What we learned today, Thursday 30 November
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Here are the main stories of the day:
The federal court has ordered the government to free Iranian asylum seeker Ned Kelly Emeralds, who spent a decade in immigration detention – the first release ordered since the new high court precedent on indefinite detention.
Family members of Israeli hostages held in Gaza sought protection in a Melbourne police station on Wednesday night when pro-Palestinian protesters entered the lobby of their hotel to protest with a megaphone and signs. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said in parliamentary question time the protest was “beyond contempt”.
Brittany Higgins has passionately defended herself during a defamation trial from accusations that she was inconsistent about whether she was naked or her dress was around her waist on the night she claimed she was raped in Parliament House.
Seven West Media’s chairman, Kerry Stokes, has failed in a bid to overturn a court ruling that he hand over thousands of emails exchanged with Ben Roberts-Smith’s legal team and other documents relating to the soldier’s failed defamation action.
The Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, says he supports moving to a health-based response to cannabis, telling reporters: “I don’t think a criminal approach to this is best.”
Tanya Plibersek announced she will reconsider the future of contentious salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast.
The independent MP Monique Ryan has backed in calls for changes to the “inflationary, expensive and unfair” stage-three tax cuts. It came after Jim Chalmers met with backbenchers today who have concerns over the stage-three tax cuts.
Updated
System in decay: inquiry seeks action on dental care
A challenge to chart a path to universal access to dental and oral health care has been laid at the feet of the federal government.
A Senate inquiry into dental services which reported on Thursday described the sector as a “system in decay”.
The report called on the government to work with the states and territories to achieve universal access to dental and oral health care through Medicare or a similar scheme.
The committee implored the government to consider a seniors dental benefit scheme and a plan to expand access to the child dental benefits schedule to all children.
Committee chair and Greens senator Jordon Steele-John said:
The community has shared clearly that dental care is too expensive, people are waiting too long to access public dental care, if they’re eligible at all, and we must do more to support our oral healthcare workforce.
