What we learned: Monday 15 January
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s our Monday wrap:
Santos’s $5.8bn Barossa offshore gas project has taken another step forward after the federal court dismissed a legal challenge by a group of Tiwi Islanders to the construction of a pipeline.
Two homes have been destroyed in a fire raging 60km north of Perth which has since been downgraded to a watch and act warning.
The combined wealth of the three richest Australians – Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest and Harry Triguboff – has more than doubled since 2020 at a staggering rate of $1.5m an hour, according to new analysis from Oxfam.
Several Teneriffe residents have blamed “grandstanding” opposition leader, Peter Dutton, for pro-Australia Day vandalism at the local Woolworths, after his calls for a boycott of the company.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, spoke to the media from Adelaide this morning as she prepares to depart for Israel, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates. Wong reiterated that while Australia isn’t a “central player in the Middle East”, it is a “respected voice” and she will be advocating for a pathway out of the conflict.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended the millions of taxpayer dollars given to Tennis Australia during the pandemic after the government yesterday confirmed it forgave a $43m debt to Tennis Australia; while the Age this morning reported a payment of up to $64m.
The mystery source of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine is yet to be found as bricks of the drug continue to wash up on New South Wales beaches and police scour the coastline for clues.
An audit report has found the climate change department is “not well placed” to measure the effectiveness of the federal government’s 2030 and 2050 emissions reductions targets.
A nine-year-old boy is in a critical but stable condition after he was attacked by a crocodile in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu national park on Saturday.
The Department of Home Affairs has been unable to determine who attacked the department’s website in October last year, bringing it down for five hours at the time.
Regional train workers in Victoria will stage industrial action next week, with the rail union locked in negotiations over a pay dispute.
Sydney recorded its wettest 24 hours since last April with 62mm of rain.
Updated
Explanation for asbestos in mulch at Sydney’s Rozelle parklands will ‘come out in due course’, supplier says
The construction boss who runs the company that supplied garden mulch containing asbestos to Sydney’s Rozelle parklands says an explanation for the contamination will “come out in due course” as the environmental watchdog continues its investigation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was on Monday analysing samples from in and around Rozelle parklands after testing found bonded asbestos in 13 locations in mulch provided by Greenlife Resource Recovery.
Transport for NSW said it had analysed 85 samples from the park and surrounding sites “related to” the $3.9bn Rozelle interchange project in the inner west after a child brought home mulch containing bonded asbestos from a playground last week.
More on this story here:
Second home destroyed by bushfires north of Perth
A second home has been destroyed in the fires raging 67km north of Perth in Gingin, the Queesland Fire and Emergency Service has confirmed.
Another home has also been moderately damaged and nine outbuildings and sheds have been destroyed.
The fires in the region are now under control and have been downgraded to a watch and act warning.
Updated
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of possible severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in Queensland’s north and far north, and thunderstorms possible across most of the state.
⛈️Tuesday forecast: severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are possible in the north and far north, and with heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts in the northwest. Thunderstorms are possible across most of the state including #SEQld. Today's warnings: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/WKBqfpOcQA
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 15, 2024
Queensland police release footage appearing to show pro-Australia Day graffiti at Woolworths
Earlier we brought you news that a Woolworths store in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe was hit with pro-Australia Day graffiti and a flare was set off at about 5.10am this morning. Queensland police have now released video footage that appears to show two people spray-painting the Teneriffe Woolworths.
Several local residents have blamed the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, after he advocated for people to boycott the supermarket after it decided to no longer sell Australia Day paraphernalia due to low sales.
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Electric vehicle shipping problems cause a real stink
Australia missed a major electric vehicle milestone last year after a cargo ship carrying the cars was turned around off the coast of Brisbane and returned to China following the discovery of yellow-spotted stink bugs aboard, AAP reports.
Sales of low-emission vehicles had been tipped to top 100,000 for the first time in 2023 after their popularity more than doubled throughout the year, but the ship’s turnback meant the sales fell short.
Many of the cars the cargo ship was carrying were reportedly Tesla Model Ys, though Kia has also confirmed about 1,000 of its vehicles were aboard.
Biosecurity experts say the pest discovery shows the nation’s quarantine system is working, and such high-profile cases could ultimately help protect all Australians from financial harm.
University of Adelaide associate professor Patrick O’Connor said while delays in any imports could be frustrating, the detection would ultimately benefit the entire community:
For something like turning around a ship or delaying access to EVs, there’s a private cost.
But otherwise [the price] could be billions of dollars borne by many individuals over generations and have significant consequences that you can’t foresee.
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Melbourne community reels from death of ‘well loved’ GP allegedly killed by burglars
Tributes are flowing for a “well loved” Melbourne doctor who was killed during a suspected aggravated burglary in Melbourne’s east over the weekend.
A medical centre has identified one of its GPs, Dr Ashley Gordon, as the man whose body was found by police officers on a street in Doncaster at about 5.30am on Saturday.
Victoria police on Monday alleged a 33-year-old Doncaster man was the victim of a burglary.
Box Hill Superclinic’s website said Gordon was “well loved and respected by everyone”.
“We regret to share the shocking news that our beloved colleague has tragically passed away following a home invasion,” a post on the website read.
More on this story here:
Updated
If you’re catching up on today’s news, my colleague Antoun Issa has the top stories here in our afternoon update:
Updated
One home believed to be destroyed and more under threat as fire rages near Perth
At least one home has been destroyed by fires raging to the north of Perth with more lives and properties under threat, AAP reports.
An emergency warning was issued early on Monday for Bindoon, Breera, Gingin, Lennard Brook, Mooliabeenee and Moondah, 60km north of the city.
The DFES commissioner, Darren Klemm, said the fires – which came after days of temperatures cracking 42C – are believed to have been sparked by lightning strikes over the weekend.
Favourable weather conditions overnight enabled fire crews to make significant progress but conditions are predicted to worsen throughout the day.
Klemm told ABC Radio on Monday morning:
As the day heats up, we’re still expecting up to 39C up near Gingin, where that fire is today.
So there is still plenty to do and the community up in and around that area need to remain vigilant.
