What we learned today, Monday 30 October
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories of the day:
Former prime ministers have issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with Jewish and Palestinian communities as the foreign minister, Penny Wong, urged Israel to “listen”.
Extreme fire conditions have been forecast for parts of Queensland tomorrow, with strong westerly winds and hot temperatures accelerating bushfires across the state.
The chief of the New South Wales anti-corruption watchdog has praised the investigation into Gladys Berejiklian and Daryl Maguire for sending “a clear message to all public officials” as the former premier prepares a legal challenge against its findings.
Negotiations over a free trade deal between Australia and the European Union have collapsed.
Qantas has accused the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of ignoring the realities of the aviation industry through its decision to take legal action against the airline for selling thousands of tickets to flights it had already cancelled.
An epidemic thunderstorm asthma warning has been issued for parts of Victoria.
We will see you back here for more news on Tuesday.
Updated
Tree image leads to calls for logging overhaul
A photo of a centuries-old tree on the back of a truck being driven through the centre of Hobart has prompted fresh calls for laws to be changed to protect Tasmania’s native forests from logging.
The image of the logging truck on Macquarie Street, the city’s main south-north thoroughfare, was posted online by the Bob Brown Foundation, an environment group. It is the latest in a series of pictures of large trees being hauled on the state’s roads in recent months.
Protesters have blocked logging in an area near Kermandie, south of Hobart, that scientists say has large trees that could be used for nesting by the critically endangered swift parrot, a migratory species that breeds in Tasmania.
You can read more on that here:
Updated
Most Australians in Gaza want to flee, assistant minister says
Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for defence, has provided a brief update on 88 Australians who remain in Gaza, with many of them seeking to leave. He told Sky News:
There are 88 Australians that are left in Gaza. Many of them are seeking to return to Australia and the government is working as closely as we possibly can with the Israeli government to hopefully allow that to occur.
That’s why you’ve seen in the last week the foreign minister, Penny Wong, call for a humanitarian pause on the actions of the Israeli military to allow important humanitarian supplies food, water, fuel, sanitation products to get to those in need, but also to allow those that want to leave, particularly to come south and escape the combat zone, to do so as quickly as possible.
We’ve been trying to do that through a leeway, through Rafah. We’ll continue to try to do that. But that’s why I think it was important that the prime minister reiterated that we do want humanitarian law upheld here and that humanitarian pause to take place to allow those Australians and indeed other internationals that want to leave the area to get out if they can.
Updated
NSW police dump youth crime strategy
The New South Wales police force has rushed to dump a decades-old policy on “highly intrusive” proactive policing of children after a watchdog warned the strategy was potentially unlawful.
The move comes after a five-year investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), which found the NSW police’s use of the suspect targeting management plan (STMP) was having an “ongoing discriminatory effect” on young people.
After seeing a draft of the LECC’s scathing report – the final version of which was released on Monday – the police force said it had stopped using the scheme for people under 18 last week.
You can read more on that story here:
Even ‘best’ police may not be able to de-escalate some mental health crises, union says
The head of the New South Wales police union has warned there may be some mental health crises which are so severe that even the “best” officers won’t be able to de-escalate them.
The NSW Police Association president, Kevin Morton, gave evidence to the state’s parliamentary inquiry into mental health outpatient services on Monday, when he repeated his calls for health professionals to lead mental health responses.
Morton said:
Unfortunately when we get to mental health incidents, the mere fact that we are there in uniform with a person that is seriously and critically having a mental health episode ... just exacerbates the situation.
And no amount of communication skills, even for the best of officers, may not be able to de-escalate that.
The police union’s manager, Tony Bear, also giving evidence at Monday’s hearing, said officers were worried about criticism including from the state coroner and that they had been used as a “punching bag”.
He said:
When there’s a violent incident, police will be called.
And I think that sometimes in this place we see police used as a bit of a punching bag for incidents that will never stop being police incidents.
The parliamentary inquiry comes with the police use of force in the spotlight, after four vulnerable people were fatally wounded or shot by officers in as many months, leading to calls for a royal commission from affected families.
You can read more on this issue here:
Updated
This is a pretty interesting video showing the extent of bushfires in the Tanami desert, in central Australia, in the past month or so:
Chucked this together to provide an idea of the scale and speed of the fires in the Tanamai over the last few weeks. Watch to the end. pic.twitter.com/tGfHKA7xYl
— Rohan Fisher (@RohanFisher4) October 29, 2023
The latest Afternoon Update newsletter is out. Feast on it here:
Services Australia pauses repayments on thousands of Centrelink debts
Services Australia has paused repayments on thousands of potentially unlawful welfare debts but has warned income support recipients it’s too early to say if their debts will be waived.
In August the commonwealth ombudsman revealed that up to 100,000 debts or potential debts were incorrectly calculated over two decades by “unlawfully apportioning” welfare recipients’ income.
Services Australia responded by pausing the process of raising new debts for affected income earned before December 2020, but has now gone a step further by pausing repayments of those it has already claimed owed it money.
You can read more on that story here:
Updated
Students return to St Andrew’s Cathedral school after coach’s death
Overwhelming the courtyard at St Andrew’s Cathedral school on Monday was a sombre mood and the smell of pollen.
It was the first day of students returning to the Sydney private school grounds since the body of the 21-year-old water polo coach Lilie James was found in the gym bathroom about midnight last Wednesday.
They walked into the school with arms full of bright bouquets to lay at the front door in memory of James. Alongside them, teachers and parents held each other in long embraces.
Read more on this story here:
Updated
Man arrested after death of Bendigo woman taken to hospital
A man arrested in relation to the death of a woman in central Victoria has been taken to hospital, police have confirmed.
He was arrested after the woman’s body was discovered in Kangaroo Flat, a suburb of Bendigo, late on Sunday night.
A police spokesperson confirmed that as the man was in hospital he was unlikely to face further questioning from officers on Monday.
You can read more on that story here:
Updated
Extreme fire conditions forecast for parts of Queensland tomorrow
Extreme fire conditions have been forecast for parts of Queensland tomorrow, with strong westerly winds and hot temperatures accelerating bushfires across the state.
An emergency warning was issued on Monday afternoon for residents along Lucky Road in Tara, west of Brisbane, who have been told to leave immediately.
Up to 44 homes have already been lost in the fires in Queensland’s Western Downs region. Two people have died, including a woman who suffered a cardiac arrest while evacuating her home.
The Rural Fire Service superintendent, John Welke, told reporters on Monday that fire crews had taken advantage of cooler weather over the weekend but conditions would deteriorate on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately we do see some severe deterioration in the weather tomorrow. I would actually say extreme fire danger ... for the Darling Downs tomorrow ... affected by those strong westerly winds ... in the vicinity of 30km [an hour] and quite a warm day.”
Welke urged Queenslanders to follow the fire bans in place for most of the state and reconsider performing outside activities such as welding.
“We implore people to be very conscious that our crews are very tired ... There is a tremendous resourcing drain but ... there’s been tremendous goodwill ... We are going to see some improvement support [of additional crews] starting to flow in later this week from Victoria.”
Updated
Cancer Council says four ‘loopholes’ in tobacco bill must be closed
Cancer Council Australia’s chief executive officer, Prof Tanya Buchanan, and the organisation’s chief policy officer, Dr Michelle Scollo, have told the public hearing into amendments to the Tobacco and Other Products Bill that there are four “loopholes” in the bill that need to be closed.
“If there are loopholes in a piece of legislation, we can be sure that they do get exploited,” Scollo said.
The Cancer Council said the legislation prohibits individuals from entering into sponsorships with the tobacco and vaping industries, but they want the legislation to make it explicit that organisations and corporations are also prohibited.
The Cancer Council is also concerned about wording that bans certain flavours from products, such as menthol. They do not want the industry to try to improve the palatability of products by adding ingredients that aren’t strictly considered “flavours”.
Scollo said she also wants tobacco trade publications barred from including anything that promotes smoking or vaping to retailers when highlighting available products.
The public hearing into the bill is expected to hear from retail and tobacco industry representatives tomorrow.
Updated
Maguire-Berejiklian inquiry sent ‘clear message to all public officials’: Icac chief
The chief of the New South Wales anti-corruption watchdog has praised the investigation into Gladys Berejiklian and Daryl Maguire for sending “a clear message to all public officials” as the former premier prepares a legal challenge against its findings.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption chief commissioner, John Hatzistergos, singled out the investigation into Berejiklian and her ex-boyfriend Maguire in Icac’s annual report, released on Monday.
The publication of the annual report comes six weeks after Berejiklian launched legal action against Icac’s finding that she had engaged in serious corrupt conduct in relation to her secret relationship with the then Wagga Wagga MP.
It also follows a separate review by the independent Icac inspector of the way the watchdog handled the Operation Keppel inquiry into Maguire and Berejiklian, which concluded there was no maladministration and the time taken to release the report was reasonable.
