What we learned - Friday 12 January
That’s where we’re going to wrap the blog up for today. Here were the main events:
Victoria SES doorknocked homes that remain under threat from rising floodwaters.
The emergency management minister urged Queenslanders to stay across BoM warnings amid predicted monsoon trough.
MPs criticised Dutton’s Woolworths boycott call as Steggall questioned need for ‘plastic crap’ on Australia Day at all.
Aldi joined Woolies in its decision to not sell Australia Day merchandise.
US President Biden announced Australia had supported the US and UK airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen.
If you’re in an area experiencing extreme weather right now, stay safe.
Updated
Dingo attack on K'gari
A young girl has been hospitalised after the second dingo attack on K’gari in just two weeks.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Ambulance Service said they were called to K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, at about 12.30pm on Friday.
It was reported that a primary-school age girl had been bitten by a dingo at Hook Point on the island.
She had “significant leg lacerations,” the spokesperson said.
The girl was initially transported to Gympie hospital, before being taken to the larger Sunshine Coast University hospital.
It’s the second attack in a week. A seven-year-old was bitten on 5 January at the same location on the island.
The state government rolled out a new dingo risk management strategy on the popular tourist island in 2019.
But it hasn’t stopped attacks, with three dingos euthanised last year after attacks. No dingo had been euthanised since 2019.
Updated
Flexible calendar a success in Arnhem Land school
A record number of First Nations students have graduated from a remote school in the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Land, with the local government hailing the alternative form of education that employs a “flexible calendar” based on cultural tradition as a success.
Overall, more than 212 Aboriginal students received their Certificate of Education in the NT, including 11 students from Gunbulanya, and graduated on country on Thursday.
Gunbulanya School, the NT’s first independent public school catering to 230 students, operates on a flexible calendar based on the Kunwinjku seasons and cultural movements of local people in order to improve attendance rates.
Chief minister Eva Lawler said “every single child, no matter where they live, deserves a quality education, and quality access to learning resources”.
Congratulations to the 11 students who have graduated in Gunbalanya, it has been an honour to celebrate and acknowledge your hard work.
This graduation is proof of what quality education can do ... these students took part in a territory Labor government initiative when they were children.
Updated
Coalition lashes ‘weak’ government contribution to US and UK airstrikes against Houthis
The Coalition is still critical of the government for not doing more to contribute to efforts against the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, after Australian forces helped “support” American and British airstrikes in the region. Responding to the news today on Sky, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor lashed prime minister Anthony Albanese and his government as “weak”.
Taylor protested:
They [the Albanese government] haven’t provided a ship.
In declining to send military hardware to the Middle East, the government has repeatedly said its maritime focus is in the Pacific region. Instead, Labor sent a small contingent of extra defence staff to a combined military headquarters in Bahrain which is supporting the US-led coalition against the Houthi attacks.
Taylor was critical that Australia had only sent “a handful of people”, instead suggesting Houthi groups are “going to take much more notice of force”.
We strongly support the US and the UK and the action that they’re taking. We remain deeply concerned that this weak prime minister and weak government is not taking the action they should.
Updated
PNG asks Australia for helicopter after deadly unrest
Papua New Guinea has requested from Australia a contracted helicopter and accommodation for police as rioting and civil unrest abate, AAP reports.
The Australian government remains in constant contact with PNG counterparts and had received “some small requests for assistance”, the defence minister Richard Marles said.
He told reporters in Geelong today:
We will continue to work with PNG and to meet any requests for assistance as a close friend.
The circumstances had improved and the government continued to closely monitor the situation, he said. Read more about the situation here:
Compounding weather events Australia’s ‘new reality’, says emergency management minister
The minister for emergency management, Murray Watt, says compounding weather events are a “new reality” for Australia:
We don’t want to see the compounding weather events, but unfortunately that’s what we’re seeing in Australia – not just one event that happens out of the blue, but a particular area being hit by compounding events in similar weeks or similar months.