Updated
Climate change department ‘not well placed’ to assess progress on emissions reductions targets, ANAO finds
The climate change department is “not well placed” to measure the effectiveness of the federal government’s 2030 and 2050 emissions reductions targets, an audit report has found.
The Australian National Audit Office released its report on Monday, finding the department was only “partly effective” in its work to support Australia’s net zero emissions by 2050 target.
Under the Paris Agreement, Australia has committed to a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
But the audit office’s report found the department was “unable to demonstrate” how the Albanese government’s programs and policies were contributing to those targets.
In particular, it found the department was not measuring all aspects of the government’s centrepiece climate plan, Powering Australia, telling auditors it is “a brand used by the government to communicate its program of work” and that it’s not an “organising concept for its work”.
Labor’s Powering Australia plan covers a range of commitments, including its rollout of community batteries, the national electric vehicle strategy, and sets a renewable energy target of 82% by 2030.
The audit report said:
In the absence of a single plan or strategy, [the department] is not well placed to assess the impact of the list of Powering Australia measures or its efforts within the climate change and energy portfolio of work towards Australia’s climate change targets and commitments.
The department was given five recommendations to remedy the gaps and improve transparency, all of which were agreed to.
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‘I have to prioritise’: date for NSW drug summit yet to be set, health minister says
A date for the New South Wales government’s promised drug summit is yet to be set, according to the state health minister, Ryan Park.
Asked on Monday if he would commit to holding the summit this year, he said that was the “intention” of the Minns government.
He said:
The drug summit is a priority but so is a range of other things and so is investing in our healthcare workers and our essential workers.
I understand that this area of public policy is of interest to a lot of people. But also as a minister, I understand that I have to prioritise these issues.
He said he was “certainly sure that is going to happen this year” but a date had not been set:
What I’m not going to do is provide a date at the moment because that hasn’t been locked away … I need to have these discussions with my cabinet colleagues.
Updated
The Bureau of Meteorology’s severe thunderstorm warning for the Northern Rivers has been extended to parts of the Mid North Coast.
Severe Thunderstorms Warning in #Northern Rivers has been extended to parts of #MidNorthCoast and the far northern inland. Bowra #Sugarloaf and #Dorrigo received more than 100 mm since 9am this morning with slow moving showers/storms. Latest warning https://t.co/tYiUXby2yr pic.twitter.com/Ifk0OCbA2G
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 15, 2024
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‘The stuff of fairy tales’, not modern representation: republican movement on Queen Mary ascension
The Australian Republic Movement has weighed into the ascension of Mary Donaldson – now the world’s first Australian-born monarch – to the Danish throne, saying it is “the stuff of medieval fairy tales, not modern representation”.
Chief executive of the Australian Republic Movement, Isaac Jeffrey, said:
Many Australians will feel joy in seeing a local Tassie girl becoming Queen after marrying her handsome Prince, who overnight became King of Denmark. It’s the stuff of fairytales with the gowns and jewels, glitz and glamour to boot. But just like a children’s book, it might be fun to read and look at the pictures, but it’s a long way from how modern stable democracies should choose their representatives.
Mary seems like a great person, someone who could have risen through the ranks of any organisation or of society to become a leader in her own right. It’s a pity she had to leave Australia to become Head of State. Under an Australian republic, a young girl from Tassie could one day rise to become our Aussie Head of State – a position forever blocked to her while we default to the British Monarch.
We’re not commoners or subjects, we’re citizens, we can ask questions and can challenge the status quo. We should be asking if there is a better way. And there is a better way – republic.
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Crocodile attack in Kakadu leaves boy in critical but stable condition
A 9 year old boy is in a critical but stable condition after he was attacked by a crocodile in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu national park on Saturday.
A spokesperson for CareFlight said a rescue helicopter was sent at around 9pm to the site of the attack near Jabiru and transported the boy to the Jabiru community health centre.
The boy was later airlifted to Darwin hospital.
Updated
Queensland university offers delayed further
Over in Queensland, prospective university students have been hit with yet another delay, four days after the January round of offers was initially delayed by the state’s admission body.
Offers were initially meant to land into inboxes at 10am after being delayed last week however this afternoon, the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) published an update to social media thanking applicants for being “patient” in anticipation of the offer round.
We know you’re eager to plan your next steps to tertiary study, however, the QTAC Application portal is locked while we run today’s offer round. Your QTAC Application is still here! When it’s time to check your application we will notify you by email.
If you experience delays getting through to our call centre, please be patient and try again later.
Queenslanders expressed their frustration in the comments, with one asking why QTAC couldn’t advise on release times and why their applications still said “pending”. The January round of offers is the second largest after the December round, with initial offers issued for some courses including medicine.
QTAC was approached for comment.
Updated
Cycling deaths rise among Australians over 60 despite overall decrease
Cycling deaths are rising among Australians aged over 60 despite fatalities decreasing overall, according to new research.
A study led by the University of New South Wales, published on Monday in the journal Injury Prevention, found that – of all cycling deaths in 2022 – 45.7% of those who died were over 60, up from only 8.6% in 1991.
While overall cyclist deaths have decreased by 1% annually over the past three decades, fatalities among those aged 60 years and over had increased by 3.3% annually, the study found.
The researchers identified these trends from analysing 1,294 cycling fatalities recorded between 1991 and 2022 from data reported by the police to state and territory road safety authorities.
Assoc Prof Soufiane Boufous, the lead author of the study and injury epidemiologist and the director of UNSW’s Transport and Road Safety Research Centre, said the fact that older people were frailer was only part of the reason deaths were rising in those aged 60 years and over.
The paper argues the rise was related to the ageing of the population rather than an increase in cycling participation rates among older Australians, as was previously thought.
Updated
Hello, thank you for tuning into our live coverage. I’ll be bringing you the latest updates until this evening.
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, I’ll leave you with Jordyn Beazley to bring you the rest of today’s rolling coverage.
Updated
Home destroyed by fire near Perth
At least one home has been destroyed by fires raging to the north of Perth with more lives and properties under threat, AAP reports.
The Gingin Shire president, Wayne Fewster, said the town – which remained outside the emergency zone – was comfortable but alert.
