Troops, planes and warships to help guard the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East where tensions are flaring with Iran
Australia will send troops, planes and warships to help guard the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said Australia would make a “modest and time-limited” contribution to international efforts to protect freedom of navigation in the region.
Continue reading...Badiucao accuses the social media firm of violating the free speech of people who speak up against China’s bullying
A Melbourne artist who posted anti-Chinese government work has had it pulled offline by Instagram, while death threats against him have remained uncensored.
The censorship of Badiucao – and later restoration – by Instagram came as Twitter and Facebook suspended more than 200,000 accounts deemed to be part of a “co-ordinated state-backed operation” of misinformation from the People’s Republic of China.
Continue reading...Total of 19 big advertisers have dropped his breakfast program after comments he made about Jacinda Ardern
Broadcaster Alan Jones says advertisers who chose to abandon his program because of his slurs against women will be replaced by others.
“I’ve got no comment about the advertisers, they can make their own judgement if they go,” a defiant Jones told Nine News. “There will be others that take their place.”
Continue reading...Inquiry looking at Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop’s new corporate jobs will demand Martin Parkinson attend
Australia’s most senior public servant is refusing to appear before an inquiry into Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop’s controversial new corporate jobs, saying it would not be “worthwhile” for him to give any further evidence.
The stance of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary, Martin Parkinson, has prompted stern words from the Senate committee chair Jenny McAllister, who has now demanded he appear as requested.
Continue reading...Scott Morrison should bring strong climate commitments to next year’s forum to avoid a repeat of this year’s summit
Last week at the close of the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu I described the leaders’ discussions as frank and fierce. It is now well-known that the leaders debated the text of the Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now for many hours. I do not want to comment on the tone of the debate, as many others have done that already.
Instead, as incoming Pacific Islands Forum chair, Vanuatu has a message for Australia: we ask that Australia prepares well ahead of the next forum meeting in 2020 and comes to the table ready to make real, tangible commitments on climate change.
Continue reading...Amid debate around the low rate of Newstart, for those nearing pension age, a collision of policy adjustments is taking its toll
Marie Jentner’s husband was dying when Centrelink gave her some more bad news: she was now a jobseeker.
At 62, she had quit her job of 27 years to care for Siegfried, who had testicular cancer and couldn’t walk or look after himself. When he was moved into palliative care the following year, Jentner’s carer’s payment was cancelled and she was put on the lower Newstart allowance.
Continue reading...Clover Moore warns NSW planning rules at stake after Berejiklian says suburb is ‘open for business and ready to be taken to the next level’
The lord mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, has warned that “the entire credibility of the planning system” in New South Wales is at stake after the premier intervened to order a speedy review of planning controls in Pyrmont, where her own planning department has blocked the development of a 62-storey tower on top of Star casino.
The rejection of the Star proposal for the 237 metre tower, in the historic area zoned for eight storeys to the west of the CBD, has bitterly divided the state government and led to a ferocious campaign by Star, aided by the Daily Telegraph and radio talkback host Alan Jones.
Continue reading...The deputy prime minister’s comments about the Pacific were both insulting and wrong
Australia’s diplomatic performance throughout the Pacific Islands Forum has evoked a colonial arrogance that many hoped was in the past. While Pacific Island states raised understandable concerns about the climate emergency and rising sea levels, Australia’s response was to insist on the removal of references to coal from the official communique.
The deputy PM, Michael McCormack, who was left in charge of the government while Morrison was busy dismissing our neighbours’ concerns in Tuvalu, continued the insults at home.
Continue reading...Labor says PM has trashed Australia’s standing as former Kiribati president urges review of Australia’s membership
Labor has accused Scott Morrison of trashing Australia’s standing in the Pacific and alienating its friends at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu, while a former president of Kiribati has urged Australia’s membership to be reviewed.
Anote Tong said the forum should consider possible sanctions or suspension of Australia for its continued “protestations” on coal and climate.
Continue reading...Victoria police say they will not tolerate ‘those who break the law or engage in antisocial or violent behaviour’
Two men have been interviewed by police after a clash between pro-Hong Kong and pro-China demonstrators at a rally in Melbourne’s CBD turned violent.
