit of discomfort yesterday and this morning.
I’m back at work and I’ll get on with it.
Footage shared by Nine News on social media showed a woman rushing towards Fyles as she left a bank on Sunday and shoving what was described as a whipped cream crepe into her face.
NT police charged a 56-year-old woman with aggravated assault on Monday. She was bailed to appear in court on 10 October.
Fyles said she welcomed respectful debate with those who disagreed with her but violence was never acceptable.
NT police said they were working with the government and the minister’s team on security measures.
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Another hot, dry and sunny week, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Weather Update: Hot, dry and sunny week ahead. Video current: 01:00pm AEST 25 September 2023. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/kmbEg0SIcW
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) September 25, 2023
Thanks for joining me on the blog today! I’ll leave you with my colleague Josh Taylor, who will take you through the rest of today’s news.
CPSU says Mike Pezzullo’s position ‘untenable’
The Community and Public Sector Union has said it is untenable for the home affairs department secretary, Mike Pezzullo, to remain in the role after the reports of leaked messages from the secretary.
The CPSU pointed out that public service employees, including those working for Home Affairs, face potential disciplinary action for sharing political content on social media.
The CPSU national secretary, Melissa Donnelly, said:
Mike Pezzullo’s position as secretary of the department of home affairs is clearly untenable.
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‘I didn’t realise how many people were watching’: Cortnee Vine hopes effect of World Cup will flow on to A-League Women
Cortnee Vine hopes the attention she received as the face of Australia’s nation-inspiring World Cup run will have a flow-on effect to the A-League Women, AAP reports.
The straight-talking winger went from relative obscurity to superstar status after her shootout-winning penalty in Australia’s quarter-final victory over France.
The Matildas’ World Cup legacy is now set for its first test when Sydney FC host Western Sydney Wanderers in their season opener at Allianz Stadium on 14 October.
ALW attendances have at times struggled to crack four figures, but Sydney are hoping the groundswell of support can translate into real growth.
Vine told AAP:
I have a lot of parents come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for inspiring my daughter, she has you on my walls’.
I never had that – a female athlete as a role model that I could look up to.
Coming out of the World Cup, I didn’t realise how many people were watching and how many people got around women’s football.
Vine turned down the chance to head overseas after her exploits for Australia and she is joined by many of her fellow Matildas teammates back on the home front.
Melbourne Victory have signed veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Kyah Simon has joined the Central Coast Mariners and Tameka Yallop has agreed terms with Brisbane Roar.
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Universal post-secondary education ‘will unlock the potential of our people’, says ATN on white paper
The Australian technology network of universities (ATN) said its recommendations have formed an integral part of the federal government’s employment white paper, released by the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, today.
ATN says almost every job in the future economy requires VET, Tafe or university qualifications, so Australia should move to a system of universal access to post-secondary education.
Executive director Luke Sheehy has welcomed the national skills passport, fast-tracking Tafe centres of excellence and developing higher apprenticeships:
Australia will unlock the potential of our people if we ensure universal access to post-secondary education and this will require the development of new qualifications and skills which are both portable and flexible.
People should be able to choose whatever mix of technical, practical and transferable skills they need to succeed from a range of shorter and longer form courses offered by a mix of universities, Tafes and other providers.
… The government should consider rolling out the passport alongside the centres in the tech, caring and net zero sectors, as a priority.
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Advocacy body for older Australians welcomes changes in employment white paper
The leading advocacy organisation for older Australians has welcomed the government’s employment white paper, saying it takes steps towards addressing the barriers to employment that older people face.
Acting CEO of COTA Australia, Corey Irlam, said it was good to see the white paper commit to incentives to keep people working while receiving the age pension:
… making the ‘work bonus’ a permanent feature will make a difference to many older people looking to continue to work.
Allowing people to retain access to the government’s concession cards for a six month period after they start to earn an income to help jobseekers transition back to work is also a welcome move.
COTA said it looked forward to working with the government to ensure “practical changes to address ageism” were implemented.
We know that systemic ageism is a key reason older people are locked out of the workforce and it’s good to see that acknowledged in the employment white paper.
Creating an age-inclusive workplace is important not only for older people, but employees of all ages. Having a flexible working environment, free of conscious or unconscious biases like ageism is a good first step towards attracting older workers into your workplaces.
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NRMA to charge EV motorists to power up
One of Australia’s biggest electric vehicle charging networks will no longer be free to use with the NRMA revealing plans to charge motorists, AAP reports.
The organisation, which operates a network of more than 50 vehicle charging stations throughout NSW, with some in South Australia and Victoria, announced plans to start collecting payment from users on Monday.
The first charging stations affected by the change are in Sydney’s Olympic Park, Wallsend in Newcastle, and Picton in south-west Sydney.
Industry experts said the move was not unexpected and could be welcomed by many drivers as a way to ensure only those who needed to recharge their vehicles at public stations did so.
In a statement, the NRMA confirmed plans to collect payments for the use of its infrastructure, saying it had “prioritised the rollout of the network before seeking to apply costs to customers”.
