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National
Rafqa Touma and Natasha May and Martin Farrer (earlier)

NSW clubs boss sacked after comments about premier – as it happened

The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet
The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet condemned comments by the ClubsNSW boss Josh Landis as ‘an attack on every single person of faith in our state’. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

What we learned today, Tuesday 31 January

Thanks to everyone who has been following along the blog this Tuesday. Here is what made headlines:

That is all for today. See you back on the blog tomorrow morning.

Updated

Only three of Australia’s 201 public hospitals providing care in recommended time, AMA says

Just three of Australia’s 201 public hospitals are delivering care within recommended timeframes, according to a damning report released by the Australian Medical Association today.

The report pushes to renew the push for 50-50 federal and state funding of hospitals at the next national cabinet meeting. Friday’s meeting will consider the strengthening Medicare taskforce report, which aims to improve the primary care system to take stress off hospitals.

Read more from Paul Karp here:

Updated

Weather update for parts of QLD

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds. Areas that may be affected include Emerald, Longreach, Clermont, Winton, Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Stanthorpe.

Updated

Alan Tudge’s media adviser tells royal commission she placed stories to ‘shut down’ robodebt scandal

More updates from a royal commission into the unlawful Centrelink debt recovery scheme today.

Alan Tudge’s former media adviser, Rachelle Miller, has told a royal commission she devised a strategy to place stories in “friendly media” – including the Murdoch press – after her boss told her to “shut down” the media storm over robodebt in early 2017.

Miller said initially in late 2016 Tudge’s office was not concerned about the critical media coverage because it was in the “leftwing media”. Much of the early reporting of the program was published in Guardian Australia.

Read more from Luke Henriques-Gomes here:

Updated

Government legal team did ‘nothing’ to address legal doubts over robodebt, commission says

Annette Musolino, the former chief counsel at the Department of Human Services, has been told at a royal commission that she and her team did “nothing” to address legal doubts over the robodebt scheme despite several warnings.

The commission is investigating why and how the unlawful Centrelink debt recovery scheme was established in 2015 and ran until November 2019, ending in a $1.8bn settlement with hundreds of thousands of victims.

Musolino continued her evidence at the royal commission today, where she endured repeated questioning about the Department of Human Services’ failure to appeal tribunal decisions that found the scheme’s central welfare debt calculation method (known as income averaging) was unlawful.

Read about it here, from Luke Henriques-Gomes:

Updated

While pushing for legalisation of cannabis on Today Breakfast TV this morning, NSW Greens senator David Shoebridge confirmed he has “inhaled” (but only ever before he was elected, he clarifies).

“Seems it’s high time to legalise it!” Shoebridge says in a Tweet.

Updated

Update on the paint spill on Princes Highway

A truck rolled over on Bulli Pass in the Illawarra, NSW, earlier today, rupturing cans and spilling up to six tonnes of paint onto the Princes Highway.

Fire and Rescue NSW said the driver was “able to escape the truck without injury” in a statement released this afternoon.

Fire and Rescue NSW specialist rescue and hazardous materials crews responded with the Rural Fire Service and other emergency services to the scene on the ‘Bulli Hairpin’ around 10am.

Firefighters used absorbent material and booms to contain the contents of hundreds of punctured paint cans.

Paint is regarded as an environmental pollutant and would have caused significant damage to the local area if not contained.

Updated

Transparency International released its annual corruption perceptions index today, revealing a two-point improvement for Australia – improving its score to 75 from 100, and lifting its global ranking from 18 to 13.

Last year, Australia hit a record low score of 73 from 100. This year’s improvement was thanks to the new Albanese government’s anti-corruption body, which will commence operation in June.

But Transparency International Australia has said the federal government needs to do more to repair its reputation on corruption and integrity by adopting more comprehensive whistleblower protections and pursuing donations and lobbying reforms.

Read the full yarn from Christopher Knaus here:

Updated

Peta Murphy on cancer treatments: ‘I might look different, but I’m still me’

Labor MP Peta Murphy tells ABC Afternoon Briefing of her return to work in parliament after her cancer diagnosis.

It has been particularly obvious in the end of last year. I’ve changed from oral chemotherapy to intravenous chemotherapy, which has the consequence of making your hair fall out, in addition to hopefully making the cancer stay still for a long time.

So I looked different for the first time. I look like I’m someone getting cancer treatment.

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread, and is thus incurable, but it is treatable, Murphy explains.

I might look different but I’m still me. I’m still working hard in my electorate, and will be working just as hard as I always do in the parliament to bring my community’s voice to the national conversation and to be part of that big national conversation about the future of Australia.

But because I look different, it’s also an opportunity for me to be one of the voices for people who are going through the same thing that I’m going through but don’t have the same platform that I have.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has expressed support for Murphy “in the battle ahead”.

The embedded tweet above links to her earlier Today show appearance, which you can view below:

Updated

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds in parts of NSW’s Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands districts.

Updated

ClubsNSW statement on firing of CEO Josh Landis

The chief executive of ClubsNSW, Josh Landis, has been fired after comments he made about the premier’s faith.

Earlier in the day, Landis apologised for saying Dominic Perrottet was pushing gambling reform measures because of his “conservative Catholic gut”.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the board said:

ClubsNSW has met today to discuss the comments made by chief executive Josh Landis yesterday. After careful consideration, the Board has made the decision to end Mr Landis’ employment with ClubsNSW with immediate effect.

The board acknowledges Josh Landis’ exemplary service to the industry over more than 15 years through some very difficult times. We genuinely wish him all the best on his future endeavours.

The board will consider its next steps and has no further comment at this point in time.

Updated

ClubsNSW terminates Josh Landis as CEO

The ClubsNSW board has terminated Josh Landis as CEO “with immediate effect”.

The club also “genuinely wish him all the best on his future endeavours”.

Updated

NSW opposition leader calls for head of ClubsNSW to resign

The New South Wales opposition leader, Chris Minns, has called on the head of ClubsNSW, Josh Landis, to resign from his position over comments he made about the premier’s Catholic faith.

Minns told 2GB:

Given the charged atmosphere, I don’t believe he can continue in his role. They’re an independent board, they’re going to make their decisions about the next steps but they’ve got to think about the future of clubs.

Earlier in the day, Minns said there was no place for “that kind of sectarian and discriminatory language” in NSW politics.

The independent MP Alex Greenwich earlier in the day said Landis needed to resign.

Updated

Federal authorities join search for potentially deadly radioactive capsule in WA

An update on the hunt for a tiny but potentially deadly radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia two weeks ago: federal authorities are set to join the search.

The capsule, which is smaller than a ten cent coin, fell out of a density gauge while being trucked from a Rio Tinto mine in the Pilbara to Perth.

Emergency services are searching a 1,400km route after warnings the Caesium-137 in the capsule could cause radiation burns or sickness if handled, and potentially dangerous levels of radiation with prolonged exposure, AAP reports.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency said it sent a deployment team with specialised car-mounted and portable detection equipment to join the search.

WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services is leading the hunt. It is expected to take five days.

Radiation services specialists and detection and imaging equipment are also being sent to WA by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

The emergency services minister, Stephen Dawson, flagged the WA government was likely to also investigate the incident.

“How these [capsules] are transported does need to be looked at,” he told ABC Radio. “It does puzzle me how such a thing can fall off the back of a truck.”

Rio Tinto has apologised and ordered an investigation into what went wrong during the haul, which was carried out by a contractor. They said a bolt that secured the capsule within the gauge appeared to have sheared off, creating a hole just big enough for the item to escape.

Updated

March organisers: NSW police request to stop LGBTQ+ protest on day of Pell’s funeral ‘baffling’

More on the NSW police seeking a court order to stop protesters from marching on the day of George Pell’s funeral.

