Chalmers says John Lyons ‘just doing his job’ after Trump rebukes reporter
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, speaking at a refinery in Brisbane, was also asked about the clash between ABC reporter John Lyons and the US president, Donald Trump.
When it comes to the ABC – I respect the ABC and I respect its independence and that extends to not second-guessing the questions asked legitimately by journalists at press conferences.
Journalists have a job to do and as far as I can tell, that journalist was just doing his job in Washington, DC. I don’t second-guess the decisions taken – the questions asked by journalists whether it is in DC or elsewhere. I respect the independence of the ABC.
Key events
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, have been speaking at a refinery in Brisbane about the previously announced $1.1bn cleaner fuels fund.
Chalmers said low-carbon fuels represented a “very big” economic opportunity for Ausralia that would maximise the benefits of the shift to net zero.
From the farm to the refinery, primary production to processing, this will create more jobs and more opportunities for more Australians right around the country.
We know that cleaner and cheaper energy is one of the most important ways we can build a stronger economy and lift living standards into the future … this is also all about making sure that we maximise the benefits of the net zero transformation in our economy.
Bowen said he wanted to see the refinery the ministers were speaking from – and other refineries across the country including in the Victorian city of Geelong – continue to operate for decades more:
We want to see more Australian jobs across the country taking great Australian products like canola, tallow, and other agricultural products and waste products and turning it into cleaner fuels …
Things like aviation and shipping and [to] some degree heavy transport are hard to decarbonise. A big part of the answer is lower-carbon fuels. Cleaner fuels. And as … every worker here knows that places like this are very important but will need to change. Consumers, investors, everyone is demanding lower-carbon fuels.
SBS resists calls to join EU boycott of Eurovision 2026 if Israel allowed to compete
SBS has indicated it will not follow the lead of a growing number of European Union countries and boycott next year’s Eurovision song contest if Israel is permitted to compete.
The decision on Israel’s inclusion will be made by the contest’s governing body in December, but SBS told the Guardian on Tuesday it intended to participate in the 2026 event in Vienna, regardless of December’s decision.
The deadline for broadcasters to file their applications for participation was initially to expire on Monday, followed by a 28-day grace period during which a country could subsequently withdraw its application without incurring a financial penalty.
But earlier this month the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the Eurovision song contest reference group had decided to extend the deadline to mid-December.
Read more here:
Penry Buckley
NSW government to establish ‘single front door’ for development applications
The NSW government will introduce legislation to parliament today which it says will deliver more homes through an overhaul of the state’s planning system.
The Minns government’s planning system reforms bill will establish a new development coordination authority, which will act as a “single front door” for development applications and planning proposals on behalf of all state government agencies.
The government says the changes will see fewer development applications going through regional planning panels and environment agencies. It will also reform the existing environmental planning act, under which every decision about development is currently determined, to include housing delivery in its objects.
Under the changes, councils will be given 10 days to approve small variations on a development application, or have it deemed approved. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the change will remove councils’ ability to “sit on a development application forever”:
What this will mean is that councils will have to make an active decision to put resources into blocking complying developments. Our suspicion is they won’t. That’ll free up more time for them to look at strategic plans, how they want to make amenable, good communities.
The reforms follow the government’s establishment of the transport-oriented development zones, and low and mid-rise housing reforms, and of the housing delivery authority (HDA), which fast-tracks state significant developments by removing councils’ powers to block development. The changes will also see the HDA permanently enshrined in legislation.
Pet owners can now book their cats and (small) dogs on some Virgin Australia flights
Pet owners are now able to book flights for their dogs and cats on some Virgin Australia routes, with the airline set to become the first in the country to allow pets in the main cabin.
The new policy will start as a trial on flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast (cats won’t be allowed on this route at first) and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, with the first planes taking off from 16 October. Tickets for small dogs and cats (they’re the only pets allowed at the moment) will be available for $149 an animal, per flight.
A limit of four pets in the cabin will be allowed on each eligible flight, and all animals must weigh less than 8kgs. The change does not impact service animals, and Virgin will continue to allow pets to be transported as cargo.
Dave Emerson, the chief executive officer of Virgin Australia, said:
With almost 70% of households owning a pet, we expect the service to be embraced by pet lovers all around the country. Beyond convenience for pet owners, the service is also set to boost the pet-friendly travel sector, including hotels and tourism operators.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
More on Hastie, net zero and Ley
On Tuesday, Hastie’s senior colleague Jonno Duniam warned of a “mass exodus” from the Liberal frontbench if it adopted net zero at “any cost”, raising the spectre of a net zero rebellion against Ley.
