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‘Shame on us’: Greens senators say poverty statistics for single mothers and children are an outrage
New analysis has found that a third of single mothers are in financial hardship, while one in eight Australian children live in poverty as a result of decisions by both Liberal and Labor governments.
Greens senators Barbara Pocock and Mehreen Faruqi have taken to social media to say the statistics are unacceptable.
In Australia, so many are struggling under poverty.
1 in 8 people live in poverty
1 in 6 children live in poverty
1 in 6 people with a disability live in povertyThis is an outrage.
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) October 17, 2022
My colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes has the full story:
Rio Tinto says rail issues hit ore shipments
Rio Tinto is lowering expectations for its 2022 Pilbara iron ore shipments after two unplanned rail outages, AAP reports.
The mining giant said today its full-year iron ore shipments will be at the lower end of its guidance of 320m to 335m tonnes following outages on its Yandicoogina and Gudai-Darri rail lines in the Pilbara.
An investigation into the derailment on the Gudai-Darri line is ongoing, Rio said.
The 166km line opened this year, linking the new Gudai-Darri mine in WA with Rio’s existing rail network in the Pilbara.
For the three months to September 30, shipments were down 1% to 82m tonnes and for the last nine months, Rio’s production was running 1% less than it was a year ago, with 234.3m tonnes shipped.
The miner noted its third-quarter iron production of 84.3m tonnes was up one per cent from a year ago and up seven per cent from the second quarter.
Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said:
Delivering the full potential of our assets remains a priority – production improved versus the prior quarter across most of our sites, particularly where we have implemented the Rio Tinto Safe Production System.
As of September 30, Rio had mined 234.7m tonnes of iron ore, the same amount as at the same time last year.
Rio Tinto also cut its forecast for refined copper, saying it now expects to produce 190,000 to 220,000 tonnes, down from 230,000 to 290,000 tonnes.
Victorian town of Murchison warned it’s too late to leave
Residents of the small Victorian town of Murchison on the Goulburn River have been told it is now too late for them to leave. If they have not already left, they are advised to shelter in the highest location possible.
This EMERGENCY WARNING – RIVERINE FLOOD – Too Late to Leave is for Murchison
More details at https://t.co/RP7Qsf1njB…
It is now too late to leave for people in Murchison. If you have not evacuated, you should shelter in the highest location possible. pic.twitter.com/TSkPamtyEy
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) October 17, 2022
Greens call on federal government to include inner Melbourne in disaster payment scheme
The Victorian Greens say residents in Melbourne’s inner-western suburb of Kensington are being left out of the disaster recovery payment scheme, as the City of Melbourne is not listed as one of the affected local government areas.
The Greens have called on the federal government to ensure Kensington is included in the scheme as residents along the Maribyrnong River over the weekend have lost cars and assets, and seen their homes damaged.
The deputy leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, says she has reached out to the government to try to fix the problem.
Over the weekend we saw people right across the state devastated by floods, yet a quirk of bureaucracy means that some people can get payments while others can’t.
We’d like to see this fixed so no-one misses out just because they live on the ‘wrong’ side of the river.
Committee begins inquiry into anti-corruption commission
Paul Karp
The national anti-corruption commission legislation inquiry has begun in Canberra, with the attorney general’s department giving evidence.
First up the deputy chair, independent MP Helen Haines, is examining the definition of corruption.
The attorney general’s deputy secretary, Sarah Chidgey, has explained the national anti-corruption commission has jurisdiction to investigate “any person” suspected of corruption, including attempts and conspiracies.
But Chidgey says the definition of corruption is conduct “that adversely affects or that could adversely affect … the honest or impartial exercise of any public official’s powers”.
So Chidgey confirmed that offences committed by external actors that are unlikely to influence insiders would not be in scope, such as fraud or cyberhacks. These would be dealt with by the AFP, she said.
Asked why the government included a requirement for exceptional circumstances for a public hearing, Chidgey replied that it “met that balance between making corruption issues transparent and … unfair damage to reputations”.
Concern Echuca will see a “double flood,” mayor says
As Echuca residents brace for more rain, the mayor Chrissy Weller has described the disaster as a “one in 1,000 year flood.”
Weller told ABC News this morning:
Yesterday morning it was at 94.2, flood level is 94.4. And they’re expecting it to be 95.9. So we know we’ve got to get the levee down. Thank goodness we’ve got another fine day to go through. Once the waters start coming down, the Goulburn River is coming into the Murray, that’s what is coming here. We only have another 24 hours, maybe a bit more. That’s our time frame.
It’s a one in one thousand event they’re now calling it. The water’s come through Rochester so we’ve already lost 900 odd houses down there… We’ve got all those people displaced and now here. It’ll be at least a couple thousand the way it’s going.
