Victorian government sets date for formal apology to First Nations people – as it happened
Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureWhat we learned today, Wednesday 26 NovemberWith that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Thanks for reading. Krishani Dhanji will be back first thing tomorrow to keep you company.Here’s what made news:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has held talks with the Greens leader, Larissa Waters, in an escalation of efforts to land a deal to pass the government’s signature environmental protection laws.
Inflation has climbed to 3.8% in the year to October, from 3.6% the month before, as the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flagged he could announce further energy bill subsidies for households in the upcoming midyear budget.
The independent MP Andrew Wilkie has moved a motion in the House on gambling advertising, calling on the prime minister to respond to the Murphy gambling review and bring on a free vote on the issue.
Labor could cut some public service budgets by as much as 5% as it looks for major savings in next year’s federal budget. But Jim Chalmers denied it would mean “big jobs cuts” for the sector.
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended police plans to expand search powers in Melbourne’s CBD for six months.
See you tomorrow morning.ShareUpdated at 08.05 CETVictorian government sets date for formal apology to First Nations peopleBenita KolovosThe Victorian government will make a formal apology in parliament to First Nations people for the harm inflicted upon them by the state and colonisers.The premier, Jacinta Allan, released a statement on Wednesday confirming the apology will take place in parliament on Tuesday 9 December.The apology is a key recommendation of Victoria’s nation-leading Yoorrook Justice Commission and was agreed to in the first statewide treaty, recently signed into law.She said the government had worked with the First Peoples’ Assembly to deliver the apology through the first statewide treaty process:
We are addressing the systemic injustices of the past to build a better future for all Victorians, grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
View image in fullscreenVictorian premier Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShareUpdated at 07.52 CETJosh ButlerCoalition is worried about ‘high risk of failure’ of under-16s social media banThe Coalition communications spokesperson, Melissa McIntosh, says she is worried about a “high risk of failure” with the looming social media ban for under-16s, holding out the prospect the opposition could withdraw support for the scheme if there were “unintended consequences”.Appearing on Sky News and the ABC this afternoon, McIntosh said she and the Coalition backed the intent of the legislation – which, remember, was initially proposed by Peter Dutton and then supported by the opposition in parliament – but claimed there were problems.She told Sky she felt there was a “high risk it won’t fulfil its intent”, raising concerns about children getting around the ban, as well as data privacy.Asked if she reserved her position to oppose the scheme in future, she said “of course”.On the ABC, McIntosh was critical of the “rushed nature” of the program, noting new platforms had recently been added only weeks out from the 10 December start date.ShareUpdated at 07.48 CETLabor agrees to beneficial ownership register legislation in 2027The Albanese government has agreed to establish a register of beneficial ownership for unlisted companies with draft legislation expected in 2027, increasing transparency of shareholdings.The change in policy was outlined in a letter from the assistant minister for productivity, Andrew Leigh, who said the government would make its “best effort” to pass the reforms in this term of parliament:
The government will produce exposure draft legislation that establishes a public beneficial ownership scheme for unlisted companies in 2027.
View image in fullscreenAssistant minister for productivity Andrew Leigh. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPIn the letter, addressed to the Greens senator Nick McKim, Leigh said the government would soon authorise Asic “to work to develop the technology roadmap to incorporate beneficial ownership into the companies register”:
This element had not been included in the technology roadmap.
McKim welcomed the change and said that in return, the party would support the government’s broader changes to Treasury laws.
A beneficial ownership register with teeth will ensure far greater accountability for corporations and individuals who use shadowy corporate structures and trusts to obscure their identity.
Labor first committed to implementing a public register as part of their 2022 election campaign, but failed to do so in their first term.
This letter holds Labor to account to deliver a public register.
ShareUpdated at 07.46 CETCait KellyWelfare advocates respond to ‘heinous’ new police powers to cancel paymentsWelfare advocates have also responded to the government passing controversial new powers to the police minister to cancel welfare payments for people on the run accused of a serious, violent or sexual offence.The Antipoverty Centre spokesperson and disability support pension recipient Kristin O’Connell said:
Labor have chosen to adopt a Turnbull policy they previously renounced in 2022 that entangles policing and the welfare system, undermining the rule of law and separation of powers. It is a policy that fuels prejudice towards welfare recipients in the precise way that Robodebt Royal Commissioner Catherine Holmes warned politicians against.
