Australia information dwell: Social Companies official tells robodebt inquiry he was ‘directed’ to water down authorized issues | Australia information

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Guardian Australia’s very own Josh Butler asks about rightwing extremism.

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n

Where does this issue rank in terms of threats that you have to address in your portfolio and what work is being done in this area generally and specifically about hate speech and radicalisation online?

n

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O’Neil:

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n

One of the trends I just referred to earlier is this proliferation of ideologies that are driving people to violence. We see big groups of people who are still on a religious fundamentalism pathway but now a very large group of people who are of interest who subscribe to various forms of rightwing nationalism, Nazism, those sorts of things and it’s obviously enormously concerning.

n

We had the Christchurch bombing which was an Australian committing a heinous act of terror in Christchurch and New Zealand and so this is a problem that I do take very seriously.

n

We are actually looking at the way we think about and manage terrorism in Australia to consider whether it is appropriate for these new forms of terrorism that we are seeing.

n

There was a lot of legislation passed in the second half of the last decade which was very targeted at a specific type of terrorism and some of the elements or features of the criminal law require features that are not present in the way that rightwing groups organise themselves.

n

Mark Dreyfus and I are working together to look at some of those laws and see whether there are legal changes that will be needed to capture violent conduct in the rightwing terror world which perhaps isn’t being caught by what is going on in religious fundamentalism.

n

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The review into the Reserve Bank has generated a lot more interest than when it was formally launched after the May election.

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Let’s say the RBA’s popularity – and that governor Philip Lowe – has been on the slide with each interest rate hike, and of this week we’ve had eight in as many months.

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The government, which is expecting to receive the review’s final report by March – has today published 78 submissions. (No sign of one from the federal opposition, unless I missed it.)

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And as part of the data release, the RBA itself has published an 84-page report of its responses to requests for information. There’s a bit to go through but among the perhaps expected points, the bank remains in favour of maintaining its 2%-3% target range for inflation over time.

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“A higher target has been seen as running the risk that inflation will affect decision-making, as occurred in previous decades in Australia when inflation was higher,” it said. “Changing the target (in either direction) could damage long-term credibility if it were not done in an appropriate way.”

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Again, they admit the increase in inflation since mid-2021 “has been a very large surprise relative to earlier expectations”. In August 2021, the RBA was forecasting that inflation over 2022 would be 1.75% and it now expects it will be 7¾%.

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“Other forecasters have recorded similar forecast errors for inflation, with a similar experience across most advanced economies,” it says (not without reason).

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Submissions and comments about the review have stressed the need to examine the make-up of the board and whether the ratio of votes in favour of the monthly rate decisions should be published (as is the case in some other nations).

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The bank noted, however, that at “each of its meetings over the past decade the Board has voted in support of the recommendation made by the staff”. In other words, the bank’s own view has carried the day for the past 100-plus meetings (the RBA board meets 11 times a year on rates).

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As for the media’s view of the RBA, sentiment has been “largely neutral”, except when it wasn’t, and then coverage was “more negative than positive”. The central bank gets about 3000 enquiries a year from the public with about 6% complaints. Odds favour that ratio rising.

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Something else on the rise are global temperatures. To that end, the bank “has recently created a Climate Analysis & Policy section to bring together climate-related streams of work and created two new dedicated positions”. That’s a section likely to be expanded in the future.

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The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, announces two new reviews.

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The first review will examine national resilience. That will be the home front implications of the climate and security environment Australia faces.

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The second will focus on the resilience of democracy, which O’Neil says is a national security issue.

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n

In our quest to keep Australians safe in the coming decades, our democracy will be our biggest national asset and we need to protect our national asset. And because competitor countries are seeking to undermine our democracy, and we need to fight back.

n

Their intention is to justify authoritarianism by making it look like democracies are inherently dysfunctional, and to weaken countries like ours and constrain us from responding to global events that our adversaries may create.

n

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The taskforce will be completed in 2025 and will be undertaken in partnership with University of Canberra’s director of democracy, Prof Mark Evans.

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O’Neil says foreign interference, misinformation and disinformation are on the rise, and the review will look at what government can do with tech companies to reduce the spread of polarisation and falsehoods.

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n

Australians can get pretty down on our democracy. There are good reasons for that and indeed a bit of Australian scepticism in the world of politics is a very, very healthy thing. But politicians like me need to tell a better story about Australia’s world-leading democratic history. We are the sixth oldest democracy in the world.

n

We are the great democratic innovator, the inventor of the secret talent, one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote. We have very high participation in our democracy and a strong and independent Electoral Commission and politicians do their part and respect the results.

n

We have a brilliant independent media which despite its many challenges does a bloody good job.

n

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Turning to cybersecurity, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, says all businesses and citizens need to change how they engage with the internet.

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“The truth is, in cybersecurity, we are unnecessarily vulnerable. We did not do the work nationally over the last decade to help us prepare for this national challenge,” she says.

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O’Neil says it was an “absolute shocker” that the former prime minister, Scott Morrison, abolished the cybersecurity ministry, and points to what the Albanese government has done so far – a new joint taskforce between the AFP and Australian Signals Directorate, and passing new data breach penalty laws.

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She says she feels for people caught up in the Optus and Medibank data breaches, noting she has family affected by both.

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O’Neil announces the Albanese government will develop a new cybersecurity strategy:

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n

The cybersecurity strategy will help Australia bring the whole nation into the fight to protect our citizens and to protect our economy. It will help us strengthen critical infrastructure and government networks. It will help us build sovereign capabilities in cybersecurity, because this is something Australia must be able to do for itself.

n

And it will help us strengthen our international engagement, so Australia can play a leadership role on the global stage, and work in partnership with our Pacific neighbours to handle cybersecurity across our region.

n

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The project will be led by Andy Penn, former Telstra CEO, Rachael Falk, CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, and Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld.

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n

In addition to this amazing group of Australians, some of the biggest cyber guns from around the world love the scale of our ambition [and] they’ve agreed to assist.

n

Former UK Cyber Safety Centre CEO and … Oxford College professor Ciaran Martin will lead a world cyber-expert panel, who will guarantee our work actually is world-leading. Throughout authorities, finance minister Katy Gallagher will work with me on the government-facing elements of the technique and assistant minister Tim Watts will lead our worldwide focus.

n

We’ve bought the platform, we’ve bought the mandate for change, we’ve genuinely now bought one of the best minds on the issue, and now it’s time to translate that right into a extra cybersecure Australia.

n

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The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, is speaking at the National Press Club.

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She says climate change is an increasing national security risk.

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n

When Home Affairs was first created, the discussion about climate change in national security was largely academic and, indeed, derided by the former government.

n

Five years on, climate change is a … growing part of Australia’s national security picture. Climate change is creating massive movements of people that may become unmanageable. Already, national disasters are forcing about 21.5 million people each year from their homes.

n

In our region, this, alongside foreseeable food and energy shortages, will be big vulnerabilities that we will need to work with our neighbours to address.

n

Climate change is creating natural disasters at rolling frequency. For affected Australians, these disasters can be life-shattering, and from a security perspective, their management is a hugely consuming task for government and the community, and this in itself is a national security risk.

n

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O’Neil says what she is most concerned about is “cascading disasters”.

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n

Imagine a future January where we see Black Saturday-sized bushfires in the south-east, a major flood in the north of our country, and then overlay a cyber-attack on a major hospital system on the west coast – government would be fully absorbed in the management of that crisis, and then consider how capable we would be responding to and engaging with a security issue in our region.

n

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The independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, is speaking to ABC News following the unveiling of new federal environment laws by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek.

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The legislation will go before parliament next year and the Senate’s support will be crucial to getting the new laws passed. Pocock proved pivotal in getting the government’s industrial reform passed in the last sitting week of parliament.

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So what does the senator, known for his strong stance on the environment, make of the government’s proposed reforms?

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n

I’m yet to read all 60 pages, but it’s a great thing to have an environment minister that is committed to turning things around.

n

Clearly our environmental laws are not working and minister Plibersek has committed to no new extinctions, which is a huge commitment and is going to take reforming environmental law, having an independent agency but then crucially, having the kind of investment in nature, investment in conservation it is necessary to actually deliver on that promise.

n

We have to ensure that the prime minister and cabinet back her on this and provide the sort of investment that is going to be needed every year going forward.

n

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Ros Childs:

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n

So of what you have seen so far, you would support this in the Senate?

n

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Pocock:

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n

I will wait for the details – this is a really big piece of work and as the minister said earlier, there isn’t the fine details yet, that will happen over next year – but we have to ensure that we look back on 2023 as a year that we did turn things around when it comes to the environment here in Australia.

n

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John Pesutto will lead the Victorian Liberal party after defeating Brad Battin, sources have told Guardian Australia.

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Pesutto, a former shadow attorney general, narrowly reclaimed the inner east seat of Hawthorn, which he lost at the 2018 state election. He has argued the Liberal party needs to develop attractive policies that have broad appeal if it is to be successful come 2026.

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He is the Liberal’s fifth leader since Daniel Andrews secured the leadership of the Victorian Labor party in 2010 and it’s the party’s third leadership spill since March last year.