April Holcombe, Community Action for Rainbow Rights co-convener, said the police stance was baffling.

Documents show the activist group sought a permit on 23 January to hold a public assembly of about 300 people, meeting at Hyde Park fountain in the morning, walking along College Street past St Mary’s Cathedral, turning left up Liverpool Street and continuing up Oxford Street until Taylor Square.

Holcombe told the Guardian:

We’re not at all proposing to enter the space where the funeral is happening or even to disrupt it. We’re just saying that on the road next to the cathedral we’re going to be marching past in a peaceful procession as part of a route that takes us up to Taylor Square.

NSW police confirmed they will oppose the assembly in the NSW supreme court on safety grounds. In a statement, NSW police said they attempted to negotiate with organisers.

The NSW Police Force has received a Form 1 for a protest planned for Thursday 2 February in Sydney CBD, however, despite attempted negotiations with organisers, safety concerns associated with their proposed assembly cannot be adequately mitigated without amendments to the proposal. As such, the commissioner will apply to the NSW supreme court to prohibit the assembly.

Updated

The Guardian has seen court documents showing that NSW police are seeking a court order to stop LGBTQ+ protesters from marching on the street outside of St Mary’s Cathedral on the day of George Pell’s funeral.

Community Action for Rainbow Rights, a campaign group in Sydney, planned to protest through Sydney to St Mary’s on Thursday – the day of Pell’s requiem mass – to denounce his long-held opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights.

Read the full story by Christopher Knaus here:

Updated

Thanks Natasha May for rolling the blog this morning.

Pineapple wave incoming to Australian markets

Moving into the evening’s updates with good news for pineapple lovers – a glut of the tropical fruit is hitting our market, and we are being told to buy in bulk.

Millions of extra pineapples are flowering all at once after cool wet weather in Queensland stressed the fruit, AAP reports.

“There’s going to be a lot of pineapple around, it’s going to be good quality and it’s going to be probably cheaper than you would normally see it,” said the chair of the industry group for growers Australian Pineapples, Samuel Pike.

“Usually a crop would spread out over eight to ten months, but it’s pretty well all going to come within two weeks,” Pike said. Farmers are now in a race against time and each other to get the pineapples to market.

The mass flowering will create a surplus and drive prices down for the short term – so stock up while you can, because Pike says “soon they’ll be very scarce and probably quite expensive”.

“Take advantage of our misfortune and load up on a few pineapples ... cut them up and put them in the freezer and keep them for the rest of the year.”

Updated

Thanks for your attention today, I am handing the blog over to the lovely Rafqa Touma who’ll take you through the rest of the day’s news.

NSW opposition leader says ‘no place’ for ‘sectarian and discriminatory language’ in politics

The New South Wales opposition leader, Chris Minns, said he was shocked by comments made by ClubsNSW’s chief executive, John Landis, about the premier’s religious beliefs.

He said there was no place for “that kind of sectarian and discriminatory language” in modern politics.

He said:

I frankly haven’t heard anything like this for decades inside our political system and our political conversation. There’s no place for that in NSW politics and we shouldn’t be introducing it right now.

Updated

More than 500L of paint spilt on NSW highway

As mentioned earlier on the blog, a truck transporting large quantities of paint has rolled over on the Princes Highway, spilling more than 500L onto the road.

Crews from the Rural Fire Service remain on the scene where they say they have stopped the paint spreading into the local environment.

They also shared a few pictures:

Updated

Hundreds arrested in major NSW domestic violence blitz

More than 600 people have been charged following a four-day domestic violence blitz by NSW police, AAP reports.

Police arrested 648 people, including 164 of the state’s most-wanted domestic violence offenders, in a wide-ranging operation last week dubbed Operation Amarok One.

The assistant commissioner, Stuart Smith, said he wanted to treat domestic violence with the same seriousness applied to gang crime. He told reporters today:

Some of these individuals that were arrested through the operation scare me, even with years of organised crime behind me.

A total of 1,153 charges were laid, with police seizing drugs and dangerous weapons including knuckledusters, swords, and hatchets.

Police in Sydney’s west arrested a 17-year-old boy wanted for domestic violence-related damage. The teenager, armed with a machete, appeared to run and hide the weapon behind some shrubbery before he was arrested.

During another search on the NSW south coast, police found a man suspected of contravening a domestic violence order hiding under a secret trapdoor inside a cupboard.

Police knocked on the doors of more than 3,890 offenders to conduct apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) checks and served an additional 655 outstanding ADVOs.

The deputy commissioner, Mal Lanyon, said domestic and family-related violence was the most challenging community issue of our generation. He said today:

We continue to battle the perception that domestic violence is a ‘family matter’ and therefore should be treated as ‘private business’.

Updated

High fire danger predicted for parts of south-west WA

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that as temperatures remain high for Western Australia, there will be “high to extreme” fire dangers in the south-west of the state.

Updated

Labor MP to return to parliament as she fights cancer

A Labor parliamentarian returning to Canberra following cancer treatment says she doesn’t want to be treated differently, AAP reports.

Peta Murphy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and it returned in 2019 just after she was sworn in as an MP. The member for Dunkley in southeast Melbourne had to change from oral to intravenous chemotherapy.

She says she wants to use her platform in federal parliament to make life better for other people. She told Nine’s Today show:

You want people to understand that there is something happening but you don’t want to be treated differently. I still want to be the best advocate I can be for my community.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said his colleague, who was re-elected last year, was a courageous Australian and an incredible role model.

She’s also determined to overcome this health challenge by continuing to do her job, continue to work.

One of the things we have to do is talk more about the complex journey of life that individuals go through and in Peta Murphy being prepared to do that, she’ll be making it easier for others.

Peta Murphy is an inspiration for all Australians, and I’ve paid tribute to her courage and I wish her all of the very best.

Updated

Auckland getting additional NZ$1m in emergency relief after floods

New Zealand’s government will provide a further $1m NZD to the country’s mayoral relief fund after devastating flooding in the biggest city, Auckland.

The fund is available to New Zealand’s mayors in the immediate aftermath of an emergency in their regions to spend as they see fit – it is separate from the government’s spending on long-term cleanup and recovery costs. An initial $100,000 was earmarked for Auckland on Saturday, after heavy rain caused flood waters to sweep through the city, killing four.

The Auckland Council will decide how it should be spent.

Kieran McAnulty, the minister for emergency management, said in a statement:

This is the most significant contribution to a mayoral relief fund ever and ensures that funding is being provided to the affected communities as quickly as possible.

The previous highest contribution to the fund was $300,000, provided to Nelson after flooding last year.

Updated

Wombat rescued from the middle of Lake Wulwala

A lonely wombat found itself stranded on a stump in the middle of Lake Mulwala on the NSW-Victorian border over the weekend.

The wombat was spotted about half a kilometre from shore by a local woman out fishing with her grandson. The woman’s daughter alerted Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter who came out to rescue the animal.

Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter said on social media:

After a quick chat with (the local resident), we headed out and sure enough as we got closer to the spot you could see the poor, cold, scared wombat, stranded.

From a safe distance, we made a plan, with all our equipment ready, we headed in.

Lucky for us, the wombat was so weak from its experience, it didn’t put up a fight, it was happy to be bagged and pulled aboard the boat.

A quick examination saw that there were no major injuries. She was taken back to land, loaded in the car and the warming process began. She is now safe back at the shelter where she will receive the best of care and hopefully she will be released in the near future.

Nine news have shared the video showing the rescue:

Updated

Digital wallet for government services on the cards

An one-stop app to store Australians’ government information and identifications is being flagged to help improve services.

