Lismore MP to lead flood recovery as Minns reshuffles cabinet
A veteran MP has landed a state cabinet posting and responsibility for leading disaster recovery efforts after becoming a key voice for local communities devastated by floods, AAP reports.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will enter the inner circle of NSW premier Chris Minns’ government as part of a reshuffle sparked by a minister’s resignation over her use of a taxpayer-funded car.
Saffin has been a high-profile advocate for the region following record-breaking floods in 2022 that left thousands of homes uninhabitable or damaged. The Labor veteran was first elected to state parliament in 1995 and also served a six-year stint as the federal member for Page.
Saffin has been given a newly created post as recovery minister, and will also take on the portfolios of small business and minister for the north coast.
John Graham has also been permanently given the role of transport minister, leaving him responsible for handling a bitter dispute with rail workers over pay.
Graham has been acting in the role after his predecessor Jo Haylen resigned from the portfolio after using her ministerial car to travel from a holiday home to a winery for lunch and for other private trips.
He will keep his role negotiating with private toll operator Transurban to overhaul pricing on Sydney’s sprawling network of motorways. He will also keep his responsibilities as special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for music and minister for night-time economy.
Roads will become the responsibility of Jenny Aitchison, whose existing portfolio of regional roads will be absorbed into the ministry.
Key events
Chalmers is pointed to reports in media outlets over alleged corruption and criminal behaviour in the CFMEU.
He calls the revelations “horrifying” and says relevant matters have been referred to the police.
Clearly this shows how important it is the government has taken such decisive steps when it comes to the CFMEU. There is clearly not just unacceptable but horrifying behaviour uncovered again.
It’s why we appointed the administrator, why we’ve taken a tough stance and it’s why my colleague Murray Watt has referred as I understand that the relevant matters to the police.
The Queensland treasurer has requested the federal government reject a carve-up of the GST pool after the allocation was slashed by $2.4bn.
Asked if Labor would intervene, Chalmers said “I don’t intend to do that”.
I think David knows that. I speak to him from time to time and have a good respectful working relationship with the Queensland government … the Commonwealth Grants commission process is an independent process which takes place at arms length from the government of the day …
Queensland were clearly expecting a reduction, they had booked part of this downgrade in their midyear upgrade. They explicitly set at the time there were further downside risks. It’s not unusual for state treasurers to want more money from the Commonwealth. It is not unprecedented for State treasurers to try and blame Commonwealth treasurers for pressures on their own budgets, I understand that, I’ve got a bit of perspective about that. That story is as old as Federation. That’s what we are seeing here.
On to energy prices, Chalmers is asked to justify that the transition to renewables will pay off economically in comparison to nuclear.
The treasurer says the most recent inflation data to the end of last year showed electricity prices fell 2.25%. They would have fallen 1.6% without Labor’s rebates.
The Australian Energy Regulator … has said is that it is unreliable coal generation that is putting upward pressure on prices. And so energy prices have been a big part of the pressure on Australian families and Australian households.
That is why we provided two rounds of energy bill relief to take some of the edge off and to – the worst thing we could do for electricity prices is to keep the unreliable parts of the system for so long while we wait for nuclear reactors to be dealt. Nuclear reactors would push electricity prices higher. They are the most expensive system. It would be bad for energy prices.
What we have said on a number of occasions now is we want to strike the right balance, we want to get more cheaper and cleaner energy into the system and we have shown a willingness to provide a bit of assistance with energy bills in the interim.
Labor’s cost-of-living help ‘responsible but very meaningful’ – Chalmers
Asked what Australians could expect in terms of cost of living in the upcoming budget, the treasurer said Labor had “made it clear” that when they could afford to provide more help in a responsible way, it would be considered.
Our focus now is in rolling out the very meaningful, responsible, but very meaningful cost of living help we have already done – a tax cut for every taxpayer, cheaper medicines, rent assistance, fee-free Tafe, getting wages moving again, so when you hear Angus Taylor talking about cost of living, remember if he had his way, Australians would be getting none of that cost of living help.
