What we learned today, Saturday 14 January
That’s where we’ll leave our coverage for today. Thanks very much for sticking with me.
Here’s a recap of the day’s events:
Firefighters in South Australia are preparing for a long night battling an out-of-control blaze near the town of Montacute in the Adelaide Hills. The fire is burning in inaccessible, steep terrain in a local reserve, Black Hill conservation park. Almost 60 firefighting vehicles have been deployed and the Country Fire Service is using water bombers to attack the fire. Residents have been warned they may be in danger.
The NSW opposition leader, Chris Minns, says he doubts Dominic Perrottet’s admissions he wore a Nazi uniform to his 21st birthday will affect the upcoming state election. Minns says the premier made a mistake and has apologised to the Jewish community.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the government’s changes to a mechanism to lower greenhouse gas emissions from major emitters strike the right balance. The changes have been criticised for allowing emitters to rely heavily on buying offsets, rather than forcing genuine decarbonisation. Albanese said: “We’ve got the balance right. And I’d say to those people in the parliament that they should listen to what industry are saying, listen to what economists are saying as well.”
The body of Cardinal George Pell is lying in state in a dark brown coffin on the floor of the small Church of St Stephen of the Abyssinians in Vatican City. Early on Friday in the Vatican, Reuters reported about 20 people were seen kneeling in prayer in the church when it opened for 10 hours of lying in state. Parts of the church date back to the fifth century.
Updated
Body of missing bushwalker found on NSW Central Coast
The body of a missing bushwalker has been found on the New South Wales Central Coast, police believe.
NSW police say:
Just after 8pm (Friday 13 January 2023), officers from Brisbane Water Police District were notified that a 78-year-old woman became lost while bushwalking on a trail.
Police were told the woman – who is visiting from the USA – was in bushland in the vicinity of Middle Head, between Pearl and Patonga Beach.
A multi-agency search of the area immediately commenced, with assistance from the Dog Unit, PolAir, Marine Area Command, Surf Life Saving NSW, NSW Ambulance, the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter and Marine Rescue.
The search was suspended about 3am and resumed this morning along the coast line, in the bushland and from the air.
During the search today (Saturday 14 January 2023), a body, believed to be that of the missing woman, was sighted by PolAir in Patonga before being retrieved by ground crews.
The body is yet to be formally identified.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Updated
Man dies in collision on Queensland’s Tamborine Mountain Road
Queensland police say a 61-year-old man has died in a collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle on the Tamborine Mountain this morning.
Police said in a statement:
Initial investigations indicate just before 10.45am on Tamborine Mountain Road a crash has occurred involving a motorcycle and vehicle.
The motorcyclist, a 61-year-old Ipswich man, died at the scene.
Four occupants in the vehicle were not physically injured.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage in the area at the time is urged to contact police.
Updated
Queensland police officer charged with computer hacking and misuse of information
A Queensland police officer has been charged with computer hacking and misuse and the improper disclosure of information.
The 26-year-old constable from Queensland’s central region has been served with a notice to appear in court over the alleged offences. He has been suspended from duty and is expected to appear in Proserpine magistrates court on 16 January.
In a statement, Queensland police said:
In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, we have undertaken to inform the public when an officer faces serious allegations of misconduct.
This does not mean that the allegations against the officer have been substantiated.
Updated
We have activated the Australian Govt Disaster Recovery Payment for residents of Derby-West Kimberley Shire (incl Fitzroy Crossing) who have suffered significant flood damage. $1000 per eligible adult, $400 per child. Apply here: https://t.co/sbyGkXv7ls
— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) January 14, 2023
Firefighters battle out-of-control bushfire in the Adelaide Hills
Firefighters are continuing to battle an out-of-control bushfire in the Adelaide Hills, near the town of Montacute.
The Country Fire Service has just issued a new update. It says 59 fire trucks and nine aircraft, including water bombers, are now responding to the blaze.
The CFS, supported by SA Police, SA Metropolitan Fire Service and Dept of Environment and Water are responding to a scrub fire in the Black Hill Conservation Park off Gorge Road, Montacute.
The fire is burning freely in steep inaccessible terrain within the Black Hill Conservation Park.
There is currently a warning message issued for this fire. Refer to the CFS website for the most up to date warning information.
Approximately 59 fire trucks supported by 9 aircraft including fire bombers and observation aircraft are working to contain the fire within the conservation park.
Gorge Road remains closed to the public between the intersections of Kirkevue Road and Corkscrew Road.
Corkscrew Road is closed between Gorge Road and Montacute Road.
For updates visit the CFS website or phone the Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.
