The 13-year-old boy and a 51-year-old woman were rescued from the Glenelg River near South Australia border in early hours of Sunday
Two kayakers missing in Victoria’s south-west were located after a resourceful 13-year-old used his watch to signal a police helicopter.
The kayakers – a teenage boy and a 51-year-old Mount Gambier woman – failed to return to their rendezvous point near the Keegans Bend Track at Drik Drik about 8pm on Saturday.
Continue reading...Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy are stuck at home – but that hasn’t made Victorian politics that much quieter
Both of Victoria’s political leaders were stuck at home this week – Daniel Andrews having tested positive for Covid-19 and Matthew Guy as a close contact of his nine-year-old son.
But it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference if they weren’t.
Continue reading...Scott Morrison says Bushmaster vehicles bound for Ukraine after confusion in Senate estimates; PM delaying election announcement to run political ads, Albanese claims; Michele Bullock becomes first female deputy governor of RBA; child younger than five in SA among at least 16 Covid-related deaths across nation. This blog is now closed
Independent Zali Steggall has certainly caused a stir last night after she was pushed to admit on Q&A that, if the Coalition was to change their leadership (and give Morrison the boot) she would be open to the idea of supporting them if it came down to a hung parliament.
Steggall:
Well, where it’s changed is the conversation we’ve just had around leadership. And I do have grave concerns in relation to Scott Morrison’s leadership.
I want to be clear on this. If they had a different leader, you might support them into a minority government?
Ah, that is obviously an open possibility.
Look, I think if you look at Steggall’s voting record she’s been with the Labor party and the Greens on many more occasions than she’s been with the Liberal party so we should be realistic.
I think we should look at words and actions. I know Zali, I deal with her, I like her but I would be amazed if Zali Steggall supported the Liberal party if there was to be a hung parliament.
We know that [China has] been trying to get into Papa New Guinea and elsewhere to build ports. We know that they’re already in Sri Lanka. And this is a very concerning development.
On that question of whether it’s become a done deal or whether we can you know, stop it. What’s, what’s your view on that?
Well, again, I mean, there are some things that we’ll say publicly and other things that we’re able to do privately and we’re working closely with the Solomon Islands ...
I mean, they’re a sovereign nation, and they have the ability to make decisions for themselves and we fully respect that and they will do what’s in what they believe is in their country’s best interest, but I think there are many neighbouring countries in the region who have expressed their concern, rightly, about this development.
Continue reading...Chartered helicopter was flying in convoy with second helicopter when it went missing on Thursday morning
Police have confirmed five people have died in a helicopter crash at Mount Disappointment, north of Melbourne.
The helicopter was travelling in a convoy with another helicopter over the area, which is 60km north of the Victorian capital, when it disappeared just after 9.30am on Thursday.
Continue reading...Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Australian contribution to become more critical as Scott Morrison pledges extra $25m in military assistance to Ukraine; Sydney rainfall tops record set in 1956; flood and hazardous surf warnings across NSW; nation records 32 Covid deaths. This blog is now closed
Parliament has passed legislation that can stop deadly mitochondrial disease in babies, using a partial DNA donation. It passed in the Senate scramble last night. Here’s the background:
Communities in the northern rivers region of NSW are going to get some reprieve from the rain today as the east coast low drifts away from the coast.
MP Clifford Hayes says reform is needed to rebuild public trust in political parties
A Victorian crossbench MP is set to introduce a motion to parliament next week calling on the government to overhaul the state’s “weak” donation laws.
It comes after the Centre for Public Integrity last week urged the government to strengthen rules around political donations, election advertising and lobbying ahead of the November poll.
Continue reading...Many buildings in Lismore are ‘expected to flood again’ as CBD ordered to evacuate; severe weather warning for large parts of NSW; foreign minister announces ‘Magnitsky-style sanctions’ targeting 39 Russians; treasurer Josh Frydenberg says election will be held ‘in a matter of weeks’; nation records 24 Covid deaths, with record high daily case numbers in Tasmania. Follow the latest updates live
The New South Wales government has approved fewer than 400 disaster relief grants for flood-ravaged northern rivers businesses, despite receiving almost 8,000 requests for help since applications opened almost a month ago.
After the state’s north was left reeling by weeks of devastating floods, the government announced grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses to help pay for cleanup costs, repairs, replace damaged stock and to lease temporary premises.