These extreme new laws, which involve police and government ministers in individual social security decisions, are an attack on the presumption of innocence, which we are all entitled to – regardless of our income level.
Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for any reason, ever. This heinous new law must be reversed.
ShareUpdated at 07.29 CETDelays across Sydney trains network after wild weatherPenry BuckleyThere are widespread delays across Sydney’s train network after severe weather has caused power supply issues at locations across the city.In a statement, Transport for NSW has said trains are not running between Parramatta and Richmond, or between Parramatta and St Marys on the T1, T5 and Blue Mountains lines.Passengers on those lines, as well as the T2 and T3 lines, are being advised to consider alternative travel arrangements, allow plenty of time and check service updates.On the light rail, L4 services are not running between Carlingford and Rosehill due to fallen overhead wires.It is unknown what has caused the power supply issues. Richmond recorded a high of 36.2C this morning, according to the BoM, with temperatures soaring into the 30s across NSW before thunderstorms started to roll into Sydney this afternoon.View image in fullscreenSt Leonards station timetable amid train delays in Sydney. Photograph: The GuardianShareUpdated at 07.39 CETPatrick ComminsEconomists tip RBA will raise rates in MayEconomists at Barrenjoey now think the next move from the Reserve Bank will be to hike rates at its May board meeting – and then again in August.The trigger for the new outlook was this morning’s inflation report, which showed consumer price growth accelerated to 3.8% in the year to October, pushing it way above the RBA’s 2-3% target range.While wild moves in some prices – including electricity as government subsidies roll off – will settle down over coming months, the investment bank’s chief economist, Jo Masters, said “we are seeing more inflation persistence than we had expected”.In particular, “housing inflation is simply running too fast to be consistent with inflation at target”, Masters told clients, pointing to re-accelerating rents and construction costs .While “clearly the bar to rate hikes is very high”, Masters said underlying inflation was likely to stay above 3% over the coming year:
There is the potential that the (RBA) board acts as soon as February.
Analysts at UBS are reportedly also now predicting a rate hike in late 2026 and again in early 2027, while financial markets are pricing in an about 10% chance of a move higher towards the end of next year.The next two-day RBA monetary policy board meeting begins on 8 December.ShareUpdated at 06.46 CETEmergency fire warning for residents near CorowaThe NSW Rural Fire Service has issued an emergency warnings for residents near Corowa, which is north-west of Albury.Here’s the alert:
There is a fast-moving grass fire burning in the vicinity of Whitehead Street, north-west of the Corowa township. If you are in the area north of Redlands Road and west of Honour Avenue, you are at risk. Seek shelter now or as the fire approaches to protect yourself from the fire. It is too late to leave.
ShareUpdated at 06.29 CETGreens say Senate inquiry into CSIRO job losses is ‘critical’The Greens have welcomed a Senate inquiry into job losses at the national science agency, the CSIRO.The party’s spokesperson for science, senator Peter Whish-Wilson, says the inquiry presents an opportunity to consider the impact on the workforce and the impact on research.
The shortsightedness of the Albanese government’s job cuts to the CSIRO is negligent. Everybody needs science, and we need to defend it from attack.
Scientists deserve better and they deserve answers, indeed all Australians do.
It is critical the Senate examines how the CSIRO ended up in this position, who knew about the dire state of the agency and for how long, and why senior executives took bonuses while funding cliffs were obviously approaching.
Earlier today, minister Tim Ayres said he would support the CSIRO during this “difficult time” for the organisation.
This is a government that believes in science. We believe in investing in science. We will continue to invest in science …
I’ve watched the management and leadership of the CSIRO working through these issues with their staff.
There’s still more work to do, but they have come forward with that announcement. It is obviously a difficult time for the organisation, but with prioritisation from a government that believes in our national science institution and its capacity to serve the national interest, that is a necessary process, and I support them working their way through those questions.