Investigation teams were yet to confirm the extent of the damage, but Fewster understood at least one property had been destroyed but there were likely to be more. He told ABC Radio:
There’s not just homes but outbuildings, sheds – there’s been quite a bit of damage in certain places.
Homes in Wowra Drive and Lennards Road were under threat by fire, the department of fire and emergency services warned.
Updated
Man dies after e-scooter crash in Brisbane
A man has died after an e-scooter crash in Brisbane at the weekend.
The forensic crash unit was called to Gladstone Road in Highgate Hill on Saturday night after a man crashed an e-scooter on a main road.
The 27-year-old rider was transported to hospital, however died on Sunday night.
Investigators will work to establish how the man sustained his injuries, however they are not seeking other vehicles of interest currently.
Investigations are continuing, and police area appealing to anyone with information or dashcam footage.
Updated
The Bureau of Meteorology has published a severe weather update, focussing on the tropical lows and active monsoon continuing in northern parts of the country:
Severe Weather Update: Tropical lows and active monsoon continues in the north of Australia. Video current: 11:00am ACST 15 Jan 2024. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/ENj8a8449s
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 15, 2024
Government urged to review international student strategy
A new international education strategy is needed due to “shifts in geopolitical relations” and changing student preferences, a major tertiary body has argued.
The Independent Tertiary Council Australia (ITECA) today said it had provided advice to the education minister, Jason Clare, that the post-pandemic environment required changing priorities.
Its chief executive, Troy Williams, pointed to the newly released migration strategy, which attempted to crack down on fraudulent applications and institutions, that made it “increasingly evident” an update to Australia’s strategy for international education was needed.
Revising the strategy is crucial to ensure Australia remains a competitive and appealing destination for international students, adapting to new realities while capitalising on emerging opportunities in a dynamic global international education sector.
In November, Clare released a wide-ranging document detailing Australia’s stronger education ties with India. Williams said there appeared to be a “disconnect” between the document and Australia’s migration strategy. Since its release, there has been an uptick in rejections of Indian student visas.
Williams said visa approvals for Indian students, especially in skills training, remained “below historical averages”.
This inconsistency highlights the need for a more coordinated approach and a new international education strategy.
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No loss of life from bushfires a ‘miracle’, local WA council says
The CEO of Chittering council in Western Australia, Melinda Prinsloo, has said it’s a “miracle” that no one has lost their lives in the bushfires north of Perth.
Speaking to ABC News earlier today, Prinsloo said while it is a “miracle” no one has died given the extent of affected land, there has been some property damage:
We do not know the extent of the property damage. The [Department of Fire and Emergency] teams are in the fire ground now assessing those properties that were in the fire line, and once they have determined the extent of the damage, they will then confirm what exactly has been lost in the fire.
We are very mindful that these are people’s livelihoods and homes and the way in which we break the news to them is very important to the team.
Updated
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the northern rivers region of NSW, with the chance of heavy rainfall developing.
The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in Ballina, Coraki, Alstonville, Evans Head, Woodburn and Maclean.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for HEAVY RAINFALL in parts of the Northern Rivers Forecast District. Locations which may be affected include #Ballina, #Coraki, #Alstonville, #EvansHead, #Woodburn and #Maclean.
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) January 15, 2024
View all warnings: https://t.co/RaDviSeYGW pic.twitter.com/wQIx6Uo4f5
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Hundreds of emergency calls received as Sydney lashed with rain
Emergency services have responded to hundreds of calls for help after rain bucketed down on Sydney and surrounding areas at night, AAP reports.
About 300 calls were received by the NSW State Emergency Service last night and this morning, mostly from Sydney’s storm-hit northern beaches, including the suburbs of Frenchs Forest, Mona Vale and Avalon.
Call-outs included requests to deal with downed trees and leaking rooftops.
Authorities warned slow-moving showers and thunderstorms forecast for today and tomorrow had the potential to cause flash flooding in parts of the state’s mid-north coast and northern rivers region, as well as the far west.
Kurrajong Heights, in the Blue Mountains, recorded one of the state’s highest rainfall totals after receiving 151mm in the 24 hours to this morning.
There were also significant falls in Sydney’s west, including 122mm at North Rocks and 103mm at North Parramatta.
Updated
Bushfire warning for towns near Perth
A bushfire warning for towns north of Perth in Western Australia remains in place, and a community meeting has been scheduled for this afternoon.
The meeting will be held at 2pm (local time) today at the Grandville Civic Centre on Weld Street in Gingin.
An emergency bushfire warning was issued early this morning for Bindoon, Breera, Gingin, Lennard Brook, Mooliabeenee and Moondah. The department of fire and emergency services said anyone in the warning area should leave now.
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Government unable to find source of October cyber-attack
The Department of Home Affairs was unable to determine who attacked the department’s website in October last year, bringing it down for five hours at the time.
As we reported last year, a pro-Russia group claimed credit for the distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attack which took down the home affairs site between 10pm and 3am on 5 and 6 October.
In a response to a question on notice from Senate estimates, the department said an investigation had been completed without being able to determine the source of the attack:
As with most DDoS attacks, the threat actor disguised their activities through the use of multiple IP addresses making the attribution of the origin difficult, if not impossible.
The investigation further confirmed the impact of the DDoS attack was designed to slow the ability of external users to access departmental website information. No information, including personal or sensitive information, was accessed by the threat actor.
The department said since the attack it had “increased security arrangements” and “deployed additional technology to increase the department’s capability to proactively detect and respond to threats”.
Updated
Greens call for Wong to ‘hold Israel to account’ during trip to Middle East
The Greens are continuing to urge the government to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East, as the foreign minister, Penny Wong, departs for the region today.
In a post to X, the deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi, said Wong has the opportunity to “hold Israel to account” during her visit, with more than 23,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 7 October.
She wrote:
Labor must hold Israel to account, and Senator Wong has an opportunity to do so during her visit.
A tour of the occupied territories won’t help Palestinians.
Rather than providing political cover for Israel’s atrocities, the Minister must demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to Israel’s occupation and apartheid.
