Summary
Continuing from the previous post, Greens senator David Shoebridge argued there was a lack of accountability for the SAS leadership. double quotation …
Continuing from the previous post, Greens senator David Shoebridge argued there was a lack of accountability for the SAS leadership.
double quotation markThe thing that is eroding faith and trust … is this seeming accountability gap between what happens if you don’t have gold braid on your shoulders, where the book gets thrown at you … and the people who are in leadership positions who were either aware of it, or had the data that should have triggered that [awareness], and have not taken action.
Outside parliament, opposition frontbencher and former SAS captain Andrew Hastie said the report’s findings resonated with his experience in the regiment.
double quotation markI lived a lot of what I read in that report. There’s almost 50 findings and a lot of it rings very true to me as a junior officer at the time.
He said officers were responsible for the actions of those they commanded.
‘Makes no sense’ for Australia to miss out on trade opportunities, Steggall says
Crossbencher Zali Steggall has backed Australia’s free trade agreement with the EU, saying it creates opportunities for Australian businesses, strengthens ties and diversifies markets.
In a statement she said:
double quotation markClimate denialism must not stand in the way of Australia’s trade future.
Europe is a $30 trillion market and it makes absolutely no sense for Australia to miss out on the opportunities a free trade deal would bring … Claims that the free trade deal would take away Australia’s right to set its own climate policies are simply wrong.
Steggall said the agreement requires parties to uphold their commitments under the Paris agreement, which itself does not dictate Australia’s emissions targets. The targets are determined through Australia’s laws and processes.
Nationals condemn EU trade deal
The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, has said his party is opposed to Australia’s free trade deal with the EU.
The agreement would allow 98% of Australia’s goods exported to the EU to enter duty free and includes a binding commitment to respect the Paris climate agreement, which Australia is already a signatory to.
But Canavan claims it is “no good in its current form”, telling reporters at a press conference:
double quotation markFrom day one, we said this is a bad deal … The coalition wants to see a successful EU [free trade agreement] concluded, but it has to be in the national interest.
We cannot have a situation where our farmers, our producers, our business people end up being penalized because Australia misses the target set by the Albanese government with respect to climate.
Jobseekers dying at 10 times rate of those not on income support
Last night in Senate estimates, Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne asked the department and minister if it was aware of a recent report from AIHW showing that people who are jobseekers aged between 35 and 44 years old are dying at 9.6 times the rate of people who are not on jobseeker.
In response, DEWR first assistant secretary, Lisa Schofield, said:
double quotation markWe know that this report is consistent with other literature that, on average, people receiving income support do have poorer physical and mental health outcomes than people not receiving income support.
Importantly, though, the report does make clear that the analysis does not examine nor does it provide evidence of a causal relationship between receiving income support payment and subsequent death.
Senator Jess Walsh, who was representing minister for employment and workplace relations of Australia, Amanda Rishworth, said:
double quotation markWe are committed to improving payments for jobseekers and other people who are on social security payments where we can, where the budget gives space to do that.
We’ve increased jobseeker by over a $4,500 dollars in our two terms of government and increased rent assistance by 53%. We know that this system can work better to support people to find work.
Providers help just 12.9% of jobseekers get work
Last night, Senate estimates showed that just 12.9% of jobseekers were being helped into work by the job provider industry, which costs taxpayers about $2bn each year.
Under questioning from Liberal senator Jane Hume, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations was asked why the target to help 15% of jobseekers into work had never been met. In the 26/27 corporate plan, the 15% target was labelled as “a stretch”.
The first assistant secretary, Lisa Schofield, said:
double quotation markThe current data that we have for the 12-month period to 31 May 26 is sitting at 12.9%. It’s not meeting that 15% target that’s been in place for the program.
We agree that 12.9%, as it is now, and the other numbers that you’ve mentioned is not high enough, and it should be higher.
The language around a stretch target sort of came as a result of us … looking at what the data has told us over the last few years and that, obviously, as you’ve read out, you know, that 15% hasn’t been met.
It is really one of the things that is driving the way we are thinking about reform.
Queensland former MP remembered for ‘colourful’ past in parliament
“Colourful” former Queensland MP Vince Lester has been remembered for his 30-year career in state parliament.
Lester served as an country and national party MP from 1972 until 2004, and minister under premier Joh Bjelkie-Petersen, but is perhaps best known for his position on toilet doors.
Parliament heard that he was particularly passionate that they open inwards, to make it easier to help someone in a medical emergency.
The treasurer, David Janetzki – who had Lester as a constituent – said he was nicknamed “the minister for dunny doors”.
Rob Katter was one of a string of Queensland MPs to share their personal memories of the “colourful” politician in a condolence motion on Thursday. His father, Bob, a cabinet colleague, often shared tales of his fellow regional MP and his media stunts, hard work and endless lobbying for local improvements in his constituency, Katter said.
“Listen to Vince, he taught me everything I know,” Bob once told Katters’ Australian party MP Shane Knuth, the fellow KAP MP said.
Lester twice walked long distances backwards to promote causes, backing up for 25km to raise money for a leagues club in 1977 and the 18km between Yeppoon and Emu Park in 1991.
Lester died in August.
Only 50 applications for Centrelink compensation that could affect hundreds of thousands
Last night in Senate estimates, it was revealed that the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has received just 50 applications for compensation over its bungle of Centrelink cancellations.
