As it happened: Government wary of US Red Sea warship request; New Queensland premier sworn in

In case you missed it, the biggest one-year jump in Australia’s population has prompted warnings that the nation’s rental market will remain under pressure for years.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a record 518,100 new migrants called the country home.

The population swelled by 624,100 through 2022-23, more than 1700 people a day, with 80 per cent of the extra residents absorbed across Victoria, NSW, Canberra and Queensland.

Australia’s population has been supercharged by record numbers of migrants.Credit: Brook Mitchell

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria’s population grew by more than 181,000 to 6.8 million while NSW added 172,600, taking its total number of residents beyond 8.3 million.

Most migrants moved to four states: NSW took in 174,200, Victoria added 154,250, Queensland gained almost 84,000 while the fastest growing part of the Commonwealth, Western Australia, accepted 61,600.

Catch up on the full story here.

Thanks for following along today. Here’s a wrap-up of what happened.

• Barry Humphries, one of Australia’s most beloved satirists, was farewelled in a state memorial at the Sydney Opera House. The sails of the iconic building will be lit from 8.30pm tonight in tribute.
• Former Network Ten presenter Lisa Wilkinson returned to the witness box today in Bruce Lehrmann’s high-stakes defamation case. You can read everything that happened here.
• New Queensland Premier Steven Miles used his first major speech in the job to announce a significant boost to the state’s climate action plans.
• The Federal Court imposed a $6 million penalty on Honda Australia after finding the company “misled” thousands of customers over the closure of multiple dealerships.
• Victorian federal Labor MP Peta Murphy has been remembered as a widely admired parliamentarian and a beloved person at a memorial service in Melbourne following her death aged 50 from cancer earlier this month.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisted Australia has called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” and “humanitarian pause”.
• Health Minister Mark Butler announced a $456 million boost for Lifeline, 13 Yarn, Beyond Blue and Kids Helpline as he acknowledges there is more demand for mental health services in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
• The biggest one-year jump in Australia’s population prompted warnings that the nation’s rental market will remain under pressure for years after new data showed a record 518,100 new migrants called the country home.
• And overseas, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a marathon four-hour press conference that he intends to continue the invasion of Ukraine unless Kyiv capitulates.

We now say goodbye to the live blog until January 29 next year.

For everyone who read the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age blog this year, we thank you for trusting us with your readership. Have a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic new year.

Whatever 2024 holds, we’ll be there to cover it.

Sarah Keoghan, signing off.

The Federal Court has imposed a $6 million penalty on Honda Australia after finding the company “misled” thousands of customers over the closure of multiple dealerships.

The ACCC alleged that between January 2021 and June 2021, Honda Australia told customers via email, text and phone that three former authorised dealerships would close and would no longer be able to service their vehicles.

However, this was not the case.

An example of Honda Australia’s text message to Astoria, Tynan and Burswood customers.Credit: ACCC

The dealerships in question were Brighton Automotive Holdings Pty Ltd (Astoria), Tynan Motors Pty Ltd (Tynan) and Buick Holdings Pty Ltd (Burswood).

“The communications were made in the context of Honda Australia restructuring which resulted in some franchise agreements with authorised dealers being terminated, including agreements with Astoria, Tynan and Burswood,” the ACCC said in a statement.

“The Astoria, Tynan and Burswood dealerships continued to operate independent service centres to service and repair vehicles, including Hondas.”

Honda Australia admitted that in “certain statements” to thousands of customers it had breached the Australian Consumer Law by telling them the dealerships had closed.

“We took this case because we believed Honda Australia’s conduct harmed the dealerships and their customers,” ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver said.

“Honda Australia deprived consumers of the opportunity to make an informed choice about their options for servicing their vehicle. It also caused likely financial loss to the dealerships by the false claim they were closing or had closed.”

As we near the end of the week, do yourself a favour and take a moment to check out the best from our photographers this week. 

Rhett Wyman captured a stunning photo of silicosis Ken Parker, who now finds it hard to breathe after a decent meal following 20 years in stonemasonry.