Even look at what happened in Victoria this week where we had the same areas hit by floods 18 months ago hit again.
This is a new reality that we’re having to adjust to, and, of course, I think we all feel for people who are going through these situations.
Updated
Far north Queensland hit again by heavy rain, cyclone threat
Still reeling from wild weather, far north Queensland is bracing for more flooding with another cyclone threat looming, AAP reports.
All roads are closed north of the Daintree River near Cairns due to landslips and rockfalls after again being hit hard by heavy rain.
Daintree village has recorded 234mm, with a severe weather warning issued for the north tropical coast and tablelands today.
It was later cancelled but the Bureau of Meteorology warned there was a chance of more downpours tonight.
⛈️Today's thunderstorm forecast (12/1): Heavy rainfall possible with thunderstorms in parts of northern & western #Qld. Localised flash flooding possible, including in North Tropical Coast catchments saturated from recent rain. Damaging gusts possible in SW with severe storms. pic.twitter.com/RQL01S1e0D
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 12, 2024
⚠️🌧️Cancellation of Severe Weather Warning.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 12, 2024
The immediate threat has passed, however, with a slight chance of heavy rainfall developing again about the North Tropical Coast Friday night, further warnings will be issued if necessary
Keep track on BOM app or https://t.co/EPbeKLrKVA pic.twitter.com/5USfd1WLSg
Updated
Global warming behind Sydney’s record high dew point, says US meteorologist
As Sydney hit a record high dew point yesterday and is still sweating through “Singapore-like” humidity, US meteorologist Jeff Berardelli is warning that moisture is increasing alongside the effects of global warming.
If you don't like the rising dewpoint (eg Sydney hitting a record on 11 January), you'd better get used to it heading higher as the planet heats up... https://t.co/ZZHRBmwH8F
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) January 12, 2024
Updated
‘Dangerous escalation’: The Greens condemn Australia’s support for Yemen strikes
The Greens are warning that Australian support for the US and UK strikes on Yemen is a “dangerous escalation.”
Senator David Shoebridge, the Greens spokesperson for defence, said:
The Biden and Albanese administrations repeatedly say they want to avoid the conflict in Gaza spreading in the region, then they do this.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, the Greens spokesperson for foreign affairs, said:
Australia must play a constructive role in the global community and that means implementing a parliamentary vote for the deployment of ADF personnel, an end to the Aukus agreement and to pursue an independent and peaceful foreign policy.
Updated
Ex-NT deputy chief minister to retire from politics
The Northern Territory’s former deputy chief minister has announced she will be stepping down.
Member for Wanguri Nicole Manison says she will not run in the August election for the Labor Party.
In a statement on Facebook Mansion said:
I have loved my job being the Member for Wanguri. It has been a huge honour to represent the community I grew up in and I am raising my family in.
… I can’t thank my constituents enough for backing me, and backing me very strongly, for three elections.
Mansion served as deputy chief minister from 2016 to December 2023.
Updated
Sydney council announces free Australia Day merchandise
Fairfield city council says it will make Australia Day merchandise available for free in response to the recent decisions by major supermarkets to no longer sell Australia Day merchandise.
Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone released a statement which said:
Major multinational organisations have no place in making political comments on our national day. This is something we are seeing more of – large organisations trying to tell people what to think.
Their actions are completely against our Australian values and denies Australians the opportunity to be proud of who we are. During a time when people are struggling with cost of living pressures, major supermarkets should be focusing their efforts on reducing their prices instead of telling people what to think and using their stores to make political commentary.
Flags and other merchandise will be available to pick up from Fairfield city council’s administration centre, leisure centres and libraries from Monday 22 January 2024. Please come along, collect your merchandise and display it proudly on Australia Day.
Updated
Thanks Mostafa, happy Friday everyone!
And with that I will leave the blog with Natasha May, thanks for reading.
Marles says law of the sea ‘utterly central to Australia’
Marles has refused to provide many details on what has happened. He first refused to detail when the US and the UK told the Australian government the attacks would take place.
