Key occasions
Prime minister receives group observe on X for value of residing put up
Anthony Albanese has acquired a group observe on X for a put up trying to focus on the federal government’s value of residing measures.
The put up featured a CD cowl mock-up titled “So helpful: Cost of living relief – Winter 2024” in reference to the 2000s album sequence, “So Fresh”.
It listed a lot of value of residing measures the federal government has introduced, together with paid prac for college students, elevated lease help, cheaper medication, paid parental depart “… and so much more!”
However, because the group observe talked about, lots of the insurance policies don’t full come into impact till a lot later than winter 2024. The group observe reads:
Paid prac for college students doesn’t begin till July 2025. Extra paid parental depart shall be phased in by 2026. Solely $75 of the $300 energy invoice reduction shall be paid by winter 2024.
Taylor requested to stipulate areas opposition would suggest funding cuts
Host Patricia Karvelas has been questioning Angus Taylor on what the opposition would selected to chop public spending on. He responded:
The important thing right here just isn’t slash and burn. The important thing right here is to verify your economic system grows sooner than your spending. That’s the fiscal technique.
He wouldn’t give specifics on the place cuts may very well be anticipated below the opposition, regardless of a number of questions from Karvelas, suggesting that spending wanted to be pared again on “multiple fronts.”
Taylor did state “we don’t need corporate welfare initiatives” and spoke in opposition to the addition of 36,000 Canberra-based public servants – seemingly referencing Labor’s Future Made in Australia plan.
Would the opposition look to chop again cash on infrastructure spending? Taylor responded:
Nicely, I’m not going to announce all of our insurance policies now in your program. We’ll try this in good time within the lead-up to the election.
Shadow treasurer responds to fifteen% pay rise for childcare employees
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, has been talking with ABC RN after information the federal government will fund a 15% pay rise for childcare employees.
Requested if he supported the transfer, he stated the opposition would work its approach via the specifics and responded:
We wish to see increased actual wages for all Australians proper now, and we all know the first option to obtain that’s to beat inflation … And if we’ve bought a scenario with actual wages going backwards – which it has been the case for Australians since Labor got here to energy – then we’re not getting the end result …
The precept of upper actual wages for all Australians is one we are going to at all times help, however you’ll be able to’t obtain that if costs proceed to go up on the charge they’ve been.
Australia achieves finest end result for a single Olympic day with six-medal haul
Wednesday will go down as one of many best days in Australia’s Olympics historical past, as Matt Wearn, Keegan Palmer, the lads’s observe biking pursuit staff and Nina Kennedy all gained gold.
The six-medal haul (together with two bronze) was simply Australia’s finest for a single Olympic day – and it took the staff to a complete of 18 gold medals, 12 silvers and 11 bronze, a complete of 41 and the most effective return within the nation’s historical past.
Catch all the small print of what you missed in a single day under, from our sports activities editor, Mike Hytner, in Paris:
The prime minister was requested about criticism that elevated public spending is fuelling inflation.
Anthony Albanese pointed to 2 funds surpluses and stated this, plus cost-of-living measures, are making use of downward strain:
Charge-free Tafe, cheaper childcare, vitality value reduction – all of those measures are aimed toward ensuring we glance after individuals however achieve this in a approach that’s designed to see inflation persevering with to average, which is what we wish to make certain occurs.
15% pay rise for early training employees to make sure steady workforce: PM
Anthony Albanese was additionally requested about a proposal being put ahead for childcare centres and employees – set to obtain a 15% pay improve funded by the federal government, if centres conform to restrict payment will increase.
Requested what this may obtain, the PM stated:
What this may do is ship a 15% wage improve. 10% in December – over $100 of their pocket, in addition to an additional 5% improve on 1 December the next yr, in 2025.
This can be a two-year dedication … They deserve first rate wages and situations, and the Productiveness Fee inquiry has proven that, except we do one thing about wages on this sector, we gained’t have a workforce.
PM to welcome Olympic athletes dwelling to Australia subsequent week
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is talking with ABC Information Breakfast. First up, he congratulated the Australian athletes bringing dwelling gold medals on the Paris Olympics:
[It’s] the all-time efficiency by an Australian staff at an Olympic Video games, and all Australians are so pleased with our staff … Parliament is sitting subsequent week, so I’ll be flying up fairly early [on Wednesday] – both that or late the evening earlier than – and welcoming them dwelling.