Today it’s been revealed that the unemployment rate will have a friend for the first time in 50 years. This is a remarkable achievement that belongs to 26 million Australians. We’ve avoided the scouring of the labour market so reminiscent of previous recessions in Australia in the 80s and 90s.
We now have an unemployment rate that is very, very low and we are banking that dividend, now with the cost of living.
Would you be providing that if Australians weren’t going to the polls in a matter of weeks?
We would of course be providing cost-of-living relief given the circumstances that Australia now faces. There’s higher expected inflation, indeed, it’s a global phenomenon. There’s petrol prices rising above $2 a litre and with the other challenges on Australian companies.
Continue reading...Both Daniel Andrews and the opposition leader are now in isolation as Covid cases rise across the state
A quick summary of all the Victorian news you need to know on Tuesday 29 March.
Continue reading...Lismore and NSW SES issue evacuation orders; man dies in flood waters at Kingsthorpe; Victorian premier to isolate for seven days after positive Covid test; Star casino group chief steps down; nation records three Covid deaths, all in NSW. This blog is now closed
I love this series. It’s called Sorted and it’s a subjective, entirely arbitrary and fascinating ranking of things by Guardian Australia contributors. Check this out from Charmaine Manuel:
If you’re in Victoria, there are planned Extinction Rebellion blockades today. XR says “the times and locations are secret”, but this morning they are targeting the Exxon Mobil depot in Yarraville.
We are aiming to cause sustained disruption.
Continue reading...Men earn $2.67 per hour more than women on average, but 40% of workers don’t know hourly rate
A new report commissioned by the Victorian government has found gender inequality is entrenched in the gig economy, with women earning up to 37% less than men.
The report, produced by a Queensland University of Technology research team and released on Monday, summarises Australian and global studies and found the gig economy can “both reproduce and exacerbate existing gender inequalities in work”.
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning
Continue reading...Man drowns on Sydney’s northern beaches; Labor senator Katy Gallagher says she had no ‘difficult arguments’ with Kimberley Kitching beyond what was normal in politics; Victoria records five Covid deaths and 7,466 new cases; NSW records one death and 17,450 new cases; Queensland records 7,738 new cases and one death; Western Australia records 7,197 new cases, four deaths. Follow developments live
The NSW Labor opposition has outlined a plan for the state to rebuild and recover from the devastating floods that have left about 1,500 people in emergency accommodation and damaged or destroyed about 95,000 homes, AAP reports.
The federal and New South Wales governments were too slow to act in the immediate response and have been too slow in their support, NSW Labor has said in a statement today.
The difference is, David, we’re looking for maximum community benefit and economic benefit while the government’s looking for maximum political benefit.
Continue reading...Veteran cites death of Kimberley Kitching and ‘determined urgings’ from his children as reasons for his decision to step down
The veteran Labor senator Kim Carr has bowed out of the Senate contest in Victoria, marking an end to his almost 30-year career in parliament.
Carr had lost the support of powerbrokers to remain on the Senate ticket but had indicated he was prepared to fight to remain in the upper house, to which he was first elected in 1993.
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning
Continue reading...State governments leave schools to decide on response as Covid outbreaks lead to widespread teacher shortages
Major staffing shortages have forced schools in New South Wales and Victoria back into remote learning as the new Omicron sub-variant BA.2 sees Covid cases rise.
NSW recorded 23,702 new Covid cases on Friday and seven deaths, with rates of infections in the state highest among those aged 10-19 years old. Victoria recorded 9,244 new cases and nine deaths.
Continue reading...Analysis: the Coalition’s week began with swagger and ended in a whimper after series of stumbles
A week ago, the Victorian opposition was quietly confident.
After struggling to gain any political momentum amid the pandemic, the opposition leader, Matthew Guy’s consistent and disciplined messaging on the triple-zero call response crisis appeared to be cutting through.
