Australia information dwell: funding in new wind and photo voltaic far wanting 2030 objectives; PM dismisses US ‘disgust’ over Palestine transfer

Australian property buyers squeezing out first-time patrons

Property buyers borrowed a report sum, almost $130bn, to purchase houses over the yr to June, supported by rate of interest cuts however squeezing out first-time patrons.

Banks made virtually 200,000 new loans to landlords over the yr, probably the most since 2022, whereas the variety of new first-home mortgages slipped to 116,000, writes Luca Ittimani.

Cameron Kusher, an unbiased property knowledgeable, mentioned falling rates of interest have made borrowing simpler for mortgage-holding owners and buyers than for first residence patrons.

“They’re going to get relief on those mortgages in terms of their repayments, and they’re going to be the ones that are probably going to capitalise on this most,” Kusher mentioned.

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Josh Butler

Compliance actions for childcare centres as new federal powers enforced

Thirty childcare centres have been hit with compliance actions over high quality and questions of safety, because the federal authorities makes use of its new enforcement powers for the primary time, threatening to drag commonwealth funding if the suppliers don’t form up.

The schooling minister, Jason Clare, introduced at this time that his division had initiated compliance actions in opposition to 30 early childhood schooling and care providers after the federal authorities’s new legal guidelines, which handed parliament final month.

The centres had been recognized by the division as having failed to satisfy nationwide high quality requirements “over seven or more years”, Clare’s workplace mentioned.

The enforcement actions don’t relate to baby abuse or legal allegations – however go to points together with play space security, hygiene, employees coaching and supervision. The 30 centres have 48 hours to inform mother and father in regards to the actions, and the names of the centres will probably be revealed by the division on Tuesday. The centres have six months to enhance their requirements, or danger having their entry to the childcare subsidy suspended or cancelled.

This comes earlier than schooling ministers assembly subsequent Friday to debate additional security measures, similar to a nationwide register of childcare employees and the position of CCTV. State and federal attorneys normal are additionally assembly at this time, with the working with youngsters checks system on the agenda.

“We have taken action swiftly under the new legislation to begin rebuilding confidence in a system that parents need to have confidence in. This is not about closing centres down, it’s about lifting standards up,” Clare mentioned.

“Over the next six months, these centres will need to lift their game or they will face further consequences including the cutting off of funding.”

The early childhood schooling minister, Jess Walsh, added: “We make no apologies for putting [child] safety and wellbeing first and foremost.”

Sydney restaurant faces human rights grievance after keffiyeh incident

The Racial Justice Centre is making ready to file a gaggle grievance with the Australian Human Rights Fee after a Sydney restaurant denied dine-in service to individuals carrying Palestinian keffiyehs throughout a 20-minute interval final weekend.

The authorized centre will file the grievance to Australia’s nationwide anti-discrimination physique on behalf of six Palestinian complainants, concerning an incident that occurred on 3 August on the Merivale-owned Jimmy’s Falafel within the Sydney CBD after the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Guardian Australia has spoken to 4 individuals, not a part of the grievance, who report being instructed they might be barred from consuming inside at Jimmy’s Falafel except they eliminated their keffiyehs.

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Funding in new wind and photo voltaic falls wanting 2030 goal tempo

Petra Inventory

For the second consecutive quarter in 2025, funding in new wind and photo voltaic has fallen properly wanting the tempo required to hit Australia’s 2030 renewable vitality goal.

Solely 4 initiatives – totalling 615MW capability – reached monetary shut between April and June, in response to knowledge launched at this time by the Clear Vitality Council.

That introduced whole new funding in 2025 to 1.17GW – a few third of the speed required (6-7 GW per yr) for Australia to interchange its ageing coal energy and keep on monitor for 82% renewables by 2030.

Political and coverage uncertainty in the course of the federal election contributed to the weaker outcome, the report mentioned.

The CEC chief coverage and affect officer, Anna Freeman, mentioned:

Whereas we now have renewed confidence within the route of journey, many power and structural points stay unresolved – important delays within the transmission rollout, prolonged and unpredictable environmental and planning processes, workforce bottlenecks and an absence of certainty about long-term income for brand new initiatives.

This morning, the surroundings minister, Murray Watt, introduced he had accepted a 135MW photo voltaic farm with battery storage in New South Wales, at a web site adjoining to the Muswellbrook coalmine. Watt mentioned it was the 97th renewable venture accepted beneath the Albanese authorities.

In late July, the federal authorities introduced plans to broaden its underwriting scheme to assist speed up the transition to renewable vitality.