They deserve completely each accolade that we can provide them as a result of it’s uplifting. At a time when there’s a lot battle and turmoil and unhealthy information on this planet, what they’ve given Australians is an excessive amount of pleasure and satisfaction.
Australia ‘sleepwalking into big corporate economy’, ombudsman says
Australia is “sleepwalking” into an economic system dominated by large gamers, warns an ombudsman calling for tax reductions and different insurance policies to advance small enterprise.
As AAP reviews, small corporations are nonetheless a significant employer and sizeable contributor to the nation’s financial exercise, however Australian small enterprise and household enterprise ombudsman Bruce Billson says their prominence is slipping.
In 2006, small corporations contributed 40% of gross home product and employed 53% of these with a private-sector job. Now, small corporations contribute 33% to GDP and make up 42% of the personal workforce. Billson stated:
This can be a worrying trajectory. We’re sleepwalking right into a ‘big corporate’ economic system.
Challenges introduced on by the pandemic restoration have additional weakened the small enterprise sector, with small outfits significantly susceptible to inflationary pressures and better rates of interest.
Small companies had been doing it robust within the Covid-19 restoration, Billson stated.
In the event you imagine, as I do, that small and household companies are the ‘engine room of the economy’, now we have misplaced a cylinder in a four-cylinder engine within the aftermath of Covid.
Some Australians stay residing with ex-partner due to affordability issues
A survey by comparability web site Finder has discovered some Australians are persevering with to dwell with an ex-partner due to affordability issues.
A survey of 1,049 respondents discovered that one in 5 – or 17% – had remained residing with an ex due to the price of residing. 4 per cent have been presently residing with an ex, whereas 13% had lived with an ex up to now however had since parted methods.
Gen Z (these aged 12 to 27) have been the most definitely to share a house with an ex-partner resulting from money stream worries, with 37% saying they’d completed so. That is in contrast with 11% of Gen X (44 to 59-year-olds) and 5% of child boomers (60-69).
Graham Cooke, head of shopper analysis at Finder, stated dealing with the housing market as a single particular person is daunting:
1000’s of Australians determine to separate however stay residing collectively for a protracted interval as a result of they’ll’t afford to go their separate methods … [It’s] extremely tough to search out appropriate lodging in some elements of Australia proper now so staying collectively below one roof may be probably the most lifelike possibility within the brief time period.
Good morning
Emily Wind
And blissful Thursday – because of Martin for kicking issues off! I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be with you for many of at the moment on the weblog.
As at all times, you’ll be able to attain out by way of X, @emilywindwrites, or you’ll be able to ship me an e mail, emily.wind@theguardian.com, with any ideas or story suggestions.
Let’s get began.
Nino Bucci
Extra on the Victoria disclosure case, as talked about in our earlier put up:
In relation to points about disclosure within the case uncovered by Guardian Australia, a spokesperson for Victoria’s Workplace of Public Prosecutions stated that these obligations have been shared with investigators and prosecutors, and that usually “the role each party plays in assessing whether all relevant material has been disclosed will depend on who has possession of the information”.
However Liberty Victoria stated it appeared clear that extra wanted to be completed to make sure compliance with these obligations, given the state’s anti-corruption fee had additionally lately urged the power to enhance its practices. Its president, Michelle Bennett, stated:
Victoria police ought to be taught from the criticisms it has acquired in respect of its disclosure obligations, moderately than repeat its errors.
The continued disclosure points are acquainted to these practising in felony regulation and the instance reported within the Guardian is not going to come as any shock to them.
In Liberty Victoria’s view, it’s time that the federal government introduce laws for there to be critical penalties for cops and prosecutors who fail to reveal related proof.
Requires disclosure legal guidelines after case uncovered by Guardian Australia
Nino Bucci
Liberty Victoria says failures within the correct disclosure of proof by Victoria police that have been uncovered by Guardian Australia present the state authorities ought to introduce legal guidelines to guard in opposition to comparable injustices.
In an announcement, the civil and human rights organisation stated it was deeply involved by Guardian Australia’s reporting relating to the botched police investigation into the homicide of Aguer Akech.
Guardian Australia discovered that flaws within the case led to a 15-year-old boy spending a yr in custody earlier than the homicide cost in opposition to him was dropped.
The Liberty Victoria president, Michelle Bennett, stated:
Liberty Victoria is deeply involved by current reviews within the Guardian of a 15-year-old youngster being charged with homicide and remanded in custody for nearly a yr on the premise of basically flawed proof in circumstances the place police had didn’t disclose related and exculpatory proof.
