Australia information dwell: Labor below strain over stage-three tax cuts; flood warnings as downpours head east

Katy Gallagher pressed on stage-three tax cuts

Finance minister Katy Gallagher is chatting with ABC Radio.

RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas is asking if she will be able to verify if the federal government is in “lively conversations” about reconsidering stage-three tax cuts?

Finance minister Katy Gallagher. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Gallagher is sustaining that the federal government hasn’t modified its place:

We’re finalising a price range the place we’re wanting throughout the board at an entire vary of choices and we’re being upfront.

However she stated the federal government can be “aware of the financial circumstances of the occasions”:

The duty for us, working hand in hand with the RBA, is to make the best selections for the best financial causes.

Gallagher says the federal government shall be doing “the best factor for the price range and the best factor for the Australian folks.”

Key occasions

Optus ‘lawyering up’ a poor look: assistant treasurer

Optus ought to deal with serving to clients who had their private information leaked in a significant breach reasonably than briefing legal professionals forward of a possible class motion lawsuit, a authorities minister says, AAP reviews.

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones as we speak labelled the transfer of Optus dad or mum firm Singtel to pre-emptively have interaction legal professionals as unlucky and making a nasty scenario worse.

His feedback got here amid reviews tens of hundreds of Australians had registered their curiosity in potential class motion fits towards Optus over the cyber assault.

Authorized agency Slater and Gordon, which is taking expressions of curiosity in a single authorized motion, stated the influence of the hack was being felt far and broad, together with by home violence survivors and stalking victims.

Singtel representatives informed the Singapore inventory change on Monday any class motion can be “vigorously defended”, prompting Jones’ rebuke.

Jones informed reporters:

Frankly, I believe the Australian folks wish to see Optus cope with the disaster as a substitute of partaking and briefing legal professionals.

Their number-one precedence must be speaking with the purchasers and guaranteeing them that they’ve put each step in place to make sure that the dangerous scenario, which resulted from their botch-up with the info dealing with, isn’t made worse by having that result in fraud and misuse of that information now.

The non-public particulars of greater than 10 million Optus clients had been uncovered within the information breach, with as much as 50,000 Medicare information and 150,000 passports compromised.

Jones stated solely a collaborative method might see the disaster handled successfully.

Sure, we would like (Optus) to pay for passports as a result of the prices are going to be incurred instantly … sure, we would like you to pay for licences, as a result of persons are queuing up and having to pay for a licence alternative.

We’re not speaking about lawyering up, we’re not speaking about any of these liabilities, we’re speaking about it fairly sensibly.

Extreme climate warning for north western Victoria

David Pocock wins Athlete of the Yr at inaugural BBC Inexperienced Sport Awards

Former Australian Rugby Union captain and present ACT senator David Pocock has received the Athlete of the Yr award on the BBC’s first ever Inexperienced Sport Awards.

The award class recognises knowledgeable sportsperson who has “advocated for, raised consciousness of, or instigated motion on environmental and/or local weather change points previously 12 months.”

The BBC say it was awarded to Pocock for his work main the ‘The Cool Down’ initiative that resulted in over 300 athletes writing an open letter to the Australian authorities encouraging for bolder local weather motion.

In addition they famous his historic election as the primary unbiased senator for an Australian capital territory and the “first sportsperson to transition into politics on an environmentally focussed platform.”

Pocock stated:

On local weather change, I’d in all probability say to folks become involved. Reasonably than getting cynical and testing, become involved, discover folks in your college, in your neighbourhood who’re focused on doing one thing. Act regionally, however then additionally push your native politicians and your nationwide politicians to get going. We don’t have any time to waste and I believe it’s actually thrilling what we are able to really construct collectively.

An honour to be named @BBCSport Inexperienced Sport Award Athlete of the Yr.

Sport has the facility to assist form our future. Excited to see the work of so many athletes and sporting organisations now working to sort out the large points we face. https://t.co/9f5rLjtKz9

— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) October 4, 2022

Ed Leigh, a choose for the award stated:

It’s clear that David Pocock’s environmental convictions type the core of who he’s. His actions present that he’s keen sacrifice his sporting legacy as a way to elevate consciousness of local weather change. He was for me, by far essentially the most inspirational candidate who fearlessly used his sporting profile to additional the environmental agenda.

