Australia information stay: Albanese caught on digicam discussing Pacific policing plan with US official; small quake in Victoria’s west

Commonwealth, Westpac heads to face financial institution inquiry

The bosses of a few of Australia’s greatest banks are set for a parliamentary grilling, AAP studies, as mortgage holders grapple with cussed rates of interest.

Commonwealth Financial institution chief govt Matt Comyn and Westpac head Peter King will seem to provide proof earlier than a Home of Representatives committee reviewing Australia’s large 4 banks right this moment. The massive 4 management about 80% of the Australian banking sector.

The committee chair, Labor MP Daniel Mulino, mentioned rate of interest selections can be a key focus of the inquiry.

The Reserve Financial institution governor advised us it’s untimely for commentators to be fascinated with price cuts but the main banks all predict an easing cycle within the close to to medium time period. We need to understanding the reasoning.

Mulino mentioned how the main banks handled scams would even be addressed by the parliamentary inquiry.

Australians misplaced $2.7bn to scams final yr, with a marked enhance in scams from social media. The banks are clearly not the one highly effective firms on this house, however they’re extremely vital and many individuals are rightly calling on them to do extra to guard weak prospects.

At the moment would be the first of two days of hearings into the massive 4 banks, with NAB and ANZ executives to look tomorrow.

Queensland fireplace division says scorching and windy situations anticipated throughout south-west

In additional climate information, the Queensland Fireplace Division has offered an replace amid the recent and windy climate:

Bushfire season is upon us and we’ve already seen a number of grassfires throughout the state. With heat and windy situations anticipated in south-west [Queensland] over the approaching days, it’s vital to know your threat.

The division mentioned that the Channel Nation, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt are forecast to succeed in a excessive fireplace hazard ranking tomorrow.

In these situations, grassfires can begin simply. Keep away from something that might spark a fireplace, reminiscent of slashing, grinding or welding outside.

Extreme climate warnings are in place throughout southern elements of the nation for robust winds, together with Victoria and Tasmania.

Right here’s a wrap of the warnings presently in place, based on the Bureau of Meteorology:

• Victoria – a powerful chilly entrance is anticipated to succeed in Victoria later right this moment, clearing to the east tomorrow morning. Areas which can be affected by the wild climate embrace Portland, Bacchus Marsh, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Omeo.

• For the Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland areas, a warning for abnormally excessive tides is in place.

• Tasmania – a powerful chilly entrance can also be anticipated to succeed in Tasmania later right this moment, crossing the state tomorrow morning. All the state is roofed by the extreme climate warning.

• New South Wales – north-westerly winds are forecast to strengthen later right this moment as a powerful chilly entrance approaches from the west. Areas which can be affected embrace Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Katoomba and Goulburn.

• In the meantime, fireplace hazard scores for the higher Sydney and Illawarra have been downgraded to “moderate” right this moment after reaching “high” yesterday.

• Western Australia – gusty, showery situations are anticipated over elements of the South West Land Division right this moment.

Elias Visontay

Sydney prepare line to shut on 30 September for metro conversion

Sydney’s T3 prepare line, from Sydenham to Bankstown, might be shut down from 30 September as works start to transform tracks to accommodate an extension of the town’s new Metro line.

The closure and monitor improve had been deliberate to happen shortly after the opening of the brand new metropolis part of the Metro, which belatedly opened on 18 August following last-minute delays in gaining regulatory approvals.

The Chatswood-Sydenham stretch of the Metro has proved well-liked with Sydneysiders in its first week, attracting 1.4m riders on the road the place driverless trains attain speeds of as much as 100km/h beneath the town.

Now, with plans to increase the Metro line to Bankstown by changing the prevailing heavy rail monitor, commuters should depend on rail alternative buses from 30 September.

The state’s transport minister, Jo Haylen, yesterday introduced the rail alternative buses, to be painted pink and often known as Southwest Hyperlink, might be free for all passengers. The federal government estimates the conversion interval might be accomplished by late 2025.