Users will be charged 54 cents per kilowatt for standard charging and 59 cents per kilowatt for ultra-fast charging, with the entire network expected to transition to pay-for-use by the end of October.
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Pezzullo’s advocacy for return of D-notices ‘a dangerous and unnecessary attack on press freedom’, MEAA says
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance has said media reports that the secretary of the home affairs department, Mike Pezzullo, advocated for the return of D-notices to restrict media reporting on national security issues in messages leaked to Nine newspapers is “disturbing” and must be acted on by the government.
In a report published on Monday, Pezzullo reportedly urged a close confidante of former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison to reintroduce the D-notice system aimed at stopping the publication of stories deemed a risk to national security, while other messages reportedly showed Pezzullo disparaging journalists.
MEAA media federal president, Karen Percy said that there had been “a deliberate strategy to prevent legitimate public interest journalism and stifle the right to know” from the home affairs department, noting the 2019 AFP raid on the home of then News Corp reporter Annika Smethurst as well as the ABC.
Percy said:
This is a dangerous and unnecessary attack on press freedom. D-notices have been used during wartime on rare occasions for the protection of national security. But Australia is not at war and there is no justification for their use now.
Percy called for laws to enhance the public’s right to know.
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For those tracking the bird of the year competition on its first day, here’s an update:
Here's where we're currently at with the #BirdofTheYear top 10 on day 1 - Tawny Frogmouth, Magpie and the Gang-Gang all quite far ahead of the rest, with Frogmouth in the lead pic.twitter.com/3ImuK5sLrF
— Nick Evershed (@NickEvershed) September 25, 2023
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Goal of ‘secure, fairly paid job for everyone who wants one’ complements technical definition of full employment: Chalmers
Wrapping up the press conference, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said when we consider “full employment” it needs to be a much broader conception than what we’ve had in the past.
There is a really important, necessary but essentially narrow and technical definition of full employment … but distinct from that and complementary to that is the government’s objective, which is a good, secure, fairly paid job for everyone who wants one without having to look for too long.
That is our goal and that’s our objective that sits alongside – it doesn’t contradict, it complements – the shorter-term definitions that people like the Reserve Bank and the Treasury use to drive their assumptions and their forecasts.
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‘Appropriate and in the public interest’ for Pezzullo to stand aside while inquiry takes place, says O’Neil
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, just responded to the Mike Pezzullo allegations during the press conference.
She said:
I became aware that there is an allegation of extensive communications between the secretary of my department and Mr Scott Briggs. Immediately upon learning of this, I referred this matter to the public service commissioner for his consideration and advice.
This morning I spoke to the secretary of my department and asked him to stand aside while the inquiry occurs. I believe that is appropriate and in the public interest and I will have more to say on this matter when the [inquiry is] concluded.
The secretary of my department and I communicate frequently, we did not speak about the messages before this morning but when I spoke to the secretary this morning I asked him to stand aside, that is the appropriate course of action I will not make further comment on this until the inquiry is concluded.
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Changes to give pensioners choice to do more work, not compel them to work, treasurer says
Jim Chalmers is now taking questions.
He said measures allowing pensioners to do more work before their pension is affected is about “giving older Australian workers the choice”, not compelling them to do more work.
Speaking about the initiative to remove barriers to employment, Chalmers said that even when the economy might be performing well in aggregate, this might not reach all communities:
For me and other colleagues here, this is a bit personal because we see in communities right across this country, where disadvantage and perhaps unemployment has become intergenerational. And it should not be beyond a country like ours to recognise that challenge, to care enough about it, to look to do some thing about.
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Removing barriers for long-term unemployed people a key part of white paper, social services minister says
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, is also speaking about the employment white paper. She said one of its key elements is removing the barriers that exist for long-term unemployed people.
Two new measures have been announced in the white paper – the first, allowing pensioners to do more work before their pension is affected:
Of course, many pensioners when they reach pension age do want to retire, but there are some that would like to do seasonal work or a shift here and there.
… This is about smoothing that pathway from work into retirement and ensuring that pensioners can still do some work and still receive their full pension.
The second measure is an extension of the nil rate for those on income support. This means removing the disincentive that might happen if someone is offered short-term work, but they fear the loss of concessions and subsidies, Rishworth said.
What this extension will do will allow someone to take up short-term work and still remain part of the income support system, allowing a smoother transition, to allow a person to take up short-term work and not feel there is a disincentive if that work does not continue.
Updated
Greater collaboration needed between vocational training sector and universities, says skills minister
The minister for skills and training, Brendan O’Connor, is up next to speak on the employment white paper.
He says there needs to be much greater collaboration between the vocational education and training sector and universities to provide the skills that workers need and “our economy demands”.
We do have already thousands of students looking at having diploma, advanced diploma apprenticeships, but we need to do a lot more of that. We do need to see a greater level of investment in higher qualifications in the VET sector and the collaboration between the two tertiary sectors.
