What we learned today, Tuesday 18 July
Thanks for joining us during what was a busy day on the blog! That’s where we’ll leave our live coverage.
Here’s a summary of today’s biggest moments:
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, announced the state had withdrawn as hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, saying it was not prepared to spend up to $7bn on “a 12-day sporting event”.
Andrews instead announced a $2bn regional package, which includes investment for the legacy benefits of the Games, tourism support, and social and affordable housing.
Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, labelled the decision a “massive humiliation” for the state, while the shadow sports minister, Anne Ruston, called on the federal government to “take responsibility” for Australia’s “damaged” reputation.
Following Victoria’s withdrawal, all Australian state premiers were quick to rule out the possibility of hosting.
The Commonwealth Games Federation said it only received eight hours’ notice of the “hugely disappointing” cancellation. Meanwhile, Games’ CEO Craig Phillips cautioned sport bodies over “doing business in [Victoria] in the future”.
This morning, the AEC published the official pamphlets for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum. You can read the full yes case here, and the full no case here.
There was a wide range of responses to the arguments put forward, with some coming forward to state they had been quoted without permission – such as Indigenous voice supporter Prof Greg Craven.
The independent senator Lidia Thorpe, meanwhile, argued that a treaty is “the only way forward”.
The Senate inquiry probing consultancy firms continued today. You can read a full breakdown on what happened from my colleague Henry Belot here.
Updated
Boosted private school funding down to enrolments and governments’ split responsibilities: Independent Schools Australia head
The head of the Independent Schools Australia has said funding to private schools has likely increased more than public schools due to rising enrolments as well as the way the funding is split between the commonwealth and state governments.
It comes as Guardian Australia revealed on Monday that government funding to private schools has increased almost twice as much as funding to public schools.
Graham Catt, chief executive of Independent Schools Australia, said if enrolments to private schools had increased, that would result in funding flowing more into the private system.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, enrolments to independent and Catholic schools grew by 3.3% and 1% respectively.
But he said the major issue was the commonwealth funding cap of 20% for public schools, with the remainder to be covered by state governments. For private schools, the caps are the reverse, with the federal government covering 80% of its government funding needs.
The commonwealth has funded that share. But states and territories haven’t been able to.
Minister Clare’s intention is to try and ensure that every student in every school gets to 100% of the [school resourcing standard]. And we fully support that.
Updated
Body located off West Australian coast believed to be missing 27-year-old male
A body has been located off the Dampier coast of Western Australia and is believed to be that of a missing 27-year-old male, WA police have confirmed.
They said a report will now be prepared for the coroner.
On Sunday morning, a man was located by friends after he’d swum to shore at the West Lewis Islands after being involved in a boating accident.
It is believed the man was returning from the Dampier boat ramp with a second person about 11pm the night before when the incident happened.
The two men, both in their 20s, were not wearing lifejackets and it is believed their boat hit a mooring.
The vessel was recovered on Monday after it was located submerged off Enderby Island.
Updated
After the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games there have been reactions left, right and centre, with some asking what this decision means for the Games more broadly going forward.
For that question and more, my colleague Kieran Pender has you covered:
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Netballer Liz Watson and swimming great Kieren Perkins hope Commonwealth Games will still be held
About to fly to South Africa for the Netball World Cup, Diamonds skipper, Liz Watson, told AAP:
Most other sports have the Olympics as their pinnacle but the Commonwealth Games is right up there with our World Cup.
Fingers crossed it’s still held, and hopefully somewhere in Australia as well.
Australian Sports Commission chief executive, Kieren Perkins, was, like everyone outside the Victorian government, blindsided by the decision.
And the swimming great who competed at three Commonwealth Games said hosting a 2026 version would now be difficult:
There’s no doubt that the Commonwealth Games federations internationally have got a very big challenge on their hands … finding a new venue or a new country that is willing to take it on.
To be able to put it together is going to be quite a significant task.
This will be a very big test for the Commonwealth Games sporting associations to see what the commitment is to the event going forward, how it can actually be delivered, and how can we continue to hold on to what really has been world-leading in being a multi-sport event where both para- and able-bodied athletes were coexisting.
– with AAP
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Athletes and officials criticise Commonwealth Games cancellation
Reactions are continuing to flow on the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, via AAP:
Paralympic swimming champion Rowan Crothers said scrapping the world’s biggest event featuring athletes with a disability alongside able-bodied athletes would “suck”:
For some athletes, a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games means more than a gold medal at the Paralympics [because] it’s not just a similar level, it’s the exact same thing the able-bods get.
Hockey Australia chief executive, David Pryles, said the decision would impact the sport at all levels:
The Commonwealth Games is one of the major tournaments … [It] was going to give these athletes a time in the spotlight, an opportunity to represent their country at home in a competition that all of Australia gets behind.
It is a missed opportunity … to build their profile and grow their popularity.
You can’t be what you can’t see.
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Swimming Australia head coach expresses disappointment over Commonwealth Games cancellation
The head coach of Australia’s most successful Commonwealth Games sport has led the chorus of criticism after Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games, AAP reports.
And while other states have declined to come to the rescue, Swimming Australia’s head coach Rohan Taylor hopes the 2026 edition will be relocated, describing the Games as crucial in the buildup to Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics:
It’s disappointing for the Australian public to miss out on having that event, which we know is a great opportunity for our athletes to represent their country … in front of home crowds.
Hopefully we will see what option the Commonwealth Games Federation come up with, where it could be hosted.
That’s a really important competition for not only swimming but our nation.
Particularly with the buildup to Brisbane [Olympics], it’s always good to have international competition.
Updated
I know I say this all the time, but it really has been a busy day on the blog! Take a minute to catch your breath and read up on today’s biggest headlines with the help of Antoun Issa:
Greens call on businesses to stop sponsoring Melbourne Cup after Myer drops deal
The Greens are urging Melbourne Cup sponsors to follow Myer’s lead and stop their support.
In June, Myer announced it would not renew the deal to sponsor the fashions in the field competition, although it is not clear why.
The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi has written to Lexus Australia, Lion Australia, Treasury Wine Estates and Kenney, saying business sponsorships contributed to the “pain, suffering and deaths of horses [and] in doing so, they put their own social licence at risk as society moves towards a future free of animal cruelty”.
She pointed to polling done by her office that shows almost two in three Australians believe racing animals for gambling and entertainment is cruel.
Faruqi said in a statement:
Corporate money fuels the deaths and injuries of countless horses and contributes to other horrible sides of racing carnivals, like problem gambling and spikes in domestic violence.
The Melbourne Cup is a grotesque festival of animal cruelty, consumerism, alcoholism and gambling. It belongs in the dustbin of history.
The evidence shows that the tide of public opinion is fast turning, with a clear and steadily increasing majority of people believing that racing animals for gambling and entertainment is cruel.
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Victorian Labor MP for Bendigo says decision on Commonwealth Games a ‘responsible’ one
Labor MP Lisa Chesters from Bendigo said that while there is disappointment in her community today over the Commonwealth Games’ cancellation, she believes the Victorian government made a “responsible” decision.
Speaking to the ABC, she said:
Bendigo was going to be a host city … and the decision that has been announced by the Victorian government today, I think it is a responsible one.
Chesters said the “silver lining” of the decision is that communities will still get the upgrades that were promised, particularly around housing:
We are in a housing crisis so the silver lining is people will go ‘Great, we will get the homes … sooner.’
So while there is some disappointment in the community, just being out and about today, what people are really taking on board, there is a lot of respect for the government for making the announcement now. The Comm Games were going to be delivered after the next federal election, so we have still got time to revisit and rebook and reorganise what we will offer in our community in a few years time.
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Commonwealth Games cancellation a ‘significant blow’ to Australian athletes, says team head
The Australian Commonwealth Games team chef de mission, Petria Thomas, said the Games’ cancellation is a “significant blow” to the “hundreds” of athletes and their teams working toward qualification for a Game at home here in Australia.
In a statement, Thomas said she is thinking of them today:
We understand the disappointment and the impact this decision will have on their ability to plan and prepare for the Games in 2026, and we are committed to finding a resolution alongside the CGF.
The Commonwealth Games is a pillar on the Australian sporting calendar, and I remain wholeheartedly committed to providing athletes with every opportunity to represent their country again at a Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games remain the only integrated multi-sport event that brings together able-bodied and para-athletes, raising awareness and support for inclusion on the global stage.
The news that Victoria will no longer be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games is extremely disappointing, but my team and I are totally committed to delivering for Australia’s athletes and our team when a new host is found.
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Greg Craven says quote was taken from context of ‘technical, legal discussion’
Greg Craven explains the context of his quote published by the no campaign:
I’m not sure I was naive, in the sense that when I uttered those words, that was the stage of the debate where we had moved briefly out of the desirability of the voice into a technical, legal discussion.
I’m perfectly happy to have technical, legal discussions, but as a matter of duty as a constitutional lawyer, my first duty was to support something that I believed was just. I did that. My second duty was to try and get it drafted as well as I could. I did that.
And once I lost on the drafting, what one naturally does is one reverts to the fundamental idea. So if I’m given a choice between constitutional justice and constitutional commons, I will always go with the constitutional justice.
I was aware there might be use of these words, [but] I was hopeful [that] if I made it so absolutely clear what my position was, that those sort of words would never be used.
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Academic who was quoted in voice no statement against his wishes says he is ‘100% committed’ to supporting referendum
Former Catholic University vice-chancellor and constitutional law professor Greg Craven spoke to the ABC on his frustration of being included in the no campaign’s official 2,000-word statement against his wishes.
The official pamphlet, published today, included a quote from him describing the proposal as “fatally flawed”.
Craven said he is “100% committed both to supporting the voice and campaigning for it”.
He described first hearing that his quote would be included around six weeks ago:
One of the things I did then was to make sure a piece appeared in the national media, saying that I did not want that to go in, that I was absolutely opposed to it, that I was 100% behind the voice.
It really wasn’t until the last week, and my wife and I were overseas, when it became apparent that it was highly likely there was going to be some reference.
At that point I contacted Peter Dutton’s office to express my general concerns about that, and I didn’t get a reply.