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The New South Wales government will support an Indigenous voice to parliament being enshrined in the constitution.

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The state Aboriginal affairs minister, Ben Franklin, confirmed the Coalition’s position on Thursday after his federal Nationals counterparts last week announced they would not be supporting it.

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He said:

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n

We support in principle enshrining an Aboriginal voice in the Australian constitution. Obviously we want some more information from the federal government about how we work, how it will operate. We know how important it is that Aboriginal voices be heard across the state. We know that it’s critical for Aboriginal voices to be considered at the heart of government and that’s why we’ve expressed our in principal support for a voice to parliament.

n

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Franklin said he expected more details to be revealed by the federal government in coming months.

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He said he had not heard from federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, since making the announcement, nor would he be asking him to reconsider.

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n

I’m not going to comment on the federal National party and the decisions that they’ve made. We’ve made it very clear what our position is. We look forward to having more information about how it will work before we land, of course on our final position when you see all the details, the logistics on the table and then we’ll be able to go forth and continue to consider the issue.

n

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n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/tamsinroses/status/1600638314008432641″,”id”:”1600638314008432641″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”ab6657ce-30c7-4bcf-aae0-2772cdb94745″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670456902000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.48 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670458266000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.11 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670456977000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.49 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.49″,”title”:”NSW Coalition authorities helps an Indigenous voice to parliament”,”contributors”:[“name”:”Tamsin Rose”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/02/22/Tamsin_Rose.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ccd08276b5eb1ae52be5df849b5ce77″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/02/22/Tamsin_Rose_v2.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=be25c371d71f239b304c662c0973473f”],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639122528f08aedcdc7df57c”,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Following the sweeping changes to Indonesia’s criminal code, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its travel advice for Australians travelling to Indonesia.

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It has warned travellers of the new laws, flagging this includes penalties for cohabitation and sex outside marriage. But noted the laws do not come into force for another three years. It advises Australians to subscribe to the travel advice to stay up to date.

“,”elementId”:”4f3e192e-d37e-4b87-a58b-77cbd3d39d30″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The advice said Australians are subject to Indonesia’s local laws and penalties, including those that seem harsh by Australian standards.

“,”elementId”:”17370815-ebbf-4126-a55c-9e4d6e836f28″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The overall advice for Australians travelling to Indonesia is to exercise a high degree of caution. However, this encompasses a number of other risks for Australians travelling to Indonesia, including the eruption of Mount Semeru in East Java on 4 December.

“,”elementId”:”8b529fc2-85ee-4373-8924-4816e7e4d59e”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Indonesia is Australia’s most popular overseas travel destination with more than 1m visits a year.

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The Albanese government has committed to establishing a new environment protection agency with powers to decide whether or not developments proceed and to enforce laws designed to protect and restore nature.

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Releasing the government’s response to a review of national environmental laws, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, confirmed the government would also introduce new national environmental standards against which conservation, protection and major development applications will be measured.

“,”elementId”:”216b6a77-ae03-4d0d-ab2a-10bdb6954a44″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It comes two years after the former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel delivered his review to the former Morrison government. The Coalition never formally responded.

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Plibersek said revamped environmental laws would set standards that decisions about developments must meet and would “describe the environmental outcomes we want to achieve” to ensure better protection of threatened species and declining ecosystems.

“,”elementId”:”5edc789a-238b-4a6c-a08f-279f39c55fd9″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She said:

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n

Our nature positive plan is a win-win: a win for the environment and a win for business.

n

Our reforms are seeking to turn the tide in this country – from nature destruction to nature repair.

n

“,”elementId”:”977d8822-ea40-43be-9d74-ab7f1fb22da3″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The response, released at an event in Brisbane, includes proposed changes to conservation planning – formerly known as recovery planning – and a new three tier system to guide where development can and cannot occur.

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The government has also proposed applying the new national standards to regional forest agreements, which have been exempt from the current laws and expanding the water trigger – which assesses the impacts of coal and coal seam gas developments on water resources – to include all forms of unconventional gas.

“,”elementId”:”d0edc701-5e6a-4bec-8546-2344dd45197a”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

However, the government will not establish a long-called for climate trigger and its response did not provide any detail of additional government funding to meet its aims of environmental restoration and zero new extinctions.

“,”elementId”:”0b41c5a1-4fb4-4b60-81a5-fd8a848c5b79″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

More to come on the Guardian Australia website shortly.

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The Victorian Liberal leadership ballot will be taking place later this morning (around 10am). The contest is between Brad Battin and John Pesutto following Matthew Guy’s stepping down after the party’s election loss.

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My colleague, Guardian Australia’s Victorian state correspondent, Benita Kolovos, describes the contest on a “knife-edge” with both men confident they will emerge from the ballot successful:

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The ballot has been described by several Liberal MPs as the “fight for the soul of the party” following its crushing loss at last month’s state election.

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The Liberal party went to the election hoping to improve its lower house representation after the 2018 “Danslide” but its total number of seats will probably remain unchanged. Its primary vote has also dropped below 30% for the first time since the 1950s and there are fears demographic shifts could see this further deteriorate.

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Both Battin and Pesutto have argued the Liberal party struggled to articulate its values at the election, though they have offered alternative solutions to grow its constituency.

“,”elementId”:”b32a915f-757a-453a-a582-a89a609fd387″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Battin said if elected leader he would focus the Liberals’ efforts on “aspirational” voters in Melbourne’s growing outer suburbs and multicultural groups, while Pesutto said the party needed to develop attractive policies that have broad appeal.

“,”elementId”:”6874ae83-0438-4b6b-8c0e-a776cfc08575″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Read the full preview here:

“,”elementId”:”a3a8ed84-8ff7-4593-acb8-1a4ff30ccd78″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/07/battle-for-victorian-liberal-leadership-on-a-knife-edge-ahead-of-ballot”,”text”:”Battle for Victorian Liberal leadership on a knife-edge ahead of ballot”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”cdc627e6-56e6-4ccc-b3d0-105c2957a4ec”],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670447147000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.05 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670458416000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.13 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670447618000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.13 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.13″,”title”:”Battle for Victorian Liberal management on a ‘knife-edge’”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”6390f8b98f08d2809ffd08ab”,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has hailed “great progress” in talks on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. He also reiterated a pledge to ensure Australia “acquires this capability at the earliest possible date”.

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This morning Austin joined the Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, and the UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, at the Pentagon for the first Aukus defence ministerial meeting.

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The meeting comes a day after annual high-level talks between Australia and the US.

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Austin told today’s meeting that Australia, the US and the UK’s trilateral security partnership was an “historic endeavour”:

“,”elementId”:”66f49efc-932f-4bad-be23-20341728031b”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The need for Aukus is even clearer today. More than ever, our three countries share of similar outlook on the key challenges and opportunities confronting our world. Aukus will enhance our shared ability to sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and since creating this trilateral security partnership our defense forces, industries, and scientific communities have been hard at work. Over the past 15 months we’ve made great progress toward identifying a pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed and nuclear-powered submarines. Today on behalf of President Biden, I want to reaffirm the US commitment to ensuring that Australia acquires this capability at the earliest possible date, and in adherence with the highest nonproliferation standards.

n

“,”elementId”:”87d4d16c-fb34-47f1-bd61-0b97b0948283″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Marles told the meeting Aukus reflected “a shared mission between our three countries to work together to pursue advanced military capability, and do so at a time where the strategic circumstances faced by the world are as complex and precarious as really we’ve seen since the end of the second world war”:

“,”elementId”:”7c97be55-bc01-48d2-891d-f09c06b61023″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

And central to that is Australia being able to acquire a nuclear-powered, highly capable submarine and we are deeply grateful for the work that we’ve been able to do with both the UK and the US to enable Australia to acquire that capability. And it’s not lost on us the significance of the US and the UK, working together and transferring this technology to Australia. And there has been an enormous amount of work being done by our officials to bring this about, and obviously to bring today about. I think as we talk today, we’re all going to speak to the fact that we’re on track to be able to make this announcement in respect of what will be the optimal pathway for Australia to take in the first part of next year, which is what we have always intended to do.

n

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Wallace said the UK would “do everything we can in our capability to help support you, get you that capability, to bring to the best Australia’s skills and its workforce to do so”.

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‘Australians have every right to be disappointed’ but dialogue with Indonesia important, Bowen says

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While he says “strong representations” from the Australian government are necessary, Chris Bowen does not believe Umar Patek’s early release will have repercussions for our relationship with Indonesia:

“,”elementId”:”db838641-7bee-4602-8f7d-65c764be3a94″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I think it is important that Australia maintains strong dialogue with Indonesia, so we can have those discussions and that is exactly what we will do. These issues do come up in the relationship, between all countries but particularly between Australia and Indonesia with different legal systems.

n

It is appropriate that the Australian government makes strong representations to the Indonesian government which we have done and will continue to do.

n

Australians have every right to be disappointed and concerned by this news. We understand and respect the differences with the Indonesian system so therefore it is best we just engage in that dialogue with them to ensure all the necessary protections, all possible protections have been put in place.

n

“,”elementId”:”61fb6ca4-2950-4ec0-a64a-c9068947a332″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670444008000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.13 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670446307000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.51 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670444296000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.18 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.18″,”title”:”Indonesia wants ‘protections’ in place after bomb maker’s launch, Chris Bowen says”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”6390f1fe8f086664c1733e11″,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hello, Natasha May now on deck with you.