Images and vision of the fire show it is throwing up a significant amount of smoke, which some Adelaide residents are saying can be seen from metropolitan Adelaide.
An out-of-control bushfire is burning at Montacute in the Adelaide Hills. The CFS says it is too late to leave the area and to take shelter. Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 5pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/ryM348cO4p
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 14, 2023
Listener Gino at Highbury has shared his view near the Montacute fire.
— FIVEaa (@1395FIVEaa) January 14, 2023
Let us know where you are and what you can see by calling 8223 0000. pic.twitter.com/K3kBLRSQrV
Updated
Child found dead after being reported missing in Northern Territory community
The ABC reports that a young child has been found dead after being reported missing in a remote part of the Northern Territory.
NT police said the child was reported missing on Friday afternoon in the east Arnhem Land region. The child was found dead later in the afternoon near their home, but no cause of death has been released, the ABC reports.
Police are not naming the community involved and would release no further information.
“Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner,” police told the ABC.
Updated
Lawyers reject suggestions of bogus claims being made amid huge asylum backlog
Leading human rights lawyers have rubbished suggestions people are seizing on huge backlogs of asylum applications to lodge bogus claims for protection.
The Refugee Council of Australia, in its submission to a government migration review, said the backlogs facilitated spurious applications for protection from people who could reside in the country for years because of protracted processes.
But Hannah Dickinson, the principal solicitor of the Human Rights Law Program at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said the argument was a red herring. Dickinson told AAP:
The Department of Home Affairs has always had mechanisms for dealing with unmeritorious claims, including prioritising them for faster decisions.
I don’t think any question of unmeritorious claims is really relevant to the backlog.
There is no evidence to suggest any kind of large-scale intentional unmeritorious claims being made. We have application processes for visas because we require people to meet criteria.
- AAP
Updated
Adelaide Hills fire reportedly grew from five to 20 hectares in 10 minutes
The Adelaide Advertiser is reporting that the fire in the Adelaide Hills, which is threatening the town of Montacute, grew from five hectares to 20 hectares in 10 minutes.
The latest update from the CFS says the fire is burning freely in steep inaccessible terrain within the Black Hill conservation park and has spread to 30 hectares.
Smoke is said to be visible from metropolitan Adelaide.
The CFS says it has deployed 15 firetrucks supported by 8 aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft.
Gorge Road has been closed to the public.
A fire at Montacute has CFS in attendance, being supported by firefighters from the Department of Environment and Water. Lots of smoke visible from metro Adelaide. Follow advice and and warnings from https://t.co/r9BJ6duVWz
— Joe Szakacs MP (@joe_szakacs) January 14, 2023
Updated
Flood warnings in place as Queensland’s north coast is battered by rain
Queensland’s north coast is being battered by heavy rain as a monsoon trough brings severe thunderstorms and heavy falls to the region.
An alert for potentially life-threatening flash flooding is in place, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning six-hour rainfall totals between 100 and 180mm are likely along a 630km stretch of coast between Cardwell and Carmila.
Isolated 24-hour totals of more than 300mm are also possible on Saturday and into Sunday, the bureau said.
Flood watch notifications are in place for Mackay, Proserpine, Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Moranbah, Collinsville, Ingham and Ayr.
Several major roads – including the Bruce Highway near Mackay – are also partially closed on Saturday due to flooding.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services urged residents to keep up to date with warnings and alerts and not to attempt to drive through flood waters.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, echoed the caution on Saturday morning.
“Follow the advice of the authorities,” he said to reporters. “Don’t risk driving through flood waters if they’re present. Make sure that you stay safe because that’s the most important thing.”
A police 4WD with an officer inside was swept off the Pump Creek causeway, near Almaden in far north Queensland, on Friday afternoon.
The officer managed to get out of the vehicle as it was swept into Pump Creek and swam a short distance to the creek bank. He was not injured.
– AAP
Updated
South Australian fire burning in Black Hill conservation park
The South Australian Country Fire Service has just issued an update on the fire threatening the small town of Montacute. The CFS says the fire is burning in “steep inaccessible terrain within the Black Hill Conservation Park”.
Here’s the full update:
The CFS, supported by SAPOL and SAMFS is responding to a scrub fire at Gorge Road, Montacute.
The fire is burning freely in steep inaccessible terrain within the Black Hill Conservation Park.
There is currently a Warning Message issued for this fire. Refer to the CFS website for the most up to date warning information.
Approximately 15 firetrucks supported by 8 aircraft including firebombers and observational aircraft are working to contain the fire within the conservation park with additional trucks being responded to the scene.
Gorge Road has been closed to the public.
For updates visit the CFS website (www.cfs.sa.gov.au) or phone the Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.
