Activists lock on to coal tools throughout Rising Tide protest in Newcastle
Sixteen protesters with Rising Tide have locked themselves to coal tools in Newcastle this morning.
Rising Tide mentioned eight individuals have locked on to 2 coal loaders and one other eight on to conveyor belts on the ultimate day of the Individuals’s Blockade, an annual local weather protest that has seen 1000’s collect to protest towards the usage of fossil fuels.
Fiona Lee, an activist who locked on to a coal conveyor, mentioned she may “not stand by as our authorities continues to approve the brand new coal and gasoline tasks which are making these unnatural disasters worse”, including:
It’s time that our authorities begins supporting coal staff by investing in new industries for our area and making coal firms pay their justifiable share.
NSW police have arrested at least 141 people throughout the protest this weekend. An official mentioned there have been no further arrests this morning to this point.
Key occasions
Melbourne may have its coldest 1 December since 1987
Melbourne could also be on observe to have its coldest first day of summer season since 1987, if the solar doesn’t come out.
The Bureau of Meteorology says if the town’s thermometers don’t high 15.5C at present, it’ll be the coldest 1 December since 1987. The forecast for the day is a excessive of 15, nevertheless it’s already reached 14.7C.
Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist on the BoM, mentioned a big stretch of south-eastern Australia is in for temperatures 10 to 15C cooler than common, together with elements of inland NSW and Victoria.
However on the identical time, Perth is on observe for temperatures 5 to 10C above common, with a forecasted excessive of 37C.
Sydney police cost 4 males over alleged ‘worldwide satanic little one intercourse abuse materials ring’
NSW police say they’ve uncovered an “worldwide satanic little one intercourse abuse materials ring” and charged 4 Australians for his or her alleged involvement, AAP reviews.
Detectives from the intercourse crimes squad mentioned that as a part of Strike Pressure Constantine, an investigation into the net distribution of kid sexual abuse materials involving ritualistic or satanic themes, they disrupted a Sydney-based community.
In an announcement, police alleged the community was actively concerned in possessing, distributing and facilitating this materials by means of an internet site that was “administered internationally”.
Detectives, accompanied by the riot squad, carried out six search warrants in Waterloo, Ultimo and Malabar on Thursday morning final week.
Learn extra right here:
NSW experiencing ‘unusually extended flu season’
Natasha Might
New South Wales is experiencing an “unusually extended flu season” which is continuous to have an effect on hospitals throughout the state, NSW Well being has warned.
Greater than 370 individuals introduced to emergency departments throughout the state with an influenza-like sickness, whereas greater than 3,100 circumstances have been notified in NSW in a single week in mid-November.
NSW Well being mentioned that is the second week in a row that circumstances have climbed and have been across the identical variety of circumstances notified as firstly of June this 12 months, the primary week of winter.
The NSW chief well being officer, Dr Kerry Chant, mentioned:
Once we examine this respiratory sickness season to others, we’re experiencing an extended tail, which is a priority.
Often by September or early October influenza ranges have tapered to fairly low ranges from the height, which historically happens throughout winter – however we’re effectively into November and notifications are rising.
Nobody desires influenza, or any respiratory sickness for that matter, to wreck the top of their 12 months, so it’s essential everybody takes preventive measures to cease its unfold. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. In case you are sick, please keep residence, and put on a masks if it’s essential exit, to assist cease the unfold.
Out-of-control bushfire threatening elements of Geraldton in WA, with some individuals informed to go away instantly
An out-of-control bushfire is threatening houses and properties in Geraldton, with residents warned to go away now or put their lives at risk, AAP reviews.
An emergency warning is in place for residents of Bluff Level, Spalding and Sundown in Geraldton, Western Australia.
“You’re at risk and must act instantly to outlive. There’s a menace to lives and houses,” the warning reads.
The Division of Hearth and Emergency Companies issued an evacuation order simply earlier than 6am on Monday. Residents in Glenfield have additionally been informed to organize to go away.