Victorian Coalition pushes $10bn roads improve

A $10bn improve to Victorian roads will repair potholes and damaged highway surfaces throughout the state if the opposition wins the November election, AAP reviews.

The Liberal and Nationwide events say they are going to put the sum into highway upkeep funding over the following 10 years to create safer roads.

The plan contains an audit of all state-managed roads and a assessment of building requirements to extend accountability of VicRoads and contractors.

Opposition chief Matthew Man stated the multibillion-dollar plan would finally save lives:

The Liberals and Nationals will ship higher roads by way of billions of {dollars} in funding to make sure everybody can get to work and essential appointments, safely and on time.

Secure roads save lives. Roads price range cuts have by no means made sense as we watch our highway community fall right into a state of disrepair.

Opposition roads spokesman Danny O’Brien stated a highway improve was lengthy overdue:

The Andrews Labor authorities has uncared for Victoria’s highway community, ignoring the real concern of highway customers throughout the state, in each the town and the nation.

Hearings start as we speak for inquiry into lacking and murdered First Nations ladies and kids

The primary public hearings are being held in Canberra for an inquiry into lacking and murdered First Nations ladies and kids.

I’m in Canberra as we speak as Deputy Chair of this committee for our vital first public listening to of an inquiry into Lacking and Murdered First Nations Girls and Kids. https://t.co/rCe3GYV6QK

— Senator Nita Inexperienced (@nitagreenqld) October 4, 2022

On the time of the announcement of the inquiry Greens senator Lidia Thorpe spoke concerning the disparity between how Australia regards violence towards Indigenous ladies and kids and non-Indigenous ladies and kids:

When a white girl dies, or a white girl is murdered, it’s a entrance web page. There’s rallies.

When a black girl dies, when a black girl is murdered, you don’t hear about it.

You possibly can learn extra concerning the inquiry from my colleague Sarah Collard:

Lismore ice-cream manufacturing unit to be rebuilt

In excellent news for the flood-ravaged city of Lismore, the ice-cream manufacturing unit which locals informed Guardian Australia is “the beating coronary heart” of the city shall be saved.

Dairy big Norco will spend greater than $59m rebuilding its flood-damaged ice-cream manufacturing unit within the NSW northern rivers, three weeks after standing down staff, AAP reviews.

Then PM Scott Morrison inspects flood damage at the Norco factory in Lismore in March
Then PM Scott Morrison inspects flood harm on the Norco manufacturing unit in Lismore in March. {Photograph}: Dave Hunt/AAP

The manufacturing unit, which sits on the banks of the Wilsons River in South Lismore, was pressured to shut after the catastrophic February floods, leaving greater than 200 staff unsure of their future.

Chief govt Michael Hampson says 105 employees had been stood down from the farmer-owned cooperative as a result of there was no work for them throughout the rebuild. He informed ABC TV as we speak:

Lismore is the house of Norco, we’re based within the Lismore area and we’ll be capable to get this manufacturing facility again up and working and invite our folks again to work right here to make Australia’s greatest ice-cream.

The corporate aimed for manufacturing to steadily resume from April, with staff returning progressively over months as varied strains got here onboard, he stated.

The manufacturing unit can be rebuilt on the unique web site, with key gear to be lifted above 15 metres in addition to the addition of mezzanine areas. Hampson stated:

Lismore is a city that’s had 100 floods. This manufacturing unit has survived 100 of them.

The one which it didn’t was the mega-flood that we had in February which is a one-in-500 12 months occasion.

The dairy cooperative introduced on Tuesday it could rebuild the manufacturing unit with $34.7m from a federal and NSW authorities flood bundle, together with $11m from an excellent 2019 grant from the state’s regional development fund.

The corporate stated it could contribute greater than $59m to the rebuild, estimated to whole greater than $100m. Hampson stated:

Norco shall be taking up a higher degree of danger, one thing we’re ready to do as a way to safeguard jobs, assist different small and medium companies within the area, and provide a way of hope to a group of people that have already endured a lot.

