Politics live news Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to offer Tuvalu residents climate visa

The Australian government will offer refuge to up to 280 residents of the island nation per year as climate change threatens to wipe out their home.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Cook Islands with Pacific leaders.

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4:18 pm November 10, 2023

Victoria posts $2.5bn first quarter budget deficit

Rachel Baxendale

Victoria has posted a $2.5bn deficit for the first quarter of the current financial year, meaning the state is already more than halfway to the $4bn deficit forecast in the May budget for the full 2023-24 financial year.

The state's quarterly financial report also shows net debt increased by $5.5bn in the September quarter, meaning that if Victoria continues to spend at the same rate for the rest of the financial year, net debt will hit $137.2bn by June 30 — $1.8bn worse than the $135.4bn predicted in the May budget.

Despite this, the report predicts net debt will actually be lower than previously forecast, reaching $133.8bn by June 30.

"Caution needs to be taken in interpreting and projecting the potential annual outcome for the full year from this quarterly result, due to the significant impact of the uneven recognition pattern of various major revenue items. These include land tax, the Fire Services Property Levy, Commonwealth grants and dividends and grants from public corporations," the report states.

The Allan government quietly tabled the report in state parliament on Friday afternoon in what appears to have been an attempt to avoid scrutiny.

3:34 pm November 10, 2023 Highlight

Albanese signs significant deal with Pacific nation

Rosie Lewis

Anthony Albanese has signed the “most significant” agreement between Australia and a Pacific nation, with an unprecedented treaty being inked in Rarotonga allowing citizens of Tuvalu – who face increasing threats from climate change – to live, work and study in Australia.

The Prime Minister said he was open to other approaches from Pacific nations who wanted to come to a similar arrangement

Under the Falepili Union, Australia will come to Tuvalu’s assistance if it experiences a natural disaster, health pandemic or comes under military aggression.

The low-lying Pacific Island nation will also have to seek Australia’s agreement before entering into any security cooperation with other countries – such as in telecommunications, ports and infrastructure.

In a move to signal Australia is the Pacific’s partner of choice, up to 280 people Tuvalu citizens annually will be able to access a special mobility visa to come to Australia.

There will also be new support for Tuvalu’s climate adaptation, including an extra $16.9m for the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project.

The Prime Minister thanked Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano for approaching Australia with its request for such a partnership.

“A request that has led to what is without doubt the most significant agreement between Australia and a Pacific island nation ever,” Mr Albanese said.

“This reflects Tuvalu’s special circumstances as a low-lying nation that's particularly impacted, it's very existence by the threat of climate change. And that's why we're assisting on adaptation but we're also providing the security that these guarantees represent for the people of Tuvalu who want to preserve their culture, want to preserve their very nation going forward as well. So we're open to approaches from other countries on how we can enhance our partnerships.”

3:19 pm November 10, 2023

Optus being targeted by major phishing scam

Joseph Lam

Optus has confirmed its customers are now the target of a major phishing scam in which bad threat actors are attempting to lure those seeking compensation to click on malicious links being sent around via text message.

The company on Friday afternoon said it would restrict all communications containing links between the telco and customers to ensure customers would not click on anything malicious link or be tricked by scammers.

"We’re aware of phishing messages claiming to be from Optus regarding the outage," a spokeswoman said.

"To help address this and for each customer’s peace of mind, we will not be sending communications (email or SMS) about this outage with links. If customers have received a communication claiming to be from Optus, do not click any links."

The company has called on customers seeking to communicate with the telco to do via its mobile app or to use the direct line 133 937.

3:17 pm November 10, 2023

'Disturbing' details of death in custody

Staff writers

WA Corrective Service Minister Paul Papalia has explained the findings of an internal investigation into the death of Cleveland Dodd in custody.

Mr Papalia said the findings from the investigation are “disturbing” and stressed a need for “cultural change.”

“We heard about the failings in the report; not wearing radios, lapse of governance, problems with record-keeping and processes, problems with timeliness, readiness and responsiveness,” Police Commissioner Brad Royce said.

Mr Papalia said staff were “resting or watching movies” when Cleveland Dodd self-harmed.

Commissioner Royce said a body worn camera system will be rolled out in youth detention centres, “the same as police use.”

“Currently, the body worn cameras available in juvenile detention are not the same brand, not the same capability, not the same endurance or capacity for storage of data as the police ones, ones used by police,” said Mr Papalia.

The Minister announced that Unit 18 will be closed down once a new suitable location is identified.

“Unit 18 is not what we want. It will be closed as soon as another suitable location is created for this very small but extremely challenging and complex group of detainees,” he said.

The coronial inquest and ACC investigation are ongoing.

by Grace MacPherson

2:26 pm November 10, 2023

Murray Watt accused of misleading Senate

Rhiannon Down

James Paterson has accused Agriculture Minister Murray Watt of misleading the Senate when he said that only the plaintiff in a landmark High Court ruling would be released, not the 92 other stateless detainees implicated in the case.

The man at the centre of the case, known as NZYQ, had been facing indefinite detention because of his criminal conviction for having sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old.

Senator Watt responded that Senator Paterson had decided to “play politics” and “twist” his words when asked to correct the record in Question Time on Friday.

Senator Watt repeated the statement provided by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles saying that the plaintiff in the case had been released and “other impacted individuals will be released and any visas granted to those individuals will be subject to appropriate conditions”.

