Australia information dwell: bombshell allegations in Barilaro inquiry; AMA lashes authorities for ‘combined messages’ on Covid threat | Australia information

Girl who was initially provided NYC commerce function says she was instructed job can be ‘a gift for somebody’

Michael McGowan

Jenny West, who was initially provided the New York Metropolis commerce job that finally went to former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro, has instructed an inquiry analyzing the appointment that she was instructed the job can be “a gift for somebody”.

West was initially provided the job on 12 August final 12 months, solely to have the supply rescinded a month later after a cupboard choice to make the job a “political appointment”.

In her opening assertion to the inquiry, West described the supply, and retraction, as “a really disappointing episode in my life”.

West instructed the inquiry that on 14 October she had a gathering with Amy Brown, the chief government of Funding NSW, during which she was instructed she would not be getting the job supply.

West mentioned:

Ms Brown mentioned the place, and it is a quote, ‘can be a gift for somebody’. She added, and I once more quote, ‘you’re a rare performer and I’m upset this has occurred’.

She reads from notes she took on the assembly which state that Brown instructed her she wouldn’t be receiving the job after a gathering with the brand new minister, deputy Liberal get together chief Stuart Ayres.

Ayres took over the portfolio after Barilaro’s resignation in early October.

West:

I used to be shocked.

Jenny West, who was originally offered the New York City trade job that eventually went to former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro, has told an inquiry examining the appointment that she was told the job would be “a present for someone”.

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West was originally offered the job on 12 August last year, only to have the offer rescinded a month later after a cabinet decision to make the job a “political appointment”.

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In her opening statement to the inquiry, West described the offer, and retraction, as “a very disappointing episode in my life”.

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West told the inquiry that on 14 October she had a meeting with Amy Brown, the chief executive of Investment NSW, in which she was told she would no longer be getting the job offer.

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West said:

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Ms Brown said the position, and this is a quote, ‘will be a present for someone’. She added, and I again quote, ‘you are an extraordinary performer and I am upset this has happened’.

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She reads from notes she took at the meeting which state that Brown told her she would not be receiving the job after a meeting with the new minister, deputy Liberal party leader Stuart Ayres.

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Ayres took over the portfolio after Barilaro’s resignation in early October.

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West:

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I was shocked.

n

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Jenny West has begun to give her evidence at the NSW Barilaro inquiry, revealing how her appointment was confirmed via a briefing signed by then premier Gladys Berejiklian:

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In March 2021, I moved into Investment New South Wales, an agency within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. I remained Deputy Secretary, trade and international. I reported directly to Amy Brown, who had then been appointed as CEO.

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On 12 May 2021, with the support of Ms Brown, I applied for the senior trade and investment commissioner role for the Americas. I sent a cover letter of my CV to NGS Global, the external recruitment agency.

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On 21 July, 2021, I appeared before the interview panel … On 12 August, 2021, Ms Brown told me I was the successful candidate. She sent me a briefing signed by Premier Berejiklian, noting my appointment as senior trade and investment commissioner for the Americas.

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Chris Moy, the vice president of the Australian Medical Association, was on ABC earlier this morning saying that Australians are receiving mixed messages from politicians rolling back Covid-19 measures when the threat is increasing.

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The election gave us a false sense of security and unfortunately, to some degree, we have been like frogs boiled slowly and we are accepting this death rate which has continued on.

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We are about to enter a worse phase. We have mixed messages from the politicians in the last few days, they have cut back on – they won’t return to things like the pandemic payments. They have cut back on telehealth to help GPs prescribe the antivirals and there is this discussion which I think the only thing people are hearing is we won’t do mask mandates again.

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He said even though masks aren’t mandated any more, using them is a “no brainer”, offering a simple and effective mechanism to be able to prevent getting Covid-19 and the other flus and viruses around.

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A parliamentary inquiry into the appointment of former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro to a $500,000-a-year New York trade posting will resume today, with evidence from the woman who was first offered the job.

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Jenny West was offered the job in August, only for it to be rescinded before Barilaro was eventually appointed to the plum gig.

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The inquiry – one of two separate probes into the appointment – met last month when the chief executive of Investment NSW, Amy Brown, explained how West had been “extremely upset” when she was told the offer had been retracted.

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Guardian Australia first revealed that the former senior public servant and businesswoman had been offered the job, despite the government insisting that “no suitable candidate” had been found for the job prior to Barilaro’s appointment.

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West, we understand, raised her concerns about the appointment process in a dossier sent to the secretary of the department of premier and cabinet, Michael Coutts-Trotter. Her evidence is likely to go to those concerns.

