Australians are grieving for those killed on both sides of Israel-Hamas war, Adam Bandt tells protesters
About 15,000 people have attended a rally supporting Palestine in Melbourne, with the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, telling the crowd they were mourning for those who had died on both sides of the bloody conflict.
Sunday’s protest was one of several held across the country at the weekend. Victoria police said that there were “no major incidents of note”.
Continue reading...Preschoolers with severe burns airlifted to hospital in Melbourne, Ambulance Victoria says
Two children have died and two others are in a critical condition after a shed fire in Geelong in south-west Victoria.
Two children died at the scene in Corio on Sunday morning while the other two preschoolers were flown to hospital. All four children are yet to be formally identified.
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The Albanese government says it has reached an agreement with China on tariffs placed on Australian wine.
In a statement on Sunday, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese welcomed the progress ahead of his meeting with China’s president, Xi Jinping, in early November, saying the government is “confident of a successful outcome”.
The agreement means China will undertake an expedited five-month review of the duties it places on Australian wine producers. Australia and China have paused the World Trade Organization dispute until the review is finished.
Australia will resume the WTO dispute if the duties aren’t dropped after the review period.
Albanese will visit Beijing between 4 and 7 November to meet Xi and the premier, Li Qiang, and attend the China International Import Expo.
The leaders are expected to discuss economic links, climate change and links between their people.
Albanese said:
I look forward to visiting China, an important step towards ensuring a stable and productive relationship … I welcome the progress we have made to return Australian products, including Australian wine, to the Chinese market. Strong trade benefits both countries.
Continue reading...After the voice referendum, John Pesutto appears non-committal on treaty – but it’s unclear whether an about-face will be well-received in the ‘Massachusetts of Australia’
It was not even 18 months ago that the Victorian Coalition was seeking to dispel the “myth” that only the Labor party supported a treaty with the state’s First Nations people.
“This side of the house, both the Liberal and the National parties, are committed to working with the Indigenous community on treaty,” the Nationals leader, Peter Walsh, told parliament last year when he spoke in support of a bill establishing a Treaty Authority.
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No move on paying super to people on paid parental leave
But so far, the government has not moved on paying superannuation to parents (mostly women) on paid parental leave.
Super, of course, is really important and it’s something we would very much like to look to in the future when the budget can afford it. But this is a very big step forward, the current arrangements, but we’ll continue to look around superannuation into the future and consider it in each budget context.
I think with the reserved period as well, we’re going to see an increase in shared care, both parents taking some time out, which is really, really important if we want to get a more equal burden of, you know, of that share of care.
So that is really important as well.
Continue reading...Treasurer Tim Pallas says refunds being considered after high court ruled charge was unconstitutional
Labor governments in three states are pressing the commonwealth to consider national road-user charging, after the high court struck down Victoria’s electric vehicle tax.
On Thursday the Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, said the government will consider refunding a tax paid by electric vehicle owners after the high court deemed it invalid, but suggests registration costs could rise or a national levy could be implemented in its place.
Continue reading...Court hears the woman fell asleep and awoke to find Mathieson sucking on her breast in March 2022
Julia Gillard’s former partner Tim Mathieson has been convicted and fined $7,000 for the sexual assault of a friend that left her feeling so unsafe she moved interstate.
The 67-year-old formally pleaded guilty in the Melbourne magistrates court on Thursday.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
Continue reading...Venues owned by four clubs legally claimed a total of $8.6m in operating costs under Victorian scheme
Poker machine venues owned by AFL clubs have been spending millions of dollars in revenue on themselves – from kitchen renovations to Foxtel subscriptions – while claiming the costs as a community benefit to lower their tax bill.
Eight venues, owned by Carlton, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda, collectively spent $8.6m on operating costs last year, legally claiming it under the state’s community benefits scheme.
Continue reading...An array of state charges including waste levies could potentially be unlawful after court overturns 1974 precedent on consumption taxes
Victoria’s electric vehicle tax has been struck down by the high court in a landmark case likely to bar all state-level road user charges and expose other state levies to challenge.
On Wednesday, a majority of the high court ruled in favour of two electric car drivers who argued that the imposition of a tax by the Victorian government per kilometre driven was unconstitutional because the states do not have the power to impose such excise taxes on consumption.
Continue reading...‘Protection of civilian lives must come first and respect for international humanitarian law is paramount,’ Australian foreign minister says. Follow the day’s news live
Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour speaks on the referendum
Just before the house adjourned for the evening on Tuesday, Labor Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour gave a speech about the referendum which is very much worth your time:
I want to say a few things about what led us to the recent referendum and what it means for those first peoples Australians most affected by the outcome, particularly the first peoples Australians in my electorate of Lingiari.
Because of some arcane parliamentary tradition, which I understand derives from English House of Commons, we are obliged to call the making of a speech at this time and in this place a ‘grievance debate’.
The price tag of Israel’s right to defend itself cannot be the destruction of Palestine.
Israel’s right to defend its civilians cannot equate to the annihilation of Palestinian civilians. I hereby call for an immediate ceasefire to come into effect, alongside many world leaders and experts.