We completely acknowledge that is going to be a disruptive time for the folks of Canterbury Bankstown and for the Internal West however there’s mild on the finish of the tunnel.

Do studies that the nation faces energy cuts with out extra fuel really stack up?

Following on from our high story on the electrical energy system, Graham Readfearn makes use of this week’s Temperature Verify column to evaluate whether or not a slew of reporting within the Australian newspaper claiming that the nation faces energy cuts with out extra fuel really stack up.

In a sequence of articles, the paper warns that with out rapid motion to carry on new fuel provide, Australia faces “economy-destroying gas shortages”.

Graham will get the opposite facet of the story from Grattan power skilled Tony Wooden who tells him:

There’s a significant issue right here, however it’s been coming for greater than 10 years. However in the event you catastrophise it then no person will remedy it.

Learn the complete article right here:

Nationwide plan for renters hasn’t delivered, report claims

Daisy Dumas

Renters round Australia stay weak a yr on from nationwide cupboard reforms that have been designed to raised shield them, based on a brand new report.

The Higher Deal for Renters was created in August 2023 to develop a nationally constant coverage surrounding affordable grounds for eviction, to restrict hire will increase and to part in minimal rental requirements.

The report by Nationwide Shelter and the Nationwide Affiliation of Renters’ Organisations, launched right this moment, finds that nationwide engagement on the Higher Deal for Renters has not been open and clear and that “while progress has been made across the states and territories, there appears to be varying degrees of urgency and commitment to meeting the standards”.

The Northern Territory has did not make any progress on 5 out of 9 agreed reforms, together with the elimination of no-grounds convictions and fit-for-purpose appeals towards retaliatory evictions, whereas Western Australia has but to sort out 4 reform areas. New South Wales and Queensland have been the one states or territories to have made progress in all areas.

Emma Greenhalgh, chief govt of Nationwide Shelter, mentioned:

States and territories haven’t achieved sufficient to strengthen renters’ rights amid the unprecedented housing disaster. They should carry their sport to fulfill the nationwide cupboard necessities.

Leo Patterson Ross, spokesperson for the Nationwide Affiliation of Renters’ Organisations, mentioned the Higher Deal for Renters had been created with out enter from renters or their advocates straight and had no accountability measures in-built:

We have to see commonwealth, state and territory governments meaningfully interact sector specialists on a significant legislation reform agenda that brings Australian rental rules into the twenty first century.

Good morning

Emily Wind

Emily Wind right here, signing on for running a blog duties. Due to Martin for kicking issues off for us!

I’ll be taking you thru our stay protection for many of right this moment. When you see one thing that wants consideration, you will get in contact by way of X, @emilywindwrites, or you possibly can shoot me an electronic mail: emily.wind@theguardian.com.

Let’s get began.

A small earthquake has rocked the western Victorian city of Hamilton.

The magnitude 3.4 quake occurred simply previous 5am, based on Geosciences Australia, at a depth of 3km.

In line with GA, folks reported feeling the tremor as distant as Geelong, and the western fringes of Melbourne.

The quake was unusually shallow, which often means it’s felt extra strongly on the floor. Nonetheless because of its low magnitude it was unlikely to have brought on any vital injury, and extra possible felt as a light-weight vibration by these within the space.

Daniel Hurst

Albanese questioned on scorching mic second in Tonga

At an early media convention in Tonga this morning, Anthony Albanese responded to questions in regards to the video displaying his dialog with a high US official. A journalist requested the prime minister whether or not “Kurt Campbell will go you halvies on that policing plan”.

Albanese laughed and replied:

No, he received’t, as a result of this has come from the Pacific. I’m conscious of the video of a non-public dialog. Kurt Campbell’s a mate of mine, it’s us having a chat.