If the Liberals had their way, Australians would be thousands of dollars worse off at the worst possible time, and they will be worse off still if the Coalition wins.
Chalmers defends multibillion-dollar budget deficit as ‘much smaller’ than what Labor inherited
Asked how bad the budget looked and why, Chalmers confirmed there would be a deficit in this year’s budget, but “much, much smaller” than what Labor “inherited from our political opponents”.
We have delivered back to back surpluses for the first time … in two decades. Our opponents promised, and every year thereafter they delivered precisely zero surpluses. We have delivered two surpluses in our first two years and that has happened for the first time in almost two decades.
On top of that we have helped engineer the biggest ever nominal turnaround in the Budget in the history of this country. A $200bn improvement in the Budget, which means we are paying down Liberal debt and avoiding interest costs on that debt as well.
Now a defining feature of our first three budgets was responsible economic management. That will be a defining feature of the fourth as well. Even this year, when we will be printing a deficit for this year, it will be much, much smaller than what we inherited from our political opponents, and that shows the progress we have been able to make. Not managing the Budget responsibly or providing cost of living help, but managing the Budget responsibly and providing cost of living help and investing in building Australia’s future.
Chalmers turned to the opposition – warning funding for natural disaster recovery wasn’t safe under the Coalition.
That’s because they think this spending is wasteful. Now, I’m told the shadow treasurer is off on a little tour. I think that’s a very good thing. From our point of view, the more Angus the better in the coming months. Now he should visit every single marginal seat and tell millions of Australians that he tried to deny them a tax cut.
He should visit every marginal seat and tell millions of Australians that he tried to deny them the cost of living help that they need and deserve. If Angus Taylor had his way, wages would be lower, millions of workers wouldn’t be getting a tax cut at all and there wouldn’t be a cost of living help, and that means Australians would be thousands of dollars’ worse off if Peter Dutton and Angus Taylor had had their way.
Chalmers praised “quite remarkable acts of selflessness” from first responders and the SES before confirming the allowance and the payment would be extended.
This will be a bit of extra help for the people who are hardest hit. And we have been primarily focused throughout on the human cost of these natural disasters, but there will be a very substantial economic cost as well, and recovering and rebuilding from natural disasters will be a key influence on the Budget that Katy Gallagher and I will hand down in eight days’ time.
Remember, around 5 million Australians were in harm’s way, when it comes to Cyclone Alfred. Around 2 million homes. At one point, there were than 450,000 homes without power. In our part of the world, that’s actually the most ever, simultaneously, and there was something like 12 million work hours lost when businesses closed down. So we are getting a handle on the economic costs, and we are getting a handle on the costs to the Budget, and we will report our initial assessment of that in the Budget, Tuesday next week.
He said, as flagged, there would be a bout a $1.2bn hit to economic output as a consequence of the ex-tropical cyclone – equivalent to a quarter of a percentage point in GDP.
We made a heap of progress on inflation numbers … but we can anticipate some upward pressure on building costs as a consequence. There will also be costs to the Budget, and they will be substantial. We will provision an extra $1.2bn in next weeks in new funding in new payments, and also to help rebuild local communities as well. That new $1.2bn will be part of $13.5bn total in the Budget to respond to and rebuild after natural disasters.
Post-Alfred disaster recovery payments extended
Jim Chalmers is appearing in Queensland, extending the allowance of the jointly funded disaster payments for ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Before him, the state’s education minister said help was available for people who had lost essential services, including household contents, food, clothing and medicine.
The disaster recovery allowance has been extended to an additional two LGAs, Bundaberg and Toowoomba. South of the border, we also have changes that we need to make, along with changes in Queensland, so if a person has suffered some of the most extreme impacts, including major damage to their home, serious injury or loss of a loved one, they may be eligible for the Australian government disaster recovery payment.