Norco stood down staff final month, saying the $34.7m grant from state and federal governments was not sufficient to save lots of the manufacturing unit. The layoffs prompted three unions to fulfill Norco administration, urging certainty for workers.

The Australasian Meat Trade Staff Union’s Justin Smith stated staff ought to obtain voluntary redundancies and a assure their jobs can be obtainable when the manufacturing unit reopened.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Manufacturing Employees Union stated yesterday there had been no additional updates on the way forward for the Norco workforce.

Optus particulars haven’t but been utilized by fraudsters, Equifax CEO says

After its large information breach, Optus final week introduced it could offer affected clients a 12-month subscription to the credit score reporting company Equifax. The CEO of that organisation, Melanie Cochrane, was on ABC Radio this morning speaking concerning the association.

Has Equifax discovered any stolen info being utilized by hackers?

In a roundabout way, however we’re persevering with to focus very closely on further fraud and monitoring and seeing uncommon exercise in folks’s credit score profiles.

So whereas we are able to’t instantly correlate that again, or we’ve not received proof of that but, we’re pretty sure … there shall be elevated fraud. And all of us have to work collectively as an trade, work with the credit score suppliers, work with companies, and many others, to come back collectively to guard our group.

Cochrane couldn’t give any additional particulars who’s eligible to the free subscription to Equifax:

Optus is deciding and rolling out that program now. They’re providing the service to these most impacted. I don’t have the main points of the breakdown of the 2m paperwork, and many others.

They’re already contacting clients now and proactively providing them this service.

However the firm had its personal information breach within the US in 2017. How can Australians believe within the firm?

It’s unimaginable the size of belongings you study when you’ve been by way of a significant breach … we now have a safety normal that is among the highest within the trade. In reality we at the moment are advising to the FBI.

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

Albanese shares well being kick suggestions

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has denied getting botox in his face, placing his smoother complexion all the way down to reducing out bread and consuming two boiled eggs for breakfast within the morning.

The PM gave a fast morning FM radio interview to Nova, the place hosts Fitzy & Wippa requested about a Each day Mail article headlined “Botox, fillers or simply clear dwelling? Albo debuts a recent new look”, which spoke glowingly of him “sporting a smoother complexion and a younger pores and skin texture”.

The article quoted a beauty skilled who freewheeled some musings about whether or not 59-year-old Albanese might have had laser procedures, injectables or different skincare. However Albanese flatly denied these strategies:

I believe whoever wrote that article has been having botox within the incorrect place … they’re in actual strife.

His story of being concerned in a severe automotive crash in January 2021 is well-known, an accident he credit with beginning a well being kick that minimize down carbs and alcohol, resulting in him shedding 20kg. Requested on radio for his prime weight reduction tip, Albanese stated: “Don’t eat the bread.”

He added:

Simply this morning I had two boiled eggs for breakfast. It retains you going till lunchtime.

Albanese dialled in to the present to debate his look at a Nova charity cricket sport subsequent week, which shall be held at Kirribilli Home in Sydney. NSW premier Dominic Perrottet can also be to hitch the sport.

Archbishop to speak local weather in Australia

Local weather change and Indigenous reconciliation are anticipated to be on the agenda as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visits Australia, AAP reviews.

The Anglican church chief has arrived for a two-week tour which can formally start as we speak with a welcome reception and First Nations cultural introduction in Perth.

Welby will even be launched to members of Perth’s Sudanese group and meet with mining magnate Andrew Forrest. The pair have collaborated on efforts to eradicate trendy slavery by way of Forrest’s Stroll Free basis.

Having declared that Anglicans have a sacred obligation to guard the planet, the archbishop will meet folks throughout the nation affected by local weather change.

He’ll converse to Torres Strait Islanders combating rising sea ranges throughout a go to to Thursday Island and meet victims of catastrophic flooding in northern NSW.

The archbishop, who says he’s dedicated to a “journey of understanding and therapeutic with Indigenous folks”, is predicted to debate reconciliation with First Nations teams.