Updated
MP warns of Dutton’s ‘dangerous realm of divisive politics’
Independent MP Sophie Scamps said the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is “entering a dangerous realm of divisive politics” after his calls to boycott Woolworths.
Last week Dutton called for Australians to boycott Woolworths over its decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise, which it attributed to falling demand.
Today, Queensland police confirmed it is investigating after a Brisbane Woolworths was vandalised with profane messages calling for a boycott.
In a post to X, Scamps said Dutton’s “stunt” during the week is “nothing short of shameful”.
As Political leaders we need to be respectful and value our nation’s enviable social cohesion.
Peter Dutton’s stunt during the week is nothing short of shameful – he’s entering a dangerous realm of divisive politics.
As Political leaders we need to be respectful and value our nation’s enviable social cohesion.
— Dr Sophie Scamps MP (@SophieScamps) January 15, 2024
Peter Dutton’s stunt during the week is nothing short of shameful - he’s entering a dangerous realm of divisive politics#auspol #integrity pic.twitter.com/lEFvpZlteZ
Updated
Latest job ads data suggests labour market is holding up
With employment figures due out on Thursday from the ABS, a lot of the economic chatter this week will focus on how well the labour market is going.
According to data out on Monday from ANZ and Indeed, things were steady in seasonally adjusted terms at the end of 2023 at least as far as job advertisements went:
Job ads data from @ANZ_Research and Indeed showed no sign of a sharp reduction in December. (Economists also expect the jobless rate remained at 3.9% last month.) pic.twitter.com/aw6mahy7gc
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) January 15, 2024
ANZ senior economist, Catherine Birch, said:
ABS job vacancies only declined 0.7% q/q in November, adding to the evidence that while the labour market is easing, there are no signs of a sharp deterioration approaching.
Vacancies per unemployed person declined to 0.68, a two-year low, but this is still double the pre-Covid level.
We see the unemployment rate lifting only modestly in 2024.
The jobless rate was 3.9% in November and CBA’s Belinda Allen expects the December jobless rate to remain at that level:
For December we expect a more modest lift in employment of 20,000, the participation rate to remain at a record high of 67.2% and the unemployment rate to remain steady at 3.9%. We expect the labour market to loosen more materially in 2024.
Federal court dismisses challenge to Santos gas pipeline
Santos’s Barossa offshore gas project has taken another step forward after the federal court dismissed a legal challenge by three Tiwi Islanders to the construction of a pipeline they said could threaten burial grounds and cultural heritage.
The proceedings were filed by the Environmental Defenders Office on behalf of Simon Munkara, a member of the Jikilaruwu clan.
The case alleged Santos had not properly assessed submerged cultural heritage along the route of its Barossa export pipeline, which runs within seven kilometres of Cape Fourcroy on Bathurst Island.
It sought an injunction on pipeline works until Santos submitted a new environmental plan and it was assessed by the offshore petroleum regulator Nopsema.
In a hearing on Monday morning, the court dismissed the application and discharged a temporary injunction that had prevented Santos from commencing construction work in an area on the pipeline route.
The applicants in the case have been ordered to pay Santos’s costs.
Updated
Earlier we brought you news that the police are scouring the coast for clues after cocaine bricks washed up on beaches in NSW.
If you missed it, see the latest on this story here:
Updated
‘No reason for vandalism’: Woolworths
Woolworths says there’s “no reason for vandalism” after one of its Brisbane stores was targeted in advance of Australia Day.
The Teneriffe Woolworths Metro was spray painted with profanity and a call for a boycott.
A Woolworths spokesperson said:
Thankfully no team members or customers were injured as this occurred before the store opened.
We’re grateful to the police and fire brigade who attended. There’s no reason for vandalism and we’ll continue to liaise with Queensland Police.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, called for a boycott after the corporation stopped selling Australia Day merchandise. According to Woolworths that was due to poor sales.
Updated
Police continue to scour NSW coast after 213kg of cocaine recovered
The mystery source of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine is yet to be found as bricks of the drug continue to wash up on NSW beaches and police scour the coastline for clues, AAP reports.
About 213kg of suspected cocaine has been recovered at locations spanning from the south coast to Newcastle since the days before Christmas.
Detectives are working with specialist resources including PolAir and Marine Area Command, as well as Australian border force and Surf Life Saving NSW, to seize any outstanding packages and determine their origin.
Police said in a statement today:
The public are reminded to report any suspicious package to authorities.
In less than one week in late December, 124 barnacle-covered one-kilogram “bricks” of suspected cocaine were retrieved from the surf between Sydney and Newcastle.
Updated
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting slow moving showers or thunderstorms in parts of the NSW mid north coast and northern rivers over the next two days, which could bring localised heavy falls and lead to flash flooding:
Thunderstorms forecast for NSW Mon-Tue: slow moving showers or thunderstorms may bring localised HEAVY FALLS leading to FLASH FLOODING in parts of #MidNorthCoast #NorthernRivers and in the far west. Monitor Warning https://t.co/Ss766eSCrL pic.twitter.com/E6Eq1YOhy2
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 15, 2024
V/Line workers to strike next week over pay
Regional train workers in Victoria will stage industrial action next week, with the rail union locked in negotiations over a pay dispute.
It comes after thousands of commuters were delayed last month after V/Line workers staged a strike over protracted negotiations over a new enterprise agreement.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said employees would walk off the job and shut down the state’s regional rail network for four hours on Thursday, 25 January. The industrial action will take place between 3am-7am and include conductors, train controllers and customer service staff.
The union alleges that since June V/Line is yet to address key concerns it has raised in the negotiations.
Vik Sharma, RTBU branch secretary, says the union will continue to meet with V/Line and would prefer to avoid the strike:
In the current climate of automation, major changes and an uncertain economy, members are fighting for what all workers across Victoria deserve – job security and decent conditions.
Updated
While the majority of NSW is currently experiencing wet weather, the RFS has deployed its large air tanker “Marie Bashir” to Western Australia to help fight bushfires.
The RFS said on X:
Over the coming days, our LAT will be based near Perth, providing assistance to local firefighters as they deal with several large fires.
