Rescue operation for stranded pilot whales continues in Tasmania
The rescue operation to save the last of the surviving pilot whales in the latest Tasmanian mass-stranding is still underway.
Thirty-two of the 35 surviving whales (approximately 200 died before rescuers could act) have been refloated. The operation is now working on getting the last whales back into the ocean.
As AAP reports:
The majority of the pilot whales died after becoming stranded on Ocean beach near Macquarie Harbour, south of Strahan, on Wednesday.
However 32 of the 35 surviving whales were on Thursday refloated in what rescuers described as a “terrific result”.
The focus will shift on Friday morning to freeing the three remaining surviving animals, which rescuers have been unable to access because of the challenging location and tidal conditions.
Then, over the coming days, the team will prioritise removing and disposing of the about 200 dead whales.
More than 50 Tasmanian government staff, volunteers and workers from a local aquaculture company banded together for Thursday’s rescue effort, incident controller Brendon Clark said.
Key events
There have been a lot of contributions during the Queen’s condolence motions in the house and senate.
And as AAP reports, it is not as cut and dried as some people would like:
The ongoing pain and trauma inflicted on Indigenous Australians by the British monarchy has been raised in powerful speeches to parliament.
Federal politicians used condolences for Queen Elizabeth II to call for greater reconciliation and reflection on the impact of colonisation.
Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, a Wiradjuri woman, said there had been a range of emotions among the community following the Queen’s death.
“For many Indigenous Australians, the legacy of the monarchy is fraught – a complex, difficult and painful reminder of the impact of colonisation,” she told parliament.
“The Queen’s relationship with Indigenous Australians reflects both how far we have come and how far we still have to go.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt called for a treaty with Indigenous people following the Queen’s death.
“We must recognise the cultural, structural and institutional ways in which the crown, which we remain a part of, has oppressed First Nations people here and around the world,” he said.
“When it comes to our history, there is no glory and make-believe because the pain of colonisation is real.”
Greens senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, said feelings among Indigenous people ranged from anger to stress, hurt and frustration.
“We are a mature nation, people will have conversations that both commemorate the life of a public figure, while calling out the problematic legacy of the British Empire,” she said.
Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman, spoke of the mixed feelings felt among her own family.
“We reflected on what the monarchy has meant, and what the world of colonialism has meant and know deeply, the pain of the frontier wars and the conflicts that came with that,” she said.
“Maybe the Queen was not directly responsible for that, but we know these are the mixed feelings and emotions of so many across the globe in the Commonwealth lands for First Nations people.”
Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a Warlpiri woman, said Australia should be “grateful” for the British invasion.
“Like every nation around the globe, our history features dark and shameful incidents, we must never shy away from acknowledging these as they are part of our identity,” she said.
“This landmass we call home was never going to be left untouched by anyone other than our first peoples.
“We can be grateful it was in fact the British who settled here before the many other possible colonists.”
Lorena Allam
AFL clubs need to ‘get their house in order’: NT Aboriginal land council chairman
The chairman of the NT’s biggest Aboriginal land council says the AFL and its clubs have to “get their house in order” in looking after Aboriginal players in the code, or they will stop coming down from the NT to play.
The Northern Land Council has offered to provide support and guidance to the AFL and the club, chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said.
Despite all the fine words and handwringing about how important Aboriginal players and cultures are to the AFL, when push comes to shove those players can be treated terribly and our cultures ignored. The AFL needs to lift its game and must make sure the clubs do as well.
Every Aboriginal person in the NT has a family member who has been or is playing in the AFL or wants to. If this goes on for much longer then I can’t blame families for looking at other clubs for their family members to play in.
For them these scandals represent a shameful betrayal of the fundamental trust they put in the clubs and the AFL when they send their loved ones south to play.
Peter Dutton reiterates support for national anti-corruption commission
Paul Karp
In a press conference in Canberra, the Liberal leader said there is “no place for corruption” and he will consider what powers the commission requires – but “at the same time” – he doesn’t favour protracted investigations that in past he claims have driven public servants to suicide.
He said:
So we will continue our discussions with the government in relation to that. That’s been the direction of my party room and we’ll continue that discussion. But I support the principle … and the form of that and the way in which we want to work with the government, we will make more comment on that in due course.
Asked if the NACC should have powers to investigate actors outside government even if they have no public sector contracts, Dutton said the body should root out corruption “wherever it exists”, but he doesn’t support “show trials”, or lengthy unresolved complaints after which subjects of investigation are not cleared.