The white paper has identified that and has validated the negations we have had today with eight other governments, and I’m very confident that before the end of this year, we will strike that National skills agreement, which will deliver much of what has been referred to in the white paper is absolutely critical for our economy, for businesses, and indeed for workers.
Updated
Mike Pezzullo to stand aside pending investigation into leaked texts
The home affairs secretary, Mike Pezzullo, will stand aside from his role while an investigation is conducted into text messages he allegedly sent to a Liberal party businessman.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he spoke with the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, this morning, who asked Pezzullo to stand aside while an investigation takes place.
He has agreed to stand aside.
That action is appropriate, we will await the findings of the investigation, which we will expedite, we have a cabinet meeting this afternoon …
We will make no further comment on the specifics for obvious reasons. It is important these processes are allowed to take the course, but I believe that minister O’Neill has acted appropriately, given the circumstances of what was revealed in Nine newspapers this morning.
Updated
‘Secure, fairly paid job for everyone who wants one’ central to employment white paper: Chalmers
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking to the media following the announcement of the employment white paper.
He said the objective is to create a dynamic and more inclusive labour market where workers and businesses can “adapt and thrive and benefit from change”.
Central to the white paper is a “secure, fairly paid job for everyone who wants one”, Chalmers said, and a “qualified worker for every employer who needs one”.
[The white paper] has five main themes, full employment, secure jobs and strong wages, skills, now and into the future, getting productivity moving again, and also addressing some of the barriers which are preventing people from grabbing the jobs and opportunities …
Chalmers said there are 70 policies in the white paper that have already been implemented, as well as 80 that are under way, 31 future reform directions, and nine new policies.
Updated
Albanese questioned on expected outcome of voice referendum amid new lows in polled support
Albanese is asked what he thinks the outcome will be of the Indigenous voice referendum:
Well, that is up to the Australian people on 14 October. We have said we will respect that outcome.
… It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I sincerely hope that South Australians and indeed all Australians take up the opportunity to vote yes in this referendum.
Our voice polling tracker has been updated to include three new national polls from the weekend, showing support for the voice at 40% or under, after undecided voters were removed.
They bring the trend to a new low of just 41%:
Updated
PM announces $70m in federal funding for SA hydrogen export terminal
Anthony Albanese is speaking to the media from Whyalla in South Australia.
He has announced $70m in federal funding, creating $100m funding in total with the state’s investment, for a large-scale hydrogen export terminal in South Australia.
Albanese said this investment is about “acknowledging we need to get ahead of the rest of the world” in a “competitive race … [in] the transition” to renewables.
If we do that, we can secure jobs, secure our prosperity and secure Australia’s future.
Updated
Government to work with social enterprises to boost labour force participation, treasurer says
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has just announced the details of the employment white paper and is due to speak to the media soon.
In a joint statement with the social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, Chalmers said the government will work with the social enterprise sector to boost labour force participation and economic development in some of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities.
Treasury and the department of social services will lead this work through the “targeting entrenched disadvantage agenda”, the statement says.
The statement says there are more than 12,000 social enterprises across the country with a workforce of more than 106,000 and about 58% are employment-based services.
Chalmers said:
This is something I care deeply about because I want to make more of a difference in communities like my own.
We’ll help more people into stable, well-paid employment if we work together.
When it comes to combating entrenched community disadvantage and helping people break down big barriers to employment, one size does not fit all. This is about partnering with the people who know these places best so we can back the policies and programs that work.
Updated
Pezzullo's position 'untenable', Sophie Scamps says
Independent MP Sophie Scamps has released a statement claiming that Michael Pezzullo’s position as home affairs secretary is “untenable”.
Pezzullo has been referred to the public service commissioner after a series of leaked texts called into question whether he made partisan interventions under the Coalition governments.
In her statement, Scamps claimed:
Mr Pezzullo’s actions are clearly not aligned with The Australian Public Service Code of Conduct or its Values which calls for apolitical, independent and accountable behaviour from our public servants.
His actions cross the line between bureaucracy and politics, and the messages published by Nine Newspapers today show he was clearly seeking to manipulate political outcomes and benefit his own career.
Scamps said an apolitical independent service is “one of the most important pillars of our democracy”.
When taxpayer funded public servant leaders who are supposed to implement the policies of the government of the day stray from public service into politics – we all lose.
Scamps also said Clare O’Neil’s referral of Pezzullo to the public service commissioner is “welcome, but doesn’t go far enough”.
Given today’s revelations … it is clearly time for new leadership at the Department of Home Affairs.
Updated
Dutton says Pezzullo a ‘thoroughly professional’ bureaucrat as leaked texts emerge
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has described Mike Pezzullo as a “thoroughly professional” bureaucrat who faithfully served both sides of politics.
It comes as leaked text messages allegedly between Pezzullo, the home affairs department secretary, and Scott Briggs, a Liberal party businessman and known associate of Scott Morrison, were published today by Nine newspapers.
