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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Stephanie Convery and Emily Wind (earlier)

Weather warning for north Queensland – as it happened

Queensland Victoria Coalition Jason Clare Kalkarindji Murray Watt Peter Walsh Terry James ABC News Breakfast Cairns
North Queensland has been warned a tropical cyclone could cross the coast by Thursday.
North Queensland has been warned a tropical cyclone could cross the coast by Thursday. Photograph: Brian Cassey/AFP/Getty Images

What we learned; Monday 22 January

And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here are the highlights from today:

Thanks so much for your company today. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning with all the news of the day.

Updated

Thunderstorms are possible in Queensland’s west and north-west on Tuesday, the BoM is reporting this afternoon, but they’re not expected to be severe.

Updated

Time to catch up on all the day’s news (that we haven’t already brought you here, of course!) with the Afternoon Update:

Government pours cold water on reported changes to stage-three tax cuts

This afternoon 2GB Radio’s Chris O’Keefe reported that the government is considering reforming the stage-three tax cuts by raising the income-free threshold and keeping the threshold for the top rate of tax at $180,000.

If enacted, this would make the tax package more generous to low- and middle-income earners and less generous for those earning $180,000 and above.

A government spokesperson said “the government’s position hasn’t changed”.

Guardian Australia understands from multiple sources that the speculation in the report is not correct.

While pouring cold water on this report, it’s important to make clear that the government has not entirely ruled out changes to the stage-three income tax cuts.

In an interview on Wednesday, Anthony Albanese said that “tax cuts will happen in July” and the government had not changed its position but did not specifically recommit to stage three, instead observing that “at the moment, these cuts cut in at $45,000”.

This has led to speculation among Labor MPs which we’ve reported today – some hopeful, some fearful – about a change to stage three. Hopeful, because some think tax cuts would be fairer if those earning $200,000 didn’t get a $9,000 cut. Fearful, because many are concerned by Coalition backlash.

Right on cue, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor seized on the 2GB report:

We don’t know where the 2GB report came from. But the Coalition is confirming changes – however small, however beneficial to those truly struggling – will be treated as a broken promise.

Updated

Victoria announces Australian-first inquiry into women’s pain

An Australian-first inquiry into women’s pain will be held in Victoria after a survey of women in the state found two in five respondents suffered from chronic pain.

The premier, Jacinta Allan, and the health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, on Monday announced the inquiry, which will examine the systemic issues women face when seeking care and support for pain.

Allan, who suffers from endometriosis, said while chronic pain affects a higher proportion of girls and women than men, women are less likely to receive treatment.

She said this was in part because women were told that there pain was “normal” by medical professionals.

Allan told reporters:

Many women in our community know that there is a gendered pain gap. They know that their pain is real and they also know that for too long, that pain hasn’t both been believed and received the treatment it needs and deserves through our health system.

That is why the government is placing a significant amount of attention and resources on this issue, because when we support women’s health, we support the health of all Victorians.

Updated

Legal advocate hits back at Law Council warning on Labor’s sexual discrimination changes

The head of the legal advocacy group Grata Fund has criticised a Law Council submission that warns proposed changes to sex discrimination laws could clog up the courts with “unmeritorious” claims.

A parliamentary inquiry will hear from witnesses next Wednesday on Labor’s plans to change the way the courts rule on who pays for the legal fees in discrimination cases. The asymmetrical model proposed means applicants would not have to pay even if their case against a respondent is unsuccessful.

Under the existing laws, the unsuccessful party pays for their own and the other’s legal bill if unsuccessful in court, which the landmark Respect at Work report found was often a financial barrier for those wishing to pursue sexual harassment matters in court.

The Law Council of Australia, in its submission to the inquiry, said it did not support the Albanese government’s proposal, warning it could result in “arbitrary and unintended consequences” such as clogging the courts with “unmeritorious” claims.

But Grata Fund’s executive director and founder Isabelle Reinecke said the peak legal body’s position “just misunderstands the way that the discrimination system works”.

Reinecke said the proposal had a number of safeguards to prevent every claim landing in court, such as having the Australian Human Right Commission agree the claim is reasonably arguable.

While there would likely be an increase in the number of cases taken to court, Reinecke said many victim-survivors would end up with a better result, rather than a “dodgy settlement” as a result of power imbalances in negotiating rooms.

Reinecke said:

Essentially, there’s no point at all in sex discrimination laws if you can’t enforce them, which is what we’ve currently got happening right now.

Updated

John Holland not testing other completed sites containing mulch from Rozelle supplier, executive says

John Holland executive Mark Davies says the major construction company is not testing its other completed sites that contain garden mulch provided by the supplier it used for the Rozelle parklands.

John Holland and its joint venture partner, CPB contractors, will begin remediating the Rozelle parklands on Tuesday after bonded asbestos was found in 17 locations at the inner west park in recycled garden mulch provided by Greenlife Resource Recovery.

At his press conference earlier today, Davies said Greenlife would not supply the replacement mulch.

He also confirmed Greenlife had supplied mulch for other John Holland projects because it was a “commercially available product”.

He said:

At the moment we’re not doing any testing on previously completed … projects.

We’re going through diligence regarding a sort of timeline where Greenlife may have supplied products for other John Holland sites and other joint venture sites.

The transport department secretary, Josh Murray, said it was too soon to say whether other batches of mulch supplied by Greenlife had been contaminated.

He said:

We don’t know that yet. The assertion around the contamination is in the hands of the [Environment Protection Authority].

They’ve also looked into the supply chain. We have to leave that investigation in the hands of the EPA to give further advice as to where the contamination may have come from.

Greenlife co-director Domenic Vitocco previously told Guardian Australia the company was complying with the Environment Protection Authority’s investigation and he couldn’t comment further until it was complete.

Updated

ABC union members pass vote of no confidence in managing director

The ABC’s union members have passed a vote of no confidence in managing director David Anderson after the sacking of broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf.

At a meeting of more than 200 union members on Monday, prompted by the sacking of Lattouf, members alleged leaders at the ABC had failed “to defend the integrity of the ABC and staff from attacks”.

Sources who attended the meeting confirmed the vote, which also called for urgent action to be taken on lack of security and inequality at the broadcaster faced by people of colour, passed 125 members to three.

In its adopted statement, staff told management that if it didn’t begin to address the “ongoing crisis” by next Monday then further action would be considered.

The acting chief executive of Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Adam Portelli, said staff had felt unsupported by the ABC’s senior management when they had been criticised or attacked:

The message from staff today is clear and simple: David Anderson must demonstrate that he will take the necessary steps to win back the confidence of staff and the trust of the Australian public.

Public trust in the ABC is being undermined. The organisation’s reputation for frank and fearless journalism is being damaged by management’s repeated lack of support for its staff when they are under attack from outside.

ABC managing director David Anderson.
ABC managing director David Anderson. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

Power pinch in Queensland to come after about 6.30pm tonight

As noted in an earlier post, Queensland’s electricity demand is forecast to hit a record later today.

Indeed, the state energy minister Mick de Brenni just told a media conference that power demand would exceed the previous (at 10,070 megawatts) by quite a bit. (The Australian Energy Market Operator’s present estimate is that electricity demand will reach 10,564MW.)

Aemo, the market operator, says there’s a level 2 “lack of reserve” from 6.30pm to 7pm, local time. It was 632MW as capacity reserve at that time but there was only 583MW as a minimum.

An intervention to order extra supply seems likely (or to trigger a “demand response” by getting big users to reduce their consumption.)

The gap is fairly small so there’s no cause for particular concern at this point, although a failure, say, from a coal-fired power station, could be a different story.

Anyway, one to keep an eye on.

Updated

John Holland quizzed on whether if it will pay for Sydney park asbestos removal

The construction company John Holland has faced questions about whether it will foot the bill for removing and replacing more than 10 tonnes of garden mulch from the asbestos-contaminated Rozelle parklands in Sydney.

John Holland and its joint venture partner CPB contractors will begin remediating the inner-west park on Tuesday after testing undertaken by Transport for NSW found bonded asbestos at 17 locations there.

After being ordered to do so by the Environment Protection Authority, John Holland has promised to remove all of the mulch from the park by 29 February while the environmental watchdog investigates the source of the contamination.