The government’s myGov app, which spans services like Centrelink, Medicare and the tax office, is set for a revamp.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said he envisaged a simple, go-to digital wallet where Australians only needed one password to access their information.

People don’t have to remember all their passwords and have to deal with multiple government accounts.

Shorten says driver’s licences and other services could be added to the app to have 100 points of ID available and easily accessible on your phone.

My hope is, the vision is, that you’ve got sufficient ID in your government wallet that you can show a private sector business ... and you don’t actually have to transfer your data.

Medicare cards are expected to be available digitally in March.

The app’s usability, response time, and access to information will all be improved.

- AAP

Updated

Australia ready to support New Zealand ‘as needed’ after floods, Albanese says

We brought you the news a little earlier that New Zealand’s new prime minister, Chris Hipkins, will be heading to Canberra in his first overseas visit since taking over from Jacinda Ardern.

Hipkins will be meeting with Anthony Albanese, who has just released a statement welcoming Hipkin’s visit on February 7.

I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Hipkins to Australia. Australia and New Zealand have an extremely close relationship, underpinned by our shared history and generations of personal, business and government links.

Hipkins’s visit comes as New Zealand begins its recovery from the serious flooding and loss of life in Auckland. The statement from Albanese said Australia stands ready to support New Zealand as needed.

Albanese said:

I offer my condolences to all those affected by the devastating floods and loss of life in Auckland. We stand ready to support our family and friends in New Zealand, if needed.

I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Hipkins to Canberra and discussing ways to build on trans-Tasman cooperation.

Updated

Voluntary assisted dying laws come into force in South Australia

Voluntary assisted dying laws have come into force in South Australia, AAP reports.

From today, people wishing to access the regime can make an initial application in a process that includes 70 safeguards.

Health minister Chris Picton says no decisions about life and death are ever easy.

But from today, eligible South Australians facing terminal illnesses and insufferable pain are entitled to choice and dignity at the end of life.

Because dying with dignity should be your choice.

South Australia’s laws were passed in 2021 after 16 previous attempts to get legislation through state parliament over more than 25 years.

The assisted dying system includes a provision that people wishing to die must be resident in the state for at least 12 months.

A terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of less than six months, or 12 months for a person with a neurodegenerative disease, must be confirmed for a patient to access the procedure.

The bill also requires patients to show they have decision-making capacity and are capable of informed consent, and to undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners.

They must have their request verified by independent witnesses and must be experiencing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

People campaigning for assisted dying laws
People suffering terminal illnesses in SA can now apply for help to end their life, under new laws. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Updated

Daniel Andrews wants victims of sexual abuse to be heard

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says he wants to ensure victim-survivors of sexual abuse and historical sexual abuse do not go unheard.

Pressure is building on the Victorian government to recognise the abuse experienced by former students of state schools. Guardian Australia revealed on Monday that almost 400 civil claims have been made against the Victorian government for historical child sexual abuse in state schools in the past 12 years.

On Tuesday, Andrews said it was vital that victim-survivors drove the agenda:

The last thing I want is that group or any group to feel that they’re not being heard.

Updated

ClubsNSW asking people to ‘worship at the alter of gaming’, NSW treasurer says

The New South Wales treasurer, Matt Kean, said the head of ClubsNSW, Josh Landis, was a “bit rich” to make comments about the premier’s religious beliefs when he was “asking people to worship at the altar” of gaming.

He said:

I’m not sure how the Catholic clubs across NSW would feel about those comments.

An industry body that is asking people to worship at the altar of the gaming industry should not be lecturing people about their religious beliefs.

Kean stopped short of calling for Landis to resign and said he would continue to work with him.

Updated

Retail trade sinks 3.9% in festive season

Retail sales plummeted 3.9% in December, in the first fall in 11 months, AAP reports.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) chalked the decline up to cost-of-living pressures driving households to bring their Christmas shopping forward to take advantage of Black Friday sales.

In November, retail turnover increased by 1.7%.

The ABS’s head of retail statistics, Ben Dorber, said seasonal spending patterns over the Black Friday and holiday period were evolving.

While there was a strong rise in original terms for December, as is expected in the lead up to Christmas, this year’s rise in original terms was smaller than those typically seen in past December months.

This has led to the large seasonally adjusted fall.

The biggest declines were concentrated in Black Friday’s gains, including department stores – which fell 14.3% – and clothing, footwear and personal accessories, down 13.1%.

Food retailing, however, picked up 0.3% and remained virtually unchanged from November.

Updated

Andrews says he will encourage people to vote yes in voice campaign

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says he will encourage people to vote yes in the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament.

Andrews would not confirm if he would formally join a yes campaign but said the government may make further announcements:

I do support your voice to parliament. We have a voice here. In Victoria already. And we are well advanced in terms of negotiating treaties.

Of course I support a similar body at the national level. As far as joining the yes campaign, well, I’ll be voting yes and I’ll be encouraging other people to vote yes.

Victoria’s First Peoples’ Assembly – the democratically elected Indigenous body – will this year begin negotiating a state-wide treaty with the Andrews government.

Updated

Sydney airport says it cannot accommodate budget airline Bonza

Sydney airport has hit back at claims from budget airline Bonza that the costs associated with flying to the airport were too expensive for its business model, instead blaming “inefficiencies” in how slots are allocated.

As Bonza ran its inaugural flight from the Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast airport this morning, the budget carrier’s chief executive, Tim Jordan, said he wanted to launch flights to Sydney airport but that it had been unable to negotiate costs to support its low cost model.

Bonza has so far announced it will fly to 17 destinations, which include its hubs on the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne, as well as regional locations – but not Sydney.

Asked by reporters about plans to fly to Sydney, Jordan said:

In terms of Sydney airport, I guess any city which is just served by one airport, has issues in that regard. They’re not as keen to come to the table maybe as other locations or maybe they don’t see the opportunity … So we’re quite enthusiastic about Sydney but it has to be at the right pricing.

In response, a Sydney airport spokesperson said “Sydney airport would be delighted to see Bonza operating from Sydney,” but added:

The unfortunate reality is that Sydney airport is the most constrained and regulated airport in the world, which means we have very limited capacity during peak periods.

Demand during peak periods is also very high and that, combined with inefficiencies in the way the current system operates, makes it hard for new entrants to access slots.

A federal government agency manages slot allocation at Australian airports, and the scarce morning and evening peak slots at Sydney airport often go to higher capacity services as a result. Bonza’s fleet of 737-8 Max aircraft seat about 186 passengers.

Updated

Albanese to meet new New Zealand PM in Canberra next week

In his third week in office since he took over from Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s leader, the new prime minister, Chris Hipkins, will travel to Canberra to meet his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese.

The visit, which will take place on Tuesday 7 February, will be his first overseas trip as PM, a decision which Hipkins says was purposeful.

The trans-Tasman relationship is New Zealand’s closest and most important, and it was crucial to me that my first overseas trip as prime minister was to Australia.

Prime minister Albanese was the first international leader I spoke with after becoming prime minister, and I look forward to continuing our discussion in person on how we can further work together to secure our economies against the global economic challenges we all face.

The stronger our relationship, and the closer our people-to-people links, the more prosperous and resilient New Zealand and Australia will become.

Hipkins said the pair will discuss economic issues and shared security priorities, as well as engagement in the Pacific and wider Indo-Pacific regions.

This year also marks several anniversaries, Hipkins noted including 40 years of the closer economic relations agreement, 50 years of the trans-tasman travel arrangement, and 80 years since the establishment of our two high commissions.

Updated

Global growth outlook slightly healthier, says IMF

The federal treasurer has welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s faintly improved outlook for the global economy but warns challenges still lie ahead.

