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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Mostafa Rachwani and Emily Wind (earlier)

PM signs security treaty ‘commitment’ with PNG – as it happened

PNG Australia Anthony Albanese Michael Noonan Afghanistan Navy Taliban ICC Papua New Guinea CA
Anthony Albanese arrives in Papua New Guinea ahead of addressing the parliament on Thursday.
Anthony Albanese arrives in Papua New Guinea ahead of addressing the parliament on Thursday. Photograph: Office of the Prime Minister

What we learned today, Thursday 12 January

With that, we will wrap up the blog for the night. Here’s what happened today:

Updated

Australia cancels Afghanistan cricket tour

Australia has pulled out of its upcoming men’s ODI series against Afghanistan citing further restrictions on women’s rights imposed in the country by the Taliban, AAP reports.

Australia had been set to meet Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates for three matches in March but, following consultation with the Australian Government and other stakeholders, Cricket Australia (CA) has decided to scrap the series.

When the capital city, Kabul, fell to the Taliban in August 2021, the extremist group banned women from playing sport on the grounds that doing so would contravene Islamic laws requiring their hair and skin to be covered.

In a statement on Thursday, CA said the decision to withdraw from the men’s ODI series followed recent Taliban restrictions placed on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms.

CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country.

We thank the Australian government for its support on this matter.

The cancellation of the series comes after Australia cited similar reasons for scrapping a one-off Test against Afghanistan that had been set to be played in Hobart in November 2021.

In November 2021, the ICC formed a working group aiming to support and review women’s and men’s cricket in Afghanistan but more than a year later, the country remains the only full member of the ICC without a fully operational women’s team.

The ICC chief executive, Geoff Allardice, said this week that recent crackdowns were worrying.

Our board has been monitoring progress since the change of regime.

It is a concern that progress is not being made in Afghanistan and it’s something our board will consider at its next meeting in March.

The cancellation limits Australia’s match practice ahead of October’s ODI World Cup to a five-match series against South Africa and a three-match series against host nation India.

Updated

Ex-navy chief under scrutiny over submarine trip with girlfriend

A former chief of the Royal Australian Navy has been criticised for taking his girlfriend for a ride on a military submarine and proposing to her on board.

Vice Admiral Michael Noonan used his position as the chief of navy to unilaterally grant his partner Samantha Heighway approval to board the HMAS Waller on June 23 last year, defence has confirmed.

The submarine was at sea to film material for Defence Force Recruiting near Geraldton in Western Australia at the time.

The Defence Department has said no rules were broken, but “it is not routine for Defence members to take a civilian partner/spouse/relative on an overnight sea ride”.

“Defence is aware personal photographs were taken during the visit.”

The Guardian has confirmed the proposal took place.

In response to a question on notice in the senate, the defence department said there was no expense to taxpayers.

“No cost due to Chief of Navy visit as submarine was already at sea.”

But Coalition assistant defence spokesman, Phil Thompson, told News Corp the incident was an “abuse of power”.

“The Navy is a professional outfit, this isn’t the chief of Navy’s personal love sub,” he said.

Noonan retired from defence in last year after a 38-year-career. The Guardian has sought comment from Noonan.

Michael Noonan in uniform
Former chief of navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan in October 2021. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/EPA

Updated

And if you want a quick wrap of the day’s news (and it has been a busy one for a January Thursday), you can’t miss our Afternoon Updates:

Finally, Albanese speaks about Australia’s investments in PNG:

We live in the fastest growing region of the world in human history. That presents an enormous opportunity for us if we’re capable of just seizing it. And today I’ve met with not just the prime minister but the treasurer, the finance minister, the trade minister and their outlook is one which is one of a common interests that I share that we need to seize that opportunity and we seize it by investing in infrastructure and investing in our people.

So investing in capital and investing in labour to put it in those terms. And if we invest in labour and one of the ways that we can do that is by providing increased training opportunities in Australia for Papua New Guinea citizens increased opportunities for people to get visas come to Australia, get skills commit and make payments back here to PNG that assists with development.

If we do that if we develop industries in ways in which we’re talking today, about ministers, we’re talking about value adding it was a conversation that could have been had in Australia as well. How can we not just export the agricultural produce and other produce which is here and then import it back when greater value is being given? But how do we make the PNG economy more resilient? Now I’m trying to do that in Australia.

Prime minister Marape is trying to do that in Papua New Guinea, but we have a common interest both of us in our nations being successful because we are so linked and I’m I’m very very positive about the future here in PNG.

This is a great nation, which is approaching 50 years of independence, and one in which Australians hopefully one of the things that today’s about is sending a message to Australian businesses well, we want you to invest here. We want you to invest here in your interests, but also in the interests of lifting living standards of people in PNG. I’m confident that we can do that. I’m more confident than I was even this morning that we can do that together. And we are good friends. We’ve developed a very positive and open and constructive and trusting relationship.

Updated

The leaders are taking questions, with Albanese being asked about the potential security agreement:

Obviously there are regional implications of that.

If I can say that when we speak about our security arrangement, one of the things we’re spoken about is increased defense cooperation including training of personnel we’ve spoken about increased in terms of potential for joint operations as well as for other issues.

One of the things that both of our governments have done recently is establish anti corruption commissions, both in PNG and in Australia. And I know that people our background in Australia are playing a role there.

One of the things that we’re talking about with the security arrangement is very much a comprehensive arrangement rather than a narrow one. So that includes that includes a whole range of issues, which are security issues, cyber security, domestic security and policing arrangements. The issue of climate change is also a security issue.

So this is a very broad agreement recognising that our security interests intertwined and including by virtue of our geography, decisions taken in one country have an impact in the other. And that’s why our security interests in my view, I said, I think in the meeting today, indivisible, indivisible and that’s why it makes sense for us to have that breadth of security cooperation across the board.

Updated

Albanese has continued, discussing how important it was to expand PNG’s agricultural industry, and shared passions for rugby league:

There are now more than 1000 Pacific labour scheme workers from PNG in Australia, and we support prime minister Marape’s ambition to deploy some 8000 workers to Australia.

Today we spoke about their being not just in agriculture, but in the care sector as well. That is in something that brings benefit to Australia, providing skilled labour and non-skilled labour in areas of need. But it also provides economic assistance to Papua New Guinea as well.

I’m pleased that Papua New Guineans will have the opportunity to move with their families to Australia, under our new Pacific engagement visa. There was a clear commitment that we gave at the federal election.

And that commitment is been delivered along with other commitments we made prior to my election in May of last year, we agreed to a reciprocal Working Holiday Visa arrangement from the first of July 2023. Now apart from economic enhancement, security enhancement, we also have spoken about cultural enhancement between us and just People to People engagement as well.

