Federal authorities broadcasts $7.2bn funding for Bruce Freeway upgrades
The federal authorities has right now introduced a $7.2bn funding injection for the Bruce Freeway in Queensland – which can fund about 80% of the upgrades wanted to make the 1,600km stretch safer.
The transport minister, Catherine King, spoke with ABC Information Breakfast simply earlier concerning the announcement, which is aiming to get the highway as much as a three-star score:
In the intervening time there are sections of this highway that stay at one and two-star score … When you’ve grade separation, when you’ve obstacles, once you take out a few of the harmful curves, that actually does scale back the highway security threat of a highway and there are sections of this highway – significantly up across the Mackay finish – which can be nonetheless at one star.
And we have now seen over 40 individuals final yr [lose] their lives … on the Bruce Freeway, and this funding will go to lifting the highway security enchancment and productiveness of what’s the single largest artery proper the way in which by way of Queensland.
Key occasions
Nationwide climate outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology
Right here’s a take a look at the forecast throughout Australia’s capital cities right now – with the new circumstances persevering with throughout a lot of the nation.
In line with the Bureau of Meteorology, Perth is anticipated to achieve a high of 38C, whereas Darwin has a forecast high of 34C. Canberra may attain 33C, Sydney 32C, and Brisbane 29C.
Melbourne has a milder forecast of 21C, in addition to Adelaide (24C) and Hobart (20C).
Lambie says Tasmanian voters ‘50-50’ on Albanese and Dutton
Jacqui Lambie was requested about a ballot performed by the 9 papers, which discovered she was the nation’s most likeable federal politician.
Requested concerning the outcomes, Lambie instructed ABC Information Breakfast “I just go out there and do the job”, giving the next recommendation to others:
I feel all people goes in with good intentions and sadly once you belong to the main events, you’ve obtained to toe the road they usually begin to lose their authenticity a bit of bit. I feel from me, be your self, study from the job and ship increasingly.
Lambie was additionally requested how each Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have been resonating with voters in Tasmania. She stated there was lots occurring on a state stage with the Liberals, which is “probably not helpful” for the get together at a federal stage.
I don’t suppose the state Libs are performing in addition to what they need to be, and I’m not speaking concerning the premier, I’m speaking about his ministers down right here. So I feel that’s beginning to harm them a bit of bit … On the bottom down right here it’s about 50/50, I’d say.
Lambie says Albanese determination to marketing campaign over holidays ‘bizarre’
Senator Jacqui Lambie has questioned whether or not Anthony Albanese would name an early election, amid his pre-election marketing campaign blitz throughout a number of states this week.
Talking on the Right this moment Present earlier this morning, she stated it was “extremely early” within the yr for him to be out and about.
Most individuals don’t need to see a politician over this … three weeks, , from concerning the twentieth in all probability to concerning the tenth or fifteenth of January. So to be on the market and campaigning now, I simply I don’t know whether or not that can simply annoy the individuals extra or what …
Going out this early straight after Christmas, this must be a primary, I reckon. That is phenomenal. So anyone must say that he’s going to name an election in late February or early March, absolutely.
Lambie additionally spoke with ABC Information Breakfast, the place she referred to as the transfer “bizarre”.
You by no means see anyone operating round campaigns through the Christmas interval. That is actually weird, so I’m undecided how that’s going to go down with Australians. However fairly frankly, the worst time to do it’s the three weeks over the Christmas interval. They only don’t prefer it very a lot.
Runway reopens at Melbourne airport
A Melbourne airport spokesperson has simply confirmed runway inspections are full, and the runway has reopened for operations this morning.
The Etihad plane has been safely towed from the runway at Melbourne Airport. Runway inspections have been accomplished and the runway has been reopened for operations this morning.
Melbourne Airport working with only one runway amid aborted take-off
Persevering with from our final put up: AAP stories that Melbourne airport is working with only one runway as work continues to restore the aircraft broken through the aborted take-off.
Etihad flight EY461 sure for Abu Dhabi with just below 300 individuals on board needed to abort its departure on Sunday “for technical reasons”. It reportedly slammed on the emergency brakes simply moments earlier than taking to the air at 6.15pm.
The Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Service was referred to as and deployed firefighting foam as a precaution, a Melbourne airport assertion stated. Because of the injury to the plane’s tyres, the aircraft remained on the runway this morning, with repairs presently below manner.
It means Melbourne airport is just working with one runway which will likely be used for all arrivals and departures – on the day many Australians return to work after the festive interval. A spokesperson stated:
Whereas there have been no cancellations at this stage, there have been disruptions to some flights. Some flights have departed with much less gasoline and might want to refuel on the way in which to their closing vacation spot.
Aircraft travelling from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi aborts take-off
An Etihad aircraft travelling from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi needed to abort its take-off amid “technical reasons”, with emergency crews attending as a precaution.
In a put up to X in a single day, Etihad Airways stated:
Our flight EY461 from Melbourne has been delayed, following a rejected take-off. The flight crew determined to reject the take-off for technical causes and emergency providers attended as a precaution. The security and luxury of our friends and crew stays our highest precedence.
A video was posted to Reddit, showing to indicate firefighters spraying the engines of the aircraft on the finish of the runway. One Reddit consumer who stated they have been on board the flight wrote:
The very first thing the captain stated to us after we stopped was that we skilled “engine [exceedance]” on the precise facet, and that the fireplace vehicles have been coming as a result of the brakes have been very popular … He later stated two tyres have been flat. We obtained towed for a brief bit earlier than we needed to cease because the flat tyres have been damaging the runway.