Council orders Sydney store to take away signage after allegedly utilizing Labubus to advertise vapes

Sydney’s Internal West council has ordered a store to take away its signage after allegedly utilizing a youngsters’s toy to advertise vapes.

In a social media submit, the council mentioned it had yesterday despatched compliance officers to the Marrickville enterprise premises.

“Labubye, Marrickville! This sign is gone for good,” the council wrote beside earlier than and after images of the signage.

The signal referred to Labubus, a massively in style doll marketed to youngsters.

Sarah Basford Canales

PM praises ‘first dog’ Toto when requested about Victorian legislation stopping individuals being buried with pets

Ending on a lighter notice on ABC radio this morning, Anthony Albanese says widespread sense ought to apply when requested a few Victorian legislation that stops individuals from being buried alongside their pets.

Albanese usually talks about his canine, Toto, a cavoodle he refers to as Australia’s first canine and who usually accompanies him on his prime ministerial jet across the nation.

Whereas not usually one to wade into subjects he’s presumably not been briefed on, the prime minister let unfastened on the topic:

If individuals really feel near their pets they usually wish to be buried with them, why would you, why would you cease it?

Albanese then provided a bit of little bit of perception into how Toto reacts when he will get residence to The Lodge.

The factor about our pets is they provide us unconditional love and, irrespective of how tough my day is, once I are available, there’s a little furry good friend who is totally ecstatic and excited to see me. And it takes about 10 minutes to settle [her] down and that simply lifts you up. So, I believe that’s a part of the human situation. So, for goodness sake, no matter that legislation is, must be, a little bit of widespread sense ought to apply absolutely.

Sarah Basford Canales

Anthony Albanese says he isn’t able to evaluate whether or not Israel is immediately killing journalists in Gaza however mentioned too many harmless lives have been misplaced.

Chatting with ABC radio this morning, the prime minister was requested whether or not he was OK with Israel’s killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and 4 of his digicam crew earlier this week.

Israel claimed duty for the killings, alleging al-Sharif was the chief of a Hamas cell chargeable for rocket assaults in opposition to Israel – an allegation that Al Jazeera and al-Sharif had beforehand dismissed as baseless.

Albanese responded:

Nicely, the Israeli authorities themselves say, on this case, there’s one particular person they are saying there are allegations in opposition to. I’m not able, clearly, to establish the veracity of these allegations, however the digicam crew killed … with that journalist – and there’s been an excessive amount of lack of harmless lives throughout the board.

And that’s why Australia has come to the place that we’ve, however taking a step again as properly, in the event you argue, as Australia has, for a protracted time period, that there must be a two-state resolution … I wish to see Palestinians and Israelis dwell in peace and safety, and I wish to see an finish to the killing of harmless lives, whether or not they be Israelis or Palestinians.

Sarah Basford Canales

Albanese dismisses US criticism over intention to recognise Palestinian statehood

Anthony Albanese has dismissed criticism from the US ambassador to Israel about Australia’s intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at an upcoming UN assembly.

The US ambassador, Mike Huckabee, instructed the ABC’s 7.30 final night time that Australia’s announcement got here as a shock to the US administration, including there had been “an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust”.

Requested to reply, Albanese instructed ABC radio his job was to signify the pursuits of Australia and Australians who had been disgusted by the deaths of hundreds of harmless Palestinians in Gaza:

[Australians] have been disgusted by the terrorist actions of Hamas on October 7, the slaughter of harmless Israelis, taking of hostages and the continued holding of these hostages have outraged Australians, however Australians have additionally seen the dying of tens of hundreds of individuals. When you’ve gotten youngsters ravenous, when you’ve gotten youngsters dropping their lives, with households queuing for meals and water, then that provokes, not surprisingly, a human response.

The prime minister continued:

I’m involved about Australia’s place, and that’s what my position is. We’re a sovereign nation, and he’s entitled to place his views, however we’re additionally entitled to place our views. We didn’t do it shyly. I seen, I noticed the interview final night time. He recommended that this got here as a shock. I spoke with prime minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu final Thursday night time. I requested him, ‘What are, you know, what’s the tip level right here?’ And the tip level is similar as the tip level that he had put to me greater than a yr in the past, which was, ‘We’re going to eliminate Hamas militarily’. There was no political resolution there. And the concept that you simply proceed to do extra of the identical, that you simply occupy Gaza Metropolis, that you simply foreshadowed the battle which has been opposed by the Israeli Defence Drive themselves.

Sarah Basford Canales

PM says working with youngsters examine system is ‘hopeless’

Anthony Albanese has described the present working with youngsters examine techniques as “hopeless” earlier than a gathering between lawyer generals this morning to implement a nationwide system.