Asked specifically about unions, he noted if they provided training services they would be captured by the bill.
He said:
I’m not going to have a clause by clause discussion about it at the moment … But at the moment we’re having discussions, as I pointed out I’ve spoken to the prime minister about the issue and we continue that in good faith.
Rescue operation for stranded pilot whales continues in Tasmania
The rescue operation to save the last of the surviving pilot whales in the latest Tasmanian mass-stranding is still underway.
Thirty-two of the 35 surviving whales (approximately 200 died before rescuers could act) have been refloated. The operation is now working on getting the last whales back into the ocean.
As AAP reports:
The majority of the pilot whales died after becoming stranded on Ocean beach near Macquarie Harbour, south of Strahan, on Wednesday.
However 32 of the 35 surviving whales were on Thursday refloated in what rescuers described as a “terrific result”.
The focus will shift on Friday morning to freeing the three remaining surviving animals, which rescuers have been unable to access because of the challenging location and tidal conditions.
Then, over the coming days, the team will prioritise removing and disposing of the about 200 dead whales.
More than 50 Tasmanian government staff, volunteers and workers from a local aquaculture company banded together for Thursday’s rescue effort, incident controller Brendon Clark said.
Penny Wong says she had ‘constructive conversation’ with China’s foreign minister
Penny Wong has issued a very brief statement about her meeting with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi:
Today I met China’s state councilor and minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, in the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York.
The meeting reaffirmed the Australian government’s view that it is in the interests of both sides to continue on the path of stabilising the relationship.
We had a constructive conversation, where I expressed Australia’s views on a range of bilateral, trade, consular and human rights issues, as well as international and regional security.
Australia will seek to cooperate in areas of mutual benefit. We remain open to dialogue and engagement with China, including to address shared challenges.
Australia continues to work towards productive and stable relations with China, based on mutual benefit and respect.
‘We need to see outcomes’: Dutton on Wong’s meeting with China’s foreign minister
Peter Dutton is happy about the meeting Penny Wong held with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, but he also seems to think that all the issues with the China-Australia relationship should also be fixed by now:
We want to support the government in international relations. I made it very clear when Penny Wong and the prime minister engaged with the Solomon Islands.
As Labor pointed out when they were in opposition, you have to pay on results and in Solomon Islands, the situation has only deteriorated.
Since Penny Wong first engaged in relation to her engagement with the Chinese, I hope we can have an outcome in relation to human rights issues raised.
I hope we can have an outcome in relation to other issues including the trade sanctions in place now. And the talk is one thing but the outcome is really what we need. Those farmers … affected by the trade sanctions at the moment the Chinese imposed, we need to see the outcome, not just the talk. I hope minister Wong’s discussions can lead to the outcomes we want but so far, that hasn’t happened.
Peter Dutton criticises government’s handling of Optus breach
The opposition leader suddenly believes governments should be very free with information:
This may well be the biggest data breach in Australia’s history. Nine or 10 million people have had their personal information potentially compromised. We don’t know much more detail than that because the minister Clare O’Neil is missing in action and I think there are a lot of Australians who rely day to day on their internet connection, on the telephone and devices otherwise that they would be using in their homes.
People may have shared passwords. There are a lot of people who are very concerned, particularly older Australians and need assurance from the government to provide the understanding of what is happening. Is there a further likelihood of an attack by this group? Do we know whether it is an organised crime group? Or do we believe it is a state actor that is involved? Do we believe that there is a further compromise potentially? Is the system integrity, has it been restored?
These are questions Clare O’Neil should be answering and we asked for a brief from the ACSC and hope to receive that soon. This is a significant problem for the government and the government had all the answers before the election, including how they were going to help families and cost of living and the best and completely walked away from any of that responsibility. It is important for that information to be provided by the minister and provided today, to provide reassurance to those customers that are most affected by this most egregious breach.
Save the Children Australia calls for more financial aid to worst-affected hunger hot spots
Save the Children have also weighed in on Australia’s $15m contribution to the Horn of Africa and Yemen food security crisis.
CEO Mat Tinkler said it was a start but no where near enough:
This funding is a solid down payment and a welcome indication of the political will needed to address the desperate humanitarian need of nations hit hard by the global hunger crisis.
However, there is much more Australia, and the international community can, and must, do.
Save the Children Australia wants the Australian government to commit $150m to emergency relief in the world’s worst-affected hunger hot spots, including the Horn of Africa, with a further $200m annually over three years, and to implement a long-term strategy to address food security worldwide.