The IMF has upgraded its 2023 global growth forecast by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9% in its January 2023 World Economic Outlook report released today.

The organisation expects global growth to fall to its low point this year from 3.4% in 2022, before recovering to 3.1% in 2024.

While slightly more optimistic, the growth outlook for 2023 remains well below the 3.8% average over the past two decades.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the global economy was still on a “dark and difficult path” despite the tweaked predictions.

While the slight upgrades to global growth are welcome, the IMF is still predicting the weakest two-year period for the global economy – aside from the downturns caused by the GFC and pandemic – in a generation.

– AAP

Updated

Landis issues apology following personal call to Perrottet

The chief executive of ClubsNSW, Josh Landis, has issued an apology after saying the premier, Dominic Perrottet, was being guided on gaming reform by his “Catholic gut”.

He said:

I wish to unreservedly apologise for my comments published in The Sydney Morning Herald today. The comments were made during a phone call with a journalist late yesterday afternoon, who asked why I believe the premier is so insistent on introducing a mandatory cashless system and other gaming reforms.

I want to make it clear that in answering the question I misspoke and should not have referred to the premier’s faith. This was not a premeditated comment or an intentional attack on the premier personally, rather it was a poor attempt to explain that there is a lack of evidence for the policy and the premier is a moral person who intrinsically wants to help those who are causing themselves harm.

I contacted the premier earlier today to apologise personally. I would like to take this opportunity to unreservedly apologise publicly for any offence caused.

Updated

Man charged with mother’s murder after alleged abduction

A Queensland man accused of abducting his mother last week has now been charged with her murder, AAP reports.

Brisbane magistrates court heard on Tuesday that police had laid one additional charge against Slade Murdok, 30, for the murder of his 61-year-old mother Wendy Sleeman.

Murdok was arrested on Wednesday last week after Sleeman went missing from her Gold Coast home and was later found dead in Brisbane.

He appeared in court on Thursday last week and was refused bail on a string of domestic violence-related charges, including kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

The police prosecutor told magistrate Belinda Merrin today that Murdok was not required to appear in person or via video-link for the murder charge to be heard.

Murdok’s solicitor, Rodney Keyte, told the court his client had been charged over alleged offences that were committed on the Gold Coast.

Keyte said he had an “unusual request” to pass on to the magistrate.

He has an injury to his hand … he asks for an order that fingerprints not be taken until it has healed.

Merrin said she did not understand the request and did not know which power would be used to grant it if she could.

Murdock was ordered to reappear at Southport magistrates court on 14 February, where he is also due for a further hearing on the domestic violence-related charges related to Sleeman’s alleged abduction.

Updated

Robodebt royal commission hearings continue

The former chief counsel at the Department of Human Services has been lashed at a royal commission over her team’s handling of key tribunal decisions on the robodebt scheme.

Continuing her evidence at the royal commission Tuesday, Annette Musolino endured repeated questioning about the Department of Human Services’ failure to appeal tribunal decisions that said the scheme’s central plank – a welfare debt calculation method known as income averaging – was unlawful.

This meant the decisions of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal weren’t made public and the legal questions weren’t considered by a higher jurisdiction, which critics say was crucial in allowing the unlawful scheme to continue.

Musolino, who said she was not made aware of some key decisions by her junior legal team staff, insisted that some AAT decisions had supported the robodebt program.

She said the decisions had “cut both ways”.

But commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC said that was all the more reason for the department to seek authoritative independent legal advice, something it failed to do while the scheme ran for four years. Holmes said:

Frankly, it seems to me you let the system run, getting decisions from the AAT that told you there was a fundamental problem with its legality on a kind of, ‘case by case, it doesn’t really matter’.

You were chief counsel, you were supposed to keep an eye on all this you seem to have been oblivious to what was going on, or you knew.

Musolino responded that her role was to “manage” the legal division, which meant having systems to monitor the AAT decisions. She said:

I couldn’t do the work of everybody in the division.

Musolino said the department believed at the time – 2017 – the legal issues around robodebt had been “sorted out”.

But Holmes responded:

You had done nothing to get it sorted it out. Not even gotten advice.

Musolino said they were relying on the 2017 internal legal advice from DSS that suggested robodebt may have been justified. However, the department also held more categorical legal advice from 2014 saying it was unlawful.

Musolino’s evidence continues.

Updated

Andrews takes ‘full responsibility’ to overhaul Victorian bail laws

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has vowed to take “full responsibility” to overhaul changes in the state’s bail laws and prison healthcare system following the damning coronial inquest findings into the 2020 death in custody of a First Nations woman.

Coroner Simon McGregor on Monday called for an urgent overhaul of the state’s controversial bail laws – tightened in the wake of the 2017 Bourke Street massacre – and described them as a “complete, unmitigated disaster” He labelled the treatment of Veronica Nelson in a maximum-security women’ prison as “cruel” and “degrading”.

Speaking to reporters, Andrews said there was “clearly a need to reform the law” and ensure there was a clear distinction in the legislation between violent offending and non-violent offending:

I take responsibility to make the necessary changes and that’s exactly what we’ll do to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Andrews also said he was pleased that there was a “likelihood of bipartisan support” on bail reform.

The state government has confirmed it will consider tweaking the state’s bail laws this year but has not provided further details.

Updated

Bonza flight lands on Whitsunday coast

Budget airline Bonza’s first flight has landed at Prosperine airport on the Whitsunday coast.

There was applause in the cabin as the plane took off from its hub on the Sunshine Coast, and the festive mood lingered as those onboard moved throughout the new Boeing 737-8 Max.

The airline’s signature purple budgie smugglers were sold on board, with many excited passengers opening theirs mid-flight.

When passengers walked through the arrivals hall at Whitsunday Coast airport, they were made to walk through purple curtains.

In the arrivals hall, 13-year-old local Noah Robertson had been hired to play his electric guitar to welcome guests.

Robertson performed an impassioned cover of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, repeating the word “Bonza” as lyrics.

Updated

Daniel Andrews promises change to Victoria’s bail laws

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is responding to questions about Victoria’s bail laws following the damning coronial inquest findings into the 2020 death in custody of a First Nation woman..

Coroner Simon McGregor on Monday called for an urgent overhaul of the state’s controversial bail laws – tightened in the wake of the 2017 Bourke Street massacre – and described them as a “complete, unmitigated disaster” He labelled the treatment of Veronica Nelson in a maximum-security women’ prison as “cruel” and “degrading”.

Speaking to reporters today, Andrews said:

There will be change in a number of areas – some in law and some in practice … there will also be a reckoning for those who did the wrong thing.

The state government has confirmed it will amend the state’s bail laws this year but has not provided further details.

Updated

Rugby Australia ‘still needs to do more’ to reconcile with Indigenous Australians: Jones

New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says Rugby Australia “still needs to do more” with its role in reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, in a presser this morning.

I remember going to kindergarten and three others were there and there was no difference between anyone. We were all the same kids, played together, played cricket, played rugby, played rugby league together and there was nothing between us.

I came back and then taught here … and it was a different feeling, some antagonism between people.

Now I think one of the things that’s really impressed me in Australian Rugby is the endeavour to reconcile.

You know, we still need to do more for Aboriginal kids. We want more Aboriginal kids playing rugby, you know … We want more playing. We’ve seen what the elders have done for their people. And we want to do more and I want to be part of it.

Updated

Wallabies coach cites ‘emotional’ return to team

Eddie Jones tells a presser that his return to coach the Wallabies into the World Cup is “quite emotional”.

He says he will push the team to play through a “tough period” with spirit and “panache”.