However, the inspector, Gail Furness, did say Icac could not expect to meet future key performance indicators if it continued to work in the same way.
The Icac annual report reveals the watchdog narrowly missed its target of completing 70% of its full-length investigations within 16 months, completing 66% within this time frame.
Hatzistergos said the commission achieved its best KPI result for investigation timeliness in five years.
The Icac annual report also revealed that Hatzistergos was paid $796,128 in the past financial year.
Updated
Milk recalled over potential E coli contamination
Consumers are being warned not to drink a batch of milk from Tempo Foods after it was found to have a potential E coli contamination.
The milk, which was recalled on Friday, had been available at Coles, Woolworths and independent supermarkets in New South Wales and Victoria.
The NSW Food Authority warned consumers not to consume the Tempo Foods Full Cream 2L product and the Light 2.5% 2L product with a use-by date of 31 October and 2 November. The company’s Skim 0% 2L product with a use-by date of 31 October should also not be consumed.
Updated
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma warnings for west and south Gippsland
People with asthma in west and south Gippsland are at a high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma today, Victoria’s acting chief health officer, Christian McGrath, is warning.
The combination of high grass pollen levels and predicted thunderstorms with strong winds mean they may develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time.
The health department advises people with asthma to protect themselves by:
Monitoring the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the VicEmergency app.
Avoid being outdoors in a storm, especially in the winds that come before the storm.
Take preventative medication as directed, even when symptom-free.
Carry a reliever and know how to manage an asthma attack. Follow an asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.
Updated
Licensing would help combat small tobacco black market, expert says
The tobacco control expert and professor of public health Becky Freeman has told the public hearing into the Tobacco Amendments Bill that 90% of tobacco consumption in Australia is not illicit consumption, but legal consumption.
The proposed changes to the bill include updated graphic warnings on packaging, and cracking down on additives that make the products more appealing. The public health experts speaking to the bill are being pressed by Senator Maria Kovacic about whether the changes will increase illicit tobacco use.
Freeman responds that:
Anytime we’ve proposed any reform in tobacco control, the industry will say it causes a black market or that changes inflate the black market.
This is just rhetoric for them, and you will see news stories start to increase around this when you are debating reforms. You’ll see experts come out of the woodwork who all of a sudden know everything about the black market that you’ve never heard of before.
In Australia, we actually have a really straightforward way to combat the black market, which though obviously is a small problem, is not one that we should ignore. But it’s about enforcement and monitoring. It’s about licensing manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
Our two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, do not have appropriate licensing systems for such a dangerous product. If we had better controls on knowing where products were stored, where they were sold, and who they were imported to, we could track where all tobacco products are going.
Updated
Labor withdraws controversial casual work provision in IR bill
The Albanese government has withdrawn one of the most controversial provisions of its closing loopholes industrial relations bill.
The bill contains a new section 359A of the Fair Work Act, creating a civil penalty provision for employers who misrepresent that a job is casual.
On Monday the Australian Hotels Association announced and Guardian Australia confirmed that the government has committed to drop this. It has also agreed to an amendment clarifying that a person who works a regular pattern of work can be a casual if they want to be. The government had said this was always its intent, but employers said it was not the effect of the bill as drafted.
The chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association, Stephen Ferguson, said the commitments from the workplace relations minister, Tony Burke, were “good news for both casuals and employers alike”.
Ferguson said:
The simple fact is many hospitality workers do actually prefer casual employment, given the 25% wage loading and the flexibility to refuse shifts.
Our concern with the original Bill was that employers would no longer be able to provide systemic regular casual employment to those workers who were happy with it. The amendments which have been committed to provide much more certainty and fairness for workers and employers and can be chalked up as a win for both.
They strike the right balance – and we thank Minister Burke for taking the time to listen to our concerns and taking actions to address them.
Updated
Senators press expert on illicit tobacco use
Dr Michelle Scollo, the senior policy adviser on tobacco at Cancer Council Victoria and editor of Australia’s comprehensive online resource, Tobacco in Australia, is being pressed on her response to the Tobacco Bill hearing that there is no evidence tobacco reforms have led to increased illicit tobacco use.
She was referred to a KPMG report that found illicit consumption accounted for 20.4% of Australia’s tobacco consumption in calendar year 2019.
Scollo responds by cautioning senators against relying on the KPMG report data.
The reports are very fancy-looking and very well produced; they contain a lot of very interesting material. However, they’re fatally flawed ... The KPMG report is based on an estimate that 30% of Australians are using chop-chop tobacco ... that is clearly ridiculous, three to four times higher than the levels of use identified in government surveys such as the National Household Drug Survey.
[KPMG] doesn’t report how it selects its sample, but it’s clear they appear to be sampling the same users over and over again rather than getting a representative sample of the entire population.
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on the blog this morning. I’ll leave you with Nino Bucci, who will take you through the rest of today’s rolling coverage. Take care!
Some heartwarming animal news for your Monday afternoon
Fire and Rescue NSW crews have rescued a kitten from the dashboard of a car in Blackett, in Sydney’s west.
The kitten was being driven home for the first time by its new owner yesterday when it got frightened and made a run for it, scampering behind the dashboard and getting stuck.
The crew from Ropes Crossing fire station were quickly on scene, assisted by a technical rescue crew from Blacktown. Firefighters took apart the dash to free the uninjured, ginger kitten during a two-hour rescue operation.
FRNSW said in a statement:
Now named ‘Dashi’ by its owner as a result of its ordeal, it’s again proved no mission is ‘im-paws-ible’ for Fire and Rescue NSW.
BLACKETT | Prepared for Anything...even kittens caught in car dashboards. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have pulled off the 'purr-fect' rescue effort, extricating a cantankerous kitten from the dashboard of a car at Blackett, in Sydne... https://t.co/iubf3BldQ3
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) October 30, 2023
Updated
Western Australia courts Japanese investment in resources, tourism
WA premier Roger Cook has flown to Japan for three days of talks to promote the state and expand trade relationships built on the iron ore and liquid natural gas industries, AAP reports.
Cook says the region wants to invest in WA projects that use the state’s abundant wind and solar energy.
He told reporters at Narita International Airport near Tokyo today:
They know that we’re trusted partners and can stand up a global leading industry, such as we did with iron ore and LNG.
They’re looking for opportunities to invest in Western Australia, to make sure that they seek to secure their energy needs into the future.
Western Australia is on the cusp of a huge opportunity.
Cook and deputy premier Rita Saffioti will also be spruiking WA as a post-COVID pandemic tourism destination for Japanese consumers after All Nippon Airways resumed flights between Tokyo and Perth:
They want great open air. They want wonderful environments. They want culinary experiences, unique Indigenous cultural experiences (and) Western Australia has everything that the Japanese tourists looking for.
So we think there’s a huge opportunity here.
Updated
No evidence tobacco amendments will boost illicit tobacco trade, expert says
Health experts speaking at the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill public hearing have been asked for their response to submissions that proposed amendments to the Tobacco and Other Products Bill could cause an increase in the illicit tobacco trade.
Dr Michelle Scollo, the senior policy adviser on tobacco at Cancer Council Victoria and editor of Australia’s comprehensive online resource, Tobacco in Australia, says there is no evidence for this.
The idea that public health measures have somehow caused increases over the past few years in illicit tobacco is completely without basis. I disagree that this legislation creates new pathways for revenue generation in the illicit market.
This legislation in totality will not increase the price of tobacco products. And just like plain packaging did, it will increase the difficulty of keeping up with the new graphic health warning regime.
Banning menthol and other flavoured cigarettes, as proposed by the amendments to the bill, has been shown to reduce smoking in other countries, the committee heard.
Updated
Independent panel to design Victorian custody alternatives for children aged under 14
The Victorian government has set up an independent review panel to design an alternative to custody for people aged under 14.
Earlier this year, the government announced it will raise the age of criminal responsibility in two stages: the first from 10 to 12 by the end of 2024, and then to 14 within four years, with exceptions for 13 year olds accused of serious crimes.
Minister for children, Lizzie Blandthorn, said as part of the reform, the government will also create a five-person panel to develop an “alternative service model” for at-risk children.
They are:
Panel chair Patricia Faulkner - former secretary of Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services, deputy commissioner of the Victorian royal commission into family violence and chair of Jesuit Social Services.
Former Victorian emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp.
Andrew Jackomos, a proud Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, the inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People and special adviser to the government for Aboriginal self-determination.
Father Joseph Caddy, vicar general of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and formerly chief executive of CatholicCare.
Lisa Ward - deputy chair of Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council and director of the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.
Updated
Australian Greens welcome ICC investigation of war crimes in Israel-Gaza conflict
Greens foreign affairs spokesperson Jordon Steele-John said the Greens welcome an active investigation by the International Criminal Court into “war crimes in Israel & the Palestinian Territories”.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), the senator said:
The Labor government must immediately make clear that they fully support this investigation.