Updated
Here are some views of the fire threatening the small town of Montacute in the Adelaide Hills, which according to the 2016 census has a population of about 300 people.
View from our street; presuming there’s a fire nearby. Amazing seeing the planes doing there stuff. #Athelstone #Bushfire pic.twitter.com/4wVuyLDDNg
— BBPatz (@BBPatz007) January 14, 2023
Fire crews are responding to a bushfire at Montacute where there are now concerns the fire will jump Gorge Road on the east side near the hairpin. #9News pic.twitter.com/JGLwIE0jxg
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) January 14, 2023
A reporter for the Adelaide Advertiser tweets the fire is burning in the Black Hill conservation park.
Gorge Road at Athelstone is closed while @CFSAlerts tackle a fire in the Black Hill Conservation Park with ground crews and aerial water bombers, including helicopters and planes. Making steady progress. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/LPU6EBLBLa
— Col James (@ColinJamesTiser) January 14, 2023
Updated
Chris Minns doubts Perrottet’s Nazi costume admission will affect NSW election
The NSW opposition leader, Chris Minns, doubts Premier Dominic Perrottet’s admissions he wore a Nazi uniform to his 21st birthday will affect the upcoming state election.
AAP reports that Minns said this morning that Perrottet had made a mistake and had apologised to the Jewish community.
Minns said:
It’s not up to me to absolve him or accept his apology on behalf of the state.
Obviously those people from the Jewish community, returned service men and women, that were victims of the Nazi war machine. They’re responsible for accepting his apology, not me.
You’re asking me whether it will affect the NSW election campaign. My sense is that it won’t.
Earlier this morning, Anthony Albanese said Perrottet’s admission was “a matter for him” and it would be up to others to “make judgments based upon the premier’s explanation”.
Updated
Fire threatens town in Adelaide Hills
People in and around Montacute in the Adelaide Hills have been warned to take shelter now as an out of control bushfire threatens the small town.
A warning about the scrub fire has been issued for people in Gorge Road, Main Ridge Track and Montacute, near Athelstone in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The warning from the South Australian Country Fire Service reads:
You are now in danger. Take shelter now in a solid building. Do not leave or enter this area in a vehicle or on foot. It is too late to leave as the roads will not be safe.
Conditions are dangerous and firefighters are now unable to prevent the fire spreading. Shelter before the fire arrives as heat can kill you well before the flames reach you.
The MONTACUTE fire is uncontrolled. This scrub fire is burning in a South Easterly direction towards Montacute Rd, Montacute. Conditions are continually changing.
Emergency Warning #Bushfire - Take Shelter Now - #MONTACUTE #fire. You are now in danger. Take shelter in a solid building. Do not leave or enter this area in a vehicle or on foot. #EWM ID=0006452 #SAFires https://t.co/TEEsxV97N5
— Country Fire Service (@CFSAlerts) January 14, 2023
Updated
Flooding closes Bruce Highway in far north Queensland
Heavy rain in north Queensland has cut the Bruce Highway in both directions around Mackay. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting heavy rain and flooding in the state’s far north.
🛑 The #BruceHighway is closed in both directions at #Calen, near #Mackay 🛑
— Transport and Main Roads Queensland (@TMRQld) January 13, 2023
Please make sure you plan your trip with https://t.co/3wgqCFEm7E and as always #IfItsFloodedForgetIt! pic.twitter.com/uOk79H776F
Updated
Teen Socceroo sensation Garang Kuol debuts for Scottish team
Socceroos teenage sensation Garang Kuol made his debut overnight for Edinburgh-based Scottish Premiership team Heart of Midlothian.
Kuol, 18, came on the field as a substitute in the 76th minute in Hearts’ home game against St Mirren, which ended 1-0 for Kuol’s new team.
Kuol was loaned to Hearts earlier this week by his parent club, the English Premier League’s Newcastle United.
Robbie Nelson, the Hearts manager, had a few words about the 18-year-old’s debut.
Garang is just a young kid coming in and we thought giving him 15, 20 minutes just to build him in. But you can see already his speed of movement and decision-making is top level.
🤝 The Debutants 🤩 pic.twitter.com/sSv1cvA3m7
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) January 13, 2023
Updated
Thunderstorm warning as north Queensland prepares for flooding
The fears of flooding in far north Queensland have been heightened with a severe weather warning for parts of the north.
Storm forecast 14 Jan: Severe thunderstorms with heavy to intense rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are possible about parts of Northern, central #QLD today. A separate severe weather warning is current between Cardwell and Carmila. Stay up to date: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/DPwLLrwmRL
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 14, 2023
The Bureau of Meteorology has said this morning areas between Cardwell and Carmila could see flash flooding with heavy rainfall expected.