With the majority of NSW currently experiencing wet weather, the #RFS Large Air Tanker ‘Marie Bashir’ has been deployed to Western Australia. Over the coming days, our LAT will be based near Perth, providing assistance to local firefighters as they deal with several large fires. pic.twitter.com/zSiEhDliIt
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 15, 2024
As we flagged earlier, the combined wealth of the three richest Australians has more than doubled since 2020 according to new analysis from Oxfam.
The report looked at increasing wealth inequality across the world and, using data from Forbes, found the total wealth of Australia’s richest billionaires increased by 70.5% or $120bn between 2020 and 2023.
You can read the full story from Cait Kelly, with all the new data from Oxfam, below:
Here are some more images of Sydney commuters braving the rainy, windy weather this morning:
Woman dies in road crash in Victoria
A 70-year-old woman has died overnight following a crash in the rural Victorian town of Dunach.
Police understand the vehicle was travelling along Ballarat-Maryborough road before it lost control and crashed into a tree around 4.15pm yesterday.
The driver and sole occupant, a 70-year-old Maryborough woman, was airlifted to hospital but died overnight.
The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing, police said.
There have been nine lives lost on Victorian roads so far this year, compared to 13 at the same time last year.
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Some context on the Woolworths vandalism attack
As Andrew Messenger brought us just earlier, Queensland police are investigating after a Brisbane Woolworths was allegedly vandalised calling for a boycott of the supermarket chain, with a flare set off inside.
For some context on this, in case you missed it last week – the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, called for a boycott of Woolworths following its decision to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise.
Woolworths said it made this decision due to a lack of demand from customers. But on social media, Dutton accused the supermarket chain of “pedalling woke agendas” and “trying to cancel Australia Day”. He told 2GB last Thursday:
If [customers] don’t want to celebrate Australia Day, well that’s a decision for them, but I think people should boycott Woolworths… I think until we get common sense out of [them], I don’t think they should be supported by the public.
You can read more about this from Josh Butler below:
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Jacinta Allan says it may be time to reconsider Lord’s Prayer in parliament, citing diversity
The Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says as parliament becomes more diverse it could be time to reconsider reciting the Lord’s Prayer at the start of each sitting day.
Two Labor MPs last week said they would no longer attend the morning prayer due to the pope’s comments about surrogacy. It prompted a debate on whether the prayer was appropriate.
Allan says while she will continue to attend the prayer, which is accompanied by an acknowledgement of country, she sees merit in making the time more inclusive. She said:
We are seeing greater cultural diversity, I think it’s important that we do look at reflecting that in our parliamentary practices.
I’m just one member of parliament. These are matters that are decided by the parliament itself, and we need to be having those broader cross-party discussions, but in my view, and I’ve seen some comments from a number of MPs about the Lord’s Prayer, we don’t need to bring any more division to the floor of the parliament. We have enough of that on any given day.
We need to hold on to that quiet, thoughtful, reflective time that we get in the start of each day to remember why we are there.
Updated
WA Bushfire warning extended over Bindoon townsite
A bushfire warning for towns north of Perth in Western Australia has been re-issued to include the Bindoon townsite.
An emergency warning was issued early this morning for Bindoon, Breera, Gingin, Lennard Brook, Mooliabeenee and Moondah. The department of fire and emergency services said anyone in the warning area should leave now.
If safe to do so, leave west towards Brand Highway and head north to Gingin.
Homes in Wowra Drive and Lennards Road are under threat by fire currently.
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Jacinta Allan defends millions of taxpayer dollars given to Tennis Australia during pandemic
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended the millions of taxpayer dollars given to Tennis Australia during the pandemic. The government yesterday confirmed it forgave a $43m debt to Tennis Australia; while the Age this morning reported a payment of up to $64m.
Allan and her sports and major events minister, Steve Dimopoulos, would not provide a total figure on the support payments – citing commercial in confidence – but said it provided value for taxpayers. At a press conference, Allan said:
[The Australian Open is] one of our key anchors on a major events calendar - we saw yesterday 87,000 people attend the first day, the event on an annual basis brings $357m of economic return to our city and state each and every year.
Dimopoulos said the support meant the city had secured the event for another 10 years:
That’s why our calendar is the envy of the world because we don’t share commercial in confidence information with all and sundry so then they all start competing against us. All I can say to you though, is we came out of these arrangements with 10 more years of best grand slam on this site right here in Melbourne.
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Police investigating after Brisbane Woolworths vandalised and flare discharged
Queensland police are investigating after a Brisbane Woolworths was allegedly vandalised with profane messages calling for a boycott of the supermarket chain this morning.
A spokesperson for Queensland police said they were called to the Teneriffe Woolworths in North Brisbane at about 5.10am on Monday after an alarm was triggered.
Messages including “boycott Woolies” had been spray painted on the building, and a flare set off inside. It was extinguished by firefighters from Fire and Rescue Queensland.
It’s understood that nobody was inside the building at the time, just after dawn. A crime scene has been declared and inquiries are under way, according to the police spokesperson.
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Consultation over resource rent tax announced
The federal government will consult on new legislation to modernise the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) and strengthen anti-avoidance laws for the offshore resources sector.
According to a statement from the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, the proposed changes to anti-avoidance rules would bring them in line with income tax-avoidance rules:
The amendments will ensure PRRT and income tax legislation operate as intended by clarifying that exploration for petroleum excludes feasibility studies. The amendments also tighten the treatment of mining, quarrying and prospecting rights for income tax depreciation purposes.
The resources sector makes a substantial contribution to Australia’s national economic prosperity, including through investment, jobs, energy supply and corporate and other taxes and these changes will ensure this continues.
The reforms will deliver a fairer return to the Australian people from the resources they own, provide certainty to industry and ensure Australia remains a reliable investment partner.
Draft legislation for consultation will be available until 9 February.
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Here are some photos from around Sydney this morning, which has seen its wettest 24 hours since last April with 62mm recorded:
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Arden station – part of Metro tunnel project – completed in North Melbourne
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has just announced Arden station in North Melbourne is complete, marking a major milestone in the metro tunnel project. It’s the first of the five new underground stations to be finished and is now undergoing testing before the tunnel opens.
The government says the line will open in 2025, though the tunnel builder last year let slip it’s on track for September.