The Transport for NSW secretary, Josh Murray, told reporters earlier this afternoon that the department was yet to discuss costs with John Holland.

However, he suggested the government didn’t expect to pay for the remediation unless it decided to “change something at the park” during the process.

Murray said:

The expectation is that this is delivered under existing contract arrangements. This is the project that the NSW government has purchased; this is the project that the taxpayer expects.

Speaking at the same press conference, John Holland executive Mark Davies said:

We’re committed to providing the remedial works in the most timely manner possible. And at this stage, our focus has been solely on that. Not on the recovery costs.

Asked by a journalist if the company would incur the remediation costs if it or one of its contractors were found to be at fault, Davies said:

Indeed. If we’re at fault on this … absolutely.

John Holland plans to have most of the publicly accessible parts of the park ready to be re-opened during April.

Updated

And here’s an early pre-cyclone flood watch for Queensland’s coastal catchments between Tully and St Lawrence, for possible minor to moderate flooding from Thursday:

Updated

Some emergency crews still deployed in Queensland from recent flooding

There are still emergency services personnel deployed in some of the areas that were flooded over Christmas, Shane Chelepy says, giving him confidence that “we have the resources available to respond to this”.

As we saw in the past with these events it is not until the tropical cyclone crosses the coast that we get a real picture of the speed that it will be in the direction it will be. But we know when a cyclone that size crosses the coast it brings with it a lot of rainfall.

I repeat my message: we have 72 hours before it crosses and this is the time to do the planning now … making sure that you have the supplies and making sure that you have batteries in your radio in case you lose power. Making sure that you have a life food products in your house, fuel, the telephones are charged and that you have spare battery packs for your telephones.

Emergency crews in Cairns on 18 December amid the severe flooding over the Christmas period.
Emergency crews in Cairns on 18 December amid the severe flooding over the Christmas period. Photograph: Brian Cassey/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Queensland’s wet catchments will ‘respond very quickly to any rainfall’

While there are some possible scenarios in which the cyclone turns around and moves back out to sea, Laura Boekel, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, says they have “very high confidence that the cyclone or this tropical low once it does become a cyclone is moving towards the Queensland coast”.

With the catchments areas already being very wet, they will “respond very quickly to any rainfall”.

Updated

Electricity demand could exceed records tonight as Queensland swelters

Demand for electricity in Queensland tonight is likely to exceed the previous record, set in March last year, with peak time expected to occur between 5:30pm and 7pm tonight local time. Authorities are assuring the public that “the lights will stay on” and that the system is adequately resourced to cope with that demand.

Updated

Queensland residents told to stock up on food and fuel up cars as cyclone approaches

Queensland police and emergency services have told residents of northern Queensland to prepare for what the coming cyclone may bring.

Deputy commissioner Shane Chelepy says:

At this early stage there are a couple of considerations. The first is you must stay in contact with the messaging that is coming out. There will be messaging from our local councils about local areas but they will also be messaging at the state level to prepare Queenslanders for both the cyclone and the rain and potential flooding that will follow.

Over the next 72 hours there are some basic things Queenslanders can do to prepare for the cyclone and potential flooding.

Go to your local disaster management website, go to our Get Ready Queensland website and take some basic preparation, such as ensuring you have sufficient long life food in your house for 72 hours post-Thursday … your car topped up with petrol [and] make sure you have a power pack for your phone as when we see events like this across the coast it is up to 72 hours sometimes before emergency services can assist you.

We will see a lot of rain and we do know it is a public holiday this Friday and we are aware that a lot of people will be on our roads and travelling through our campgrounds and camping at our campgrounds.

Stay connected with our messaging.

Updated

‘Quite large areas could see rainfall and flooding from this event’

The cyclone could produce gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h that may develop about coastal and island communities between Ayr and St Lawrence from as early as Wednesday morning.

Heavy rainfall is very likely, which may lead to flash flooding, likely between Ayr and St Lawrence on Wednesday before spreading into larger areas as that cyclone tracks closer.

From Friday, the system is expected to move inland and become a tropical low.

Boekel continues:

We are expecting quite large areas of Queensland to experience rainfall and heavy rainfall from this event, even well after this has crossed the coast … quite large areas could see rainfall and flooding from this event.

As the system approaches the coast, we are also expecting impacts from the storm tide … and we might see large waves producing minor flooding around low-lying coastal areas.

Updated

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily likely to cross coast on Thursday: BoM

The cyclone is most likely to cross the coast on Thursday between Innisfail and Airlie Beach, the BoM’s Laura Boekel says.

This system could reach a tropical cyclones strength three – that is a severe tropical cyclone. We are expecting to see severe tropical cyclone impacts in those communities in north Queensland. We have issued a tropical cyclone watch, meaning we could see impacts within 48 hours along the coast of Queensland.

The watch is current from Ayr to St Lawrence, that includes Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands as well.

This watch area will continue to grow so we are expecting people to stay on top of that watch and warning area. It will extend over the coming days as that cyclone moves closer to the coast.

We are asking residents to keep an eye on those warnings. We will be issuing watches every six hours, with an updated track map, and then when we move into warnings, impacts within 24 hours, we will be updating every three hours.

Updated

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily expected to form off Queensland coast on Tuesday, BoM says

The Bureau of Meteorology’s representative is describing the current stage of the system’s development. She says the tropical low is expcted to intensify into a tropucal cyclone by Tuesday before it crosses the coast later in the week:

A tropical low is currently situated offshore in the Coral Sea. This afternoon it was located approximately 860km east-north-east of Cairns and Townsville. This low-pressure system is gradually intensifying and it is moving into an area that is quite favourable for development.

We are expecting it to be of tropical cyclone strength at some stage tomorrow, on Tuesday. It will continue intensifying once it becomes a tropical site and at this stage the most likely scenario is it could be a severe tropical cycle and before it crosses the coast later in the week.

Updated

‘Severe impact is likely’ when cyclone hits Queensland coast, premier says

We’re hearing from the Queensland premier Steven Miles now with an update about Cyclone Kirrily:

We are now certain that it will intensify into a tropical cyclone between Innisfail and Airlie Beach.

Severe impact is likely, especially if crossing occurs near or south of Townsville. It is an expected to live his intensity and we can, travel south, where it could impact with heavy rainfall around central and south-east Queensland.

Preparations by our disaster management team are well under way. Our Queensland disaster management committee meeting tomorrow morning to ensure the preparations, our biggest concern is really the fatigue that our volunteers and emergency services have been experiencing after those two big events. They continue to work on events. We will be carefully making sure that they have the resources and support they need.

Queensland premier Steven Miles speaks to the media in Brisbane this afternoon.
Queensland premier Steven Miles speaks to the media in Brisbane this afternoon. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Updated

Compulsory income management ‘a form of abuse’: Acoss

The Labor government has been called on to end compulsory income management practices, with the the Australian Council of Social Services describing it as a “form of abuse” in many cases.

The Albanese government scrapped the former government’s cashless debit card, which it has since replaced with an “enhanced income management” system, known as the smart card.

Under the compulsory income management system, up to 80% of a welfare recipient’s payments are quarantined on to a card, which cannot be used to purchase alcohol or gambling products, or to withdraw cash.

While Labor’s changes allowed some participants previously on compulsory income management to “exit”, many long-term welfare recipients within the Northern Territory remain on the scheme involuntarily.

Cassandra Goldie, the CEO of Acoss, told a parliamentary hearing today it was strongly opposed to the continued use of compulsory income management.

Goldie described the policy as a “layer of control” and a “form of abuse”.

This is not about financial counselling. This is actually about the design of social security, which has become a further layer of control, intervention, in people’s lives. And in many cases, we believe operating as a form of abuse, because it is harming people with the extent of the intervention in people’s lives.

Updated

Good afternoon folks. Thanks Emily for your work so far today. I’ll be taking you all through until early evening.

Many thanks for joining me on the blog today. Stephanie Convery will be with you for the rest of today, bringing you our rolling coverage. Take care.

Loss of innocent lives in Gaza ‘needs to stop’, says Watts

The assistant foreign minister, Tim Watts, says there has been “a harrowing loss of innocent civilian life in Gaza during this conflict and it needs to stop” (Watts is understood to mean that civilians should be protected – rather than making any direct call for the war to be stopped).