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While he's resigned from the post, the #UpperHouse #inquiry into the appt of John Barilaro as Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner to the Americas continues to investigate the appt process. Today the committee hears from Jenny West, 10:15am-1pm: https://t.co/sly8N6UwEX #NSWpol pic.twitter.com/6FCpCDBbUP

— Legislative Council (@nsw_upperhouse) July 10, 2022

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by Harry Davies, Simon Goodley, Felicity Lawrence, Paul Lewis and Lisa O’Carrol

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A leaked trove of confidential files has revealed the inside story of how the tech giant Uber flouted laws, duped police, exploited violence against drivers and secretly lobbied governments during its aggressive global expansion.

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The unprecedented leak to the Guardian of more than 124,000 documents – known as the Uber files – lays bare the ethically questionable practices that fuelled the company’s transformation into one of Silicon Valley’s most famous exports.

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The leak spans a five-year period when Uber was run by its co-founder Travis Kalanick, who tried to force the cab-hailing service into cities around the world, even if that meant breaching laws and taxi regulations.

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During the fierce global backlash, the data shows how Uber tried to shore up support by discreetly courting prime ministers, presidents, billionaires, oligarchs and media barons.

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Keep following the Guardian for more stories to be published later today and tomorrow.

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There were 7,586 new cases in the last reporting period, and 63 people are in intensive care.

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COVID-19 update – Monday 11 July 2022

In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:

– 96.7% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
– 95.2% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/cxAtSKG9nj

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 10, 2022

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Tony Burke, the minister for employment and workplace relations, has taken to social media to tell jobseekers he hasn’t been blind to the difficulties they’ve experienced following the launch of the government’s new employment services system, Workforce Australia.

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First of all, thanks to those who have been sharing different challenges and fears of dealing with the new system Workforce Australia. I haven’t been tweeting much but I’ve been reading the comments. I thought it would help if I offered some specific information in response.

— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) July 10, 2022

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Burke also clarified the new measures in place.

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He reiterated that there will be no suspensions this month for anyone using government employment platforms Workforce Australia, ParentsNext, Transition to Work and DES.

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He also said there will be no demerits or suspensions for people in flood-affected areas this month or next month.

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He says Amanda Rishworth, the minister for social services, and he have “clean-slated” participants:

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So if you were on the edge of receiving penalties, they have been wiped. It’s a new system and a fresh start.

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You can read more about the pause on welfare penalties from Guardian Australia’s social affairs and inequality editor Luke Henriques-Gomes.

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The Aboriginal flag is set to replace the NSW flag as the government abandons plans to install a third flagpole.

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The state premier, Dominic Perrottet, said flying the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian and NSW state flags was an important gesture towards closing the gap, but the measure attracted questions after he revealed a third flagpole came with a $25m price tag.

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I am incredibly proud to announce that the Aboriginal Flag will now permanently fly on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Such a fitting way to end NAIDOC Week 2022, the Aboriginal Flag will stand forever next to the Australian Flag on one of our nation's most iconic structures. pic.twitter.com/dm521pqY4B

— Ben Franklin (@BenFranklinNats) July 10, 2022

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Pat Conroy, the minister for international development and the Pacific, is on ABC Radio discussing the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum.

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Conroy says that “key message” he’s hearing from Australia’s Pacific neighbours, and which he supports, is that Pacific security should come from within the region.

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He said Pacific nations need to look to within the region to meet their security needs, and only look to neighbours when they aren’t met.

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It’s Monday and more Australians will be able to access Covid-19 treatments from today as another wave of cases continues to drive up hospitalisation.

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People over 70 who test positive will be able to access antivirals on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. These treatments, if taken soon after symptoms appear, can prevent Covid from developing into severe disease. Those over 30 will be able to get a fourth Covid-19 vaccine from today, with people over 50 recommended to get the extra dose.

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The Pacific Islands Forum is due to begin this week in Suva, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, due to attend later in the week.

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The forum, which is the key diplomatic body in the Pacific, has been dealt a devastating blow on the eve of its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, as Kiribati announced it would be withdrawing.

“,”elementId”:”db212ddc-8d5a-42e2-b9fb-783322bd5fcd”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/10/kiribati-withdraws-from-pacific-islands-forum-pif-micronesia”,”text”:”Kiribati withdraws from Pacific Islands Forum in blow to regional body”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”inline”,”elementId”:”775fea2b-fda5-464a-863e-dae17c3d9c81″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

After last week’s devastating floods in NSW, many residents are now returning to their homes. As of last night, 4,500 people remained under evacuation orders, down from approximately 37,000 the previous night.

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I’m Natasha May and feel free to reach out if there’s something you think needs to be on the blog – on Twitter @natasha__may or email natasha.may@theguardian.com.

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Let’s get into it.