Allan said:
Since construction was commenced in 2018, we have seen the excavation of something like 330,000 tonnes of rock and soil, 3,000 lights have been installed and there’s been 104,000 handmade bricks have been hand laid to create this impressive entrance to the new station and just as at Flinders Street station, people say ‘I’ll meet you under the clocks’, in future people will say, ‘I’ll meet you under the the brick arch here at Arden station’.
She says the station is also going to be the “heart” of a new housing precinct, which will be home to 20,000 people by 2051.
Arden station is finished, presser with the premier about to kick off then we’re all heading on a tour. pic.twitter.com/ggndb6glmj
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 14, 2024
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Help decide Australia’s greatest sporting moment!
Voting has officially opened to find Australia’s greatest sporting moment!
Our new Guardian poll has been compiled with the help of hundreds of reader nominations, with a shortlist of 50 iconic moments to chose from. After the votes are tallied, the top 10 will be revealed next Monday when the final round of voting opens.
Cast your vote below!
And for more on what actually makes a great Australian sporting moment, you can read this great piece from Caitlin Cassidy:
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Correction on previous blog post regarding the PM’s response on West Bank settelements
Apologies: there was an error in an earlier blog post (which has now been corrected).
When Anthony Albanese was on ABC Melbourne radio, and was asked a question about whether Australians should be stopped from sending money to the West Bank, his response was:
We have expressed our concern about settlements in the West Bank … this has been a longstanding position of Australian governments because settlements can be an impediment to a two state solution.
Asked if they “can be” or “are” an impediment, Albanese replied:
Are, clearly, as part of any settlement that does require Israel to be continue to be a state within recognised borders, where people can live in peace and security – I want to see that occur. With a Palestinian state, where people can live in peace and security.
And on charitable status:
Well I’m not aware of that issue. So, our position is one of principle on settlements, as something that the Israeli government ... are well aware of. And it’s something the United States, I know President Biden has expressed his concern as well, as have all those who seek a two-state solution.
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Albanese says no plans for federal election in 2024
In his final question on ABC Melbourne radio, Anthony Albanese said he doesn’t have any intention for a federal election this year:
We have three year terms in Australia. That’s a pretty short period compared with every state and territory, and compared with most countries in the world [that] have four or five year periods. So I think that as a principle, governments should try to serve out their their full term.
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Albanese says government will not comment on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
Q: Are you going to take a position on South Africa taking Israel to the International Court accusing them of genocide?
Anthony Albanese:
In general our position tends to be that we don’t comment on matters set up before courts.
We obviously are not a participant in the process, [and] don’t intend to be a participant in the process. What we want is to see a political solution, and that is primarily what the United States has said as well …
We need to have a pathway to security and peace and prosperity in the region … That is the main game that we need to work on, that durable peace that has been absent for far too long.
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PM reiterates calls for humanitarian law to be respected in Israel
Next up, Albanese is asked about the ongoing Middle East conflict and whether it is “reasonable for Israel’s actions to end in the death of this many Palestinians”.
The prime minister said Australia has long called for the protection of innocent lives and for international humanitarian law to be respected.
I think that every loss of innocent life is a tragedy, regardless of whether it is Israeli or Palestinian, and I think that’s an appropriate position for Australia to take.
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PM comments on supermarket inquiry
Turning to Peter Dutton’s calls for a boycott on Woolworths, following their decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise, the prime minister said Dutton needs to explain whether this boycott would be forever and what impact it would have on workers.
Q: Coles and Woolworths have said they are pushing prices not for profiteering but because of inflation. Do you believe that?
Anthony Albanese:
I think the problem for the big supermarket chain is that when people look at the prices that they’re paying off the farmers, and then look at what the prices they’re charging … people can see there’s a discrepancy there.
Albanese said he met with Dr Craig Emerson this morning about the direction of the inquiry he is taking to “make sure that consumers are looked after”.
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PM says Dutton has ‘right-wing negative megaphone on any issue’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking to ABC Melbourne this morning, and first up is asked about the Dunkley byelection which was triggered by the death of Peta Murphy last year. He touted Labor candidate and community leader Jodie Belyea, saying she has a “strong record of standing up for the disadvantaged [and] the underprivileged in the area”.
He is asked about comments made by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, that Labor is “soft on crime” in the context of the Dunkley byelection. Albanese claimed Dutton has an “extreme right-wing negative megaphone on any issue”.
According to [Dutton’s comments], there was no crime 18 months ago, before the change of federal government, we know that that’s not the case. Your listeners know that is not the case.
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Wet weather due for already-drenched Queensland
In more weather news via AAP, northern Australia has been warned to brace for storms and a deluge of rain in the coming days.
A tropical low off the coast of Darwin and monsoonal rains in far north Queensland are expected to bring large volumes of rainfall to already sodden regions.
The Bureau of Meteorology said some areas south of Darwin could experience up to 500mm of rain between Sunday and Wednesday with widespread totals elsewhere in the region totalling 200 to 300mm.
A severe weather warning has been issued for the Top End in the Northern Territory, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, with damaging wind gusts and monsoon squalls also expected.
Significant rainfall over parts of the top end in the coming week...(source: @bom_au) pic.twitter.com/BiNsYrf40U
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) January 14, 2024
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Act immediately warning issued over WA bushfire
An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes and lives north of Perth, with residents told to act immediately to survive.
An emergency warning was issued early this morning for Bindoon, Breera, Gingin, Lennard Brook, Mooliabeenee and Moondah, 60km north of the city.
WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services said:
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
Crews are struggling to contain and control the fire, which is moving in multiple directions and has already burnt about 2,600 hectares. Almost 250 firefighters and support crew are battling the blaze, with aerial support expected to join the fight at first light on Monday.
Residents were told to leave immediately if the way was clear, with an evacuation centre opened at the Bendigo centre recreation grounds on Weld Street in Gingin.
– from AAP
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Sydney records wettest 24 hours since last April with 62mm of rain
Circling back to the Sydney rain and with about half an hour to go before the 9am daily cut off, Sydney’s Observatory Hill had recorded nearly 62mm of rain.
