Climate change minister confident bill will pass
The federal government is “very, very” confident its climate bill enshrining a 43% emissions reduction target will pass the Senate, AAP reports.
The bill to lock in that target, based on 2005 levels by 2030, on the way to net zero emissions by 2050 passed the lower house on Thursday 89 votes to 55 with the support of the Greens and crossbench independent MPs.
It is headed to the Senate where it will first go to a committee inquiry, which will hear evidence on the proposal’s impacts.
The committee is due to report back to parliament by the end of August before it goes to an upper house vote.
The government needs the support of the 12 Greens senators and one independent senator, likely David Pocock or Jacqui Lambie, to pass.
The climate change minister Chris Bowen said he has been talking to the senators crucial to the eventual vote.
He told Nine Network today:
I’m very, very confident it will pass the Senate. Very, very confident.
Australians would expect a government of grown-ups to get on with the job and talk to people of goodwill to make sure that we have a good, solid climate bill.
The Nationals leader David Littleproud said while the Coalition believed in reducing emissions, it did not believe legislation was needed to do that. He told Nine:
Once you legislate, you open up the pathway for activists to weaponise it in the courts.
We’re committed to reaching that net zero by 2050 but there is no linear line and we have got to be honest with people about how we get there, and who pays for it.
The Coalition plans to update its reduction target beyond its commitment in government to a 26-28% cut in emissions and is weighing up a policy to back nuclear power before the next election.
Key events
Victoria records three Covid deaths and 660 people in hospital
There were 5,114 new cases in the last reporting period, and 40 people are in intensive care.
Climate change minister confident bill will pass
The federal government is “very, very” confident its climate bill enshrining a 43% emissions reduction target will pass the Senate, AAP reports.
The bill to lock in that target, based on 2005 levels by 2030, on the way to net zero emissions by 2050 passed the lower house on Thursday 89 votes to 55 with the support of the Greens and crossbench independent MPs.
It is headed to the Senate where it will first go to a committee inquiry, which will hear evidence on the proposal’s impacts.
The committee is due to report back to parliament by the end of August before it goes to an upper house vote.
The government needs the support of the 12 Greens senators and one independent senator, likely David Pocock or Jacqui Lambie, to pass.
The climate change minister Chris Bowen said he has been talking to the senators crucial to the eventual vote.
He told Nine Network today:
I’m very, very confident it will pass the Senate. Very, very confident.
Australians would expect a government of grown-ups to get on with the job and talk to people of goodwill to make sure that we have a good, solid climate bill.
The Nationals leader David Littleproud said while the Coalition believed in reducing emissions, it did not believe legislation was needed to do that. He told Nine:
Once you legislate, you open up the pathway for activists to weaponise it in the courts.
We’re committed to reaching that net zero by 2050 but there is no linear line and we have got to be honest with people about how we get there, and who pays for it.
The Coalition plans to update its reduction target beyond its commitment in government to a 26-28% cut in emissions and is weighing up a policy to back nuclear power before the next election.
NSW records 15 Covid deaths and 2,181 people in hospital
There were 10,027 new cases in the last reporting period, and 57 people are in intensive care.
COVID-19 update – Sunday 7 August 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
– 96.8% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine*
– 95.3% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine* pic.twitter.com/W6wA3rXC58— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 6, 2022
Qantas finds ‘no sign of fire’ upon inspection
Following the last post about the scare for plane passengers, Guardian Australia understands that someone on the ground said they saw fire coming from a Qantas plane engine. The national carrier was alerted to this by the tower, but upon inspection has not found any evidence of fire.
A spokesperson for Qantas told the Guardian:
The pilots followed procedure and shut down the engine as a precaution after being alerted by the control tower while taxiing.
There was no warning light in the cockpit and no sign of fire when the engine was shut down.
Engineers have inspected the aircraft and cleared it to return to service.
Passengers have been reaccommodated on to another flight this morning.
Qantas plane scare at Sydney airport
Nine News is reporting that there has been a fire on a Qantas Boeing 737, which was due to depart from Sydney to Noumea this morning.
The plane made it through taxi but a there was radio report from the tower that smoke and flames were shooting from the starboard engine, Nine News reported.
The plane had passed all cockpit checks but the pilot shut down the engine as a precaution.
There were over 100 passengers on the flight, who are all safe.