On ABC radio this morning, the prime minister was requested why media studies on Tuesday a few male childcare employee alleged to have been grooming youngsters, and subsequently banned from working in childcare, hadn’t been sufficient to set off the elimination of his working with youngsters examine.

Albanese mentioned establishing a nationwide system and strengthening the screening necessities was a precedence at at this time’s lawyer generals’ assembly:

[The system is] hopeless and we have to do higher. Fairly clearly, and these revelations are a wake-up name for state and territory governments by way of the laws but additionally the commonwealth.

The federal lawyer normal, Michelle Rowland, is assembly along with her counterparts this morning to debate learn how to harmonise the state and territory techniques however earlier flagged on ABC radio the method might nonetheless take 12 months.

Mark Butler says Penny Wong spoke to Marco Rubio earlier than Palestinian statehood announcement

The Australian authorities suggested US counterparts of its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood earlier than making the choice public, Mark Butler has reiterated.

The well being minister’s feedback contradict these of the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who final night time instructed the ABC the “unilateral” transfer had been surprising, ill-timed and had induced an “enormous level of disappointment and some disgust”.

Butler instructed Dawn this morning: “There was a discussion between our foreign minister, Penny Wong, and Secretary of State Rubio before the announcement … It wasn’t just about the situation in Israel and Gaza but also importantly about the main focus of our relationship, which of course is security and stability in our own region.”

He added:

The State Division [was] fairly disciplined publishing a read-out …that was revealed very quickly after the dialog.

So, I’m not fairly positive why the ambassador to Israel says that. There was a dialog.

On Monday, Wong additionally mentioned she had spoken “to Secretary Rubio ahead of the announcement and, as a matter of diplomatic courtesy, advised him of our intention to announce”.

Police bust theft ring that focused main supermarkets

Nineteen individuals have been arrested for allegedly shoplifting greater than $10m price of products, after police claimed to have busted one of many largest theft syndicates seen in Australia.

Victoria police allege the syndicate focused main supermarkets, taking gadgets similar to child formulation, medicines, nutritional vitamins, skincare merchandise, electrical toothbrushes and toiletries, studies AAP.

“Those arrested are predominantly Indian nationals on temporary, student, or bridging visas,” the drive mentioned this morning.

They’re alleged to be working in a coordinated community to produce stolen items to ‘receivers’, who then on-sell the merchandise to finish customers for revenue.

The operation to smash the syndicate was led by the Field Hill divisional response unit, which labored with retailers and the Australian Border Drive.

“This has been one of the most significant operations we’ve undertaken in recent times to target organised retail theft,” detective appearing inspector Rachele Ciavarella mentioned.

Investigations stay ongoing, with additional arrests anticipated.

Israel’s deputy international affairs minister says the 100,000-plus individuals who marched throughout the Sydney Harbour Bridge virtually a fortnight in the past in assist of ending the Israel-Gaza battle have been “naive” and “useful idiots”.

Sharren Haskel instructed ABC’s Radio Nationwide a short while in the past: “I truly believe that most of this crowd was the same crowd who was gathering together since the 8th of October.”

She continued:

The remainder are helpful idiots which are getting used as instruments within the palms of those that are attempting to advertise these radical jihadist concepts. And sadly, many naive individuals in Australia are falling for lots of the propaganda of these terrorist organisations and people radical jihadist organisations.

‘We loved his wit and his sharp insight’: Albanese remembers David Stratton

Tributes are pouring in for the legendary movie critic David Stratton his dying at age 85.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, mentioned Stratton had shared his love of cinema with your complete nation whereas co-hosting the tv applications The Film Present and At The Films with fellow critic Margaret Pomeranz.

“All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,” Albanese mentioned.

We liked his wit and his sharp perception, and the deep love of cinema that underpinned all of it. And in his chemistry with Margaret Pomeranz, he helped ship one in every of Australia’s actually nice TV partnerships.

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Plan to increase Queensland coalmine would bulldoze ‘critical’ koala habitat

Habitat for threatened koalas which are a part of a inhabitants described by one knowledgeable as nationally important can be bulldozed beneath plans to increase a Queensland coalmine.

The marketing campaign group Lock the Gate used drones with thermal imaging cameras to search out 13 koalas in a single night time in timber earmarked for clearing by mining firm Glencore, Graham Readfearn writes.

Glencore desires to clear 680 hectares of land – together with 600ha of koala habitat – to broaden its Hail Creek mine west of Mackay.

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