There’s plenty of talented players. Talent doesn’t win World Cups. What wins World Cups and wins the hearts of people are people who play … with a certain panache.

If we play like that, people want to watch rugby again.

Updated

Australia going ahead with plans to buy nuclear submarines

Australia is going ahead with plans to procure nuclear-powered submarines, even though the US navy has had to suspend repair work to strengthen dry docks to handle potential earthquakes, AAP reports.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese said discussions to procure the nuclear submarines will continue as Australia prepares to announce whether it will choose the US or UK version in March.

“They’re proceeding in a positive manner with both the United States and the United Kingdom,” he told reporters in Canberra.

The length of time the docks will be offline hasn’t been specified.

Defence minister Richard Marles said there were no plans for a conventional submarine to fill the gap before the nuclear ones start to arrive at the end of the next decade.

Updated

Greens call for funding to be stripped from religious schools at centre of Four Corners report

The Greens want public government funding stripped from four religious schools mentioned in last night’s Four Corners reporting.

The federal party’s schools spokesperson, Penny Allman-Payne, has released a statement noting that Redfield College, Tangara School for Girls, Wollemi College and Montgrove College combined received more than $20m in state and government funding in 2021.

Elite and extremist private schools that indoctrinate their students into an antiquated and harmful ideology should not receive one cent of public funding

It’s bad enough that we know the richest schools in the country use our money for extravagances like plunge pools for headmasters and business class trips to sporting events. But to use public funds to promote bigotry and self-harm is beyond the pale.

She called on the NSW and federal governments to “show some backbone and strip these schools of funding”.

NSW Greens state spokesperson on education, Tamara Smith, said the state’s public school system was in “crisis”. She noted the large funding given to certain schools while others had to rely on demountable classrooms.

Updated

Floating nightclub drew backlash for loud music

More on the pontoon night club, Atet, which was engulfed by flames in the early hours of this morning.

The floating open air club only opened in October last year and was a first of its kind for Melbourne, modelled on the European day clubs of Mykonos, Ibiza and Berlin.

However the hub for electronic music quickly drew the ire of Docklands residents.

The Herald Sun reported in late October that the club was facing widespread backlash for playing loud music into the early hours, with residents reporting sleepless nights due to pounding “doof doof”. The venue responded by keeping their music to a maximum of 67 decibels and average of 65 decibels.

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Paint leaking from overturned truck on Princes Hwy in NSW

Hazmat crews are working to contain paint which is leaking onto the Bulli Pass on the Princes Highway from an overturned truck.

Updated

GPs warn gap between rich and poor to widen if next budget doesn't deliver urgent funds

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is warning the most disadvantaged Australians will suffer unless access to GPs is a priority in the May budget.

RACGP have released their pre-budget submission which calls for the government to improve access to care by:

  • Tripling bulk billing incentives

  • Increasing Medicare patient rebates for longer, complex consultations by 20%

  • Funding enhanced primary care services for people over 65, with mental health conditions and disability

  • Support for patients to see their GP within seven days of an unplanned hospital or emergency department visit

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins said:

We’re continuing to call on government to reinstate patient rebates for longer telephone consults, for mental health and GP management plans. These services were unfairly taken away from patients and new research has found it’s hurting the most disadvantaged, those who are poorer, elderly, vulnerable and in need of complex care.

GPs have been subsidising longer phone consults for disadvantaged patients and paying out of their own pocket, so they don’t miss out on care they need. This shouldn’t be happening, but our hands are tied.

Higgins says the Medicare freeze has seen the decline of bulk billing, meaning people across the country are struggling to get in to see their GP, and then being turned away from overloaded hospitals.

And it’s at a time when spiralling inflation and cost of living pressures are forcing some people to make the impossible choice between spending on healthcare and other essentials.

Australia prides itself on being the lucky country where everyone has a fair go. But without urgent action to stem the bleeding and improve access to care for Australians, inequality, and the gap between rich and poor will get much worse.

Updated

Floating nightclub bursts into flames

A controversial floating nightclub docked in Melbourne has burst into flames.

No one was onboard the Atet vessel moored at Docklands when it was engulfed by fire about 4.30am this morning.

The cause is still under investigation but anyone with information has been urged to contact authorities.

Several people travelling across the Bolte Bridge raised the alarm and the blaze was put out within seven minutes of fire crews arriving.

The boat attracted criticism from Docklands residents when it opened in October over concerns about loud music blaring late into the night on weekends.

– AAP

Updated

Bushfire warnings in WA

This morning there is a watch and act bushfire warning out for parts of Julimar, Morangup and Toodyay in Western Australia’s Toodyay Shire.

Holden’s old factory floor to grow exotic mushrooms

Australia’s largest exotic mushroom farm and processing facility is being established on the former Holden car manufacturing site in Adelaide, creating up to 350 jobs, AAP reports.

The $110m facility will produce more than 20,000 tonnes of exotic mushrooms and associated products each year. The Epicurean Food Group facility will manage all operations in one location, from growing fungi in a lab to turning second-grade and surplus mushrooms into burgers in a commercial kitchen.

Trade and investment minister Nick Champion said repurposing one of the state’s most revered manufacturing sites was proof the sector remained strong and adaptable.

He said:

Few would have thought it possible transforming Holden’s old factory floor into a place where exotic mushrooms can be grown and cultivated but South Australians not only innovate, we lead the rest of the pack.

Nothing like this facility exists interstate and we want to support local companies to expand and reach new customers on a national and global scale.

The plant will provide a consistent supply of locally-grown premium mushrooms to supermarkets and restaurants which rely heavily on imported stock, with about 85% of Australia’s exotic mushrooms coming from overseas.

Specially designed growing rooms will be built to house thousands of oyster, shiitake, enoki, king oyster and lion’s mane exotic varieties in columns up to 13 metres high, as the development takes shape across multiple buildings over a 35,000 square metre footprint.

Small-scale production is underway with six grow rooms nearing completion. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and will then include mycoprotein, used in alternative meats, and mycelium, used in leather goods.

Neither are manufactured on a commercial scale in Australia.

Updated

‘I misspoke’: ClubsNSW chief walks back comments about Perrottet’s faith

Josh Landis has walked back comments he made about the premier’s faith influencing his politics.

He told 2GB:

I misspoke. It wasn’t premeditated.

“I think it’s fair to say that the premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut, rather than based on evidence,” Landis said in the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.

Landis also said Dominic Perrottet had “acted from his conservative Catholic gut” on the issue.

Perrottet condemned the comments as “an attack on every single person of faith in our state”.

We live in a tolerant state, a tolerant country, and there is no place for comments like that in a modern Australia.

Making the same comment about Islamic, Jewish or Hindu faiths would result in a resignation.

Landis withdrew his comments by 10am this morning, after reflecting on his “stuff-up”.

“I shouldn’t have entertained the question (from the Herald reporter) or said what I said.

Updated

Albanese welcomes support campaign by ethnic communities council for voice

Albanese is also asked about the push that’s come from the no campaign in the Indigenous voice to parliament to recognise migrants alongside First Nations people in the constitution.

Reporter:

Is that a spoiler attempt by the No campaign?

Albanese:

People will make their own judgements on that. I think that one of the really positive things is the way that Fecca, the chief peak body, has come out very strongly and will be running a campaign in support of recognition and consultation for Indigenous people.

That is what it is about. There is a special place in this nation for the oldest continuous culture on Earth, who have been here for at least 60,000 years, for thousands of generations – that should be recognised in our nation’s birth certificate.

And that is overwhelmingly supported by the community leaders that I’ve met with, who will be campaigning – whether it be the more established community organisations or whether it be some of the newer migrant groups as well, who are all very respectful.