ShareUpdated at 06.28 CETNew BHP mine should go ahead, Queensland environment department recommendsAndrew MessengerQueensland’s department of the environment has recommended the green light for a new BHP mine in central Queensland.The Saraji East underground mine would mine a seam adjacent to its existing open cut mine in Dysart. The company announced the closure of another mine in the complex earlier this year, blaming what the industry calls the world’s highest coal royalties.BHP has three mines working through the environmental assessment process.A spokesperson for the company said the decision helps it “preserve future development options in Queensland”:
Any future decisions on capital investment or development are separate to the assessment process.
As previously announced by BHP, we are not committing to investing in any expansion or growth of our operations in Queensland, under the Queensland Government’s unsustainable royalty regime.
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland coordinator, Maggie McKeown, said the mine would clear hundreds of hectares of koala and greater glider habitat, drain 8,857 megalitres of groundwater, emit 320m tonnes of C02 and operate until 2045:
This new coalmine exposes BHP as crying poor over royalties. BHP can’t claim Queensland’s royalty rates are stymying investment while at the same time building new polluting coalmines.
ShareUpdated at 06.33 CETTory ShepherdGus Lamont: search turns up no new information on missing four-year-oldThe latest search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont has wound up without finding any more information about what happened to him.On 27 September, Gus disappeared from the family homestead in remote South Australia.SA police have used aerial and foot patrols, drones, dogs and other resources to search for him with no luck.This week, police learned of six uncovered, unfenced mine shafts on the property and began a new search.But today they said they “did not locate any evidence” in the shafts, several of which were relatively shallow, others of which were up to 20m deep.Police said in a statement:
The family of Gus have been advised of the results of the renewed searching and are being supported by a victim contact officer.
The broader investigation is continuing.ShareUpdated at 06.11 CETCaitlin CassidyUniversity of Sydney to divest from equity holdings that violate international lawThe University of Sydney will divest from equity holdings that are in violation of international law after facing backlash from student protesters over its ties to weapons companies.In September last year, the university established an Investment Policies Review Working Group to conduct an independent review of the position of defence and security industries in its investment policy, as well as its commitment to human rights.The review, released in July, made a string of recommendations, including adopting a human rights commitment, divesting from any investments that derive revenue from the Defence Strategic Goods List and report to the Senate on its progress.On Wednesday, the university’s chancellor, David Thodey, wrote to staff confirming all but one recommendation had been agreed to:
After careful consideration, the university has not accepted the IPRWG’s recommendations that it use the Defence Strategic Goods List as the basis for making divestment and investment decisions, and for reporting purposes.
The university’s investment policy currently excludes investments in entities directly involved in the manufacture of cluster munitions.
We will update this policy to extend this exclusion to include investments in direct equity holdings and publicly traded investment instruments that are in violation of international law … or involved in weapons that are banned or restricted under all international treaties to which Australia is party.
Existing direct and publicly traded investments will be reviewed and assessed against this policy with the view to divest from these holdings over the forward years.
ShareUpdated at 06.08 CETKrishani DhanjiThank you all for following along on the blog with me today, I’ll be back with you tomorrow for the final sitting day!I’ll leave you with the wonderful Henry Belot for the rest of the afternoon – we’ll be keep our eyes peeled for any developments on the government’s environmental reforms – it’s getting very close to crunch time for Labor.ShareTl;dr here’s what happened in question time today
The opposition started on inflation, and then quickly pivoted to energy, describing Chris Bowen as a “part-time minister, full-time president” again – but this time without breaching standing orders.
Standing orders were breached – and Garth Hamilton was kicked out – when he directly called Bowen “El Presidente”. Hamilton’s exit was just after his colleague Angus Taylor was also booted for being too noisy.
The lights went out halfway through QT, cue lots of shouting and pointing at Bowen from the opposition benches, who also turned their phone lights on. (The lights came back on not too long after.)
Helen Haines pushed the PM on when he would act on gambling advertising – he wouldn’t say.
The government confirmed it would increase funding for the CSIRO, who have announced 350 science and research job cuts.
ShareUpdated at 05.45 CET