The @Greens welcome active investigation by the International Criminal Court into war crimes in Israel & the Palestinian Territories. The Labor Government must immediately make clear that they fully support this investigation. #ICC #Palestine
— Senator Jordon Steele-John (@SenatorJordon) October 30, 2023
Updated
Health community fears reduction in tobacco-related disease, death may ‘stall’
Public hearings are under way into the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) bill, with health representatives first to have their say.
Proposed amendments to the bill include new measures to regulate the advertising and presentation of tobacco and e-cigarette (vaping) products.
If passed, the bill will see updated graphic warnings on packaging, including extending warnings to individual cigarettes; the size of tobacco packets and products standardised; cracking down on additives that make the products more appealing; and limiting the use of appealing names that imply reduced harm. Vapes will be included.
Cardiologist and chief medical officer of the Heart Foundation, Prof Garry Jennings, opened by saying there is considerable fear within the health community that progress made towards reducing tobacco deaths and other harms “might stall”.
That’s why this legislation is so important.
The very substantial disease burden smoking still places on our community is far from over. It kills around 20,000 Australians each year and it’s the leading cause of preventable death and disability despite all the inroads we’ve made. People who smoke are twice as likely to have a heart attack, they’re three times more likely to have a stroke and they’re up to four times more likely to have diseases of the arteries in their legs, which can lead to gangrene.
The [tobacco] industry and their proxies will fight this bill as they have in the past but I think it’s most important that we keep our momentum going ... It’s clear to everyone that the evidence is irrefutable, the measures we need to take are urgent.
Updated
Queensland’s Tara residents warned to ‘leave immediately’ because of approaching fire
An emergency warning has been issued for residents along Lucky Road in Tara, Queensland amid a fast-moving bushfire.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service is warning residents between Golden Glow Road, Bennett School Road and Lucky Road to leave immediately:
A fast-moving fire is burning near Golden Glow Road.
It is expected to impact Bennett School Road and Golden Glow Road very soon.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.
Multiple warnings are in place for the broader Tara area.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Lucky Road (Tara) - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 1:22pm Monday, 30 October 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 30, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/oW5TFo7FHc
Updated
Wong says world will ‘not accept’ continuing civilian deaths in Gaza
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has urged Israel to “listen” to its friends amid growing international calls for the country to protect civilian lives in Gaza.
Wong also said that civilians “on both sides have been murdered” and warned that the international community would “not accept continuing civilian deaths”.
The comments, which are stronger than she has used before in urging Israel to protect civilians, were made in an interview with ABC Radio’s AM program today. In a previously un-broadcast portion of the interview, Wong said:
This is a dreadful, tragic conflict. We are seeing loss of life. We are seeing civilians on both sides [who] have been murdered.
We have seen civilians up on both sides in a lot of pain, and obviously, we still have Israeli hostages who have been taken, that Hamas is still holding.
What I would say is this, though, when Israel’s friends urge Israel to protect civilian life, as we have, it is critical that Israel listens. We are seeing continuing civilian deaths, which is, I think we saw in the United Nations vote, that the international community will not accept continuing civilian deaths.
The comment was a reference to the UN General Assembly vote on Friday in which 120 countries voted for a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza.
The motion, drafted by Jordan, was supported by nations including New Zealand and France, while only 14 – including the US and Israel – voted no. Australia was among 45 countries – including the UK, Germany, India and Canada – that abstained from voting. Australia abstained on the basis that the motion did not directly condemn Hamas for the 7 October attacks.
Updated
Far North Queensland fire ban extended until Monday, 6 November
A total fire ban in Far North Queensland has been extended and will remain in place until Monday, 6 November due to heightened fire conditions. It includes the following local government areas:
-Aurukun
-Cairns
-Cook
-Douglas
-Hope Vale
-Kowanyama
-Lockhart River
-Mapoon
-Napranum
-Northern Peninsula Area
-Pormpuraaw
-Torres
-Torres Strait
-Weipa
-Wujal Wujal
-Yarrabah
-Cassowary Coast
-Mareeba
-Tablelands
-Croydon
-Etheridge
Updated
Supporters of Palestinian journalist killed in Gaza angry at ABC’s lack of tribute
A sit-in vigil protest will be held outside the ABC Southbank Centre in Melbourne tomorrow at midday, to pay tribute to Palestinian journalist Roshdi Sarraj and more than 20 other journalists killed by Israel’s bombing of Gaza, according to a media alert from the organisers.
A freelance journalist, Roshdi reported for the ABC on a 7.30 report from Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza that “aired in the week he was killed,” the statement reads.
It goes on to say:
Palestinians and many journalists are angered and appalled that the ABC hasn’t paid tribute to Roshdi or even acknowledged him and his work.
Amin Abbas, who says he helped 7.30 access local contacts in Gaza, emailed the ABC. He wrote:
I was expecting the ABC to prioritise paying tribute to such an amazing professional and colleague who’s paid [with] his own life to keep telling us the truth, including us here in Australia. There has never been a time more critical for us to know what is really happening in Gaza and remembering those that we lost ... is the least that we can do to help us protect the brave ones that are still trying to do so.
The group is urging the ABC to pay tribute to Roshdi “and other journalists lost since the start of the war”. They also want protection for “all journalists reporting from Gaza” and they demand that “Israel allow unconditional access for international journalists on the ground”.
Having engaged Roshdi, the ABC has a duty not to pass over his death in silence. If they do so, it raises questions about what other crimes and violence they might be willing to remain silent about. Honouring Roshdi as a Palestinian, a journalist and a human being cannot be put in the ‘too hard’ basket.
A few days before Roshdi’s death, he posted this to social media:
A lack of media coverage from Gaza due to the killing of journalists, the bombing or evacuation of their headquarters, and the blackout of electricity and the internet. However, we are still trying to withstand and continue coverage so the world can see the Israeli crimes in Gaza.
Updated
‘Darker days ahead’ in Middle East, but we mustn’t let it divide us, Clare says
Jason Clare said it was “not lost” on him that the Faith-Based Education Summit, held at Parliament House, may be the first time leaders in the Jewish and Muslim community had been in the same room since conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas.
I fear that there are darker days ahead. That there is more bloodshed to come overseas. And with that bloodshed, more division here. More fear, more grief and more anger … those dead bodies on both sides of the border, they have names.
And a lot of Australians of Jewish background and Muslim background know those names. They know them. That’s why they’re afraid. That’s why they are angry. That’s why they’re asking for a bit of understanding and a bit of compassion.
What’s happening on the other side of the world has an impact here in Australia. We can’t let what’s happening here pull us apart.
That’s why days like today are important. It reminds me that in the midst of all this darkness, that we have more in common than divides us.
Updated
Australian universities should train rabbis, imams, as well as other religious leaders, Clare says
The education minister Jason Clare has called for Australian universities to train rabbis and imams, in addition to priests and ministers.
Speaking at the inaugural Faith-Based Education Summit, brought together by the Australian Christian Higher Education Alliance (ACHEA) today, Clare says he has spoken a “number of times” to leaders in the Jewish and Islamic community about scaling up religious training at Australian institutions.
Institutions here in this room help train teachers, nurses, counsellors, lawyers, care workers. You also train pastors and priests, ministers and monks. But we don’t train rabbis or imams in Australia. Not yet.
I’ve spoken a number of times to leaders in the Jewish community and Islamic community and others, like Murray Norman, CEO of Better Balanced Futures, about this.
I think it’s in our interest as a country to change this. For Australian religious leaders to be able to get the training and qualifications they need here in Australia.
Updated
Arrests made in connection with Sydney crime figure Moradian’s death
Two men have been arrested in Sydney over a fatal shooting of a major underworld crime figure, Alen Moradian, in Bondi Junction earlier this year.
The pair were arrested on Monday by New South Wales Police detectives attached to Taskforce Magnus, a few days after police released CCTV footage of two men they believed could assist them with their investigation into Moradian’s death.
A key player in Australia’s cocaine trade, Moradian, 48, was allegedly shot dead on 27 June while he was sitting in a parked car in an underground car park.
Two other men were charged last month in relation to his alleged murder and are now before the courts.
Moradian’s death was the first in a string of fatal shootings linked to organised crime, which rocked Sydney and prompted police to set up Taskforce Magnus to stamp out the violence.
Updated
Here is the full statement from Australia’s former prime ministers (excluding Paul Keating) condemning the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, and endorsing a two-state solution:
Increased risk from thunderstorms this pollen season for Victorian asthma sufferers
Vic Emergency is warning of a high thunderstorm asthma forecast for West and South Gippsland today:
Attention: @VicGovDH has forecast a HIGH risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma for parts of Victoria. For current warnings and advice visit the following link.