Updated

Further agreements with states to come on Medicare reform: PM

The prime minister is asked about Medicare reform and says the national cabinet will be considering the Medicare Task Force report when it meets on Friday.

Albanese says there will be further agreements with states and territories as was announced with Tasmania earlier this week to improve primary healthcare.

We will be coming out with further agreements with states and territories about that. We need to have better interaction of primary healthcare and the hospital system. Part of the key here is to get people out of emergency departments.

There’s a range of measures that we have to do that. Putting 24/7 nurses in nursing homes is one of those, so that people who should be getting the care that they need in their aged care residency where they live, if there was a nurse on site, that would reduce the number of people who are then sent to EDs.

Dealing with disability care, where so many people are in EDs or in hospitals, who should be in more appropriate facilities. We need to talk through works as a whole.

Updated

Landis comments ‘incredibly inappropriate and offensive’: Perrottet

Perrottet has classified the comments by Landis as an attack on all people of faith in New South Wales.

He said:

I will call out comments which are deeply offensive to people with faith across our state.

He said the comments were “incredibly inappropriate and offensive“.

Asked if he could keep working with Landis in enacting gambling reform, Perrottet said:

I work with people from a range of backgrounds and have a range of different views. I’m not interested in personalities. I’m interested in policy and making sure the issues in relation to money laundering and problem gambling.

Updated

Alex Greenwich calls on the chief executive of ClubsNSW to step down

Powerful independent MP, Alex Greenwich, has called on the chief executive of ClubsNSW, Josh Landis, to step down following comments he made about the premier, Dominic Perrottet.

He said:

Josh Landis’s position as CEO of ClubsNSW is beyond untenable and it’s time for him to go. I’ve had my policy disputes with the premier on social reforms, but I would never attack him because of his faith.

In addition to these wholly inappropriate comments, he has presided over community based clubs becoming mini-casinos, turned ClubsNSW into an NRA style political operation, and ignored the damning crime commission report that highlights the extent of criminal activity in clubs.

Landis said Perrottet was acting from his “conservative Catholic gut” as he pushes for gambling reform in the state.

Updated

PM welcomes Kiribati rejoining the Pacific Island forum

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is taking questions in Canberra and has welcomed Kiribati rejoining the Pacific Island forum.

Australia unequivocally supports the Pacific Island forum. It is the body that is so important to bring together the Pacific family.

I attended the Pacific Island forum, I have had discussions with the new prime minister of Fiji since his election, it is planned to have an in-person leader’s meeting of the Pacific Island forum in coming weeks.

This is good news, with Kiribati rejoining the Pacific Island forum because it is important that on issues of security in our economic relations, that we work together as a Pacific family and I welcome their return.

Updated

Surge in Indian international students as Chinese market declines

The latest data on the number of international students in higher education has been released, showing a surge in Indian students buffering a decline in the Chinese market.

In the year to November 2022, 148,174 international students began higher education at Australian universities – a 38% increase on the same period in 2021 when the border first reopened after Covid.

Since then, there has been a 160% increase in Indian student arrivals compared to the end of 2021, at 29,436, and a 169% increase in Nepalese arrivals compared to the same time period, at 17,954.

Chinese students still account for the top five countries of origin but there are 11.3% fewer in Australia than the same time in 2021 (47,428).

This data was collated prior to the Chinese government’s ban on recognising offshore degrees – affecting around 40,000 Chinese students enrolled to study at Australian institutions.

Vietnam and Indonesia account for the fourth and fifth top countries with 5,949 and 3,832 respectively.

Minister for education Jason Clare said the international education sector was “kneecapped” by Covid and the rebuilding process was continuing.

It is the biggest export we don’t dig or drill out of the ground … a $40bn industry was cut in half. It also didn’t help that the last government told international students to go home. We are rebuilding our international education sector. We have broken the back of the visa backlog.

Clare said in May last year, it was taking an average of 40 days for offshore student visas to be processed.

The number has since dropped to an average of 14 days, but students from countries including Iran, Pakistan and China still face lengthy security delays – particularly applicants in Stem fields that require department approval.

We have also announced an extension of work rights for students who get degrees in areas where we have a skills shortage and students are coming back. This is good news, but there is still a lot more work to do.

Updated

‘It’ll happen tonight’: Albanese pays tribute to people making a difference

Albanese finished his speech sharing a personal anecdote from his childhood:

This Saturday I am going to a funeral of someone who I called my Auntie. We weren’t related to at all … She fled a violent situation and came to stay at our place and was there when I was a little toddler, way back in the 1960s.

But then it was not spoken about, she literally was there to be safe and my grandparents took her in. That’s the sort of thing that people are doing around Australia, last night, it’ll happen tonight, people intervening to make a difference.

This is a government playing catch-up with where people have been for a long period of time and I pay tribute to all of those who have achieved this result. This is your victory, not a victory of any parliamentary party or politician. This is people on the ground, the best example I can ever think of, of bottom-up change.

Updated

Domestic violence requires ‘a whole of society response’: PM

Albanese speaks of the important role which social housing plays in Australians escaping domestic violence, highlighting the issue is one which requires a “whole of society response.”

In addition to this, we committed at the election campaign and put into the budget an additional 500 community service workers, and in addition to this, we put in the budget $100m for emergency accommodation.

Because for so many it’s not just a matter of what happens in the workplace as well, it’s hard to leave a violent situation if your choice is sleeping in a car or sleeping in a park and you have nowhere to go, where you can feel safe. That is so important as well.

In addition to that, our housing Australia future fund has allocated 4,000 of the social housing units that we will build on a permanent basis, it gives somewhere permanently to go, and will allocate at least that number for women and children escaping domestic violence.

So this requires not a whole of government response, it requires a whole of society response.

Updated

PM hopes domestic violence leave is used ‘less and less in the future’

Albanese goes on to say that he hopes the new domestic violence policy also highlights the need to break the cycle of domestic violence:

We do need, of course, to make sure that this change … it will also raise the issue of why it has to be there.

So let us hope that in putting in place this measure it is used less and less in the future, as we go on. Part of tackling domestic violence of course is bringing it out into the open, is talking about it. Is changing that dynamic where women and families are reluctant to talk about what was happening in their lives, but still have to front up to work because they have to pay the bills and put food on the table for the kids.

But we know as well that we have to break the cycle because we know that all of the research tells us that is indeed a cycle, that those children often, who were having to watch these tragedies occur in their home then go on to be traumatised by and have difficulty having what are respectful relations going forward as well.

Updated

Ten days domestic violence leave to be introduced tomorrow

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is speaking at an event to mark the introduction of 10 days annual domestic violence leave at Parliament House in Canberra.

Albanese acknowledges the responsible ministers, the trade union movement who he said campaigned so strongly and frontline workers.

This is a day, frankly which we didn’t wish we had to have, but we do. From tomorrow, right across Australia, access to family and domestic violence leave becomes a reality. It will be such an important day and an overdue one.

No woman should ever have to choose between her job and her safety. No woman should ever have to pick between her financial security and the physical and emotional wellbeing of herself or of her children.

It is truly remarkable that these have been very real choices, choices that a shocking number of Australian women have had to face. It is 2023, we’re nearly a quarter of a way through this century, we ought to have been so much better than that.

As of tomorrow we will have become that crucial little bit better. Tomorrow, and everything that it represents is the culmination of an extraordinary and sustained effort by so many people. I would say tireless effort but we all know that is not true, all of us are human but so many people of conviction, determination and patience have pushed through exhaustion to make sure that today has become a reality.

Updated

Bonza hits out at Sydney airport

The chief executive of Bonza has accused Sydney airport of not cooperating with the new budget airline, saying it has been unable to negotiate access to support its low-cost model.

