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Key events
With that, I am going to end my stint on the blog. Thank you everyone – you made my morning.
I will now hand you over to Lisa Cox whose capable hands will take you through the afternoon. Stay safe!
Josh Butler has more on Jacinta Price’s appearance at CPAC here:
Coalition senator Jacinta Price has described the government’s proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament as “racial separatism”, and said criticism of those opposed to the proposed constitutional change was “inhumane”.
Speaking at the CPAC conservative political conference in Sydney, Price – the Northern Territory senator and Warlpiri woman – was critical of the Labor plan to institute the Voice. In a keynote address to begin the two-day event, Price said she planned to use her time in politics to work against the “sycophantic, spineless Labor government”.
“I would like to pay my respects – to every proud Australian in the room today,” Price said at the beginning of her speech, shortly after a traditional Indigenous welcome to country from a group of performers.
Price, an opponent of the Voice proposal, claimed the idea was “racial separatism”. She claimed she had suggested to government Senate leader and foreign minister, Penny Wong, that Labor institute an “Asian Voice to Parliament”, which drew laughs from the audience.
In a wide ranging speech Price also described gender-affirming surgery or treatments for transgender people as “playing God”.
In a later panel with Warren Mundine, the former Coalition candidate and President of the Labor Party, and academic Anthony Dillon, Price called the Voice a “terrible idea”.
Mundine claimed it was “a solution looking for a problem”.
Price claimed to attendees of the conference that they would be “called a name” if they voted against the Voice proposal in a referendum.
“There’s nothing more inhumane than that,” Price said. She spoke of her own mother’s experience fleeing domestic violence and growing up in an Indigenous community before becoming a minister in the Northern Territory.
“If she can do that, she doesn’t need a voice,” Price said.
The two-day conference is set to feature further addresses from former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Coalition politicians Alex Antic and Matt Canavan, and One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts, as well as UKIP leader Nigel Farage, several former staffers for President Donald Trump, and numerous conservative media identities.
There is a large police presence at the venue ahead of protests from anti-racism groups expected later today.
Tamsin Rose
The National Trust has criticised the New South Wales government’s plan to revamp and reimagine Sydney’s Central station, claiming that the scheme “presents a genuine and very real threat to Australia’s greatest station”.
Australian house prices fall again across capital cities
Sydney and Melbourne are no longer leading the house price decline, AAP reports:
Home prices have fallen again in every capital city bar Hobart but the rate of decline has slowed, especially in Melbourne and Sydney.
The two largest cities have been leading the march downwards in recent months but dwelling prices in Sydney and Melbourne only fell slightly in September, one real estate appraiser says.
The 0.19% dip was the smallest drop since PropTrack’s home price index first starting declining in April.
The more gradual pace of decline coincides with the typically busy spring season, and does not necessarily indicate an end to the downturn.
“The moderation in price falls does not herald the end of declines; interest rates have continued to increase and expectations of a hike in early October will push prices lower throughout spring,” the report said.
While the home market is expected to keep cooling off for the rest of the year, October is likely to be a busy month after public holidays in September held back activity.
Amy Remeikis
Liberal party headquarters have seized on a routine review of Australia’s most recent federal election to claim Labor wants to give noncitizens voting rights.
Peter FitzSimons to step down as chair of Australian Republic Movement in November
After seven years, Peter FitzSimons has announced he will step down as chair of the Australian Republic Movement when his term ends in November.
In a statement, FitzSimons said he was “thrilled” by what the movement had achieved.
Building on your years of support, the fine work of my predecessors and the generosity of wonderful donors, we’ve been able to put the republic back on the agenda; have a strong movement with expanding membership; and, most importantly, to have for the first time in history, a ‘Minister for the Crown devoted to removing the Crown’.
FitzSimons said he was never going to be the one to lead the movement at the actual referendum and wants to tap out early so his successor can have a good run-up.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II confirms that decision, as the whole campaign moves to a new phase. A new generation is now stepping up to lead the campaign, many of whom were too young to vote when the last referendum was held – some of them not yet even born.
As I go, I particularly want to thank you all for your wonderful support over my years; those who built the ARM from the ground up over the decades, and those who will take it forward from here. We are a great organisation, with a wonderful goal, and we are getting there! It has been an honour and the greatest privilege of my life.
He said his successor will come from the people who have been nominated for election to the body’s national committee.
These nominees will be revealed next Friday.
I encourage all of you to consider how you can support the Movement in the coming years as we work towards a national vote on a republic.
Gastro-oesophageal cancer drugs added to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Australians with advanced or metastatic gastro-oesophageal cancers and those fighting advanced bladder cancer will now have cheaper access to treatments through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the AAP is reporting.
The federal government has expanded the PBS listing of gastro-oesophageal cancer drug nivolumab, which could help up to 1,450 patients each year.
A bladder cancer maintenance therapy Bavencio has also been added to the scheme from Saturday.
Without subsidy, a course of nivolumab could cost more than $92,000 but that will now be cut to $42.50 for each script, or $6.80 for those on concessions.
The same cheaper prices will apply to Bavencio.
Caitlin Cassidy
Peak housing bodies are calling for nationally consistent rental laws to crack down on bidding wars putting pressure on tenants in a shrinking market.
Says nothing about paying for replacement licences … buys full-page ads.
Josh Butler is in position at the CPAC, and will bring us developments as it goes along.
For something different, I have this for you all:
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