Hastie played down suggestions that a potential move to the backbench could prompt a leadership challenge, conceding the majority of colleagues didn’t share his view on net zero.
Most of my colleagues, in fact, don’t support my position so I’m in the minority here. If you pulled out a spreadsheet … you’d find that a lot of people don’t support my energy position. So I am in the minority here, and I know that.
On his relationship with Ley, Hastie said:
It’s fine. We’re doing well. It’s perfectly fine. We’re in communication. We’re not besties on the phone every day, as you’d expect. I’m not talking to all my colleagues every day. We’re all back in our electorates at the moment doing our jobs.
Hastie concedes most of his colleagues don’t support his anti-net zero stance
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie says the majority of his colleagues don’t share his strident opposition to net zero but he won’t back down even if it costs him his job.
In an interview on Sky News on Wednesday morning, Hastie also said his relationship with Sussan Ley was “perfectly fine” but admitted the pair weren’t “besties” amid ongoing speculation of a future leadership challenge.
The Western Australian MP reignited the Liberals’ climate wars – and set up a fresh test of Ley’s authority – after signalling on Monday he would quit his frontbench position if the party recommitted to net zero by 2050.
Hastie reaffirmed that position on Wednesday:
Energy policy is something I care very deeply about. It’s a hypothetical question, but fundamentally, I wouldn’t be much use to the Coalition if I’m out the front trying to sell a policy I don’t believe in.
‘Hurting Australia’: Trump threatens ABC journalist and hints at Albanese meeting – video
Alan Jones faces nine new counts of indecent assault
Broadcaster Alan Jones has been hit with another batch of historical sexual abuse charges, AAP reports.
The shock jock and one-time Wallabies coach had previously been accused of sexually touching 11 victims, the youngest of whom was 17 at the time.
Jones, 84, had previously indicated he will plead not guilty to 35 historical offences. He was charged with another nine counts of indecent assault on Monday, bringing the total to 44.
The allegations span nearly two decades, when Jones dominated the airwaves on Sydney radio. Jones has vowed to fight the charges, with his lawyer questioning the strength of the evidence against him.
Jones’ arrest in November came after an eight-month police investigation into a number of alleged indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019.
The new charges will be mentioned in court for the first time on Thursday.
The commission’s report found that:
-
The ratio of economic benefits to costs from the new stadium being built is less than 0.5 (that is, costs will be worth twice the benefits).
-
The cost to construct the stadium equates to about $5,900 for every Tasmanian household.
-
In addition to economic impacts, there are social, cultural and community benefits and costs. However it is highly unlikely that any unquantifiable social and cultural impacts – both positive and negative – will significantly change the excess of costs over benefits.
-
The stated costs of the stadium are “optimistic” and there is a “significant risk they will be much higher”. They will have to be funded either by $1bn in debt or higher taxes.
-
The size, shape and location of the site is ill-suited to a building like the stadium – a “singular, large, bulky monolith which will overwhelm those surrounding buildings and the setting”.
Tasmanian planning commission recommends against Hobart stadium
Tasmania’s planning commission has thrown a spanner in the works of the AFL’s expansion plans, by recommending against a new stadium proposed for Hobart.
The commission has this morning released an expert panel’s assessment of the Macquarie Point stadium project. It said:
The panel recommends that the project should not proceed.
The IAR [Integrated Assessment Report] identifies a number of benefits and disbenefits that would accrue if the project proceeds. The panel has concluded that the benefits are outweighed by the disbenefits.
The final decision on the stadium is due to be made by the state’s parliament later this year.
Australia and PNG the ‘truest of friends’, Albanese says
Albanese stressed the tight-knit relationship between Australia and PNG during his remarks, saying:
Australia and PNG are the closest of the neighbours … and we are the truest of friends. We’re there for each other when times are tough, but we take pleasure and joy in each other’s achievements. …
Australia and PNG will keep walking together. Side by side, step by step, towards the future. And I very much value my friendship with the prime minister. But importantly as well, I value the friendship between our two peoples. This at the end of the day is a people to people relationship. And it will be strengthened in the years ahead
Albanese says communique with PNG start of partnership to ‘shape the future’
Albanese said the communique as the start of a “partnership that will shape the future”, expressing optimism the document will lead to a defence treaty following cabinet discussions in both PNG and Australia.
