Anthony Albanese has recalled parliament to pass his government’s emergency energy legislation but he faces a roadblock in the Senate and a campaign against the cap from the energy industry.
The PM is speaking on ABC radio now. Patricia Karvelas is asking about the nuts and bolts of the energy package – how much will bills be reduced by and when will that reduction kick in?
Treasury analysis suggests that the cap will reduce bills by some $230 as a result of the cap on gas and on coal in there will be relief for commonwealth recipients of payments.
So pensioners, jobseeker recipients, people who receive family tax benefit through the social security system will all receive further support through a reduction in their bills that will be paid through state governments.
Key events
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Thunderstorms generating gusty winds across Sydney and delaying flights
If you’re in Sydney, you’d be aware the weather has turned pretty crazy in the space of 15 minutes. I am watching the rain coming in at a 45-degree angle as the intensity of it hammers the roof.
The Bureau of Meteorology helping us understand why:
The storm also appears to be delaying flights:
My flight is delayed because of the storm currently hitting Sydney ? there is a tarmac and planes out there beyond the torrential rain pic.twitter.com/wKBlD8WLmj
— Amy Stevenson (@amy_stevenson5) December 11, 2022
Peter Hannam
Energy stocks sink in the wake of government gas price caps
Shares in AGL and Origin retreated in early trading, with both losing about 6% in value.
The falls come in the wake of the federal government’s plan to impose price caps for gas and coal.
Some turbulence was expected, as well as industry complaints. The gas industry, in particular, is not happy that the new package has a provision to examine what is a reasonable rate on return for investments.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, today made it clear the consultation in coming months will examine that longer-term issue.
Chalmers said:
Gas companies ‘continue to do really well. We just want this market to work better.
This approach will be welcomed by big gas users, but opens up the matter to rolling debate in the weeks and months to come.
Thunderstorms active in NSW, including Sydney
Tamsin Rose
Phil Donato resigns from the NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party
NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Phil Donato has resigned from the party and intends to run at the upcoming state election as an independent.
A spokesperson for the member for Orange this morning confirmed the changes to Guardian Australia.
The move comes after the SFF leader, Rob Borsak, survived a leadership challenge from Barwon MP Roy Butler over the weekend.
Donato was understood to be supportive of the challenge and following the party AGM on Saturday in Singleton, he confirmed he was reconsidering his future with the party.
Robodebt inquiry to hear from tax office
Senior tax officials and unionists are scheduled to take centre stage when the royal commission into the defunct robodebt scheme resumes today.
The commission, sitting in Brisbane, is looking into how the automated robodebt scheme went ahead despite federal departments knowing the calculation method was unlawful.
The scheme from 2015 until 2020 wrongly recovered more than $750m from 381,000 people, with several victims taking their lives while being pursued for the false debts.
Today, in its second block of public hearings, the inquiry is scheduled to hear evidence from Australian Tax Office officials Tyson Fawcett and Michael Kerr-Brown.
The Community and Public Sector Union national secretary, Melissa Donnelly, and the union’s former deputy national president Lisa Newman are also set to appear at the investigation.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison and minister Marise Payne are due to front the commission tomorrow.
– from AAP
Emergency management minister en route to Mildura
A major flood warning remains in place in north-eastern parts of Mildura in north-west Victoria. The minister for emergency management, Murray Watt, is heading out there today and has just shared this pretty astounding image of the inundation from the air.
Place-based solutions to tackle disadvantage
The federal government hopes to tackle entrenched disadvantage with “innovative” new community-led ideas, as it establishes a national centre to tackle complex social issues.
Some $2.5m has been allocated to begin foundational work on a National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration, with a group including the University of Queensland, the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and not-for-profit Collaboration for Impact starting consultations early next year.
Place-based initiatives have proven to be effective when working with entrenched disadvantage or for people with complex social needs, because the solutions are designed with and led by local communities.
The centre will work with more than 130 communities around the country and build on the knowledge informing the Closing the Gap priorities.
It is expected the national centre will be operating by early 2025.
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, said:
We need to look at addressing complex social problems and entrenched disadvantage in new and innovative ways. What we’ve been doing to date hasn’t always worked.
Creating more place-based solutions would help communities by facilitating shared decision-making, working across different levels of government and empowering local groups to find the best help that suited their needs.
– from AAP
Domestic violence to be considered before return orders made under Hague convention, attorney general says
The Hague convention is an international agreement designed more 30 years ago to respond to a child being taken out of the country by one parent without the consent of the other parent.
Today, the Albanese government announced it is amending the Australian law to make it clear that allegations of domestic violence can be considered before return orders are made for children under the convention.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, says the regulations will make clear that family and domestic violence is a relevant consideration under the “grave risk” defence. A court will not need to be satisfied that such violence has occurred or will occur before it is taken into account.
Dreyfus:
Australia fully respects our international obligations under the Hague convention. These regulations affirm that protection from family and domestic violence is an important consideration in proceedings.
The amendments demonstrate the Albanese government’s commitment to an effective, accessible, fair and safe family law system that supports victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.
The Albanese Government is committed to a fair and safe family law system that puts the interests of children first and protects those who are at risk of family and domestic violence.https://t.co/jN5t54yq8r
— Mark Dreyfus (@MarkDreyfusKCMP) December 11, 2022
Steggall welcomes government’s climate risk disclosure framework
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will say in a speech today that Australian firms “need to make credible disclosures to remain competitive in global capital markets”.
As my colleague Daniel Hurst writes:
Banks and other big businesses will be forced to come clean with the public about what they are doing to cut emissions under plans put forward by the Albanese government.
The government is also looking for ways to crack down on “greenwashing” – or when businesses try to win over consumers by overhyping their environmental practices.
It’s a move Independent MP Zali Steggall has welcomed:
This is a vital step for Australia’s emissions reduction ambitions. Improved accountability will drive a more efficient transition to net zero and boost investor confidence in Australia.
Global markets are already on the move. Countries like the UK and New Zealand are already well on their way to implementing this kind of reporting. Australia needs to be in the race.
✅ Regulating climate risk disclosure rules will provide consistency in reporting and accountability on net zero plans. This will boost investor confidence in Australia. Global markets are on the move and we need to be in the race.? #auspol #TCFD #climate https://t.co/3I4nKgnL2w
— ? Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) December 11, 2022
Search continues for teenager in border lake
A search has resumed for a teenager who fell from a boat into a lake on the Victoria-NSW border.
Two 16-year-old boys were fishing in the tinnie on Lake Mulwala at Yarrawonga about 9am yesterday when they were hit by a wave and fell overboard, according to police.
Two men swam to their aid and managed to pull one of the boys to shore. They could not find the second teenager.
Police divers and members of the Air Wing and Victoria’s State Emergency Service were searching the lake until about 7pm. They resumed the search at 8am today, according to police.
– from AAP
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