Politics Now: Be transparent over Wick probe, Michelle Rowland urges Nine
The Communications Minister urges Nine to adhere to 'appropriate processes' in responding to claims recently departed boss Darren Wick behaved inappropriately toward female staff.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says the Albanese government will not tolerate 'hatred and abuse on the basis of people's race or religion'. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard
Welcome to The Weekend Australian's live politics blog, Politics Now.
Police believe 63-year-old Mark Bombara was searching for his ex-partner before he shot and killed Jennifer Petelczyc and her youngest daughter Gretl at a home on Berkeley Crescent in Floreat on Friday afternoon. Jennifer, 59, was a friend of Bombara's ex-partner.
"Like any connected community, there are so many ways people knew this family … and that realization is just dawning on the community of what's been taken away from us in this incident," Ms Chaney told Sky News.
Ms Chaney said her office was just 200m from the incident.
"I have friends who live just around the corner, who were babysitting and heard the gunshots," she said.
"It's very disturbing for everyone around that has seen that and (was a) part of that experience. Lots of people heard the gunshots and certainly there was a huge police presence very quickly."
Having spoken with the Prime Minister on Saturday morning, Ms Chaney emphasised that the nation-issue of gender-based violence remains "everybody's problem".
"(The Prime Minister) sent his condolences to the community and we spoke about the terrible problem of violence against women. And I again reiterated my deep concern that we respond as a government but also there is this broad community response that needs to happen. This is everybody's problem," she said.
"I don't think we can yet say what could have been done to prevent this. Certainly what I hear on the broader issue of violence against women is that we do need better frontline service responses, more accommodation, (and) some justice reform. Now this has changed at a federal and state level.
"Then there's this deeper long-term prevention change that needs to happen where we need to look at pornography and social media and understand why it is that men are seeing violence as being an answer to problems.
"We understand the woman who was killed in this incident had a friend staying with her who was going through a divorce and we don't know the exact circumstances of that.
"Of course, there being more options available to women who are going through breakups or need crisis accommodation is an essential piece of the puzzle.
"Now, I don't know whether or not that was available, (or) that it would have been used in this particular circumstance. But I certainly hear lots of stories from constituents, and this goes across socioeconomic status. It happens in every community.
"There are so many women who really feel trapped and struggle to find a path out of violent relationships."
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is calling on the government to provide more help to local practices in the regions where natural disasters have struck.
The calls come as GPs gathered for this year’s College’s annual Practice Owner’s Conference in Cairns over the weekend, where the issue, as well as the lack of GP input into disaster response was discussed.
RACGP Vice President and Rural Chair associate professor Michael Clements said GPs and the work they provide often go forgotten in emergency situations.
“When disasters like floods or cyclones strike, GPs roll up their sleeves and get to work,” he said.
“However, too often, we are not front of mind in disaster planning, preparation, response, and recovery, and that must change.
“We’re the ones on the ground helping our patients, and we are there to pick up the pieces in the aftermath, including helping people affected by trauma who have lost loved ones, or their homes or businesses.
“It’s not just the physical injuries we are concerned about, we care for patients with mental health issues who turn to their GP during the worst time of their life.”
The Opposition’s education spokeswoman has slammed anti-Semitic graffiti plastered on a Melbourne school, urging both the federal and Victorian Labor governments to do more.
Abhorrent “Jew die” graffiti was tagged onto the gates of one of Australia’s largest Jewish schools, Mount Scopus Memorial College in Burwood, Melbourne, on Saturday.
“The ugly tide of anti-Semitic hate and incitement in our community must stop,” Liberal Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said, calling the graffiti “sickening”.
“This requires moral courage and leadership… Enough is enough.”
The senator said she had spoken with the school’s principal on Sunday morning and “reiterated” the Coalition's support for its community.
“Whether it’s travelling to and from school or attending a university, Jewish students and their families are already fearful,” she said.
“This disgraceful incident will only serve to heighten their safety concerns.”