The case highlights ongoing problems with Victoria police failing to correctly abide by its obligation of disclosure. Disclosure is of elementary significance in each case, nonetheless it’s gravely worrying that Victoria police didn’t abide by their obligations in circumstances the place a toddler was being held in custody because of, in Justice Hollingworth’s phrases, a “corrupted process”.
These reviews elevate many questions on the requirements that we as a group ought to count on and demand from felony investigations and prosecutions. Disclosure of all proof – no matter whether or not it assists the prosecution or not – is a elementary and fundamental proper of each member of our group who’s investigated or prosecuted for a felony offence.
Victoria police stated in relation to disclosure within the case that it handled these issues with the “utmost importance” and ensured all workers complied with their authorized obligations.
We additionally acknowledge that this is usually a time-consuming course of throughout any investigation. In relation to this matter, recommendation was sought on a lot of events from the [Victorian government solicitor’s office] and a big period of time was required to undertake redaction of a considerable amount of materials.
New Zealand PM Chris Luxon takes swipe at Australians
New Zealand’s prime minister says “in my dealings with Australians it always pays to be incredibly simple”.
As AAP reviews, the quip by the Nationwide occasion chief, Chris Luxon, got here in response to questioning from the Labour opposition chief, Chris Hipkins, over the federal government’s use of the Māori language, referred to as te reo Māori.
This week, broadcasters TVNZ revealed the tradition minister, Paul Goldsmith, instructed officers to take away a number of te reo expressions from an invite to Matariki, the annual celebrations of the Māori New 12 months. The invitation was certain for Tony Burke, Australia’s multicultural affairs minister.
The Māori phrases included the greeting “tena koe” (which means hi there), the sign-off “naku noa, na” (which grew to become “yours sincerely”), and the removing of the extensively accepted Māori identify for New Zealand: Aotearoa.
Te reo is an official language of New Zealand, together with signal language and the de facto English, and more and more spoken by Māori after a long time of decline – partially resulting from hostile authorities insurance policies.
Luxon’s right-leaning coalition has diminished its use in authorities since taking workplace final November. Goldsmith stated he didn’t suppose Burke would know what Aotearoa meant:
It’s hardly the scandal of the century. I simply didn’t suppose it wanted a variety of te reo in it … I believed, let’s simply hold it easy.
In parliament yesterday, Hipkins included Goldsmith’s letter in a line of questioning to Luxon round ministerial requirements. Luxon:
Nicely, I’d simply say to that member, we worth te reo on this authorities. The correspondence was being directed to an Australian minister abroad and what I’d say to you in my dealings with Australians, it at all times pays to be extremely easy and clear and use English.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling information protection. I’m Martin Farrer with the most effective of the in a single day tales earlier than my colleague Emily Wind takes over.
Our prime story this morning is that the New South Wales atmosphere watchdog has vowed to crack down on the waste business after assessments discovered asbestos at seven of 13 services producing or dealing with low-cost landscaping merchandise. A Guardian Australia investigation revealed earlier this yr that comparable assessments in 2013 and 2019 discovered doubtlessly contaminated merchandise had been distributed throughout the state. Extra arising.
A Guardian investigation this week into Victoria police’s mishandling of the homicide of 17-year-old Aguer Akech has prompted requires the state authorities to introduce legal guidelines to guard in opposition to comparable injustices. Liberty Victoria stated this morning it was “gravely worrying that Victoria police failed to abide by their obligations in circumstances where a child was being held in custody as a result of, in Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth’s words, a “corrupted process”. Extra arising.
Ocean temperatures within the Nice Barrier Reef at the moment are the most well liked in not less than 400 years and are an “existential threat” to the planet’s distinctive pure marvel, in accordance with a report in Nature. Scientists analysed long-lived corals in and across the reef that hold a report of temperature hidden of their skeleton and matched them to fashionable observations. The “existential threat” to the reef from the local weather disaster was “now realised”, the scientists wrote, and with out formidable and speedy cuts to greenhouse gasoline emissions “we will likely be witness to the demise of one of the Earth’s natural wonders”.
And New Zealand’s prime minister has made a quip in parliament in regards to the intelligence of Australians that didn’t go so nicely. The Nationwide occasion chief, Chris Luxon, stated “in my dealings with Australians it always pays to be incredibly simple”. Extra on that quickly.