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Indonesian authorities have released the chief bomb maker behind the Bali bombings, Umar Patek, after only serving half his 20 year sentence. It comes despite lobbying from Australia to keep him in jail for his full term. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said his impending release would cause further distress to bomb victims.

“,”elementId”:”0ca2aea9-a8bc-49dd-88f0-3264d8947542″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Authorities deliberately postponed his release until after the bombing anniversary and last month’s G20 summit in Bali. But he has now been released on remission for good behaviour with authorities saying they no longer have the right to detain him as he has fulfilled the conditions for parole.

“,”elementId”:”ff79481e-62dd-4c40-8a4b-12d9de9176dc”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, is appearing on ABC News Breakfast and asked about the early release:

“,”elementId”:”adc0fd58-07c5-4917-9d70-db61dd5b8c1d”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I think all Australians would be concerned about this and the Australian government is concerned about this on their behalf. We have made, as you would expect, appropriate representations to the Indonesian government. Early release is not uncommon in Indonesia. Our particular representations have gone to seeking reassurances that he will continue to be monitored and appropriate protections will be in place. We have made appropriate representations through the normal channels and that dialogue with our friends in Indonesian government will continue.

n

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The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, will give the first insight into how the Albanese government plans to rewrite the national environment laws this morning as she makes a major announcement in Brisbane.

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Plibersek will respond to a review of national environment laws by the former consumer watchdog Graeme Samuel that was handed to the Morrison government two years ago. The Coalition never formally responded.

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The response will include what the government plans to do on introducing uniform national environmental standards to guide conservation protection and the assessment of major development proposals – a key recommendation of the Samuel review.

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The minister is also expected to reveal the government’s preferred structure for a new national environment protection agency – an EPA – and to outline a proposal for regional approaches to environmental planning, which would guide where development can and cannot occur.

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The Australian Conservation Foundation’s chief executive, Kelly O’Shanassy, said the country needed strong national standards and an EPA that was independent, had decision-making powers, and was properly funded.

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The national campaigns director at the Wilderness Society, Amelia Young, said community appetite for major environmental reform had never been higher.

“,”elementId”:”39b639ea-2aae-468f-ac05-79edf519b368″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The natural world needs a lot more attention than governments have been giving it and the time to rectify this is now.

n

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Infrastructure will be one of the themes of the day, with the federal minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government, Catherine King, due to unveil the revamped Infrastructure Australia body later today.

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The minister will also attend the Boomtown property and infrastructure summit in Sydney today with the New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet. The summit is seeking to promote the development of western Sydney.

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Amy Remeikis reports:

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Infrastructure Australia is dead. Long live Infrastructure Australia.

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The creation of the body by the Rudd government in 2008 forms part of the prime minister, Anthony Albanese’s legacy.

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Albanese has long had a love of nation-building infrastructure projects, and Infrastructure Australia was designed while he was in the portfolio, as a way of identifying and fast-tracking projects which would add value, help future-proof communities, or provide missing links within existing infrastructure frameworks.

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At the time, Albanese described it as “replacing neglect, buck-passing, and pork-barrelling with long-term planning where governments predict and anticipate infrastructure needs and demands, not merely react to them”.

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But the body set up to help identify and see through nation-building projects became increasingly sidelined, an independent review ordered by the new Albanese government found, and was seen as “reactive” rather than proactive.

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That has led to projects languishing, or the states moving forward without all the pieces.

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One of the first acts of the Albanese government was to review Infrastructure Australia. King had signalled an overhaul would be a priority of a Labor government ahead of the election, after former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce appointed the retiring mayor of Tamworth to chair the body.

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The review having been returned, King will unveil the revamped IA at an event later on Thursday.

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The government plans on overhauling the body, giving it a clear and legislated mandate, which will define its responsibilities and role, as well as shift from an advisory body governed by committee, to a new governance model.

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Good morning and welcome to our live blog. Natasha May will be along soon to take you through the day but before then here are a couple of stories making news overnight.

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The Australian Medical Association has blasted “weak political leadership” for what it sees as the premature relaxation of anti-Covid measures, saying that the health system is “not prepared” to deal with long-term issues stemming from the pandemic. The peak doctors’ body is so concerned about the lingering impact of long Covid on the population and the health system that it thinks governments should reconsider mask mandates to address the problem. One expert thinks long Covid could affect as many as 1 million Australians by next year.

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Australia’s energy ministers are expected to sign off on a scheme to accelerate the take-up of giant batteries to support the decarbonisation of the grid when they gather in Brisbane today but are unlikely to make a decision on any Albanese government proposal to impose price caps on coal and gas. There were reports last night that the government was pushing the states to cap the price of coal at $125 a tonne, less than half the market rate, but Guardian Australia understands no decision is expected before Friday’s national meeting between the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers.

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Also today the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, is due to make a major announcement on new national environmental standards, which will include Australia’s own environment protection agency. It is in response to a review of national laws that was handed to the Morrison government two years ago.

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Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will use a speech in Washington today to urge China to embrace US plans to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war, while rejecting claims that Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines is driving a regional arms race. She will urge China to take up a US offer to put in place “guardrails” to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war and suggest both sides learn from diplomacy spurred by the Cuban missile crisis.

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Farrer”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/06/10/Martin_Farrer.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a491d63a001c65f468c602e5bbcb494a”,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/06/06/Martin_Farrer,_L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f706e98cb1db7a0312c04c2836c71178″],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:”show”:0,”theme”:0,”design”:10,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}”>

Key occasions

Guardian Australia’s very own Josh Butler asks about rightwing extremism.

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n

Where does this issue rank in terms of threats that you have to address in your portfolio and what work is being done in this area generally and specifically about hate speech and radicalisation online?

n

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O’Neil:

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n

One of the trends I just referred to earlier is this proliferation of ideologies that are driving people to violence. We see big groups of people who are still on a religious fundamentalism pathway but now a very large group of people who are of interest who subscribe to various forms of rightwing nationalism, Nazism, those sorts of things and it’s obviously enormously concerning.

n

We had the Christchurch bombing which was an Australian committing a heinous act of terror in Christchurch and New Zealand and so this is a problem that I do take very seriously.

n

We are actually looking at the way we think about and manage terrorism in Australia to consider whether it is appropriate for these new forms of terrorism that we are seeing.

n

There was a lot of legislation passed in the second half of the last decade which was very targeted at a specific type of terrorism and some of the elements or features of the criminal law require features that are not present in the way that rightwing groups organise themselves.

n

Mark Dreyfus and I are working together to look at some of those laws and see whether there are legal changes that will be needed to capture violent conduct in the rightwing terror world which perhaps isn’t being caught by what is going on in religious fundamentalism.

n

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The review into the Reserve Bank has generated a lot more interest than when it was formally launched after the May election.

“,”elementId”:”83f5d353-c624-47ff-b8d9-38d36e622552″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Let’s say the RBA’s popularity – and that governor Philip Lowe – has been on the slide with each interest rate hike, and of this week we’ve had eight in as many months.

“,”elementId”:”6e20bc38-e8a2-4d06-bf90-29c201c0eb49″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government, which is expecting to receive the review’s final report by March – has today published 78 submissions. (No sign of one from the federal opposition, unless I missed it.)

“,”elementId”:”abedf56c-b936-445e-893f-a85967369ecb”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And as part of the data release, the RBA itself has published an 84-page report of its responses to requests for information. There’s a bit to go through but among the perhaps expected points, the bank remains in favour of maintaining its 2%-3% target range for inflation over time.

“,”elementId”:”a21c3778-ba64-41c3-869f-86a2e2188c93″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“A higher target has been seen as running the risk that inflation will affect decision-making, as occurred in previous decades in Australia when inflation was higher,” it said. “Changing the target (in either direction) could damage long-term credibility if it were not done in an appropriate way.”

“,”elementId”:”cff712dc-ded6-4abf-947f-18d23828cbdd”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Again, they admit the increase in inflation since mid-2021 “has been a very large surprise relative to earlier expectations”. In August 2021, the RBA was forecasting that inflation over 2022 would be 1.75% and it now expects it will be 7¾%.

“,”elementId”:”5a8dbf70-fb5e-4b92-ad3f-74543ee04d2b”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“Other forecasters have recorded similar forecast errors for inflation, with a similar experience across most advanced economies,” it says (not without reason).

“,”elementId”:”12832e82-67f3-4d97-bd01-3bde5e15b1e4″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Submissions and comments about the review have stressed the need to examine the make-up of the board and whether the ratio of votes in favour of the monthly rate decisions should be published (as is the case in some other nations).

“,”elementId”:”d38ed843-8a32-480a-a088-70eb0974f875″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The bank noted, however, that at “each of its meetings over the past decade the Board has voted in support of the recommendation made by the staff”. In other words, the bank’s own view has carried the day for the past 100-plus meetings (the RBA board meets 11 times a year on rates).