He also refused to provide further detail on what kind of support Australian personnel provided.
Asked if he was concerned there might be further escalation, he said reinforcing the law of the sea was “utterly central to Australia.”
The Houthis have been engaging in disruption of maritime activity. They have been engaging in disruption of the rules-base order. Freedom of navigation and the UN convention and law of the sea are utterly central to Australia’s national interests and is fundamentally important that Australia stands up with the principles of the UN convention on the law of the sea and freedom of navigation.
It is essential that Australia stands firm in the principles of freedom of navigation on the high seas.
Updated
Marles says Houthi rebels were warned earlier this month
Marles has given an extremely short statement before jumping into questions, adding only that Australia will continue to support “any actions which assert the global rules-based order.”
On the 4 January Australia was part of 14 countries which issued a statement warning the Houthi rebels that if they continue to attack maritime activity in the Red Sea there would be consequences.
But they have continued their attacks on maritime and naval assets. As a result, the attacks today have occurred. Australia will continue to support any actions which assert the global rules-based order which assert the UN convention [on the] law of the sea and which assert freedom of navigation on the high seas. Be that in the Red Sea, be that in the Indo-Pacific, be that in other parts of the world.
Updated
Richard Marles says support for strikes against Houthi rebels ‘not taken lightly’
Minister of defence Richard Marles has stepped up in Geelong and has begun by outlining Australia’s involvement in the strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
He said that Australia’s support “came in the form of personnel in the operational headquarters”.
These are very important actions. The actions that have been taken today supported by Australia are about maintaining freedom of navigation on the high seas.
They are about maintaining global trade … that is completely central to Australia’s national interests. This decision was not taken lightly.
Updated
And we are expecting to hear from Richard Marles in five minutes, on Australia’s involvement in the strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. We’ll be bringing you that live.
Updated
ADF personnel involved in Yemen airstrikes in ‘non-operational role’
Guardian Australia understands that Australian defence force personnel were involved in the Yemen airstrikes but only in a “non-operational role”.
We are expecting a press conference from the defence minister, Richard Marles, in about 30 minutes, supposedly on the strikes and Australia’s role.
The White House has only confirmed that Australia gave “support” to the strikes but the initial statement from the US president, Joe Biden, distinguished that support from US and UK forces which actually conducted the strike, seemingly indicating the other countries contributed more logistical support.
Updated
Farmers call for ACCC inquiry into supermarkets
AAP is reporting that farmers at the mercy of supermarket giants as cost-of-living pressures pile up are calling for an inquiry into the sector rather than the already announced government review.
The weekly grocery shop has continued to balloon, costing $37 more than the previous year, but the NSW Farmers president, Xavier Martin, says those price increases are not moving up the supply chain, which has forced producers to foot the bill.
“Farmers are still receiving the same dysfunctional prices for their produce as they did when input costs were far lower,” he said.
“[They] are being offered increasingly lower prices that often don’t cover their cost of production, with little justification and a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude from supermarkets.”
Anti-competitive behaviour by supply chain middlemen, Martin says, has also forced farmers into being locked in with one buyer with some reporting that their produce has been rejected when buyers discover they are supplying other businesses.
The government has already announced a review of the food and grocery code, to which the supermarkets are signatories, that will be headed by former Labor minister Craig Emerson.
But Martin says this isn’t enough.
The code only covers a small fragment of the grocery supply chain and a review would not be able to delve into issues like price transparency and “excessive profits gained through price gouging”.
The review would also rely solely on verbal testimony from stakeholders whereas an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would be able to analyse prices consumers are charged, the amount paid to suppliers and costs to supermarkets which Martin says is desperately needed.
Updated
White House and allies say strikes demonstrate ‘shared commitment to freedom of navigation’
So in addition to the statement released by the US president, quoted below, there has been a joint statement from the White House and all the involved governments, including Australia, the Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
While largely reiterating what Biden said, they say that the Houthi rebels were warned multiple times to stop attacking vessels in the Red Sea, which they call “illegal, dangerous and destabilising”.