Hundreds gathered outside the State Library on Swanston Street from about 7pm on Friday for a planned rally in solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong. It turned violent when a group of pro-China protesters arrived. The event was estimated to have attracted 600 people at its peak.
Continue reading...Exclusive: Frank Bainimarama says Australian leader is pushing nations towards China
Scott Morrison has been accused of causing an extraordinary rift between Australia and Pacific countries by the prime minister of Fiji, who said the Australian prime minister’s insulting behaviour while at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu would push nations closer to China.
In an exclusive interview with Guardian Australia after the conclusion of the PIF, Frank Bainimarama, the prime minister of Fiji and a political heavyweight in the region, said Morrison’s approach during the leaders’ retreat on Thursday was “very insulting and condescending”.
Continue reading...Matthew James Williams sentenced for ‘horrifying’ attack on pair in Jindabyne
A British ski instructor has been jailed for 10 years for raping a woman and physically assaulting her male friend in Australia.
Matthew James Williams, 29, attacked the pair on a street in Jindabyne, south of Canberra and near the border between New South Wales and Victoria, in July 2018. He had followed the woman and her 25-year-old companion after they left a pub to walk home.
Continue reading...Exclusive: Michael McCormack says island nations want Australia to shut down industry ‘so they can survive’
Pacific island nations affected by the climate crisis will continue to survive “because many of their workers come here to pick our fruit”, Australia’s deputy prime minister has said.
Michael McCormack’s comments were made after critical talks at the Pacific Islands Forum that almost collapsed over Australia’s positions on coal and climate change.
Continue reading...Deputy prime minister of Australia Michael McCormack says people in the climate threatened Pacific islands will ‘continue to survive because many of their workers come here and pick our fruit’.
Continue reading...Killer fled with body while tourist’s Canadian partner ran several kilometres to get help
A man has been charged over the murder of Australian surfer Sean McKinnon, who was shot in a random attack while camping in New Zealand.
The 23-year-old man will face Hamilton district court on Saturday charged with murder, aggravated robbery and threatening to kill, New Zealand Police said.
Continue reading...Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison came under fire from Tuvalu’s leader Enele Sopoaga
Critical talks at the Pacific Islands Forum almost collapsed twice amid “fierce” clashes between the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and Tuvalu’s prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, over Australia’s “red lines” on climate change.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s foreign minister, who was part of the drafting committee of the forum communique and observed the leaders’ retreat, said there was heated discussion over the Australian delegation’s insistence on the removal of references to coal, setting a target of limiting global warming to below 1.5C and announcing a strategy for zero emissions by 2050.
Continue reading...Labor accuses government of being ‘complacent’ about economy as ASX200 falls amid fears of a global recession
The Australian stock market has suffered its worst day in almost 18 months after $63bn was wiped off the value of shares amid mounting fears of a global recession.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday tumbled 187.8 points, or 2.85%, to 6,408.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries shed 186.7 points, or 2.8%, to 6,490.8 points.
Continue reading...Sources say Canberra has softened language, getting rid of all but one reference to coal
Australia has succeeded in removing all but one reference to coal on the draft communique of the Pacific Islands Forum, and is expected to be able to get that removed on Thursday as Pacific leaders including Scott Morrison meet to debate the text.
Sources familiar with the negotiations on the communique, which is used for regional policy making, told Guardian Australia that Australia has been working hard during negotiations to soften the language on climate change and has succeeded in many mentions.
Continue reading...Jacinda Ardern has declared that ‘Australia has to answer to the Pacific’ on climate change, saying that New Zealand is doing what it can to limit global emissions and expects other nations to do the same. Pacific leaders have this week been urging Australia to commit to urgent action to reduce emissions
Continue reading...The family of the 24-year-old woman, whose body was found in a Clarence Street unit after Tuesday’s rampage, asked for privacy
The woman murdered in a vicious knife attack in Sydney has been named as Michaela Dunn.
The 24-year-old was allegedly killed at an apartment on Clarence Street in city’s CBD on Tuesday by Mert Ney, a 20-year-old who police say had a history of mental health issues.
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