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Key occasions:

Michael McGowan

Funding NSW chief government despatched celebratory textual content after job supply, Jenny West says

Amy Brown, the chief government of Funding NSW, despatched Jenny West a textual content message with a Statue of Liberty and champagne emoji when she was first instructed she had gotten the job.

The textual content included a photograph of a signed transient from then premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming her appointment.

She wrote within the textual content: “That is one to border”.

As I instructed you earlier, a month later the job supply was revoked and Brown instructed West that the job can be a “political appointment”.

We’ve heard that the submission to vary the function to a political appointment was taken to cupboard by the then deputy premier, John Barilaro.

When that occurred, Brown instructed West she would not be getting the job and that the function can be “a gift for somebody”.

West says:

I believed it was an uncommon flip of phrase so I took observe of it.

Girl who was initially provided NYC commerce function says she was instructed job can be ‘a gift for somebody’

Michael McGowan

Jenny West, who was initially provided the New York Metropolis commerce job that finally went to former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro, has instructed an inquiry analyzing the appointment that she was instructed the job can be “a gift for somebody”.

West was initially provided the job on 12 August final 12 months, solely to have the supply rescinded a month later after a cupboard choice to make the job a “political appointment”.

In her opening assertion to the inquiry, West described the supply, and retraction, as “a really disappointing episode in my life”.

West instructed the inquiry that on 14 October she had a gathering with Amy Brown, the chief government of Funding NSW, during which she was instructed she would not be getting the job supply.

West mentioned:

Ms Brown mentioned the place, and it is a quote, ‘can be a gift for somebody’. She added, and I once more quote, ‘you’re a rare performer and I’m upset this has occurred’.

She reads from notes she took on the assembly which state that Brown instructed her she wouldn’t be receiving the job after a gathering with the brand new minister, deputy Liberal get together chief Stuart Ayres.

Ayres took over the portfolio after Barilaro’s resignation in early October.

West:

I used to be shocked.

Eden Gillespie

Public hearings to start in inquiry into Queensland police’s dealing with of home and household violence

The fee of inquiry into Queensland police’s dealing with of home violence will maintain its first week of public hearings right now, with present and retired officers referred to as to supply proof.

The primary week of hearings in Brisbane will look at officer coaching and the police’s capability to reply to home violence incidents. It can additionally examine the operation of the weak individuals unit and cultural points throughout the state’s police pressure.

Subsequent hearings held in regional Queensland will invite consultants, authorized representatives, help staff and First Nations and regional officers to supply proof.

The fee of inquiry was really helpful by the state’s ladies’s security and justice taskforce, which discovered “widespread cultural points” affecting police responses to home and household violence.

Guardian Australia has written extensively about police failures associated to home and sexual abuse victims in Queensland.

Queensland correspondent Ben Smee wrote a sequence of tales this month detailing considerations by former and present feminine officers after being despatched a number of unpublished submissions to the inquiry.

In a single submission a former officer mentioned police selected to not pursue credible home violence allegations in opposition to a serving officer, after dismissing his spouse as having “psychological well being points”.

A Queensland police whistleblower claimed in one other submission that detectives didn’t correctly examine the deaths of at the least 4 First Nations ladies who had beforehand been topic to repeated violence by their companions.

Officers additionally spoke of widespread misogynistic behaviour, sexist feedback and sexual harassment by male colleagues.

Girl who had commerce commissioner function supply rescinded to provide proof at Barilaro inquiry right now

Michael McGowan

A parliamentary inquiry into the appointment of former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro to a $500,000-a-year New York commerce posting will resume right now, with proof from the lady who was first provided the job.

Jenny West was provided the job in August, just for it to be rescinded earlier than Barilaro was finally appointed to the plum gig.

The inquiry – considered one of two separate probes into the appointment – met final month when the chief government of Funding NSW, Amy Brown, defined how West had been “extraordinarily upset” when she was instructed the supply had been retracted.

Guardian Australia first revealed that the previous senior public servant and businesswoman had been provided the job, regardless of the federal government insisting that “no appropriate candidate” had been discovered for the job previous to Barilaro’s appointment.

West, we perceive, raised her considerations concerning the appointment course of in a file despatched to the secretary of the division of premier and cupboard, Michael Coutts-Trotter. Her proof is prone to go to these considerations.

Whereas he's resigned from the put up, the #UpperHouse #inquiry into the appt of John Barilaro as Senior Commerce & Funding Commissioner to the Americas continues to analyze the appt course of. Right this moment the committee hears from Jenny West, 10:15am-1pm: https://t.co/sly8N6UwEX #NSWpol pic.twitter.com/6FCpCDBbUP

— Legislative Council (@nsw_upperhouse) July 10, 2022

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