Continue reading...Jacqui Lambie says she did not regret supporting repeal of medevac laws; PM announces $58m funding for endometriosis care and treatment, and $81m for Medicare-supported genetic testing; new sanctions on Belarusian president and Russian propagandists; Peter Dutton says Australia has ‘fantastic’ relationship with Solomon Islands; nation records 26 Covid deaths. Follow all the day’s news live
And Victoria has reported 9,244 new cases and nine deaths overnight:
NSW has reported 23, 702 new Covid cases overnight and seven deaths:
Continue reading...Rex Patrick to reveal political intentions tomorrow after Nick Xenophon announces run for Senate; Japanese encephalitis declared disease of national significance; Liberals select candidate for Bennelong; fifth arrest this week over climate crisis protest; Morrison says having Putin at G20 ‘a step too far’; at least 35 Covid deaths recorded. This blog is now closed
Here’s the latest on that rain to come, which is already hitting Sydney.
Australia is risking its economic security in a future crisis by being too dependent on foreign-flagged commercial ships, a former navy chief, Tim Barrett, has warned.
When push comes to shove, the place where the ship is registered is king. They can tell their ships where to go, what to do and what to carry. We don’t have an ability to do that except for the handful we have left.
To be entirely dependent on others is very concerning.
Continue reading...Confidential communications often obtained by defence lawyers to undermine victims’ credibility
Victorian alleged sexual assault victims will have the right to defend their confidential communications being aired in court under new amendments to be introduced to state parliament by Justice party MP Stuart Grimley.
The amendments to the justice legislation amendment bill 2022, to be debated in the upper house on Thursday, were recommended in two separate inquiries by the Victorian Law Reform Commission in 2016 and 2021.
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning
Continue reading...NSW government seeks to suspend Gareth Ward; Craig Foster lashes treatment of asylum seekers in National Press Club address; new research suggests long-lasting Covid immune response from vaccine-induced T-cells; at least 26 Covid deaths recorded; Atagi expected to green light fourth booster shots for some Australians. Follow all the day’s news live
David Koch:
Have you spoken to the “mean girls” – Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong – in the last week or so since Kimberly Kitching’s death about the allegations of bullying?
I think that term is really unfortunate.
She used it, it is not just us.
There is a lot of people speaking on other people’s behalf at the moment. I think that in politics, there are a range of people who are involved in party politics who play it pretty hard. One of those was Kimberly Kitching. She was somebody who engaged in politics and was passionate about her belief and from time to time that could produce some conflict. But it needs to be done in a way that is respectful, in a way that is understanding, and attempts to reach consensus.
It is rather bizarre ... I am always available and indeed I lobby regularly to be on the Sunrise program. I am always happy to discuss things with the media, but I won’t be taking lectures from a prime minister who visited Lismore and had strict streets shut off so victims of floods could not get near him.
Continue reading...Committee says current moves towards ‘gender responsive budgeting’ should go further
Assessing how the state budget affects Victorians based on their gender should become enshrined in law, a parliamentary committee has found.
The state government announced it would establish a “gender responsive budgeting” unit as part of its 2021/22 budget last year, in a push towards equality for women in budget decisions.
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning
Continue reading...NSW MP Gareth Ward denies historic sexual abuse allegations; South Australian hospital system ‘under extraordinary strain’ new premier says, as at least 23 Covid deaths recorded nationally; Anthony Albanese proposes award in late Victorian senator Kimberley Kitching’s honour. This blog is now closed
Peter Malinauskas has promised to keep his shirt on from now on, after a photo of his muscled torso made quite a stir in the world of Australian politics.
ABC radio host Patricia Karvelas:
During the campaign, you were photographed shirtless in swimming shorts, and it caused a bit of a stir. I have to ask you ... the Australian’s Greg Sheridan said jokingly on [ABC] Insiders that you’re “far too good looking”. Which I thought was quite a statement. What have you made of the reaction to that picture?
Do you have any idea how much grief I’ve copped around the place as a result of that?
Have they told you just to buff to be premier?
They’ve piled it on, let me tell you. I haven’t stopped copping it, and I deserve every bit of it.
We were announcing a big investment at our major aquatics centre here in South Australia and a whole bunch of us jumped in for a swim in our boardies with our kids there. And, yeah, it got a bit more attention than I anticipated, fair to say.
So you’re going to keep your shirt on from now on?
Damn straight!
I think we’re about to see a federal election where a cost of living is a front and centre issue. And I think Australians get the price of petrol, but they can’t control the price of groceries.
The way we address cost of living as a nation is to start having an incomes policy focus on how we improve working in small businesses to improve the productivity of their labour, so they can earn a higher income. And that’s why education, training and skills is so important.
Continue reading...