As noted by our own Peter Hannam, that’s the wettest 24 hours for the city since early April last year, and amounts to almost two-thirds of the city’s average rain for January, which is just over 100mm.
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Queensland mayor says urgent need for more crews on the ground in wake of Cyclone Jasper
The mayor of Douglas Shire, Michael Kerr, spoke to the Today show earlier this morning about the ongoing recovery efforts in north Queensland following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
He said there are people in his community who are “exhausted” and “broken” still waiting for assistance. He said it is not a “finger blaming game” – with visits from the premier, emergency management minister and Queensland Reconstruction having taken place – but there is an urgent need for more crews on-the-ground to help clear debris, salvage possessions and rebuild.
I don’t think people truly get an understanding of how isolated these areas are. You’re getting a lot of decisions being made out of Brisbane offices rather than people on the ground up there that can see these communities. There’s big distances between them. There’s a lot of isolation. There’s a lot of nothing in between…
Queensland [is] great at preparing for events. That’s one thing I’ve seen over the last couple of years. But when it comes to the events, that’s after it’s happened, clearly there’s some fallout there that we need to get sorted.
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11-year old dead and two injured after crash in Victoria
An 11-year-old boy has died following a single-vehicle crash in Echuca, Victoria on Sunday.
Police believe a vehicle travelling along the Murray Valley Highway left the road and struck a tree near Mt Terrick Road just after 12.30pm yesterday, subsequently catching fire.
There were three occupants in the car, including the 11-year-old Echuca boy who was taken to hospital with critical injuries but has since died.
A passenger, a 26-year-old Moama woman, died at the scene. The driver, a 23-year-old Echuca man, was airlifted to hospital and remains in a stable condition. He is assisting police with their inquiries.
Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and that detectives will investigate.
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Labor MP calls for ‘consequences’ for Australians supporting illegal settler activity in the West Bank
The Labor MP for Bruce, Julian Hill, is calling on his own government to take a stronger stance against settler activity deemed illegal under international law. He also said Australian citizens should be banned from funding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
In a tweet this morning, Hill wrote:
Firm words & stern finger pointing are not enough. The international community needs to attach consequences for settlers and Israeli authorities of continued illegal settlement activity – Visa bans and other measures.
Australia should also investigate if tax-deductible vehicles can funnel money to support West Bank settler activity, and consider making it illegal for Australians to fund settlement activity.
You can read more from Josh Butler below:
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Wong speaks as she prepares to depart for the Middle East
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, is speaking to the media from Adelaide as she prepares to depart for the Middle East. As Josh Butler brought us earlier, she will visit Israel, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates.
Wong reiterated a point she made previously that while Australia isn’t a “central player in the Middle East”, it is a “respected voice” and she will be advocating for a pathway out of the conflict.
I will be focusing on advocating Australia’s position, our priority on international humanitarian assistance [and] our priority on international humanitarian law.
I will be engaging with many parties in the region.
Obviously this is a conflict which has been devastating and tragic and so many Australians with different perspectives are deeply worried about it.
What I would say to Australians is – we are not a central player in this, but we have a respected voice and we will be using it to advocate ultimately the pathway out of the conflict is something that must be found by the parties to that conflict.
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Wet weather in Sydney today
If you’re commuting to the office in Sydney this morning, remember to bring your umbrella!
The city has received a bucketing this morning and will have a very high chance of showers until late this afternoon and evening. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a thunderstorm early this morning, possibly severe, with rainfall up to 45mm possible.
The rain radar seems to show two weather systems moving in different directions.
This is as glamorous as Sydney will get today.
— tim ritchie (@timritchie) January 14, 2024
Rain and clouds at Darling Harbour and Barangaroo on a damp dawn. pic.twitter.com/CJlQCnBVaO
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Oxfam Australia calls for stage three tax cuts to be scrapped
Circling back to comments made by Oxfam Australia’s chief executive, Lyn Morgain, around the stage-three tax cuts, here is what she said on ABC News Breakfast earlier this morning.
The not-for-profit is calling for an end to – or a scaling back of – the stage-three tax cuts. Morgain descried them as a “travesty” and said:
At a time when members of the Australian community are unhoused as a result of fire, as a result of flood, it seems unacceptable … that we could be giving large benefits to those who already have a great deal. To us, this is simply a very poor policy choice.
This comes as new research from Oxfam found the wealth of the three richest Australians has doubled since 2020, and nearly five billion people around the world have become poorer.
Asked what factors are driving inequality, Morgain said a large part of this is the way financial markets work:
The reality is that in times of crisis, there’s massive public expenditure into markets [and] often times corporations receive what we call windfall benefits [that are] well beyond what you might expect from normal profit.
We’re saying when that happens, that money needs to be clawed back into the community in order to help the community deal with the very circumstances that created it.
Oxfam is calling on the government to impose a windfall profits tax.
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Albanese says crowning of Hobart-born Queen Mary ‘fantastic day’ for all Australians
Finally, Albanese commented on the coronation of Frederik X as Denmark king, and his Hobart-born wife as Queen Mary, after Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication. He said this was a “fantastic day” for Mary, and for Australians:
The world is watching the coronation of Frederik and Mary this morning, and every one of those reports will mention the fact that Mary was a very proud Hobart person before becoming very much proud of her role as the Queen of Denmark, where she has carried herself in a way that I think just brings enormous support and pride to all Australians.
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PM says $15bn reconstruction fund is ‘open for business’ despite inability to apply for it
The prime minister was asked why the $15bn national reconstruction fund is “taking so long”, having passed through the parliament in March last year and being brought into effect in July.
He said multiple times on ABC RN that the fund is “open for business”, despite pushback from the host that there is no way to apply for money on the website currently.
Whether the website is there or not, is it is an interesting point that you’re making, but businesses that are interested in this would have looked at a video from the finance minister Kate Gallagher in November, that set out the investment mandate that was agreed to by the government and the National Reconstruction Fund, which importantly, is an independent body at arm’s length in terms of making those decisions because we want those decisions.
Q: When will the money be available?
Albanese:
The money is available now.
Q: But there’s no application process up at the moment?