They add that the strikes were intended to “disrupt and degrade” the capabilities of the Houthis and that today’s air strikes “demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks”.
In response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi attacks against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense, consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
The Houthis’ more than two dozen attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge. Today’s action demonstrated a shared commitment to freedom of navigation, international commerce, and defending the lives of mariners from illegal and unjustifiable attacks.
Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but let our message be clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways in the face of continued threats.
Updated
You can also keep up with the news coming out of the Middle East at our blog, linked below:
Biden says Australia has supported US and UK air strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen
Australia is supporting American forces, along with forces from the UK, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands in strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The US president, Joe Biden, released a statement on the strikes – highlighting the support from the countries involved:
Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces – together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands – successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea – including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.
He goes on to say in the statement:
Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels. These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.
Updated
Sydney records dew point of 24.1C on Friday after yesterday’s record high
So yesterday, Sydney recorded its highest dew point on record, with an hourly observation of 26.7C recorded yesterday.
And while that explains why it felt so humid, it does not provide much relief, with dew points just as high today.
As of 11am, a dew point of 24.1C was recorded at Sydney Observatory Hill, and 22C at Parramatta as of 9am.
#BREAKING - #Sydney has today registered its highest dew point on record, based on hourly observations, after reaching 25.9ºC at 11am. Sub-hourly dew points have gone as high as 26.7ºC so far, although these can't be compared to historical data. Phenomenal obs for Sydney. https://t.co/jqVunTG8mL
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) January 11, 2024
Updated
Aldi joins Woolies in decision to not sell Australia Day merchandise
Aldi has joined Woolworths in choosing not to sell Australia Day merchandise ahead of the national holiday, according to AAP.
The supermarket giant will not sell themed products such as thongs in the lead-up to 26 January.
It comes as Opposition leader Peter Dutton called on shoppers to boycott Woolworths over its decision not to sell Australia Day wares.
The federal government has slammed Dutton, accusing him of trying to start a culture war.
Cabinet minister Murray Watt said the Liberal leader was out of touch with the concerns of regular Australians dealing with cost of living pressures and high food prices.
Watt told ABC News Breakfast on Friday:
It is an extraordinary statement from Peter Dutton ... his desire to always be negative, always be divisive, divide Australians, find political point scoring opportunities, rather than trying to bring the country together.
His priority is starting another culture war about the kind of thongs and flags that supermarkets sell.
Senator Watt reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Australia Day, saying they supported keeping the public holiday on 26 January.
He said he planned to attend a citizenship ceremony and celebrate it with a barbecue.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black told The Australian newspaper Mr Dutton’s boycott call was unjustified.
Black said:
Businesses shouldn’t be boycotted because they make commercial decisions based on demand for products from their customers.
Nationals frontbencher Barnaby Joyce said Woolworths should focus on reducing prices to help Australians. He told Sky News:
I can’t see why people should go shopping there until they realise that your job is a retailer, not a politician.
Updated
Government releases draft legislation to prompt climate risk disclosures by big firms
Timely perhaps given the latest threats of deluges across much of northern Australia, treasurer Jim Chalmers has today released the government’s draft legislation to set up a climate risk disclosure framework for businesses.
Chalmers had touted the changes as aimed at helping “Australia maximise the economic opportunities of cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy and manage climate change risks”.
With almost unmatched renewable energy resources, Australia is no doubt well-placed in a decarbonising world. On the other hand, as one of the world’s biggest exporters of fossil gas and coal, many firms (and communities) have “downside” risks should we get serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
And as the extreme weather events of the past couple of months (eg flooding from cyclone Jasper and severe storms around Brisbane) remind us, Australia has its fair share (and probably more) of disasters to deal with.
Since the global Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was set up in 2017, firms had been voluntarily disclosing risks. The shift, though, is increasingly to mandate such reporting.
For Australia that will mean amending the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to “introduce standardised, internationally-aligned reporting requirements for businesses, to ensure they are making high quality climate-related financial disclosures”, the government said.