That is the payment that offers eligible residents $1,000 and $400 per eligible child. Today I can announce that this payment will be made available in Brisbane, in Ipswich, in Moreton Bay and in Toowoomba, and in localities in the Somerset local government areas. South of the border, the payment will be made available in the shires of Clarence Valley, Richmond, Bellingen, Kyogle.
We know then we’ll be in the longer term more to do when it comes to recovery.
Victoria’s worst-hit spots for numberplate theft
Casey has been handed the unenviable title of Victoria’s epicentre for numberplate thefts, with just shy of 2,000 reports made to police in the 12 months to September 2024.
Hume ranks second (1,408), followed closely by Greater Dandenong (1,374), with Wyndham (1,121) and Brimbank (1,110) rounding out the top five hardest hit in the state.
More than half of all thefts from vehicles across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia relate to stolen licence plates.
Only 22% of stolen registration plates are recovered.
The Casey local area commander, Insp Stu Richards, said stolen number plates were attached to other vehicles – many of which were stolen – to help offenders “fly under the radar and commit further crimes including aggravated burglaries, arson attacks, drug trafficking and petrol drive-offs”.
Having to replace your plates is not only an inconvenience, it’s also costly. Especially if you keep receiving tolls or fines once they’re in the hands of criminals.
That’s why we encourage vehicle owners to use anti-theft screws to deter thieves in the first instance. These screws are available free-of-charge at your local police station.
Natasha May
Climate-spurred burden of cardiovascular disease to ‘more than double’ by 2050
Hot weather is responsible for 7.3% of the heart disease burden in Australia and is set to double by the middle of the century, according to research published today in the European Heart Journal.
The research, led by Prof Peng Bi from the University of Adelaide’s school of public health, found that during the 15-year period from 2003-18, there were more than 48,000 years of life lost each year to cardiovascular disease attributable to high temperatures in Australia.
The researchers used data from the Australian burden of disease database on illness or death caused by cardiovascular disease and then applied a statistical model to calculate how much cardiovascular disease or death can be attributed to hot weather.
The researchers then used their own model to look at the likely impact of climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions in the future under two different scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In one scenario, emissions stabilise, and in another they continually rise.
Under the scenario of emissions stabilising, the number of healthy years of life lost due to cardiovascular disease is expected to increase by 183% to 139,829 by 2050.
Under the model of emissions continuing to rise, the years of healthy life lost due to cardiovascular disease are projected to increase by 226% by 2050 to 161,095.
Prof Bi said:
Predicting future disease burden always comes with some uncertainty, and our models rely on assumptions that may not capture every real-life detail. However, despite these uncertainties, the comprehensive nature of our approach makes the study especially valuable for planning future climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Our research shows that as climate change brings more frequent and intense heat, the risks associated with higher temperatures are likely to increase, especially for vulnerable groups. It highlights the importance of taking precautions during hot weather, such as staying hydrated, finding cool environments and seeking medical help when needed.
Seven arrested and man hospitalised after alleged street brawl in western Sydney
Seven people have been arrested following an alleged stabbing brawl in western Sydney this morning.
About 4.15am on Monday, emergency services were called to a road in Green Valley following reports of a brawl. Officers arrived to find a group of people allegedly fighting in the street, including a 29-year-old man – allegedly wearing a balaclava – with a stab wound to his back.
He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Liverpool hospital under police guard in a serious but stable condition.
Police arrested four women – aged 32, 33, 59 and 19 – and two men – aged 26 and 21 – before taking them to Liverpool police station.
Officers have established a crime scene and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident.
Following initial inquiries, police believe the group allegedly confronted two men – both wearing balaclavas – after they tracked a vehicle allegedly stolen from Mount Prichard earlier this week to Green Valley.
Police have also been told one of the men wearing a balaclava fled the scene before police arrived. No charges have been laid.
