Category Archives: Australia news

Peter Garrett says nuclear submarine deal ‘most costly and risky’ action ever taken by an Australian government

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Midnight Oil frontman and ex Labor minister says the deal ‘stinks’ and backing Coalition’s Aukus pact is departure from established ALP policy

Former Labor environment minister Peter Garrett has lashed the Aukus nuclear submarine deal, calling the former Coalition administration’s decision “the most costly and risky action ever taken by any Australian government” and saying Anthony Albanese’s decision to back it was a departure from established ALP policy.

The Midnight Oil frontman and longtime nuclear disarmament activist claimed the $368 billion deal “stinks”, suggesting the money could be better spent and raising concerns about how Australia will dispose of nuclear waste from the boats.

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Linda Burney insists ‘there is no division’ with Indigenous voice working group yet to finalise advice

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With group to meet again, timetable leaves only a few days for advice to be considered before cabinet meeting

Federal cabinet will have only a few days to consider crucial advice on the voice to parliament from the government’s internal group of Indigenous leaders, with one key member saying both sides may have to “compromise” on the wording of the referendum question and constitutional amendment.

The government’s commitment to introduce legislation for the constitutional amendment in the coming fortnight has been complicated by its referendum working group not yet finalising its advice on key details. But ahead of further meetings next week in Canberra, the Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, rebuffed speculation about disagreement in the working group.

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University lecturer ‘deeply sorry’ for killing wife after argument, Melbourne court hears

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Adam Brown has pleaded guilty to murdering Chen Cheng at their home in April 2022

A university lecturer is “deeply sorry” for stabbing his wife to death after an argument about kindergarten plans escalated into the couple arming themselves with knives, a Melbourne court has heard.

Adam Brown, 40, a former Deakin University digital media lecturer who also taught gender studies and women’s history, last year pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife of five years, Chen Cheng.

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Four arrested after climate protesters occupy Dominic Perrottet’s office – as it happened

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Six teenagers and a dozen adults occupied NSW premier’s office, protesting approval of new coal and gas projects. This blog is now closed

We’ve got some more information on the news the Albanese government is set to spend $1.3bn buying 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said Australia would be working closely with the US to get more missile capability.

Making sure we have longer-range strike missiles is a really important capability for the country. It enables us to be able to reach out beyond our shores further and that’s ultimately how we are able to keep Australia safe.

The cruise missiles are a critical part of that, as are the submarines that launch them.

Our banking system is really well capitalised. It’s well regulated. We’re well placed in Australia to withstand some of the vulnerability in banking systems.

Whether it’s Silicon Valley banks, and the steps taken by the Americans, or credit Swiss, and the loans provided by the central bank, we’re monitoring it closely.

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Aukus nuclear submarine deal will be ‘too big to fail’, Richard Marles says

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Australia’s defence minister plays down concerns multi-decade plan could be vulnerable to political changes in the US and UK

Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine deal with the US and the UK will rapidly become “too big to fail”, the deputy prime minister has said.

Richard Marles made the comment in an interview with Guardian Australia’s politics podcast, pushing back at the idea the multidecade Aukus plan could be vulnerable to political changes in both the US and the UK.

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AFL boss Gillon McLachlan admits there are too many gambling ads and hints at tighter restrictions

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The CEO’s comments follow criticism from politicians, players and fans who support a ban on TV and radio adverts

The AFL chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, has admitted there are too many gambling ads associated with the sport and indicated restrictions will be tightened as the federal government considers a broader crackdown.

McLachlan’s comments come after criticism from politicians, researchers, health professionals, players, gambling addicts and fans who now overwhelmingly support a ban on sports gambling ads on television and radio to reduce community harm.

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Most of Lord Howe Island closed to visitors after outbreak of plant fungus

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Permanent park preserve temporarily closed over fears myrtle rust outbreak may compromise endemic plant species

The majority of Lord Howe Island has been closed to nonessential visitors due to an outbreak of myrtle rust, a highly infectious plant fungus.

Lord Howe’s permanent park preserve, which covers about 70% of the world heritage–listed island, was “temporarily closed to all nonessential visitors, effective immediately”, the Lord Howe Island Board said.

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Australia the second thirstiest country for bottled water despite paying the highest prices

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New UN report finds the average Australian spent $580 buying 504L of bottled water in 2021

Australia has the most expensive bottled water on the planet but that hasn’t curbed consumer thirst for something people can basically get for free.

On average, Australians each spent about $580 buying 504 litres of bottled water in 2021, a new UN report shows.

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Voice referendum bills still on track for parliament, Labor says, despite impasse in negotiations

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Albanese government hopes to progress two bills in the coming parliamentary fortnight as working group advice is finalised

The Albanese government plans to progress two bills to set up the Indigenous voice referendum in the coming parliamentary fortnight, remaining confident the process remains on track despite its expert group of Aboriginal leaders still finalising its crucial advice to cabinet.

The referendum working group was expected to confirm its advice to government on the exact wording of the question and the constitutional amendment on Thursday. But a communique from its meeting in Adelaide, issued by Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney’s office, said the process was still ongoing.