She hopes the levee will work, or else the residential and CBD area will be affected.
The hard part with the water, we’ve got rain coming Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We’re hoping it might be another day later. That could be anywhere from 50-100mm.
If this rises, the part that we’re concerned about is that the Murray could actually try to start pushing back up the Campaspe. That will actually create a double flood on those areas. That’s a bigger concern for us, we’re going to do it twice.
Man dies in Sydney house fire
A man has died and a woman is in a critical condition after a house fire in Sydney’s west, AAP reports.
Just after 5am this morning emergency services were called to a Blacktown home.
NSW police say firefighters rescued a man and woman from the house but the man died at the scene.
He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be in his 60s.
The woman, in her 80s, was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.
Our reporter Tamsin Rose is at the press conference where NSW SES assistant commissioner Sean Kearns has spoken.
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns says the agency is focusing around Moama at the moment. They are also concerned about other areas across the west of the state, warning Forbes and other flood affected areas they could be hit again. pic.twitter.com/Sg360WjM59
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) October 17, 2022
NSW on alert for rain, thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and floods this week
Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson Jane Golding has given an update on NSW’s weather over the next week.
It does look like there will be quite an intense low pressure system dragging some moisture from the tropics and move from the north-west of the state through to the east between Wednesday and Friday.
We’re expecting that system to be accompanied not just by persistent showers and rain, but by thunderstorms and potentially some severe thunderstorms.
There’s danger of flash flooding from intense bursts from severe thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms as well bringing with them the potential for some destructive wind gusts.
So for trees, power lines, it’s not great for those, likely to bring those down. And as well, look, it’s not out of the question we see some hail and some giant hail storms in some locations.
So the thunderstorms will be a bit hit and miss. Not everywhere will get them. But it’s something for the community to be aware of. Between Wednesday and Friday, that is a risk in particular for those areas west of the divide.
So, the rivers are already full. Expecting more rain. And we have issued a flood watch for this new rain coming through between Wednesday and Friday.
Six major flood warnings in place in NSW
Jane Golding from the Bureau of Meteorology is now speaking:
So, over the last few months, really, inland New South Wales has seen a lot of rain and we’re seeing the rivers respond. It’s really, really started raining in late July, August, and we’ve seen a series of low pressure systems bring rain and flooding to areas west of the divide since, over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen four systems come through. And unfortunately, we look like we’ll see another couple come through in the next seven days.
Due to the rain that’s already falling, the bureau has issued several flood warnings. We have six major flood warnings at the moment. And that is for the rain that’s already fallen, that’s making its way down through the river systems.
Golding is providing information on the current warnings:
Currently we have major flood warnings out for the Macquarie River. So Warren still experiencing major flooding as it has been for several weeks.
The Bogan River … three locations in particular along the Bogan are expected to experience major flooding.
The Lachlan River, major flooding is expected. And the Murray-Edward – Echuca, Moama, Barwon, again – that water is making its way down through the Murray and expecting Thursday to be the day it goes through major through Echuca.
And the Barwon-Darling as well. So, unfortunately, major flooding in that catchment as well. Tilpa and Bourke are the towns of note. I mention those towns in particular because that means the rivers are already high.
The creeks are also on the flood watch for potential major flooding and the Murrumbidgee to Wagga is another one currently experiencing largely moderate flooding in that stretch of the Murrumbidgee.
We talked about saturated catchments a lot over the last few months. And we’re seeing the rivers respond. We’re expecting another low pressure system to bring widespread rain and storms across inland New South Wales. And the rivers have not receded from the previous rain.
Camps set up for Moama evacuees in NSW and 125,000 sandbags dispatched
The NSW emergency services minister, Steph Cook, follows Perrottet.
It’s continuing to be a very difficult year for communities right across New South Wales. Particularly for the southern regions at present, with another wet weather system making its way towards that region. Unfortunately, this is what living through a third consecutive La Niña event looks like.
Our grounds are saturated and we’re continuing to see rain, more rain and more rain again. This is exacerbating our already full river systems. As the premier has indicated, our area of most concern at present is the community in and around Moama. The SES has dispatched over 125,000 sand bags into that community.
The RFS has dispatched two base camps and they’ll be set up over the days ahead to accommodate up to 550 people, including our volunteers, who will continue to move into that region over the days ahead.
‘Difficult time’ ahead for NSW as hundreds evacuated in Moama over flood threat
The New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet has stepped up in Sydney to give a press conference with other officials about the state’s flood situation.
We currently have 69 warnings in place across NSW – of major concern is down south. Particularly in Moama, where there’s 300 people who have been evacuated. And there’s thousands of people in that area who are currently on watch. And we’ll be monitoring that situation very carefully.