A full checklist of lively alerts will be discovered here.
Victoria premier says Pauline Hanson’s ‘division will not be welcome right here’
Benita Kolovos
Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has been on a media blitz this morning to spruik the Metro Tunnel’s opening yesterday. Showing on ABC Radio Melbourne, she was requested about an anti-immigration protest that additionally occurred on Sunday, which included a speech by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson.
Hanson, in her speech, informed the gang she wasn’t from Victoria and that she “wouldn’t transfer” to the state.
Requested by host Raf Epstein what she fabricated from Hanson’s remark, Allan replied:
Good. That kind of division will not be welcome right here. That kind of divisive politics has been rejected by the Victorian neighborhood.
Epstein additionally requested the premier whether or not police can be releasing the variety of searches they conduct in Melbourne’s CBD after declaring the city and its surrounds a “designated area” for six months.
Allan replied that the discharge of such figures was an operational determination for police. She went on:
Transparency, in fact, is essential, however not the place it compromises the operational work of Victoria police to maintain our neighborhood protected. This is the reason these powers are essential. It’s preserving the neighborhood protected, and I believe we noticed that yesterday … [it] was a protected and peaceable day across the metropolis. Alongside the opening of the Metro Tunnel, there have been the Christmas home windows.
It was an enormous and busy weekend in Melbourne’s CBD, and other people have been capable of go round and store and luxuriate in a meal, take a look at the Metro Tunnel, and did so safely.
Krishani Dhanji
Is McLaren costing Oscar Piastri the F1 title, division requested at Senate estimates
It’s a powerful begin to Senate estimates this morning, with Nationals senator Matt Canavan asking the division of infrastructure secretary, Jim Betts, concerning the F1 outcomes from Qatar in a single day.
As an F1 fan myself, my ears instantly pricked up. Canavan requested:
It’s been a little bit of a irritating night time for some Australians … you take care of transport and automobiles, so do you suppose McLaren is biased towards Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship?
With out going into too many particulars, Piastri is an Australian F1 driver on the McLaren workforce, who went into this morning’s race in first place but came in second at the end due to some poor calls from his team. There’s only one race to go for the championship and people factors have been crucial, to say the least.
Betts wasn’t eager to dive into the controversy: “You’re asking for an opinion there senator”, he mentioned. “Good reply”, Canavan replied, after which requested the representing minister, Anthony Chisholm the identical query, who mentioned:
I positively suppose he’s copped some uncooked determination [making] this 12 months.
Each senators mentioned their children are very invested.
New power infrastructure wanted if main coal plant shuts as deliberate: Aemo report
Adam Morton
Pressing funding is required in new power infrastructure – notably synchronous turbines – if the Eraring coal energy plant in New South Wales is to close as deliberate in 2027, authorities have warned.
An Australian Vitality Market Operator (Aemo) report on Monday mentioned funding was wanted within the nation’s principal electrical energy grid over the following decade. It focuses on “system safety” – a reference to the frequency and inertia wanted within the grid to maintain it working.
That safety is offered by spinning turbines, which might embody coal, gasoline and hydro crops. It doesn’t come from photo voltaic and wind power.
It means the system safety might want to come from different sources as the quantity of photo voltaic and wind power will increase, together with synchronous condensers which are linked to the grid to not present electrical energy, however to stabilise the system.
Aemo mentioned power firm Transgrid was fast-tracking funding in synchronous condensers, however they weren’t anticipated to be operational till “a minimum of 2028”.
It mentioned if Eraring shut earlier than there have been sufficient synchronous condensers within the system the market operator can be compelled to intervene, together with by ordering spinning capability that principally sits idle – gasoline and hydro crops – to run at “important value to shoppers”. It mentioned this might occur as much as 30% of the time.
It mentioned with out Eraring or synchronous condensers the NSW system may face intervals when there was a “believable threat of last-resort operational actions” – code for cuts in provide.