Dutton was the home affairs minister for nearly four years between 2017 and 2021 while Pezzullo served as his department secretary.
In Moree on Monday, the opposition leader said:
He conducted himself in a thoroughly professional way in my dealings with him, and that was my experience of dealing with Mr Pezzullo.
Asked if he should remain in the job, Dutton said there was an investigation under way and it was a matter for the federal government.
If the prime minister doesn’t have confidence in Mr Pezzullo, he should say so. This is an issue for the government to work out.
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, this morning confirmed she had referred the media reports to the Australian public service commission for investigation.
Updated
Law Council reiterates support for Indigenous voice, calling it 'just and legally sound'
The Law Council of Australia has again backed the Indigenous voice to parliament, calling it “legally safe” and urging voters to get fully informed about the proposal for the referendum.
The Law Council president, Luke Murphy, said in a statement today:
The legal profession is uniquely qualified to assist the Australian community to understand this issue.
We have a responsibility, as a profession, to help people fully understand what is being proposed.
The Law Council put out a statement this morning which “strongly encourages all Australians to read and consider the wording of the proposal closely” and seek information from a trusted source, such as Law Council fact sheets and webinars.
The statement noted that the power of the voice would only be to make representations: “just as bodies such as the Law Council do on a regular basis.”
The Law Council has long considered a constitutionally enshrined Voice as critical to addressing the social and political disempowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Law Council has considered the proposed constitutional amendment, the referendum question, and the referendum process more generally over the past year or so. The Law Council’s view is that the constitutional amendment as proposed is constitutionally orthodox, just, and legally sound.
Updated
Commissioner ‘sick and tired’ of police approach to gay hate crime inquiry
Police have been castigated for their “absolutely unacceptable” approach at an inquiry into gay hate crimes amid renewed criticism of poor record-keeping, AAP reports.
Two former unsolved homicide squad detectives were due to face the NSW inquiry on Monday, but proceedings were temporarily adjourned after counsel assisting Peter Gray said he had received documents from police just 10 minutes before the session.
Commissioner John Sackar told NSW police barrister Anders Mykkeltvedt:
How many times does your client have to be reminded that last-minute production is absolutely unacceptable, it is disruptive of the inquiry’s proceedings.
How many times has this happened? Many times, where documents have been discovered at the last minute.
I’m sick and tired of your client’s attitude in relation to these documents and it is yet again testimony to the fact that I think your client doesn’t know where half its records are.
The inquiry heard the documents were of “central importance” to matters to be covered on Monday, when former detective chief inspector Stewart Leggat and detective sergeant Alicia Taylor were due to give evidence.
The inquiry this week will scrutinise the case of US mathematician Scott Johnson, whose death was later ruled a homicide.
The inquiry, which is examining the deaths of gay people in NSW between 1970 and 2010, is due to report to the government in December.
Updated
Qantas issues market update flagging potential rise in fares
Qantas has published a market update for September, flagging a potential rise in air fares due to fuel costs.
But in slightly better news, the airline is promising more seats will be available to buy with frequent flyer points.
Qantas Group will invest $80m in customer improvements across the 2024 financial year, on top of an already budgeted $150m, aimed at addressing “pain points”. One of the measures will be an increase in the number of seats that can be redeemed with frequent flyer points.
In terms of travel demand, Qantas and Jetstar expect to carry more than 4 million passengers over the September and October school holidays and football finals period.
Fuel prices have increased by around 30% since May this year, including a 10% spike since August, Qantas says.
This is driven by a combination of higher oil prices, higher refiner margins and a lower Australian dollar.
Qantas says it will “continue to absorb these higher costs”, but will continue to monitor fuel prices in the weeks ahead and “adjust” prices if needed.
… if current levels are sustained, [we] will look to adjust its settings.
Any changes would look to balance the recovery of higher costs with the importance of affordable travel in an environment where fares are already elevated.
Updated
Education union welcomes Tafe funding but cautions additional workforce investment required
The Australian Education Union has welcomed additional funding for six Tafe centres of excellence in today’s employment white paper, but said this will require a properly supported teaching workforce.
You can catch the full details of the announcement here:
The AEU’s president, Correna Haythorpe, said there has been an “alarming drop” in apprenticeship completions over the past decade and an “erosion” of Tafe, which has contributed to skills shortages.
… the plans to boost apprenticeships and turbocharge Tafe must be complemented by appropriate investment in and support for the Tafe workforce.
The decade of neglect of Tafe under the previous government has deeply impacted Tafe teachers, who experience unsustainably high workloads, high rates of casualisation and poor pay and conditions. Tafe teaching itself is an area of workforce shortage.
The union said Tafe teachers need better pathways to permanent work, higher pay and to be funded to deliver courses and assess students within paid hours.
Updated
Smoke warning issued in Bundaberg, Queensland
A smoke warning is in place for Ashfield and Woongarra in Bundaberg, Queensland.
People are urged to stay inside and close their windows and doors to avoid potentially harmful smoke.