Lismore MP to lead flood recovery as Minns reshuffles cabinet
A veteran MP has landed a state cabinet posting and responsibility for leading disaster recovery efforts after becoming a key voice for local communities devastated by floods, AAP reports.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will enter the inner circle of NSW premier Chris Minns’ government as part of a reshuffle sparked by a minister’s resignation over her use of a taxpayer-funded car.
Saffin has been a high-profile advocate for the region following record-breaking floods in 2022 that left thousands of homes uninhabitable or damaged. The Labor veteran was first elected to state parliament in 1995 and also served a six-year stint as the federal member for Page.
Saffin has been given a newly created post as recovery minister, and will also take on the portfolios of small business and minister for the north coast.
John Graham has also been permanently given the role of transport minister, leaving him responsible for handling a bitter dispute with rail workers over pay.
Graham has been acting in the role after his predecessor Jo Haylen resigned from the portfolio after using her ministerial car to travel from a holiday home to a winery for lunch and for other private trips.
He will keep his role negotiating with private toll operator Transurban to overhaul pricing on Sydney’s sprawling network of motorways. He will also keep his responsibilities as special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for music and minister for night-time economy.
Roads will become the responsibility of Jenny Aitchison, whose existing portfolio of regional roads will be absorbed into the ministry.
Federal budget to put cost of living ‘front and centre’ – Gallagher
Cost of living will be “front and centre” of Labor’s budget ahead of the federal election, following scathing reports in News Corp tabloids that suggested the price of groceries had soared under the Albanese government.
Front page headlines across metropolitan New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania included “aisles be damned – Labor pains at checkout as groceries soar 30%”, “$3000 extra at the shops” and “Albo’s shop of horrors”.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher told reporters in Canberra on Monday that the budget, to be handed down next week, would follow the same path as the previous three delivered with a focus on driving down inflation and helping households.
The fourth Albanese budget will have a higher premium on responsible economic management. Of course, cost of living will be front and centre, making sure that we are supporting households where we can now that we’re seeing inflation come back to the more normal range.
Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise program the government was keeping pressure on the supermarket sector in response to concerns over grocery prices.
We keep saying to those supermarkets they have got to do something at the checkout because families are really feeling those grocery price increases.
We’re proud of the fact that we have brought inflation down from 6%, which we inherited under the Liberals, to just over 2%. But there’s still more to do to make sure that people are feeling a bit of relief at the supermarket checkout.
– with AAP
Search on for man, 23, missing after reportedly falling into Queensland waters
In Queensland, a search and rescue operation is continuing today to attempt to locate a 23-year-old man reported missing from Jindalee boat ramp yesterday.
Emergency services were called just before 5.40am on Monday following reports the man had fallen into the water and failed to resurface.
This morning’s search is focusing on the river and shoreline upstream from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Search assets include general duties officers conducting foot patrols, water police, Polair and the SES.
Radio National back after outage
Good news to the radio waves – ABC RN is back across digital and analogue platforms and streaming, more than two hours after it first cut out.
Police seize Brett Whiteley art and luxury yacht from crime syndicate
More than $11m in luxury assets – including a yacht, Rolex watches, Cartier jewellery and Brett Whiteley art – has been forfeited to the commonwealth as suspected proceeds of crime after an Australian federal police (AFP) investigation.
The decision in the supreme court of Victoria grew out of AFP-led operation, which focused on a large Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate’s alleged access to firearms, large-scale drug importation activity, extensive wealth and threats to life.
The investigation uncovered significant plots involving alleged drug importations, including how they were planned by syndicate leaders from prison.
It also included an investigation into numerous luxury items owned by syndicate members, which were suspected of being proceeds of crime. They included a luxury yacht worth $800,000, investment funds, original paintings, fine jewellery and properties.
AFP detective superintendent Scott Raven said the seizure was “key to disrupting and deterring serious organised crime across the country”.
Money remains the lifeblood of organised crime and cutting off the flow of ill-gotten finances helps prevent further harm to the community by cutting off revenue and motivation.
Source link
Add a Comment