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As for the media’s view of the RBA, sentiment has been “largely neutral”, except when it wasn’t, and then coverage was “more negative than positive”. The central bank gets about 3000 enquiries a year from the public with about 6% complaints. Odds favour that ratio rising.

“,”elementId”:”77ee0dfc-ddde-4ce3-9b8a-581c5d61370f”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Something else on the rise are global temperatures. To that end, the bank “has recently created a Climate Analysis & Policy section to bring together climate-related streams of work and created two new dedicated positions”. That’s a section likely to be expanded in the future.

“,”elementId”:”25c6ab45-5021-49f6-80e6-6732741415ca”],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670463194000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.33 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670465634000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.13 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670465203000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.06 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.06″,”title”:”RBA overview submissions revealed and a few responses from the central financial institution”,”contributors”:[“name”:”Peter Hannam”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Peter_Hannam.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5645b13ac19b7cad16846f1f9990d442″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Peter_Hannam.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=79eac68f28963e85663c23ea15fa31de”],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639144938f08aedcdc7df6d0″,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, announces two new reviews.

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The first review will examine national resilience. That will be the home front implications of the climate and security environment Australia faces.

“,”elementId”:”e8668df8-5ae0-4942-a64f-a9a70835a65a”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The second will focus on the resilience of democracy, which O’Neil says is a national security issue.

“,”elementId”:”6508c63b-e9bb-450a-b8cf-beece86f76a3″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

In our quest to keep Australians safe in the coming decades, our democracy will be our biggest national asset and we need to protect our national asset. And because competitor countries are seeking to undermine our democracy, and we need to fight back.

n

Their intention is to justify authoritarianism by making it look like democracies are inherently dysfunctional, and to weaken countries like ours and constrain us from responding to global events that our adversaries may create.

n

“,”elementId”:”11e12c59-1545-497f-9f14-f4c859a398c6″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The taskforce will be completed in 2025 and will be undertaken in partnership with University of Canberra’s director of democracy, Prof Mark Evans.

“,”elementId”:”a60bd884-4b40-4624-b61d-1c26afca6022″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

O’Neil says foreign interference, misinformation and disinformation are on the rise, and the review will look at what government can do with tech companies to reduce the spread of polarisation and falsehoods.

“,”elementId”:”1bb695bb-784a-49f5-b24b-b5b6e8bd5b6e”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Australians can get pretty down on our democracy. There are good reasons for that and indeed a bit of Australian scepticism in the world of politics is a very, very healthy thing. But politicians like me need to tell a better story about Australia’s world-leading democratic history. We are the sixth oldest democracy in the world.

n

We are the great democratic innovator, the inventor of the secret talent, one of the first countries in the world to give women the right to vote. We have very high participation in our democracy and a strong and independent Electoral Commission and politicians do their part and respect the results.

n

We have a brilliant independent media which despite its many challenges does a bloody good job.

n

“,”elementId”:”949efa39-a661-4198-9333-066632ba9c7b”],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670464659000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.57 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670465544000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.12 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670464940000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.02 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.02″,”title”:”House affairs to analyze resilience of democracy”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639140b78f086664c173405d”,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Turning to cybersecurity, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, says all businesses and citizens need to change how they engage with the internet.

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“The truth is, in cybersecurity, we are unnecessarily vulnerable. We did not do the work nationally over the last decade to help us prepare for this national challenge,” she says.

“,”elementId”:”a9a925f5-13a8-479e-bb6f-d806eb05d150″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

O’Neil says it was an “absolute shocker” that the former prime minister, Scott Morrison, abolished the cybersecurity ministry, and points to what the Albanese government has done so far – a new joint taskforce between the AFP and Australian Signals Directorate, and passing new data breach penalty laws.

“,”elementId”:”2adc7145-011d-46d2-95b7-0bf9f02824ff”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She says she feels for people caught up in the Optus and Medibank data breaches, noting she has family affected by both.

“,”elementId”:”fc3fbcf8-c269-473e-94ad-e75d6a325f83″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

O’Neil announces the Albanese government will develop a new cybersecurity strategy:

“,”elementId”:”3c0834e4-d6a5-4c3f-b279-87a19fcf9fed”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

The cybersecurity strategy will help Australia bring the whole nation into the fight to protect our citizens and to protect our economy. It will help us strengthen critical infrastructure and government networks. It will help us build sovereign capabilities in cybersecurity, because this is something Australia must be able to do for itself.

n

And it will help us strengthen our international engagement, so Australia can play a leadership role on the global stage, and work in partnership with our Pacific neighbours to handle cybersecurity across our region.

n

“,”elementId”:”a3787648-9169-4229-9f89-97dec57c6b03″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The project will be led by Andy Penn, former Telstra CEO, Rachael Falk, CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, and Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld.

“,”elementId”:”d8d034cd-d19d-4ce9-9f8a-5fd7ed050326″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

In addition to this amazing group of Australians, some of the biggest cyber guns from around the world love the scale of our ambition [and] they’ve agreed to assist.

n

Former UK Cyber Safety Centre CEO and … Oxford College professor Ciaran Martin will lead a world cyber-expert panel, who will guarantee our work actually is world-leading. Throughout authorities, finance minister Katy Gallagher will work with me on the government-facing elements of the technique and assistant minister Tim Watts will lead our worldwide focus.

n

We’ve bought the platform, we’ve bought the mandate for change, we’ve genuinely now bought one of the best minds on the issue, and now it’s time to translate that right into a extra cybersecure Australia.

n

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The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, is speaking at the National Press Club.

“,”elementId”:”92197718-f196-409d-9d66-e2f36570d4a2″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She says climate change is an increasing national security risk.

“,”elementId”:”37ec945c-e3ff-4426-aeff-581ea3cb91a2″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

When Home Affairs was first created, the discussion about climate change in national security was largely academic and, indeed, derided by the former government.

n

Five years on, climate change is a … growing part of Australia’s national security picture. Climate change is creating massive movements of people that may become unmanageable. Already, national disasters are forcing about 21.5 million people each year from their homes.

n

In our region, this, alongside foreseeable food and energy shortages, will be big vulnerabilities that we will need to work with our neighbours to address.

n

Climate change is creating natural disasters at rolling frequency. For affected Australians, these disasters can be life-shattering, and from a security perspective, their management is a hugely consuming task for government and the community, and this in itself is a national security risk.

n

“,”elementId”:”e9e2e8fc-8109-42ad-9c39-2e2fe8b87e5f”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

O’Neil says what she is most concerned about is “cascading disasters”.

“,”elementId”:”4f4a846c-a1f5-4172-8586-cb251f1a9d55″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Imagine a future January where we see Black Saturday-sized bushfires in the south-east, a major flood in the north of our country, and then overlay a cyber-attack on a major hospital system on the west coast – government would be fully absorbed in the management of that crisis, and then consider how capable we would be responding to and engaging with a security issue in our region.

n

“,”elementId”:”be467885-8354-4faf-bd0c-68debac044f8″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670463361000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.36 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670463831000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”20.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670463482000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.38 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.38″,”title”:”House affairs minister speaks at Nationwide Press Membership”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639131798f08aedcdc7df600″,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, is speaking to ABC News following the unveiling of new federal environment laws by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek.

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The legislation will go before parliament next year and the Senate’s support will be crucial to getting the new laws passed. Pocock proved pivotal in getting the government’s industrial reform passed in the last sitting week of parliament.

“,”elementId”:”72367e8b-f8ce-4d10-96ff-a62971025545″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

So what does the senator, known for his strong stance on the environment, make of the government’s proposed reforms?

“,”elementId”:”dad27c7c-252d-4ef1-81b1-ebd01d87f078″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I’m yet to read all 60 pages, but it’s a great thing to have an environment minister that is committed to turning things around.

n

Clearly our environmental laws are not working and minister Plibersek has committed to no new extinctions, which is a huge commitment and is going to take reforming environmental law, having an independent agency but then crucially, having the kind of investment in nature, investment in conservation it is necessary to actually deliver on that promise.

n

We have to ensure that the prime minister and cabinet back her on this and provide the sort of investment that is going to be needed every year going forward.

n

“,”elementId”:”fb3883ec-5615-41cb-9dff-f4f904550787″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Ros Childs:

“,”elementId”:”4b32c3c9-671e-4db4-8dfb-c3e9bf37cb5d”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

So of what you have seen so far, you would support this in the Senate?

n

“,”elementId”:”58ff7dbf-3da9-4011-aeb3-6db8259a4797″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Pocock:

“,”elementId”:”a4420975-2d8b-4701-a3fe-1f1a256474c5″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I will wait for the details – this is a really big piece of work and as the minister said earlier, there isn’t the fine details yet, that will happen over next year – but we have to ensure that we look back on 2023 as a year that we did turn things around when it comes to the environment here in Australia.

n

“,”elementId”:”35ae7f7f-6fa1-4fc7-8cf4-ba1e5bb19474″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670459769000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.36 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670470006000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”22.26 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670460454000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.47 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.47″,”title”:”Pocock urges PM to again environmental legal guidelines with mandatory funding”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639127f28f08d2809ffd0a0a”,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

John Pesutto will lead the Victorian Liberal party after defeating Brad Battin, sources have told Guardian Australia.

