AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 12 at 0400
NDIS (CANBERRA)
A controversial overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme appears to be on rocky ground after a snap three-day inquiry, during which almost all witnesses criticised the proposed changes.
Government officials have revealed a total of 350,000 people will either be kicked off the scheme or diverted to other programs by 2031, prompting accusations from the opposition the plan is a "cost-shifting" exercise.
The federal government hopes to legislate the reforms with the support of the Liberals and Nationals before parliament rises for the winter break on July 2.
While opposition NDIS spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh has agreed change is needed, she said advocates, states and territories had raised genuine fears about Labor's proposal.
"Throughout the hearings, witnesses have been telling the committee that people will die as a result of these changes. It is our responsibility to listen to their concerns," she said.
Economy (MELBOURNE)
Australians are working longer hours but it's not showing up on the productivity scoreboard as levels tumble to a post-pandemic low.
The Productivity Commission's quarterly bulletin reinforces the scale of the challenge confronting Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
Breaking down Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the report highlights labour productivity fell by 0.6 per cent in the March quarter while hours worked grew by 0.9 per cent.
In the year to the end of March, labour productivity was up a paltry 0.3 per cent compared with 2.2 per cent growth in hours worked.
"Australia's labour productivity growth is going from bad to worse," commission deputy chair Alex Robson wrote.
"The accounting is straightforward: the value of goods and services we produce is increasing, but not by as much as hours worked.
UK Stab (BELFAST)
Two days of anti-immigration violence in Northern Ireland is nothing short of racist thuggery, Britain's minister for the province says, after police deployed water cannon to tackle rioters for a second night.
Hilary Benn said there was less disorder on the streets of Belfast on Wednesday night as opposed to Tuesday, when rioters targeted ethnic minorities and foreign residents by torching homes and vehicles following a knife attack for which a Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder.
But many of those who did clash with police on Wednesday were seeking to get to a hotel outside Belfast that has been targeted in the past for housing asylum seekers.
Officers used water cannon to drive rioters back and Reuters saw what appeared to be plastic bullets, or baton rounds, on the street.
Federal (CANBERRA)
One Nation is seeking a forensic audit to prove the success of its $2 million fundraising drive as top Liberals reject teaming up with the resurgent conservative party.
After Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised questions about whether the amount raised was legitimate, a spokesman for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the party would bring in analysts to confirm the "fire the liar" campaign's legitimacy.
An independent forensic audit being commissioned would show the fundraising effort was authentic, the spokesman said.
"Why would I call out the liar ... then go and do something like that myself? It would destroy me," Senator Hanson later said at a media event in Western Australia.
Mr Albanese questioned what evidence there was the party had actually raised the funds, and Labor operatives privately suggested One Nation's online donation counter might have been fraudulent.
Southerncross (SYDNEY)
The merger between Australia's biggest TV network and its largest radio station chain has taken less than six months to run into trouble.
Southern Cross Media Group announced on Thursday the television market it entered when it merged with Seven West Media in January had "deteriorated materially more than anticipated" in the June quarter.
As a result, the corporate owner of the Seven Network, Triple M, the Hit Network and the West Australian newspaper is slashing hundreds of jobs, downgrading its guidance and writing off millions of dollars from a burdensome television content contract.
Southern Cross now expects to deliver earnings of $185 to $190 million in 2026/27, compared to its previous forecast of $200 million to $220 million.
"We must reset our cost base to meet current market conditions and capture the full benefits of scale across our trusted platforms for our audiences and advertisers, now and into the future," the company's new chief executive and managing director Rohan Lund said.
Legal: Koletti (SYDNEY)
As 73-year-old Julie Brandon was walking her dog during a peaceful park stroll, she claims she was violently shoved to the grass.
Her alleged attacker, Anthony Koletti, is the husband of Melissa Caddick, a self-styled financial adviser who vanished in 2020 and is presumed dead after defrauding $23 million from family and friends.
The 44-year-old hair stylist is accused of shoulder-barging Ms Brandon from behind and failing to stop as he went on his own evening walk in July 2025.
"All of a sudden this person barged into my shoulder and then I fell over onto the ground," Ms Brandon testified during a hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.
"I fell down onto my left butt cheek - I was quite shocked actually."
SuperRetail (SYDNEY)
Motorheads, outdoor types and fitness fans across Australia are in line for new stores to feed their hobbies, as a major retailer plots a five-year expansion.
Super Retail Group, which owns Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BFC and Macpac, plans to ramp up its bricks-and-mortar footprint as it chases billions of dollars worth of market share across all four brands.
Super Retail has a $4 billion hold on the total auto, outdoor and sporting goods market, which is worth $65 billion.
This meant all four brands had ample room for growth, chief executive Paul Bradshaw said on Thursday.