Continue reading...Government says research suggests survivors of strangulation are more likely to be seriously injured or murdered by the same partner
Victoria will make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence and consider including cruelty to animals under the state’s family violence laws.
Describing the act as the “reddest of red flags”, the attorney general, Jaclyn Symes, on Wednesday announced the crimes amendment (non-fatal strangulation) bill would be introduced to parliament.
Continue reading...Suspected suicides of the five who were undergoing gender affirming processes to be examined starting next month
Emotional wellbeing support for transgender people will be investigated as part of a coronial inquiry into the suspected suicides of five people who were undergoing gender affirmation processes before their deaths.
The Victorian coroners will next month begin a four-day inquest into the deaths of five transgender and gender-diverse people between 2020 and 2021.
Continue reading...Report into Maribyrnong floods says it is still unclear if construction of wall contributed to damage of residents’ homes
The head of Victoria Racing Club says a flood wall it erected around Melbourne’s Flemington racecourse “served its purpose” after the site was left undamaged during last October’s flooding that left nearby homesinundated.
Victoria Racing Club and Melbourne Water fronted a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday into last October’s floods, after a report – commissioned by the water authority – into the Maribyrnong flooding that affected more than 500 homes was handed down on Friday. The review concluded it was unclear whether the flood wall had exacerbated flooding for residents, saying the available material did not allow a conclusion to be made.
Continue reading...The introduction of 7.5% levy on short-stays will have ‘disproportionate impact on budget accomodation’, company’s head of public policy says
Airbnb will urge the Victorian government to exclude private room bookings and other “budget accommodation” from its recently-announced 7.5% levy on short-stays, and has cautioned other states from immediately following suit.
At a media event on Wednesday morning, the company’s head of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, Michael Crosby, said he was “disappointed” the levy was limited to short-stay platforms, having previously pushed for a 3-5% tax on all accommodation providers.
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Heavy traffic near Sydney airport after truck crash and fluid spill
Traffic remains heavy near Sydney airport after a two-truck crash caused a fluid spill.
This is one of the most important priorities for us coming out of what’s occurred in the previous days.
Minister Wong is [working] really hard on that. The Australian government will do whatever is necessary to protect [its] citizens.
We’ll do whatever is necessary to make sure we can secure the safety of Australians … We’re working very hard to make sure we protect Australians not just overseas, but here at home.
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AAP has the latest polling results ahead of the Indigenous voice referendum day this Saturday:
Two surveys show the no campaign is still ahead a week out from referendum day despite one poll indicating a slight late gain in support for the yes vote in the past month.
Not at all. It’s only done when people cast their ballots.
We’ll wait and see when they cast their vote. I’m not getting ahead of the Australian people.
I know there’s some arrogance has crept into the no side campaign, but it’s a campaign based upon fear and it’s similar to the sort of arguments that were put prior to the apology to stolen generations. And if people think about that … there weren’t any negative consequences for anyone.
Continue reading...From a bungled tax announcement to muddled performances from ministers, the best laid plans for a smooth handover quickly went awry
There’s no doubt that when Daniel Andrews resigned as Victoria’s premier he had planned a perfect handover for his successor, Jacinta Allan.
Over several years, he grew their socialist left faction to greatly outnumber the right, meaning Allan would be able to fend off any possible challenge for the leadership.
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Rain expected to ease over flooded regions in Victoria
The good news is no more rain is expected over flooded regions in Victoria, VicSES deputy chief officer David Baker told ABC News:
The big tap in the sky has been turned off. That’s great news for us. So what we’re dealing with now is what’s currently in the river systems that will need to flush itself through the systems. And we can assess that and we can manage that and put efforts in place to make sure that communities are out of harm’s way. So the good news is no more serious rain expected, and a pretty stable system, I understand, until at least … next week.
We estimate up to 130 properties may be impacted by the event, hence we issued an Emergency warning late yesterday afternoon which was renewed during the early hours of the morning.
It’s mainly homes in that area. Rural homes that may see what we call above floor inundation.
Continue reading...Parliamentary inquiry hears organising committee wrote to the then games minister in April about additional funding and reducing costs
The organising committee tasked with delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Games has told a parliamentary inquiry that Jacinta Allan was warned about rising cost of running the event three months before it was cancelled by the government.
In its submission to parliament’s upper house inquiry into the canned event, Victoria 2026 reveals it wrote to Jacinta Allan – who was then deputy premier and Commonwealth Games minister – in April to request additional funding.
Continue reading...Jeremy Rockliff writes to Elise Archer asking that she advise whether she will remain in parliament
No property loss in hunter region bushfires, NSW RFS deputy commissioner says
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, NSW RFS deputy commissioner Peter McAfee also provided an update on the bushfires in the Hunter region.
So some really great saves by firefighters in really challenging conditions.
We still have some high fire danger days right across northern NSW with with extreme up in the north-west, so it’s not over this period of fire activity, but some good news to see that change moving through the southern part of the state.
It really was a serious incident there right into the evening, with crews protecting properties throughout.
We’ll have our teams in there at daylight this morning. They’re already getting in there, just looking at exactly what’s occurred. It’s [was] too dangerous to do all that work overnight.
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