This comes as firefighters worked to battle a large fire at Ashfield over the weekend.
AVOID SMOKE - Ashfield and Woongarra (Bundaberg) - fire as at 9:06am Monday, 25 September 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) September 24, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/5beXcKfkFa
Updated
Health organisations sign open letter supporting voice
More than 125 health organisations have signed an open letter in support of an Indigenous voice to parliament.
The letter is signed by organisations such as the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Rural Doctors Association, the Health Services Union and more. The letter reads:
We confidently believe that the proposed voice will enhance government decision making about matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ultimately improving health outcomes.
It says that has health professionals, they see “firsthand” the disparity in health outcomes between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The voice is an opportunity for us to make a practical difference, to ensure the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians does not continue to widen.
… Just as a good clinician listens to their patient, a Voice to Parliament is about listening to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
More than 125 health organisations say YES to a Voice to Parliament.
— Mark Butler MP (@Mark_Butler_MP) September 25, 2023
This morning health organisations have published an open letter in support of the Voice to Parliament. pic.twitter.com/LX12QCjUxe
Updated
Updates on suspicious Melbourne care home blaze
Firefighters have rescued 14 people from a fire at a Melbourne care home, with the blaze being treated as suspicious.
Fire Rescue Victoria’s commander, John Dakis, told ABC radio that the scene was chaotic:
Some of the residents were extremely lucky, we were getting calls through triple-0 on [the] scene informing us that there were residents trapped in certain apartments.
You can read more about the blaze here:
Updated
National emergency management agency: Australians must be prepared for disasters other than bushfires
Bushfires are not the only natural disaster on the Australian horizon. The country could feel the “compounding and cascading” impact of cyclones, floods, bushfires and heatwaves all at once.
Brendan Moon, the coordinator general at the national emergency management agency, has warned Australians to keep other natural disasters in mind as the country braces for its worst bushfire season since the disastrous black summer blazes of 2019-20. He told reporters today:
Yes, we are going to experience a warmer, drier spring and summer, but we also should prepare for the possibility of cyclones, floods, bushfires and also heatwaves.
This comes as the first national bushfire preparedness summit is due to kick off at parliament house today.
- from AAP
Updated
Experts say restricting Covid-19 response inquiry to commonwealth level ‘too narrow’
Law experts from Charles Darwin University say the Covid-19 pandemic inquiry must focus on all levels of government to deal effectively with the lessons leaned, not just the commonwealth response.
Dr Guzyal Hill said the terms of reference for the inquiry are “too narrow” because state and territory responses to the pandemic are not examined.
This will mean that as a federation we won’t be able to learn all the necessary lessons from the pandemic.
The pandemic created and exposed an inconsistent patchwork of policies across different states and territories, adding to uncertainty for businesses and individuals.
Dr John Garrick said that states and territories took responsibility for most of the policy developments during the pandemic, and that “rushing into an inquiry about lessons learned in one jurisdiction cannot produce optimal outcomes”.
He credited states and territories for implementing contact tracing and social distancing, maintaining public health services, and promoting the safety of people in aged care, prisons, schools and other institutions.
Covid should have taught Australia the dangers of hasty, heavy-handed regulatory responses. Some of these vital social issues are marginalised or excluded from this critical inquiry.
Updated
Guardian poll tracker places voice support at new low of 40% or below
We have updated our voice polling tracker to include three new national polls released over the weekend – conducted by Newspoll, Redbridge and Freshwater. All three polls have support for the voice at 40% or under, after undecided voters are removed. They bring the trend to a new low of just 41%.
You can read the full story here:
Updated
Collingwood fans say they missed out on grand final tickets due to Ticketek ‘stuff-up’
Die-hard Collingwood members say a ticketing “stuff up” has left them without grand final tickets, but Ticketek said the ballot process ran “without any issue”.
Speaking to 3AW radio, Collingwood priority one member Helen Boyle told Neil Mitchell that she’s missed out on grand final tickets despite paying $1,000 a year and being told grand final tickets are “guaranteed” under her membership.
This week we should be celebrating, soaking up the atmosphere, but yesterday it was pretty depressing not knowing what was going on.
Boyle said she knows of “quite a few priority one members who have missed out”, being told they don’t have sufficient funds. Boyle said she had enough money:
We don’t know [the reason why we missed out] because there’s no one to speak to. Collingwood have not said anything about it, Ticketek are blaming Collingwood and the AFL, so we don’t know.
… A membership is like a contract, you’re promised things and they’ve let us down.
In a statement given to 3AW, Ticketek said:
Ticketek would like to assure all Collingwood members that the ballot process for the AFL grand final ran as planned, and without any issue, and as per the instruction from the AFL, Collingwood football club and the MCG.
Updated
Greens say Pezzullo position ‘untenable’ over public service referral
The home affairs secretary, Michael Pezzullo, has been referred to the public service commissioner after a series of leaked texts call into question whether he made partisan interventions under the Coalition governments.