Tim Jordan made the comments at the launch of Bonza’s first flight from Sunshine Coast airport on Tuesday morning.

Bonza has so far announced it will fly to 17 destinations, which include its hubs on the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, as well as regional locations including the Whitsunday Coast, Townsville, Rockhampton and Newcastle – but not Sydney.

Asked by reporters about plans to fly to Sydney, Jordan said the airport had not negotiated cheaper access for Bonza that other airports including Melbourne had.

In terms of Sydney airport, I guess any city which is just served by one airport, has issues in that regard. They’re not as keen to come to the table maybe as other locations or maybe they don’t see the opportunity.

Jordan added: “So we’re quite enthusiastic about Sydney but it has to be at the right pricing.”

Jordan also vowed to keep his airline’s fares low in the long term despite high fuel costs, adding he expected Bonza to put downward pressure on recent record high domestic airfares.

Updated

Broadening voice referendum to include migrants is a ‘distraction’: ethnic communities chair

The formal group advocating against the proposed voice to parliament at the forthcoming referendum has suggested constitutional recognition should be broadened to include migrants and refugees as well as Indigenous people.

The federation of ethnic communities council of Australia, which is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, says they are concerned by the move led by Warren Mundine.

The chair of the council, Carlo Carli, has told ABC News breakfast this morning he was “totally surprised” by Mundine’s announcement.

We recently had a major conference, 800 delegates and organisations attended. Overwhelmingly, without dissent, there was support for the Uluru Statement and for the Voice referendum. No one raised this other issue.

It’s an interesting issue, may well be one that’s worth debating and discussing but certainly hasn’t been discussed and our concern is that it’s really a distraction … many of the migrant communities are natural allies for the Uluru Statement from the Heart for the simple reason that the people have experienced disposition, have experienced marginalisation, have experienced denial of their rights, and they see that in terms of our Indigenous and First Nations people. So they are natural allies to support the Uluru Statement.

Having said that, also many newcomers aren’t aware of the struggle for rights amongst our Aboriginal people, not aware of Mabo, not aware of the 1967 referendum, not aware of land right struggles. I think the possibility is to create distractions, if you like, rabbit holes, having communities turn on other communities, minorities, on the basis of issues that may be of interest, may be worth debating but certainly aren’t part of the debate.

Updated

Australia condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan

At least 59 people have been killed and 147 people injured in a suspected suicide bomb attack carried out by the Pakistan Taliban at a mosque in Peshawar as the country’s security situation deteriorates.

The minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, has released a statement saying:

Australians stand with the people of Pakistan and Pakistani communities around the world.

We condemn this cowardly terrorist attack unreservedly.

For all the headlines abroad, including this attack in Pakistan, and here in Australia, our Morning Mail gives you the run down of it all:

Updated

200 health measures weren’t fully funded by former government, Butler says

The health minister, Mark Butler, spoke to ABC Radio this morning following announcing additional funding for the mental health sector yesterday. Two new national peak bodies on mental health – one to represent people experiencing mental health disorders and one for carers and families.

Butler said there were “about 200 measures in the health portfolio … that just weren’t fully funded by the former government.”

When RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas asked about what programs will be extended beyond 30 June, Butler said “we’re working on all of them”.

Karvelas:

So are all 200 to be saved, or will some go?

Butler:

We’re trying to make sure that all of the services people have relied upon for many years, good services that there’s no question mark on in terms of their quality, the evidence base, their ability to deliver service in an equitable way. Often they are plugging gaps that otherwise would exist in the system where there’s more demand driven service through Medicare. So these are critically important services we’re working really hard on to make sure Australians can continue to rely upon them.

Updated

Rotterdam to become key port for Australia’s export of green hydrogen to Europe

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the climate minister of the Netherlands which will see our two countries work closely on green hydrogen exports. Bowen says the major logistic and economic centre of Rotterdam will be a “key port” delivering Australian green hydrogen exports to Europe.

Updated

Alice Springs businessman claims $1.5bn is owed community in compensation

Alice Springs’ convention centre was packed last night for a meeting where business owners alleged they’ve suffered losses due to government inaction.

The ABC is reporting that organiser and business owner Garth Thompson told the crowd that the Northern Territory government had neglected Alice Springs and residents “deserve to be compensated for what the government has put us through”.

I’m more than proud to stand here and say we, as a community of Alice Springs, are about to sue our government for $1.5 billion in compensation.

However, First Nations members of the audience like Central Arrernte man Declan Fuller Gillick did not like the tone of the meeting and the fact that no Aboriginal elders were asked to speak. Fuller Gillick told the national broadcaster:

Those of us who came here for a community meeting ended up listening to 20 to 30 minutes of a local business owner essentially stir up a very emotive narrative centred around the protection of private property.

Fuller Gillick is concerned the tone of the meeting threatened to “demonise and continue to criminalise young people”.

Read more about the situation in Alice Springs from our Indigenous affairs reporter Sarah Collard:

Updated

Perrottet rejects 'offensive' claim his faith is behind pokies policy

Clubs New South Wales chief executive Josh Landis has accused the premier Dominic Perrottet of acting on his “Catholic gut” in pursuing the cashless poker machine proposal.

Landis told the Sydney Morning Herald:

I think it’s fair to say that the premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut rather than based on evidence.

Poker machine.
A poker machine. Photograph: Tomasz Zajda/Getty Images/EyeEm

Perrottet hit back at Landis’ comments speaking to 2GB radio station earlier this morning, telling Ben Fordham they were “inappropriate and offensive.”

Well, the first point I’d make is, that’s untrue. The decision that I’ve made and the views I have in relation to gaming in New South Wales is not informed by the fact that I’m Catholic. It’s because I believe this is the right thing to do.

Now, I think it’s completely wrong for the CEO of clubs in New South Wales, to say that this is a matter of part of my Catholic faith. And I would say that that’s offensive, not to me, but to people of faith across New South Wales. And if you replace the word Catholic with Islamic, Jewish or Hindu, you would, you’d be resigning before you got to work this morning by the time your program finished.

It’s not about faith, and people shouldn’t attack people’s faith in relation to decision-making. That’s not a matter for me. It’s an attack on people of faith across New South Wales and I believe in a tolerant society and people of faith respect people who don’t have faith and people who don’t have faith respect the views of those who do … It’s not about me. It’s about attacks on people of faith right across New South Wales.

Updated

Australian professor earns Unesco equity post

An Australian professor has been given a global opportunity to erode the barriers that limit life’s opportunities for so many, AAP reports.

University of Newcastle Professor Penny Jane Burke will on Tuesday become a Unesco chair in equity, social justice and higher education.

The globally prestigious role will see her work to improve the lives of marginalised groups around the world, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.

Prof Penny Jane Burke has a new role as Unesco chair in equity, social justice and higher education.
Prof Penny Jane Burke has a new role as Unesco chair in equity, social justice and higher education. Photograph: University of Newcastle

The role, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, will involve forging partnerships with institutions across the world to address inequalities, including those that lock some out of education.

Burke says the role will extend the work the university has already been doing in that space, and will make a real difference to communities facing social, cultural, political and environmental injustice.

We will be able to challenge the concrete barriers and insidious inequalities that greatly undermine access to and participation in higher education and significantly improve the life chances of communities navigating social inequality, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.

Updated

Bonza to launch first flight today

Today I’ve been given the unenviable assignment no reporter wants – I’ll be heading to Whitsunday Island onboard the inaugural flight of new budget airline Bonza.