Senator Henderson said it was “incumbent” on both sets of governments to “determine whether Jewish schools need additional security measures or any other support”.
“A retweet from Labor’s federal education minister is not enough,” she said.
Victoria Police are investigating the issue.
Miles cuts public transport fares to 50c in six month trial
Queensland Premier Steven Miles announcing the 50 cent fares starting later this year. Picture: David Clark
In an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion and cost-of-living pressures facing Queenslanders, public transport charges will be cut to a 50 cent flat rate right across the Sunshine State.
In a six-month trial announced by Premier Steven Miles on Sunday morning, the new “almost free” fare will run from August 5 through the new year on the state’s Translink services.
“For someone catching the train to work in Brisbane from here in Mango Hill it costs up to $96 a week,” he said. “And if you drive to work, you’re stuck in peak hour traffic every day and paying a lot more than that.
“It’s why I’m making all public transport fares a flat 50 cents – no matter where you live, your mode of travel, or how far you go. It’s as close to free as you can get.”
From his press conference in Mango Hill Mr Miles said the amount of money people who use public transport to get to the city and the back would be saving the best part of $100 a year.
“From 5 August 2024, that same trip from Mango Hill to the City and back would only cost five dollars for the whole week, that’s nearly $90 back in your pocket every week,” he said.
“I expect this will save Queenslanders thousands of dollars over six months, and encourage more people to catch our fast, frequent and 50 cent public transport.
“Encouraging more Queenslanders to jump on a bus or train to get to work or school will help bust congestion.”
As part of the trial concession card holders will also receive 50 cent fares, a cost saving on their current 50 per cent off benefit.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish said the trial will mean families have more money for bills and groceries as well as providing an incentive for a more active lifestyle.
“This initiative will importantly mean money in the pockets of families across Queensland,” he said.
“We hope that it will provide a great opportunity for active transport. Walk from home to your nearest train or bus stop as you head out for a night at Howard Smith Wharves, Surfers Paradise, or the Valley for a fun evening with your mates.
“Enjoy a walk to the closest bus stop with your family and friends as you head out to school sporting activities, visiting grandparents, or a lovely Sunday picnic.
“We’ve got a growing state with more and more cars on our roads every day. This initiative is a great way to encourage more people to use public transport.”
All Translink public services consisting of bus, rail, tram and ferry passage will be eligible for the 50 cent fares when the initiative gets underway.
By Jordan McCarthy
Rowland urges Nine to investigate Wick behaviour claims
Channel 9 news chief Darren Wick left the company with a golden handshake. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says she hopes that Nine adheres to the “appropriate processes” in responding to allegations its recently departed boss Darren Wick behaved inappropriately towards female staff.
Ms Rowland added that politics was a profession where “standards need to be lifted as well”, and called for the media to reflect diversity and good standards of behaviour as an “important pillar of our democracy”.
The Australian revealed this week that Mr Wick left the media company in March with a near million-dollar golden handshake.
“Well, I would think that all workplaces need to adhere to their policies in relation to how these matters are handled and I would say this in the media, the media sector has been highlighted in recent years as an area that needs improvement,” she told Sky News.
“And I say that as someone, I work in a profession where standards need to be lifted as well.
“I think that it is incumbent on all institutions on all companies, including the one in question, to do better to be transparent in the way that it conducts its investigations and that we want to see a diverse media and that includes diversity when it comes to public interest journalism as well.
“We want good people to be entering the sector to be supporting the fourth estate, which is an important pillar of our democracy.
“And I would hope that the appropriate processes are adhered to in this case.”
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has refused to explicitly state if he supports a two state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and struggled to describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation, saying it was a “fact” the group was listed as such.
When asked if he supported a two state solution, Mr Bandt said it was “up to Palestinians and Israelis to equally enjoy those rights” and it was up to them if they “choose to self-determine”.
“Our view is that Israelis and Palestinians are both equally entitled to live in peace and security and exercise their rights to self-determination in accordance with international law,” he told ABC Insiders.