You can read our full report on this below, for all the details:
Greens senator and the party’s home affairs spokesperson, Nick McKim, told ABC RN that Pezzullo’s position is “completely untenable”.
If he’s not working on his resignation letter to prime minister Albanese, he certainly should be.
McKim said Pezzullo has failed to “accept responsibility” and “understand the principle of accountability”.
There is no doubt now that his position is untenable and if he’s not prepared to step up and do the right thing, then Mr Albanese should step in and act.
McKim argues that Pezzullo thinks he “operates in the political sphere” and this is “a very dangerous thing in a democracy for a public servant to believe”.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, was also asked about the matter on ABC RN, and seemed reluctant to say too much:
I only saw those stories last night and as I understand it, minister Claire O’Neil has referred these issues to the public service commissioner.
He will advise her on this matter and in advance of that, you know, I’m reluctant to kind of get into it.
Updated
Multiple Air Vanuatu flights out of Vanuata cancelled due to ‘engineering requirement’
Hundreds of Australian tourists appear to be stranded in Vanuatu after the airline cancelled dozens of flights since Friday.
On its website, Air Vanuatu has listed a number of services that have been either cancelled or rescheduled. This includes the Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Nadi services.
Air Vanuatu wrote to customers that this is due to an “ongoing engineering requirement”:
Air Vanuatu wishes to inform guests that due to an ongoing engineering requirement on our aircraft a number of our services are being impacted over the coming days we ask that guests continue to check this page for flight updates.
Updated
Greens senator Janet Rice has shared this photo on social media and thanked her supporters in a series of tweets, after announcing she will not stand for Senate preselection and will retire in the first half of 2024.
A decade on from being elected to the senate, I’ve decided it's time to hang up my boots. I won’t be contesting the next election. pic.twitter.com/eQPfvcwKqP
— Janet Rice (@janet_rice) September 24, 2023
Updated
Greens Senator Janet Rice announces retirement a decade after being elected
Greens senator Janet Rice has this morning announced she will not stand for senate preselection. She will retire in the first half of 2024.
In a statement, she said it is “time to pass the baton” after a decade of being elected to the Senate.
It’s been a privilege to work with my Greens colleagues and the community to achieve some huge wins in this time, including marriage equality and the end to native forest logging in Victoria.
I entered the Senate with a mandate to represent Victorians who want to see urgent action on the climate crisis, and who want to see politics work for people, not billionaires and big corporations. Those fights are far from over.
In her statement, Rice highlighted the cost-of-living crisis and said she will “keep fighting in parliament for [her] constituents” until her last moment in the Senate.
[I will keep fighting] for our climate and environment, real action for renters, a human rights based approach to aged care, and building a strong social safety net for everyone who needs it. No one in our rich country should live in poverty or struggle to keep a roof over their head.
Updated
Catholic bishops say issues around voice are moral, not just political
Australia’s Catholic bishops say issues surrounding the proposed Indigenous voice are “not just political” but “moral and ethical”, in a statement ahead of next month’s referendum.
The bishops have renewed their call for people to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and have conversations with others, including First Nations people, and to act in a way that “commits to redressing the disadvantage suffered” by First Nations people and promote “reconciliation for the good not just of some but the whole nation”.
The bishops to not advise people to vote yes or no, but call on people to “see the truth” of what First Nations people “have suffered and the disadvantage many experience to this day”.
Justice demands that we seek to rectify this disadvantage.
We urge all Australians to listen to the hopes and fears of each other.
Bishop Vincent Long said we need to “walk with” First Nations people to. “bring about change for the better – for their people and for all of us”.
Strengthening our relationship with our First Peoples is integral and indeed critical to the strengthening of the whole nation.
Men charged over shining a laser at police chopper
Two men have been charged after allegedly pointing a laser at a police helicopter in two separate incidents in Melbourne, AAP reports.
The first happened in Tarneit in the city’s west at 9.40pm on Sunday, when a light was shone at a chopper several times.
Officers tracked the source of the light back to a residential address and arrested a 36-year-old man.
Hours later, another laser was pointed at a helicopter as it travelled over Werribee.
Shortly after that, officers arrested an 18-year-old St Albans man from a house in Hoppers Crossing.
Both men were charged with endangering the safe operation of an aircraft, reckless conduct endangering life, assaulting an emergency worker and other offences.
RFS commissioner says proposed volunteer firefighter recruitment proposal should not take away from states and territories
On ABC News Breakfast, Rob Rogers was asked about a proposed national community service to boost firefighting recruitment.
The emergency management minister, Murray Watt, said the proposal is the “under consideration” through a home affairs department review. However, he told ABC’s Insiders he “wouldn’t want to commit to obliging people or forcing them to do so” because “it might be possible to do it in a voluntary manner”.
Rogers said we need to understand what that proposal means. What he would like to see is the states and territories efforts supported by the commonwealth:
What I wouldn’t like to see is something done that then takes away from those very people that are doing the work in states and territories.