Now one of the areas where that’s important is in the area of rugby league. As I told the PNG Parliament when I had the great honour to address it today, I want to say a PNG based team participate in the NRL and that’s something also that we can work towards.

2025 will be an important date for Papua New Guinea but it will also be an important date for Australia and the relationship between the party and in government that I’m proud to lead.

Historically the leadership and PNG’s rise to independence is very important. It’s something that since then we’ve been building the relationship, but I’m very confident that in the next couple of years, we will build an even stronger relationship between our two countries.

Updated

The PM has stepped up, beginning by thanking his counterpart for hosting them and focusing on the importance of the relationship:

As your close neighbor it is appropriate that we’ve been in considerable contact with each other since my election as prime minister.

Today, though, is a particularly important one, our fourth bilateral leaders meeting which was supplemented by a meeting with so many of your senior ministers that certainly we appreciate the respect that the government has given to the Australian delegation that I’ve brought here today.

Today’s annual leaders dialogue has strengthened an incredible partnership with our two countries has a comprehensive partnership of equals as I spoke about at the parliament, it’s based upon the fact that our economic cooperation and our security cooperation is in both of our interests. Our interests are indivisible.

You can’t have a more secure Papua New Guinea with that a more secure Australia and vice versa. We have an interest in increasing our trade and our economic relationships. And Australia has a direct interest in supporting the economic development and lifting of living standards here in Papua New Guinea.

I’m very pleased that prime minister Marape and I have agreed a joint statement of commitment to enter a bilateral security treaty. We’ve agreed on a concrete timetable going forward, that negotiations will be concluded by the end of April and we hope to have a signing in June. A key outcome of the meeting today.

As part of those discussions. We also directly discussed the way that we can provide more cooperation on law and order and policing issues. We recognise that our work together to build major airports, roads and electrification projects across Papua New Guinea are important. and we will examine potential new trade agreements including how we can work together to expand PNGs agricultural production, including providing further support for biosecurity issues here in PNG.

Updated

Marape has continued, thanking the PM and the media for their reporting, adding that he has focused on PNG-Australian relations in his time as leader:

I visited Australia as a signal that Australia is the number one foreign relations that we have with us, without compromising our relationships.

And today the gist of asking prime minister Albanese to speak in Parliament also signals the context. We had good meetings. People to People, on our relationships, businesses, and of course, our government.

The government relationships have been anchored by our shared interests. We look forward to working together side by side.

And prime minister Anthony Albanese has stepped up with the the prime minister of Papaua New Guinea, James Marape, for a press conference after historic talks between the leaders.

Marape begins by describing the “juncture” that Australian-PNG relations are at in this moment:

Its important at the national leadership level, that we don’t just meet as prime minister to prime minister, but as leader to leader. We have come out of very fruitful discussions, our discussions remained on how we can progress our two nations, and on comprehensive strategic and economic partnerships.

I am satisfied that we’re elevating to higher heights how we relate, especially those areas of concern for people and businesses.

We’ve now set in motion a series of activities that will take place between our officially, and hopefully we will meet again in April to sign a security arrangement.

The Australian government will support the expansion of women’s leadership and combat gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea. Both countries have also vowed to significantly ramp up PNG’s participation in the a key Australian labour mobility scheme.

The announcements were included in a joint statement issued after the meeting between Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart, James Marape, in Port Moresby this afternoon:

The Prime Ministers recognised the critical importance of gender equality to sustainable development outcomes. Leaders welcomed the recent election of two women to the Papua New Guinea National Parliament but agreed there was a need to accelerate progress, especially in the areas of increasing women’s leadership, expanding women’s economic empowerment and combatting gender-based violence as priorities. Prime Minister Albanese announced Australia would continue to support gender equality and women’s empowerment efforts in Papua New Guinea with a new five-year investment, PNG Women Lead, to support the expansion of women’s leadership in PNG and combat gender-based violence.

And here are the key points on labour mobility and visa arrangements:

The Prime Ministers declared their intention to significantly boost Papua New Guinea’s participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Acknowledging Prime Minister Marape’s ambition to deploy 8,000 PALM workers to Australia, the Prime Ministers asked responsible Ministers to identify ways to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s worker mobilisation system and to consider at the 2023 Ministerial Forum specific actions for each side to take.

The Prime Ministers welcomed Papua New Guinea’s inclusion in the Pacific Engagement Visa. Prime Minister Marape welcomed Australia’s commitment to provide in-country support for Pacific Engagement Visa applicants to connect with employers in Australia.

The Prime Ministers agreed to implement the reciprocal Work and Holiday visa arrangement from 1 July 2023, allowing young adults to have an extended holiday in each other’s country, during which they could work and undertake short-term study. Both programs would encourage cultural exchange and closer ties between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and strengthen economic links.

Updated

Australia and Papua New Guinea now plan to finish negotiations on the security treaty by April (the foreign ministers of both countries will take up the talks from here).

A statement issued moments ago by Anthony Albanese and James Marape says the security treaty - “subject to negotiations and agreement by both countries” - will “reinforce our mutual respect and enable both countries to protect and enhance their independence, sovereignty and resilience”.

I have bolded some of the dot points with relevance to the competition with China for influence (including the emphasis on a Pacific family-first approach to security).

The statement says other goals include to:

  • Strengthen our position as vital security partners and assist both countries to protect and enhance our sovereignty and resilience;

  • Build on the strong platform of our existing bilateral agreements and understandings;

  • Solidify Pacific regional agreements and understandings, including the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ consensus on the concept of regionalism and a Forum family first approach to peace and security;

  • Reflect the evolving nature of our shared security interests, recognising that non-traditional security challenges, such as climate change, cyber security, and economic elements of statecraft, affect our strategic environment;

  • Recognise that because our security interests are intertwined, including by virtue of our geography, decisions taken by one country affect the security of the other;

  • Commit to deeper and more regular information sharing and exchanges on security and strategic challenges;

  • Enhance the scope and depth of our ongoing practical cooperation and facilitate joint security operations and activities and greater interoperability;

  • Capture the breadth of our security cooperation while providing a mandate for future work in areas of shared interest;

  • Be public and transparent, consistent with each other’s treaty practices and national laws; and

  • Remain a contemporary reflection of our shared interests, including through regular consultations on its implementation.

Both countries plan to maintain “political-level engagement and oversight to facilitate progress on the BST in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect”.

Albanese, Marape sign ‘joint statement of commitment’ for security treaty

Anthony Albanese and the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, have issued a joint statement after their meeting in Port Moresby.

First with the news - the security treaty hasn’t been signed, but it is much closer to completion. They have signed a “joint statement of commitment”.