Assistant foreign minister Tim Watts
Assistant foreign minister Tim Watts Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Speaking to Sky News, Watts urged Israel to “live up to their commitment” to uphold international law. In calling for “an enduring settlement between the parties where Israelis and the Palestinians can live side by side in peace and prosperity”, Watts said:

The status quo before October 7 was serving no one.

Sky News reporter Tom Connell pressed Watts on the Australian government’s repeated statements that Israel had a right to defend itself against Hamas but how it did so matters. Connell asked whether Israel had gone beyond what was proportionate. The assistant minister replied:

Well you’re right to say, Tom, we’ve been clear and consistent since the outbreak of this conflict in saying that Israel has a right to defend itself against the appalling terrorists attacks committed by Hamas on October 7 – the appalling sexual violence, the appalling murders, the appalling kidnapping of hostages that are still held in Gaza, more than 100 days after those terrible attacks.

We’ve also said that the way Israel exercises its right of self-defence matters, and that while Hamas has flagrantly trashed international law [and] international humanitarian law, Israel as a democracy is held to a higher standard, as all democracies bring on to themselves.

So we’ve made it clear that principles of international law like proportionality, distinction, precaution must be upheld by Israel and we’ve called on them to live up to their commitment to live up to and uphold international law. We’ve seen a harrowing loss of innocent civilian life in Gaza during this conflict and it needs to stop.

Asked by Connell to explain what that meant, and again whether the Israeli response went beyond what was proportionate, Watts said:

We supported the resolution in the United Nations [in December] for a humanitarian ceasefire to preserve civilian life in Gaza. And we think that’s an important step towards an enduring ceasefire. That cannot be one-sided. We’ve said very clearly that Hamas needs to return hostages, there needs to be a cessation of rocket fire from Hamas into Israel. These are essential requirements for any enduring ceasefire between the parties.

Updated

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has congratulated the president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, on her inauguration.

In a post to X, Wong said:

A teacher, climate change and human rights champion, I look forward to working with President Heine to strengthen our relationship and advance Pacific priorities.

Yesterday, assistance minister Patrick Gorman travelled to the Republic of the Marshall Islands to represent prime minister Anthony Albanese at the inauguration.

Updated

More WA weather warnings

Circling back to the Kimberley and Pilbara, with severe thunderstorms on the way, the department of fire and emergency services has warned of minor flooding along the Fitzroy River.

The warning reads:

People in the area along Fitzroy River to Fitzroy Crossing in the Fitzroy River catchment need to take action now as minor flooding [is] expected today and tomorrow.

There is no immediate danger but you need to keep up to date in case the situation changes.

Updated

Electricity demand on track for record in Queensland

As noted in the blog earlier, Queensland is on course to hit record power demand later today, and it could do by some measure:

The Australian Energy Market Operator issued a note earlier today saying forecasted temperatures were likely to run higher than expected in parts of Queensland, South Australia and Victoria, nudging demand up a bit.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s heatwave forecast for Monday to Wednesday suggests there’s a lot of warmth about.

(And as the heatwave forecast tracks how the forecast heat compares with a combination of historical weather and with recent conditions, “it’s just summer” doesn’t cut it.)

As for wholesale power prices, there’s currently (excuse pun) a lot higher in Queensland and NSW. For now, AEMO has a level 1 “lack of reserve” note for Queensland covering 6.30pm to 8pm local time today as it nudges suppliers to hunt for an extra 500 megawatts to give the grid a bit of more buffer should a coal plant trip, say.

Dylan McConnell, an energy expert at the University of NSW, is among those who think Queensland might be in for a tricky couple of days, because tomorrow might not be much easier on the grid.

Updated

Netanyahu comments 'deeply disappointing', says Australian government

Australia’s assistant foreign minister, Tim Watts, says the Israeli prime minister’s comments dismissing the idea of a Palestinian state are “deeply disappointing”.

In an interview on Sky News this afternoon, Watts was asked about comments by Benjamin Netanyahu that all territory west of the Jordan River should be under Israeli security control, and that this was not compatible with demands for Palestinian sovereignty.

Watts said:

These are deeply disappointing comments.

The Australian government supports the aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination and ultimately for a state of their own.

We need to appreciate that the only way to resolve this conflict is through a negotiated settlement where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in security and prosperity within internationally agreed borders. Now, the only way we’re going to get there is through a negotiated settlement, and security responses alone will not resolve this conflict.

So our position as an Australian government - we’ve been very clear, along with many other countries around the world, in saying the government of Israel and to the leadership in Palestine, that they need to get back on track for that. It might seem difficult at the moment, it might seem a long way away but this is the only way forward.

We’ve called out comments, frankly, like these recent comments from Mr Netanyahu that undermine these prospects for a long-term negotiated settlement to this ongoing dispute. We’ve also called out other obstacles to peace like illegal settlement activity in the West Bank, and we’ve made it clear that in a post-conflict world there can’t be any reduction in the size of the territory of Gaza, and there can’t be any permanent Israeli presence within Gaza.

We call these things out because they are obstacles to that permanent ongoing just and enduring resolution of this conflict that we so desperately need now.

We’ll bring you more comments from this interview soon.

Flash flooding warnings issued for north WA

The Western Australian department of fire and emergency services has updated its severe weather warning for the Kimberley, Pilbara and north interior districts.

It is warning people in these communities to take action now to stay safe, with severe rainfall and possible flash flooding on the way.

Fitzroy Crossing, Parnngurr and Telfer may be affected.

Heavy rainfall which could lead to flash flooding is likely over southern Kimberley and parts of the northern interior today, spreading to the Pilbara by tomorrow afternoon. Six-hourly rainfall totals of 60mm to 100mm are likely.

Locally intense rainfall which could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible today.

People in affected communities are being advised to find shelter away from trees, power lines and rivers, to close curtains and blinds, unplug electrical appliances and to never walk, drive, swim or play in flood waters.

Updated

Bowen says Coalition predicts blackouts, ‘wants Australia to fail’

The federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, gave a media conference a little while ago to stress the importance of the last two deals to ensure sufficient gas supplies in south-east Australia and Bass Strait fields run down. (See story from Sarah Basford Canales here.)

Bowen, though, declined to say how much the gas supplies to power stations – of 260 petajoules out to 2033 – would lower power prices.

(The $12 a gigajoule price cap won’t apply to Exxon and Woodside but gas prices are anyway linked to global trade so a bit more supply here or there typically don’t shift the dial much in local prices.)

With federal caucus gathering in Canberra on Wednesday to discuss cost of living issues, Bowen politely declined to say whether he’d be pushing for an extension or expansion of the energy price rebate (costing about $1.5bn all up this fiscal year.)

The combination of policies (including states’) meant the average NSW household saved $843 on average (presumably for this year), with Victoria’s saving $555 and South Australia $992.

Bowen also had a few points to make about the federal coalition, saying:

The opposition’s been running around and predicting blackouts all summer. They want Australia to fail.

The energy system has been coping very well this summer because of the strong preparatory measures take by [the Australian Energy Market Operator] and the commonwealth and state governments.

Bowen noted Queensland’s energy minister, Mick De Brenni’s, alert earlier today about that state likely to reach record electricity demand during the current heatwave (You can read more on that here).

Bowen:

All the advice is that the system is up for coping with that demand today.

Updated

Illegal fruit netting causes rapid rise in wildlife harm

Victorian gardeners are being urged to use wildlife-friendly netting in their back yard after a spike in animal injuries and deaths from entanglements this summer.

The Conservation Regulator said household growers must use safe, compliant fruit netting with mesh no bigger than 5mm by 5mm. It has been illegal to use or sell netting with a bigger mesh size in Victoria since 1 September 2021.

Large mesh netting on fruit trees or plants is more likely to entangle, distress, and fatally injure animals, the regulator said.

The acting chief, Wayne Robins, said:

It’s disappointing to be hearing stories of unnecessary wildlife injuries and deaths caused by entanglements in unsafe and illegal household fruit netting. The Conservation Regulator is working to assess any reports we receive and take the appropriate action.