He’s now hoping for a lung transplant.

“[The diagnosis] makes everything a lot more immediate. I think you live a lot more for today than you do for tomorrow,” he says. You can read his story here. 

Ken Parker says he’s suffering more than ever with silicosis and finds it hard to breathe.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Meanwhile, swimmers and bathers made the best of a bad situation this week as the heatwave continued across NSW. 

The weather made for some cracking images from Janie Barrett and Dean Sewell who captured those escaping the heat.

German tourists Virginia Wolf and Hannah Distel escape the heat on Friday in the Blue Mountains.Credit: Dean Sewell

A swimmer cools off at Clovelly on a hot summer day.Credit: Janie Barrett

Locals cool off in the Hawkesbury River in Pitt Town on a 40-degree day in Sydney’s west.Credit: Janie Barrett

Take a look at the rest of the gallery here. 

National Australia Bank boss Ross McEwan says the Australian dream of home ownership probably feels further away for many, warning that a shortage of homes is one of the biggest problems facing the nation.

At NAB’s annual general meeting in Sydney on Friday, McEwan noted that despite the economy slowing this year under sharply higher interest rates, house prices continued to climb, sharply reducing housing affordability.

NAB boss Ross McEwan said he was optimistic about a recovery in Australia’s economic growth.Credit: Peter Rae

For many seeking the great Australian dream of home ownership, he said, “it likely now feels further away.”

“We haven’t built the number of homes required for our growing population. It is one of the biggest problems facing the country right now. There has been some action, but we need to work faster to free up tracts of land and build homes,” McEwan said.

The weakening economy remains a key risk for bank investors, but McEwan said Australia would avoid a recession and that few of the bank’s customers needed financial help, even though it had been a challenging year.

You can read more on the issue here. 

Urgent investment is needed to support new sources of affordable electricity in the coming decade when 90 per cent of coal-fired generation will cease.

The latest modelling, released by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) on Friday, shows coal power plants are closing earlier than planned and people are electrifying their homes at a faster rate.

Upgraded power systems will be capable of running at times entirely on renewable energy, according to system planning that also relies on an ongoing role for gas. But businesses and industry are expected to need more energy not less as they double their grid electricity consumption.

Grassroots organisation Rewiring Australia urged AEMO to shift the focus of energy planning to electrification and rooftop solar as these will help reduce the cost of energy even as large renewable projects suffer from delays.

Co-founder Saul Griffith said AEMO was “yet to catch up with the rooftop revolution” led by millions of Australian households.

“Household energy should be seen as a resource, not a risk and the market redesigned to help consumers reduce bills from their solar, batteries and EVs, which is what these technologies can do,” Dr Griffith said.

An Integrated System Plan (ISP) is prepared every two years and the latest draft reflects a change of federal government and a slew of announcements on rewiring the nation and support for new energy assets.

But there are fears that Australia is falling behind on required investment, hampered by red tape, community uncertainty and fierce competition for equipment and workers amid a global push to replace fossil fuel-fired networks.

The demand for energy sector workers is forecast to grow from 40,000 people in 2023 to a peak of over 70,000 by 2050. This workforce is needed across every discipline, not just engineering.

The possibility that replacement generation is not available when coal plants retire is “real and growing, and a risk that must be avoided,” the AEMO report said.

The sooner renewables and energy storage are connected, the more secure the energy transition will be.

“We need a reliable grid that supports that changing energy profile,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen said.

AEMO CEO Daniel Westerman said the draft plan for 2024 highlights the “urgency for investment” to ensure Australians have access to safe, reliable and affordable energy.

“Gaining the trust of regional and rural communities is essential to avoid the risk of essential infrastructure not being built before coal-fired generators close,” he said.

AAP

New Queensland Premier Steven Miles has used his first major speech in the job to announce a significant boost to the state’s climate action plans.

Fresh from the climate talks in Dubai, and touching on some of his other announcements this week, Miles said the state will legislate a 75 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2035, ahead of net-zero by 2050.