Craven said he sent Dutton’s office “the world’s longest text”.
Asked about possible avenues for recourse, Craven doesn’t believe the Australian Electoral Commission can do anything about it.
All that I can do is now campaign even harder, and more determinedly for the voice, which I will do.
Updated
‘Up to Australians to engage with the debate’ now that cases have been put forward: Leeser
Speaking on the yes and no campaign pamphlets, Julian Leeser encouraged people to engage in the debate “in a civil way”:
There are no people on the ballot paper, it is not an election campaign, there is no politician you like or dislike, no ordinary Australian on the ballot paper.
This is a question about changing the constitution, and I think it’s up to those of us who are putting forward the yes case to put forward our best arguments, and I think the colleagues that have put forward the no case have put forward their best arguments as well, and it’s up to Australians to engage with the debate.
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‘The voice provides a way’ to do better for Indigenous Australians: Leeser
Liberal MP and former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser just spoke to the ABC upon his return from Wagga Wagga where he spoke at a town hall on the upcoming voice referendum.
Leeser was one of the MPs that endorsed the official yes pamphlet which was published this morning along with the no campaign’s argument. Speaking on the matter, he said:
What we know as public policymakers and what most Australians know in their own lives is that when you properly consult and listen to people, you get better outcomes, and when there is a better outcome it should lead to better results.
When it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we need better outcomes [and] better results because there is a gap [between them] and the rest of the population that just hasn’t been closing …
We’ve got to do better on this, and the voice provides us a way. Voting yes helps change the status quo.
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Pat Conroy to visit PNG for fifth time in 12 months
The minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, said he will travel to Papua New Guinea today to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
In a statement, Conroy said it will be his fifth visit to PNG in twelve months.
He will be attending an inaugural corporate dinner in support of PNG’s bid to become the next franchise in the NRL, at the invitation of PNG’s prime minister, James Marape, and PNG national rugby league bid chairman, Wapu Sonk.
Conroy said:
Australia is proud to be PNG’s partner of choice and is committed to working together, in the interests of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.
Updated
El Niño still an El No-no as far as BoM experts are concerned
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has left its El Niño reading at “alert” status only for another fortnight, defying overseas groups such as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the World Meteorological Organization that have already declared one.
As the bureau said, “sustained changes in wind, cloud and broad-scale pressure patterns towards El Niño-like patterns have not yet been observed”.
Bureau of Meteorology is not yet calling an El Nino because trade winds aren't stalling as they should and the Southern Oscillation Index isn't negative (as it would be if we had an El Nino). (Source: @BOM_au ) pic.twitter.com/65lt9gKFuH
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 18, 2023
It said:
This means the Pacific Ocean and atmosphere have yet to become fully coupled, as occurs during El Niño events.
To be sure, the models that the bureau uses still point to an El Niño forming later this year, and potentially a powerful one.
Here's the latest model runs used by @bom_au. A strong El Nino remains in prospect... pic.twitter.com/AyaNr0axCP
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 17, 2023
El Niños typically suppress winter-spring rainfall in eastern Australia, the bureau notes. So does a positive phase of the Indian Ocean dipole that seems to be forming off the other side of the continent.
The Bureau said:
All models suggest a positive IOD is likely to develop in late winter or early spring.
Such a phase typically decreases winter-spring rainfall for much of Australia.
Meanwhile out in the west, the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole is forecast to take hold by next month. (Source: @bom_au). pic.twitter.com/dZPbh32JG1
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 17, 2023
Farmers, fire authorities and dam operators are among those watching the developments to Australia’s west and east very closely. The rest of us should probably be doing so, too.
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Firefighters concerned over rising number of winter residential fires
Senior firefighters have expressed concern over an increase in residential fires across NSW this winter, calling on the public to “end the complacency” over household smoke alarms.
In the first month of winter this year, there were 337 residential fires across the NSW, an increase of 24 fires (8%) over June 2022.
According to FRNSW there has been a 28% rise in kitchen fires over the same period, from 117 to 150, while bedroom fires have risen 19% from 26 to 31.
The number of fatalities this winter stands at six after the deaths of an elderly couple in Sydney’s south-west last week. This is compared to nine fatalities this time last year.
FRNSW acting deputy commissioner, Trent Curtin, said fire crews are still turning up to house fires where smoke alarms aren’t in working order or don’t exist at all:
That’s true in 44% of home fires so far this winter.
An affordable smoke alarm, purchased at a hardware store, can provide you with peace of mind that you and your loved ones are protected.
Curtin said the kitchen fire numbers were worrying:
We urge the public to keep looking when cooking and invest in a fire extinguisher and fire blanket to store near the kitchen.
Throwing water over a stove fire will only make it worse; use a fire blanket to smother the flames if you can.
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Cold front making its way across southern Australia from later today
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of a “vigorous” cold front due to sweep across southern Australia this week.
The front will arrive in Western Australia later today, before reaching the south-east states by Thursday and Friday.
A vigorous cold front will sweep across southern #Aus this week.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) July 18, 2023
It'll arrive in #WA later today before reaching the south-east states by Thurs/Fri.
Blustery conditions will follow in its wake; cool and wet with the risk of small hail.🌧️
Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ pic.twitter.com/Iek9Qp0f7b
Meanwhile, a frost warning has been issued for parts of Victoria for Wednesday morning:
⚠️A #frost warning has been issued for parts of #Victoria for Wednesday morning. Severe frost is a risk for western Victoria.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) July 18, 2023
https://t.co/Ildo3KSAXK pic.twitter.com/q9XZGYFq4Y
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Resources minister says nuclear waste dump decision to be reviewed
Back on the Barngarla people and their fairly epic court win earlier today to block a nuclear waste dump from being built on their traditional lands – the resources minister, Madeleine King, has put out a statement.
Of course, what we were all wanting to know is whether the federal government would throw in the towel and give up on the plan, but King says she acknowledges the finding and will review the decision, and that it would be “inappropriate to make further comment” with the matter still before the courts.
She said:
Labor worked with the Barngarla people in the last term of parliament to ensure they secured the right to seek judicial review of the decision to acquire the facility site.
The principle of judicial review is an important process that the Albanese government fully supports.
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Voice referendum ‘a very simple request’ from First Nations people: McCarthy
The assistant minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, just spoke to Sky News about the Indigenous voice to parliament pamphlet.
She was asked about arguments put forward by the no campaign, particularly around the constitution:
We’ve seen … many constitutional experts put their position [forward] and we’ve had it tested on so many levels … [They’ve] said this will enhance Australia by being able to do this.
We do believe this is a very simple request [and] gesture by First Nations people to see their lives improve.
I don’t want our future Australians to have to be dealing with closing the gap. I want them to have other issues.
McCarthy responded to questions around whether the voice would impact the high court. She denied it would, saying:
We’ve listened to the experts who’ve provided the advice [and] who have said this will enhance our processes in terms of the Australian parliament and relationships with First Nations people.
I think that is enough, and to listen to that and have confidence that we can do this.
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Environment group files court challenge against federal agencies funding fossil fuel projects
Human rights and environmental organisation Jubilee Australia has filed a legal challenge in the federal court against federal agencies that fund new fossil fuel projects.
The claim is against Australia’s export credit agency Export Finance Australia and the Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).
Jubilee Australia will allege that national environmental laws require both agencies – which have provided financial support to projects such as the Gladstone LNG terminal and the Ichthys LNG plant – to fully report on the climate and biodiversity effects of their activities on communities and the environment.
EFA funds large and small projects connected to Australian exports, both in Australia and overseas. It can provide loans, guarantees, insurance and equity.
The NAIF is a $7bn government infrastructure fund for projects in northern Australia. It can provide loans, guarantees and equity.
Luke Fletcher, the executive director of Jubilee Australia, said “most people don’t realise that the Australian government is using taxpayers’ money to fund new fossil fuel projects and infrastructure” through such agencies:
The real environmental impacts of EFA and NAIF’s activities are enormous and taxpayers deserve to know. Over the past decade they have given over a billion dollars to some of the most polluting fossil fuel projects in the world that will lock in fossil fuel dependency for decades to come and undermine Australia’s climate commitments under the Paris agreement.
David Barnden, principal lawyer at Equity Generation Lawyers, which is acting for Jubilee Australia, said Australian taxpayers deserved transparency about projects that caused environmental harm.
A representative for the NAIF said given the legal proceedings had commenced, it would not be appropriate for the agency to comment.
Guardian Australia has sought comment from Export Finance Australia.
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Madame Tussauds unveils Australia’s most requested wax figure
A brand-new wax figure of pop sensation Harry Styles launched at Madame Tussauds in Sydney today – one of seven simultaneously launched around the globe.
Styles’ Australian figure stands with a beaming grin and arms outstretched, sporting a bright pink outfit.
Mikayla McGlone with Madame Tussauds Sydney said Styles was Australia’s most requested wax figure:
Harry Styles has consistently been Australia’s most requested figure!
We have received thousands of requests in total, so I’m thrilled that we have made it happen – finally, Harry is in our house!
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More on Rex Airlines’ move to grow its capital city operations:
Since launching jet operations between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2021, Rex has expanded to new routes serving cities including Canberra, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, with flights between Melbourne and Hobart to begin next month.
Australian airlines including Qantas have been posting record profits due to strong travel appetite that has appeared resistant to stubbornly high airfares. While flights between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other capital cities have been a lucrative market, airlines including Rex have struggled on smaller regional services.
In June, Rex said its expectation of posting a profit last financial year has been dashed, with the carrier revising its previously rosy prediction to warn of a $35m loss, just as the aviation market booms.
Much of Rex’s ageing fleet of 59 Saab 340 aircraft – which each seat about 36 passengers – it uses for its regional routes remain grounded and the significant maintenance task in the face of engineer and parts shortages have forced the airline to cut regional services. Industry experts say Rex will soon have to replace its Saab fleet, however, there is no obvious modern replacement.
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Rex to grow capital city operations
Rex Airlines has signed leases for two more Boeing 737s, as the carrier struggling with its traditional regional operations looks to increasingly compete with Qantas and Virgin on more lucrative routes between capital cities.