Updated

‘Come together’: Chris Minns urges unity for Australia Day

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has defended Australia Day and said everyone needs to “come together” for it.

Speaking on 2GB this morning, Minns also urged the organisers of sporting events happening on Friday to recognise the day.

He said:

This is a day for us all to celebrate with your family and friends and recognise that we live in the greatest country on Earth. I definitely will be doing that. Both cricket and tennis should revisit this decision … This is a day that we need to come together as a nation for.

Asked if he thought the date would be changed, he said:

I’m not anticipating that in the short run but the idea that you would take a national day away from any country, particularly Australia, is a strange one. We should be right now trying to pull each other together. This is the day that we’ve set aside to celebrate what it means to live in the greatest country on earth.

Updated

Vehicle crashes into Jetstar plane at Sydney airport

A driver has escaped injury after his ute crashed into a Jetstar plane at Sydney airport this morning.

In a statement from Sydney airport, they said the vehicle was operated by a staff member from the airport’s security contractor.

The vehicle crashed into a Jetstar aircraft while the aircraft was being towed. No passengers were on board at the time.

There were no injuries and the aircraft is currently undergoing precautionary engineering checks.

Updated

Pesutto refuses to say when Coalition decided to oppose treaty

John Pesutto is refusing to say when the Coalition decided to oppose the treaty process. Back in October the party room met on the issue but at the time, Pessuto said they would wait for more information before making a decision.

He says:

I’m not going to go into the detail of cabinet deliberations, you will understand that those matters are confidential.

Updated

Pesutto ‘concerned about’ treaty dividing Victoria

John Pesutto said he and Peter Walsh “as leaders of the opposition in Victoria and alternative leaders have embraced firmly the belief that it is urgent and a priority to address closing the gap”.

But there are different ways to do it.

Pesutto said he is concerned that the treaty process will divide the state:

We’re also concerned about whether it has the tendency to make people feel divided from one another.

As an alternative premier, I was very concerned last year to see how traumatic the debate around the voice was for many Victorians how agonising the decision was for many Victorians. I don’t want Victorians to have to go through that again.

I believe that reconciliation and more importantly, closing the gap, for Victoria’s Indigenous people must be achieved and can be achieved in a way which unifies us as a people.

We are a state and indeed we are a country of people who come from all corners of the earth. We have different racial backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, political beliefs, different characteristics, but we all come together as one to address the challenges of our state.

Updated

Speaking to the media, John Pesutto is yet to say that the party’s position on treaty has changed.

He’s now saying the opposition have spoken to many people about their concerns with the treaty process:

We’ve spoken to thousands of Victorians and communities right across our great state and we have had, I must be clear and upfront with all Victorians, concerns about this process and what it may mean for … whether we can close the gap.

Victorian opposition faces media after withdrawing support for treaty

The Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, is holding a press conference with the Coalition spokesperson for Aboriginal affairs, Peter Walsh, on the party’s changed position on treaty.

He is starting with a preamble on why Victoria needs to “close the gap” between outcomes for Indigenous people and the rest of the state:

All fair minded and reasonable Victorians want to see life outcomes for Victoria’s Indigenous peoples improved. Where we are at the moment is not nearly good enough.

In the last year alone, we saw a 5.5% increase in the rate of Indigenous incarceration in our state. The rate at which young Indigenous Victorians are in out of home care is twice the national average. And a third of Indigenous young people don’t finish year 12.

These are only some of the concerning statistics that describe how badly Victoria in fact our country is doing on closing the gap.

Updated

ABC denies sacking Antoinette Lattouf

The ABC has claimed it did not sack former broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf from her casual radio role, paving the way to attempt to have her termination case thrown out.

On 15 January, the broadcaster filed its defence in the Fair Work Commission, in which it asserted Lattouf’s employment was terminated on 20 December, and took effect the same day.

The ABC claimed Lattouf was warned about posting on social media about controversial topics before she was dismissed from her role. The ABC also objected to Lattouf’s claim her firing was unlawful, writing “with respect, the application is fundamentally and entirely misconceived”.

Lattouf has claimed unlawful termination on the grounds of “political opinion or a reason that included political opinion” and later expanded the claim to include race due to her Lebanese heritage.

Continue reading:

Updated

Removal of senior public servant ‘raises concerns’ for people living bush

NSW Nationals MP Dugald Saunders has weighed in on the axing of the NSW department of primary industries director-general, Scott Hansen.

The shadow minister for regional NSW said in a statement that the removal of Hansen from the role “raises concerns for both departments, and every resident living in the bush”.

Saunders:

The work DPI does for regional NSW is immeasurable. It is disappointing to see Scott go, and I am thankful I was able to work closely with him during my time as Agriculture Minister.

There are some serious questions that must be asked of the Minns Labor Government around Scott’s sudden departure from the role, and also about the future of DPI and the Department of Regional NSW.

Hansen, who was two months away from celebrating 10 years as director-general, was stood down on Friday. His deputy, Sean Sloan, stepped into the role while restructuring across the department takes place.

The department of primary industries and the minister for agriculture and regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, were both contacted for comment.

Hansen saw the department through five ministers across the agriculture and primary industries departments, overseeing more than 2,000 staff across the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, varroa mite and the recent incursion of fire ants in NSW.

Updated

Queensland back in classrooms from today with mobile phone ban for state schools

Students in Queensland are back in the classroom from today, the first cab off the rank to return to school in 2024.

One thing is a little different this year, with term one marking the start of the Queensland government’s new “away for the day” approach to mobile phones in state schools, banning devices during school hours in line with NSW, Victoria, WA, Tasmania and SA.

The education minister, Jason Clare, was supportive of the ban.

The state government estimates more than 880,000 students will be through the gates this year, including 575,000 students enrolled at state schools.

State minister for education Dianne Farmer gave a particular shoutout to around 43,000 preppies starting at government schools.

While I want to give a special welcome to all the preppies, who are just starting their learning adventures, today is a super exciting day for all students, mums and dads, our staff and school communities, and it’s a very special day to be the Queensland minister for education.

Updated

About 53,000 students in NSW to start high school

The New South Wales department of education has issued their top tips for students starting high school in coming weeks - including breaking in new school shoes, minimising phone use and using the family fridge for timetables and important dates.

From today, students in Queensland have returned to the classroom, with Victoria to follow on 29 January and NSW students returning from the end of the month.

NSW education secretary Murat Dizdar said about 53,000 students would start year 7 this year, making the significant step from primary to high school.

Starting high school is such an important transition point in our students’ education journey. Every day at school matters to the educational and life outcomes of our young people. We ask families to support our schools and ensure their children develop good attendance habits.

Didzar also recommended parents practice public transport, driving and walking routes to school and choose a designated homework space for study, as well as preparing uniforms, packing bags and having lunchboxes ready the night before.

Updated

PM asks for Australia to 'remain a cohesive society' amid ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has acknowledged that the Australian Jewish community is “feeling very vulnerable” and that Palestinian and Islamic communities are having a “very difficult” time as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

Albanese, at the end of this interview with Sky News, issued a plea for Australia to “remain a cohesive society” and reiterated leaders must call out antisemitism and Islamophobia.

More than 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the health ministry in the territory announced, after Israel launched military operations seeking to “destroy” Hamas after the group’s 7 October attack on southern Israel when about 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 others were taken hostage.

Albanese was asked to reflect on the impact of the conflict on Australia’s multicultural communities, and the trauma they were experiencing. The prime minister replied:

A big challenge for Australia is to make sure that we remain a cohesive society, that we don’t bring anger and conflicts here - that we continue to give respect to people regardless of their faith, regardless of their ethnicity or their background.

Now, that can be very difficult. I know that the Jewish community after the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas have been feeling very vulnerable. For many members of the Palestinian and Islamic communities who have relatives in Gaza as well, it’s a very difficult time, so we need to acknowledge that.

It’s also the case that for some we need to make sure that we respond in an appropriate way: call out antisemitism when we see it, call out islamophobia when we see it as well. And I have continued to engage with people who are affected by this and I know that the concerns are very legitimate but I want social cohesiveness here to be an absolutely priority and for us to continue to be prepared to have respectful debates.