Incoming Premier Steven Miles (right) looks on as the Governor, Dr Jeannette Young (left) signs papers during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House Queensland in Brisbane on Friday.Credit: AAP

The state is on track to meet its 30 per cent by 2030 target, one of the least ambitious in the country, by next year. All three will be written into law.

“I’m from the suburbs, but I’ll be a premier that unites the city and the bush, a premier that works for Queenslanders … right now, I want us to unite on the opportunity of decarbonisation,” he said.

“By legislating this target, we will create certainty for industry and for jobs.

“By legislating this target, we are making a very clear statement to the world that … Queensland is the place to do business if you’re looking to use clean energy to create prosperity.”

A Total Fire Ban is in place for Greater Sydney tomorrow, along with the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Northern Slopes, North Western, Greater Hunter and Central Ranges of NSW.

The ban comes as extreme weather conditions are forecast on Saturday with Sydney set to reach a maximum 33 degrees.

“Hot and windy conditions are forecast, with several areas experiencing extreme fire danger,” the NSW RFS said in an alert.

As of 9am Friday, there were 66 fires burning across the state, 14 of which were uncontained.

Sydney health workers and community leaders will unite for a pro-Palestinian procession and vigil tonight in the CBD.

Speeches will be held at Sydney Eye Hospital at 7pm before a vigil at Hickson Rd Reserve at 7.40pm.

The event is being held by Health Workers 4 Palestine, a group dedicated to “addressing the healthcare crisis in Gaza”.

“We extend our invitation to local community members, leaders, and members of the press to attend this vigil in solidarity with the people of Gaza and with healthcare workers affected by this crisis,” the group said in a statement.

“This vigil is open to all, and attendees are encouraged to bring candles and flowers as an expression of solidarity.”

There is also a planned pro-Palestinian student rally for 4pm outside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office in Marrickville. The event has been organised by students from Sydney Uni.

Victorian federal Labor MP Peta Murphy has been remembered as a widely admired parliamentarian and a beloved person at a memorial service in Melbourne following her death aged 50 from cancer earlier this month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking at the service at the MCG, said Murphy was a “cherished member of the Labor family”.

“There are some members of parliament whose contribution earns the grudging respect of the chamber. There are others – rarer still – who win genuine admiration and real affection across the political spectrum. Peta was one of those,” Albanese said.

Murphy was a barrister and public defender before defeating the Liberals to win the Melbourne seat of Dunkley in 2019, rising to become chair of the House of Representatives committee on social policy and legal affairs.

“Peta believed in the battle of ideas and the battle of ideals. She valued the contest at the heart of democracy, but she never treated it as winner take all,” Albanese said.

“Part of the reason Peta was so widely admired across the political spectrum was because she engaged with people who disagreed with. She found a way to work with them to take an issue forward to get things done in the national interest.”

Albanese paid tribute to her sense of social justice and ability to make the most of every minute of public life.

“We will keep the glow of Peta Murphy in our hearts,” he said.

“May Peta rest in eternal peace.”

Australian Clinical Labs has abandoned a $1.5 billion takeover bid for rival pathology group Healius, after the competition watchdog said it was opposed to the deal.

On Friday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it would oppose Australian Clinical Labs’ plan to buy Healius, which was first announced earlier this year, because the deal would harm competition.

The ACCC is worried about the competition impact from combining Healius and Australian Clinical Labs.Credit: Gabriele Charotte

ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said combining the two companies would have created a business that operated more than half of all pathology collections centres in the country.

“We consider that the proposed acquisition would be likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition as it would combine two of the three largest providers of pathology services in Australia, further consolidating already-concentrated markets,” Ridgeway said.

ACL on Friday pointed to a decline in Healius’ trading performance, and a recent capital raising, and said these factors meant the previous takeover deal no longer stacked up.

ACL shares were down 1.4 per cent in afternoon trading, while Healius shares were 2.6 per cent lower.