Later today, the bureau says intense falls are possible north of Bowen that could see up to 250mm fall in a six-hour period. Those intense falls could spread south on Sunday.
Updated
Dutton’s approach to Indigenous voice is ‘straight from John Howard’s playbook’
Political reporter Paul Karp has some insights into the opposition leader Peter Dutton’s tactics on the issue of an Indigenous voice to parliament.
The real political dynamite, says Karp, is Dutton’s line that a body could be enacted when parliament resumes. The tactics are straight out of the John Howard playbook.
Updated
'We've got the balance right,' says Albanese on climate policy changes
More from the prime minister’s press conference in Townsville earlier this hour, where he was asked about changes to a mechanism to lower greenhouse gas emissions from major emitters.
There have been some strong criticisms the government’s changes will allow big emitters to rely too much on buying offsets, rather than forcing genuine decarbonisation at their facilities.
Anthony Albanese said:
We’ve got the balance right. And I’d say to those people in the parliament that they should listen to what industry are saying, listen to what economists are saying as well.
What you need to do is to provide a pathway for lowering emissions. That’s what our program of Powering Australia is doing. That’s what our Rewiring the Nation program is doing. That’s what our hydrogen hubs are doing as well. Not disrupting the system so that it loses support because you have disruption and industry not being able to reduce their emissions over the shortest time possible.
We want to work with industry to do that. We’ve got the balance right, which is why both the Coalition and the minor parties should support our program when it goes to the House of Representatives and the Senate.
My colleague Adam Morton has looked this morning at what needs to happen with the Labor government’s climate policies to make them a success.
Updated
'A matter for him': Albanese on NSW premier's Nazi uniform admission
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has responded to the admission of the New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, that he wore a Nazi uniform to his 21st birthday party.
At a press conference just finished in Townsville, Albanese said had been in PNG but had seen the statements from the NSW premier.
I have observed his statements. That’s a matter for him, and then for others who’ll make judgments based upon the premier’s explanation.
Updated
New technique reveals otherwise invisible fingerprints on banknotes
Federal police are using a new forensic technique to reveal otherwise invisible fingerprints on banknotes, allowing them to make breakthroughs in a number of major operations.
The Australian Federal Police says it is using a technique known as vacuum metal deposition (VMD) at its Canberra-based forensics lab. The technique uses the thermal evaporation of metals, typically gold, zinc, or silver, inside a chamber.
The process causes the metals to form thin films and develop invisible fingerprints, which can then be analysed by forensics experts.
AFP forensic coordinator Dr Nathan Scudder said the technique has allowed for breakthroughs in operation ironside, allowing for arrests to be made following 20 seizures of proceeds of crime money. Scudder:
These banknotes were sent to our Majura Forensic Facility to undergo specialist fingerprint development in a purpose built machine.
This is an extremely powerful and sensitive process where precious metals such as gold can actually enhance the fingerprints of individuals that have touched the exhibits, such as banknotes.
Suddenly evidence that was not visible before has been miraculously recovered, thanks to this capability.
George Pell lying in state in Vatican church
The body of Cardinal George Pell is lying in state in a dark brown coffin on the floor of the small Church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians in Vatican city.
Early on Friday in the Vatican, Reuters reports about 20 people were seen kneeling in prayer in the church when it opened for 10 hours of lying in state. Parts of the church date back to the fifth century.
Reuters reports the preparations for a funeral mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican – scheduled for 9.30pm AEDT today – have been overshadowed by revelations Pell was the author of an anonymous memo that branded the papacy of Pope Francis a catastrophe.
Pope Francis praised Pell for his “determination and wisdom” earlier this week, before news broke of the anonymous memo.
Pell’s coffin is just metres away from the Pope’s Santa Marta residence. Pell’s funeral mass will take place across the road from the church.
Cardinal Pell's coffin lies in state in Rome - https://t.co/YAScIzGI75 pic.twitter.com/J5XixZ2nS3
— The Catholic Weekly (@catholic_weekly) January 13, 2023
Plunging in to sewage diving: Australians reveal their weird careers
What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had? Besides, say, being a journalist?
Fancy plunging in to a career as a sewage diver? How about leaping in to a vocation as a frog sniffer? Have you got your eye on being an ocularist making prosthetic eyeballs? Or maybe trying your hand at hand modelling?
Donna Lu has asked five Australians about their odd careers.
Updated
Rental crisis hits asylum seekers
My colleague Stephanie Convery writes how the rental crisis is hitting asylum seekers.