He’ll meet with Kabikabi and Gurang-Gurang elder and Anglican pastor Ray Minniecon in Sydney earlier than heading to Cairns to ordain two Indigenous ladies as monks.

The primate of the Anglican church of Australia, Archbishop Geoff Smith, urged believers forward of the go to to “draw power from one another as we confront the imperatives of our time”:

In a world affected by division it’s good to be reminded of our widespread values and to cement the ties of the Anglican Church of Australia with Anglicans across the globe.

The archbishop shall be in Australia till 14 October.

Fireplace extinguished in Sydney procuring centre

GLEBE | Broadway Buying Centre | UPDATE, fireplace in an escalator gear field is now extinguished. Approx 100 evacs, centre is closed in the intervening time, energy has been switched off, escalator mechanic in attendance. #FRNSW will depart shortly.

— Fireplace and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) October 4, 2022

Maria Kovacic elected NSW Liberals president

The NSW Liberals have elected a western Sydney businesswoman as president of the state division, months after she unsuccessfully ran for the federal seat of Parramatta, AAP reviews.

Maria Kovacic was elected president of the NSW Liberals by members by way of a set of council elections, the get together introduced on Tuesday night time.

She ran because the Liberal candidate within the hotly contested federal seat of Parramatta, shedding to Labor’s Andrew Charlton.

Her election got here on the identical day premier Dominic Perrottet welcomed the aspirations of two feminine higher home Liberal MPs as they signalled their need to run for seats within the decrease home.

Girls’s security minister Natalie Ward will run for decrease home speaker Jonathan O’Dea’s seat of Davidson.

Incapacity companies minister Natasha Maclaren-Jones is eyeing the seat of Pittwater, set to be vacated by infrastructure minister Rob Stokes.

Final week NSW treasurer Matt Kean revealed the average wing of the Liberal get together had dedicated to a quota of at the very least 50% feminine candidates throughout all vacant Liberal seats.

Kovacic stated she needed to construct a stronger NSW Liberal get together, making it a extra welcoming place the place membership numbers might develop:

The election subsequent March shall be exhausting fought.

Our get together shall be speaking on to our group, together with western Sydney and the areas, about how the Perrottet Authorities can enhance their lives and assist their households.

The federal government’s commitments to introducing common pre-kindergarten, lowering charges for after-school care and funding interventions for home violence victims would contribute to bettering the lives of ladies and households, she stated.

Peter Hannam

Peter Hannam

RBA’s October shock triggers investor pullback

“Markets don’t make errors,” so the marginally doubtful mantra goes, however they are often shocked.

Yesterday dished up considered one of them, with the RBA lifting its money price by 25 foundation factors to 2.6% reasonably than the 50bp most pundits had predicted.

The response was swift, as cash markets received out their proverbial slide rule (those they use “run the rule over”, not the “ruler”) and dumped the Australian greenback and snapped up shares.

And so they pared again their expectations of how a lot increased the RBA would go. Traders are nonetheless forecasting one other price rise in November however loads fewer forward. Reasonably than peaking above 4%, they now anticipate a peak of about 3.5% by mid-2023.

After the RBA’s surprisingly small money price rise on Tuesday, traders have pared again their expectations about future will increase. Reasonably than a peak within the price above 4%, the ‘terminal’ degree is nearer to three.5% by the center of 2023. pic.twitter.com/ffgOk97rMK

— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) October 4, 2022

Quite a bit can change, in fact, together with some giant inflation or wage improve figures (the latter much less possible).

We glance right here at one thing that may not shock loads – the primary price range from treasurer Jim Chalmers on 25 October.

The lesson from the UK is that financial and monetary insurance policies must be in sync, or the nation sinks. And our authorities appear to have been keen college students.

Authorities mustn’t break promise and scrap stage-three tax cuts, opposition says

Shadow finance minister Jane Hume follows the finance minister on ABC Radio.

Hume is vital of the chance the federal government might scrap stage-three tax cuts, saying they’d “already damaged their promise to scale back power payments”.

However ought to tax cuts be funded in deficit?