— Melbourne Pollen Count and Forecast (@MelbournePollen) October 30, 2023
Alert generated Monday Oct 30, 12:47 PMhttps://t.co/AQG0QmnMeq pic.twitter.com/m3qh9RDtru
The peak period of concern is from 5pm today.
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma is when a large number of people develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time. It can affect those with asthma or hay fever, especially people who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever.
Updated
‘Good’ journalism competes with the importance of silence and reflection, says Stan Grant
Former ABC journalist professor Stan Grant will call out “gotcha and evasion” in the media while delivering this evening’s opening lecture at ANU’s Crawford Leadership Forum.
Grant, recently appointed as the inaugural director of Monash University’s Constructive Institute Asia Pacific, will reflect on Australia’s no vote for an Indigenous voice to parliament and what that means for democracy.
As the votes were tallied and a no vote was delivered, as Australia decided who we are as a nation, it reminded me of the space between us.
I know the language of the op-ed column, words written for effect. Words written with an audience already in mind. I know the performative parry and thrust of the television interview, too often an exercise in gotcha and evasion. Knowing all this, I have chosen to maintain my silence mostly. Still the noise seeps in.
Grant will tell the audience there is time for discussion and debate but there is also a “place for silence”.
Sometimes, amidst the noise there is even insight. But there is a place for silence. Sacred silence. It doesn’t mean we should not keep striving for good journalism but it had better be good, because we are competing with silence.
Updated
Australian farmers back government’s decision to call it quits on EU trade talks
The National Farmers’ Federation has backed the Australian government’s decision to refuse the European Union’s proposed free trade agreement.
The NFF president, David Jochinke, has endorsed the government’s argument that the EU offer doesn’t give commercially meaningful access to Australian agricultural exporters.
Photograph: David Mariuz/EPA
He says the trade minister, Don Farrell, who held talks with his EU counterpart in Osaka yesterday, has “made the right call for Australia”.
Today’s decision was a hard one, but ultimately it was the right one. We thank Minister Farrell and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt for standing by Australian farmers and walking away from an unacceptable offer.
It’s disappointing the Europeans weren’t willing to put something commercially meaningful on the table. This was always going to be a tough negotiation with no guarantee of an outcome.
What was on offer would have hardwired protectionism into our trading relationship with Europe for another generation. It would have locked our farmers in at a disadvantage to competitors in New Zealand, Canada and South America.
Watt has played down the possibility of a deal until after 2025, but Jochinke has encouraged the government to “maintain dialogue with the EU” and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement “if and when the time is right”.
Jochinke says it “should be clear though to the EU from today’s events that Minister Farrell isn’t willing to throw Aussie farmers under the bus just to get the deal done”.
For the full news wrap, see this story:
Updated
Puppy killed in ‘targeted attack’ in suburban home in Melbourne
Detectives in Melbourne’s north suspect a Staffordshire puppy was killed in a “targeted attack” last month.
Police said in a statement that a family returned to their Lalor home on 30 September to find their “beloved puppy”, named Boss, had been killed.
The owners told police an “unknown person” accessed the rear yard of the Station Street property between 9.30am and 10.30pm.
Once inside, CCTV cameras were moved before Boss “sustained fatal injuries”.
Police are appealing for public assistance after a family returned home to find their beloved puppy deceased in Lalor on 30 September. Police were told an unknown person gained access to the yard of a property in Station Street between 9.30am and 10.30pm.https://t.co/C1hRUiUjGn pic.twitter.com/8R7HO4bRwX
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) October 30, 2023
Updated
Bushfires continue to rage across Queensland, state told to ‘watch and act’
A series of watch and act warnings have been issued for fires across Queensland.
In the Western Downs, it is not safe to return to Tara, Wieambilla, the Gums and Montrose North.
There are similar warnings in place for areas outside Gladstone, including Colosseum and Mount Tom, and Miriam Vale.
West of these towns, there is also a watch and act for Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Rewan and Consuelo.
The warnings were all issued in the past 90 minutes. Full details can be found on the Queensland fire and emergency services website here.
Updated
The latest bushfire news across New South Wales
The bushfire at Nymbodia in the Clarence Valley region, 25km from Grafton, has burnt more than 3,600 hectares.
Fire activity has been benign. However, the weather is predicted to deteriorate early this week, which will prove challenging for firefighters. It remains at “advice” level, with no immediate danger.
Crews are continuing to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hotspots. Glens Creek road is closed.
ADVICE: Glens Creek Rd, Nymboida (Clarence Valley)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 30, 2023
Firefighters, supported by aircraft and heavy machinery, continue to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hotspots across the Glens Creek Rd fireground. For more information: https://t.co/8wmyJZmJMP pic.twitter.com/8LB5vrXn3I
Meanwhile, a fire in Tabulam, 50km from Tenterfield, is at “watch and act” level – meaning there is a heightened level of threat and conditions are changing.
The RFS says the fire is burning in a western direction towards isolated properties, and residents near Ogilvie Drive should prepare now.
Watch and Act: Ogilvie Drive Fire, Tabulum (Tenterfield)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 30, 2023
A fire is burning in the vicinity of Ogilvie Dr, Tabulum, 50km NE of Tenterfield. The fire is burning in a W direction towards isolated properties. Residents near Ogilvie Drive should Prepare Now. https://t.co/SwFG8PAiJ8 pic.twitter.com/DCvPWJNOFx
Updated
Marine rescuers search for young male swimmer off Wollongong coast
A search is underway for a swimmer missing off Fairy Meadow Beach north of Wollongong in NSW’s Illawarra region, AAP reports.
A shoreline and sea search, assisted by a helicopter crew, was underway this morning after an initial search was called off after dark on Sunday.
It’s believed the young man, aged in his 20s, was swimming with friends when he got into trouble in the water on Sunday evening.
Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on two boats and surf life saving members were working alongside NSW Police Marine Area Command to search an area between Flagstaff Point and Towradgi Point.
Vessels were conducting a parallel line search in fair sea conditions, Inspector Stuart Massey of Marine Rescue NSW says in a statement.
Updated
Social media dividing Australia, killing ‘pragmatic’ politics, ex Victorian MP says
Former Labor MP Tim Holding has given an interview to 3AW radio, decrying the “polarised” nature of politics since he left office in 2013.
Holding was a contemporary of the new Victorian premier Jacinta Allan and was considered a rising star, but he quit politics and is now renovating a 235-year-old French mansion with his wife.
Holding said the difference in politics between when he quit and now is “how polarised we’ve all become”. He said social media is driving people “into different camps” beyond just Labor and Liberal, and says Australians are “losing the capacity to respect other people’s opinions”.
We’re losing the capacity to respect other people’s opinions, that other people may have a different view from us, and I think that’s a real menace.
One of the great genius of Australian politics has always been its pragmatic nature. We have compulsory voting, so normally elections are a race to the middle ground, and I think that’s really good for our country. And so it’s really bad to see how polarised we’ve become, and how unable we seem to be to see the other side’s point of view.
I really hope that’s something we can address over time.
Holding was speaking to 3AW radio about his upcoming book Chateau Reawakening: One Couple’s Wild and Wonderful Journey to Restore a Crumbling French Masterpiece.
Updated
Former PMs ‘stand in solidarity’ with Jewish Australians, Palestinian community
The joint statement from all former Australian prime ministers (except Paul Keating) says “there is no more tenaciously evil race hatred than antisemitism”.
Our Australian Jewish community, directly affected by the terrible crimes of Hamas, not only has to endure the loss and suffering of their families in Israel, but now sees these events being used by some to spread ancient hatreds which have inflicted so much suffering on the Jewish people for thousands of years.
No complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech against any Australian, or any Australian community.
We believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time.
Likewise, we stand too with the Australian Palestinian community whose families are dying and suffering in this terrible conflict. They too deserve our love and support.
Our nation’s success depends on us not allowing conflict overseas to turn Australians against each other.
Updated
Former Australian PMs, bar Keating, condemn 7 October attack, endorse two-state solution
All former prime ministers of Australia, except Paul Keating, have co-signed a statement regarding the Israel-Hamas war.
The statement condemns the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, calls for the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas, and for sustained humanitarian access for Palestinians.
On the battlefield in Israel and Gaza we do not presume to give strategic advice to Israel. But the legitimate objective of defeating Hamas must be accompanied by support and protection for the civilian population of Gaza. Israel promises it will do all it can to avoid civilian casualties, we urge it to do so with all of its humanity and skill.
The former prime ministers also endorse a two-state solution “as the basis for long-term lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples”.
The statement concludes:
At this time, more than ever, we must, in the words of the 34th Psalm ‘seek peace and pursue it’. And here at home that is done by defending our Australian values, condemning hate speech and intolerance and respecting the people of Australia in all our diversity.
It is signed by John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.
In a statement yesterday, Keating said he was contacted by Mark Leibler proposing the joint statement and asking for his agreement and signature.