Qantas has been contacted for comment.
Hastie ‘open-minded’ about visiting Taiwan
Hastie is asked if Australia could be doing more to help Taiwan.
We should be talking with everyone, we should be maintaining good relationships with everyone, and that’s true of Taiwan, as it is of China.
Asked if he would go to Taiwan, after Nancy Pelosi’s visit sparked unprecedented military aggression from China, Hastie hasn’t ruled out the option.
I’m open-minded to going there. I have a very full dance card… with a young family and enough travel as it is, but certainly I’m on the record that I would like to visit Taiwan at some point.
They have invited me… I will wait and see.
Opposition calls for speedy delivery of nuclear submarines
Hastie is asked whether the is concerned Australia might have a capability gap between when the Collins class become useless and the nuclear submarines are ready.
The advice I received from Defence as assistant minister for defence was that we were going to cover that gap with the life of type extension for the Collins class. They are still a regionally superior submarine.
The question is how quickly can we deliver a nuclear submarine or several of those boats to the Royal Australian Navy. That’s why I’ve said again, several times over the last month that Richard Marles as defence minister needs to be focused on delivering those submarines as quickly as possible. Every single day he should be thinking about it. When he wakes up he should be thinking about submarines. When he goes to bed, when he is asleep, he should be dreaming about submarines. We need political focus on delivering these submarines for our country.
Greater fuel stocks and cyber security investment needed – Hastie
Hastie is asked about the Coalition’s nine years in government, particularly the problems with frigates and submarines.
Of course, the Port of Darwin’s 99-year lease is, I think, a reminder that we did make mistakes, but insofar as Richard Marles is a successful defence minister, then our country will be successful, so I want to work to make sure that our defence force has the right kit, it is postured correctly and that we are set up for success, but that’s my job. That’s the Coalition’s job in opposition, is to hold this government to account and we will be watching very closely what comes out of this review and we can’t afford to have cuts to capability, particularly as we need to build our deterrent strength, which will be critical going forward.
The shadow defence minister weighs in on what capability he believes Australia needs:
Whether we’re engaged in a high-intensity war, or whether we’re at the periphery of one, there are more things we need.
We need more fuel stocks, that’s clear, more ammo stocks – Ukraine has proved that; we need to continue to invest in our cybersecurity. Project Red Spice, a $10bn investment in cybersecurity over the next decade – these are the sorts of things we really need.
We struck Aukus, which is why we need the nuclear submarines, which is why we need missiles to touch adversaries.
Hastie: defending Taiwan is in Australia’s self-interest
Hastie is asked if the opposition think Australia should support Taiwan militarily if China invaded.
I think it is a principled position to defend your neighbour, but it’s also a principle borne out of self-interest. If I don’t stand up for other countries, who will stand up for me? As a nation of only 26 million people on a vast continent, we need as many friends we can get.
In fact, I would say the era of the lucky country is over. It’s dead and buried and we need to start thinking with this new development over the last decade about how we secure ourselves into the future and the strategic culture of Singapore and Israel are good examples of how we can prepare for the challenges ahead, given our size and strength relative to countries like China and Russia.
Hastie questions defence review appointments
Shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie is asked if he believes the Australian Defence Force has the right assets for what he has described as a “bleak” outlook.
Over the last decade under the Morrison, Turnbull and Abbott governments we invested a lot in the Australian defence force. We have upgraded and commissioned 70 new ships, we struck the Aukus deal, new capabilities in cyber particularly, but there is work to be done and the review can look the these things.
My issue with the review is with the selection of personnel. Angus Houston is a fine officer, however, Stephen Smith has a very, very mixed record as defence minister. From 2010 to 2013 he oversaw the biggest cuts to defence in 70 years. So if you’re looking to send a signal to the Australian people, I’m not sure Stephen Smith is the man to send the signal that you’re serious about defence going forward.
Defence review should respond to China’s military build-up, shadow defence minister says
The government has announced a review into the Australian Defence Force, as defence minister Richard Marles has called the military build-up from China “the biggest military build-up” since the second world war.
The shadow minister for defence Andrew Hastie is currently speaking on ABC Insiders, saying the government’s defence review should respond to China’s military build-up.
Hastie said:
The strategic outlook is very bleak. It is being driven by a rising China with both revisionist and expansionist ambitions.