The TCF was operating unlawfully, cutting off or reducing the income of an estimated 310,000 people between 2020 and 2024. Payment cancellations related to compulsory activities have now resumed.
The department said it would “proactively” be contacting about 50,000 people and asking them to apply. But under further questioning, it was revealed it has sent just 1,430 invitations and received 50 applications.
Anyone who believes they were affected by an incorrect cancellation or reduction of their payment can apply for compensation.
The opposition is continuing to push the prime minister on a $6m grant given to the Marrickville golf club.
Anthony Albanese on Tuesday admitted he got it wrong after telling parliament the golf club funding was to stop “raw sewage” going into the nearby river.
But on Thursday, Liberal senator James Paterson told News24 the prime minister should have acted sooner:
double quotation markWhenever you make a false statement, as soon as you become aware of it, you are obliged to go at the earliest opportunity to correct the record. He did not do so.
In years gone by, this would have cost a minister their job. Under Albanese’s government, there are no standards at all.
When Albanese conceded “it was not correct” to say the funding was for sewerage works, he added it was a matter for the infrastructure department, and said the council was finalising the design of the project – including improvements to the clubhouse, stormwater harvesting, a new toilet and landscaping.
Continuing from the previous post, Greens senator David Shoebridge argued there was a lack of accountability for the SAS leadership.
double quotation markThe thing that is eroding faith and trust … is this seeming accountability gap between what happens if you don’t have gold braid on your shoulders, where the book gets thrown at you … and the people who are in leadership positions who were either aware of it, or had the data that should have triggered that [awareness], and have not taken action.
Outside parliament, opposition frontbencher and former SAS captain Andrew Hastie said the report’s findings resonated with his experience in the regiment.
double quotation markI lived a lot of what I read in that report. There’s almost 50 findings and a lot of it rings very true to me as a junior officer at the time.
He said officers were responsible for the actions of those they commanded.
‘Unacceptable behaviour’ within SAS, ADF chief says after report findings
Some Australian SAS officers knew that soldiers under their command were using “throwdowns” – planting weapons on dead Afghan civilians to portray them as combatants – but did nothing to stop the unlawful practice, a previously unpublished military report has said.
The executive summary of the report by the inspector general of the Australian defence force was quietly published online this week. And the chief of the ADF, Admiral Mark Hammond, was interrogated on the report in Senate estimates Thursday morning.
He said he agreed with the report findings, stating there had been “serious failures” within the SAS and its command structure. He said the report revealed:
double quotation markUnacceptable behaviour … it is extremely unprofessional, that behaviour is absolutely not in concert with our values, our professional standards, the behaviour that we expect of our personnel
Hammond was asked specifically about the finding that legal officers within the defence force obstructed investigations into allegations of war crimes.
Cross-parliamentary women’s network launches, inspired by Haines
Female politicians across federal parliament will launch a women’s network to build stronger connections across parties after the alleged attack on Helen Haines and to encourage more women into politics.
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, shadow minister Melissa McIntosh, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent MP Rebekha Sharkie announced the establishment of the Network of Women in Parliament (NOW) this morning.
“Our purpose of NOW is to build connections, strengthen relationships and create an environment where women in parliament can share experiences, support one another and learn from each other beyond political lines,” they said in a joint statement.
While Labor has internal women’s groups, female MPs from other parties have told Guardian Australia they have struggled to establish similar networks of their own due to smaller numbers.
The statement launching NOW said the group came amid “a growing recognition of the value of stronger connections between women in parliament”.
The MPs said:
double quotation markThe devastating [alleged] attack on our parliamentary colleague Helen Haines has further highlighted the importance of coming together in support, solidarity and friendship across political divides.
Helen has always demonstrated the importance of kindness, compassion and genuine connection across political divides. In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of what NOW hopes to achieve.
We recognise that while our political views may differ, we share many of the same experiences, challenges and responsibilities as women in public life. Through friendship, trust and solidarity, we want to strengthen the voice of women in parliament, encourage more Australian women into public life and stand together when it matters.
Helen Haines’s offices to reopen
As Indi MP, Helen Haines, continues to recover in hospital, her staff are preparing to reopen her electorate offices in Wangaratta and Wodonga. They will be open from 10am to 3pm, three days a week, between now and the end of the year.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to show such care and support for Helen, her family and our team,” Haines’s team said in a statement on Thursday.
double quotation markWe know there continues to be great concern for Helen. We won’t be providing updates on her health or circumstances, and we ask that the privacy of Helen and her family continues to be respected.
Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding as we navigate the weeks ahead.
Haines has lost both of her legs as a result of last week’s alleged attack in Wangaratta. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated by police.
An update from the AFP as the prime minister urges the Senate to pass his government’s latest social media reforms.
A teenager in Darwin is set to appear in children’s court today over charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, as well as schematics for 3D-printed guns.
The Australian federal police said officials began an investigation earlier this month. They allege the teenager was the operator of several social media channels that accessed, discussed or reposted violent extremist material.
A search warrant was undertaken on Wednesday, where officials allegedly found documents and electronic devices that contained violent extremist material and instructions for the making of 3D-printed firearms.
The teenager faces several charges, which carry a maximum sentence of between five and 10 years’ imprisonment each.
Source: Guardian World