“And what we've seen to date is that not happen.
“So what we support is the international community getting behind and stopping the invasion, stopping the occupation of the Palestinian territories, which is absolutely critical.
“And then supporting Israelis and Palestinians in a process that will allow them to self-determine their own future.”
Mr Bandt said the Greens were not “arguing to change” the fact Hamas has been listed as a terror organisation and side-stepped the question when asked if he agreed that the organisation responsible for the October 7 attack should be designated one.
“The Palestinian civilians do not, cannot be collectively punished,” he said.
Mr Bandt denied that he was having trouble saying Hamas was a terrorist organisation, after he sidestepped four questions probing whether he agreed with the designation.
“They're listed, and we've condemned the acts of October 7, and we've called for the perpetrators to be held to account,” he said.
“But now what is happening when you have the international court saying stop the invasion of Rafah and the very next day, within hours afterwards, this extreme war cabinet goes and bombs Rafah.
“Now is the time for the international community to take actions against this extreme war Cabinet in Israel, because it is the only way that they're going to listen and it's got to start with sanctions on this extreme war Cabinet, the ending of Australia's two-way military trade with Israel.”
Labor, Coalition in 'migrant bashing race to bottom': Bandt
Greens Leader Adam Bandt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has accused Labor and the Coalition of engaging in a “migrant-bashing race to the bottom” which is a “distraction from the real issues facing this country”.
Mr Bandt refused to state the Greens party’s view on migration after both major parties vowed to bring migration down, saying that he would not spend the “lead-up to an election blaming migrants for a problem that they didn't cause”.
“I'm not going to give you a yes or no and I'll tell you why,” he told ABC’s Insiders.
“When a renter turns up to an auction, their opposition is not someone who has come here from another country seeking a better life.
“It's a wealthy property investor with a big fat cheque in their pocket from Anthony Albanese that they use to push up the price of housing to a point where renters and first home-buyers.”
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor says the “absolute collapse” of productivity under Labor is to blame for the skills shortage, declaring the government has “lost control” on migration.
Mr Taylor said the policies announced by the Coalition on budget night – which included plans to slash permanent migration to 140,000 next year – were “revenue neutral” and had been costed.
“The thing that has created the skill crisis more than anything else in this country is an absolute collapse of labour productivity in this country since Labor came to power and these are extraordinary numbers,” he told Sky News.
“We've never seen anything like this before.
“And that's why we do think it's right to have sensible industrial relations policies that are right for employees and employers, good for workers as well as good for employers, getting rid of the current definition or the old definition of casuals and replacing it with a definition that makes it very difficult to employ people whose casual.
“Reduces flexibility in the workplace, reduces productivity, and will is bad for the economy and bad for skill shortages.”
Mr Taylor acknowledged that international students made an important contribution to the economy, but the Coalition planned to target numbers at metropolitan universities to alleviate the housing shortage.
“It's an important part of our economy, but it is about getting the balance right,” he said.
“And we've lost that balance with those numbers that I talked about earlier. I mean, these are extraordinary numbers, almost a million people coming in two years, Labor has absolutely lost control.”
Opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor has rejected reports he rolled sitting Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes from a winnable spot on the NSW Senate ticket as an “extraordinary characterisation of the democratic process”.
“There were four wonderful candidates who put their names forward. There was a democratic vote of the party yesterday and they came out with their prioritisation of those candidates.
“Andrew Bragg is at the top of the ticket, (Jessica Collins) second I congratulate them on those top two spots.
“Hollie will be running for the Senate as well in the third Liberal position, and I congratulate all of them.”
Independent Zali Steggall has blasted Special Minister for State Don Farrell at a doorstop in Canberra over controversial new electoral reforms agreed to by the two major parties.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says he's confident the shocking video of two nurses threatening Jewish patients represents the views of a 'small, small fraction' of NSW health workers, as he moved to reassure on the safety and high quality of the state's hospitals.