Rex will grow its fleet of 737-800NGs to nine, with the additional two aircraft to arrive by the end of July and mid-September respectively, with the first entering service by mid-August. The airline also announced it is considering adding a further two 737s to its fleet – which would be a total of 11 – within the next 12 months.
John Sharp, Rex’s deputy chairman, said:
The arrival of these new aircraft is yet another step in fulfilling our ambition to fly to, and between, every capital city in Australia.
We believe it’s best to grow in a measured way, ensuring capacity meets demand. But we also need to be flexible as aviation is a dynamic industry where the only constant is change.
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Treaty ‘the only way forward’: Lidia Thorpe
The independent senator Lidia Thorpe has responded to the official yes and no campaign pamphlet arguments, which were published on the Australian Electoral Commission’s website this morning.
In February, Thorpe announced she was quitting the Greens and moving to the crossbench to pursue the Blak Sovereign Movement.
Thorpe has previously said she does not support the changes to the constitution proposed in the upcoming referendum, but that she is also not part of the official no campaign, which she described as “racist”.
In her statement today she spoke critically of both arguments put forward by the yes and no campaigns. She said:
For things to improve for everyone the government must learn and accept the true history of this country and cease the violent war on First Nations people and Country.
Together we must strive for a Treaty to bring peace to this land. It is the only way forward.
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New Zealand considering a bid for 2034 Commonwealth Games
Nicki Nicol, the chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, says the decision Victoria made in cancelling the Commonwealth Games is “disappointing” and “came as quite a shock to us today”.
Nicol rejected the idea that Victoria’s cancellation spelled the beginning of the end for the Commonwealth Games:
We know the model can work.
We think Victoria probably chose a different model.
She affirmed comments from New Zealand’s sports minister, Grant Robertson, earlier on Tuesday that the country will now look to move forward a bid it is considering for hosting the games in 2034. That date is “the right time for us” to host, Nicol says:
When we think about it for New Zealand, in particular for 2034, then definitely making sure we’ve got the right size model for us, I think, is something that we will work really hard towards.
Updated
Matildas train at Brisbane base camp 48 hours before first World Cup game
The Matildas have trained at their base camp in Brisbane today with just over 48 hours to go until their Women’s World Cup begins in Sydney.
The Australians will hold one final training session tomorrow morning, before flying south and beginning final preparations for their opening clash with Ireland at Stadium Australia on Thursday.
While pay disputes and coaching controversies have dogged other teams, it has been smooth sailing so far for the Matildas. The only injury concern is Tameka Yallop, who picked up a knock in a heavy clash during Friday’s warm-up match against France. Although Matildas staff indicated on Monday that Yallop was uninjured, she did not participate in group training on Tuesday and it is unclear if she will be fit to play against Ireland.
Midfielder Clare Wheeler, speaking to the press after training, admitted that it was a blow for Yallop, a much-liked veteran member of the national team:
Football can be a cruel game – I think everyone knows unfortunately that’s sometimes the way things go.
But ‘Meeks’ is well, she has her own individual plan, and hopefully she’ll be on Thursday.
Wheeler added an optimistic note:
It’s a long tournament – one game doesn’t mean every game.
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Geelong mayor says Commonwealth Games cancellation ‘came as a shock’
The Geelong mayor, Trent Sullivan, is speaking to the ABC about regional Victoria’s “severe disappointment” over the Commonwealth Games being cancelled.
This came as a shock to us. Although there have been concerns along the line, we do not expect the sudden announcement of cancellation such as this.
He says local governments have been open to working with state governments but now the decision “seems quite final”.
We have been raising concerns for over six months in Geelong about funding, timelines, capacity to deliver and the legacy outcomes of these games.
… I’ve done a trip to Canberra myself to advocate to the federal government for extra funding to be brought to the table and unfortunately we find ourselves now the situation which we are in.
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Western Sydney a ‘legitimate option’ to host Comm Games, thinktank says
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has touted Greater Western Sydney (GWS) as a “legitimate option” to host the Commonwealth Games.
In a statement, it says GWS “stands ready to continue its legacy of sporting greatness and deliver when Victoria can’t”.
The thinktank’s CEO, Adam Leto, says GWS put its hand up to host the 2026 Games in 2017 and its position hasn’t changed:
Sydney Olympic Park was built to host the biggest sporting events in the world and we’ve already got all of the necessary supporting infrastructure in place, across other parts of the region, including Liverpool, Penrith and Bankstown.
Ideally, it would be great if the Games could be pushed back a year to 2027 to allow Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek to be up and running to welcome the world to our region.
… In Sydney Olympic Park we have Accor Stadium, Qudos Bank Arena and the State’s Sport Centre and Aquatics Centre. The triathlon will have a home at our International Regatta Centre in Penrith Lakes and the Velodrome in Bankstown is geared up for cycling. And who would argue that the Rugby 7s doesn’t deserve to be in our backyard at Commbank and Campbelltown Stadium?
It’s a no-brainer, and even better, it’s a no-spender.
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Stuck in the tax office ‘waiting room’? Fret not, it’s not like Ticketek’s
Yesterday in the live blog we reported the Australian Taxation Office had brought in a “waiting room” for those eager people filing their tax returns in July as the office attempted to keep up with demand for its online services.
At the time, we said we were checking whether it is a sequential queue, or like Ticketek’s waiting room where it is randomised once you’re in and you could get access at any point.
We’re told that it’s a sequential queue, so not to fret if you’re waiting to submit your taxes.
As we mentioned yesterday, the ATO said people should wait until the end of July for all the data from the various banks, employers and agencies to come in, and people have until the end of October to file if they’re doing it themselves.
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Pomeranian rescued from seventh floor of Sydney apartment building
I think it’s time for a heartwarming, good news story for your Tuesday afternoon:
Fire and Rescue NSW have rescued a pomeranian named Cash which was precariously perched on the side of an apartment building in Sydney’s west.
Firefighters were called around 9.45 last night to the Wentworth Point complex where Cash was stuck on a ledge on the seventh floor.
A ladder truck was deployed, allowing firefighters to safely reach the higher floors and bring Cash to safety.
He was quickly returned unscathed to his relieved owner.
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Mystery object on Western Australian beach believed to be space debris
Western Australian police have provided an update on the unidentified object that washed up on a beach near Jurien Bay on Sunday.
The WA police force is continuing to liaise with national agencies, including the Australian Space Agency, to identify the object and its origin. It said:
At this time, it is believed the mystery item is space debris.
It will continue to be treated as such, until it can be determined otherwise.
The police force says it has commenced discussions with several state agencies and the shire of Coorow to plan the safe movement and storage of the object, which will factor in additional precautions given the unknown origin of it.
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Andrews made right call on Commonwealth Games, independent MP says
The independent MP for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, says the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, made “the right call” in cancelling the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
In a tweet, she said:
I hope the Commonwealth Games finds a home but the Victorian Government made the right call to cancel them.
We’re in hard times. We’ve got to focus on fixing the housing crisis and cutting power prices.
I hope the Commonwealth Games finds a home but the Victorian Government made the right call to cancel them.
— Dr Monique Ryan MP (@Mon4Kooyong) July 18, 2023
We're in hard times. We've got to focus on fixing the housing crisis and cutting power prices.
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Ruston says Senate inquiry will ‘dig into’ Commonwealth Games decision
Anne Ruston says the Victorian government has shown “contempt” with its decision:
We also saw the Commonwealth Games Federation say eight hours notice by the Victorian government for trashing and stopping the Games.
That is a disgusting exhibition of the contempt the Victorian government, and by association the federal government, holds international sporting bottles like the Commonwealth Games Federation.
This is a terrible decision for Australia but it is also very disingenuous and I think as we dig into the decision this morning, which we will do through our Senate inquiry, you will see that the Victorian government is hiding its incompetence behind a smokescreen of saying this is a budget blowout.
Ruston lists a number of upcoming sporting events in Australia, such as the Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and asks “what does this say to them?”
That state governments can just rip up host contracts and walk away and leave Australia’s reputation in tatters and the chances of us being successful in future international events being brought into question?
Updated
Ruston claims Andrews ‘very rubbery with the figures’ on Comm Games
Continuing to speak, Anne Ruston raises the financial aspect of the decision:
He’s already said he will continue to deliver the really expensive parts of putting on Games and that is building the infrastructure legacy of housing and the tourism package. The only thing he will not be doing is actually delivering the Commonwealth Games.
That is the very part of this investment that actually provides the return on investment, it is where the athletes, their families, their teams and spectators all come in from overseas with the opportunity to showcase our great country and the state of Victoria.
He is not doing that but he is actually going to still, apparently, deliver all the other infrastructure.
I would say that when we dig into the numbers of the announcement this morning by Mr Andrews, you will see that he’s been very loose with the truth and very rubbery with the figures he has provided to Australians.
Updated
Commonwealth Games decision has damaged Australia’s reputation, Coalition says
The shadow minister for sport, Anne Ruston, is speaking from Adelaide about the Victorian government’s decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
She says the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has tried to “distance” himself from the decision but should be stepping up and taking responsibility:
I say to the prime minister: Australia’s reputation has been damaged today and you should be very worried about the damage this does to Australia’s international reputation.
You should come out and take responsibility because it is not just Daniel Andrews’ lack of leadership, it is a lack of leadership from the Australian government to ensure Australia’s international reputation is not damaged in the way it has been this morning.
Updated
Vcoss hails ‘big win’ despite Commonwealth Games cancellation
Meanwhile, the Victorian Council of Social Service CEO, Emma King, says securing the housing and social benefits of the Commonwealth Games, despite their cancellation, is a “big win” for Victoria.
In a statement, she said the Games were always more than a sporting event:
The Games were going to deliver thousands of social and affordable housing properties, especially in regional areas where the shortage of housing is dire.
Accessible upgrades for regional sporting facilities and transport infrastructure, and inclusive traineeship programs on Games projects, were also planned.
Securing the housing and social benefits of the Games despite their cancellation is a big win for Victoria.
She said that more social and affordable housing for the state is “unequivocally good news”.