I told Leibler in a written message that I would not be agreeing to join other former prime ministers in authorising the statement.
That remains my position.
Leibler is the former president of the Zionist Federation of Australia and current chairman of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.
Updated
September retail sales perked up 0.9%, tightening rate rise chance
When Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock recently detailed reasons why the central bank might not need to hike its interest rate again, she cited weak demand from households.
Well, September retail turnover numbers out from the ABS just now don’t point to a tightening of purse strings (or phone swiping, if that’s the nearest digital equivalent).
Economists had forecast a 0.3% increase for the month, but the seasonally adjusted number came in at 0.9%, or the highest since January.
The range of forecasts ranged from 0.2% for ANZ to 0.8% from CBA - both of which last week switched to predicting a 7 November RBA rate rise.
Retail sales in September were up 0.9%, or triple the pace economists had tipped. Odds for an RBA rate rise next month will nudge a bit higher. pic.twitter.com/nAqBzf3Ox1
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) October 30, 2023
The rise in August was 0.3%, and 0.6% in July, after revisions higher by the ABS.
There were a few quirks in the September numbers, such as the release of a new smart phone model by Apple, and a boost in pharmacy spending after the introduction of 60-day prescriptions.
Ben Dorber, ABS head of retail statistics, says the “strong rise” in spending was also driven by “the warmer-than-usual start to spring”, which lifted department store turnover 1.7%. Household goods spending rose 1.5% to be among the other notable increases.
With the “hot” inflation figures for the September quarter that we saw last week, the chances of one or perhaps even two more rate rises probably just got a bit higher.
Updated
Queensland Western Downs communities ‘doing it tough’, Chalmers says
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sent his thoughts to the Western Downs community in Queensland amid the ongoing bushfires:
Thinking of the communities doing it tough in the Western Downs battling destructive & dangerous bushfires - particularly the families of the two people who died in tragic circumstances.
If you’re in the area, please be careful …
Thinking of the communities doing it tough in the Western Downs battling destructive & dangerous bushfires - particularly the families of the two people who died in tragic circumstances. If you're in the area, please be careful - follow @QldFES for alerts #auspol
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) October 30, 2023
Updated
NT politician’s speech at tobacco industry conference ‘shameful’, AMA says
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has responded to revelations by Guardian Australia that Northern Territory independent MP Kezia Purick has spoken at the tobacco industry’s flagship conference in South Korea.
It is the first time in more than a decade that a serving Australian politician has spoken at a tobacco industry-funded conference. Attending such events could breach a World Health Organization (WHO) treaty, to which Australia is a signatory.
The Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF) annual conference was held in Seoul from 19 to 21 September, with British American Tobacco, Imperial Brands and the vaping company Juul Labs among its sponsors. Purick did not respond to questions from Guardian Australia about who funded her attendance. Delegates from the tobacco industry pay upwards of $7,000 to attend. She did not respond to questions about why she attended.
AMA president Prof Steve Robson told the ABC on Monday Purick’s attendance at the big tobacco conference was “shameful”.
Having anything to do with the tobacco industry is absolutely disgraceful.
I can’t believe an Australian politician would do that.
Updated
Vanuatu receives Australian hygiene, shelter aid after tropical Cyclone Lola
Meanwhile, humanitarian supplies from Australia have arrived in Vanuatu to support more than 140 families impacted by tropical Cyclone Lola:
Humanitarian supplies from Australia have arrived in Vanuatu, delivered by #YourADF, to support the Vanuatu Government's response to Tropical Cyclone Lola.
— Pat Conroy MP (@PatConroy1) October 30, 2023
Tarpaulins & tool kits for hygiene & shelter will be delivered to more than 140 families impacted by the cyclone 🇻🇺 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/VOkVbg7aUQ
Updated
Gaza civilians desperate but few aid trucks getting through, Save the Children says
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler told ABC TV his organisation has managed to get one truck of supplies through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza in the past 24 hours.
That truck was carrying around 45,000 bottles of water, and there are a small amount of trucks getting through each day.
He said this was “really a drop in the ocean”:
Even prior to this significant escalation of conflict, in Gaza some 80% of the entire population of over two million people were reliant on humanitarian aid just to meet their daily existence, so you can imagine now the compounding effects of this extreme conflict happening as well as very limited supplies of aid getting through means that people are desperate … we have a real humanitarian catastrophe on our hands unfolding before our very eyes.
Earlier, foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said 88 Australians are stuck in Gaza, including those on visas and family members.
Updated
Environmental reforms will lack ‘integrity’ if public can’t comment ahead of changes, advocates say
As my colleague Lisa Cox reported earlier here and here, consultation begins today on planned reforms to Australia’s national environmental protections.
On X (formerly Twitter), environment minister Tanya Plibersek said the government is “determined to get this right” and added:
Experts from more than 30 groups, including environment, business, and industry, will be able to carefully examine the detail to make sure the laws will be as effective as possible.
There will also be a series of public information sessions and an opportunity for the public to share their views.
Our environment laws are broken. We have to rewrite them so they better protect the environment.
As Lisa reported, Plibersek recently announced a changed approach that would involve selective consultation with key groups about the proposed reforms. Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate said the government would fail “a test of integrity” in environmental decision-making if the public did not have the opportunity to provide feedback on the landmark reforms before they are tabled in parliament.
Updated
No bushfire warning for Queensland’s Australia Zoo, of Steve Irwin fame
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service says there is no warning in place for Australia Zoo on the state’s Sunshine Coast as a bushfire burns nearby.
A direction for people to leave amid the fire near the town of Landsborough has been cancelled as conditions have eased, a spokesperson said, with “no current threat there”.
The current advice is to avoid smoke.
Some reports have indicated Australia Zoo, famous because of its association with “crocodile hunter” Steve Irwin, is in the path of the fire, but QFES said there is no warning in place for the zoo.
An Australia Zoo spokesperson said it is actively liaising with QFES and the zoo is “currently safe”.
… we will continue to monitor the situation closely by working with the emergency services.
We also have well established fire protocols, extensive equipment, and trained personnel here at Australia Zoo.
Updated
Sydney pips Melbourne as one of world’s best cities to raise a family, study shows
Sydney has been named in the top five best cities to raise a family, according to new research by Compare the Market.
Out of 38 cities around the world Sydney came fourth, scoring 6.10 out of 10.
It earned the ranking because it has plenty of family-friendly activities and because of Australia’s high national happiness score, a Compare the Market statement says.
Sydney performed well in many of the 12 data points that were analysed, but was held back from landing in the top three by an expensive cost of living.
Melbourne just missed out on the top 10 and came in 11th place. It was also held back by its high cost of living, but there were also fewer things to do with kids and fewer green spaces per 100,000 residents compared with Sydney.
The top three cities in the list overall were Stockholm (6.57 out of 10), Paris (6.55) and Tokyo (6.41).
Updated
Lilie James’ grandmother pays tribute to young woman who was ‘kind to everybody’
Barbara Adelt has paid tribute to her 21-year-old granddaughter Lilie James, who was found dead inside the bathroom of St Andrew’s Cathedral school gymnasium last Wednesday.
She tells 2GB:
Some people come into the world, I think, they are so special, and they don’t stay long. Now, I think that was my granddaughter.
Seeing groups of family, friends, school community and strangers gather at a candle-lit vigil on the weekend in Sydney’s south, Adelt says:
Look Lilie, they are all turning out for you.
She’d love that, she would.
As a little girl, James “had a lot of fun” and was “so kind to everybody else,” Adelt says.
She was the most loyal person. Very loyal. She’s her mum’s daughter.
She was so full of life. She never stopped. She went to university, she worked four and a half days a week, she coached swimming, she coached water polo.
We just can’t understand why this would happen to her.
Updated
NSW minister Dib makes fervent plea for Middle East ceasefire, children to be spared
New South Wales minister, Jihad Dib, fought back tears as he made an impassioned plea for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning, the Bankstown MP and emergency services minister says his community is hurting and he calls for children to be spared.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, everybody’s grieving at the moment. Everybody’s feeling this. Everybody’s searching for a sense of humanity … Everybody grieves and the loss of any innocent life is loss to humanity.
We’ve seen over the past three weeks some things that people really struggle with, people in my community are really struggling. I find it really worrying that communications blackout at the moment and given what we’ve seen over the past three weeks, we can only imagine the horrors that people are going to face.
Dib describes what is happening in Gaza as “collective punishment“ because of the limiting of aid, food, water and safe evacuation routes.
He says:
I’m going to join with people all around the world who call for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds and the release of hostages.
Far too many innocent people have died. Where does it stop? Enough is enough. We need as a humanity to find our humanity and do everything that we can to work towards this ceasefire and the release of hostages. There is nothing to be gained in the loss of more innocent lives.