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‘Path of error and danger’: China angry and confused over Aukus deal

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Deal is designed to counter perceived threat from Beijing but analysts in China say it could push region closer to conflict

When the UK, the US and Australia announced the details of their multibillion-dollar deal to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines on Monday, the reaction in China was both outrage and confusion.

The allies were “walking further and further down the path of error and danger”, said Wang Wenbin, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, on Tuesday. The Chinese mission to the UN accused the three countries of fuelling an arms race.

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Myer to close flagship Queensland store in Brisbane’s Queen Street mall

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Retail company to vacate premises at the Myer Centre it opened in 1988 after talks broke down with landlord over new lease

Myer will close its flagship Queensland store in Brisbane’s Queen Street mall after more than three decades.

The retail company says it will vacate its five-floor store in the Myer Centre days after posting a 24% jump in half-yearly sales.

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Liberal MP blasts Scott Morrison over unknown appointment as second post revealed

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Former PM appointed Michelle Landry and Ben Morton to administer departments in moves not widely known at the time

Liberal MP Karen Andrews has blasted Scott Morrison for appointing former minister Ben Morton to administer the home affairs department in 2021, saying there was “no reason to keep it hidden” and claiming she was not told about it as the minister in that portfolio.

It has also emerged that Nationals MP Michelle Landry was appointed to administer the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) at the same time and in the same manner as Morton, in moves that were gazetted but not widely known at the time.

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Qantas criticised for ‘unfair’ Covid credit scheme despite 12-month extension

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Choice says flight credits should work like gift cards with customers able to split them over a number of transactions

Qantas and Jetstar are being criticised for an “unfair” Covid credit scheme, despite extending the deadline for customers to use the credits by 12 months.

The airlines announced on Thursday they were giving customers an additional 12 months to use their Covid credits, carry-overs from the extensive cancellations and border closures that came during the pandemic.

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Covid cases on the rise in NSW with a ‘patchwork quilt’ of variants

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Experts say data points to early signs of a new wave but, given level of immunity, is not expected to be as severe as in the past

New South Wales is experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases, with one expert warning the data indicates early signs of a new wave with a “patchwork quilt” of variants.

NSW Health recorded 8,032 Covid cases in the week to Saturday, an increase of 9.2% from the previous week.

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Myer to close flagship Brisbane store – as it happened

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This blog is now closed.

Turnbull concerned about UK economic situation

Malcolm Turnbull rounded out his concerns there with one shared with Paul Keating – although the language he used was a little more moderated than the former Labor PM is famous for.

The bottom line is their economy is sick. It’s got fundamental, sort of existential problems. And you’ve got to ask yourself, whether Britain is going to be able to sustain investment in its navy and its military in the years ahead, given this huge demand that they’ve got elsewhere, not least the National Health Service.

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Queensland passes controversial youth crime laws after heated human rights debate

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New laws include the overriding of the Human Rights Act to allow children to be charged for breaching bail

The Queensland government’s controversial youth crime laws have been passed in parliament despite strong opposition by human rights advocates and experts who warn they are ineffective and will result in more children incarcerated.

The laws include overriding the state’s Human Rights Act to make breach of bail an offence for children. They will also expand an electronic monitoring trial for children as young as 15 and provide additional funding of $9m to assist victims of crime.

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Chinese official asks if Australia’s Aukus nuclear submarines intended for ‘sightseeing’

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Multiple sources present confirm the remark was made, but it is unclear if it was made sarcastically

A Chinese embassy official asked Australian officials during an Aukus briefing whether the nuclear-powered submarines were intended for “sightseeing”, according to multiple sources.

Guardian Australia understands several others in the room found the intervention curious, because the Australian government has made no secret of the fact the nuclear-powered submarines are to be used by the Royal Australian Navy.

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Matt Kean exploring a move to federal politics if Coalition loses NSW election, sources say

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Figures close to Kean said the Liberal treasurer, a high-profile moderate, has floated the idea

The New South Wales treasurer, Liberal Matt Kean, is said to be considering a move to Canberra if the Perrottet government suffers a defeat on Saturday week in the state election.

Figures close to Kean told the Guardian he has floated the idea and is exploring possible avenues into federal parliament, but his decision would depend on whether the Coalition lost in NSW on 25 March and by what margin, as this would determine how long they would be out of office in NSW.

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AFL to stick with gambling ads despite more than 75% of fans supporting bans

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A survey found the number of gambling ads was the top concern among fans, ahead of umpiring and rule changes

A deluge of gambling ads is expected to continue this AFL season despite the promotions becoming the most common fan concern and politicians blasting them as “completely and utterly out of step” with community expectations.

Multiple gambling insiders who wished to remain anonymous have told Guardian Australia the volume of ads will remain steady despite increasing criticism, as the online wagering industry becomes more competitive and companies jostle for market share.

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Workers face longer hours for less pay without productivity boost, Jim Chalmers says

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Treasurer says Australia must improve service delivery in the care sector to offset ‘woeful’ economic indicators

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says Australians’ incomes will fall and the working week will get longer without major boosts to productivity, saying the nation must boost service delivery in the care sector to offset some “woeful” economic indicators.

Ahead of releasing the Productivity Commission’s five-yearly report on Friday, Chalmers again downplayed the prospect of major cost-of-living relief in the May budget, but said it would be soon become a focus for the government.

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