Updated

Australia gives ‘appropriate consideration’ to all requests from Ukraine, Albanese says

Turning to Ukraine, who have upped its appeal for a humanitarian shipment of coal from Australia.

Q: Are you supportive of sending coal to Ukraine, to keep their power going?

Anthony Albanese did not answer directly but said Australia gives “appropriate consideration to all of these requests”.

[We received] a different request a week ago.

(This is in reference to a request from Ukraine for Taipan helicopters, which were grounded in Australia after a fatal accident involving four personnel).

Albanese said:

We are already very significant contributors to the Ukrainian efforts to defend their sovereignty and defend their democracy. We have been very clear with measures of economic support [and] with the training, just last week a range of Australian soldiers headed to the United Kingdom to [further assist them].

Updated

‘We respect democratic processes’ in the US, Albanese says on Trump

The second half of prime minister Anthony Albanese’s interview with Sky News is being broadcasted, turning to international issues.

He is asked if he feels “relaxed either way” on the outcome of the US election, with Ron DeSantis dropping out of the Republican primaries, paving the way for Donald Trump.

Albanese said:

We respect those democratic processes in the United States.

Q: Could you work with Donald Trump?

Albanese said he would work with whoever is elected president, because “the relationship between Australia and the United States is not just relationship between individuals or leaders, [but a] relationship between our peoples … based upon the democratic values … that we have fought for together”.

Updated

Carla Zampatti to return to Australian fashion week

Carla Zampatti, under the creative direction of Karlie Ungar, will return to Australian fashion week this year on 13 May. It will be the first time the brand has showcased a new collection at the event since its eponymous designer’s death in 2021.

While the Carla Zampatti brand has released new collections seasonally, for the past three years they have been small salon showings, rather than major runway stagings. This year, the brand will open Australian fashion week on a runway that bears its founder’s name.

“It’s a milestone for the brand as we launch internationally,” Alex Schuman, CEO of Carla Zampatti, said in a statement.

In recent years, Australian fashion week has become a hybrid trade and consumer event, where Australian and some New Zealand-based designers tend to display their resort collections for buyers and press during the day, while members of the public attend ticketed “encore” presentations in the evenings. This will be the case for Carla Zampatti’s show, with a ticketed encore show held at 8pm.

Natalie Xenita of global events conglomerate IMG, who manage Australian fashion week, said:

We are thrilled to announce the return of Carla Zampatti to Australian Fashion Week. Carla herself loved the magic of a runway show, and we are proud to support Alex, Karlie and the entire Carla Zampatti team.

A model presents a creation by Carla Zampatti during the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney
A model presents a creation by Carla Zampatti during the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA

Updated

Body found in search for swimmer swept out to sea

A 72-hour search for a missing swimmer has been called off after his body was found swept up on a South Australian beach, AAP reports.

The body of the 43-year-old Roxby Downs man was found at Sleaford near Port Lincoln this morning.

Just after 4pm on Friday, police and emergency services were called to Mary Ellis Beach, south-west of Port Lincoln, amid reports of people caught in a rip and unable to return to shore.

Six people were helped from the water and treated at the scene, with four children taken to hospital.

Emergency services began a large-scale search for the man who didn’t make it back to shore, involving police helicopters, boats, SES drones and ground crews.

There are no suspicious circumstances and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Updated

Thunderstorms expected for northern ranges of NSW

Back to weather news for a minute, and the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting thunderstorms in the northern ranges of NSW this afternoon.

Heavy rainfall with potential for flash flooding is the primary risk, however large hail and damaging winds are also possible.

Thunderstorms are likely to ease during the evening, the BoM said.

Updated

Luke McIlveen appointed as executive editor of Nine’s newspapers

Luke McIlveen, founding editor of Daily Mail Australia and a former editor-in-chief of news.com.au, has been appointed executive editor of Nine newspapers.

This includes The Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, as well as Brisbane Times and WA Today.

McIlveen replaces Tory Maguire, who was recently promoted to managing director of publishing.

Maguire said in a statement:

Luke is one of Australia’s most senior and experienced editors, and has forged a well-deserved reputation as an industry stand-out when it comes to digital audience expertise.

He has a proven track-record leading newsrooms to exceed their targets and is perfectly placed to help drive the continued transformation, innovation and high-quality journalism Nine’s metro mastheads have achieved in recent years. I’m delighted he has agreed to join the team.

McIlveen said he was “thrilled and honoured to be leading the talented team of editors and journalists” across the mastheads.

He will start the new role from 29 January, based in Sydney.

Updated

Dunkley candidate ‘wants to continue extraordinary legacy’ of Peta Murphy, Albanese says

When asked how important the Dunkley by-election is, Albanese said “all elections are important” and added:

The traditional swing is larger than the margin in Dunkley, but we have a fantastic candidate in Jodie Belyea.

She is out there campaigning … and she wants to continue the extraordinary legacy that Peta Murphy had as the local member.

All of us know that by-elections are tough, and we don’t take anything for granted. It’s unfortunate that this is happening due to the tragic loss of Peta Murphy … One of the things she did was recruit Jodie to the Labor party in advance of this by election taking place. She was very confident that Jodie Belyea had something to offer her local community.

Updated

Anthony Albanese said it was “nonsense” to suggest it is too expensive to call the Labor caucus together on Wednesday in Canberra to discuss the cost-of-living:

[The] ministers are here already this week, we were here last week, people will be here for the pre-Australia Day address I’m doing at the press club on Thursday, and then we have the … Australia of the Year awards on Thursday night.

Updated

PM calls for end to 'outrage' over different Australia Day stances

Anthony Albanese is asked what Australia Day means to him, and he replied:

Australia Day is a day when we reflect on who we are as a nation, where we give thought as well to how we can continue to make [this country] even greater in the future. We [reflect on] the fullness of our history, that includes First Nations people, 65,000 years of sharing this great continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth.

January 26 commemorates the founding of the colony in New South Wales, but also in recent times, of course multicultural Australia as well.

Citizenship ceremon[ies are] always at the at the forefront on Australia Day and they’ll take place around Australia people pledging their allegiance to Australia and to our values and our democratic traditions. That is really important.

Albanese said “we need to stop looking for areas in which we can be outraged”, and we need to “come together”.

He added that he “respects the views” of those who chose not to participate, including First Nations people:

They’re entitled to express those views. But it’s one where I think it’s an important day for Australia and I certainly will be participating in all the events.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese reacts to camera
Prime minister Anthony Albanese told Sky News Australia Day is ‘a day when we reflect on who we are as a nation’. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Updated

Albanese wants ‘downward pressure on prices’ at supermarket checkouts

Speaking to Sky, Anthony Albanese acknowledged that farmers are “getting less for their produce” but this is “not flowing through” to lower prices at the supermarket.

We want to make sure, whether it be the ACCC, Dr Craig Emerson’s review [to the food and grocery code of conduct, or] the Senate inquiry that’s taking place [into allegations of supermarket price gouging] that we want that downward pressure on prices [for] people at the checkout, because that’s what makes an enormous difference to the family budget.

Groceries at a supermarket checkout
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said that farmers are ‘getting less for their produce’ but this is ‘not flowing through’ to lower prices at the supermarket. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Updated

Albanese says government will listen to ‘whatever advice is given’ on cost-of-living relief

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is being interviewed on Sky News.

He said the government has met with a number of committees, including the national security committee, throughout January to look at cost-of-living measures. By the time the Labor caucus meets on Wednesday they “will have received that [advice] and given consideration to that”, he said.

We’ve always said that we’ll continue to look for ways to assist people. If we can find ways to put extra dollars in people’s pockets, particularly those lower middle income earners who are doing it tough, and we’re prepared to do so.

Albanese said in this next phase of cost-of-living relief, the government will “take whatever advice is given to us”.

Updated

Three arrested in murder probe after injured man dies

Three people are under arrest over the death of a man in suburban Melbourne, AAP reports.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a 33-year-old man found injured and unresponsive at a home at Hampton East on Sunday.

He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died.

A 27-year-old Hampton East man, 28-year-old Berwick man and 25-year-old woman of no fixed address were arrested at the scene and are being interviewed by police.

Detectives believe everyone involved knew each other.

