Category Archives: Australia news

Queensland LNP leader accused of bowing to party’s ‘far right’ in qualifying his support for treaty

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The Liberal National party’s David Crisafulli has ruled out ‘compensation, reparations, sovereignty, right of veto’, described as key components of a treaty

The Queensland LNP leader, David Crisafulli, has been accused of bowing to the “far right” of his party by ruling out support for what a veteran activist says are four critical elements of the state’s Indigenous treaty.

Though it opposes the federal voice to parliament, the state Liberal National party unanimously voted in May to establish a truth-telling inquiry and First Nations Treaty Institute, passing legislation designed to begin the treaty process.

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Voice would help ‘change frustration’ over health and education, Linda Burney says

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Canberra has to listen to locals, minister tells a community meeting in WA, as Richard Marles says Indigenous affairs is an ‘offence to the fair go’

The Indigenous voice would help “change the frustration” of Aboriginal Australians in health and education, Linda Burney has said, adding that those issues had been “ghettoised” into her portfolio in the past rather than dealt with more closely by responsible ministers.

Speaking at a major community meeting in Western Australia’s Pilbara region on Wednesday night, the minister for Indigenous Australians said that the proposed national voice was part of the Albanese government trying to “do things differently”.

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Labor’s refusal to extend school chaplaincy tax deduction will cause cuts, Christian group says

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Parents’ secular education group wants chaplains scrapped and student wellbeing officers employed instead

Australia’s largest supplier of school chaplains has labelled the Albanese government’s decision not to extend its eligibility to receive tax deductible gifts “disappointing and unexpected”.

Scripture Union Australia has warned the decision would probably result in cuts to chaplaincy services after Labor allowed its deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, previously granted by the Morrison government, to lapse.

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Next RBA governor should not be a senior public servant, Peter Dutton says

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Speculation mounts Cabinet will sign off on decision on Friday, as Liberal leader says position should have no connection to government

A senior public servant should not be appointed the next Reserve Bank of Australia governor in order to avoid any connection with past governments, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says.

As speculation mounts the government is set to sign off on the appointment at a Cabinet meeting on Friday, Dutton said the potential successor should not come from the public service.

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Head of NSW cashless gambling panel wants trial extended to thousands more pokie machines

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Michael Foggo says more venues would provide better data and that he hoped to report back that the scheme reduces harm

The head of a panel to oversee a New South Wales trial of cashless gambling on 500 poker machines would like to see it expanded to include at least 2,500 more to enable “proper research analysis” of the scheme.

Michael Foggo, a former liquor, gaming and racing commissioner, said he also hopes to report to the state government next year that “cashless gaming works”.

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Queensland Uniting church minister opposed to same-sex marriage loses unfair dismissal claim

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Fair Work Commission rules Hedley Wycliff Atunaisa Fihaki was not employed by the church but sacking would remain valid even if he had been

A Uniting church minister who was sacked for public statements opposing the church’s position on same-sex marriage has lost his unfair dismissal claim.

Hedley Wycliff Atunaisa Fihaki was inducted as a minister of the Mooloolaba Uniting church in 2013, but was dismissed after anti-same-sex marriage statements in social and mainstream media between January 2019 and August 2021.

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Australia news live: calls for flu jab increase after second child’s death; Tasmanian Greens leader resigns

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Andrew and Nicola Forrest, billionaires in iron ore mining, have separated after 31 years of marriage.

They said the separation will not impact their mining operations, in a statement:

After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart.

Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong.

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Young renters reducing spending amid cost of living crisis more than any other group: CBA boss

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Commonwealth Bank head Matt Comyn said people who bought their first home during the pandemic had also reduced spending by around 30%

Renters are hitching their belts even tighter than mortgage holders as rising prices erode their savings capacity.

Commonwealth Bank data suggests those aged between 25 and 29, who are likely facing sharp rental increases, are pulling back on spending more than any other group.

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Nicola Forrest to become Australia’s second richest woman after split from billionaire Andrew Forrest

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Pair say decision to live apart will have no impact on their shared business interests and philanthropy

Australia’s wealthiest couple Andrew and Nicola Forrest have separated after more than three decades of marriage, but they say the split will not affect their shared business or philanthropic interests.

Most of their wealth comes from a more than one-third stake in iron ore miner Fortescue, which is attempting to diversify into hydrogen production.

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Federal MP Anne Webster allegedly received death threat from homeless man in Darwin

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The Victorian Nationals MP was allegedly threatened in phone calls and emails with the accused, 39, due to face a Brisbane court on Friday

A 39-year-old homeless man has been charged with sending a death threat to the federal Nationals MP Anne Webster.

The man, of no fixed address, was arrested by the Australian federal police at Brisbane international airport on Tuesday. He appeared in the Brisbane magistrates court on Wednesday when he was remanded in custody to reappear on Friday.