I might not wish to see tax cuts promised by each events which are already in laws and that shall be good for 95% of all Australians, we might not wish to see the Labor authorities crab strolling away from that dedication.

Hume says there are different issues the federal government can do to carry down value of dwelling:

We wish to see a plan the place it’s not RBA doing all of the heavy lifting bringing down inflation.

As a remaining query of the interview, the ABC asks Hume: does she remorse telling David Speers the Coalition had no insurance policies?

Hume says “in fact” she regrets it and describes it as:

A slip of the tongue amplified by Twitter and the flying monkeys on social media.

October price range to be affected by world financial outlook, finance minister says

Katy Gallagher can also be requested concerning the present financial local weather after yesterday’s price rise. Is the push to get inflation down risking tipping the nation into recession?

I believe you may see from the RBA assertion they issued yesterday, the steadiness they’re navigating within the selections they’re taking.

There’s little doubt we’ve excessive and rising inflation, the assertion once more goes to the truth that they’re anticipating that to average subsequent 12 months.

Gallagher acknowledged the “actually vital” strain the choice locations on households, as “discovering tons of of {dollars} further a month on your mortgage is admittedly, actually powerful”.

How uncovered is Australia to recessions within the US and UK?

We’re aware of the choices we’re taking as we put collectively the price range, about what’s occurring by way of the worldwide outlook, there are some vital challenges there.

Finance minister cites pressures on home economic system

Katy Gallagher says she will be able to “assure” Australians that the federal government will make the best name for the “proper financial causes”.

Patricia Karvelas then asks Gallagher then if she’s going to she prioritise greatest financial choice over political incentives.

Gallagher says that’s what the federal government has at all times completed. However she provides:

What has modified is a few of these pressures by way of the home economic system and the worldwide outlook … and the persistent structural pressures on the price range.

Katy Gallagher pressed on stage-three tax cuts

Finance minister Katy Gallagher is chatting with ABC Radio.

RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas is asking if she will be able to verify if the federal government is in “lively conversations” about reconsidering stage-three tax cuts?

Finance minister Katy Gallagher. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Gallagher is sustaining that the federal government hasn’t modified its place:

We’re finalising a price range the place we’re wanting throughout the board at an entire vary of choices and we’re being upfront.

However she stated the federal government can be “aware of the financial circumstances of the occasions”:

The duty for us, working hand in hand with the RBA, is to make the best selections for the best financial causes.

Gallagher says the federal government shall be doing “the best factor for the price range and the best factor for the Australian folks.”

Greens name for presidency to step up spending on inexpensive properties

Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin

The Greens have launched an inventory of calls for that it needs the federal government to contemplate to safe their assist for upcoming laws establishing the housing Australia future fund. The federal government has flagged it would introduce a invoice for its housing coverage by the tip of the 12 months however is prone to want the Greens assist within the Senate to move the laws.

After a party-room assembly this week, the Greens have agreed to ask for the federal government to contemplate the next in negotiations.

1. Construct 275,000 well-designed public, group and inexpensive properties over the following 5 years, sufficient to wipe out the present ready listing and work towards constructing 1m properties over the following 20 years.
2. Introduce a nationwide two-year hire freeze as a part of new nationwide tenancy requirements.
3. Make investments $5bn in upkeep and upgrades for current public housing to enhance accessibility, power effectivity and guarantee higher heating and cooling.

The get together’s housing and homelessness spokesman Max Chandler-Mather stated Labor’s proposal would see the housing scenario worsen:

Labor’s plan to construct 6000 public, group and inexpensive properties a 12 months received’t even match the yearly improve in want, not to mention sort out the disaster.

On the finish of Labor’s 5 12 months plan, we are going to see extra folks ready for public and group housing, extra folks struggling to pay the hire, and the bottom ranges of public and group housing since World Warfare II.

The Greens are prepared to barter in good religion to get the general public, group and inexpensive housing Australia desperately wants, and a few actual, significant nationwide protections for renters.

New report accuses China of disinformation towards Australia

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

A brand new report claims the Chinese language Communist get together is spreading disinformation in Solomon Islands to undermine the connection between Honiara and its conventional companions similar to Australia – and that these efforts seem like having an influence on-line.