We’ve got contacted Etihad and Melbourne airport for extra info, and can replace as soon as we hear again.
Thieves take Barbie doll assortment price $15,000
Greater than 150 Barbie dolls price greater than $15,000 have been stolen from their dream dwelling, AAP stories, alongside Elvis collectibles and a Jack Daniel’s esky.
That dream dwelling, within the Victorian nation city of Tatura, close to Shepparton, was damaged into in early December whereas the homeowners have been away on holidays.
The enduring dolls, nonetheless of their authentic packaging, took their proprietor 12 years to gather and are estimated to be price in extra of $15,000. Most of the stolen dolls, launched between 1970 and 2017, are extraordinarily uncommon.
It’s believed the thieves may try and promote the classic dolls on-line, and police have requested the general public to maintain an eye fixed out for them, saying in a press release:
Simply the slightest bit of knowledge is likely to be Kenough to trace down the lacking dolls.
Albanese to journey nation this week, gearing up for election yr
The ABC Information Breakfast host famous that prime minister Anthony Albanese will head off on a multi-state blitz right now, gearing up for the election later this yr. Is that this pork-barrelling in a state the place Labor must win votes?
Catherine King stated the federal government had “significantly” reformed infrastructure funding, partaking with Infrastructure Australia within the decision-making course of for commonwealth investments.
We’ve truly labored actually arduous to be sure that we aren’t truly making selections about the place infrastructure is required primarily based on, frankly, what the earlier authorities did on the color of the seats that it will undergo.
She stated the main focus was on “where do we need to lift productivity in the nation, [and] where do we need to look at things such as road safety, liveability and sustainability.”
In the event you lookup and down that [Bruce Highway] hall, there will not be quite a lot of seats that Labor holds or is anticipating to carry alongside that hall. We’re investing in Queensland, we’re investing within the productiveness of all the state, and this undertaking, this funding actually will enhance highway security for all of these communities alongs freeway.
Why is the federal authorities funding 80% of Bruce Freeway upgrades?
Requested by the ABC Information Breakfast host why the federal authorities is funding 80% of the upgrades for the Bruce Freeway – moderately than asking the state authorities to tackle extra of this – Catherine King stated each the present and former state authorities argued the highway is the “only major freight route through Queensland”.
It has seen growing site visitors volumes, and in an effort to get this completed, it wants the commonwealth to step in as a part of the Nationwide Land Transport Act, the Nationwide Freeway, to actually companion considerably to get this highway as much as three stars.
It can require contribution from the Queensland authorities they usually, after all, will likely be accountable for contracting, tendering and managing the funds for this, and ensuring that it stays on monitor and stays throughout the funding envelope that has been supplied by the commonwealth.
Federal authorities broadcasts $7.2bn funding for Bruce Freeway upgrades
The federal authorities has right now introduced a $7.2bn funding injection for the Bruce Freeway in Queensland – which can fund about 80% of the upgrades wanted to make the 1,600km stretch safer.
The transport minister, Catherine King, spoke with ABC Information Breakfast simply earlier concerning the announcement, which is aiming to get the highway as much as a three-star score:
In the intervening time there are sections of this highway that stay at one and two-star score … When you’ve grade separation, when you’ve obstacles, once you take out a few of the harmful curves, that actually does scale back the highway security threat of a highway and there are sections of this highway – significantly up across the Mackay finish – which can be nonetheless at one star.
And we have now seen over 40 individuals final yr [lose] their lives … on the Bruce Freeway, and this funding will go to lifting the highway security enchancment and productiveness of what’s the single largest artery proper the way in which by way of Queensland.
Seek for lacking Kosciuszko hiker to enter twelfth day
A search will resume for a lacking bushwalker final seen on Boxing Day, AAP stories, after the deployment of specialist search-and-rescue crews, as temperatures climb and a bushfire burns within the space.
Hadi Nazari, 23, has not been seen since about 2.30pm on 26 December when he started descending the Hannels Spur path within the Kosciuszko nationwide park close to Geehi, between Khancoban and Thredbo.
Two pals reported him lacking when he didn’t arrive on the campground the place they deliberate to satisfy. Garbage and climbing poles believed to have belonged to Nazari have been discovered on Tuesday however there was no sighting of him regardless of the continuing search efforts.
Specifically skilled volunteers camped in a single day as different consultants have been winched in by plane to go looking on the weekend, with sizzling and humid circumstances including to the issue of looking out the rugged terrain. Greater than 300 individuals have been concerned within the search operation, NSW police stated.
Temperatures reached 37C at Geehi on Sunday afternoon with a milder high of 28C forecast right now. A fireplace within the nationwide park close to Hannels Spur was introduced below management by Sunday afternoon with an alert space of about 40 hectares.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and welcome again to the Australia information stay weblog – our first for 2025. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you thru our rolling protection.
A search will right now resume for lacking bushwalker Hadi Nazari, 23, who was final seen on Boxing Day within the Kosciuszko nationwide park. The search is getting into its twelfth day, AAP stories, after the deployment of specialist search-and-rescue crews, as temperatures climb and a bushfire burns within the space. We’ll have extra on this in a second.
In the meantime, winds from the Southern Ocean will carry aid to elements of south-eastern Australia who’ve sweltered by way of a three-day heatwave. As Royce Kurmelovs stories, the wind change is anticipated to attract chilly air up by way of Victoria and produce much-needed aid, together with to fireside crews engaged on the fireplace entrance within the Grampians.
As at all times, you’ll be able to attain out with any questions, suggestions or ideas through e-mail: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s get began.