Updated
Queensland bushfire conditions ease in some areas but dangers remain
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said bushfire conditions have eased slightly in some areas, but the community should expect things to ramp up again on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A huge shout out to crews who worked tirelessly to contain several large fires at the [weekend].
Conditions have eased slightly in some areas but are expected to ramp up again on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A huge shout out to crews who worked tirelessly to contain several large fires at the w/e.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) October 29, 2023
Conditions have eased slightly in some areas but are expected to ramp up again on Tuesday and Wednesday. EVERYONE should pay attention to weather warnings and stay up-to-date with the… pic.twitter.com/F1IuQqt2aV
Updated
Tasmanian all-terrain vehicle accident prompts police reminder of the dangers
Police have issued a safety reminder after a teenager was injured in an all-terrain vehicle crash on a beach, AAP reports.
The 16-year-old boy suffered head injuries when he rolled the ATV he was driving on Sunday afternoon at Beechford beach in northern Tasmania.
His 24-year-old passenger was treated at the scene by paramedics.
It comes after a 16-year-old boy was killed in a quad bike crash on a rural track in the state’s northwest earlier this month.
His death was the ninth in an ATV crash nationwide this year.
Tasmania police constable Braden Green said accidents involving the vehicle were “mostly avoidable”.
Police are requesting members of the public to operate them in a safe manner.
There were 11 ATV deaths across Australia in both 2022 and 2021, after 23 in 2020. National safety standards were introduced in 2021, including making it illegal for new quad bikes to be sold without a rollover protection device.
Updated
St. Andrew’s Cathedral school holds private assembly for Lilie James
Students are filing out of the St Andrew’s school cathedral, many whose faces are wet and blotchy with tears after a private assembly addressing the death of 21-year-old water polo coach Lilie James last Wednesday.
It is the first day students have returned to the elite private school grounds where James was killed. Precautions are being taken – the gymnasium, where James’s body was found, will be out of bounds and a drop-in counselling centre will be run in a library.
Community members embrace and clasp hands gathering around the mass of flower bouquets placed in the school courtyard in James’s memory.
A fundraiser on behalf of the James family has raised almost $15,000 in just four days.
The organiser, friend of the family Daniel Makovec, writes:
Everyone who has been graced with the presence of Lilie will be broken forever.
With tears streaming, numb with disbelief, this new journey is now a long one for the family.
As close family friends, we will be grieving this loss forever.
We look for your support and take this time to reflect on Lilie, Lilie’s love for family and friends.
Updated
New Fire and Rescue NSW commission announced
Meanwhile, Jeremy Fewtrell has been announced as the new commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW:
Emergency services minister Jihad Dib announces Jeremy Fewtrell as the new commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW . #nswpol pic.twitter.com/jHQZdpkQM6
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) October 29, 2023
He was previously the deputy commissioner.
Updated
NSW RFS to open information point at Tenterfield Coles
The NSW RFS will set up a bushfire information point today, providing information on the fires across Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield and Inverell.
There are a number of bush and grass fires across each of these areas, some under control and some burning out of control.
The information point will be at Tenterfield Coles between noon and 6pm today.
A bush fire information point will be set up today, Monday 30 October, to provide information on the fires across the Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield and Inverell areas. The point will be located at Tenterfield Coles - Rouse St & Miles St, Tenterfield between 12:00pm and 6:00pm. pic.twitter.com/baETEC5O7W
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 29, 2023
Updated
Qantas says ACCC’s legal case against airline ignores realities of aviation industry
Qantas has accused the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of ignoring the realities of the aviation industry through its decision to take legal action against the airline for selling thousands of tickets to flights it had already cancelled.
The embattled airline has also said that had it informed customers as soon as their flights had been cancelled, it “would have resulted in a significantly more frustrating customer experience”, and that it wanted to wait until it had rebooked them on alternative services.
Qantas’ claims were revealed in its defence which lawyers filed in the federal court late last week in response to the ACCC’s historic legal case which alleges the airline engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct in advertising and selling tickets for more than 8,000 flights between May and July 2022 that the airline had already cancelled in its system.
The accusations, which were seen to have hastened the exit of former CEO Alan Joyce, include claims that Qantas was continuing to advertise and sell thousands of the tickets on its website for an average of two weeks, and in some cases up to 47 days, after cancelling the flights.
On Monday, Qantas said:
In purely legal terms, the ACCC’s case ignores a fundamental reality and a key condition that applies when airlines sell a ticket. While all airlines work hard to operate flights at their scheduled times, no airline can guarantee that.
Some of the longer delays were due to human error and process failures … This was not done for commercial advantage. All customers who booked a flight that was cancelled were offered an alternative flight as close as possible to their nominated time for no extra cost, or a full refund.
Gina Cass-Gottlieb, chair of the ACCC, has said she wants to see Qantas hit with penalties of at least $250m, which is twice the current record penalty.
You can read more here:
Updated
School community continues to lay flowers for Lilie James
The St Andrew’s school community is continuing to lay flowers and wreaths in memory of 21-year-old Lilie James in the courtyard outside the school in Sydney.
James was found dead in a bathroom attached to the school’s gymnasium last Wednesday night.
To some of these students James was a water polo-coach, and to many others, she was a loved member of the school’s community.
Updated
For all the details on the EU trade negotiations collapsing, our foreign affairs correspondent Daniel Hurst has you covered:
New South Wales: 75 fires burning at ‘advice’ level
There are now 75 fires burning across New South Wales, with 22 not yet contained, according to the Rural Fire Service.
All of the fires are burning at “advice” level – meaning there is no immediate danger, but communities should stay alert in case the situation changes.
The RFS said majority of the state will experience extreme and high fire danger today with hot, dry and windy conditions forecast.
As of 9am, there are 75 fires burning across the state, with 22 not yet contained. All of the fires are burning at an Advice level. With hot, dry and windy conditions forecast, the majority of the state will experience extreme and high fire danger. https://t.co/SwFG8PAiJ8 pic.twitter.com/6V6rNfFfmN
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 29, 2023
Updated
Morning news so far:
If you’re just joining us on the blog, here is a summary of some of the morning’s biggest headlines so far:
On free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union:
Negotiations have collapsed, trade minister Don Farrell and agriculture minister Murray Watt have confirmed.
Europe did not come to the table with a new offer during talks in Osaka over the weekend. Farrell previously said it would take a new deal for Australia to agree.
Shadow trade minister, Kevin Hogan, agreed the deal was not good enough.
On the Israel-Hamas war:
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said 88 Australians are stuck in Gaza, including those on visas and family members, but the government has not been able to get them out because the Rafah border crossing into Egypt is still closed.
Wong said she would always prefer a bipartisanship approach to foreign policy and argued opposition leader Peter Dutton “always wants to find difference”.
Former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer said Australia shouldn’t have abstained from casting a vote in a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza (read more here).
On the prime minister’s visit to China early next month:
Wong said engagement with China is important to manage the relationship wisely, “including the differences we have”. She said the government wants a “more stable relationship” with China.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the visit would be a “test” in “having tough conversations”.
On the fires in Queensland:
There are high fire danger ratings across the state today, and although conditions have eased since yesterday, an escalation is expected again tomorrow.
Victorian appliances and crews will be brought in to help fight the bushfires.
Five “prepare to leave” messages remain in place for fires around Carnarvon, Colosseum, Landsborough and Tara.
Updated
Tariffs on Australian products could be lifted, Watt says, as PM is set to visit China
Agriculture minister Murray Watt remains confident further tariffs on Australian products imposed by China could be lifted, as the prime minister prepares to visit Beijing.
While China has agreed to review its tariffs on Australian wines, Senator Watt said work was still ongoing to ensure other embargos could be dropped as tensions ease with the Asian nation.
He told ABC RN earlier today:
I would like to think that as each of these different commodities is resolved that we can move on to the next one.
Representations have been made on matters like lobster, beef and sheep since we were able to get that agreement with China about wine, so I’m optimistic that we can get there and we’ll keep working hard until we do.
– from AAP
Updated
Government will fail ‘test of integrity’ if environment consultations don’t open to the public, Lock the Gate says
Continued from last post:
Lock the Gate’s head of research and investigations, Georgina Woods, said the government would fail “a test of integrity” in environmental decision-making if the public – in particular regional communities that would likely be directly affected by the laws – did not have the opportunity to provide feedback on the landmark reforms before they were tabled in parliament.
While we would appreciate an opportunity to be briefed on the current environment reforms developed by the department, we can’t participate if that means communities and small organisations around the country miss out on their chance to have a say.
The government said earlier this month the approach it was taking would allow it to get the detail of the laws in front of experts early.
Tanya Plibersek has acknowledged the reform process is complex - with the legislation expected to be more than 1,000 pages - and has said the government is “determined to get it right”. She reiterated this in response to Lock the Gate’s decision and said the consultation commencing today would allow experts to “carefully examine the detail to make sure the laws will be as effective as possible”:
By getting the detail in front of experts early, and using that to inform our broader discussions, we can introduce the laws as soon as possible next year.