Tuesday’s launch flight leaves from the airline’s base at Sunshine Coast airport at 8am and heads to Whitsunday Island, and will mark the first major entrant into Australia’s aviation market in 15 years.

I’ll be filing updates about how the flight goes and if the onboard experience lives up to the hype. Stay tuned.

Bonza received regulatory approval earlier this month and has moved fast to begin offering flights – it’s got fares from $49 and has said airfares should cost roughly $50 for every hour in the air.

Their launch comes at a time of record high domestic airfares, and appetite for budget travel appears strong – the airline says it has sold more than 10,000 tickets so far since opening sales less than a week ago.

Updated

Woman arrested in Tasmania after allegedly brandishing a machete at a campsite

At 5am this morning a Hobart woman was arrested after allegedly approaching police brandishing a machete at a campsite near St Helens the previous evening.

When she evaded police going into nearby bushland, it required specialist resources including drones, a rescue helicopter, trained negotiators and members of the Special Operations Group to arrest the woman.

Tasmania police released a statement saying:

At 10:50pm on Monday 30/1/23 Tasmania Police responded to a call of an armed person at the Dianas Basin campsite near St Helens.

Upon arrival, police were approached by a woman brandishing a machete. The woman was sprayed with capsicum spray and went into nearby bushland.

The area was cordoned off for several hours while police worked through resolving the incident as safely as possible. This included evacuation of people from several campsites.

Specialist resources including drones, the Westpac Rescue helicopter, trained negotiators and members of the Special Operations Group attended the scene. This resulted in the safe arrest of the woman at around 5am.

The camp site has been returned to normal.

The 28 year old woman from Hobart is expected to be charged over the incident later today.

Updated

New plan to tackle abuse and neglect of First Nations children

Good morning! Natasha May now on deck with you. Thanks to Martin for getting us started.

The government will launch new action plans under its national framework for protecting children, which will aim to reduce the number of children in out-of-home care and reduce child neglect for those who do enter care.

More than 45,000 children are in out-of-home care and 43% are Indigenous, according to the ABC.

The 10-year strategy will aim to put the voices of children at the centre of policymaking and work in partnership with First Nations leaders to tackle child abuse and neglect.

The key actions include agreeing a national approach for a sustainable and skilled children and families workforce, and improved early and targeted supports for children and families.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander plan aims to support First Nations people and communities to exercise authority in family support services and child protection, and invest in the First Nations Community Controlled Sector.

The announcement comes from the minister for social services Amanda Rishworth and minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney who will launch the action plans, which are the result of collaboration from the federal ministers with state and territory community services ministers, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group and the National Coalition on Child Safety and Wellbeing working together.

Rishworth said:

Our vision is that children and young people in Australia reach their full potential by growing up in safe and supportive homes, free from harm and neglect. All children and young people across Australia have the right to grow up safe, connected, and supported in their family, community, and culture.

Burney said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan reflected the government’s joint commitment and actions to reduce the number of First Nations children in out-of-home care, in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

I applaud the efforts of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children and governments across Australia in developing this framework, and committing to the actions needed to ensure every child in Australia is safe and supported to thrive.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan developed with First Nations young people, families and organisations is centred on empowering and supporting self-determination of First Nations families.

The plan focuses on early intervention and prevention measures at a child, family and system level which is crucial to keeping more First Nations families together and safe.

The federal government has committed $30m for five initiatives in the 2022-23 budget.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Updated

Australia faces worsening levels of occupational gender segregation: Ceda

Men and women continue to be in traditional occupations, and executive positions remain skewed to men, according to new research by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (Ceda), AAP reports.

The research also found many talented women have left jobs or are actively considering leaving them because of a lack of flexibility or long, non-family friendly hours.

But only one in 10 organisations in Australia set flexible work targets and only 5% have targets specifically for men.

Women continue to dominate in health, care and education, while men make up most of the mining and construction workforce.

“People of any gender should be able to do the job they’re most suited for and most interested in,” the Ceda chief executive, Melinda Cilento, said on Tuesday.

Digital transformation, the energy transition and an ageing population will require a much more agile labour market than Australia has now, Cilento said.

“If economic and social barriers prevent flexible movement between occupations, we will not be able to respond to these changes,” she said.

People of any gender should be able to do the job they’re most suited for, says Melinda Cilento.
People of any gender should be able to do the job they’re most suited for, says Melinda Cilento. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

In the submission to the federal government’s Employment White Paper, the leading thinktank warns of worsening levels of occupational gender segregation – where a job is done by either mostly male or female workers.

And this is despite a skills shortage and more women in the workforce.

Men are still 1.8 times more likely than women to be working in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics field five years after completing their qualification.

And the proportion of women studying and working in these Stem areas has barely changed since 2015, CEDA found.

This worsens the gender pay gap, as these fields are typically highly paid.

Tudge adviser to front robodebt hearing today

Today’s session of the robodebt royal commission will hear from Rachelle Miller, the former adviser to then human services minister Alan Tudge.

Rachelle Miller.
Rachelle Miller. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Tudge, along with former social services minister Christian Porter, will appear at the commission later in the week.

Former chief counsel to the Department of Human Services, Annette Musolino, will continue her testimony today after appearing before the commission in Brisbane yesterday.

Musolino told the commission the department did not seek external legal advice on robodebt due to stretched resources.

Adani shares drop sharply in value

Most Adani Group shares fell sharply in India overnight as the Indian conglomerate’s rebuttal of a US short-seller’s criticism failed to pacify investors, deepening a market rout that has now led to losses of $65bn in the group’s stock values.

Led by Asia’s richest man Gautam Adani, the Indian group has locked horns with Hindenburg Research and on Sunday hit back at the short-seller’s report of last week that flagged concerns about its debt levels and the use of tax havens.

Adani Transmission, Adani Total Gas, Adani Green Energy, Adani Power and Adani Wilmar fell between 5% and 20% in Monday trade.

A billboard promoting Adani Capital at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport in Ahmedabad.
A billboard promoting Adani Capital at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images

Flagship Adani Enterprises, which is facing a crucial test this week with a follow-on share offering, swung between gains and losses before settling 4.8% higher. It stayed well below the offer price of the issue, which if successful will be largest such share offering ever in India.

Adani Group has published a 413-page rebuttal of fraud allegations by Hindenburg Research, likening the US investment firm’s report to an attack on India amid mounting financial pressure on the coal conglomerate.

The lengthy response seeks to soothe investor concerns and stir nationalist fervour as Adani attempts to complete a US$2.5bn share sale, one of India’s largest ever fundraising campaigns, designed to finance capital expenditure and reduce debt.

“This is not merely an unwarranted attack on any specific company but a calculated attack on India, the independence, integrity and quality of Indian institutions, and the growth story and ambition of India,” the Adani response said.

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer with the best breaking stories overnight before Natasha May picks up the baton shortly.

The big breaking news overnight is that Richard Marles and Penny Wong have announced a joint deal to supply Ukraine with artillery shells as part of a reboot of relations with France. The “2+2” talks – so-called because they included the Australian pair’s defence and foreign affairs counterparts – took place in the splendour of the Quai d’Orsay in Paris overnight and prompted Marles to call it a “new cooperation between the countries’ defence industries”. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will doubtless approve after he again called for more western help.

Divisions over the voice to parliament proposal have continued to grow after politicians clashed on an ABC Q+A program last night focused on the issue. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, who has criticised the voice proposals, repeated her view that a treaty was a better option for Indigenous people. But assistant federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, called her concerns a “misnomer”.

Most Adani Group shares fell sharply in India overnight as the Indian conglomerate’s rebuttal of a US short-seller’s criticism failed to pacify investors, deepening a market rout that has now led to losses of $65bn in the group’s stock values.

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