Krishani Dhanji
Authorities to difficulty steering calling for AI generated content material to be labelled
Companies, creators, and AI builders shall be inspired to label AI generated or modified content material underneath new steering from the federal government.
The steering is part of Labor’s nationwide AI plan which shall be extra broadly launched this week. The federal government has been contemplating whether or not to observe the EU and different nations who’ve applied a designated AI act.
The steering may also encourage business to make use of water marking to confirm the authenticity of content material and hint its origin and file metadata.
Minister for business and innovation, Tim Ayres, mentioned:
AI is right here to remain. By being clear about when and the way it’s used, we are able to make sure the neighborhood advantages from innovation with out sacrificing belief.
That’s why the Albanese Authorities is urging companies to undertake this steering. It’s about constructing belief, defending integrity, and giving Australia’s confidence within the content material they devour.
Final week, the federal government introduced it would set up an AI security institute subsequent 12 months.
Andrew Messenger
Queensland Labor to reset all get together coverage after state convention vote
Queensland Labor will reset its complete coverage platform following its state election defeat final 12 months.
The get together secretary, Ben Driscoll, who sponsored the movement, mentioned Queensland Labor’s coverage platform hadn’t been reviewed in full because the final time the get together spent a time period in opposition, underneath the premiership of Campbell Newman, and it had lengthy since handed components of the platform into legislation.
The opposition chief, Steven Miles, who was defeated final October, informed media that the get together had not acted on issues about crime rapidly sufficient whereas in authorities.
“Labor has to simply accept that there have been errors made within the earlier authorities. That’s why I’ve mentioned we’ve a coverage clear slate, and now we are going to evaluation your entire get together’s platform to make sure that it’s match for 2028,” he mentioned.
Events want to make sure they’re continuously evolving, continuously representing what the neighborhood is asking for. And that’s why, that’s why this evaluation and the coverage declare slate is admittedly essential.
The get together convention was the primary since Annastacia Palaszczuk stood down as premier in 2023. It concluded on Sunday. The movement handed on the voices.
Activists lock on to coal tools throughout Rising Tide protest in Newcastle
Sixteen protesters with Rising Tide have locked themselves to coal tools in Newcastle this morning.
Rising Tide mentioned eight individuals have locked on to 2 coal loaders and one other eight on to conveyor belts on the ultimate day of the Individuals’s Blockade, an annual local weather protest that has seen 1000’s collect to protest towards the usage of fossil fuels.
Fiona Lee, an activist who locked on to a coal conveyor, mentioned she may “not stand by as our authorities continues to approve the brand new coal and gasoline tasks which are making these unnatural disasters worse”, including:
It’s time that our authorities begins supporting coal staff by investing in new industries for our area and making coal firms pay their justifiable share.
NSW police have arrested at least 141 people throughout the protest this weekend. An official mentioned there have been no further arrests this morning to this point.
Minister says pay rise delivering safety for staff and for youths of their care
Jess Walsh, minister for early childhood schooling, mentioned the pay bump for early childhood educators is already “paying dividends”, saying it’s good for staff and good for the children of their care.
Walsh informed RN Breakfast:
It is a workforce that has been underpaid and undervalued for too lengthy. Once we took workplace, that meant that early educators have been leaving the sector in droves. We wished to see a powerful, secure workforce to ship high quality early schooling, and that’s why we’ve dedicated to this pay rise. And it’s paying dividends.
It’s decreasing turnover within the sector. It’s permitting educators to remain in jobs that they love. That’s good for them, nevertheless it’s additionally good for the youngsters of their care as a result of a powerful, secure workforce is the muse for high quality early schooling.
She went on to say the federal government was guaranteeing that the sector was robust, including: “Each little one deserves to be protected, and oldsters should know that their kids are protected.”
Krishani Dhanji
Last stage of early childhood educator pay rise kicks in
Early childhood educators will obtain a 5% pay rise at present, the final instalment of a promised 15% wage improve by Labor.