According to the accompanying information, the option preferred by the government would cover about 1800 “entities”. On-going annual costs of compliance would initially be between $1m-$1.3m, treasury estimates, falling to about half that over time.
The government will take submissions until 9 February.
Melbourne: two suspected arson attacks could be linked to crime group conflicts, investigators say
Two suspected arson attacks that destroyed a Melbourne tobacco shop destroyed by fire could be linked to ongoing violent conflict between crime groups, investigators say, AAP reports.
The first blaze broke out at the shopfront on Pier Street in Altona just before 4am on Thursday.
The offenders smashed the front window before throwing jerry cans into the business and setting it alight.
Emergency crews were again called to the store just before 5am on Friday.
A burnt-out car remains at the shop after Friday morning’s fire, with the front of the store completely destroyed.
Investigators are treating the fires as targeted attacks, a crime scene has been established and an arson chemist will attend on Friday.
They will investigate whether the incidents are linked to dozens of other fires that damaged tobacco shops in Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past year.
Police have previously said the firebombings are believed to be linked to a conflict over illegal tobacco between Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs who allegedly use youths, street gangs and low-level criminals to carry out offending.
Updated
Experts urge Australia to name heatwaves to help emphasise risks of extreme heat
AAP is reporting Australia has been urged to follow Spain’s lead and start naming heatwaves so people grasp how lethal and disruptive they can be.
Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural hazard and climate change means they are now more frequent, more intense and last longer.
But experts say people have been slow to fully understand how dangerous they are, and it might be time to start naming them, like cyclones, to emphasise the risks.
A new report released on Friday by Renew - a group that campaigns for more sustainable homes - has looked at what Spain is doing to combat extreme heat.
And it says there are plenty of lessons for Australia.
Renew’s Rob McLeod travelled to Spain late last year to conduct research and says naming heatwaves seems to be a powerful way to grab public attention, and mobilise action to protect human health.
Seville became the first in the world in 2022 to begin naming its worst heatwaves, which are also categorised under a three-tiered rating system that reflects their severity.
McLeod says:
In Spain, improved public understanding of the dangers of heatwaves, coupled with a national heatwave plan, has helped save lives. We should consider adopting a framework for alerts and communications here that builds on Seville’s heatwave naming approach.
Heatwaves have killed more people in Australia than any other natural disaster since 1900, and without sustained and ambitious policies to improve our resilience to extreme heat the challenge will get even harder.
You can read more about it here:
Updated
MPs criticise Dutton’s Woolworths boycott call as Steggall questions need for ‘plastic crap’ on Australia Day
Sticking with this stoush over Woolworth’s decision to remove Australian Day merch, two MPs have weighed in on X, formerly Twitter, criticising opposition leader Peter Dutton for his calls for a boycott.
First up is Labor MP Julian Hill, who echoed Murray Watt’s condemnation below, and reflected on how some people chose to be more positive in January, and others chose to be more negative.
Some people enter January with positive resolutions.
Exercise. A diet. A few little changes to make life a bit better.
Peter Dutton has decided to bring in the new year by starting a stupid culture war with a supermarket over what colour hats they stock. What a flog.
Some people enter January with positive resolutions.
— Julian Hill MP (@JulianHillMP) January 11, 2024
Exercise. A diet. A few little changes to make life a bit better.
Peter Dutton has decided to bring in the new year by starting a stupid culture war with a supermarket over what colour hats they stock. What a flog. #auspol
Elsewhere, independent MP Zali Steggall asked if we needed “more plastic crap made in China?”
Instead of focusing on foreign made symbols of national pride, Steggall argued, we should be focused on the “cost of essential items like food”.
Seriously, Australians produce 67 million tonnes of rubbish per year, only about a third is recycled. Do we need more plastic crap made in China? How about worrying about the cost of essential items like food? That’s what I want headlines about.