Updated
Housing advocates welcome Andrews’ $1bn pledge in wake of Commonwealth Games cancellation
The Community Housing Industry Association of Victoria has welcomed the state government’s $1bn regional housing fund in the wake of the Commonwealth Games cancellation.
The premier, Daniel Andrews, today announced at least 1,300 social and affordable homes would be built across regional Victoria, beyond the hubs that would have hosted the event.
The CHIA Victoria acting CEO, Jason Perdriau, says the investment will be “life-changing” for Victorians facing hardship as a result of the housing crisis:
We know more than 36,000 households in regional Victoria are experiencing homelessness, housing stress or living in overcrowded homes – additional social and affordable housing will make a difference.
Updated
Geelong mayor says Commonwealth Games decision ‘very disappointing result’
The Greater Geelong mayor, Trent Sullivan, says while the council is disappointed in today’s announcement, it understands the financial pressures governments face and the difficult decisions that need to be made.
Councils entered into this arrangement with the state government in good faith, and have invested time, resources and funds to help deliver a successful Games.
This is a very disappointing result, as Geelong and the other regional host cities had been promised a huge amount of tourism, economic, social and sporting benefits would flow from hosting the Games.
Sullivan said more than 7,500 jobs were expected to be created before, during and after the Games, and that the council feels for the “significant” number of Geelong-based government employees working on the event.
We welcome the government’s announcement that this vital infrastructure will still be prioritised, and we’re eagerly awaiting the details of exactly what they will fund and deliver.
While disappointed, we will continue to work with the government and local MPs to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved for our community.
Updated
Nacc has received 437 referrals so far this month
The new National Anti-Corruption Commission says it has received 437 referrals since it began operations at the start of July.
The commissioner, Paul Brereton, revealed on 3 July that the Nacc had already received 44 referrals online in its first two days of operation.
The Nacc issued a short statement this afternoon stating that it is updating the figure “in response to media interest”. It said:
At close of business Monday 17 July 2023, the Commission had received 437 referrals.
Approximately 12% of the referrals relate to matters well publicised in the media.
The statement does not go into detail about what allegations have been brought to the Nacc’s attention, nor give any detail about the assessment process.
At its opening ceremony in Canberra on 3 July, Brereton promised “we will listen to you”, referring to the fact that “anyone can refer corruption issues to the commission”, as well as its ability to commence investigations of its own motions. He said then that the Nacc’s main guiding principle in deciding whether to investigate is “whether a corruption investigation by the commission would add value in the public interest, especially in the light of any other inquiries or investigations that are happening, and whether there is any real prospect of a finding of corrupt conduct”.
For more details see Paul Karp’s story from the time:
Updated
Every Australian premier has ruled out bidding for 2026 Commonwealth Games
And with Palaszczuk’s announcement, this now means every Australian premier has ruled out bidding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
We will continue to bring you the latest on this as the day continues.
Every Premier has now ruled out bidding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games
— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) July 18, 2023
Updated
Queensland rules out hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has also ruled out stepping in to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Palaszczuk told the Women in Sport Summit on the Gold Coast:
In Queensland, our economic position is very good.
I’ve had people say to me: ‘Can we run the Commonwealth Games?’
Well, no we can’t because we’re focused on the Olympics and any extra money we have to put into issues like social housing.
Updated
Personal attacks on high-profile Indigenous Australians disappointing, Mayo says
Earlier this morning, the yes campaigner Thomas Mayo appeared on the ABC and responded to comments from the Liberal MP Julian Leeser that the no campaign was trying to stir anger with personal attacks on high-profile Indigenous Australians.
Mayo said “the personal attacks have been disappointing”, but his focus remained on the yes campaign:
It’s not about me as a person, or any other Indigenous leader, we’re talking about providing recognition of Indigenous people, something that should have been done long ago, but in a practical way that helps us to better shape policies that affect our lives.
Mayo was also asked whether he stood by comments about reparations and compensation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which were referenced in the no campaign’s official pamphlet:
No, I don’t. That was years ago … That is not what the voice is going to be. It’s an advisory body.
Ultimately the parliament will decide what advice they will take from the voice.
Updated
Plibersek pledges $60m to boost recycling of soft plastics
The federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, says the government is taking more steps to address Australia’s long-term failure to reduce plastic waste.
It follows the recent collapse of the soft plastics recycling scheme REDcycle and a decision by federal and state governments last month to move to mandatory packaging rules on manufacturers and retailers.
This morning Plibersek announced the government would launch a new $60m fund for hard to recycle plastics, including soft plastics such as shopping bags, bread bags, cling wrap and chip packets.
Plibersek said the funding would support new or upgraded recycling infrastructure projects such as advanced recycling to turn plastic back into oil for re-use in food-grade packaging:
Australians use about 3.8m tonnes of plastic a year and dispose of about 2.7m tonnes, that’s about 50 times the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge being thrown out each year.
The funding will invest in exciting technologies that could help solve challenges in recycling plastic waste like soft plastics going into landfill.
The government has also announced it will develop a framework to trace recycled content in products.
In theory, the framework would allow businesses to track where recycled content has come from and through the stages of material recovery, reprocessing, manufacturing and eventual distribution and retail in new products.
Updated
Thanks to Rafqa for taking us through a very busy morning! I’ll be with you for the remainder of the day – let’s get into it.
That is all from me after a busy morning on the blog – thanks for joining!
Handing over now to Emily Wind who will keep your news rolling into the evening.
Commonwealth Games CEO cautions sports bodies over ‘doing business in this state’
Craig Phillips says the shock cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games is “absolutely embarrassing”.
“Even the most recent figures on a survey that’s done globally about sporting cities … Melbourne had already slipped from 10th to 23,” the Commonwealth Games Australia CEO said.
I can’t see it going north after today’s announcement. And I would be very careful if I was an international sporting body coming in and doing business in this state in the future.
Updated
‘We thought we had a willing host’: no plan B for 2026 Commonwealth Games, CEO admits
Commonwealth Games Australia does not have a contingency plan, as it trusted Victoria’s commitment to host the 2026 Games, Craig Phillips says.
Once the commitment had given through a host contract by the CGF and by us, what we thought was the Victorian government’s commitment as well, there was no real plan B because we thought we had a Games and a willing host of the Games here in Victoria.
Obviously today showed that wasn’t the case.
Updated
‘We need to now obviously find ourselves a host,’ Comm Games Australia boss says
Commonwealth Games Australia will work with Commonwealth Games Federation to find a new host for the 2026 Games.
“We need to now obviously find ourselves a host,” Craig Phillips, says. “We will work with the CGF to see whether that is here in Australia.”
We’ll be doing all we can to make sure the numbers produced today by the Victorian government are not taken on face value and are not strong indication of what the Games would cost.
Updated
‘I find it a little hard to believe,’ Comm Games boss says of cost blowout claim
“We feel let down,” Craig Phillips says to the press. “We’re interested in seeing the numbers they’re relying on to make the decision today.”
Gold Coast was $1.2bn to run the Games. Birmingham was $1.8bn. I’m not sure how big a leap of more than double that to run the Games. I find it a little hard to believe.
He confirms the government will continue to incur costs, even though the Games are cancelled.
There’s people on contracts, rental of buildings and there’s been a commitment made to these Games and some expenditure to these Games.
Updated
Commonwealth Games boss calls cost blowout claim ‘a gross exaggeration’
Craig Phillips is scathing of Daniel Andrews’ decision to cancel the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games.
“The Victorian government … has jeopardised Melbourne and Victoria’s standing as a sporting capital of the world.”
Phillips says the budgetary implications Andrews announced today “had not been cited or discussed” with Commonwealth Games Australia ahead of being notified over a call early this morning.
He says the cost blowout outlined by Andrews is “in our opinion … a gross exaggeration”.
They are “not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victorian 2026 organising committee board as recently as June this year,” he says.
Updated
Commonwealth Games boss calls cancellation ‘a comprehensive letdown’
The Commonwealth Games Australia CEO, Craig Phillips, is now addressing the press about Victoria’s shock cancellation of the 2026 Games.
“It’s a comprehensive letdown for the athletes, the excited host communities, First Nations Australians who were going to be at the heart of the Games, and the millions of fans that would have embraced the sixth home games in Australia,” he says.
Updated
RBA board worried excessive rate rises would slow economy too much
The Reserve Bank of Australia opted to leave its key interest rate unchanged at the July board meeting in part because gathering headwinds might mean the economy slows more than it expected.
While the nine-member board agreed “some further tightening of monetary policy may be required”, that would hinge on how inflation and the economy fared, according to minutes from the 4 July meeting released on Tuesday.
The 12 interest rate increases since May 2022 had already lifted the share of income taken up by mortgage interest repayments to a “historic peak” of 9.4% by May this year. That proportion would likely increase as a significant number of borrowers were yet to transition off low fixed rates to much higher variable ones.
Wage growth also remained well below the inflation rate, leaving real household incomes declining by 4% in the year to March. Higher taxation as people moved into higher tax brackets added to the drags deterring spending.
“[M]embers observed that there was considerable uncertainty about the resilience of household consumption and that the squeeze on many households’ finances could result in consumption slowing more sharply than implied by the current forecasts,” the minutes showed. Higher interest rates might also nudge people to save more.
If the curbs on spending were to became too strong, “demand for labour would slow and the unemployment rate would be likely to rise beyond the rate required to ensure inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe”, the minutes showed.
Sharper-than-expected falls in inflation in some economies such as the US since the start of July have encouraged investors to pare predictions of further interest rate hikes. Prior to this morning’s release of the minutes, markets were assessing the chance of another 25 basis-point increase in the cash rate to 4.35% as a one-in-four chance, according to the ASX’s rates tracker.
Read more here:
Updated
Aboriginal leader hails court ruling against a nuclear waste dump near Kimba
“It’s about listening to the First Nations people,” Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation chair, Jason Bilney, said in the wake of his people’s victory in court today.
Bilney said the ongoing fight over their traditional lands has gone for 21 years – the most recent battle was over the federal government’s plans to build a nuclear waste dump on the site near Kimba, in South Australia. Bilney said his people would have fought for another 21 years if they had to.