The Australian Strategic Coverage Institute says it has examined “CCP on-line affect within the aftermath of the Honiara riots in late 2021 and in response to the leaked safety settlement in March 2022”.

Immediately’s report says that after the November 2021 riots, the CCP “pushed a fabricated narrative that accused Australia, the US and Taiwan of instigating the riots, fomenting unrest, and smearing the connection between Solomon Islands and China”. It says this narrative “was pushed by way of party-state media (each in English and in Chinese language) by way of statements from Chinese language officers that had been shared by the Chinese language Embassy, printed in native media retailers and quoted by native journalists”.

After the proposed safety settlement between China and Solomon Islands was leaked on-line in March 2022, the CCP “sought to additional undermine Solomon Islands’ relationships with Australia and the US” by pushing “a second however equally themed narrative – that Australia and the US had been colonialist bullies that had been threatening Solomon Islands’ sovereignty”.

The report says the info is predicated on evaluation of greater than 2,000 Fb feedback, of which 1,470 had recognized constructive or detrimental sentiment in the direction of a international nation, grouping (the west) or the Solomon Islands authorities. The feedback examined “had been in response to shared party-state media articles, posts from the Chinese language Embassy and posts from the three examined native media retailers that contained details about our two matters of focus – the riots or the Solomon Islands – China safety settlement”:

There was an total decline in anti-China Fb commentary and a rise in pro-China and anti-West commentary within the weeks following the Honiara riots and the leaked China – Solomon Islands safety settlement.

Evaluation of the anti-West on-line commentary following the leaked safety settlement means that the native inhabitants used language featured within the CCP’s narrative, similar to “bullying”, equally as a lot as language from native politicians who had been independently vital of the US for doing “too little, too late” and failing to deal with the problem of unexploded ordnance on Guadalcanal.

The report says CCP actions within the Solomon Islands info atmosphere “happen throughout a spectrum starting from routine diplomatic exercise by way of to coordinated info operations”. The report says routine diplomatic exercise, such because the publication of op-eds and press releases, was “getting used along side on-line amplification actions to assist the identical overarching goals: spreading disinformation concerning the origins of the Honiara riots and undermining the connection between Solomon Islands and its conventional companions”.

Good morning!

A deluge is because of hit Victoria, NSW and Queensland, with many elements of these states making ready for flooding as South Australia begins a clean-up after wild storms.

Extreme climate warnings for heavy rainfall are in place from central Queensland all the way in which down by way of a lot of inland New South Wales and alongside the Murray River in Victoria, after thunderstorms and heavy rainfall struck from Darwin all the way in which all the way down to Victoria final night time.

The listing of flood watches is lengthy throughout these states, with particular concern for central and western NSW.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narromore informed the ABC this morning that the rainfall might result in fast renewed river rises and probably flash flooding:

We’re notably involved across the areas of Gunnedah, Wee Waa, Warren, Bathurst, Forbes, Gundagai and Tumut and in addition Wagga Wagga.

In South Australia, a clean-up begins after wild storms linked to that climate system introduced down bushes and powerlines. The Courier Mail reviews that greater than 4000 properties and companies are nonetheless with out energy this morning.

There may be extra information of hacking within the media. The ABC reviews that prime Australian defence officers have been hit by a “subtle” cyber hack in Singapore. The ABC’s defence correspondent Andrew Greene writes:

Between Could and July this 12 months, buyer information was stolen from eight Shangri-La lodges throughout Asia, together with the luxurious Singapore venue the place Defence Minister Richard Marles held top-level safety talks with China shortly after Labor’s election win.

This comes as Guardian Australia’s Josh Taylor brings you an unique of a unique hack, as Australian staff of safety agency G4S have had private info – together with tax file numbers, checking account info and medical checks – stolen and posted on-line in a ransomware assault.

After yesterday’s information of the Reserve Financial institution’s sixth rate of interest rise in as many months, ABC Radio shall be chatting with finance minister Katy Gallagher and shadow finance minister Jane Hume later. We’ll carry you the information of what they should say.

Let’s get going!



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