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Pesutto, a former shadow attorney general, narrowly reclaimed the inner east seat of Hawthorn, which he lost at the 2018 state election. He has argued the Liberal party needs to develop attractive policies that have broad appeal if it is to be successful come 2026.

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He is the Liberal’s fifth leader since Daniel Andrews secured the leadership of the Victorian Labor party in 2010 and it’s the party’s third leadership spill since March last year.

“,”elementId”:”b0f4be04-23f0-477b-8957-da48aca2a762″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/benitakolovos/status/1600639650783432704?s=46&t=hpwj5DWnSN6WnoIC_dg73Q”,”id”:”1600639650783432704″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”3be2b03d-d8c1-4669-a20e-3e7950393366″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/07/battle-for-victorian-liberal-leadership-on-a-knife-edge-ahead-of-ballot”,”text”:”Battle for Victorian Liberal leadership on a knife-edge ahead of ballot”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”a94fec60-b734-4201-9ee4-615cf92d7eb8″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670457330000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.55 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670457659000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.00 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670457380000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.56 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.56″,”title”:”John Pesutto wins Victorian Liberal management poll”,”contributors”:[“name”:”Benita Kolovos”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/03/03/Benita_Kolovos_2.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d3f0a5f1842f00e9418475562a58b666″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/03/03/Benita_Kolovos.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5eab712ba445dc6cf12cdc0f9a1eff16″],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639126468f08d2809ffd09f7″,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The New South Wales government will support an Indigenous voice to parliament being enshrined in the constitution.

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The state Aboriginal affairs minister, Ben Franklin, confirmed the Coalition’s position on Thursday after his federal Nationals counterparts last week announced they would not be supporting it.

“,”elementId”:”e417cb97-1ea9-4237-a53e-5bd1f1de2dfb”,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He said:

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n

We support in principle enshrining an Aboriginal voice in the Australian constitution. Obviously we want some more information from the federal government about how we work, how it will operate. We know how important it is that Aboriginal voices be heard across the state. We know that it’s critical for Aboriginal voices to be considered at the heart of government and that’s why we’ve expressed our in principal support for a voice to parliament.

n

“,”elementId”:”6a76cc56-86ff-4d61-b3ea-3500585c9b88″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Franklin said he expected more details to be revealed by the federal government in coming months.

“,”elementId”:”3397ffeb-2c22-4897-87cd-2366f82cc640″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He said he had not heard from federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, since making the announcement, nor would he be asking him to reconsider.

“,”elementId”:”cf4d9c14-0496-4f71-8729-2813b57e5658″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

I’m not going to comment on the federal National party and the decisions that they’ve made. We’ve made it very clear what our position is. We look forward to having more information about how it will work before we land, of course on our final position when you see all the details, the logistics on the table and then we’ll be able to go forth and continue to consider the issue.

n

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n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/tamsinroses/status/1600638314008432641″,”id”:”1600638314008432641″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”ab6657ce-30c7-4bcf-aae0-2772cdb94745″],”attributes”:”pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false,”blockCreatedOn”:1670456902000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.48 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1670458266000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.11 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1670456977000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.49 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.49″,”title”:”NSW Coalition authorities helps an Indigenous voice to parliament”,”contributors”:[“name”:”Tamsin Rose”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/02/22/Tamsin_Rose.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ccd08276b5eb1ae52be5df849b5ce77″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/02/22/Tamsin_Rose_v2.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=be25c371d71f239b304c662c0973473f”],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 7 Dec 2022 22.54 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Wed 7 Dec 2022 14.34 EST”,”id”:”639122528f08aedcdc7df57c”,”components”:[“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Following the sweeping changes to Indonesia’s criminal code, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its travel advice for Australians travelling to Indonesia.

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It has warned travellers of the new laws, flagging this includes penalties for cohabitation and sex outside marriage. But noted the laws do not come into force for another three years. It advises Australians to subscribe to the travel advice to stay up to date.

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The advice said Australians are subject to Indonesia’s local laws and penalties, including those that seem harsh by Australian standards.

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The overall advice for Australians travelling to Indonesia is to exercise a high degree of caution. However, this encompasses a number of other risks for Australians travelling to Indonesia, including the eruption of Mount Semeru in East Java on 4 December.

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Indonesia is Australia’s most popular overseas travel destination with more than 1m visits a year.

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The Albanese government has committed to establishing a new environment protection agency with powers to decide whether or not developments proceed and to enforce laws designed to protect and restore nature.

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Releasing the government’s response to a review of national environmental laws, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, confirmed the government would also introduce new national environmental standards against which conservation, protection and major development applications will be measured.

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It comes two years after the former competition watchdog Graeme Samuel delivered his review to the former Morrison government. The Coalition never formally responded.

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Plibersek said revamped environmental laws would set standards that decisions about developments must meet and would “describe the environmental outcomes we want to achieve” to ensure better protection of threatened species and declining ecosystems.

“,”elementId”:”5edc789a-238b-4a6c-a08f-279f39c55fd9″,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She said:

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n

Our nature positive plan is a win-win: a win for the environment and a win for business.

n

Our reforms are seeking to turn the tide in this country – from nature destruction to nature repair.

n

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The response, released at an event in Brisbane, includes proposed changes to conservation planning – formerly known as recovery planning – and a new three tier system to guide where development can and cannot occur.

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The government has also proposed applying the new national standards to regional forest agreements, which have been exempt from the current laws and expanding the water trigger – which assesses the impacts of coal and coal seam gas developments on water resources – to include all forms of unconventional gas.

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However, the government will not establish a long-called for climate trigger and its response did not provide any detail of additional government funding to meet its aims of environmental restoration and zero new extinctions.

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More to come on the Guardian Australia website shortly.

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The Victorian Liberal leadership ballot will be taking place later this morning (around 10am). The contest is between Brad Battin and John Pesutto following Matthew Guy’s stepping down after the party’s election loss.

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My colleague, Guardian Australia’s Victorian state correspondent, Benita Kolovos, describes the contest on a “knife-edge” with both men confident they will emerge from the ballot successful:

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The ballot has been described by several Liberal MPs as the “fight for the soul of the party” following its crushing loss at last month’s state election.

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The Liberal party went to the election hoping to improve its lower house representation after the 2018 “Danslide” but its total number of seats will probably remain unchanged. Its primary vote has also dropped below 30% for the first time since the 1950s and there are fears demographic shifts could see this further deteriorate.

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Both Battin and Pesutto have argued the Liberal party struggled to articulate its values at the election, though they have offered alternative solutions to grow its constituency.

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Battin said if elected leader he would focus the Liberals’ efforts on “aspirational” voters in Melbourne’s growing outer suburbs and multicultural groups, while Pesutto said the party needed to develop attractive policies that have broad appeal.

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Read the full preview here:

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The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has hailed “great progress” in talks on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. He also reiterated a pledge to ensure Australia “acquires this capability at the earliest possible date”.

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This morning Austin joined the Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, and the UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, at the Pentagon for the first Aukus defence ministerial meeting.

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The meeting comes a day after annual high-level talks between Australia and the US.

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Austin told today’s meeting that Australia, the US and the UK’s trilateral security partnership was an “historic endeavour”:

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n

The need for Aukus is even clearer today. More than ever, our three countries share of similar outlook on the key challenges and opportunities confronting our world. Aukus will enhance our shared ability to sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, and since creating this trilateral security partnership our defense forces, industries, and scientific communities have been hard at work. Over the past 15 months we’ve made great progress toward identifying a pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed and nuclear-powered submarines. Today on behalf of President Biden, I want to reaffirm the US commitment to ensuring that Australia acquires this capability at the earliest possible date, and in adherence with the highest nonproliferation standards.

n

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Marles told the meeting Aukus reflected “a shared mission between our three countries to work together to pursue advanced military capability, and do so at a time where the strategic circumstances faced by the world are as complex and precarious as really we’ve seen since the end of the second world war”:

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n

And central to that is Australia being able to acquire a nuclear-powered, highly capable submarine and we are deeply grateful for the work that we’ve been able to do with both the UK and the US to enable Australia to acquire that capability. And it’s not lost on us the significance of the US and the UK, working together and transferring this technology to Australia. And there has been an enormous amount of work being done by our officials to bring this about, and obviously to bring today about. I think as we talk today, we’re all going to speak to the fact that we’re on track to be able to make this announcement in respect of what will be the optimal pathway for Australia to take in the first part of next year, which is what we have always intended to do.

n

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Wallace said the UK would “do everything we can in our capability to help support you, get you that capability, to bring to the best Australia’s skills and its workforce to do so”.