Here is the wording from the press release:

The Prime Ministers agreed a joint statement of commitment for a Bilateral Security Treaty between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and looked forward to the early conclusion of negotiations, guided by respective Ministers for Foreign Affairs. They noted the Treaty would be a natural progression in the existing security partnership, reflecting the two countries’ shared history, geographic proximity, and common regional strategic outlook, and would fulfil a commitment made in the CSEP [comprehensive strategic and economic partnership].

In this context, the leaders recognised the importance of effective law and order and a strong justice and police system in underpinning Papua New Guinea’s security and economic development and undertook to intensify cooperation in these areas, including to address PNG’s priority needs. They noted the value of the current policing partnership, and the significance of working together in supporting policing operations in the Pacific region.

Updated

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the acting leader of the Greens, has hit out at the NSW Premier after he revealed he wore a nazi uniform for his 21st birthday:

Melbourne’s air quality expected to improve by Friday

Melbourne’s air quality was downgraded from good to fair on Thursday afternoon after a morning where people were reporting hazy conditions.

The haze descended over Melbourne in the early hours of Thursday, which was caused due to “mainly lingering elevated ozone concentrations caused by prevailing sunny and warm conditions,” EPA Victoria’s AirWatch reported.

Matthew Thomas, a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology said that warmer temperatures around 3000 feet up had trapped air and resulted in low cloud cover being built up over Melbourne this morning.

The cloud began to clear up after midday, and conditions are expected to improve by Friday.

Updated

Perrottet’s apology was accepted by Anti-Defamation Commission chair, Dr Dvir Abramovich, who said he and the Australian Jewish community had been “shattered and saddened” to hear the news.

He said:

I accept the premier’s apology, which is sincere as it is heartfelt, and applaud his full-throated denunciation of his past behaviour.

It is clear that Mr Perrottet understands the gravity of his past actions and I take him at his word when he says that dressing in this uniform was borne out of ignorance and naivete. I hope that when he has the opportunity, that Mr Perrottet meets with Holocaust survivors and visits Auschwitz in order to understand first-hand the evils and inhumanity of this period.

The president of RSL NSW, Ray James, has acknowledged the premier, Dominic Perrottet’s, apology after revealing he dressed as a Nazi at his 21st birthday party.

He said:

RSL NSW acknowledges the NSW Premier’s apology and continues to stand by the thousands of Australian service men and women, and their families, whose lives were lost or impacted as a result.

Updated

Budget airline Bonza gains regulatory approval

Australian holidaymakers are closer to benefitting from a greater number of cheaper airfares, as the long-delayed low-cost carrier Bonza gains regulatory approval.

Bonza is now preparing for its first flights to go on sale, after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) granted the airline its Air Operator Certificate on Thursday, the airline said.

CEO of Bonza, Tim Jordan, said “this is an historic moment for Australian aviation as we get ready to launch the first high-capacity airline in more than 15 years, and the country’s only independent low-cost carrier”.

Bonza aircraft on tarmac
A Bonza aircraft on the tarmac at Sunshine Coast airport. Photograph: supplied by Bonza

Jordan added:

The excitement for what we are about to deliver is palpable and the timing couldn’t be better.

Demand for domestic travel is high and Aussies deserve for travel to be a basic right for many, not a luxury for the few. This has never been truer with today’s cost of living challenges. With the approval from Casa, 2023 is set to be the year of seeing more of your own back yard for less.

You can read more about Bonza, the so-called “bogan” airline, here:

Updated

Dominic Perrottet’s admission a “lesson to all”, says Jewish group

The peak Jewish group for New South Wales hopes the premier, Dominic Perrottet’s, admission he wore a Nazi costume to his 21st birthday party can serve as a “lesson to all”.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president, David Ossip, and chief executive, Darren Bark, released a statement shortly after the premier finished his press conference.

They said:

We appreciate that the premier personally reached out to the Jewish community this afternoon to express his deep and sincere regret about his poor choice of costume as a young man.
This incident, no matter how old, is a reminder of the need to continually educate all Australians - and particularly our youth - about the abhorrent nature of the Nazi regime and the evil perpetrated in service of the Nazi ideology.

Ossip and Bark said dressing as a Nazi was “not a joke” and “disrespects the millions of innocent civilians who were murdered during WWII”.

The pair described the premier as a “staunch supporter and friend of the NSW Jewish community” while in office.

Updated

Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you this afternoon, to take you through the rest of the day’s news.

Thanks so much for joining me on the blog this morning! My colleague Mostafa Rachwani will be here to guide you through the rest of the day, with lots still to come.

WA downgrades bushfire warnings

Emergency bushfire warnings put in place for parts of Western Australia this morning have been downgraded to Watch and Act.

Currently, a Watch and Act directive is in place for the Noggerup townsite as well as parts of Noggerup, Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Yabberup. According to the Emergency WA website there is a possible threat to lives and homes in these areas as fire continues to burn in the area and conditions are changing.

Meanwhile, a bushfire Advice directive remains in place for various locations along the state’s south-west.

Updated

Brisbane police seek to identify dead woman

The remains of a woman found hidden in a wall at a Brisbane apartment block have yet to be identified a month after they were found, with police lodging a fresh appeal for information, AAP reports.

Cleaners found her skeletal remains tightly wrapped and partially buried in a locked area behind a wall in the building at Alderley on 7 December.

Police said at the time the remains had been hidden there for “some months” with residents failing to notice any smell.

A post-mortem examination identified her gender but detectives were unable to work out her name, age and cause of death at the time.

Detectives have since tested forensic samples from the scene, analysed fingerprints found near the body and scoured missing persons reports.

They made a fresh appeal for information to help identify the woman on Thursday afternoon.

Anyone with information that may assist investigations is urged to contact police.

Updated

Australia’s credibility on human rights blighted by new laws, report says

The detention of children under 14 and new laws targeting climate protesters are harming Australia’s credibility to stand up for human rights in the region, a leading rights body has warned.

Human Rights Watch called on Australia to address its own “alarming deficiencies” when the organisation on Thursday published its annual reports on the performance of nearly 100 countries.

It specifically raised alarm about New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania introducing “new laws targeting peaceful climate and environmental protesters with disproportionate punishments and excessive bail conditions”.

Read more:

'It was just a terrible mistake': Perrottet on wearing Nazi uniform

An emotional New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet has fought back tears as he revealed that he wore a “deeply offensive” Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday.

Perrottet revealed he wore the outfit, saying he had carried the “shame” of it for most of his life and had thought about revealing it previously.

He said:

It was stupid. It was just a terrible mistake at that stage of my life.

I know how hurtful this is for so many people right around our state.

Perrottet revealed a fellow cabinet minister raised it with him two days ago, but insisted he had not been worried about a photo of the outfit being released publicly prior to the election. He denied that, announcing:

I have grappled with this, it’s something that has personally anguished me.