Opposition using cultural heritage to ‘crab walk’ away from treaty, Allan says

Circling back to Victorian premier Jacinta Allan, who is continuing to speak to the media.

Allan claimed the opposition is using cultural heritage issues to “crab walk” away from treaty. She said:

People know that you’ve got to go through a range of third party approvals, traditional owner groups, water authorities, utility corporations, councils, and depending on what sort of size and style the development is, state and federal government approval processes as well. This isn’t about that … [the opposition] is using this to crab walk away from treaty.

I can only say this based on what we’ve heard [and what] has been revealed over the past 24 hours. It’s [opposition leader] John Pesutto who should be standing here and explaining this enormous u-turn on something that had up until now bipartisan support, and has had support from the broader community.

Updated

Opposition’s ‘gutless decision’ on treaty puts them on ‘wrong side of history’, Victorian Greens say

The Victorian Greens have responded to the Liberal and National’s decision to drop their support for treaty in the state, labelling it a “gutless decision”.

In a statement, Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said:

[The Liberals and Nationals] remain in denial about the history of colonisation and its ongoing impacts on First Nations communities.

Victorians want to see treaties deliver peace, justice, rights and healing for the First Peoples of this land.

It’s now incumbent on the Victorian Labor government to work with us and other progressive parties to ensure a robust, fair and inclusive treaty process that delivers justice.

I’m really confident we’re going to see a big turnout at this year’s Invasion Day rally. Tens of thousands of Victorians will turn out and show the ‘opposition’ they’re on the wrong side of history.

Updated

Jacinta Allan accuses opposition of hiding treaty position during by-election

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says the Victorian opposition never told the government about its concerns with the treaty process before announcing it would no longer support the plan.

She also accused the opposition of hiding their position on treaty for several months, including during the Mulgrave by-election.

Allan told reporters:

This was a decision that was taken by the shadow cabinet in October. Let’s think back to October, there was a by-election going on. The Liberal party were asking the Victorian community of Mulgrave to support them and their policies, yet they were concealing from the Victorian community their u-turn on something as big and important [as] treaty.

Updated

The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms are possible in northern Queensland today, bringing a risk of heavy rain.

Thunderstorms are also possible in the south-east, where risks also include large hail and damaging winds.

Updated

Surf Life Saving Australia records 33 drowning deaths for this summer

There have been 33 drowning deaths across the country so far this summer, according to Adam Weir, the CEO of Surf Life Saving Australia.

He spoke to ABC TV earlier this morning and said this figure was above the 10-year average, and above the number of drowning deaths at the same time last year.

Weir called for people to swim between the red and yellow flags, but to also educate themselves on the risks at the beach, whether swimming at a patrolled or un-patrolled location.

When we first started tracking visitation levels around the country about ten years ago, we were looking at about 100 million to 150 million visitations to beaches annually. In our recent survey, we are reporting a figure of over 600 million. So, more and more people are using the beach more and more frequently.

As well as the 33 drowning deaths so far this summer, there has also been 62 coastal deaths overall across the country:

As more and more people go to the coast in school holidays and on public holidays, we do see the risk of injury or death going up. Just during the school holiday period, during the summer period, you’re 1.5 times more likely to drown along the Australian coast [and] on public holidays, you’re actually twice as likely to drown along the coast.

Beach flags are seen raised in Manly, Sydney
Beach flags are seen raised in Manly, Sydney. Photograph: Lee Hulsman/Getty Images

Updated

‘Our role as leaders … is to break down shame and stigma and empower women’

Speaking about the announcement of an inquiry into women’s pain, Victorian health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said:

Women’s health has been shrouded in shame and stigma.

I remember scuttling off to the bathroom myself, trying to hide pads and tampons, ashamed that I had my period when I was at school. We know that was not too long ago. To talk about menopause was something that no one does in polite company, let alone in the parliament.

Our role as leaders … is to break down that shame and stigma and empower more women to talk about what’s happening to their bodies, and to make sure that they’re accessing the health care that they need.

Updated

Victorian government to hold inquiry into women’s pain

The Victorian government is set to hold an inquiry into women’s pain, after the results of a survey found almost half of all women are impacted by chronic pain.

Premier Jacinta Allan and the health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, announced the inquiry – a 2022 election promise – will begin taking submissions from 30 January.

It follows a survey of 1,700 Victorian women that found 4 in 10 women live with chronic pain, while 50% said period related conditions affected their health and wellbeing. Other findings include:

  • 30% of women surveyed said conditions such as endometriosis, menopause and chronic pain led to poor mental health.

  • 20% missed out on social connections because of their health.

  • 50% said pregnancy and birth complications continued to impact their health.

Allan said:

For too long, women’s health has been seen as a niche issue. It has not had the attention [or] the support that it deserves … too many women in our community, they know that there is a gender pain gap, they know that their pain is real and they also know that for too long, that pain hasn’t both been believed and received the treatment it needs and deserves through our health system.

Updated

WA power outages

Checking in with the power outages in Western Australia, following recent thunderstorms and bushfires:

  • As of yesterday afternoon there were 2400 people across the Western Power network still without power, down from 3800 the previous afternoon.

  • There are 400 people without power in Perth Hills, and around 1800 in the Wheatbelt.

  • Western Power is continuing to work with the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council, after nearly all homes and businesses in Kalgoorlie lost power last week. This was because the 220KV transmission line that supplies Kalgoorlie sustained significant damage from the storm front, and five transmission towers were down.

  • 10,000 customers in the Goldfields had power returned after crews utilised an undamaged section of the 220KV line, using the 132KV network.

  • Kalgoorlie is currently being powered by a combination of Western Power network assets, Synergy’s back-up generator and a local privately owned generator.

  • Western Power said a solution is being finalised for the 220kV line, with construction beginning yesterday and expected to take seven or eight days.

Western Power said:

While some restorations times are unknown, rest assured we have all available crews working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to all remaining customers.

Updated

Woman and child pulled from burning car on major route

A woman and child have suffered burns following a serious crash that blocked a major highway connecting Sydney with major centres in central-western New South Wales, AAP reports.

Emergency services responded to the crash between a car and a truck on the Great Western Highway at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains about 6.30am this morning.

Fire and Rescue NSW superintendent Adam Dewberry said the vehicle was on fire when crews arrived:

Passers-by pulled both of the occupants, a lady and a child, out of the vehicle.

Firefighters commenced emergency medical treatment on the child that was suffering some pretty serious burns.

Paramedics treated the woman and child for burns at the scene before transferring them to hospital.

The driver of the truck was taken to Blue Mountains hospital for mandatory testing.

A crime scene was established as officers attached to the Crash investigation unit look into the circumstances.

The Great Western Highway was closed in both directions between Explorers Road and Medlow Bath. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and use Bells Line of Road instead.

Updated

Northern Queenslanders told to start preparing for cyclone

A cyclone watch has been issued for northern Queensland communities between Ayr and St Lawrence.

The Bureau of Meteorology said gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h may develop about these coastal communities as early as Wednesday morning, and extend to adjacent inland areas later that day.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding may also develop in these communities on Wednesday, before spreading further north during Thursday and into Friday.

From Friday, the system is expected to become an inland rain depression.

As the system approaches the coast, a storm tide is possible between Ayr and St Lawrence, and large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore.

The BoM said people between Ayr to St Lawrence, including Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, should consider what action they will take if the cyclone threat increases.

The Queensland fire and emergency service said:

Our personnel are highly experienced in cyclone response and are ready to act, but now is the time to prepare yourself and your home.

Updated

Weather summary for across Australia

With so much weather news across the country today, here is a breakdown of the different weather events, and where they are being felt:

Heatwave:

  • Extreme to severe intensity heatwave conditions are being felt over the Pilbara in Western Australia, and parts of northwestern South Australia.

  • Severe to low intensity conditions are being felt over the remaining parts of central and southern WA, parts of the Northern Territory and SA, central Queensland and isolated pockets across the central east.

  • Low intensity heatwave conditions remain for inland New South Wales and parts of northern Victoria, parts of Queensland including Brisbane and Cairns, and parts of SA including Adelaide.

  • Queensland’s power system is expected to hit a new record peak demand today.

Monsoon/Tropical low:

  • A tropical low has been sitting over the NT for days on end, continuing to bring heavy rainfall and flooding.