“It’s about standing up and continuing that fight … to get us to where we are today,” he said.
The lesson is about truth-telling … you can go on about the voice, but it’s about listening to the First Nations people and here we are today and we prevailed and we won.”
Updated
No campaign has used taxpayers’ money to distribute misinformation, voice architects say
Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, architects of the voice, have called the no referendum essay a “destructive agenda”.
“The NO pamphlet has used taxpayers’ money to distribute misleading information aimed at holding our people back, all Australians in fact.”
Uluru Dialogue's Megan Davis and Pat Anderson, architects of the Voice, call the No referendum essay "cooked" and a "destructive agenda"
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) July 18, 2023
"The NO pamphlet has used taxpayers’ money to distribute misleading information aimed at holding our people back, all Australians in fact." pic.twitter.com/ByEC2JjWci
Updated
EY and senators clash on transparency
The pressure is now being applied to EY senior executives. The Greens senator Barbara Pocock has taken issue with EY’s refusal to answer many questions about how the partnership works:
Those questions went to the partnership deed, which you have not supplied to us. We asked for earnings data for partners, you have decided not to supply that to us.
We asked for information about breaches of confidentiality generally and in relation to government work. You have not supplied those to us. And you haven’t given us the proportion of your revenue that comes from government work.
These are all critical questions in our terms of reference. Will you give us the answers to those questions now?
Here’s the response from EY chief executive, David Larocca, who has disclosed his own annual salary is $2.8m. He hasn’t provided a breakdown of other partner incomes.
There are very sensitive elements in our partnership deed that I do not want our competitors to see. It puts us in a position that is anti-competitive and I’ve given some explanations. I accept that we won’t reach an agreement on this.
I am not comfortable with our competitors having the information you’re asking us to disclose.
PwC has provided its partnership deed to the Senate inquiry in confidence, with a condition it will not be shared. EY has not.
Updated
Federal sport minister says Commonwealth Games decision ‘disappointing’ but ‘I understand’
The federal sport minister, Anika Wells, says she understands why the Victorian government made the decision to cancel its plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, but she had empathy for those who were looking forward to the event.
“It’s disappointing that they won’t experience that in regional Victoria,” she said on stage at the Women in Sport Summit on the Gold Coast.
I understand the reasoning of the Victorian government, obviously we’re all facing a cost-of-living crisis, you have to justify where every dollar goes. And I guess I’m comforted by the fact that they will still be spending that money on committed sport infrastructure.
The Victorian and commonwealth governments were in the process of negotiating financial arrangements for the event. Wells said the decision this morning had “overwritten the negotiations”.
Updated
EY promises to confront internal culture no matter how ‘uncomfortable’
EY has also addressed some serious instances of misconduct.The firm has confirmed 17 formal workplace investigations launched last financial yearin response to accusations of sexual harassment, bullying and other misconduct. Thirteen were substantiated with one investigation ongoing.
EY has engaged the former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to investigate its workplace culture with recommendations for change to be made public once completed.
EY chief executive, David Larocca, has told the senate inquiry that the firm wants to confront its internal cultural problems in a transparent and open way:
We proactively chose to do this. We decided to be completely transparent and we decided to ensure that this was an independent, extensive and rigorous review by Elizabeth Broderick.
Today we are not in a position to comment on the workplace culture review, as it has not yet been finalised. Our focus first and foremost, when we receive the finalised report, will be to communicate the findings of the review to our own people, those who have given us the gift of their story. No matter how uncomfortable that task may be. We will then immediately release it publicly including to this committee.
NSW will not host 2026 Commonwealth Games
The New South Wales government will not bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and will decline to host if approached.
The premier, Chris Minns, said he could understand why Sydney might make sense as an alternative location but explained the state’s budgetary pressures were too great to take on such a burden.
He said:
We’re not bidding for the Commonwealth Games and we’re not taking them on.
Updated
EY takes swing at PwC as senate inquiry resumes
Another two big consultancy firms are in the hot seat today: EY and Accenture. They’re facing questions from a senate committee examining the conduct of government consultants.
This wide-ranging inquiry was triggered by a scandal at PwC, involving the misuse of confidential tax policy information. So far, the inquiry has revealed misconduct and conflict of interest breaches at other firms, including EY.
EY’s chief executive, David Larocca, has begun by taking a swing at his competitors. Here’s what he told the parliamentary inquiry:
I want to specifically address the conduct that triggered this inquiry by saying that at EY. We don’t deliberately breach confidentiality. We don’t market tax minimization schemes. We don’t use blanket legal professional privilege claims to frustrate regulators and our business model is not built on condoning rewarding or covering up this kind of behaviour.
The practices that triggered the establishment of this inquiry are not the way we do business at EY. The actions of a group of partners and leaders of one firm have impacted the reputation of tens of thousands of professionals across Australia, who do the right thing every day, continuously setting the high standard that Australia can and should expect from us.
South Australia also not stepping in
The South Australian government has joined a growing list of Australian jurisdictions that aren’t going to step in to save the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
A spokesperson for the state government ruled out bidding to host the Games.
South Australia estimates the cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games would outweigh the benefits by nearly three times.
“Successive governments, both Liberal and Labor, have considered hosting the Games and determined the cost would outweigh the economic benefit,” they said.
The previous state government conducted independent financial analysis on hosting the multi-sport competition, it was determined the event would cost $3.5bn, with the economic benefit only amounting to $1.2bn.
The South Australian government will continue to look to attract major events, but they must stack up and deliver economic benefits that outweigh the cost, as has been the case with Gather Round, LIV Golf and the Adelaide 500.
Updated
New Zealand says no to hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
New Zealand’s sports minister, Grant Robertson, told reporters at parliament this afternoon that it was “not our plan” to bid to host the 2026 games in Victoria’s place. While New Zealand was considering a bid for the 2034 games, hosting was “a lot of work”, Robertson said, and his country was not in a position to step in early.
When asked if Victoria’s cancellation could spell an end for the Commonwealth Games altogether, Robertson said:
Birmingham ended up hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games when Durban in South Africa withdrew, so it is possible for another country to step up in the interim.
He would not comment on Victoria’s decision.
Updated
WA premier also says no to Commonwealth Games
Western Australia is also not going to rescue the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The premier, Roger Cook, backed the decision of the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and totally ruled out a bid for the games by his government.
“I think they made the right decision in relation to that and we won’t be making a bid for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
Our analysis was consistent with the Victoria government’s analysis that this would cost a significant amount of money and provide very little return on that investment.
He said the state government needed a sustained investment in events, not just a “sugar hit” of a two-week event.
Perth hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1962, and the state took a “close look” at doing so again, but Cook said the government simply couldn’t make the numbers stack up.
“The Commonwealth Games aren’t what they used to be and as a result of that they don’t provide the return on investment,” he said.
They’re highly expensive and while they attract people for the 12-day sporting festival, they don’t provide sustained growth and sustained outcomes in terms of the economy.
Updated
Committee for Sydney gives ‘enthusiastic yes’ to possible Commonwealth Games bid
The Committee for Sydney has thrown its support behind a possible New South Wales bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The advocacy body’s chief executive, Eamon Waterford, gave an “enthusiastic yes” when asked if Sydney should consider hosting.
He said:
As the home of major events and sporting excellence, Sydney stands ready and extremely bloody willing to host the Commonwealth Games.
Across the city, we have the venues, the talent and the track record of putting on major events to get sprinting from a running start on hosting the games.
Updated
Federal court quashes decision to build nuclear waste dump near Kimba in SA
The federal court has quashed the former Coalition government’s decision to construct a nuclear waste dump near Kimba in South Australia in a critical victory for the traditional owners.
The former resources minister Keith Pitt made a declaration that the property called Napandee would be the site of the facility, a decision challenged by the Barngarla people.
As mentioned earlier, the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation lodged an application for a judicial review of the project in 2021, saying they had been excluded from consultation.
A 2019 ballot of ratepayers found most supported the facility, but it excluded traditional owners who did not live in the council area. They held a separate ballot, which unanimously rejected the proposal.
In Adelaide this morning, Justice Natalie Charlesworth said she did not uphold all claims made by the corporation, but did uphold a finding of apprehended bias against Pitt.
There were tears of joy outside the court as Traditional Owners and conservationists celebrated their win.
Low-level nuclear medical waste currently stored in hospitals and universities across the country will be permanently stored at the site if it goes ahead, along with intermediate level waste, which will be stored until a separate facility is built for it.
Updated
Mayor of Bendigo says state government’s reason for cancelling Commonwealth Games are ‘valid’
The mayor of Bendigo, Andrea Metcalf, has said while the council is disappointed the state government has cancelled the Commonwealth Games, it has done so for good reason. Speaking to Guardian Australia, she said:
The arguments the state government has given for cancelling the Games are valid.
We still have that $2bn being spent on investments and tourism. The games would have put us on the world stage, and we’re going to miss out on that opportunity.
But they’re valid reasons as to why they’re not proceeding.
The state government has said it will still spend the promised $2bn on delivering the planned sporting and infrastructure developments. Metcalf said:
We’re disappointed and shocked but there are also some bright spots in the announcement. So we look forward to getting further detail.
Updated
No Commonwealth return to the Gold Coast
Australia’s last Commonwealth games host, the Gold Coast, isn’t likely to step in to replace Melbourne in 2026. The Gold Coast hosted the games in just 2018.
Acting mayor Donna Gates said the Gold Coast wouldn’t be able to host the Commonwealth Games again “if indeed they are held”.
She said it would be very difficult for any city to host them in three years, given what she called “such a short timeframe”.
“We delivered facilities that are now at capacity, so there’s no option about using those. Our games village is tenanted so that’s not an option either,” she said.
But it would be, I think, impractical to think that any city could step in now with such a short timeframe.
The council was surprised by the announcement, and hasn’t been approached by games organisers.
Gates said the 2032 Olympics, which will be partly held on the Gold Coast, won’t face the same problem.
Our Commonwealth games were so successful because they were very well planned, planned over 10 years. The same can be said of the 2032 Olympics.
