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NSW premier will not seek to outlaw protests at Bondi beach
Penry Buckley
Returning to the NSW premier, Chris Minns was also asked earlier about Sunday’s brawl between protest groups at Bondi beach, which is being investigated by police. He said there was “no room for violence on Sydney streets”.
People come to Australia because, yeah, you’ve got the right to freedom of speech and protest, but we are largely free of political violence. That’s not the case in other countries and places around the world … We have to rule a very bright and wide line that this kind of behaviour is not tolerable in NSW, and police and the government will do their bit. You’ve got a right to protest. You don’t have a right to assault someone because of your beliefs.
Minns has ruled out passing laws to prevent protest at Bondi, citing the current high court challenge to anti-protest laws rushed through parliament earlier this year, including those which allow police to move on protests outside places of worship.
Does that mean we’re not going to do anything? No, we’ve pursued changes to the law in relation to landmarks, religious institutions, racial vilification. We’ve been widely criticised for it, but I’m just explaining the challenges or the restrictions that the government has. It’s not as straightforward as passing a bill this afternoon and saying that’s the end of protests on Bondi beach. It’s almost certain to be knocked over by the high court in record time.
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Dan Jervis-Bardy
The shadow industry minister, Alex Hawke, and several of Price’s former s colleagues – including Barnaby Joyce and Bridget McKenzie – have called on Price to apologise.
McKenzie said:
I think when you’re a leader and a community leader, as those of us that are in senior ministry positions in parliament are, if you’ve offended somebody and you didn’t mean to, the appropriate responsible thing to do is to apologise.
The shadow attorney-general, Julian Leeser, posted a video to Facebook on Monday night of a speech to a Hindi School in his local electorate, in which he “unreservedly” apologise for Price’s remarks.
Albanese also weighed in on Tuesday.
The comments are not true that the Senator made and of course she should apologise for the hurt that has been caused and her own colleagues are saying that. But even more importantly, leaders in the community are asking for that as well.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Ley stops short of calling for Price apology
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, stopped short of calling on Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to apologise to Indian Australians despite calls from a growing number of Coalition MPs and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, for her to say sorry.
Asked directly whether Price should apologise for the harm caused by her comments suggesting the Albanese government’s immigration program was favouring the Indian community to win votes, Ley sidestepped the question.
I know that the senator [Price] is listening to the Indian community and hearing their words directly in many instances, and I think that’s important, because where feelings are hurt, there needs to be a two-way dialogue, and there needs to be an understanding.
Price has walked back the comments she made last Wednesday but is refusing to directly apologise for them, causing frustration among some colleagues who believe it is prolonging the politically damaging saga.
PM says he is ‘confident’ Nakamal agreement can be reached
Albanese just said he remains confident the agreement will be signed soon, telling reporters in Vanuatu:
Both sides will go through our processes but we’re very confident that the agreement can be reached, and I’m reassured by the discussion that I have had with the prime minister.
I’m very confident that it will be able to be signed soon. It’s important that processes be respected.
Tom McIlroy
Albanese greeted by counterpart in Vanuatu
Anthony Albanese was greeted earlier today by his Vanuatu counterpart, the prime minister, Jotham Napat, as the two leaders prepared to hold talks over the Nakamal agreement. The pair shook hands and posed for photos outside Napat’s office.
In remarks for the media, Napat said Albanese’s visit was a reflection of the strong relationship between the two countries. Albanese said the relationship encapsulated the Pacific family.
We think the Pacific family need to look after each other, to look after our economic interests, and I thank the contribution of Ni-Vanuatu to the workforce in Australia as well, which is a benefit to both of our countries.
I know the Nakamal agreement that we will talk about is important for our relationship going forward.
Albanese had hoped to sign the agreement while in Vanuatu but domestic politics is getting in the way.
The ABC reported on Tuesday a Vanuatu government source said there was “concern” within the coalition government around clauses in the agreement that could limit engagement with other countries, particularly on infrastructure agreements.
China has funded large projects across the Pacific and is understood to have pressed ministers not to sign on to the agreement with Australia.
NSW premier will not seek to outlaw protests at Bondi beach
Penry Buckley
Returning to the NSW premier, Chris Minns was also asked earlier about Sunday’s brawl between protest groups at Bondi beach, which is being investigated by police. He said there was “no room for violence on Sydney streets”.