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‘Australians have every right to be disappointed’ but dialogue with Indonesia important, Bowen says

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While he says “strong representations” from the Australian government are necessary, Chris Bowen does not believe Umar Patek’s early release will have repercussions for our relationship with Indonesia:

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n

I think it is important that Australia maintains strong dialogue with Indonesia, so we can have those discussions and that is exactly what we will do. These issues do come up in the relationship, between all countries but particularly between Australia and Indonesia with different legal systems.

n

It is appropriate that the Australian government makes strong representations to the Indonesian government which we have done and will continue to do.

n

Australians have every right to be disappointed and concerned by this news. We understand and respect the differences with the Indonesian system so therefore it is best we just engage in that dialogue with them to ensure all the necessary protections, all possible protections have been put in place.

n

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Hello, Natasha May now on deck with you.

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Indonesian authorities have released the chief bomb maker behind the Bali bombings, Umar Patek, after only serving half his 20 year sentence. It comes despite lobbying from Australia to keep him in jail for his full term. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said his impending release would cause further distress to bomb victims.

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Authorities deliberately postponed his release until after the bombing anniversary and last month’s G20 summit in Bali. But he has now been released on remission for good behaviour with authorities saying they no longer have the right to detain him as he has fulfilled the conditions for parole.

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The federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, is appearing on ABC News Breakfast and asked about the early release:

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n

I think all Australians would be concerned about this and the Australian government is concerned about this on their behalf. We have made, as you would expect, appropriate representations to the Indonesian government. Early release is not uncommon in Indonesia. Our particular representations have gone to seeking reassurances that he will continue to be monitored and appropriate protections will be in place. We have made appropriate representations through the normal channels and that dialogue with our friends in Indonesian government will continue.

n

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The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, will give the first insight into how the Albanese government plans to rewrite the national environment laws this morning as she makes a major announcement in Brisbane.

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Plibersek will respond to a review of national environment laws by the former consumer watchdog Graeme Samuel that was handed to the Morrison government two years ago. The Coalition never formally responded.

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The response will include what the government plans to do on introducing uniform national environmental standards to guide conservation protection and the assessment of major development proposals – a key recommendation of the Samuel review.

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The minister is also expected to reveal the government’s preferred structure for a new national environment protection agency – an EPA – and to outline a proposal for regional approaches to environmental planning, which would guide where development can and cannot occur.

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The Australian Conservation Foundation’s chief executive, Kelly O’Shanassy, said the country needed strong national standards and an EPA that was independent, had decision-making powers, and was properly funded.

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The national campaigns director at the Wilderness Society, Amelia Young, said community appetite for major environmental reform had never been higher.

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n

The natural world needs a lot more attention than governments have been giving it and the time to rectify this is now.

n

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Infrastructure will be one of the themes of the day, with the federal minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government, Catherine King, due to unveil the revamped Infrastructure Australia body later today.

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The minister will also attend the Boomtown property and infrastructure summit in Sydney today with the New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet. The summit is seeking to promote the development of western Sydney.

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Amy Remeikis reports:

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Infrastructure Australia is dead. Long live Infrastructure Australia.

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The creation of the body by the Rudd government in 2008 forms part of the prime minister, Anthony Albanese’s legacy.

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Albanese has long had a love of nation-building infrastructure projects, and Infrastructure Australia was designed while he was in the portfolio, as a way of identifying and fast-tracking projects which would add value, help future-proof communities, or provide missing links within existing infrastructure frameworks.

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At the time, Albanese described it as “replacing neglect, buck-passing, and pork-barrelling with long-term planning where governments predict and anticipate infrastructure needs and demands, not merely react to them”.

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But the body set up to help identify and see through nation-building projects became increasingly sidelined, an independent review ordered by the new Albanese government found, and was seen as “reactive” rather than proactive.

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That has led to projects languishing, or the states moving forward without all the pieces.

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One of the first acts of the Albanese government was to review Infrastructure Australia. King had signalled an overhaul would be a priority of a Labor government ahead of the election, after former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce appointed the retiring mayor of Tamworth to chair the body.

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The review having been returned, King will unveil the revamped IA at an event later on Thursday.

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The government plans on overhauling the body, giving it a clear and legislated mandate, which will define its responsibilities and role, as well as shift from an advisory body governed by committee, to a new governance model.

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Good morning and welcome to our live blog. Natasha May will be along soon to take you through the day but before then here are a couple of stories making news overnight.

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The Australian Medical Association has blasted “weak political leadership” for what it sees as the premature relaxation of anti-Covid measures, saying that the health system is “not prepared” to deal with long-term issues stemming from the pandemic. The peak doctors’ body is so concerned about the lingering impact of long Covid on the population and the health system that it thinks governments should reconsider mask mandates to address the problem. One expert thinks long Covid could affect as many as 1 million Australians by next year.

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Australia’s energy ministers are expected to sign off on a scheme to accelerate the take-up of giant batteries to support the decarbonisation of the grid when they gather in Brisbane today but are unlikely to make a decision on any Albanese government proposal to impose price caps on coal and gas. There were reports last night that the government was pushing the states to cap the price of coal at $125 a tonne, less than half the market rate, but Guardian Australia understands no decision is expected before Friday’s national meeting between the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers.

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Also today the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, is due to make a major announcement on new national environmental standards, which will include Australia’s own environment protection agency. It is in response to a review of national laws that was handed to the Morrison government two years ago.

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Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will use a speech in Washington today to urge China to embrace US plans to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war, while rejecting claims that Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines is driving a regional arms race. She will urge China to take up a US offer to put in place “guardrails” to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war and suggest both sides learn from diplomacy spurred by the Cuban missile crisis.

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Luke Henriques-Gomes

Luke Henriques-Gomes

[continued from previous post]

Whitecross stated he had earlier articulated his issues concerning the proposal in a gathering with DHS officers together with Mark Withnell, who was concerned in drafting paperwork explaining the plan.

“I felt very strongly about this problem and I wished to convey the power of my emotions [about the lack of quality of the proposal],” he stated.

“[Withnell] appeared to be significantly sad that I used to be suggesting we wouldn’t have the ability to realise the extent of financial savings he’d estimated,” Whitecross addded.

“I shaped the impression there was an attachment at extra senior ranges to that degree of financial savings.

“It was that type of sense that the [$1.2nbn] quantity was not a quantity that had come out of a technique, however that the quantity itself was a aim of the method.”

Whitecross assumed Golightly had been amongst these connected to the plan. He couldn’t touch upon whether or not Campbell was additionally when requested.

However the inquiry heard yesterday the last word coverage proposal “misrepresented” the character of the robodebt scheme, apparently paving the way in which for it to be applied with out authorized change.

Halbert will give proof later as we speak whereas Withnell is scheduled to offer proof tomorrow.

The royal fee continues.

Luke Henriques-Gomes

Luke Henriques-Gomes

A former Division of Social Companies official has instructed a royal fee he was “directed” to water down authorized issues concerning the robodebt scheme when the coverage was been designed in early 2015.

Andrew Whitecross, a former mid-level official at DSS, had been concerned in commenting on what grew to become the preliminary plan for the robodebt scheme that was briefed to the then social providers minister Scott Morrison.

The royal fee heard Whitecross and a colleague, Murray Kimber, had fiercely criticised the proposal in January 2015, questioning its legality and equity in addition to the estimated funds financial savings.

However Whitecross stated he was instructed to water down these issues by his boss, appearing deputy secretary, Catherine Halbert, earlier than the suggestions was handed onto the Division of Human Companies (DHS), which was formulating the plan.

Whitecross claimed Halbert had stated she had spoken to her counterpart at DHS, Malisa Golightly, who had “expressed her issues concerning the power of DSS’ feedback”.

“She [Halbert] wished me to tone down the feedback that Murray had offered in his response,” Whitecross stated.

“I took it as a course,” Whitecross added. “We had a disagreement within the dialog about that. I believed the coverage wasn’t properly developed and lacked advantage … and we ought to be pretty forceful in speaking that.”

Whitecross subsequently offered new feedback that watered down the recommendation, although his revisions nonetheless famous the robodebt plan would wish legislative change.

These proposals had been despatched to Morrison in February 2015 after being finalised by Golightly and the secretary of the division, Kathryn Campbell.

[continued]

Peter Hannam

Peter Hannam

NSW ‘virtually prepared to enroll’ to coal value cap, Kean says

Matt Kean, NSW’s treasurer and vitality minister, has instructed reporters in Brisbane that his state is “virtually prepared to enroll” to a value cap on black coal.

The feedback, made as Kean arrived at an vitality ministers’ assembly along with his federal counterpart Chris Bowen, got here a day earlier than the premiers and chief ministers are resulting from talk about methods to decrease vitality costs.

Guardian Australia understands the coal value cap being mentioned remains to be $125/tonne, with a $12-$14/gigajoule value being mentioned on the “first ministers” degree.

“It’s not about royalties, it’s about customers,” Kean instructed the reporters, in feedback broadcast by Sky Information. “NSW is ready to take the hit” by not in search of compensation.

Such a transfer would little question be welcomed by the Albanese authorities – if that’s certainly NSW’s place. The Queensland authorities anticipates it can come underneath strain to again down on its compensation claims ought to its southern neighbour provide concessions.

Individually, the vitality ministers’ assembly stays on monitor to comply with the subsequent steps for a capability funding mechanism. That scheme is prone to arrange a minimal value to help the acceleration of latest batteries and different storage to be added to the grid. Associated renewable vitality may get added incentives.