When requested whether or not he might give any perception into what initiative Australia had requested the US to not pursue, Albanese mentioned:

No … It was non-public dialog. It was a jovial dialog, a pleasant one. You realize, it’s what it’s. Folks try to learn one thing into it – you should be fairly bored.

Requested by a journalist whether or not there was a way he had “said the quiet bit out loud” (in regards to the intention to exclude China from the area), Albanese mentioned:

What was the quiet bit? It’s a cracker of an announcement. That’s what I mentioned. That’s what I stand by. It was.

Albanese mentioned he wasn’t part of the dialog that ambassador Kevin Rudd had with Campbell a few US initiative that, based on Campbell, Australia requested the US to not pursue. Requested whether or not he would have a phrase to ambassador Kevin Rudd about this, Albanese mentioned:

No, no. Relax, folks!

Albanese has hot-mic second whereas joking with US official about Pacific policing plan

Daniel Hurst

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been caught on digicam in Tonga joking with a senior US official about going “halvies” on the price of a newly introduced Pacific policing plan.

The video additionally means that the US had been planning to pursue a police-related proposal however had been advised by Australia to carry off.

The video was filmed on the Pacific Islands Discussion board venue yesterday and was posted on-line by Radio New Zealand.

At first of the video, the deputy US secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, advised Albanese that the US delegation was making its approach all through the Pacific.

Albanese replied:

Effectively, we had a cracker right this moment getting the Pacific policing initiative by means of, it’s so vital, it’ll make such a distinction.

Campbell mentioned it was “fantastic” and the senior US official recounted:

I talked with Kevin about it – so you realize, we have been going to do one thing and he requested us to not so we didn’t. We’ve given you the lane, so take the lane!

“Kevin” is almost certainly a reference to the Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.

Albanese then joked:

Oh you possibly can go us halvies on the fee in the event you like.

The pair shared fun. The Australian minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, then appeared to note the dialog was being filed and mentioned: “Come on!”

Albanese speaks to media in Tonga

Daniel Hurst

Anthony Albanese has spoken to journalists within the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa, earlier than flying to the island group of Vava’u for a leaders’ retreat with Pacific counterparts.

On his second full day attending the Pacific Islands Discussion board in Tonga, Albanese may have extra intimate conversations with fellow Pacific leaders. Issues over the unrest in New Caledonia are anticipated to dominate the talks right this moment.

Albanese used his early-morning press convention right this moment to reiterate the importance of yesterday’s settlement to proceed with a Pacific Policing Initiative, which features a coaching and coordination hub in Brisbane.

However he was requested a few video posted on-line displaying him having a joke with the US deputy secretary of state, Kurt Campbell, about whether or not the US would possibly “go halvies” with Australia on the price of the initiative.

Albanese mentioned right this moment the US wouldn’t be contributing funding as a result of it was a Pacific-led initiative, and he mentioned it was a non-public dialog.

We’ll carry you extra particulars on this quickly.

Good morning and welcome to our stay weblog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you among the predominant in a single day and breaking information tales earlier than I hand over to Emily Wind.

Australia’s power safety has improved within the final yr regardless of scepticism in some quarters – however the system will solely survive the phasing out of coal energy if the rollout of renewable initiatives is carried out in full.

Police have appealed for assist to establish the person who allegedly poured a cup of scorching espresso over a child boy in a Brisbane park earlier than operating off. The nine-month-old underwent surgical procedure after struggling burns to his face and chest.

There was a small earthquake in Victoria – magnitude 3.4, centred on Hamilton, north of Warrnambool. Extra on this quickly.

Anthony Albanese has used an early-morning press convention in Tonga right this moment to reiterate the importance of yesterday’s settlement to proceed with a Pacific policing initiative, which features a coaching and coordination hub in Brisbane.

However he has confronted questions in regards to the funding of the plan, after being caught on digicam in Tonga joking with a senior US official about going “halvies”. Extra arising quickly from our reporter in Tonga, Daniel Hurst.