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Ex-girlfriend of Australian boxer Harry Garside charged with common assault

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Ashley Ruscoe arrested on Wednesday after investigation into alleged domestic violence incident at a Sydney home on 1 March

The ex-girlfriend of Australian boxer Harry Garside has been charged with assaulting him after charges of domestic violence were dropped against the Olympian.

Ashley Ruscoe, 35, was arrested and taken to Waverley police station on Wednesday, when she was charged with domestic violence-related offences.

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In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. International helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.

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Democracy activist Chau Van Kham says he wasn’t afraid of dying in Vietnamese prison

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In his first public comments since being released from prison, Chau thanked supporters including some kinder jail guards

The pro-democracy activist Chau Van Kham says he was not afraid of dying in a Vietnamese jail and he knew supporters in Australia would never give up on him.

In his first comments since returning to Australia, Chau on Thursday thanked everyone who had advocated for him throughout his four-and-a-half-year ordeal.

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NSW appoints former gaming commissioner to lead panel into cashless gambling trial

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Michael Foggo to help oversee the delayed pilot program, now expected to begin before November

Former New South Wales Liquor, Gaming and Racing commissioner Michael Foggo will lead a panel of 16 to design and oversee the state’s government’s delayed cashless gambling trial, which is now expected to begin before November.

The appointments will be made today by the premier, Chris Minns, who will also announce a departmental review of the ClubGrants scheme that critics have argued is used by some clubs to funnel money back towards themselves with little transparency or oversight.

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Where to next for the Australian economy, the RBA – and Philip Lowe?

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The Reserve Bank governor will soon find out if his term has been extended – but economic hints from major banks tell a happier story than expected

Philip Lowe may yet go down as one of the unluckiest central bank governors in Australian history or perhaps elsewhere.

Within a few days, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will decide on whether to extend the Reserve Bank governor’s seven-year contract when it concludes in mid-September. Few expect Lowe will get the nod to stay on.

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Indigenous voice: no campaign’s deep links to conservative Christian politics

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The no camp employs lobbyists that specialise in conservative Christian campaigning, Guardian Australia can reveal

The lobby groups campaigning to sink the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum have deep links to a number of conservative Christian organisations and consultancies, a Guardian investigation can reveal.

The no campaign is working with companies that appear to specialise in conservative Christian campaigning, including a US-headquartered marketing and fundraising firm that aims to help Christian nonprofit ministries “fulfill their mission”. Our investigation also shows links between the no campaign and the failed conservative push to defeat the marriage equality postal survey in 2017.

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CEOs at Australia’s biggest companies earn 55 times more than typical worker, report finds

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Acsi says earnings at 100 largest listed firms show ‘more restraint’ but ‘everyone wins a prize’ attitude still prevails

Chief executives at Australia’s biggest companies are earning 55 times more than a typical worker, according to the country’s biggest governance adviser.

CEO pay at the 100 largest listed firms averaged at $5.2m in the 2022 financial year, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (Acsi) said in a new report. The report found executive pay fell from 2021 levels, but noted that period had particularly high CEO pay rates.

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Australian trial of seaweed cow feed fails to achieve hoped-for methane cuts

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Longest trial so far of supplement derived from red seaweed produced 28% less of the greenhouse gas – much lower than previous studies

One of the world’s longest commercial trials of a seaweed supplement that the global meat industry hopes could slash methane from beef cattle has recorded much lower reductions in the potent greenhouse gas than previous studies.

Putting the supplement into the diets of 40 wagyu cattle in an Australian feedlot for 300 days cut the methane they produced by 28%.

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Woodside LNG: Australia’s ‘biggest’ contribution to climate crisis a step closer to 50-year extension

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WA EPA dismisses most grounds of appeal against extension of operation licence for gas processing facility in the Pilbara

One of Australia’s biggest fossil fuel developments is a step closer to having its life extended for nearly 50 years after Western Australian officials dismissed appeals arguing it should be stopped on climate science and cultural grounds.

More than 750 organisations and individuals last year lodged objections to a WA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) recommendation that oil and gas company Woodside be allowed to operate its gas processing facility in the Pilbara until 2070.

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Australia news live: ANZ says customers ‘by and large are faring extremely well’ despite interest rates squeeze

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A student on New South Wales’s Central Coast has died after contracting the influenza virus, just days after NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant warned circulation of influenza B was rising and young people were at heightened risk from the strain.

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Having a budget which is in much better nick means that if at some future point – and we’re not contemplating additional measures right now – but at some future point if we need to, we do that from a much more solid foundation. And that’s because we’re managing the budget so responsibly.

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Wastewater tests reveal the most popular drugs in each Australian capital city

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Illicit drug use in Australia jumped over summer despite a string of high-profile drug busts

Sydneysiders consume the most cocaine, Melburnians the most heroin, Darwin ranks highest for alcohol while cannabis is most popular in Hobart, wastewater analysis reveals.

The findings from the latest national wastewater drug monitoring report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission were based on wastewater testing at 57 treatment plants in capital cities and regional areas from December 2022 to February 2023.

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