I am calling on @woolworths and @ALDIAustralia to put on an Australia Day price special for fresh food and veg so Aussies can have a healthy bbq instead of wasting their $ on plastic crap.
Seriously, Australians produce 67 million tonnes of rubbish per year, only about a third is recycled. Do we need more plastic crap made in China? How about worrying about the cost of essential items like food? That’s what I want headlines about. #auspol #dutton
— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) January 11, 2024
I am calling on @woolworths and @ALDIAustralia to put on an Australia Day price special for fresh food and veg so Aussies can have a healthy bbq instead of wasting their $ on plastic crap. #australiaday
— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) January 11, 2024
Updated
Watt says Dutton’s Woolworths boycott is for ‘political point-scoring opportunities’
I just wanted to go back to Murray Watt’s appearance on ABC News, because he was asked about the standoff between Woolworths and the Liberal party leader Peter Dutton.
Watt said Dutton’s statement yesterday, where he called for a boycott of the grocery giant because it is no longer stocking Australia Day merchandise, was “extraordinary” and that Dutton was always looking for “political point-scoring opportunities”.
I think it is an extraordinary statement from Peter Dutton, and an example of him overreaching because of his desire to always be negative, always be divisive, divide Australians, find political point-scoring opportunities, rather than trying to bring the country together.
Peter Dutton’s priority is starting another culture war about the kinds of thongs and flags that supermarkets sell. I think it shows that he is really out of touch with what Australians really care about when it comes to supermarkets and that’s the prices they are paying at the checkout.
Watt was also asked what the hypothetical impact of a boycott could be on the over 200,00 employees of Woolworths, and if the government is worried, which Watt pounced on.
This is the consequences of Peter Dutton and his constant desire to divide and be negative is that he is prepared to put the jobs of 200,000 workers at Woolies at risk, just to score a cheap political points.
They are not the actions of a leader or someone who to be prime minister of this country. Aldi is doing the same - will he be calling on Australians to boycott Aldi.
If you want to be the prime minister, you need to be someone who can unite the country, rather than shout at Australians and be negative and be divisive and never put up solutions
Updated
Teaching degree offers jump by more than 10% in Victoria
Offers to Victorian education courses have jumped by 11% in a year, data released by the tertiary admissions centre on Friday shows, in a positive sign for “crippling” workforce shortages hitting the sector.
In September last year, the state government announced scholarships to cover the cost of teaching degrees, virtually making studies free.
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) January round one offers showed there had been an 8.1% increase in first preference applications for education courses compared with last year - prior to the reforms being introduced.
Overall, there were 3,140 offers to education courses made on Friday, an 11.2% increase on 2023. Education courses comprised 4.3% of all offers, up from 3.8% annually.
Some 14,472 offers were made to universities, TAFEs and independent colleges across areas of study. The top courses were health (20.9%), society and culture (19.0%), management and commerce (14.6%), and natural and physical sciences (14.5%).
Including offers released last year, a total of 61,587 domestic offers for study have now been released for 2024 courses in the state after a record December round.
VTAC CEO Teresa Tjia advised applicants who were yet to receive an offer to seek support ahead of the next change of preference deadline on 18 January.
Updated
Watt urges Queenslanders to stay across BoM warnings amid predicted monsoon trough
Federal emergency management minister Murray Watt was on ABC News earlier, and spoke about the weather in Queensland, beginning by urging residents of far north Queensland to stay across warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Watt said that while residents in Queensland and Victoria that had faced multiple extreme weather events were resilient, this was a “new reality” for many.
Far north Queensland could be in for pretty severe weather in the coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast for areas from Wujal Wujal to Port Douglas. I was up there earlier this week, and the ground is sodden, as can you imagine. Anymore heavy rain will of course have an impact. We are keeping an eye on the monsoon trough coming through the Cape as well.
These events don’t just come out of the blue, especially a particular area being hit by compounding events in similar weeks or similar months. Even in Victoria this week, the same areas that were hit by floods 18 months ago hit again. This is a new reality that we are having to adjust to and of course, we all feel for people going through these situations.
