What we learned: Monday 9 October
Before we close the blog for today, let’s recap the big headlines:
The top Victorian government officials tasked with delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Games faced a grilling before a state parliamentary inquiry.
A man died and another was in a critical condition after a light plane crash in rural South Australia.
Less than a week out from the voice to parliament referendum, Indigenous leader and yes campaigner Noel Pearson said it was time to reflect on the “moral question” of the voice.
NSW government high schools joined government primary schools in enforcing a ban on mobile phones during school hours when term four began today.
Australian landmarks were lit up in blue and white in solidarity with Israel after Islamist group Hamas launched the bloodiest attack against the country in decades.
An Australian man has recounted his terrifying ordeal escaping from a music festival in the Israeli desert as Hamas militants launched the attack.
It was announced that former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian’s court challenge to the corruption watchdog’s finding of serious corrupt conduct will be heard early next year.
The national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, has given an update marking 100 days since the Nacc commenced.
A Senate inquiry has recommended the Albanese government should immediately review its decision to block Qatar Airways from launching extra flights to Australia, as it calls for the consumer watchdog to have a significantly expanded role in the aviation industry.
The full federal court rejected an appeal from UAP senator Ralph Babet and Clive Palmer against an earlier ruling that ticks will count as yes votes but crosses are informal votes in the referendum.
Thanks for reading, we will be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
Jason Clare says establishment of student ombudsman being mulled
Education minister Jason Clare will decide next month whether the establishment of an independent student ombudsman is necessary to hold the university sector to account.
Speaking at a doorstop in Parliament House on Monday, Clare was asked whether the sector could be trusted to ensure student safety on campus.
The latest national student safety survey, released in 2021, found one in 20 students had been sexually assaulted since starting university, and one in six had reported being sexually harassed.
Universities Australia, the peak body for the sector, has confirmed it will hold another national survey in 2024 after a backlash over its response to student safety on campus.
Clare said a “standalone, independent student ombudsman” had been raised as a means to investigate complaints and hold universities to account.
It was floated as an idea at the education ministers meeting last week on Thursday, and we’ve agreed that education ministers will meet again before the end of November to consider an action plan that may include the establishment of a student ombudsman.
Once the plan is ready for us to consider, we’ll … implement it as quickly as possible.
Asked if an agreement on such a framework could be met at the upcoming meeting, Clare replied: “Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for.”
Updated