People come to Australia because, yeah, you’ve got the right to freedom of speech and protest, but we are largely free of political violence. That’s not the case in other countries and places around the world … We have to rule a very bright and wide line that this kind of behaviour is not tolerable in NSW, and police and the government will do their bit. You’ve got a right to protest. You don’t have a right to assault someone because of your beliefs.
Minns has ruled out passing laws to prevent protest at Bondi, citing the current high court challenge to anti-protest laws rushed through parliament earlier this year, including those which allow police to move on protests outside places of worship.
Does that mean we’re not going to do anything? No, we’ve pursued changes to the law in relation to landmarks, religious institutions, racial vilification. We’ve been widely criticised for it, but I’m just explaining the challenges or the restrictions that the government has. It’s not as straightforward as passing a bill this afternoon and saying that’s the end of protests on Bondi beach. It’s almost certain to be knocked over by the high court in record time.
Graham Readfearn
Environment minister ‘still consulting’ on climate’s role in law reforms
The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, spoke at a clean energy summit in Brisbane this morning.
As we reported earlier, the minister has revealed that under reforms to the country’s keystone environmental laws, he wants to create areas that are designated as “no go zones” for developments, including renewable energy projects.
But after his speech, the Guardian asked Watt if the reforms would include any allowance for greenhouse gas emissions from projects before they are approved. He said:
This is one of the areas we are still consulting on with stakeholders – there are a range of views and we haven’t ruled anything in or out.
We are leaning more towards a recommendation Graeme Samuel made in his [review of the EPBC Act] where proponents should be required to disclose their emissions and have a plan in place on how they are going to abate those emissions.
BHP settles Fundao Dam class action for $110m
Mining giant BHP has said it will pay $110m to settle an Australian shareholder class action related to the deadly 2015 Fundao tailings dam collapse, Reuters reports.
The class action was filed in the federal court of Australia in 2018 on behalf of the shareholders who had acquired BHP shares prior to the Fundao Dam failure. The dam collapse at an iron ore mine owned by Samarco near the city of Mariana in south-eastern Brazil had killed 19 people. The disaster also left hundreds of people homeless, flooded forests and polluted the Doce River.
Samarco is a joint venture between BHP’s Brazilian unit and miner Vale. In 2024, a Brazilian federal court ruled that Vale, BHP and Samarco were not criminally liable for the dam collapse.
BHP, the world’s largest listed miner, said it expects to recover most of the settlement amount from its insurers.
Caitlin Cassidy
Education minister to reform ‘entire system’ by merging four agencies
The education minister, Jason Clare, will will merge four education agencies into one new super body in a bid to streamline new reforms to schooling, including the implementation of explicit teaching and phonics.
Addressing a Curtin University equity symposium today, Clare said he had written to state and territory education ministers to consider a new Teaching and Learning Commission at their next meeting in mid-October.
It would bring together the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) and Education Services Australia (ESA). Clare has also written to the body’s chairs and CEOs to inform them.
The commission would maintain the Australian curriculum and deliver Naplan, increase focus on evidence-based teaching methods, including phonics and explicit teaching, advise on teacher retention and professional development.
Clare told the symposium Australia has to reform the “entire education system”. He said it would create:
A new teaching and learning commission that would maintain and protect the critical work that these organisations do now and improve coordination. But in addition to that, help us to implement the reforms and hit the targets we are all committed to.
Luca Ittimani
Australian home values rose combined $500bn in year to June
The combined value of housing stock in Australia rose more than $500bn in the year to June, surpassing $11.5tn.
New data from the Australian bureau of statistics shows rising short-term momentum in home prices, after combined values rose over $200bn in the June quarter compared to just $30bn in the previous three months.
Average prices rose to almost $1m in Queensland and just under $900m in Western Australia, both record highs by the ABS’ measure, after rising more than 2% over the quarter in both states.
The number of homes in Australia rose by 53,000, approaching 11.4m. New South Wales held a record 3.5m homes, while Victoria was zeroing in on 3m.