Albanese:
I’ll examine the issue of the website, that is a reasonable point that you make. But people who are actually following this and interested in applying will have seen Katie Gallagher’s release setting out what the what the process is.
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PM says position on stage-three tax cuts has not changed
Albanese is asked about comments made by Oxfam Australia’s chief executive, Lyn Morgain, with the not-for-profit calling for the stage-three tax cuts to be abolished. Morgain told ABC News Breakfast earlier that the cuts were a “travesty” and it was “simply a very poor policy choice”.
At a time when members of the Australian community are unhoused as a result of fire, as a result of flood, it seems unacceptable … that we could be giving large benefits to those who already have a great deal.
Responding to her comments, Albanese said the government’s position on the stage-three tax cuts hasn’t changed and pointed to cost-of-living measures his government introduced around Medicare and childcare:
… inequality is an issue and the government has looked at ways in which we can improve that position.
He said the stage-three tax cuts begin at $45,000 and argued this was “important” to note. He said the government would continue to look at “a range of measures” in the lead up to the May budget and were prepared to also take action in between budgets because “we understand that people are doing it really tough out there”.
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Albanese congratulates Lai Ching-te on victory in Taiwanese election
Asked about the Taiwan election, with Lai Ching-te from the pro-sovereignty party elected president, Albanese said Australia supports the democratic process:
We congratulate Mr Lai on his election, as we would have congratulated whoever came out of that democratic process. Australia’s position is we respect these processes and we support the outcomes.
… We’ll continue to work on what is an important relationship, consistent though with the long-standing and bipartisan one China policy that we have.
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PM says Australia is a ‘respected voice’ in the Middle East
Q: Why are you sending the foreign minister to the Middle East at this time?
Anthony Albanese:
The foreign minister is travelling to the Middle East because quite clearly what’s occurring after the Hamas attack on innocent civilians in Israel, and then the devastation that we’ve seen in Gaza, is something that is of concern to the global community.
It is appropriate that Penny Wong travel to Israel, to the Occupied Palestinian territories, to Jordan, as well as to the United Arab Emirates to support the diplomatic efforts that will be required to have a durable peace in the Middle East that is in everyone’s interest.
We are not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice and this visit is about us being able to express our voice, and for Penny Wong, to see firsthand and to have those discussions.
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Albanese says Australian support of airstrikes in Yemen is about sending a message on trade disruptions
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking to ABC RN about Penny Wong’s visit to the Middle East this week.
He begins with commenting on Australia’s support of the US and UK militaries as they launched more than a dozen airstrikes against sites used by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
He said Australia, along with the US and the UK, wants to send a message that the “international community won’t just sit back and allow for this trade to be disrupted, with a potential significant impact on the global economy”.
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Body of missing teenage swimmer found off NSW coast
The body of a teenage boy has been found on the NSW mid north coast after he went missing while swimming.
Emergency services were called to Angourie Green Pool, 5km south of Yamba, around 3pm on Sunday following reports a teenage boy was missing after jumping from a rock ledge.
The body of a 15-year-old boy was found around 10pm, NSW police said, following a search assisted by Surf Lifesavers, the Westpac rescue helicopter and police divers.
He has been formally identified as the missing swimmer. A report will be prepared for coroner.
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Applications open for Housing Australia Future Fund
The federal government has today opened applications under its major housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), for social and affordable homes.
Labor says today “kickstarts the single biggest investment in social and affordable rental housing in more than a decade”, with the HAFF and its national housing accord planned to deliver some 40,000 homes.
The applications include an opportunity for institutional investors (like superannuation funds) to work with government on funding construction. The federal housing minister, Julie Collins, said:
The opening of applications for the Housing Australia Future Fund and national housing accord marks a huge step forward.
These new homes are a critical part of our ambitious housing reform agenda which is working across the board – with more help for homebuyers, more help for renters and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.
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Penny Wong calls for Israel to respect humanitarian law and for Hamas to lay down its arms
In a statement ahead of her departure, Penny Wong also raised concern about the war in Gaza.
Like many of Israel’s friends, Australia has been clear that the way Israel defends itself matters. Israel must respect international humanitarian law and conduct military operations lawfully. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
Australia wants to see steps towards a sustainable ceasefire. That can never be one-sided. It is our view that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism and that Hamas must lay down its arms.
Wong said Australia remained committed to a two-state solution, “where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders”.
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Penny Wong to visit the Middle East this week
Penny Wong will meet Israeli families of hostages taken by Hamas, as well as Palestinians impacted by settler violence in the West Bank, on a politically tricky trip to the Middle East this week.
The foreign minister will visit Jordan, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates this week, flying out to the region today. Her trip will focus on advocating for a pathway out of the war in Gaza, as well as increasing humanitarian aid in the region for besieged Palestinians. Wong will also stress the importance of upholding international law, and the protection of civilians.
The itinerary for Wong’s trip includes meeting her government counterparts in Israel and the Palestinian territories; she will also meet survivors of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks and the families of hostages taken, as well as Palestinian victims of settler violence.
Wong claimed that Australia is “not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice”. In a statement ahead of her departure, the minister said she would push for a “pathway out of this conflict” in Gaza, including increases to humanitarian assistance.
I will express our profound concern that there are increasingly few safe places for Gazans. I will reiterate our call for safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access so that food, water, fuel, medicine and essential assistance to reach people in desperate need, and so civilians can get to safety.
She again stressed Australia continuing to “unequivocally” condemn the Hamas attack, and for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, once more calling for the terror group to “lay down its arms”.
Good morning
And welcome back to another week on the Australia news live blog – I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through today’s rolling coverage.
Making news today: The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will visit the Middle East this week, meeting with Israeli families of hostages taken by Hamas and Palestinians impacted by settler violence in the West Bank. She will visit Jordan, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates, flying out to the region today.
The federal government has today opened applications for social and affordable housing under its major housing policy – the Housing Australia Future Fund (Haff).
We will have more on both of these stories shortly.
Meanwhile, overnight Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king and his Hobart-born wife as Queen Mary after Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication.
See something that needs attention on the blog today? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or send me an email: emily.wind@theguardian.com.
With that, let’s get started.