Updated
Victoria SES to doorknock homes that remain under threat from rising floodwaters
AAP is reporting that homes remain under threat from rising floodwaters despite no rain and warm weather predicted for Victoria.
Watch and act alerts remain active for the Goulburn River from Seymour to Shepparton, as well as Bendigo and Bullock creeks downstream of Minto.
Temperatures are predicted to reach the mid-to-high 30s across the state on Friday, with the Bureau of Meteorology tipping Shepparton to hit 36C, Bendigo 35C and Seymour 34C.
Authorities believe about a dozen houses could be flooded when waters peak at Shepparton on Friday, prompting the SES to doorknock about 300 homes.
Moderate flooding is expected at McCoys Bridge over the weekend and into next week, according to the Vic Emergency website.
Flash flooding hit parts of the state on Sunday and Monday, while more than 180mm of rain was recorded in the central Victorian town of Heathcote, amounting to three months’ worth in 24 hours.
Redesdale’s more than 117mm in 24 hours was a daily record for any month, from 120 years of data. The 92mm recorded in Bendigo broke 90-year records.
Towns in central Victoria endured an intense 24 hours as the region faced its fourth major rain event since Christmas.
The Goulburn River is not expected to have any significant rainfall over the coming days, offering some relief to communities impacted by the emergency.
Updated
Queensland tertiary admissions says delaying university offers was ‘not a move made lightly’
The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) says the decision to delay its largest release of university offers was “not a move we made lightly”, apologising for any impact it may have on applicants and families.
The four-day delay in releasing the first January offer round was announced by QTAC, the body responsible for course applications for the state, on Wednesday - hours before it was due to land.
QTAC’s chief executive officer Dr John Griffiths said delay to Monday would allow the body to “deliver the best offers and opportunities to the maximum number of applicants”.
The method of finalising offers for applicants this year has included new processes that have played out across a tight timeframe, one that draws on complex factors.
When it became clear that we needed more time to do this for the maximum number of applicants, we made the decision to delay the offer round. It’s certainly not a move we made lightly.
Griffiths said QTAC understood applicants and their families had planned around the original date - whether it be relocation practicalities or celebrations.
As a team we share in the emotions and excitement around offer rounds, so we sincerely appreciate the understanding and feedback we’ve been shown as we work to best support applicants with their move into tertiary study.
A new deadline has been made for Friday 19 January for applicants to respond to their offers.
Updated
NSW to host first road safety forum
Road safety experts from around the world will join with local reform advocates and policymakers as part of the first road safety forum to be held in New South Wales next month.
The stakeholders will meet on 22 February to discuss what can be done to reduce the number of people dying on roads across the state.
Last year, 351 people died on roads in NSW.
The forum will hear from Scandinavian experts about how their countries have been able to reduce road fatalities over the past two decades.
State roads minister John Graham said:
The road toll has increased across Australia and many parts of the world after Covid. This forum is an opportunity to hear from experts who have had some success in reducing the road toll and identify new measures and actions from the road safety plan that could be accelerated.
Updated
Good morning
Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you to take you through the day’s news.
We begin in Queensland, where residents are being urged to prepare for even more wild weather, as another potential cyclone looms. While deputy premier Cameron Dick has said Queenslanders are “battle-hardened,” residents are still being urged to be wary of flash flooding and heavy rain.
It comes as people in parts of Western Australia brace for a heatwave, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a warning of temperatures as high as the mid 40s for the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfield regions. A low intensity heatwave is expected in Perth, with much of the state expected to swelter today.
Finally, new research from the Australia Institute shows that an EU-style tax on plastic in Australia could raise up to $1.5bn each year. Their research found that the government could raise $1,300 per tonne of “virgin” or un-recycled plastic through a levy on businesses that import or manufacture plastic packaging. Voters polled by the institute showed strong support for the measure, with 85% saying they support legislated waste reduction targets.
We’ll bring you the latest updates and more as the day unfolds.
Updated