I needed this truth about this terrible mistake that I made needed to be told by me not by someone else.

Updated

Greens want deaths in custody recommendations ‘fully implemented’: Thorpe

Implementing recommendations of government reports into Indigenous deaths in custody and the stolen generation is what it will take to “sway us over the line” on supporting the voice to parliament, the Greens say.

Party spokesperson on First Nations issues, Lidia Thorpe, told the ABC that satisfying all recommendations from the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the 1997 Bringing them Home report on Indigenous child removals is what the Greens want.

The Greens have so far left open the question of whether they as a party will officially support the voice referendum push, despite some individual members like Sarah Hanson-Young saying they will back constitutional recognition.

Thorpe said:

That’s what we have on the table with the government.

We have said, we want to see those recommendations fully implemented.

They know that’s what it will take to sway us over the line.

The Greens and Thorpe have long said that action on these two reports was among their key demands in negotiations with the government; however this appears to be the first time Thorpe has explicitly put this as a non-negotiable. She said:

We want the Labor government to implement them to show good faith, before we make a decision on whether we support the voice or not — it is certainly there as a negotiation tool.

Lidia Thorpe in the senate chamber
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

NSW premier reveals he wore Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday

New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed he wore a Nazi uniform at his 21st birthday.

At a press conference taking place in Sydney now, Perrottet has apologised and said he is “ashamed” of wearing the “deeply hurtful” outfit.

He said it has caused him “much anxiety” over the course of his life, and had received a call about the outfit two days ago.

More to come.

Updated

Sydney’s inner-city swimming hole a hit

As the weekend approaches, no doubt a beach trip will be on the cards for many. Guardian reporter Jordyn Beazley has tested out Sydney’s newest swimming hole in Barangaroo, just a short walk from the city centre and already proving popular among locals.

Young woman wrapped in towel on water’s edge with Sydney Harbour Bridge in background
Jordyn Beazley, tries Sydney’s newest swimming hole at Marrinawi Cove in Barangaroo. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Read more:

Updated

Teenager charged over bushfire in NSW

Police have charged a boy with deliberately lighting fires that led to two bushfires in the state’s Murrumbidgee region.

About 5pm on Saturday, emergency services were called to Griffith after reports of two bushfires.

Members of the Rural Fire Service attended and attempted to extinguish the blaze, which burnt an estimated 17ha over several days. The fire has since been extinguished.

Yesterday, NSW Police officers arrested a 16-year-old boy in the Leeton area after investigating the cause of the fires.

He was taken to Leeton police station where he was charged with two counts of intentionally cause fire and be reckless as to its spread, and one count of possess prohibited drug.

The boy was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on 20 February.

Updated

‘A great honour for Australia today’, says PM of address to PNG parliament

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has shared more photos on social media from Papua New Guinea, after becoming the first foreign leader to address its parliament.

In case you missed the PM’s speech, we have the highlights here on the blog or you can read it in full here.

Senator Nita Green and minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy – who are both joining Albanese in PNG – have also shared photos:

Updated

Covid transmission declining in NSW

NSW Health has published its weekly surveillance report on Covid-19, which shows key indicators for transmission – including positive PCR tests, hospital admissions and emergency department presentations – are declining.

There were 15,364 people diagnosed with Covid-19 this week across the state, a decrease of 33% since the previous week.

Acting NSW chief health officer Dr Jan Fizzell said:

I’d like to thank the community for remaining vigilant throughout the holiday period.

Flu activity is at low levels in New South Wales, but there are signs that activity is increasing, so it’s important that we remain vigilant.

Updated

Greens to push Labor on new carbon rules

The Greens could force the federal government to toughen its safeguard mechanism scheme, to prevent major polluters using accounting tricks or offsets to dodge deep emissions cuts.

The Labor government unveiled draft revisions to the scheme but the Greens have concerns about the design of the draft legislation and say it will allow the expansion of new coal and gas.

Acting Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi, said the party would leverage its balance of power position to push Labor towards a more ambitious scheme.

Senator Faruqi told AAP:

The package as proposed allows further expansion of coal and gas, which is completely at odds with tackling the climate crisis.

In its present form, the Greens say the scheme will allow coal and gas companies to buy their way out of directly cutting emissions from their operations thanks to unlimited access to offsets.

Faruqi said:

It’s a recipe for failed policy and will fail to meet our domestic targets and international obligations.

- AAP

Updated

Man stops traffic to help koala cross

A man has put himself between the busy traffic of a Gold Coast Highway to help a koala cross to the other side.

Nine News Gold Coast has shared the video which shows the koala safely making it to the other side in Burleigh Heads this morning:

While this morning’s crossing has a happy ending, koala hospital records show that about 300 koalas are killed on south-east Queensland roads each year.

Updated

Anthony Albanese is getting towards the closing stages of his speech. He says the Pacific region is “on the frontline of the global fight against climate change”.

He says:

Our Pacific neighbours are counting on PNG and Australia to support international cooperation, to show leadership and to take action. There is not a moment to waste.

And in the sporting field, Albanese gives a nod to longstanding calls for a PNG-based team to enter the NRL:

When Prime Minister Marape and I watched the State of Origin together in Suva last year, he said, there are only three days your country stops: Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3. That’s something I think a lot of Australians can relate to …

Today I affirm my view that I want to see a PNG-based team, Pacific Islanders competing in the national rugby league competition.

This attracts some cheers from the assembled MPs.

Updated

Albanese says bilateral security treaty will focus on ‘family-first approach’ to region

Albanese turns to security – a key focus of the talks with his counterpart, James Marape, in Port Moresby later today.

He tells the parliament:

Friends, in the years ahead, Australia and Papua New Guinea have a chance to honour our shared history of service in the cause of peace – by adding to it; deepening our defence ties and enhancing our national security cooperation and achieving a swift conclusion to negotiations on a bilateral security treaty.

It’s worth pausing here to point out there have been conflicting signals about whether the treaty itself will be signed later today, or a framework document reflecting significant progress on the negotiations. We will see after the joint presser mid-afternoon AEDT.

Albanese says, however, that the treaty “will underpin our work together to address PNG’s priority needs including law and order challenges, strengthening the justice system and rule of law”.

He says the treaty will be “based on deep trust” and build on “the family-first approach to regional security” (this framing implicitly excludes China, which has been increasingly active in pursuing security ties with Pacific countries).

Albanese also talks about “expanding opportunities for PNG citizens to travel and work in Australia through the working holiday visa, the pacific engagement visa and – in particular – the Pacific Australia labour mobility scheme”.

He says:

Australian farmers and producers benefit from the expertise and industry of your people.