Updated
NSW opposition urges state to bid for Commonwealth Games
The New South Wales government needs to “urgently consider” bidding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, according to the opposition leader, Mark Speakman.
He said:
The NSW government should urgently consider bidding for Sydney to host them.
We have our 2000 Olympics infrastructure plus world-class sports infrastructure built since under the NSW Liberals/Nationals.
The premier, Chris Minns, will address the media shortly.
Updated
Regional Cities Victoria responds to cancellation of Commonwealth Games
The cancellation of the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games is a “major loss for regional cities,” Regional Cities Victoria said in a statement.
“This is a disappointing day for the 1.5 million people – a quarter of all Victorians – who call regional Victoria home and had excitedly welcomed the Commonwealth Games, encouraged by the long term value it promised for their communities,” RCV’s chair, Andrea Metcalf, said.
The opportunity to host a “once-in-a-lifetime event” in regional Victoria was “embraced and welcomed” by regional communities.
We look forward to seeing details of the proposed state-wide tourism package but recognise this will not deliver the same benefits as broadcasting the best of regional Victoria into billions of lounge rooms around the world.
Updated
Ask the Guardian's Full Story podcast about the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum
A quick break away from the news on Daniel Andrews’ cancellation of the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games:
For an upcoming episode of our daily news podcast, Full Story, our podcast team wants your questions on the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum. Do you have any questions about the “yes” and “no” pamphlets published on the AEC website this morning?
Please email your questions to voicequestions@theguardian.com by 11am. A panel of experts will answer select questions in a future episode.
Updated
Commonwealth Games Federation received only eight hours’ notice of cancellation
The Victorian government made decisions “which have added considerable expense” – including introducing more sports, an additional regional hub, and changed venue plans – “often against the advice” of the the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia, according to a CGF statement.
They are disappointed they were given just eight hours’ notice of Victoria’s cancellation of the 2026 games. They are also disappointed the government did not consider “discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached”.
“Up until this point, the government had advised that sufficient funding was available to deliver the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
The Commonwealth Games Federation says it was given eight hours' notice of the move to cancel the 2026 Games in regional Victoria and no consideration was given to discussing solutions before the decision was reached. pic.twitter.com/cad7igFI2M
— Callum Godde (@calgodde) July 18, 2023
Updated
More details on calls for NSW to bid for Commonwealth Games
The New South Wales government is under pressure to consider bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Sydney after the Victorian government this morning announced it was scrapping the event.
The chair of Sport NSW, Chris Hall, said the state was ready to host an event of that scale on the back of other proven successes, including the 2000 Olympics. He said:
It’s a tremendous opportunity for NSW to bring the Commonwealth Games to Sydney. We’ve got the facilities and the venues. Some might need a little bit of a spruce up but it would be great to bring that elite sporting talent to inspire the next generation by hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
He said the Sydney Olympics were the “best” and the state had a chance to “give it a crack” again.
Business Western Sydney has also added its support to the idea, with executive director David Borger insisting Sydney was “ready to relight the flame”.
He said:
Western Sydney delivered the best Olympic Games ever 23 years ago, we’re ready to deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever in 2026.
The premier, Chris Minns, is yet to make public comment on the announcement by his Victorian counterpart but will be fronting the media shortly.
Updated
NZ Olympic Committee address Victoria’s ‘sudden withdrawal’ as Commonwealth Games host
Nicki Nicol, the chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, has released a statement about what the NZOC called Victoria’s “sudden withdrawal” from hosting the Games:
We are incredibly disappointed to learn that Victoria has withdrawn from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
This unexpected announcement is unsettling for New Zealand Team athletes who were working towards a Games close to home in just under three years time.
She added: “We are looking to the Commonwealth Games Federation as it begins a process to appoint a new host for 2026.”
Updated
Victorian tourism council calls for support following Commonwealth Games cancellation
Victoria needs support in the wake of cancelled Commonwealth Games, the Victoria Tourism Industry Council says.
The Council’s CEO, Felicia Mariani, says the five regional locations planning to host will “suffer, not just from the visitors they expected to welcome in this period, but also the global exposure they expected to receive”.
The biggest risk right now for Victoria will be in managing the reputational fallout as a destination for hosting major international events. Pulling the pin at such a crucial time on a major event like this will create concern that needs to be managed carefully.
The council anticipates the government unveiling plans to “deliver a significant regional tourism fund in the aftermath of this decision”.
Updated
Sports commentator Bruce McAvaney has called Victoria’s cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games an “embarrassment”.
“It’s a big shock … I didn’t see it coming,” he says on 3AW, adding that it could be the end of the games altogether.
Victorian Greens join criticism on Labor’s handling of Commonwealth Games
The Victorian Greens have called the Labor government’s mismanagement of the Commonwealth Games a bit of a schemozzle. The party’s rural and regional spokesperson, Sarah Mansfield, said Labor’s “bungling of the Commonwealth Games” has “wasted time and resources that could have gone towards addressing regional needs like affordable housing and public transport”.
The Greens’ acting leader, Ellen Sandell, said:
It’s clear this is a bit of a schemozzle, and the Labor government needs to get its priorities in order and get back to focusing on the immediate issues people are facing, like the severe lack of affordable housing and cost-of-living pressures.
Updated
'Hugely disappointing': Commonwealth Games Federation
The Commonwealth Games Federation says Victoria pulling out of hosting the 2026 games is “hugely disappointing,” AFP reports.
#BREAKING Commonwealth Games Federation says Victoria pulling out 'hugely disappointing' pic.twitter.com/4OT7yh4ozm
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 18, 2023
Updated
Perth mayor pitches WA premier on hosting Commonwealth Games
The lord mayor of Perth, Basil Zempilas, is now calling on the premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Perth.
“Not often you get a second chance like this,” he Tweets.
Here’s how it should work – we tell the [Commonwealth Games Federation] how much we will pay. We tell them “here are our venues” you make YOUR games fit around what we have.
Perth is in the driver’s seat they need us [sic].
He adds that the spending on building athletes villages becomes “social and affordable housing for 8,000 West Australians” once the games conclude.
“We get the event. At the right price. And social housing for 8,000 by 2026.”
Mark McGowan didn’t want it - but I know many of his ministers did. They could see the opportunities and the possibilities.
— Basil Zempilas (@BasilZempilas) July 18, 2023
And the huge positive effect on our City.
Here’s a chance for @RogerCookMLA to do it his way and deliver something profound for Perth and @WestAustralia
Updated
Dan Andrews confirms ‘relatively tiny number’ of job losses due to Commonwealth Games cancellation
There will be a “relatively tiny number” of job losses due to the cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games, premier Daniel Andrews confirms.
“I’m very sorry for that.”
He says efforts will be made to redeploy people.
Updated
Calls for NSW to host 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victorian cancellation
There are already reports of a push for Sydney to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, just after premier Dan Andrews announced Victoria will no longer be host.
“There’s no question we’ve got the venues … and March would be a good time to host it,” said John Coates, the former Australian Olympic Committee head, according to Daily Telegraph reports. “It’d be great for Sydney’s reputation. We last hosted the games in 1938.”
The chair of Sport NSW, Chris Hall, also said the infrastructure from the 2000 Olympics could used:
It’s an opportunity for our city and existing venues used in the Olympics to bring elite sporting talent to Sydney and New South Wales.
We might have to spruce up a few venues because they are 23 to 25 years old – but they’re there and they’re capable.
And the former Labor MP Graham Richardson, who was mayor of the Olympic Village, said:
It would be a tremendous coup ... if I were [Premier Chris] Minns, I’d jump at it.
It would bring millions of dollars to the economy – no doubt you get a lot of tourists. It’s a bloody lot of money.
Updated
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews says the option of hosting the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne “has a 4 in front of it” – meaning it would cost at least $4bn.
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Dan Andrews: federal funding played no part in Commonwealth Games cancellation
The commonwealth goverment has “absolutely nothing to do” with Dan Andrews’ decision to cancel the Victorian Commonwealth Games, the premier says.
Funding provided or not provided by the commonwealth government has absolutely nothing to do with the decision that I am announcing today.
There is absolutely no way that I would even ask the commonwealth government to fund half, or make any contribution, really, to a Commonwealth Games that costs between $6-7bn.
I wouldn’t make that request. What’s more, I won’t have to do, because we are not prepared to spend that money.
Updated
Dan Andrews outlines some issues with cost-benefit ratio of Commonwealth Games
Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there were more angles to consider when looking at moving the Commonwealth Games to Melbourne – but all pointed to the cost benefit ratio to not stacking up:
There are a whole range of competition-grade facilities that are here.
A fair few of those are fairly busy though, so there is cost, so we would not be using them.
There is also the small matter of: you could save money by not building villages for instance, but then every hotel room in the city would be pretty much taken up by those who are part of the games, not those who are coming here to watch the games.
So again the cost benefit ratio does not stack up.
Updated
Victorian Liberals say Commonwealth Games cancellation is ‘massive humiliation’
Victoria’s Liberal leader of the opposition, John Pesutto, has called premier Daniel Andrews’ cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games a “massive humiliation” for the state.
“This decision is a betrayal of regional Victoria and confirms that Victoria is broke and Labor simply cannot manage major projects without huge cost blowouts,” he wrote on Twitter.
The Andrews Government’s decision to scrap the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a massive humiliation for Victoria.
— John Pesutto (@JohnPesutto) July 17, 2023
This decision is a betrayal of regional Victoria and confirms that Victoria is broke and Labor simply cannot manage major projects without huge cost blowouts. JP pic.twitter.com/AtixDEf4Dx
Updated
Dan Andrews says state looked at ‘every conceivable option’ to host Commonwealth Games but all represented more cost than benefit
Victoria’s premier Dan Andrews shuts down the option of moving the Commonwealth Games to Melbourne. “We have looked at every option,” he tells press:
We have looked at Melbourne, we have looked at Westport, we have looked at West Campus. We have looked at every conceivable option. All of them are far in excess of the $2.6bn that’s been budgeted, so all of them represent more cost than there is benefit.
On that basis none of those options stack up and we’re not going to be hosting the games in 2026.