Our rivers are full. So, we do expect this to be a difficult time. And even if the skies are blue, if there’s instructions in place, those warnings in place, please be ready to leave, ready to evacuate
Twelve new areas in Victoria and Tasmania eligible for flood support payments
Josh Butler
The federal government has extended one-off flood support payments to more areas devastated by rising waters, with 12 new LGAs in Victoria and Tasmania now eligible.
The disaster recovery payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child will be available today from 2pm for people in the Victorian local government areas of Benalla, Boroondara, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi and Yarra.
That’s in addition to payments already being available in areas such as Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie.
The Tasmanian LGAs of Launceston, Latrobe and Devonport are also eligible for the payment from 2pm.
The government services minister Bill Shorten and emergency management minister Murray Watt said:
Claims can be made online through myGov, 24 hours a day. For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Services Australia website: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents.
For information on all the assistance the Australian and respective State governments have made available to individuals, businesses and councils following the extensive flooding, visit www.nema.gov.au”
Shorten recommended that the easiest way to claim was through my.gov.au, which is available online 24/7.
Peter Hannam
Science minister warns CSIRO against ‘renting out’ its brand to gas companies
The science minister, Ed Husic, has questioned the priorities of Australia’s premier science body, warning it against “renting out” its brand to huge gas companies that could easily fund their own decarbonisation efforts.
Husic told the Spark festival on Monday that a “very major gas company” had approached CSIRO to support its claims of working towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions. While emphasising CSIRO’s independence, Husic said it should focus efforts elsewhere.
Husic said:
I would rather the CSIRO work with a lot more particularly smaller or extensively Australian firms on that [decarbonising] effort.
Drone footage shows inundation in Forbes
Aged care funding to lift by 10% per resident, health minister says
Circling back to that interview with the health minister Mark Butler. After accounting firm StewartBrown surveyed more than 1,300 aged care homes and found two-thirds were operating at a loss last year, is Butler worried the sector could be at risk of collapse?
We have been saying for some years that the aged care system is in crisis.
The first piece of legislation that Anika Wells, the aged care minister, was able to get through the parliament on behalf of the government introduced a new funding system, which came into effect only a couple of weeks ago, which on average we’re confident will lift the level of funding per resident by 10%. So we’re confident what we’ve put in place already is going to alleviate that pressure.
Uncle Jack Charles to be honoured in state funeral
A state funeral will be held in Melbourne to honour the Indigenous elder and storyteller Uncle Jack Charles.
The service will be held at Hamer Hall this afternoon and will be open to the public and streamed online.
The actor, musician, activist and member of the Stolen Generations died at Royal Melbourne Hospital on 13 September after suffering a stroke. He was 79.
The event will be live streamed into prisons, remand centres and youth justice centres across Victoria, in recognition of Charles’ work within the state’s justice system.
The Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta man’s career spanned decades and featured film roles in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and Blackfellas (1993).
More recently he voiced the frilled-neck lizard character Greg in animated film Back to the Outback (2021).
His works also included touring his one-man show Jack Charles v The Crown based on his life, and the ABC TV series Cleverman and Preppers. He also appeared on SBS series Who Do You Think You Are.
A portrait of Charles by comedian and author Anh Doh won the People’s Choice award at the 2017 Archibald Prize in NSW.
Earlier this year, Charles spoke at Victoria’s truth-telling Yoorrook Justice Commission about being taken from his mother as a four-month-old and growing up in a Salvation Army Boys’ Home in Box Hill, where he was sexually abused and taunted.
His family have given their permission to use his name and images.
– via AAP
External judge should decide if integrity commission hearings are public, Liberals say
The shadow attorney general Julian Leeser has followed Mark Butler on ABC Radio.
As the first day of the public inquiry into the government’s national anti-corruption commission bill begins, Leeser is calling for a high-ranking judge to make the final decision on whether the commission’s hearings should be public. The attorney general Mark Dreyfus says it could bog down the committee.
Leeser says:
We believe that the Nacc needs to have in place proper safeguards to ensure it functions.
Leeser says the federal commission benefits from the fact there is 30 years of experience from the states and territories on how these commissions operate. He says it’s “important to learn from problems of state”.
We think it’s important to have an external personal determining whether the balance is right.
Butler criticises Morrison government’s scrapping of mental health support for regions
The government yesterday announced it would restore funding for regional communities to be able to access bulk billed video telehealth psychiatry consultations.
Mark Butler said he was shocked by the former Morrison government’s decision to cut the program at a time when Australians living outside capital cities were struggling with the effects of Covid-19 and natural disasters.
We think more than 100,000 consults every year will be delivered under this program.
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