Just as importantly, the people of PNG earn good wages and develop new skills that they can use to support their families, educate their children and invest in opportunities that will deliver further prosperity for themselves and PNG.

And – Prime Minister Marape – my government backs your ambition to significantly increase the number of PNG workers who take part in this program in Australia and contribute to the future prosperity of both our nations.

Updated

PM flags Australian interest in PNG hydro and hydrogen

Albanese turns his focus to economic development:

In 2023 I want our two governments to work together to unlock a new generation of prosperity for your nation, to boost our two-way trade in everything from coffee and cocoa to fisheries and tourism, and to bolster the significant direct investment made by the Australian private sector in PNG, which already stands at $24 billion – more than we invest in India, more than we invest in Indonesia, more than we invest in Malaysia, right here in Papua New Guinea.

I understand PNG is eager to expand your exports of more processed goods and varied agricultural products and I see these as areas where the Australian business community can play a key role.

Our government also stands ready to assist PNG to improve your bio-security regime to enable your farmers and producers to access international markets.

And as the world looks to a more sustainable model for growth, PNG has a tremendous opportunity to expand your green economy.

I know a number of Australian companies are keen to explore what can be done in this area, including in hydro and hydrogen production, for example.

Together, I am confident we can ensure that the rich natural resources of Papua New Guinea are made to deliver good jobs, lasting investment and sustainable development for your nation.

Updated

PM speaks to PNG parliament of ‘decisive decade’ for security in Indo-Pacific

Albanese says Australia and Papua New Guinea are “bound not just by a shared past and a shared border, but by a common determination to shape our own futures” and “to seize the opportunities of this moment, in this region”.

He doesn’t directly mention competition with China for influence in the region, but he speaks of the need to demonstrate the value of democracy:

This can be a decisive decade for peace, prosperity, unity and security in the Indo-Pacific.

As two big Pacific Ocean states, Australia and PNG must work as equals with our fellow Pacific states to build a stronger, safer, more secure region. All of us have a part to play in realising that vision.

And tied in with that, all of us who serve as parliamentarians have a unique opportunity and a particular responsibility to defend the democracy in which we serve.

And we fulfil that duty best by demonstrating the value of this place and the ideals it is built on. By proving that the system we belong to has the power to change people’s lives for the better.

Albanese says the government he leads is committed to strengthening Australia’s education partnership with PNG. He says education “is a mighty weapon against disadvantage and equality is a powerful lever for economic growth”.

He also says Australia will continue to support PNG’s health priorities including in infectious diseases, such as TB, HIV, child and maternal health and malaria.

Recent years have provided the world with a vivid reminder that healthy economies depend – above all – on healthy people.

Updated

Anthony Albanese has reflected on the movement that led to Papua New Guinea being granted independence from Australia in 1975:

Independence was not Australia’s gift to give, it was the people of Papua New Guinea’s right to assert, it was your opportunity to seize.

In this land of extraordinary contrasts and variety in landscapes and traditions and languages, people united around a deep faith in democracy and a powerful commitment to family and community and care for their neighbours.

Independence was – as my great predecessor Gough Whitlam said on that day of celebration in 1975 – ‘an idea whose time had come’.

And it arrived not as a contested act of revolution but rather as a considered statement of national maturity, of national unity - and also a national ambition for PNG to serve as a leader in this region.

As Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare said, at the first South Pacific Forum that PNG attended as a member state: ‘We are not here to rock the boat, but to add another - in order that our voyage to that glorious destination may be reached.’

Nearly half a century later, we are still on that voyage, together. And yes, there have been rough seas and tough times. But our friendship has held true.

Albanese continues his speech by speaking about “unbroken” threads lasting thousands of years:

For thousands of years, Torres Strait Islanders and the Indigenous traders of PNG shared culture and kinship, exchanging goods and ideas.

That thread runs unbroken through to today: to our modern trade links, our evolving business and investment ties, our migrants and expats, our expanding fields of cultural and educational exchange – even our shared passion for rugby league.

We are friends. We are mates. We are partners. We are equals.

We are neighbours who stand with each other and help each other in times of need.

Australians will never forget the heroism and humanity of the brave souls who – eight decades ago – came from all over this country to serve and fight alongside our soldiers in defence of this land and in defence of Australia’s freedom too.

Or, in recent times, the 100 members of Kumul Force deployed in Operation Bushfire Assist, to help Australia in the devastating Black Summer of 2019-20. PNG was one of the very first countries to offer Australia assistance – and Kumul Force was the biggest international contingent deployed.
And on behalf of all Australians, I simply say: thank you. Tenk yu tru.

Updated

PM ‘deeply, deeply honoured’ to be first foreign leader to address PNG parliament

Albanese has begun his address to the parliament in Port Moresby. He says he is delighted to be the first Australian prime minister to visit Papua New Guinea since 2018:

And I am deeply, deeply honoured to be the first foreign Head of Government to address your parliament. And what a magnificent parliament this is.

A building rich with the art and culture and tradition of Papua New Guinea’s proud history and identity. And a chamber alive with optimism for the future of this nation and the progress of your people.

Australia and Papua New Guinea are the closest of neighbours, we are the greatest of friends.

Updated

Anthony Albanese preparing to speak at PNG parliament

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has arrived at Parliament House in Papua New Guinea and is expected to begin his address to the chamber shortly.

Most of the pre-visit publicity has been about closer security cooperation, but Albanese is expected to also stress the importance of gender equality in his speech (just two women were elected as MPs in the latest election in PNG).

According to speech notes distributed by his office in advance, Albanese will tell the parliament it is important to ensure “that every girl and boy has the right to grow up happy and safe and with the opportunity to get a great education”. But he will say promoting equality for women and girls “goes far beyond the opportunity to attend school”.

Albanese will say:

We know every nation can do better and do more to achieve this – from greater economic empowerment, to preventing domestic and family violence, to achieving equality in representation.

I am proud to lead the first Australian government in 122 years where the majority of members are women.

And I want to congratulate the two new women members elected to this place – you are representatives and you are trail blazers and I hope you inspire a new generation of women and girls to serve their country and their democracy.

Equality for women is fair, it is right and it is powerful economic reform.

It boosts productivity, participation and drives growth, because it means drawing on the talent and initiative and enterprise of the whole population, not just half of it.

Updated

Man fined for keeping too many lobsters

A Tasmanian man is feeling the pinch after being fined for keeping too many lobsters.

As reported by AAP, the man has been fined $2,000 for illegally possessing 16 southern rock lobsters, including one that was undersized.

Police stopped and searched the George Town man’s car in Westbury, west of Launceston, on Monday.

They found the 16 lobsters the man had caught at Strahan on the west coast.

Recreational fishing rules prohibit a person from possessing more than 10 lobsters taken form western Tasmania without a special licence.