Anyway, we’ll get extra particulars at 4pm AEDT (3pm in Queensland) when the vitality ministers’ assembly breaks up.

Queensland receives funding for plan to make use of drones to gather affected person samples

Pathology take a look at instances would shorten by as much as six hours underneath a plan for drones to gather samples from hard-to-reach sufferers in south-east Queensland, AAP stories.

The challenge between Mater Pathology and drone logistics firm Swoop Aero has been awarded $1.8m in federal funding to broaden operations.

Sooner deliveries are predicted to slash instances for pressing blood samples and different assessments at Mater’s Springfield laboratories, with sufferers on islands off the Queensland coast amongst these to profit.

The brand new drone fleet is predicted to gather greater than 80,000 samples a 12 months.

“There’s little question that drones may also help to enhance a variety of well being providers for Queenslanders … particularly these residing in distant or laborious to entry areas,” Mater director of innovation Maree Knight stated.

The service will cowl sufferers on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Neighborhood Well being Service on Stradbroke Island, in addition to different sufferers throughout Russell Island, Macleay Island, the Redlands and Hope Island on the Gold Coast.

Mater normal supervisor Deb Hornsby stated it will be the primary pathology service in Australia to gather samples with drones.

“Drones are protected, dependable and a lot sooner than ferries and vehicles, which implies we save helpful time in diagnosing and treating susceptible sufferers,” she stated.

The Rising Aviation Know-how Partnerships funding may also present end-to-end logistics providers to the Darling Downs Well being and Hospital Service and Pathology Queensland.

Infrastructure minister Catherine King stated this system will enhance well being providers for regional communities, whereas additionally enhancing the potential of Australian companies to ship extra advanced aviation operations.

Swoop Aero CEO Eric Peck stated the partnership will help “the world’s first and largest absolutely built-in drone logistics community”.

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

Australia raises issues with Indonesia after Bali bomb maker’s launch

The Australian authorities has sought assurances from the Indonesian authorities that Bali bomb maker Umar Patek will probably be topic to ongoing supervision and says his launch from jail will “deeply damage” many Australians.

The federal government additionally says it has raised issues about Patek’s launch with the Indonesian authorities quite a few instances.

Patek, 55, was jailed for 20 years in 2012 after being discovered responsible of blending bombs that killed 202 folks, together with 88 Australians, in 2002. He was launched from jail in Surabaya yesterday morning.

The Australian Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce has issued the next assertion:

Many Australians will probably be deeply damage by the discharge of Umar Patek. As we speak our ideas are with the victims and survivors of the Bali bombings and their households.

We now have registered our issues about Umar Patek’s launch with the Indonesian Authorities on a number of events.

Umar Patek’s launch is a matter for the Authorities of Indonesia and its home authorized processes, however we have now sought assurances from the Indonesian Authorities that he will probably be topic to ongoing supervision and monitoring, in accordance with Indonesia’s strategy to de-radicalisation.

Australia condemns acts of terrorism and people who perpetrate violence on harmless victims, and can proceed to work intently with the Indonesian Authorities on counter-terrorism cooperation.

Earlier, the minister for house affairs, Clare O’Neil, instructed the Nationwide Press Membership it was a “horrible” day for households of the Bali bombing victims. Australians could be feeling aggrieved by the event, she stated.

Natasha May

Natasha Might

With these lovable photographs of Pocock with child animals, I bid you adieu and depart you within the wonderful fingers of Josh Taylor.

Pocock helps inclusion of native forestry logging in new environmental legal guidelines

ABC’s Ros Childs additionally requested David Pocock about two of the problems that the Australian Conservation Basis flagged they wished to see the federal government go additional on – making use of the legal guidelines to all industries, together with native forest logging, in addition to the necessity for a local weather set off to offer the minister the choice to dam fossil gas tasks.

Pocock is on the identical web page because the ACF, saying he would help each.

On logging:

That was very clear within the Samuel overview, we have now to make sure that our regional forestry agreements are introduced underneath our environmental legal guidelines. It’s probably one thing that may be completed comparatively rapidly whereas the large session and drafting course of occurs. I might completely help that. There’s a complete bunch of species that are actually endangered that depend on habitat that would probably be logged.

Independent senator David Pocock holds a baby possum as he speaks during a press conference addressing the Samuel review at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022.
Impartial senator David Pocock holds a child possum as he speaks throughout a press convention addressing the Samuel overview at Parliament Home in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/AAP

On a local weather set off:

I’m on the file saying that the minister ought to completely have that capacity. So lots of our endangered species are warmth delicate. You take a look at one thing just like the higher glider – local weather change is and can have an effect on them. The Nice Barrier Reef affected by local weather change. Graeme in his overview, his view was {that a} local weather set off or that type of mechanism might be elsewhere. We presently don’t have it elsewhere so it will make sense even within the meantime to incorporate that environmental regulation whereas we do the larger piece of labor drafting environmental legal guidelines which are match for function.

We now have to be taking care of atmosphere for future generations, Pocock says

We introduced you the information earlier of David Pocock’s response to the brand new federal environmental legal guidelines, urging the Albanese authorities to commit sufficient funds to ship on the atmosphere minsiter Tanya Plibersek’s guarantees.

In his interview with ABC Information, Pocock stated committing funds to cease extinction is an funding sooner or later.

It’s a sentiment that was underscored for him at a press convention he held particularly on the event of the discharge of the Samuel Evaluation, which featured child wombats, possums and people.

Occurring in APH proper now. Mr 4 serving to ⁦@DavidPocock⁩ feed a little bit possum pic.twitter.com/OkUxNIBLfq

— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) December 8, 2022

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Pocock instructed the ABC:

Seeing the way in which that children mild up once they see our wildlife up shut, we have now to be taking care of it for future generations.

We’re [only] spending about 15% of what we have to spend to halt extinctions.

It’s a daring dedication however it’s one thing that we completely ought to be doing.

Independent senator David Pocock holds a baby possum as he speaks during a press conference addressing the Samuel review at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022.
Impartial senator David Pocock holds a child possum as he speaks throughout a press convention addressing the Samuel overview at Parliament Home in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/AAP
Independent senator David Pocock holds a baby possum as he speaks during a press conference addressing the Samuel review at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022.
Impartial senator David Pocock holds a child possum as he speaks throughout a press convention addressing the Samuel overview at Parliament Home in Canberra, Thursday, 8 December 2022. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/AAP

Nathalia warned to remain indoors as chemical hazard warning issued

The city of Nathalia in northern Victoria is being warned to remain indoors after a chemical hazard warning was issued by authorities.

This WARNING – CHEMICAL HAZARD – Keep Indoors is for Nathalia.

Anybody positioned within the space bounded between Centre Highway, Pomfrets Highway, Settlement Boundary Highway and Leafs Highway ought to transfer indoors.

Extra particulars at https://t.co/Xbd2l6FZls pic.twitter.com/Qc3o0q7iIQ

— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) December 8, 2022

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/vicemergency/standing/1600678585265577984″,”id”:”1600678585265577984″,”hasMedia”:false,”position”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”461f4bfb-8c1c-406e-90ca-0c1e722525d4″”/>

‘We stood as much as a bully and we received’: house affairs minister on Medibank hacker

O’Neil is requested concerning the Medibank hacker group’s final add to the darkish internet saying it was the ultimate tranche of stolen info.

I feel one of the best proof that we have now for the time being is that the hackers have dumped the remaining knowledge and walked away, seeing that they don’t seem to be going to get cost out of the tried scenario that they tried to create. However one of the vital disturbing elements of those incidents is that after stolen, the info is gone. And this is identical with Optus.

Nonetheless, she goes on to reward the way in which the nation reacted to the assault:

As cybersecurity minister, I felt so happy with how Australia dealt with that scenario.

There was knowledge circulating about Australians that was extraordinarily delicate and hurtful. I didn’t see any of it printed in newspapers, didn’t see it circulating on social media, and I didn’t see anybody severely argue that Medibank ought to have paid the ransom after which we may have all gone off into our fairyland pondering that may clear up the issue.

From my perspective we stood as much as a bully and we received.

Labor contemplating adjustments to legal guidelines to deal with ‘rightwing terror’

Guardian Australia’s very personal Josh Butler asks about rightwing extremism.

The place does this problem rank when it comes to threats that it’s a must to handle in your portfolio and what work is being completed on this space typically and particularly about hate speech and radicalisation on-line?

O’Neil:

One of many developments I simply referred to earlier is that this proliferation of ideologies which are driving folks to violence. We see large teams of people who find themselves nonetheless on a spiritual fundamentalism pathway however now a really massive group of people who find themselves of curiosity who subscribe to numerous types of rightwing nationalism, Nazism, these kinds of issues and it’s clearly enormously regarding.

We had the Christchurch bombing which was an Australian committing a heinous act of terror in Christchurch and New Zealand and so it is a downside that I do take very severely.

We are literally trying on the manner we take into consideration and handle terrorism in Australia to contemplate whether or not it’s acceptable for these new types of terrorism that we’re seeing.