  • The government will today decide if it will evacuate 450 people from the remote town of Kalkarindji amid flooding of the Victoria River.

  • The tropical low is moving to WA, where a severe weather warning has been issued, affecting parts of the Kimberly and northern interior districts.

  • Six-hourly rainfall totals of 150-200mm around the low are possible.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily:

  • A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to develop into cyclone Kirrily late today.

  • It is expected to approach the Queensland coast as a severe category-three cyclone on Thursday, somewhere between Cairns and Mackay.

  • Emergency management minister Murray Watt said preparations are underway to respond as needed.

Updated

Emergency weather warning remains for Kimberley, WA

An emergency weather alert for the Kimberley in Western Australia remains in place, urging people to take action and stay safe with severe rainfall and potential flash flooding to come.

The department of fire and emergency services said Halls Creek and Balgo may be impacted.

The Bureau of Meteorology advised early this morning that a tropical low is forecast to move south-west today and reach the Pilbara tomorrow and Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is likely over the southeastern Kimberly and parts of the North Interior today, with scattered six-hourly rainfall totals between 90-150mm likely.

Locally intense rainfall which may lead to “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” is also possible with thunderstorms during this period, with six-hourly rainfall totals between 150-200mm.

A flood watch is current for the East Kimberley, Fitzroy River, Sturt Creek District, Sandy Desert and De Grey River.

Updated

Victorian opposition’s ‘complete u-turn’ on treaty was ‘never discussed’, government spokesperson says

A Victorian government spokesperson has responded to the opposition’s decision to no longer back a treaty with the state’s First Peoples.

The spokesperson said Victoria’s journey towards reconciliation and treaty had bipartisan support, and this announcement is a “complete u-turn that was never discussed with government, and leaves Aboriginal communities to pick up the pieces”.

[Victorian opposition leader] John Pesutto claims to be a moderate - but today shows he’s really a wolf in moderate’s clothes. He needs to explain what has really changed his mind, and how much it’s because of [federal opposition leader] Peter Dutton’s creeping influence.

Our government continues to back a better future for Aboriginal Victorians - because when we listen to Aboriginal people, it means better outcomes for Aboriginal communities and all Victorians.

Updated

A note to all parents out there: as of today, mobile phones are now banned or restricted in all public schools across the country, education minister Jason Clare said.

Victorian opposition withdraws its support for a treaty

The Victorian opposition has dropped its support for a treaty with the state’s Indigenous people, citing concerns about cultural heritage laws.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh, the opposition’s spokesperson for Aboriginal affairs, told Sky News yesterday that the Coalition had held internal discussions and decided it did not want to proceed with treaty “until issues around cultural heritage, until issues around the Traditional Owner Settlement Act, are actually resolved”.

The Coalition backed a bill to establish an independent authority to oversee the state’s treaty negotiations in 2022. Yesterday, Walsh said “things have changed” since then, including the collapse of the Bunurong Land Council.

We haven’t made this decision lightly.

We have a responsibility, as Victorians, as the alternate government to say the system’s not working at the moment. Let’s fix the system before we go any further.

Victoria’s First Peoples’ Assembly said the Coalition’s decision was “disappointing but not surprising”.

Of course, we would have liked to have kept treaty above party politics and our door will remain open to politicians of all persuasions, but there is a clear path to treaty ahead of us.

The Victorian government has been contacted for comment.

Co-chair First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Rueben Berg speaks to media with supporters in September 2023.
Co-chair First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria Rueben Berg speaks to media with supporters in September 2023. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Updated

NT flooding

As flagged just earlier, the government will today decide if it will evacuate 450 people from the remote Northern Territory town of Kalkarindji amid flooding of the Victoria River.

Here are the latest details on this flooding from the Bureau of Meteorology, issued yesterday afternoon:

  • Significant river level rises are being observed across the Victoria River catchment following days of heavy rain.

  • Rainfall totals of between 80mm to 370mm have been recorded in the previous three-day period to yesterday morning.

  • Heavy to intense rain is expected across the catchment into today.

  • Major flooding is occurring at Kalkarindji, with river levels approaching the 1991 record at Victoria River crossing.

  • The Victoria River at Kalkarindji was at 14 metres and rising yesterday.

  • River levels are above most road crossings and bridges, including: Victoria River at Victoria Highway Crossing; Wickham River at Williams Crossing; Victoria River at Dashwood Crossing and further downstream at Coolibah Crossing.

  • A flood watch is current for the North Western and parts of Central NT.

  • A severe weather warning for heavy, locally intense rainfall is current for the Gregory and Tanami districts, including the Victoria River catchment.

Updated

‘You can always rely on losing power,’ Cairns mayor says

Cairns mayor Terry James said his community was hard at work cleaning up after Tropical Cyclone Jasper, while also making the necessary preparations for Cyclone Kirrily, expected to form in the Coral Sea and make landfall on Thursday.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, James said there were long-term effects from Jasper, including some damaged bridges and roads, but all-in-all Cairns is “open for business”.

There were “still a lot of people not in their houses”, he said:

Spare a thought for them … we are doing our best to get them back into their houses as soon as possible.

Turning to Kirrily, he said “you can always rely on getting rain” no matter where the cyclone makes landfall:

It doesn’t matter where the system crosses, you can always rely on losing power, even if it crosses down near Mackay somewhere, Cairns can potentially lose power [but] we are ready for this.

Our crews are out and about making sure all the drains and the drainage systems are clear, particularly for flooding, and that’s usually what we will cop after this event.

Updated

Queensland power system ‘pushed hard’ by extreme heat

Queensland’s power system is expected to hit a new record peak demand today as the state swelters through a cyclone-fuelled heatwave.

It’s also the first day of school, with thousands of air conditioning units set to be switched on across the state for the first time in months.

Queensland energy minister Mick de Brenni said authorities were forecasting there would be enough power “to keep the lights on and to keep air conditioners running, despite today’s extreme heat”.

But he warned the system would be pushed hard, and urged residents to “be responsible” and avoid unnecessary use of appliances:

We know with the return to school, hundreds of thousands of Queensland students will be kept cool in classrooms all across the state, with air conditioners powered by school-based solar.

I am assured teams at Queensland-owned energy corporations Powerlink and Energy Queensland are managing the situation carefully, and because Queenslanders own and run their electricity system, we are in the best possible position to ensure the best outcome for Queenslanders themselves.

Our message for Queenslanders is to stay cool, to stay hydrated, and to absolutely use appliances like air conditioning, however if it’s not necessary to use something, then that will help.

There is a heatwave warning active across most of Queensland, with the far west and parts of the north of the state under a severe heatwave warning. Birdsville is expected to hit 44 degrees today, and a furnace-like 46 on Tuesday and 47 Wednesday. Brisbane will hit 35 degrees, and 55% humidity on Monday. Heatwaves kill more than 100 Queenslanders a year.

Updated

Defence on standby to evacuate NT town amid flooding

Emergency management minister Murray Watt also spoke to ABC News Breakfast during his rounds this morning and provided a bit more detail on the resources being allocated for Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, and the monsoon weather in the Northern Territory.

He said discussions about resources were “continuing in earnest” and would be stepped up during the course of today. A meeting is convened with all the states and territories, and defence is on standby to conduct evacuations in Kalkarindji, about 550km south of Darwin.

Sunrise over Kalkarindji
Sunrise over Kalkarindji. Photograph: Alana Holmberg/The Guardian

This comes amid rising water levels in the Victoria River, which runs south and south-west around Katherine.

Watt:

The Kalkarindji community is now facing a major flooding warning. Yesterday, there was a fair bit of work put in with the Northern Territory government, ourselves and the ADF to arrange for evacuations if that’s necessary.

A decision will be made this morning as to whether those evacuations occur and people will be taken to Katherine. We’re talking roughly 450 people that would need to be moved … those evacuations happen today if they end up being necessary.

Updated

‘No plans to change’ Australia Day, minister says

Speaking on the Today show, Amanda Rishworth is asked about a decision by Cricket Australia to scrap the term Australia Day at the Brisbane Test match this Friday.