He added that the man had been released on a bridging visa subject to very strict conditions, including the requirement to report to Home Affairs, notify the minister on changes in address and restrictions on industry of employment.

Senator Watt would not confirm how many of the 92 detainees had been assessed as a "moderate to high risk" of reoffending.

2:13 pm November 10, 2023

ACTU boss lashes 'Trump-style tactics' in IR fight

Ewin Hannan

ACTU president Michele O’Neil has accused employers of “trashing the democratic process” by running a Donald Trump-style campaign of misinformation to try to defeat Labor’s industrial relations changes.

Appearing at the Senate inquiry into the Closing Loopholes Bill, Ms O’Neil said employer organisations had spent millions of dollars “telling misinformation and lies” about the potential impact of the changes.

She said business has claimed the changes would cost jobs, raise the cost of living, reduce productivity, destroy labour hire, end casual employment and “allow unions to storm into small businesses, farms and homes wielding more powers than the police”.

“None of this is true,” she said.

“I’ll offer just one response to the many absurd claims about the economic impact of this bill. Last financial year business posted a record $1.1 trillion in profits.

“The government’s estimated cost of the bill is that it would cost these businesses just 0.08% of those profits. Yes, 0.08% at a time where their profits are $1.1 trillion.”

Ms O’Neil said the cost of the reforms would mean so little financially to business “but it could mean a huge amount for a disability support worker engaged on a platform, or a flight attendant being paid half the rate of her colleague”.

“These employer tactics of misinformation are straight out of the Trump playbook: fill the airwaves with nonsense. Make your opponents waste time responding, sow doubt in the minds of decision-makers and the undecided. And trash the democratic process along the way,” she said.

“Mining companies and big business will say and do anything to prevent parliament stopping their wage cutting schemes. And they are also putting $24 million behind this campaign. We cannot let those with the deepest pockets subvert the democratic process.

“I hope and know that Senators won’t fall for this.”

1:44 pm November 10, 2023 Highlight

PM calls Palestinian leader, condemns Hamas attack

Staff writers

The Prime Minister at a press conference on Thursday during the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, condemning Hamas's attack on Israel and reiterating his support for a two-state solution.

In a call to the Palestinian leader on Thursday, Mr Albanese also expressed his concern for all civilian casualties in Israel and Gaza and the need for international law to be observed, his office confirmed.

The talks followed conversations between Mr Albanese and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.

– Tileah Dobson

1:22 pm November 10, 2023

More details revealed about key refugee in ruling

Staff writers

More details have been revealed about the refugee that sparked the High Court's ruling that indefinite detention was deemed unlawful.

As reported by Sky News, the refugee referred to as NZYQ arrived in Australia by boat in 2012. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to raping a 10-year-old boy and as a result, had his visa cancelled.

He served out his non-parole period and when that came to an end, he was transferred to an immigration detention, where he has remained ever since.

NZYQ was forced to face indefinite detention due to no other country wanting to resettle him because of his criminal conviction.

– Tileah Dobson

12:31 pm November 10, 2023

'Strict conditions' on refugee release: Marles' pledge

Staff writers

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has sought to reassure the public that the "government will do everything in its power" following the High Court's ruling that indefinite detention is unlawful, and the refugees affected by this decision should be released immediately.

"I absolutely understand the concern that members of the public will have. What the government will do [is] everything within its power [and] to ensure that this release happens under the strictest possible conditions," he said in a press conference.

"And we will be assessing our options once the full decision of the High Court is made public and we can go through the reasoning of the court decision to work out what our next steps are.

"But we will ensure that those steps are absolutely legally over."

Part of the ruling from the High Court states that "when there's no real prospect of removal from Australia becoming practicable in the reasonably foreseeable future" that it is deemed to be unlawful.

– Tileah Dobson

11:51 am November 10, 2023

Seek compo from Optus: small business Ombudsman

Joseph Lam

Small businesses who were impacted by a major outage which wreaked havoc across the Australian economy this week have been called upon as the industry ombudsman looks to pursue compensation claims.

The $2 loss claim by Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin was outright rejected by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, who claims the telco’s response to customers has been “inadequate”.

“We reject suggestions by Optus that the loss for a small business is $2 a day. This is what Optus charges for their services, not what the consequences and loss of that service has cost small businesses in lost income and customers,” Ombudsman Bruce Billson said.

Australian small businesses, which the Ombudsman said employs about one fifth of the nation, deserve “respect” and for their losses to be acknowledged.

“Australia’s 2.5 million small businesses provide jobs for 5.1 million people and employ 42pc of all apprentices and trainees in training – nearly double the amount supported by a big business. They deserve respect and not to be treated in such a shabby way by Optus,” Mr Billson said.

The Ombudsman considered telecommunications an essential service, adding it was crucial for many small businesses to operate.

“The response by Optus is inadequate and not sufficiently dealt with by an offer of extra data,” Mr Billson said.

“Small businesses rely on telecommunications as an essential service, but they have been poorly served by Optus throughout this event and some have suffered a significant economic cost.”

The Ombudsman has called on Optus to acknowledge the role it plays as a network provider and how an outage of its network impacts the Australian economy.

“More needs to be done to acknowledge this impact on the livelihoods of our small and family businesses with a more tailored response,” he said.