… There’s only a finite number of people that are interested in doing that and I think probably coming up with schemes to incentivise volunteers and support volunteers, I think, is something that can be done to ensure the viability right across this country.
I don’t have any fixed views on what that would be, but I’d be interested in talking about it and making sure we have a sustainable model for the future.
Updated
NSW RFS commissioner agrees state is ‘better prepared’ for summer than 2019-20, but urges caution
The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, Rob Rogers, spoke to ABC News Breakfast this morning about the first national bushfire preparedness summit which is kicking off at parliament house today.
Rogers agrees with comments made by the emergency management minister, Murray Watt, that Australia is better prepared now than it was heading into the 2019-20 black summer bushfire season.
NSW had a fairly extensive inquiry where its recommended improvements, more aircraft, changing systems, more staff to help with emergency management around the state and those things have been implemented.
So absolutely I’d agree with that. It’s been a trajectory since that fire season of making sure that whilst I - you know, I’m very comfortable that NSW, I believe, did a really good job, but we have also got to try to look at improve and do better next time.
Rogers said it isn’t too late to pick up the speed on hazard reduction burns across the state, and that “all I think it means is we have to be a little bit more careful”.
He said the closer you get to summer and warmer temperatures, the more planning and care that needs to be involved.
We’re back doing hazard reductions again now since this weather cooled down after that really warm period last week.
… we’ll keep doing them whenever we believe it’s safe.
Updated
Kamahl reverses support for Indigenous voice
Australian singer Kamahl has backflipped on his support for the Indigenous voice.
Initially, Kamahl had taken a no stance but last week decided to support the voice, writing online that “I believe YES, is by far the better alternative for Australia and its future”.
During an interview on The Project last night, however, Kamahl said he has re-joined the no camp:
.@OfficialKamahl has made his decision-making journey surrounding the Voice referendum very public, after initially saying he would be backing the No vote, he then said he supported the Yes vote. Now, he will vote no again and he told us how he got to that decision. pic.twitter.com/TJoiaP0WVr
— The Project (@theprojecttv) September 24, 2023
Kamahl said he began with a “flippant no” before being briefly persuaded to vote yes, but now believes he “made a mistake”:
Now 100% I am well and truly committed to saying no.
Call me a hypocrite or uninformed, but I am informed now. Whatever I said before now, wipe it out, let’s start all over again now and forgive me.
Kamahl was fact-checked by the Project panel throughout his interview, after making inaccurate claims about a $40bn figure being paid to the Indigenous community by the government.
Hamish Macdonald said:
I think there was a claim made by Tony Abbott some years ago, that the National Indigenous Australians agency spent $30bn a year.
That‘s been fact checked as false. The government agency says it’s never administered funding of $30bn a year on Indigenous programs, its total budget for 2022-23 was $4.5bn.
After Kamahl’s interview concluded, Macdonald reflected that journalists and broadcasters “have a job to also make sure that what we put on television or in the newspapers is factually sound and correct” during national debates such as this.
Updated
Residents rescued from suspicious apartment block blaze in Melbourne
Residents trapped inside a burning Melbourne care facility have been safely rescued, with the blaze regarded as suspicious, AAP reports.
Many made panicked phone calls to triple zero just before 10pm on Sunday as smoke filled the two-storey building in Mangan Street, Balwyn.
Some residents were unable to leave their homes due to the smoke and were heard coughing while on the line to emergency services operators.
Firefighters rescued 14 people, including seven from balconies.
One was treated for smoke inhalation and another taken to hospital with chest pain.
No one was seriously injured and all people living at the residential care facility have been accounted for.
Detectives are treating the fire as suspicious and the circumstances surrounding the blaze are under investigation.
Thorpe: Price’s comments on colonialism are ‘Liberal-National Coalition rhetoric’
Lidia Thorpe is asked about comments made by no campaigner and senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at the press club, that colonisation hadn’t had long-lasting negative impacts on First Nations people.
She said Price’s comments were “Liberal-National Coalition rhetoric” and demonstrates why we need truth telling.
It’s a Liberal-National Coalition rhetoric and that’s that’s what we need out in the open for this country to understand what we have to deal with.
I think having the Jacinta Prices’ and others like her speaking about colonisation and racism is exactly what we need to rid in this country.
All you yes voters need to come on a journey of truth telling and treaty to eradicate that. We’ve got to eradicate the Pauline Hansons of this country. And the only way to do that is to listen to what they’re saying.
Thorpe clarifies that when she says “eradicate”, she means “get them out of parliament”.
Updated
Lidia Thorpe: ‘crumbs on the table’ from voice campaign ‘are not good enough’
Senator Lidia Thorpe has told ABC RN the voice campaign has been an “absolute nightmare” building up to the referendum.
Our people are hurting more now, I think, than [during] the George Floyd moment. There are communities being torn apart, families are fighting one another over yes or no, and what do we get at the end of the day, … we get crumbs on the table. And that is not good enough.