The daily catch limit for the region is also five lobsters a day.

The state’s rules around recreational fishing were tightened last year in an effort to improve stock levels and spawning opportunities for future sustainability.

Westbury police senior constable Christopher Rockliff said the laws were in place for a reason:

Recreational fishers should review the new rules, which include different methods of tail clipping, increased size limits and reduced daily bag and total possessions limits in some areas.

The rules are reviewed in line with changing stock levels and penalties reflect the importance of protecting the fishery industry and ensuring sustainable fishing into the future.

Updated

Grey smog hanging over Melbourne

If you’re a Melburnian and have noticed a grey, gloomy haze hanging over the city, you’re not alone. Multiple people are reporting a “gross haze” looming over the city – and the air quality numbers back it up.

The current air pollution level in Melbourne is listed as “moderate”, with an air quality index of 71.

The main pollutant is PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, and is currently 4.3 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.

The tiny PM2.5 particles in the air reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.

Updated

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has shared a few photos on social media after touching down in Papua New Guinea for defence talks not too long ago.

Updated

The NSW Rural Fire Service is warning people to be aware of their fire risk and ensure properties are prepared after responding to more than 150 grass fires across NSW in the last week.

Updated

NSW follows Victoria in ruling out state funeral for George Pell

Cardinal George Pell will not be offered a state funeral in New South Wales, the Guardian understands.

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, ruled out offering Pell a state funeral in that state earlier on Thursday, saying he “couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that”.

While the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, has yet to speak publicly on Pell’s death, the Guardian understands that he has ruled out offering a state funeral to the former Sydney archbishop.

Pell - who served as Sydney’s archbishop between 2001 and 2014 – is to be buried in a crypt below St Mary’s Cathedral in the city alongside other senior figures in the Catholic church in Australia.

Updated

Anthony Albanese has just touched down in Papua New Guinea, where a bilateral defence treaty will be discussed and the PM will become the first foreign leader to address the PNG parliament.

Albanese is joined by the foreign minister, Pat Conroy, and Senator Nita Green on the trip.

Updated

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that severe thunderstorms with heavy or intense rainfall are likely in the central and northern interior of Queensland today, which could lead to flash flooding.

A major flood warning for the Georgina River and moderate flood warning for the Eyre Creek remain in place.

Updated

Five injured in Brisbane e-scooter fire

Two men, a woman and two teenage girls are in hospital after suffering burns and smoke inhalation in an e-scooter fire at a home in Brisbane’s south-west, AAP reports.

The scooter reportedly caught fire inside the home in Darra about 4am on Thursday, paramedics say.

A man in his 40s suffered burns to his back and was treated by a critical care paramedic before being rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital for treatment.

A woman in her 30s with minor burns to her hand and a teenage girl who inhaled smoke were also taken to the same hospital.

A man in his 50s also suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital, while another teenage girl was taken to Queensland children’s hospital after she inhaled smoke.

Queensland ambulance service said all five patients were in stable conditions on Thursday morning.

Updated

Monique Ryan: ‘I don’t think Senator Hume understands’ how referendums have worked in the past

The independent member for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, and Liberal senator Jane Hume just appeared on ABC Melbourne to discuss the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous voice to parliament.

Hume said her biggest concern is that there “won’t have an official pamphlet going out to households”:

Now, that is, I think, a great concern because in an age of misinformation, you would think that it would be most important that the government take the lead and provide that clear information.

Ryan responded by saying, “I don’t think Senator Hume understands how this has worked in the past”:

What has happened is that the parliament votes on a referendum and whether or not we’re going to have one, and on the wording that will be put before the Australian people. And that’s what has happened.

And then what has happened in the past is the parliamentarians who have been supportive of that referendum have produced a pamphlet. And if there’s a no case, then the parliamentarians, not the government, who are opposed to that referendum have produced that no case.

Now, there’s nothing to stop Senator Hume from producing a pamphlet of her own if she’s opposed to the voice.

Concluding the heated exchange, Hume said “I think it’s very premature to suggest that she knows what my position is on the voice”.

Updated

Major renewables conference to be held in SA

Australia’s prowess in the renewable energy sector will be showcased at an international conference to be held in South Australia next year, AAP reports.

The federal climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, says Adelaide has been chosen to host the International Renewable Energy Conference in April 2024, bringing together 3500 of the sector’s global leaders.

It will include experts from government, industry, science and community groups working on the world’s clean energy future.

Bowen said:

The future of energy in Australia and the world is renewable, and sharing the latest knowledge with international partners and experts will help make that vision a reality.

A key part of the Adelaide conference will be to involve Indigenous communities in deploying clean energy projects to ensure they benefit from the transition to renewables.

South Australian energy minister, Tom Koutsantonis, said the conference would showcase the state’s green energy credentials, including its plans for a hydrogen hub in the upper Spencer Gulf.

The conference has been held biennially since 2004, with previous venues including Seoul, Washington, Beijing and Madrid.

Updated

No state funeral service for George Pell: Victorian premier

Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.

Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not:

I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.

At the press conference in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west, Andrews said he offered condolences to Pell’s friends and family but acknowledged the cardinal’s death would be challenging for victims of institutional child sexual abuse:

Whilst we send our condolences, of course, it’s a very sad time for family and friends and colleagues. But it’ll be a very, very distressing time [for victims]. Because some of these things can be triggering. That’s what the experts tell us.

And to those brave, brave Victorians – and in doing so, many beyond Victoria, who live every day and carry the burden, and some who aren’t here any more because of that burden – the way they were treated, the way they were abused and the way that was covered up … it was just a completely inadequate response.

We send our best wishes to them, and we always commit to have them foremost in our thoughts.

The premier said he would not dignify comments made by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who described his overturned child sexual abuse conviction a “modern-day political persecution”, with a response.

I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.

Dutton said in a written statement released on Wednesday afternoon:

On his passing, the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor Government and its institutions that led this modern-day political persecution.

In 2018, Pell was convicted of molesting two choir boys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. Pell always maintained his innocence and his convictions were quashed in a unanimous decision in the high court in 2020. He served 13 months in jail before being released.

Updated

David Pocock calls for national debate on housing as figures show rising number of women over 50 on rent assistance

Independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, is drawing attention to the growing number of women over 50 needing commonwealth rent assistance over the last 4 years.

Pocock told the Canberra Times he wanted to use Senate estimates to better understand the trend, and has called for national debate on the purpose of housing in Australia:

Rising inflation hurts people on fixed incomes, including income support, hardest.

Coupled with the severe shortage of social and affordable housing these figures paint a bleak picture of the very real suffering that is increasingly widespread across our community.