Greater rental protections for DV survivors in NSW
Penry Buckley
Survivors of domestic violence would have greater powers to leave unsafe homes and protect their privacy under rental reforms being introduced to NSW parliament today, the state government says.
The proposed changes to residential tenancy law will remove the need for victim-survivors to notify an alleged perpetrator of domestic abuse that they have left a shared lease, and will expand the list of people who can declare a renter is experiencing domestic violence so they can break a lease without a penalty.
The reforms would also allow locks to be changed without landlord approval if there is a court order that excludes an alleged perpetrator from living at a rental property, and authorise the NSW civil and administrative tribunal (Ncat) to break up a bond to allow domestic violence survivors to recover their share.
The changes come as the Minns government has been accused of weakening other reforms to renters’ rights, including an end to no-grounds evictions which came into effect in May. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported the premier, Chris Minns, intervened to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants ahead of planned renovations and to prevent pets in their rental properties.
Speaking today, Minns rejected the idea that changes would make it harder for domestic violence survivors with pets to find new accommodation.
We’re not pretending these are perfect changes to the law. We’re not pretending they’re perfect in any sense of the word but we believe that we’ve made major gains and big reforms, not just in relation to domestic violence survivors and victims but also to the general market renting environment in the state.
Queensland police shoot man after incident in Brisbane suburb
Police in Queensland shot a man after an incident in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum West this morning.
Officials said police were called to a house about 9.20am amid reports of a fire. When they arrived, police said there was an “interaction” between the man and officers and “as a result he was shot by police”.
Medical assistance was immediately given to the man, who was then taken to an area hospital for treatment. No officers were injured and there is no risk to the public. A crime scene has been established and investigations are ongoing.
No charges have been laid in the matter.
Tom McIlroy
Ukrainian ambassador advocating for Australian prisoner’s release
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, says he continues to advocate for the release of Australian Oscar Jenkins, who is being held by Russia.
Jenkins, a 33-year-old former teacher and Australian citizen, travelled to Ukraine and enlisted to fight with the country’s military after Russia’s 2022 invasion. After being captured by Russian forces in December 2024, he was jailed for 13 years on the charge of being a “mercenary”.
Myroshnychenko told Guardian Australia that Jenkins should be returned to Australia.
The embassy of Ukraine in Australia continues to work closely with both the Ukrainian and Australian governments, actively advocating for the safe return of Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins.
His case remains a high priority, and every effort is being made on his behalf to bring him home.
Myroshnychenko said the Ukrainian embassy continues to liaise closely with the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, the peak representative body for the Ukrainian Australian community.
Albanese confident Vanuatu agreement will be signed
Following from our last post: Anthony Albanese would not be drawn on when the landmark Nakamal agreement would be signed, but said he was confident it would eventually be ratified. He said
I await the good faith discussions that take place today, but we have a good relationship … Vanuatu politics can be very complex.
A previous security agreement struck with Vanuatu in 2022 was never approved by the country’s parliament, amid concerns over a lack of consultation and whether it was consistent with Vanuatu’s philosophy of non-alignment in foreign policy. Albanese told the ABC:
There’s still some work to do, but we’re making good progress and I look forward to progressing that face to face.
Albanese and Napat will hold a joint media conference later this afternoon.
Albanese lands in capital of Vanuatu
Anthony Albanese has landed in Port Vila, with the fate of a bilateral security and economic agreement he had hoped to sign with his Vanuatu counterpart still uncertain.
Albanese’s first stop will be State House, where he will make a courtesy call to the Vanuatu president, Nikenike Vurobaravu.
He will then hold a bilateral meeting with the Vanuatu prime minister, Jotham Napat. It will be the first time the pair have met in person since Napat came to office in February.
While the two leaders were widely expected to sign the landmark Nakamal agreement, Albanese admitted on Tuesday morning the deal was unlikely to be finalised during his time on the ground in the Pacific nation.
The Nakamal agreement would see Australia pay about $500m to the Pacific nation to fund economic and climate priorities in exchange for bolstering Australia’s role as a security and economic partner. Nakamal is the Bislama word for a traditional meeting place.
Fears over China’s ambitions to gain a security foothold in the Pacific, including the risk of establishing a military presence, have been heightened since Beijing stunned the region in 2022 by striking a security agreement with the Solomon Islands.