She said there would also be a “series of public information sessions and an opportunity for the public to share their views”.
Updated
Consultation begins on legislation to help reform Australia’s failing national environmental protections
Consultation between the government and 30 environment, science and industry groups about the legislation that will underpin planned reforms of Australia’s failing system of national environmental protections begins today.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced the government’s response to a review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act last year. The government had planned to release an exposure draft of new laws intended to halt the unsustainable decline of Australia’s environment by the end of this year.
But that timetable has been pushed out, with Plibersek recently announcing a changed approach that would involve selective consultation with key groups about the proposed reforms.
One organisation – the Lock the Gate Alliance – has decided not to participate in the consultation following government responses to questions in last Monday’s senate estimates hearing for the environment department.
In response to questions from Greens environment spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young, the government said the selective consultation would replace the release of an exposure draft and public consultation that had been proposed before the end of the year. The assistant minister for climate change, Jenny McAllister, told the hearing broader public consultation was now not proposed to occur until a bill was introduced sometime next year.
Updated
EU offer ‘too restrictive … for products like parmesan, feta and prosecco’, shadow trade minister says
Shadow trade minister, Kevin Hogan, said in a statement that it’s “unfortunate” negotiations around a European Union free trade deal have collapsed.
The offer for agriculture, particularly beef, sheep and sugar, was not good enough.
The EU offer on geographical indicators would have also been too restrictive, particularly for products like parmesan, feta and prosecco.
Hogan said the percentage of goods and services Australia exports covered by FTA’s went from 25% to nearly 80% over the Coalition’s time in Government from 2013 to 2022.
Coal, gas, iron ore, agriculture and foreign students are generating our wealth and tax collections. All these sectors have benefited from our trade agreements and that’s a record the Coalition is proud of.
Updated
Our reporter Rafqa Touma is at St Andrews’ this morning, where the smell of flowers is “overwhelming” in the courtyard as the school community leaves bouquets in memory of water polo coach Lilie James:
The smell of flowers is overwhelming in the courtyard outside St Andrew’s this morning, where the school community has gathered with bouquets in memory of 21yo water polo coach Lillie James pic.twitter.com/FY0qooWi6a
— Rafqa Touma (@At_Raf_) October 29, 2023
One message left on a flower bouquets reads:
… those we love never truly leave us. They live forever in our hearts and memories.
Updated
Albanese’s China visit will be a ‘test’ in ‘having tough conservations’ on trade, Bridget McKenzie says
Social services minister Amanda Rishworth gave some details on the prime minister’s upcoming visit to China while speaking on Sunrise this morning.
Rishworth said the visit, scheduled for early November, is “significant”:
As a country and as a government, we’ve been pretty clear that when we disagree with things that China says or does, we will speak out against it. But we will also be very clear that where we can cooperate, we will and I think that’s really important for our national interest.
China is still our largest trading partner and so where we can look at areas where we can cooperate, where we can stabilise the relationship in a way that we can have those honest conversations, that’s actually really important.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie also appeared on the program, and argued Anthony Albanese’s “test” will be seeing whether he can “have those tough conversations”:
This will be a test for the PM. Is it just going to be like Amanda has said – we have the tough conversations – or is he actually going to sit down and tell President Xi [Jinping] the issues, and that Australia, whilst welcoming opening up of trade and a stabilisation of the relationship, is not going to take a backward step in protecting our national interest.
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Victoria has best performing economy in Australia
Victoria now has the best performing economy in the nation while momentum is building in the west, AAP reports.
That’s according to the latest State of the States report from CommSec, which says strong economic activity, solid retail spending and business investment catapulted Victoria to the top of the list for the first time in more than a year.
South Australia came in second followed by New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory.
The quarterly ranking considers retail spending, economic growth, construction, population growth, unemployment, equipment investment, housing finance and dwelling commencements.
Economic activity in Victoria in the last quarter was 7.7% above the four year average while equipment investment was up almost 20% on the decade average, fuelling its rise from fifth to first place.
However, CommSec chief economist Craig James said there wasn’t much of a gap between the top performing economies:
While the lift from fifth to first is surprising, we knew coming into this quarter there was little to separate the economic performance of the states and territories.
We expect Victoria to face challenges from the other economies in the period ahead.
He pointed towards Western Australia, with a strong annual growth rate in three of the eight measures and the nation’s overall greatest relative population growth.
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Victorian fire personnel to assist with Queensland fires
Earlier, the acting deputy commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Joanne Greenfield, spoke to ABC News Breakfast about the ongoing bushfires across the state.
She said crews are still expecting high fire danger ratings today, and although it’s eased since yesterday, an escalation is expected again tomorrow.
We had about 80 fires and as we saw yesterday afternoon when conditions changed and the wind gusted, the fire at Beerwah and Landsborough broke containment lines and the crews did an amazing job to get that back into containment.
We have five prepare to leave messages out for fires, which are watch and act [level] around Caranrvon, Colosseum, still that Landsborough fire and around Tara.
Greenfield said six appliances are expected to arrive from Victoria tonight to provide relief and surge capacity to fight the bushfires.
On 1 November a strike team, incident management team and air support officers are also expected to arrive from Victoria, awaiting final confirmations.
According to the latest count, 39 homes have been lost amid the Queensland bushfires. Greenfield said damage assessments are ongoing “so unfortunately, [the figure] may change”.
… there’s still some areas that we haven’t done full assessments in.
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‘Australia should have voted against’ humanitarian truce in Gaza, Downer says
Circling back to Alexander Downer’s interview on ABC RN:
He was also asked about Australia’s decision to abstain from casting a vote in a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza.
Speaking to ABC RN, the former foreign affairs minister said Australia shouldn’t have abstained, and should have voted against it:
Abstaining is saying we don’t have an opinion, they should have either voted for or against it and I definitely think Australia should have voted against it.
Downer argued that a truce would halt the action against Hamas, giving them “the opportunity to resupply and continue to attack Israel”.
Israel has got to now fight a war against Hamas, they’ve got to go ahead with this war, and they’ve got successfully to the beat Hamas in the interest of their long term security, then they can start talking about a peace settlement with the Palestinian Authority and the broader Palestinian community.
You can’t tolerate a terrorist organisation like Hamas … They’ve got to be wiped out … you’ll never have peace in the Middle East for as long as the Jewish people face an organisation which wants to kill the Jews.
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Sydney school overwhelmed with flowers in memory of Lilie James
The mood is somber outside St Andrew’s school in Sydney’s CBD this morning.
Students and teachers are walking into school with arms full of flowers and wreaths to lay in memory of 21-year-old Lilie James, who was found dead in a bathroom attached to the school’s gymnasium last Wednesday night.
To some of these students James was a water polo-coach. To many others she was a loved member of the Sydney school’s community.
Teachers and parents are clasping each other’s hands and holding each other in long hugs, while young students are helping each other wipe away tears.
One girl carried a water polo ball through the school door, which she was seen asking other students to sign.
In a note to parents on Friday afternoon, the head of the school, Dr Julie McGonigle, said James was a “much-loved” sports assistant.
There are no words for what has occurred. It is like entering a foreign land which possesses no words.
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Woman fatally injured at home, man held after search
A man has been arrested over the death of a woman at a home in the Victorian city of Bendigo where two young children were found by police, AAP reports.
Emergency services attended the Kangaroo Flat home following reports the woman had been injured about 11.50pm on Sunday.
Police officers found the woman unresponsive and she was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Two children of primary-school age were found uninjured at the home, police said.
Early on Monday police said a 44-year-old Junortoun man had been arrested in Harcourt North following a ground search assisted by the police air wing.
A crime scene has been established at the home and homicide squad detectives are investigating.
Downer doubles down on pork-barrelling argument
Speaking to ABC RN, Alexander Downer doubled-down on his argument that the Aukus plan to build submarines in Adelaide is pork-barrelling:
A bit of pork barrelling, building a road here or putting some money into a teaching room and a sports ground there, probably doesn’t matter very much and it’s more or less acceptable and accepted part of the political process.
But when you’re talking of this particular case, hundreds of billions of dollars, then you have to realise that this sort of pork barrelling is having a pretty negative effect on the national economy.
So the Collins class submarines could have been built in Sweden, it probably would have been better to have built them in Sweden and just bought them from the Swedes, but still, I mean, that’s a very long time ago, so that’s been done.
But you know, the submarines were built and that’s it. There are no more submarines. There were no more submarines to be built there. So all of the investment made there is now gone.
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Plan to build Aukus subs in Adelaide ‘a fairytale’ and ‘pork-barrelling’, Downer says
Former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer just spoke to ABC RN, where he labelled the Aukus plan to build submarines in Adelaide as “a fairytale” and “pork-barrelling”.