She says these decisions are “ultimately … made by private organisations” but the government’s position is that Australia Day is still recognised on 26 January:

We have absolutely no plans to change that. The prime minister has said that on a number of occasions.

I think it is important that we do, though, acknowledge that Australia Day for some people is a difficult day. For others, it’s a day that is the day they became an Australian citizen and that’s really important to them.

So, it does mean different things to different people, but the government has absolutely no plans to change it and it is a day where we can recognise the resilience of our First Nations people as well as the achievements that we’ve made as a country.

Updated

Why fly the caucus to Canberra now?

Minister for social services Amanda Rishworth spoke to the Today show this morning, amid news prime minister Anthony Albanese has summoned the Labor caucus to Canberra to map out cost-of-living measures on Wednesday.

Host Sarah Abo:

This is something you’ve been aware of for several months, in fact, perhaps longer than that. So, why fly to Canberra now?

Rishworth said it was the beginning of the new year and the next phase of cost-of-living relief would be “done this year”:

This year will be a year of delivery. And so at the beginning of the year, it’s not uncommon for political parties to get together. I would suggest that the opposition, from time to time, has flown people to all one place. So, it is a bit two-faced to be criticising the Labor party here. But it will be an important meeting, as will this year be of us continuing to deliver help for Australians.

The criticism Rishworth mentioned here is that it is expensive to bring the Labor caucus together in Canberra on short notice, rather than on Zoom, to which she responded:

We don’t have parliament by Zoom. We don’t have a number of political meetings, committee meetings by Zoom. They are done in person. It is important that MPs do get together and actually put their views forward.

Updated

Port Douglas water supply turned off

The water supply to Port Douglas in far north Queensland has been turned off “until further notice”, according to Douglas shire council.

Late last night the council issued an emergency alert that people in Port Douglas, Craiglie and Mowbray would “need to fill water containers now” due to the loss of water services.

The council wrote on Facebook:

The water supply to Port Douglas will be turned off shortly until further notice.

A dramatic drop in the reservoir level a short time ago suggests there might be a major leak in the pipeline.

Previously people in Port Douglas had been urged to reduce their water usage as the council worked to repair leaks in the pipeline network in Mossman.

An aerial view of Port Douglas
An aerial view of Port Douglas. Photograph: Peter Adams/Getty Images

Updated

Watch out for fallen power lines, Sydneysiders warned

Fire and Rescue NSW is warning people across Sydney to be cautious around fallen trees, as live powerlines may be brought down with them.

This comes as the city was lashed by strong winds overnight.

The NSW SES said it responded to nearly 50 incidents across Sydney overnight, with the strong winds mostly impacting the coast.

The hardest hit area was Sutherland, with 15 incidents, but other coastal locations had two or three incidents each.

The Central Coast recorded a few incidents too, the SES said, but the impact was mostly felt in Sydney. No significant damage was reported.

Updated

Planning for Cyclone Kirrily

Turning to Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, emergency management minister Murray Watt said there was concern about it hitting communities already impacted by Cyclone Jasper last year.

He told ABC RN:

If we’re talking about a category-three system that could have pretty serious effects wherever it crosses landfall.

Watt said he has already started working with the Queensland government to make sure agencies are ready to respond.

I spoke to the Queensland premier about this yesterday to make sure that our processes are aligned and that we’re all working on this together.

More work on that will occur over the course of the day, more meetings convened by the National Emergency Management Agency, just working with the Queensland government in particular, but all state governments about what support would be needed, what pre-positioning of assets and personnel would be needed.

Updated

Supermarket prices tumble

Murray Watt claimed that within 24 hours of Craig Emerson being appointment to review the food and grocery code of conduct, Coles reduced some of its prices by 20%.

Even just elevating this issue to the prime minister and making it clear what the government expects is having a result.

Obviously, there’s a lot more to be done. But the prime minister and the treasurer have made clear that they’re open to granting the ACCC additional powers to be able to do more to build on the work that Craig is doing.

I think this is … a really clear sign that the government stands with Australians at the checkouts in the sense that we want to make sure that people are getting fair prices.

Shoppers at a Coles supermarket
Shoppers at a Coles supermarket. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

This month Emerson, a former Labor trade and consumer affairs minister, was appointed to lead a review of the food and grocery code of conduct. The code governs how Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and Metcash, which operates IGA, deal with suppliers and customers. This comes as supermarkets are facing accusations of price gouging. You can read more from Josh Butler below:

Updated

‘We are serious about listening to every possible idea’

Just earlier, emergency management minister Murray Watt spoke to ABC RN and commented on the snap Labor caucus meeting called for this week to discuss cost-of-living measures.

Asked whether this meeting is about optics or genuinely coming up with new ideas, Watt said prime minister Anthony Albanese wouldn’t have called the caucus meeting “if it wasn’t for a good reason”:

I think we are serious about listening to every possible idea when it comes to cost-of-living relief, and we respect the discussions that our caucus members have been having in their communities over the last few weeks and I expect some good ideas will come forward as well.

I think that this meeting will be much more than just a photo op. It’s a serious meeting to deal with the No 1 issue facing the community, and I expect that it will build on some of the cost-of-living relief measures that we’ve already introduced and unfortunately, which were always opposed by [the opposition leader] Peter Dutton and the Coalition.

Updated

Cyclone threat hangs over rain-soaked north Queensland

Queenslanders are bracing for a potential category-three cyclone forecast to cross the coast weeks after wild weather lashed the region, AAP reports.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to develop into a cyclone, which will be named Kirrily, late today. Senior bureau meteorologist Dean Narramore said yesterday:

We’re getting to a severe category-three cyclone as we move through the Wednesday time-frame.

Narramore said it was likely to approach the Queensland coast as a severe cyclone into Thursday but there was still some uncertainty about where it would make landfall.

While our consensus track does cross it to the south of Townsville, there’s still a range of scenarios where we could see a cross between Cairns and Mackay.

There’s also uncertainty about where the cyclone could track after it makes landfall.

Narramore said it could move back out to sea or move south, possibly bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to parts of south-east Queensland.

Updated

Disgraced cop Roger Rogerson dies in jail

Australia’s most notorious disgraced police officer, Roger Rogerson, has died in jail.

Corrective Services NSW confirmed that an 83-year-old inmate died at the Prince of Wales hospital last night about 11.15pm.

A spokesperson said:

As a matter of protocol, Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police investigate all deaths in custody regardless of the circumstances.

All deaths in custody are also subject to a coronial inquest.

Last March Rogerson failed to have his murder conviction overturned almost a decade after the cold-blooded killing of a Sydney drug dealer, Jamie Gao.

Both hero and villain during a 28-year NSW police career, Rogerson was at one time considered the force’s most decorated officer.

The culmination of his recognition was to receive the coveted Peter Mitchell award for outstanding police work in 1980, but within six years his career had unravelled spectacularly. You can read more below:

Updated

Good morning

And happy Monday – welcome back to another week on the Guardian’s Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you through today’s rolling coverage.

Making news today: Australia’s most notorious disgraced cop, Roger Rogerson, has died in jail. Corrective Services NSW confirmed that an 83-year-old inmate died at the Prince of Wales hospital about 11.15pm last night.

Last March Rogerson failed to have his murder conviction overturned almost a decade after the cold-blooded killing of a Sydney drug dealer, Jamie Gao. Rogerson was once the NSW police force’s most decorated officer.

We will have more on this shortly.

The Bureau of Meteorology says a tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to develop into a cyclone late today, which will be named Kirrily, as AAP reports. It is likely to approach the Queensland coast as a severe cyclone into Thursday but there is still uncertainty as to where it will make landfall.

This comes as a heatwave has spread across three states, with temperatures in parts of northern Western Australia reaching towards 50C. The gold mining town of Kalgoorlie is still without power after a rare supercell storm. Royce Kurmelovs has all the details below:

As Sarah Basford Canales reports, a deal aimed at keeping energy bills affordable will see 260 petajoules supplied to gas-fired power stations in Australia’s south-east coast until 2033.

This comes as the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has called Labor MPs and senators to Canberra on Wednesday for a snap caucus to discuss cost-of-living measures.

More on this soon, and you can read more below:

See something that needs attention on the blog? You can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or via email: emily.wind@theguardian.com

With that, let’s get started.

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