Updated
Decision to cancel Commonwealth Games ‘obvious’: Dan Andrews
It was not a difficult decision to cancel the Victorian Commonwealth Games, premier Daniel Andrews tells press.
“It is just quite obvious.”
Andrews says spending $6-7bn on a 12-day sporting event cannot be justified.
Instead we will deliver the housing, the sporting infrastructure, the tourism and the major events, sport, permanent infrastructure as well as programs that will see more and more people visit our regions, creating jobs and opportunities for the future.
We will do that instead from the original and allocated funding budget, as opposed to spending close to triple the budget for a 12-day event.
Updated
Dan Andrews details plans for regional package in place of Commonwealth Games
The Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, has unpacked his decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Twitter.
“When the Commonwealth Games needed a host city to step in at the last minute, we were willing to help – but not at any price. And not without a big lasting benefit for regional Victoria,” he writes.
“It’s now clear: more than $6 billion for a 12-day sporting event is just too high. It’s more than twice the estimated economic benefit the games would bring our state.”
The main reason we agreed to host the Games was to create a big lasting benefit for our regions – with more housing, boosts to tourism and sporting infrastructure upgrades.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 17, 2023
So here’s what we’re doing instead.
He outlines what the government will fund in place of the games:
1,300 new social and affordable housing in regional Victoria.
Building all the permanent sporting facilities promised for 2026.
Support for local families playing sport, including removing barriers for Victorians with disabilities.
A boost in regional tourism and events.
The projects will create 3,000 jobs, he says.
These projects will create around 3,000 jobs right around the state, and deliver what our regional communities have asked for.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 17, 2023
It’s the right thing to do.
From the get-go, we said we’d create a long, lasting legacy throughout our regions.
And we’re getting on with it.
Updated
Premier @DanielAndrewsMP confirms Victoria's 2026 Commonwealth Games will not go ahead because was due to cost over $6bn - up from the estimated $2.6bn @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/11NtiR9GyL
— Adeshola Ore (@AdesholaOre) July 17, 2023
Details here: pic.twitter.com/JH9HuggZ9d
— Adeshola Ore (@AdesholaOre) July 17, 2023
$2bn regional package using funds allocated for cancelled Commonwealth Games announced
In place of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Dan Andrews has announced a $2bn regional package.
Permanent sporting facilities that were going to be legacy benefits of the Commonwealth Games will still be built, and a “very substantial” regional tourism fund and support for community-based sport will be bolstered. Also included is a $1bn boost for social and affordable housing:
Not just in those hub cities, but there will be at least 1,300 new homes constructed across regional Victoria.
Updated
Dan Andrews confirms 2026 Commonwealth Games cancelled in Victoria
The Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, tells press the 2026 Commonwealth Games could cost as high as $7bn.
“The games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026,” he says.
What’s become clear is that the cost of hosting these games in 2026 is not the $2.6bn which was budgeted and allocated … it is in fact at least $6bn and could be as high as $7bn.
I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost estimated and budgeted for last year.
Updated
The Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, is stepping up to address press now on the cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games.
Updated
Victoria’s premier, Dan Andrews≤ is set to address press at 9:30am this morning on the cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games.
Stay tuned for updates.
Updated
More from Chalmers and Lowe in India
In a nod to his looming exit as RBA governor (17 September, to be precise), Philip Lowe said: “In this my last G20 meeting, my hope is that we work together to do what we can to lift productivity growth to increase the living standards of our people.”
No mention by either person about climate change. Might not be the topic of the session, but it’s probably hard for many of those attending to ignore given what’s happening in many nations just now.
Updated
Chalmers and Lowe in final joint outing in India
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and the outgoing Reserve Bank governor, Philip Lowe, have been making “unscripted remarks” as they attend the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meetings in Gandhinagar, India.
Chalmers has focussed his comments on the need to bring down inflation, particularly by dealing with supply issues.
“We need to be more ambitious than to just catch up and patch up and go back to the sorts of economies that we had before Covid-19,” he said.
That means we need to increasingly focus our coordinated efforts on how we make our economies much more productive, and that goes to some of the issues that we need to talk about in this meeting: the energy transformation, how we adapt and adopt technology, and how we get the human capital piece right.
Lowe didn’t object, as you might imagine, adding he wanted “to emphasise the importance of doing what we reasonably can on productivity growth”.
“The reality that most of us face is that productivity growth has slowed down in most of our economies. That means it’s a real problem,” he said.
“It means lower sustainable growth in real wages, it means a limited increase in output as well,” Lowe said, adding that it would also undermine public services and meant “an increased tension in the distribution of income”.
Updated
Some context on the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games cancellation
The announcement follows months of speculation about funding shortfalls for the major sporting event.
The Andrews government had estimated the games would cost $2.6bn to host across five regional sites in Victoria. It was anticipating the commonwealth would contribute half of the costs, wth most of the funding going towards infrastructure.
In May, the Albanese government’s budget included more than 1bn – from its $3.4bn commitment – for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. But nothing was allocated for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. After the federal budget, Andrews vowed to not let the commonwealth “off the hook” for helping to fund the event.
Updated
2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games cancelled
The 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games will be cancelled due to funding issues. The premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce the move at a press conference at 9.30am.
Guardian Australia understands this is not a postponement – the games simply will not go ahead. But we’ll have to wait for finer detail at the press conference.
Updated
Renewable energy costs rise but still more cost-effective than coal or gas
Renewable energy remains Australia’s cheapest option for new sources of electricity – but cost pressures are eating into capital, AAP reports.
Modelling released today shows renewables construction and installation costs rising by one-fifth on average – but the energy source itself remains more cost effective than new gas or coal plants.
The inflation warning comes as energy ministers, industry leaders and financiers gather for a two-day energy expo and summit in Sydney.
The modelling by the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator marks the first time all technology costs have increased from the previous year since the annual guide began in 2018.
Costs for Australian projects began to inflate in 2020 as the pandemic hit, making freight and raw materials more expensive. The Russian war in Ukraine further disrupted supply chains.
But the global race to clean up the world’s biggest source of emissions – burning fossil fuels to produce electricity – is adding to the costs of renewable energy projects.
CSIRO’s chief energy economist, Paul Graham, said input costs are showing signs of moderating.
However there is an expected delay due to future price uncertainties and the robust demand associated with the global energy transition.
Like solar technology, wind costs should come down as more turbines go up, given greater global climate policy ambition and deployment.
In contrast, new fossil-fuel generation risks higher financing costs over time because of government targets for net-zero emissions by 2050 or before.
Updated
Here is a letter from 1973, from the former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, thanking our former prime minister Gough Whitlam for a “little koala bear” toy gifted to his son Justin (aka Justin Trudeau, Canada’s current prime minister).
The letter reads: “Justin is just thrilled with his little koala bear and will probably be asking to see a real one before too many years go by!”
Today’s random archival find: Pierre Trudeau thanking Gough and Margaret Whitlam for little Justin’s new toy koala, 1973 pic.twitter.com/5fRYSCGovK
— Joshua Black (@Joshua_Black97) July 17, 2023
Updated
Official essays for and against voice published
The official essays arguing for and against the voice to parliament referendum are now published.
You can read the full yes case here, and the full no case here.
Updated
Commonwealth Games announcement due at 9:30am
Rumours are flying of a big announcement to come today in relation to the Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in Victoria in 2026.
Our reporter Adeshola Ore will bring us updates straight from the 9.30am press conference.
Big changes set to be announced to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, sources say. Premier up at 930. @abcmelbourne
— Richard Willingham (@rwillingham) July 17, 2023
Updated
Trevor St Baker to establish $10m battery factory in Philippines
Trevor St Baker, one of Queensland’s richest businessmen, will establish a $10m battery factory in the Philippines to tap into the “once-in-a-century” renewable energy transition, AAP reports.
He signed contracts to establish the lithium-ion battery factory this week, with commercial production expected to begin early next year.
The facility, based in New Clark City, will create batteries for energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations and small electric vehicles. It will export products to Australia, the US, India, and countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Markets and Markets predict the lithium-ion batteries industry will be worth more than $198bn by 2031, up from $71bn this year. St Baker said the factory would provide technology vital to storing solar energy for millions of businesses and households, and could also be used to power the growing electric vehicle market.
StB Giga-Factory is positioned to capture the once-in-a-century transition towards a renewable energy electricity system in which lithium-ion batteries are expected to play a pivotal role.
Our battery products will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve fuel independence, improve electricity reliability (and) decrease the grid reliance for EV charging at peak system demand times.
Updated
Leeser: Bowen’s speech ‘a shame’
Julian Leeser, former shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, called Chris Bowen’s speech a “shame” on ABC RN this morning.
I know that Chris Bowen today is making a speech at a time when Australians are facing you know, very steep power price rises, where instead of addressing the issue of power price rises, he’s gone out and attacked a series of parliamentary colleagues.
I think that’s a shame and I think Australians want better from political leaders generally.
Updated
Chris Bowen speech attacks Coalition for climate inaction
The climate and energy minister Chris Bowen will mix it up in a speech this morning to the annual Australian Clean Energy Summit in Sydney. First, the sugar:
There’s the new work being proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across a range of sectors as part of the pathway(s) to give Australia a chance of getting to a net zero target by 2050. The government will be working with industry, the climate movement, experts, unions and the community to develop sectoral decarbonisation plans for:
Electricity and Energy.
Industry.
The built environment.
Agriculture and land.
Transport.
Resources.
Waste.
Bowen will say he would also write today to the Climate Change Authority asking them to advise on the 2035 target to be provided by late next year.
“The sector plans will feed into both our net zero 2050 plan and strong 2035 targets which we will lodge in keeping with our Paris commitments,” he will say.
Now for the spice: Bowen also will leave the audience in no doubt about what he thinks of the opposition. The sector plans are needed in part because “Australia’s currently lodged 2050 plan is a fantasy, invented by the Morrison government”, he will say.
Bowen will note every single measure the government had moved on in climate policy had been opposed by the coalition under Peter Dutton. In fact, the alternative government had gone backwards, he will say.
He will say:
Scott Morrison was a terrible prime minister for climate change.
I say to you deliberately and soberly, Peter Dutton would be worse.