Albanese told reporters:
The text of this treaty has been agreed and it will be signed following cabinet processes in both countries. This treaty will elevate our relationship to the status of an alliance. It will be Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years. …
It contains a mutual defence commitment under which both countries recognise that both Australia and PNG have a mutual interest in our security. It also will be a reflection of our shared commitment to regional security, our shared values and the depth of our partnership.
Marape says Australia has ‘never abandoned’ PNG, adding defence strategy in mutual interest
PNG prime minister James Marape is speaking in Port Moresby alongside Anthony Albanese after the pair signed a joint communique.
Marape said:
Australia has never abandoned us, true to the words of Gough Whitlam, Australia will find its purpose and meaning in the construction of a modern Papua New Guinea that is vibrant, prosperous and democratic. …
It is in our mutual interest to have a defence focus and strategy that’s mutual for two nations working side by side.
Albanese to leave PNG without signing major defence treaty
Tom McIlroy
Albanese will leave Papua New Guinea without signing a major defence treaty on Wednesday, instead securing a joint communique with his counterpart James Marape.
Albanese will speak from Port Moresby in the next few minutes.
The treaty is considered “a work in progress”, despite months of negotiations and Albanese downplaying an earlier delay during commemorations of PNG’s independence from Australia on Tuesday.
There are concerns within the PNG government about the country’s sovereignty under the deal. Australia governed PNG until 50 years ago.
It is the second such delay in as many weeks. Ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum last week, Vanuatu’s government paused the signing of a joint agreement with Australia, saying more work was needed on the question of critical minerals funding from China.
PNG’s cabinet is going to meet next week to discuss the deal with Australia. It had been due to sign off on the deal on Monday night but fell short of the required quorum of members due to independence celebrations.
The treaty will allow PNG citizens to join the Australian Defence Force, and for Australians to serve with PNG troops, promote interoperability between the two countries and integrate responses to a military attack.
Joint military training and defence exercises are planned, as well as new cooperation on cybersecurity preparedness.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese is set to speak from Papua New Guinea in a few minutes. The two countries have been negotiating the details behind a landmark military defence agreement.
Queensland coalminer blames state royalties regime on decision to slash 750 jobs
Andrew Messenger
The BHP Mitsubishi Alliance has blamed Queensland’s “world’s highest” coal royalties regime for a decision to mothball its Saraji South coalmine and slash 750 roles across the state.
The metallurgical open cut coalmine, about 300km north west of Rockhampton, opened in 1979. The company announced it will be put into care and maintenance in November and that it is also conducting a strategic review of the BHP FutureFit Academy in Mackay.
Saraji South is part of the country’s fourth-largest mining complex, with the remaining mines to continue operating. The company said maintaining operations in lower margin areas of BMA’s mine footprint is not sustainable under current conditions in Queensland. BMA’s asset president, Adam Lancey, said:
As joint owners of BMA, BHP and Mitsubishi Development do not want to see operations paused or jobs lost, but these are necessary decisions in the face of the combined impact of the Queensland government’s unsustainable coal royalties and market conditions.
The simple fact is the Queensland coal industry is approaching a crisis point.
This is now having real impacts on regional jobs, communities and small businesses.
The uncertainty this creates for our people and our communities is not taken lightly, and we will do everything we can to support them.
Some of the staff are based in Brisbane, but it is understood most of the economic impact will be felt locally.
The company is the largest private sector employer in central Queensland.
Coalition question remain despite more detail on plans for social media companies to block under-16s
Melissa McIntosh, the shadow minister for communications, said the Coalition has questions after the eSafety commissioner detailed how social media giants will be expected to handle the ban on users under 16.
Yesterday, the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said social media platforms from 10 December will be expected to take a “multilayered waterfall approach” for age checking to make sure that government ID is never the sole or final choice for people to verify their ages.
But McIntosh said the Coalition still has questions about how the age checks will take place. She told RN Breakfast:
I’ve got some question marks around some of the measures that the eSafety commissioner is implementing. When this legislation was passed, there was going to be no digital ID, and this has crept into the guidance material now. It’s not a first step, but it’s a backup step that people may need to use digital ID. So there’s some shifts, there’s some changes.
Families are telling me they don’t feel like parents, schools, and kids are being educated, that this is coming.
… I think Australians have a right to question that being as an option if all other proofs of identity, you know, age verification fail in this process.