Updated

Last month, the Parliamentary Budget Office released an incredibly useful tool for our economic debate that not only reveals the secrets of the budget figures, but also highlights how badly the stage-three tax cuts mismanage the budget.

In the middle of December, the PBO gave us all an early Christmas present – one that oddly has largely been left under the tree. So let me do us all a favour and open it.

It released a “build you own budget” tool.

If you know the struggle of trying to repeal a traffic offence, you’ll want to have a read of Elias Visontay’s piece this morning about his seven-month legal battle:

Former Icac assistant commissioner says delay ‘black mark against Icac’

Yesterday, NSW’s corruption watchdog, Icac, warned that the findings from its probe into Gladys Berejiklian may be delayed until after the NSW election. It said the matter concerned complex matters of law and fact and a draft report would be completed as soon as possible.

Former NSW supreme court judge and assistant commissioner of the Icac, Anthony Whealy, KC, has spoken out saying the delay is “a black mark against Icac”.

Whealy told ABC Radio this morning:

I think it’s a real black mark against Icac in NSW. I’ve long been a supporter of Icac and rebutted criticism after criticism but on this issue I’m afraid I have to be critical.

I think the situation has really reached an unsatisfactory point and something has to be done to resolve it.

You’re looking at anything up to 18 months from the conclusion of evidence for a report – while it’s a very important report – it’s not a difficult one at all.

Whealy said it’s not a decision that should be taking this length of time given “in this particular case there’s no dispute about the facts”.

Ms Berejiklian’s role in relation to grants to the Wagga electorate are well documented and well known. Mr McGuire’s activities are well known. They’re not in dispute now and no one is saying it didn’t happen or that there’s a complex series of facts.

Whealy believes Icac has “lost control” of the process.

I think really is the simple situation is that they have an assistant commissioner there whose job it is to write the report. And I’m afraid Icac has lost control.

Updated

Tennis Australia commits to more NFTs despite mayhem in the crypto markets

Tennis Australia is expanding its NFT ball art offering for this year’s Australian Open, saying it is in it for the long haul despite the uncertainty in the crypto market.

The Open last year launched an “AO Artball” collection as the hype around all things crypto peaked, with 6,776 ball artworks sold as non-fungible tokens that are linked to 19cm x 19cm plots on the court at Melbourne Park.

An additional 2,454 NFTs are on offer this year.

Read more:

Updated

NSW won’t scrap stamp duty, premier says

NSW Labor says the state’s premier will never abandon plans for an annual land tax, despite Dominic Perrottet stepping back from his boldest ambitions, AAP reports.

Homes in Sydney’s north-west
Homes in Sydney’s north-west. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Open for years about his disdain for stamp duty on homes, Perrottet reportedly conceded the one-off tax would have to remain an option for homebuyers. He told the Daily Telegraph:

If there are future reforms, it will all be about choice.

If you give people choice, then it’s very difficult for people to say that there’s a problem with it.

But Labor says re-electing Perrottet in the upcoming March election would give him a green light to introduce the broad-based land tax the premier “has been obsessed with” for years. NSW shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

His plan is to say what he must to get through the election before he charges full steam ahead and introduces a broad-based land tax.

The fact that Mr Perrottet has again refused to rule out extending his land tax even further shows that he will never give up on the plan he spent years fighting for.

Under laws passed in November, first home buyers purchasing a property for up to $1.5m can choose to pay stamp duty or an annual land tax.

While stamp duty adds about 4.5% to a home’s purchase price, the land tax involves an annual charge of $400 plus 0.3% of the property’s land value.

For most owner-occupiers, the sum of annual charges would take about 15 to 20 years to exceed the one-off stamp duty charge.

But the land tax’s recurring nature has Labor calling it a “forever tax on the family home” and pledging to repeal it if it wins government in March.

Stamp duty – making up a quarter of the NSW government’s revenue – has been criticised by leading economists, including former Treasury chief Ken Henry.

In Henry’s 2010 tax review, he described it as a highly inefficient tax on land that discourages people from moving as their personal circumstances change.

Updated

Astronomers discover Earth-sized exoplanet

Researchers using Nasa’s James Webb space telescope have for the first time confirmed the existence of an exoplanet, a planet that orbits another star. Formally classified as LHS 475 b, the planet is almost exactly the same size as our own, clocking in at 99% of Earth’s diameter.

The space telescope has also given insight into the birth of stars at “cosmic noon” with a newly released image of the NGC 346 cluster.

You can read more here:

Updated

Anthony Albanese has taken to social media before his flight to Papau New Guinea, telling us about what his priorities will be in discussions with PNG Prime Minister James Marape.

Updated

Defence treaty ‘will be signed today’, PNG minister says

PNG foreign affairs minister Justin Tkatchenko said the bilateral defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea “will be signed today”.

It will be announced today after our bilateral talks … our officials from both sides have been working on this for three or four months.

Earlier Australia’s Pacific minister Pat Conroy said the treaty was still being negotiated.

Tkatchenko said the treaty was about regional security, defence cooperation and also enhancing the PNG defence force.

He said China was one of PNG’s “biggest economic partners” when asked why Beijing was funding a new military hospital in PNG:

And we work with them in many different ways, on the understanding [of] what we can do together without causing issues amongst ourselves and our partners.

At the end of the day, China is economic partner and we will work with them for the benefit of our country … friends to all, enemies to none. We [will] work with everybody for the long-term benefit of our country and our sovereignty.

Updated

Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea’s minister for foreign affairs, is also due to speak on ABC Radio National this morning in just a few minutes.

Visa processing problems in spotlight

Pat Conroy acknowledged ongoing visa processing issues and said the government was “hopeful that we can get a resolution on that issue”:

People in Papua New Guinea are also very keen on our Pacific engagement visa, which is about creating 3,000 permanent migration spots each year into Australia … and there’s also lots of interest in Papua New Guineans working, studying in Australia as well.

Updated

In defence of democracy

Pat Conroy said the PM’s message would be about defending democracy and promoting peace, as Anthony Albanese becomes the first foreign leader to address PNG parliament:

His message around democracies is that [it is] incumbent upon politicians in both countries [to] defend democracy and we defend democracy by demonstrating it’s the best system to deliver actual benefits for the people that we govern. So that’s about investing in stronger health outcomes, lifting stronger economic outcomes.

Pat Conroy
Minister for international development and the Pacific Pat Conroy. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Conroy added that the government plans to turbocharge its commitment to the Pacific Australia labour mobility scheme:

The average worker sends back $15,000 Australian dollars a year. And that’s in the context of a region where more than a third of the people live on less than $1,000 a year.

Updated

‘We are the biggest investor in Papua New Guinea’

When asked if Australia is in contest with China for influence in Papua New Guinea, Pat Conroy said:

[What] the Australian government is committed to doing not just in Papua New Guinea but throughout the Pacific is deepening our relationships and being the partner of choice.