Almost 10 years ago former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said that China will reach a crossroads when it has grown sufficiently in military and economic might and the question will be: does it become a good global citizen, or does it use its strategic bolt to force or seek a sphere of influence?
What we’ve seen over the last week, particularly with the missiles being fired in and around Taiwan is they are using that strategic bulk, and we need to respond to that. Insofar as the review does that, I welcome the review.
Tributes to Judith Durham pour in
Tributes from Australians and overseas continue to come through in memory of singer Judith Durham, who has died at age 79.
Those in the music industry, like Canadian musician Ron Sexsmith, as well as author Philip Pullman have remembered Durham, as well as Australian politicians, journalists and musicians.
The carnival is over, and there’ll never be another you. RIP Judith Durham.
— Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) August 6, 2022
When my brothers and I were pre-teens, we used to sing Seekers songs and dream of global fame. We decided we’d call ourselves “The New Seekers.” (Someone else got there first). Vale #JudithDurham. The carnival rolls on somewhere https://t.co/NNMadVPXXk
— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) August 6, 2022
Star rating system for aged care
Aged care facilities will see a star rating system in place by the end of the year, the federal minister for the portfolio says.
AAP reports it is part of the government’s push to ensure more transparency and accountability in the sector following the findings of the aged care royal commission.
The system will rate facilities on different aspects of care and services to allow people to choose a home that suits their needs best, aged care minister Anika Wells said.
It comes as the government prepares to submit a proposal on Monday to the Fair Work Commission, which is considering whether to lift the pay rates for residential and home care workers.
The government will advocate for a “significant and meaningful” pay rise but won’t attach a specific number to it, Wells said.
She told Sky News on Sunday:
We need to do something to value aged care workers better and that starts with a pay rise.
It is for the commission to decide exactly what percentage the work value cases were, but [the government has] agreed that we will fund it no matter what the decision.
Unions are advocating for at least a 25% pay rise for employees in the wake of the royal commission, which recommended a wage increase to reflect the value of their work.
The government is focused on improving the standard of aged care but it must be done in a sustainable way, Wells said.
These reforms have to outlast us all and I know that I won’t be able to leave my office … knowing that I have fixed aged care for once and for all, because it’s huge.
China warns Australia against ‘finger-pointing’
The Chinese embassy in Australia has this morning condemned a joint statement from Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong together with her Japanese counterpart and US secretary of state in response to Beijing’s unprecedented military aggression.
The joint statement released on Friday expressed concern over China’s large-scale military exercises in the water of the Taiwan Strait and condemned the China’s ballistic missiles landing in Japan’s exclusive economic zones.
In response, a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy has said Beijing is “seriously concerned and strongly discontent”. The spokesperson went on to say:
It is absolutely unacceptable for the finger-pointing on China’s justified actions to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. We firmly oppose and sternly condemn this.
The statement goes on to defend the actions taken by the Chinese government as “legitimate and justified” in order to “safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and curb the separatist activities”.
The spokesperson says the one-China principle “should be strictly abided by and fully honoured. It should not be misinterpreted or compromised in practice.”
If you want to keep up to date with the latest on the crisis in Taiwan, the Guardian has a separate live blog that will bring you all the updates as they happen:
Good morning!
China has defended its recent military activity, warning Australia against “finger-pointing” this morning.
The comments from a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy come after a joint statement was made on Friday by the US, Australia and Japan, which expressed concern over China’s large-scale military exercises in the water of the Taiwan Strait and condemned China’s ballistic missiles landing in Japan’s exclusive economic zones.
We’ll bring you more on the Chinese embassy’s statement shortly.
This morning, Australia also mourns a music legend after Judith Durham died at the age of 79.
Durham was the lead singer of Melbourne band the Seekers, with whom she achieved worldwide fame with hits like Georgy Girl and The Carnival is Over.
The Seekers were the first Australian group to reach No 1 in the UK charts with their first three singles.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Durham as a “national treasure and an Australian icon”.
A national treasure and an Australian icon, Judith Durham gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped blaze a trail for a new generation of Aussie artists.
Her kindness will be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation will never be forgotten.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 6, 2022
If there’s anything happening this Sunday in your corner of the world that you think should be on the blog, you can ping me on Twitter @natasha__may or email natasha.may@theguardian.com.
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