Thorpe reiterated her stance that the government needs to implement the recommendations of the Deaths in Custody royal commission and Bringing Them Home report.
She said that “nothing changes if it’s a yes or no vote”.
When we have a 1991 royal commission, full of recommendations of solutions from our own people and not one government in 32 years has had the guts to implement [it], nothing changes.
Updated
Watts: ‘unproductive’ to blame states over differing levels of fire preparedness
Emergency management minister Murray Watt just spoke to ABC RN about the upcoming bushfire season, and whether Australia is prepared for what is to come. He is pressed a number of times by the host, Hamish Macdonald, on whether the government has implemented enough recommendations from the royal commission into the black summer fires of 2019-20.
In particular, Macdonald asked Watt whether he accepts the states have not managed fuel loads within forests and national parks effectively, following comments from Kristy McBain. Watt said it’s “understandable” McBain was reflecting the concern of her community.
I know there is a heightened state of anxiety in many regions that went through those black summer bushfires.
He added that “different states have made different levels of progress on those recommendations”.
I’m not going to get into finger pointing or blaming states like we saw from the Morison government [did], that’s completely unproductive.
… I think people also do need to acknowledge the weather that we’ve been through over the last couple of years. States like NSW and Victoria have had such such big flooding through some of the areas that now face fire risk. It was only a couple of months ago.
Updated
Yes23 campaign backs bipartisan committee to implement voice to parliament if referendum succeeds
The Yes23 campaign has welcomed the proposal for a bipartisan parliamentary committee, with co-chairs from Labor and the Coalition, to oversee voice legislation.
Its statement reads:
If there is a successful yes vote on 14 October, this committee will provide a bi-partisan mechanism to oversee the implementation of a voice to parliament.
It will provide an opportunity for the various political parties to work together to put in place the necessary legislation.
The yes23 campaign says a committee from “across the political divide” is a “positive step” to ensure any legislation is subject to a “rigorous” bipartisan process:
This referendum is an opportunity to move Australia forward and unite our nation, and broad parliamentary support in the development of legislation would exemplify this.
Updated
Bushfire preparedness top of mind as spring blazes burn
The first national bushfire preparedness summit will take place at Parliament House on Monday to unite disaster management agencies and ensure a cohesive response to the bushfire season, AAP reports.
During the two-day event, 250 representatives from federal, state and territory governments will convene in Canberra alongside specialists from emergency services, industry and not-for-profit organisations.
A simulated bushfire exercise is among the activities at the summit and will focus on preparedness, response and relief.
It will also examine approaches for vulnerable people including those living with disabilities and Indigenous communities.
Clare O’Neil comments on matter referred to public service commissioner
The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has just released a statement this morning:
I am aware of reporting regarding communications between [Home Affairs secretary] Mr Michael Pezzullo and Mr Scott Briggs.
Last night I referred this matter to the Australian public service commissioner, Dr Gordon de Brouwer.
We will have more on this soon.
Updated
Federal and state governments to determine locations on Tafe centres of excellence
Speaking to ABC RN, treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government will work with the states to determine where the Tafe centres of excellence will go.
He said it is important that people finish school and get additional qualifications to “grab the jobs that our economy will create in the years and decades ahead”.
He was also asked whether school refusal rates will have an impact on the future workforce, and should be looked at during the government’s Covid inquiry. (You can read more on school refusal here).
Chalmers said:
We take responsibility for the education system broadly and obviously, we want to know what we learned from Covid and how we can do things better in the future.
There’s nothing in the way that this review has been set up to prevent the states participating, or to prevent us looking at some of these sorts of things as it relates to commonwealth policy.
Government to push higher apprenticeships in multiple fields and boost Tafe
As my colleague Paul Karp reported this morning, the government will spend an extra $41m in a bid to double higher apprenticeships in the care economy, digitisation and net zero.
These are three priorities identified by the employment white paper, due to be released today.
This funding will see six new centres of excellence built around Australia in a bid to boost Tafe:
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, just spoke to ABC RN about the initiative, and said the centre of excellence are “all about finding the workers that we need for the economy of the future”.
This is on top of a $325m investment that we’ve put forward under the skills agreement for Tafe centres of excellence, and what the new money is all about is recognising that the big opportunities will be in those areas that I mentioned – whether it’s care and support, net zero, adapting and adopting technology – and so the money is to turbocharge those Tafe centres of excellence to really focus on where the big job creating opportunities will be.
Good morning
And welcome to the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll bring you our rolling coverage today.
The government will release its employment white paper today, based on the outcomes of the jobs and skills summit. Yesterday, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flagged that it would include nine new policies.
The first national bushfire preparedness summit will take place at parliament today, AAP is reporting, to unite disaster management agencies and ensure a cohesive response to the bushfire season.
The Yes23 campaign has also released a statement supporting the proposal for a bipartisan parliamentary committee to oversee development of legislation for the voice.
If you see anything that needs attention on the blog, you can send me an email at emily.wind.casual@theguardian.com.
And with that, let’s get started.