In Somalia 50% of the population, or 7.8 million people, are now facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse. This includes 1.48 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.
In some areas of Uganda, it is estimated that 40% of the population is going hungry, including tens of thousands of children.
In Kenya an estimated 942,000 children under five are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.
Government approves two proposed mergers of community owned banks
Now it is up to the customers to decide if it goes ahead.
Jim Chalmers has made the announcement:
Today I am announcing my approval of two proposed mergers of customer-owned community banks under the Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998, the Financial Sector (Transfer and Restructure) Act 1999, and the Banking Act 1959.
The first is between Heritage Bank and People’s Choice Credit Union, and the second Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent Building Society.
The proposed mergers are expected to support competition and innovation in the banking sector by allowing these customer-owned banks to better compete with the larger players and deliver higher quality products and services to members.
Customers from the banks will vote on the proposals as part of their annual general meetings. The banks’ mutual ownership structures will be maintained following the mergers.
The AFL grand final parade is keeping Melbourne occupied and very happy and the Swans (boo) and Cats (whatever) are answering questions in front of the crowd.
They both think they can win.
Australia pledges $15m for food aid in the the Horn of Africa and Yemen
The government has been lobbied to do more to address hunger crises across the world. One of those is the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, which was exasperated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine holding up grain supplies.
Australia has pledged $15m to help in that region and Anthea Spinks, Oxfam Australia’s program director, said in response:
We welcome the announcement of $15m to address the food security crisis in the Horn of Africa and Yemen as an important first step, however it is far short of the $150m that we have been calling on the Australian government to provide to prevent people sliding into famine.
It is estimated that one person is dying every 48 seconds in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia alone, where the worst climate-fuelled drought in decades is being exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19 economic fallout and surging food prices. The warning that famine is expected in Somalia as early as October highlights the urgent need for action.
Governments can and must mobilise enough resources to prevent catastrophic hunger and a worsening humanitarian crisis. It is critical that the Albanese government act now and increase their contribution to address this global hunger crisis and fulfil its duty as a wealthy country.
Liberal senator says anti-monarchist Greens are ‘radicals’
I think people who vote for the Greens do so with clear minds and open eyes, but Simon Birmingham seems shocked that some Greens MPs are not fans of the monarchy.
Q: We’ve heard the Greens carrying on about how King Charles is not their king and attending protests and stuff. What do you say about that?
Birmingham:
The there are many well-meaning Australians who voted for the Greens, but the complete disregard and disrespect the Greens show should be a message to those Australians. Don’t flirt with the radicals.
Or – just maybe, just as with those who vote for any other political party, there are voters who share the Greens views and are happy for those views to be aired in the parliament by their representatives. Just a thought.
Severe weather warning for NSW northern coast line has been cancelled
The severe weather warning for the NSW northern coast has been cancelled, which is great news. The situation still needs to be watched though – there are thunderstorms on the horizon, but the main danger of flooding has passed.
From the BOM:
The low pressure system that led to heavy rainfall over the northern New South Wales coast overnight is weakening. Severe weather is no longer occurring in NSW.
The immediate threat of widespread severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored closely. There remains a risk of severe thunderstorms developing about the coastal fringe from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. Severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued if necessary.
Tory Shepherd
Penny Wong calls on China to use its influence to end war in Ukraine
The freign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has again condemned the Russian president Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats and has called on China to use its influence to end the war in Ukraine.
In New York for the UN general assembly, Wong said this morning she had a “constructive” meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
She urged restraint and de-escalation on Taiwan, spoke about the detention of Australians Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun in China, and discussed the ongoing trade restrictions China has imposed on Australian goods. She said “continued engagement and goodwill on both sides” was needed to stabilise the fraught relationship. Wong said:
It’s a long road in which many steps will have to be taken by both parties to a more stable relationship.
She also called on China as a “great power” and signatory to the UN charter to use its influence on Russia:
We believe, as does every country, with the exception of Russia, that Russia is in breach of the UN charter through its illegal invasion of Ukraine. And we encourage China… to uphold the UN charter, to use its influence to end the war.
She also repeated her comments that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s threats to resort to nuclear weapons were “both unthinkable and irresponsible”. She said:
We cannot allow Mr Putin’s irresponsible threats to be successful in shaping an outcome, which goes to Ukrainian sovereignty being abrogated.
Wong has also met with leaders from Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations, and discussed the Aukus partnership with the UK’s new foreign minister, James Cleverly.
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