“Even worse than Dutton is the cabal of climate denial that runs policy in the federal opposition,” Bowen will say, adding it was “replete” with climate change deniers and has a particular tilt at Gerard Rennick and Alex Antic as occupying the “dark nether regions of the kooky right”.
All that makes Dutton “the alternative prime minister from the alt right”.
“The fact that the Coalition is perfectly happy to accommodate these denizens of denial should fill anyone concerned about climate change or cheaper energy with dread,” Bowen rounds off.
Updated
Leeser: voice opportunity ‘is not going to come around again’
Julian Leeser – who resigned from the opposition frontbench to pursue yes campaigning for the Indigenous voice to parliament – says the no campaign is reusing historic arguments and should not distract from an “opportunity” that is “not going to come around again”:
Many of the arguments that we hear in the no case today are echoes of arguments that we’ve heard other times in our history. Some of the arguments echo arguments against federation over 120 years ago. Imagine if Australians had voted against federation, we wouldn’t be one country, Australia.
We shouldn’t miss this opportunity because it’s not going to come around again. And it’s an opportunity to recognise Aboriginal people and ensure that we get better policies and better outcomes. To ensure that we close the gap.
I’m worried that we’ll get distracted. I mean, this is simply about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution.
Updated
Julian Leeser: voice to parliament is a ‘safe change’
Julian Leeser, the former shadow minister for Indigenous affairs and yes campaigner, has reassured ABC Radio that the voice to parliament is a “safe change” with cross-party support as the referendum draws nearer.
“Right from the beginning of my participation in this debate, I’ve called for a higher standard of debate and I’ve said that we should focus on issues of people,” he said.
I was proud to put my signature to the yes case. The yes case provides a positive reason for voting … It speaks to the practical results from change. It explains why recognition makes a difference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But it’s a safe change. It’s a change supported by people from all sides of politics.
Updated
Mystery beach debris declared safe
The large mystery object that washed up on a remote West Australian beach has been declared safe, AAP reports.
Multiple state and federal agencies have been called in to help determine what the cylindrical object is and where it came from.
The Australian Space Agency says the device, which appears to be partly made of a woven material, could be part of a foreign space launch vehicle. It has been contacting other international agencies in a bid to identify it.
We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia.
— Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) July 17, 2023
The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.
[More in comments] pic.twitter.com/41cRuhwzZk
The barnacle-encrusted object is about 2.5m high. It was found on Sunday near Green Head, about 250km north of Perth.
WA Police yesterday said an analysis of the object by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service and Chemistry Centre of Western Australia had determined the object was safe and “there is no current risk to the community”.
“This includes those who have come into contact with the object prior to it being reported to police.”
Authorities had earlier treated the device as hazardous and urged the public to stay away.
Police said the device would be removed following formal identification of its origin.
“WA police will maintain security of the object until it is removed and members of the public are requested to stay away from the location.”
Some users of social media site Reddit speculate the object could be Indian space junk from an LVM3-M4 rocket.
Updated
Lights Will Stay On energy report releases
The Lights Will Stay On report released today warns delays to closing Eraring – Australia’s largest coal-fired power station – and the smaller Vales Point would cost the bank and risk the nation’s emissions reduction target, AAP reports.
The 2.88-gigawatt Eraring is due to be shuttered in August 2025 – rapidly ending NSW’s dependence on coal. But last week, the NSW energy minister Penny Sharpe’s office said the Eraring timeline was a “challenge for energy reliability” and all options were being considered.
Analysis by Climate Energy Finance’s director, Tim Buckley, finds NSW can close the power stations as planned with slight incentives for solar and wind investment.
“With ambition and the right accelerated policy levers, this is entirely doable,” the report said.
(This) brings with it enormous opportunities and benefits of locking in permanently lower power prices longer term, decarbonisation of industry, new jobs, and overdue action on the climate science.
Extending Eraring’s life – estimated by other reports to cost between $200m and $400m a year – would be an “incredible wasted opportunity” to accelerate renewable energy, the report said.
It also risked pushing back other coal power closure dates – undermining the federal government’s legislated 43% emissions reduction target.
Updated
Many who believe they are allergic to penicillin may have been misdiagnosed or have ‘grown out of it’
About two million Australians think they are allergic to penicillin but the true number is a tiny fraction of that – closer to just 1% of the population, Australian Associated Press reports.
Penicillin is considered a first-preference medication, but people who are allergic must instead have second-line antibiotics, which aren’t as effective and can even fuel superbugs.
Some 382 patients who thought they were allergic took part in a study at Melbourne’s Austin hospital, but just two of them had a reaction.
The hospital’s director of infectious diseases, Prof Jason Trubiano, said about eight in ten patients who were told they had the allergy grew out of it within a decade.
Until recently, patients had to have skin scratch tests to see if they would have a bad reaction to the medication, but a simpler and cheaper test involving taking a small test dose has been shown to be just as effective.
“It means that more patients can have easy ways to test their penicillin allergies in the future and hopefully by doing that give back penicillin to these patients,” Trubiano said.
They can use it for infections they have in the future and prevent a generation of superbugs.
People concerned they may have been misdiagnosed with a penicillin allergy should speak to their doctor and can get tested at an allergy or immunology clinic.
Updated
Theories on mysterious object washed up on WA beach
Mitchell Galletly, a University of Sydney PhD candidate and former rocketry team member, has taken a stab at guessing the origins of the mystery metal object washed up on a remote beach in Western Australia.
“It looks like a composite propellant tank from a launch vehicle,” he tells us.
From the news I read it does seem to match the diameter of India’s PSLV rocket. But knowing which launch vehicle exactly would require a much deeper understanding than I have.
Updated
Reserve Bank minutes could shed light on rates pause
The last cash rate decision was likely down to the wire and the minutes from the board meeting will reveal precisely how finely balanced it was, Australian Associated Press reports.
The Reserve Bank board opted to keep interest rates on hold last month at 4.1% following 400 basis points of hikes since May last year as the central bank took on a surge in inflation.
The minutes, due on Tuesday, are expected to show a conflicted call between another 25 basis point hike and staying on hold as the RBA approaches the end of its hiking cycle.
There may not be much more to glean from the document, given the outgoing governor, Philip Lowe, offered a few remarks on the July decision during a speech last week.
Most economists agreed the governor was less insistent about the need for more interest rate hikes in his speech but more tightening has not been ruled out.
The central bank will critically get fresh data on the labour market as well as the quarterly inflation reading ahead of the August decision.
The board will be looking for signs inflation is coming down convincingly, after it grew 7% annually in the March quarter.
An easing labour market will also be welcomed by the RBA as a sign its interest rate hikes are weighing on demand and slowing economic activity, as intended.
The unemployment rate actually fell back to 3.6% in May, from 3.7% in April.
University study hubs to double
The Albanese government will double the number of university study hubs across the country, including establishing hubs in the outer suburbs of major cities for the first time, as it responds to the Australian Universities Accord interim report to be released on Wednesday.
The first priority action from the report recommended that the government “extend visible, local access to tertiary education by creating further regional university centres (RUCs) and establish a similar concept for suburban/metropolitan locations”.
The report said such schemes could “improve participation, retention and completion for students in outer metropolitan and peri-urban areas, especially those from low SES backgrounds”.
In response, the government will invest $66.9m to establish up to 20 new study hubs (formerly regional university centres) and up to 14 new suburban university study hubs.
This is in addition to the 34 existing regional university study hubs currently operating across the country. This investment will double the number of hubs across the country. Nine out every 10 jobs being created require some form of post-school qualification.
Jason Clare, the education minister, said:
I want more young people from the outer suburbs and the regions to get a crack at going to university, and this will help.
A lot of Australians in their twenties and thirties have a university degree, but not in the outer suburbs and not in the regions.
I want this to change, and that means bringing university closer to them.
Determination due on Barngarla nuclear waste dump
Traditional owners of the land where the federal government is planning to build a nuclear waste dump will hear this morning if they have won their bid to block the move.
The federal court will this morning hand down its decision on the Barngarla’s legal challenge against building the dump near Kimba in South Australia.
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation lodged an application for a judicial review of the project in 2021, saying they had been excluded from consultation.
A 2019 ballot of ratepayers found most supported the facility, but it excluded traditional owners who did not live in the council area. They held a separate ballot, which unanimously rejected the proposal.
The corporation’s chair, Jason Bilney, said at the time that adding the two ballots together would have shown support was less than half.
“They didn’t include us from the start,” he said.
Low level nuclear medical waste currently stored in hospitals and universities across the country will be permanently stored at the site if it goes ahead, along with intermediate level waste, which will be stored until a separate facility is built for it.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be taking you through a few overnight developments before my colleague Rafqa Touma takes over.
It’s a significant day in the road to the indigenous voice referendum. Today the two official essays arguing the yes and no cases are published. In the yes essay, some of the biggest Indigenous sport stars have signed up to the campaign, including Johnathan Thurston and Eddie Betts. Former Wimbledon champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley says it will be a chance to help young Indigenous Australians “chase their dreams”.
Meanwhile the no case focuses on headlines such as “risky’”, “unknown” and “divisive”, and urges readers “if you don’t know, vote no”.
Julian Leeser, the Coalition’s former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, has accused the voice no campaign of trying to stir anger in the electorate with personal attacks on high-profile Indigenous Australians such as Thomas Mayo.
Elsewhere in the news, China will “fill the gap” in Solomon Islands’ troubled budget, the latter country’s prime minister has claimed, after “unneighbourly” Australia and other development partners withdrew millions of dollars in promised funding. The Albanese government denied it had pulled funding but Manasseh Sogavare condemned Australia and the US for criticising his country’s policing pact with China, saying while Australian and other Pacific police forces were its “partner of choice”, China was a welcomed additional security ally. “It takes only nine hours’ flight from China to land forces here,” he said.
And health regulators around the world are being urged to rapidly approve two gamechanging dementia drugs in order to ensure millions of people who could benefit are not “left in limbo” after more impressive trial data. One of the drugs, Lecanemab, has been approved for use in the US but it is yet to be approved in Australia.
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