There was quite a lot of laws handed within the second half of the final decade which was very focused at a particular sort of terrorism and a few of the components or options of the prison regulation require options that aren’t current in the way in which that rightwing teams organise themselves.

Mark Dreyfus and I are working collectively to take a look at a few of these legal guidelines and see whether or not there are authorized adjustments that will probably be wanted to seize violent conduct within the rightwing terror world which maybe isn’t being caught by what’s going on in non secular fundamentalism.

Albanese authorities nonetheless dedicated to Redspice cyber safety funding

Circling again to the nationwide press membership handle, O’Neil is now taking questions.

David Crowe chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age asks:

You had some fairly alarming figures there on the variety of cyber-attacks we’re seeing. Can you place, in a funds perspective, as a result of during the last couple of years there was more cash allotted to cyber defence of Australian federal budgets, $9.9bn on this 12 months’s funds. There have been tasks similar to Redspice.

Are you banking that cash and repurposing all of it and placing it towards different capabilities? Is any cash being returned to consolidated income or are you preserving the funding being given there to your division over time, and given the dimensions of the problem you’ve got outlined, are we going to want to spend more cash on this additional time?

O’Neil:

I’m not within the behavior of lavishly praising the previous authorities however one vital factor they did was make this Redspice funding run via the Australian indicators directorate and vital factor for the safety of our nation and our authorities is 100% dedicated to it.

We aren’t spending sufficient on cyber defence for the time being so one in all my challenges is how will we handle that downside.

One of many components of that is that it will be costly as securing authorities infrastructure.

We talked lots and thought lots within the public sphere in latest months about cybersecurity within the non-public sector, should come at that dialogue with a little bit of humility as a result of authorities has its issues as properly, so a part of the cyber technique, one of many 4 objectives is to ascertain how we’re going to elevate and fund the safety of Australian authorities infrastructure, and it will require more cash.

Benita Kolovos

Benita Kolovos

Pesutto needs to ship insurance policies with broad enchantment

New Victorian Liberal chief, John Pesutto, is now holding a press convention after he was elected by the social gathering room this morning.

He says his priorities is bettering the Liberal social gathering as an organisation and delivering insurance policies with broad enchantment:

Organisationally, we are going to work laborious to make it possible for we construct our membership and our presence throughout the Victorian group, not simply in inside metropolis seats and suburbs however the outer suburbs, the areas and rural areas. We are going to work laborious to verify we’re a powerful presence proper throughout our state. On coverage, we are going to take the time that’s accessible to us to work daily to verify we current the Victorian folks with good constructive alternate options after we face the intense challenges that we have now. And as a pacesetter, I will probably be consultative, and I’ll work with my colleagues to verify we push ourselves to be our perfect.

RBA overview submissions revealed and a few responses from the central financial institution

Peter Hannam

Peter Hannam

The overview into the Reserve Financial institution has generated much more curiosity than when it was formally launched after the Might election.

Let’s say the RBA’s recognition – and that governor Philip Lowe – has been on the slide with every rate of interest hike, and of this week we’ve had eight in as many months.

The federal government, which is anticipating to obtain the overview’s closing report by March – has as we speak revealed 78 submissions. (No signal of 1 from the federal opposition, until I missed it.)

And as a part of the info launch, the RBA itself has revealed an 84-page report of its responses to requests for info. There’s a bit to undergo however among the many maybe anticipated factors, the financial institution stays in favour of sustaining its 2%-3% goal vary for inflation over time.

“A better goal has been seen as working the chance that inflation will have an effect on decision-making, as occurred in earlier a long time in Australia when inflation was greater,” it stated. “Altering the goal (in both course) may injury long-term credibility if it weren’t completed in an acceptable manner.”

Once more, they admit the rise in inflation since mid-2021 “has been a really massive shock relative to earlier expectations”. In August 2021, the RBA was forecasting that inflation over 2022 could be 1.75% and it now expects will probably be 7¾%.

“Different forecasters have recorded comparable forecast errors for inflation, with the same expertise throughout most superior economies,” it says (not with out motive).

Submissions and feedback concerning the overview have pressured the necessity to look at the make-up of the board and whether or not the ratio of votes in favour of the month-to-month fee selections ought to be revealed (as is the case in another nations).

The financial institution famous, nonetheless, that at “every of its conferences over the previous decade the Board has voted in help of the advice made by the workers”. In different phrases, the financial institution’s personal view has carried the day for the previous 100-plus conferences (the RBA board meets 11 instances a 12 months on charges).

As for the media’s view of the RBA, sentiment has been “largely impartial”, besides when it wasn’t, after which protection was “extra damaging than constructive”. The central financial institution will get about 3000 enquiries a 12 months from the general public with about 6% complaints. Odds favour that ratio rising.

One thing else on the rise are international temperatures. To that finish, the financial institution “has lately created a Local weather Evaluation & Coverage part to deliver collectively climate-related streams of labor and created two new devoted positions”. That’s a bit prone to be expanded sooner or later.

O’Neil says Australia wants to face up for our system of presidency

We can not enable the worldwide debate to settle into the lazy pondering of equivalency is the place one way or the other or political techniques are morally equal. They aren’t. Folks ought to select their leaders. To me, to us, that may be a truism. However democracy isn’t just a political system, it’s a mindset about group, pluralism, tolerance, rationality, selection and freedom. And but, belief in democracy is in substantial decline in Australia and world wide, and populism and polarisation are on the rise.

And we can not stand by and do nothing. I’ve had many discussions with international democracy consultants during the last months. This can be a a lot admired downside. Many can clarify the shapes and contours however nobody appears to know what to do and on this, I would like Australia to cleared the path. What can we do, concretely, concerning the issues our democracy faces so Australia may be the sunshine on the hill.

House affairs to analyze resilience of democracy

The house affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, broadcasts two new critiques.

The primary overview will look at nationwide resilience. That would be the house entrance implications of the local weather and safety atmosphere Australia faces.

The second will concentrate on the resilience of democracy, which O’Neil says is a nationwide safety problem.

In our quest to maintain Australians protected within the coming a long time, our democracy will probably be our greatest nationwide asset and we have to defend our nationwide asset. And since competitor international locations are in search of to undermine our democracy, and we have to combat again.

Their intention is to justify authoritarianism by making it appear to be democracies are inherently dysfunctional, and to weaken international locations like ours and constrain us from responding to international occasions that our adversaries could create.

The taskforce will probably be accomplished in 2025 and will probably be undertaken in partnership with College of Canberra’s director of democracy, Prof Mark Evans.

O’Neil says overseas interference, misinformation and disinformation are on the rise, and the overview will take a look at what authorities can do with tech corporations to scale back the unfold of polarisation and falsehoods.

Australians can get fairly down on our democracy. There are good causes for that and certainly a little bit of Australian scepticism on the earth of politics is a really, very wholesome factor. However politicians like me want to inform a greater story about Australia’s world-leading democratic historical past. We’re the sixth oldest democracy on the earth.

We’re the good democratic innovator, the inventor of the key expertise, one of many first international locations on the earth to offer girls the best to vote. We now have very excessive participation in our democracy and a powerful and impartial Electoral Fee and politicians do their half and respect the outcomes.

We now have an excellent impartial media which regardless of its many challenges does a bloody good job.

Catastrophe administration must be a properly practised perform of presidency: O’Neil

O’Neil says catastrophe administration underneath the Albanese authorities is a centralised, well-coordinated perform of the Australian authorities.

It’s time for us all to cease feigning shock at supposedly as soon as in a era floods and fires and storm. The world has witnessed a tenfold enhance within the variety of pure disasters for the reason that Nineteen Sixties and that is going to worsen because the world warms additional.

We’d like catastrophe administration to be a routine, seamless, properly practised perform of Australian authorities in order that when a number of disasters strike, authorities and the group should not fully consumed by them.

Australia is the developed nation on the earth most in danger from the warming local weather and the previous authorities’s unwillingness to acknowledge this actuality of local weather change was flawless, dogmatic and reckless.

O’Neil singles out former house affairs minister and present opposition chief, Peter Dutton, for approaching the portfolio he created with “a posture that was reactive to the problems and reactionary and the politics”.

It didn’t make us any safer and I want to change it. We all know lots about their nationwide safety atmosphere we’re heading into.

Nearly a million unprocessed visas when Labor got here to authorities: O’Neil

O’Neil says when Labor got here to authorities, there have been virtually a million unprocessed visas ready whereas Australia is in the midst of the “greatest labour scarcity we have now skilled for the reason that second world struggle”.

The end result was massive numbers of short-term lower-skilled employees had been introduced in and churned via the labour market and Australia now has a “massive underclass of undocumented migrant employees” who’re extraordinarily susceptible to exploitation, she says.

That’s not what a world-class migration system appears to be like like and it’s fully out of step with Australia’s massively profitable historic concentrate on migration based mostly on permanency, on citizenship and on truthful charges for employees irrespective of the place they arrive from the figuring out who ought to be invited to hitch us in our nationwide endeavours is likely one of the most vital factor is that the Australian authorities does and we’re going to take a run at fixing it via a giant piece of labor being led by former secretary of the treasury and prime minister and Martin Parkinson.

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