"For me, you've got to own the categories that you play in and give your customers exactly what they want," he told investors while outlining the group's new growth strategy, dubbed Ignite.
Police NSW (SYDNEY)
Many NSW police officers are too afraid to report rampant bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination over fears it could destroy their careers.
High levels of these "unacceptable behaviours" have continued across the force due to failures of culture and leadership, a wide-ranging review revealed on Thursday.
The review of thousands of current and former employees found 30 per cent had directly experienced bullying in the past five years, leaving them feeling "scared, belittled or humiliated".
One anonymous respondent said bullying was as much a part of NSW Police as wearing a uniform.
Additionally, almost one in 10 respondents said they had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years - with one per cent reporting having been sexually assaulted during the same period.
In finance ...
SpaceX Aust (SYDNEY)
Tens of thousands of retail Australian investors are about to find out how many shares they've been allocated in the world's biggest-ever initial public offering.
SpaceX will go public on the US Nasdaq exchange on Friday, with its listing set to raise up to $US75 billion ($A106 billion) to advance Elon Musk's grandiose vision of making human life multi-planetary.
In a rare and perhaps unprecedented move, retail investors in Australia, Europe, the UK and several other countries outside the US were granted access to the red-hot initial public offering (IPO).
CommSec, the lead Australian broker for the transaction, was warning of "extremely high call volumes" earlier this week and advising customers to submit their applications online.
"We've seen very good interest across a broad, broad range of Australian investors," a source familiar with the transaction but not authorised to speak publicly told AAP.
BHP (SYDNEY)
Hundreds of BHP workers at Port Hedland in Western Australia have voted in favour of taking strike action, two unions say, raising the risk of disruptions to iron ore shipments from one of the world's biggest export hubs.
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) said 100 per cent of its 100 members taking part in the vote endorsed work stoppages ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours, which could begin within days.
More than 100 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) also voted 89 per cent in favour of taking strike action, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
The votes come after months of talks with BHP, the world's biggest listed miner, to agree on a labour agreement, with workers seeking improved pay and conditions.
In entertainment ...
Aria (SYDNEY)
Australian music greats are reflecting on their journey to the top of the charts as they take in their immortality.
Six artists - Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End, and Vika and Linda Bull - were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame on Thursday night.
ARIA, which typically inducts one artist a year, elevated six to top-tier status on Thursday night as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.
For Melbourne rockers The Living End, the honour signalled a rare moment to stop thinking about what's next and instead take stock of what the band had achieved in its decades-long career.
"We don't spend a lot of time in the rear view mirror, but this has forced us to do it," frontman Chris Cheney told AAP.
Arts Cartier (MELBOURNE)
Worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson, Cartier is one of the world's most luxurious brands.
An exhibition of jewellery from the French design house is the latest instalment in the National Gallery of Victoria's winter masterpieces series, opening Friday.
"This is by far the largest show we've ever done on jewellery. It is truly epic," said senior NGV curator Amanda Dunsmore.
The jewellery house was founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier and expanded globally under his grandsons Louis, Pierre and Jacques.
The exhibition was originally staged at London's Victoria & Albert Museum in collaboration with Cartier, but with about 400 pieces on show the Melbourne version is significantly larger.
In sport ...
AFL Bulldogs (MELBOURNE)
Inspirational Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has produced a masterful performance to power the Crows to a 57-point thumping of the stunned Western Bulldogs.
Starting as outsiders away from home and having lost to the Dogs earlier in the season, Adelaide charged out of the blocks at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night and never looked back.
The match was over by quarter-time as Adelaide piled on 9.2 - just two points shy of their largest ever first term - to lead by 41 points.
The Bulldogs spent the rest of the margin trying to get back in the contest and briefly threatened to get close, but the Crows finished strongly to win 19.7 (121) to 9.10 (64).
Central to Adelaide's dominance was Dawson, who is still grieving the tragic death in April of his brother, Jaryd.
Com26 Swi (SYDNEY)
Despite ten years of trying, Australian swim star Kyle Chalmers is still in pursuit of the perfect race.
The Olympic gold medallist secured his spot at this year's Commonwealth Games by taking the men's 100m freestyle on Thursday night at Australia's swimming trials.
After qualifying fifth, Chalmers fended off a challenge from Finn Southam to touch in 47.59 seconds at Sydney Olympic Park.
Southam trailed by 0.3 seconds to finish runner-up, with Kai Taylor third (48.21).
The 27-year-old Chalmers had set a 100m butterfly personal best of 51.04 seconds earlier in the week, but pulled out of the final.
Inspired by 32-year-old Cameron McEvoy's newly-claimed 50m freestyle world record, Chalmers was adamant he could reach another level.
Chalmers will also compete in Saturday's 50m butterfly event.
Ends Bulletin
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