The former minister, who is a South Australian resident, said in net terms the Aukus project to build submarines in Adelaide will “drain the national economy”, not add to it.
We have to get the money from somewhere, and where are you going to get $360,000 million dollars from?
… getting the nuclear submarines is important to national and more broadly, regional security, so I’m in favour of that, but building them in Australia was way too expensive and it will never happen.
Downer added:
None of the politicians in power today will be in power by [the time the submarines are launched in the 2040s]. They won’t have to deal with the consequences of this, some future government will have to deal with it.
He labelled the move as “a pork barrelling exercise to hold on to or win seats in South Australia”.
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Fires along east coast continue
Let’s take a look at the current bushfire situation along the east coast:
In Queensland, dozens of bushfires are burning across the state, where homes have been destroyed and lives lost.
The following communities are being urged to prepare to leave amid various bushfires: Colosseum (near Miriam Vale); Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Consuelo and Rewan; The Gums (near Tara); Condamine, Barramornie, Kogan and Montrose North.
Properties between Lowmead Road and Fingerboard Road in Colosseum and Mount Tom are being told it is not safe to return.
The same warning has been issued for properties between Wieambilla Road, Chinchilla Tara Road, Upper Humbug Road, Drildool Road, Joseph Street and Clynes/Weitzels Road near Tara.
You can read more detail on the QFES website here.
Meanwhile in NSW, most of the state is under a total fire ban today, with hot, dry and windy conditions expected.
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Australia’s ‘agricultural demands’ did not meet recent negotiations, EU spokesperson says
According to Politico, a spokesperson for the EU executive had this to say about the breakdown of free trade deal negotiations:
The European Commission regrets the lack of progress made during talks in Osaka today.
Our negotiating teams made good progress in recent weeks, including in the days leading up to the Osaka meeting. There was optimism that a deal was within reach.
However, ministerial discussions in Osaka did not see the same progress. The Australian side re-tabled agricultural demands that did not reflect recent negotiations and the process between senior officials.
The European Commission stands ready to continue negotiations.
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‘We’ve not been able to make progress’: Trade minister on failed EU trade negotiations
Here are some more details on the breakdown of trade negotiations with the European Union:
Free trade negotiations have failed with the EU because Australia says the EU offer wasn’t good enough.
Trade minister Don Farrell resumed trade talks over the weekend while in Osaka for the G7 trade minister’s meeting.
The Guardian understands that Europe did not come to the table with a new offer, so the negotiations have failed.
Farrell previously said it would take a new deal for Australia to agree, including meaningful benefits for Australian businesses, including improved market access to farmers and producers.
Farrell said he came to Osaka with intention to finalise a free trade agreement with the European Union, having been Europe three times since coming to office last year for negotiations:
My job as Australia’s trade minister is to get the best deal that we can for our producers, our businesses, our workers and our consumers.
Unfortunately we’ve not been able to make progress.
Negotiations will continue and I’m hopeful that one day we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends.
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European election cycle and farmer lobbies may be behind failed trade deal, Watt says
Continuing to speak with ABC RN, Murray Watt said Australia has already made concessions throughout the process towards an EU trade deal:
We’re willing to do that, in Osaka, up to a point.
We’re not going to be doing a deal where we sell out Australian producers or sell out the Australian international interest all together, but we were willing to make some concessions and the EU was aware of that.
I’m not sure whether it was about the impending election cycle that’s coming in the EU or … their farmer lobbies, but we just weren’t able to see the EU increase its offer … enough for us to think that this deal was in Australia’s national interest.
Watt said he is “disappointed” a deal wasn’t able to be reached.
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Watt says trade deal with EU only possible if in the country’s best interest
Murray Watt said Australia would only enter a trade deal with the EU if it was in the country’s best interest, offering new, commercially meaningful access to the European market for Australian agriculture.
… and that hasn’t happened.
As with any negotiation, it takes two parties to reach an agreement. Don [Farrell] went to Osaka looking to do an agreement and make an agreement but unfortunately, we just didn’t get the movement on the EU side that was required for this deal to be in Australia’s national interest.
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Negotiations over EU free trade deal have collapsed, minister for agriculture says
Minister for agriculture Murray Watt has just confirmed to ABC RN that negotiations around a free trade deal with the European Union have collapsed.
Watt said he has had lengthy discussions with trade minister Don Farrell, currently in Osaka for talks, who the EU has not budged significantly from the offer it put on the table three months ago.
What that means is that one day we’d like to think that we can enter a deal with the EU, but I think it’s going to be quite some time.
The EU next year will go into its election cycle. It’s always much harder for countries and regions to negotiate these sorts of trade agreements on the eve of elections. So I think it will be quite some time before any Australian government or any EU leadership is able to negotiate a deal, and that’s a bit of a shame for both Australia and the EU.
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'Not the time' for Dutton 'to be playing politics', Wong says on Middle East conflict
Penny Wong is asked whether bipartisanship has broken down around the Middle East conflict:
She argued that opposition leader Peter Dutton “always wants to find difference”:
He always wants to make political points … in the midst of this conflict with this loss of life, after he voted for a bipartisan motion moved by the prime minister in house … he still wants to make foreign political points.
We’re focused on what is really happening here. We’ve seen a terrorist attack, we’ve seen hostages taken and we’ve seeing continued loss of life. That’s the focus we are taking
Wong said she would always prefer a bipartisan approach on foreign policy.
I would always prefer there not to be domestic differences made. I think it is not the right thing for the country. I think we should be looking to national interest, and I think also there are so many Australians who are rightly distressed by what is happening in the Jewish community, in our Islamic communities, Palestinian communities.
This is a very, very difficult time for many in Australia, it’s not the time for Mr. Dutton to be playing politics …
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Morrison’s political approach to China was not good for the country, Wong says
Penny Wong also speaks on China, with the prime minister due to visit the country in early November.
On ABC RN, she is asked whether this visit means relations have normalised between the two countries:
We’ve said for a long time we want a more stable relationship with China.
I don’t think it was good for the country, the very political domestic approach that [former prime minister] Scott Morrison took.
Wong says there are things Australia and China can cooperate on, and things on which they are going to disagree:
And what we have to do is continue to manage this relationship, including the differences we have, wisely. Part of that is engagement, that’s why it’s important for the prime minister to go and he’s, we’re very pleased that that visit will take place.
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‘Australians in Lebanon should leave now,’ Wong says
Turning to Lebanon, Penny Wong again urged any Australians in the country to return home as soon as possible:
I understand that people have lives in Lebanon, that many Australians are living there, but what I would say to all of you now, our concern is that if armed conflict increases, it could affect wider areas of Lebanon and could close Beirut airport. So the government’s advice is that Australians in Lebanon should leave now, while commercial flights remain available.
The reality is if we see a deterioration in security situation, if there is armed conflict, obviously government will always do its best, but the government may not be able to assist everyone who wishes to leave to leave.
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Wong says 88 Australians stuck in Gaza as government works for Rafah crossing opening
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has just spoke to ABC RN about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
She repeated the government’s stance that Israel “has a right to defend itself” but “the way it does so matters”, calling for the protection of civilian lives:
I’m certainly deeply concerned, as so many people are, by the destruction and loss of life in Gaza. It’s something that I think the international community is deeply concerned about, just as we were horrified by the brutal terrorist attack of Hamas and the continuing holding of hostages, which we see.
Wong said there are 88 Australians stuck in Gaza, including those on visas and family members. She said the Australian government has been working to get them out, but like every nation with foreign nationals in Gaza, this has proven impossible with the Rafah border crossing (between Egypt and Gaza) still not opened.
We have been engaging with the Israelis, with the Egyptians with others to try and assist or ensure that the Rafah crossing [to] enable people to exit is opened. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts … that recrossing has not yet been opened.
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Queensland wakes to high alert and fire bans
And happy Monday! Welcome to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, glad to be with you this morning.
Fires are continuing to burn across the east coast of the country. In Queensland, communities remain on high alert as dozens of fires burn, properties have been destroyed and several lives lost. Most of the state is under a total fire ban.
Last night, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on social media that Australia is “thinking of those impacted by bushfires in Queensland’s Western Downs”.
We thank those helping on the frontline and will continue working closely with the Queensland Government to support communities during this difficult time.
Most of NSW is also under a total fire ban today, with hot, dry and windy conditions expected.
As Daniel Hurst reported overnight, a new report warns that Australia should cut back its $45bn Hunter-class frigate project or the navy will end up with too many ships focused on anti-submarine warfare. You can read the full report here.
Meanwhile, Julian Assange’s brother has urged the Australian government to “up the ante” after Albanese confirmed he raised the WikiLeaks founder’s case with US president Joe Biden last week.
We will have all the details on these stories, and more, shortly. If there is anything you think needs attention on the blog, you can send me an email: emily.wind.casual@theguardian.com.
With that, let’s get started.
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