Asylum seekers in Australia are increasingly at risk of homelessness as the rental crisis continues to bite, with more than 70% of people who turn up to a leading asylum seeker support charity in housing distress unable to be placed in accommodation.
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has shifted resources since the pandemic to provide emergency accommodation for asylum seekers who are sleeping rough or at immediate risk of homelessness.
But right now, only 40 of the 150 or so people turning up to the centre for support can be accommodated.
Kanye West “marries” Australian designer: reports
The world’s tabloid online media is awash this morning with reports of an apparent “marriage” between controversial rapper Kanye West – now known as Ye – and Australian designer Bianca Censori.
In recent months Ye has unloaded a flurry of anti-semitic remarks, taken to praising Adolf Hitler and posting an image of a swastika inside a Star of David on his Twitter account – the latter getting him thrown off that social media site.
In case you don’t want to quickly rush away to search for all the news, photographers have reportedly seen the pair wearing wedding rings and they went on a holiday to a “posh Utah resort” which is being reported as a honeymoon.
TMZ reports that: “Despite the wedding ceremony, the union isn’t legal because the pair do not appear to have filed a marriage certificate.”
Elle reports Censori works as a designed at Ye’s company Yeezy.
All this comes after Ye and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian reached a divorce settlement last November.
Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Updated
Morning. Graham Readfearn with you now. Thanks to Martin Farrer for covering the first hour of the day.
Vatican mass for deceased George Pell late on Saturday
The Vatican mass for George Pell will be held at 11.30am local time in Rome today, which is 9.30pm AEDT today.
The mass will be held at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the same church where the funeral for former pope Benedict was held last week, Australian Associated Press reports.
Pope Francis will give a final commendation for Pell, Australia’s most senior Catholic, who died in Rome this week aged 81.
In keeping with tradition for deceased cardinals, the mass will be said by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re, and the Pope will give the final blessing and commendation.
The cardinal will also be remembered in a funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, before being interred at St Mary’s crypt, but no date has been set.
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet and Victoria’s Daniel Andrews ruled out holding state services for the former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney.
Andrews said on Thursday a state funeral or memorial would be distressing for victim-survivors, but the cardinal’s legacy would be for others to judge.
North Queensland on flood alert
After a week that saw devastating floods in Western Australia, Queensland’s north coast is on alert for potentially life-threatening flash flooding as a monsoon trough brings severe thunderstorms and intense downpours to the region.
The Bureau of Meteorology says six-hour rainfall totals between 100 and 180 mm are likely and isolated 24-hour totals of more than 300mm possible along a 450km stretch of coast between Innisfail and Bowen and inland areas on Saturday and into Sunday, Australian Associated Press reports.
Severe Weather Update: Heavy rainfall for north east Australia. Video current: 2:00pm AEST 13 January 2023. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/xbWRG0kIPO
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 13, 2023
It has issued flood watch notifications for Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Innisfail, Ayr, Cardwell, Giru, Abergowrie, Clare and Lucinda. The bureau said:
Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible over small portions of the warning area during this period.
A vast swathe of inland central and northern Queensland could also see moderate to major flooding with 17 catchments placed on flood watch.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services warned residents to keep up to date with warnings and alerts and not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.
Police echoed the caution as the “extraordinary weather” set in over the next several days. In a statement they said:
Trying to navigate these hazards, either in vehicles or on foot, can be treacherous, as water levels rise and fall quickly and very often with little or no warning.”
Emergency services are struggling to comprehend why some motorists ignore notice signs and warnings that are erected on flooded roads.
Updated
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage this Saturday morning. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll get you started with the top stories overnight before my colleague Graham Readfearn takes the wheel.
The travails of New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet continue to dominate the headlines with the focus really now not so much on his donning of the Nazi uniform but who within the Liberal party wanted to use the revelation to damage him. Our state political reporters Michael McGowan and Tamsin Rose report that one insider says it’s a bit like the film Knives Out – “there are about 20 people who it could’ve been and they all had a motive”. Ouch.
The other big story of the week was the death of George Pell and, as the Vatican prepares to honour him later today with a funeral mass at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, we look at the cardinal’s significant political legacy. Pell forged strong links with conservative politicians such as John Howard and Tony Abbott, writes our reporter Christopher Knaus, and “was afforded a degree of power and influence few other religious leaders could boast”.
It’s been another lively night in America with Donald Trump’s business empire, the Trump Organization, sentenced in a New York court to the maximum allowable fine of $1.6m for a tax fraud scheme going back at least 10 years.
One of our Washington reporters, Chris Stein, says that although the fine itself is relatively small for a huge business, the symbolism of a criminal conviction for an entity so close to the former president is significant.
Updated