The federal government says the rise will imply educators will obtain an additional $160 per week. That sits on high of the Truthful Work Fee’s minimal wage rise which took impact earlier this 12 months.
The federal government’s additionally launched some retention knowledge, saying the wage rises have helped improve the variety of educators by 6% within the 12 months to August, whereas emptiness charges are down 14% within the 12 months to October. Not-for-profit supplier Goodstart says it’s diminished its use of labour rent by 70%.
In an announcement, the schooling minister, Jason Clare mentioned:
Our early educators should be paid pretty for that work. That’s why we’re delivering this 15 per cent pay rise, with the ultimate 5 per cent hitting the pay packets of early educators from tomorrow.
We all know the pay rise is working to carry extra individuals into sector and assist to maintain the nice educators we’ve already bought.
It follows an announcement from Clare that obligatory security coaching for educators to start in February subsequent 12 months, and be undertaken by means of early childcare centres. The obligatory coaching was agreed by state, territory and federal schooling ministers as a part of security reform.
Residence value rises outpacing advantages of rate of interest cuts
Surging residence costs have wiped away the advantages of three rate of interest cuts to new consumers, new knowledge reveals.
AAP reviews throughout Australia, residence values grew by 1% in November with the median dwelling now value $888,941, property analytics agency Cotality reported on Monday.
That follows a blistering lead to October, when costs rose at 1.1% rise, and 0.8% in September. On a month-to-month foundation, development in Sydney slowed from 0.7% to 0.5%, whereas Melbourne fell from 0.9% in October to 0.3% in November.
In the meantime, the mid-sized capitals picked up. Brisbane grew to become the second Australian metropolis to interrupt the $1m median residence value barrier.
Already, the influence of 75 foundation factors of money fee cuts since February are carrying out. Cotality analysis director, Tim Lawless, calculated the cuts elevated the borrowing capability of a median earnings family by $55,000, however residence values have since risen by $60,000.
For renters, the outlook continues to be one in all worsening affordability. Rents are rising throughout each capital metropolis, with the nationwide rental index 5% greater over the previous 12 months – the very best annual fee of development in a 12 months.
Greens name for 25% gasoline export tax
Krishani Dhanji
The Greens are calling for all gasoline exports to be taxed 25% and home gasoline provide to be prioritised because the nation faces a future gasoline shortfall by 2028.
The minor get together – who simply secured a deal with the government on the EPBC nature legislation reforms – say they won’t assist any new gasoline fields. There may be greater than sufficient uncontracted gasoline being exported abroad, they are saying, to satisfy any future shortfalls.
The 25% tax would substitute the petroleum useful resource lease tax which the Greens say has failed to gather “significant” income from gasoline exporters on account of “large loopholes”.
Greens senator Steph Hodgins-Might says gasoline firms have created a “disaster” that Australian households have needed to pay for.
Authorities and business lies are rapidly unravelling. We don’t have a gasoline scarcity, we’ve a gasoline export drawback.
If Labor brings ahead an possibility that incentivises new gasoline and arms extra rewards to the companies which were ripping off Australians, they gained’t have the assist of the Greens.
Good morning
Good morning, and completely happy December. One other month down, one other season begins. Nick Visser right here to get you began on the weblog this morning – right here’s what’s on deck.
The Greens are calling for all gasoline exports to face a 25% tax, with a brand new prioritisation on home gasoline provide. The get together, which just lately secured a take care of the Labor authorities on new federal nature legislation reforms, says it won’t assist any new gasoline fields.
Surging residence costs have worn out the advantage of three rate of interest cuts to new consumers, in response to current knowledge. Throughout Australia, the median dwelling is now value almost $889,000.
The federal government is encouraging companies, creators and AI builders to label AI generated or modified content material. Tim Ayres, the minister for business and innovation, mentioned the technique would see the “advantages from innovation with out sacrificing belief”.
Stick to us.