I would make the point economically Australia is the biggest export destination … we are the biggest investor in Papua New Guinea of around $24bn. We invest more in Papua New Guinea than we do today for India, for example.

Is it possible that Papa New Guinea might want to have multiple partners of choice on security? It’s not for us to dictate what other countries do.

Updated

PNG security talks aimed at putting in place legal framework to allow greater cooperation

Pat Conroy says the purpose of the Papau New Guinea visit is to deepen the relationship between Australia and PNG, not just in defence but in a broader sense:

It’s about making it easier for Australia to support the security aspirations of Papua New Guinea and vice versa, noting that PNG soldiers supported us during the bushfire crisis of a few years ago.

He adds that the bilateral defence treaty, still being discussed, is about “opening up legal mechanisms for greater cooperation”:

So that could could include hypothetically allowing more visits by Australian naval vessels or Papua New Guinea naval vessels to Australia. It could include greater military cooperation in training, so it’s about putting in place the legal framework to allow greater cooperation.

Updated

The minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, will be appearing on ABC Radio National shortly. He will be joining PM Anthony Albanese on a visit to Papua New Guinea today, with the two countries set to discuss a bilateral defence treaty.

Updated

Bushfire warnings in Western Australia

Fires are continuing to burn in Western Australia’s south-west, with three out-of-control bushfires. This comes just one week after the “once-in-a-century” flooding in the Kimberley.

An emergency warning remains in place for parts of Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Noggerup. A blaze in Preston national park, east of Donnybrook, has destroyed 3,000 hectares of forest and farmland.

AAP is reporting that about 60 firefighters are tackling the blaze and an evacuation centre has been set up at the Donnybrook recreation centre.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfire had been started by lightning and was not contained or controlled.

A watch and act alert is in place for surrounding parts of Noggerup, Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Yabberup.

Updated

Thanks for getting us started, Martin! Good morning, everyone, Emily Wind here to take you through this morning’s news.

Updated

ADF could build temporary bridge over Fitzroy River

Australian Associated Press reports this morning that defence personnel could be flown into Western Australia to rebuild vital road bridges destroyed by floods.

Here’s the full report:

The race is on to reopen the only sealed road through Western Australia’s flood-ravaged Kimberley region, where defence personnel could be called in to construct a combat bridge over a swollen river.

Flood waters over the Great Northern Highway at Fitzroy Crossing
Flood waters over the Great Northern Highway at Fitzroy Crossing. Photograph: Andrea Myers

The collapsed bridge at Fitzroy Crossing is crucial to the Great Northern Highway transport route, which links the north and south of the state, and will take years to rebuild.

Tonnes of food and boxes of medical supplies have been flown into the disaster-ravaged region, where many people are isolated by flood waters and damaged roads.

Acting WA transport minister John Carey said a preliminary damage assessment yesterday showed about half the bridge had been swept away.

He told reporters one option for reopening the critical road-freight link was building a temporary structure to replace the destroyed sections.

Main Roads WA said this could involve the Australian defence force building a Bailey bridge, a portable pre-fabricated structure, to allow lighter vehicles to use the highway.

A spokesman told AAP preliminary discussions were under way about the temporary option, although it wouldn’t allow heavy road trains to make the crucial journey with supplies.

A low crossing on the Fitzroy River bed further north will need to be built to accommodate heavy trucks and enable construction of a permanent bridge at Fitzroy Crossing.

It will be able to take triple road trains, which can weigh up to 170 tonnes, but construction will take four months. A suitable site won’t be chosen until flood levels drop.

In the meantime, road trains with freight for Kununurra and the Northern Territory have been diverted into South Australia to travel up the Stuart Highway through central Australia.

A barge is also transporting essential goods from Port Hedland to Broome, with authorities previously saying an airlift and boats may be the only way to reach some communities with fresh produce until damaged roads are repaired.

Design and construction of a final, replacement bridge at Fitzroy Crossing will take up to two years, according to the department’s spokesperson.

Further assessments will need to be carried out once the water level drops further to understand why the bridge piers that held up the structure failed.

Main Roads had hoped to send divers in yesterday, but the spokesperson said this had been postponed due to the risk from fast-flowing waters, debris and crocodiles.

Carey said 60 workers had also been deployed to repair accessible sections of the highway, which remains closed for 700km between Broome and Halls Creek and partially open to high-clearance vehicles in other areas.

Record major flooding continues downstream from Fitzroy Crossing at Willare amid fears the bridge and highway there could also be damaged.

Derby also remains isolated and minor flooding continues from Fitzroy Crossing to Noonkanbah, although water levels are receding rapidly.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to assess flood damage to about 130 government-owned rental homes in Fitzroy Crossing.

Carey said plans for carrying out repairs and rebuilding were under way but it would take a significant amount of time to carry out the work:

We are facing a heated construction market. This is northern Australia. It is far more difficult to get tradies here.

The flood damage was caused by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie as the storm system circled the remote town, dropping unprecedented rain last week.

The weather system has since weakened and moved over the Northern Territory and Queensland, bringing rain and thunderstorms.

Updated

Driver charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing death

A driver has been charged over a crash in regional Victoria that left his four passengers dead.

The 41-year-old was the sole survivor in a Peugeot that collided with a Toyota Hilux ute at an intersection in Pine Lodge, near Shepparton, last week.

The car went on to hit a road sign before coming to rest in a nearby paddock.

The Peugeot driver suffered serious chest injuries in the crash, while the ute driver from nearby Nathalia suffered minor injuries.

Major collision investigation unit detectives on Wednesday charged the 41-year-old with four counts of dangerous driving causing death.

He was remanded to appear in Melbourne magistrates court on 8 June.

Police were last week struggling to identify two of the four men killed in the crash as none of the passengers were carrying identification at the time.

Updated

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and, while my colleague Emily Wind will be along shortly to take you through the day, we’ll have a quick look at the main stories overnight.

The death of Cardinal George Pell continues to dominate much of the news today with Pope Francis praising the “determination and wisdom” of Australia’s most senior Catholic who died on Tuesday in Rome. We’ll have coverage of a mass being held in his honour in his hometown of Ballarat, and all the other reaction as it happens.

Anthony Albanese will be making headlines today as he visits Papua New Guinea for talks aimed at yielding a new security agreement. The prime minister will become the first foreign government leader to address PNG’s parliament and will say he sees the relationship between the two countries as “a bond between equals”.

There’ll also no doubt be interesting follow-ups from last night’s news that two of Australia’s richest men, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, have fallen out over plans to build a giant solar farm to supply Darwin, Indonesia and Singapore with power, with the venture entering voluntary administration.

Updated

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