Coalition demands NDIS changes focus on fraud, corruption
Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson also called on the government to focus more on fraud and corruption issues in the NDIS, as the Coalition and Labor negotiate on changes to the disability scheme.
The government’s bill is being examined by a parliamentary committee, with a report due this coming Friday. Labor may seek to bring that bill back on for debate and vote in the second week of this coming parliamentary sitting.
Wilson accused the government of “an ongoing tolerance” to fraud in the system. The NDIS minister, Jenny McAllister, was on News24 this morning also, and we’ll get you some of her contributions shortly.
He said:
We have people who are awarding either packages to people when they shouldn’t be used, we’re having people taking advantage of the system and we know this is being exposed.
And so as a consequence we’ve seen this massive growth continue to go on and we need to make sure that that’s the focus, not the targeting of the clients. You know, if you go out to voters in Australia, there are a lot of people who are on disability support packages who are very nervous about their future and it’s because of how this government has looked at reforms and they feel like they’re being targeted, not the fraudsters.
Minns describes Sydney airport delays this weekend as a ‘blip’
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, was asked today whether he had spoken to the federal infrastructure and transport minister, Catherine King, about traffic control issues at Sydney airport.
Minns said he had not spoken to King directly, but his team was in contact with the commonwealth about the issue:
Obviously we’ve had an incredibly strong record when it comes to safety in our airports, which you need in a big country … a big wealthy country like Australia, but you know we can’t have massive delays or near misses because it’s just too important for Sydney.
Asked about delays at Sydney airport this weekend, Minns said it was a “a blip that we want to see fixed as soon as possible.”
Shadow treasurer flags spending cuts to pay for proposed tax measures
Circling back to the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, on News 24, he pledged there would be spending offsets – read, cuts – to pay for the tax cuts the Coalition has promised, with more details to be released “in good time”.
News24 host Andrew Clennell asked Wilson about the Coalition’s tax policy, saying “your income tax cuts or all your measures are put at up to $110bn over the forward estimates. How are you going to pay for that if you’re elected?”
Wilson didn’t dispute the $110bn figure, replying: “We’re going to make sure that we have offsets, and we’ve said that and we’ll release those in good time”.
We’ve announced, when we’ve announced measures before, offsets and we’ll continue to do so. We’re going through that work right now to make sure that we get best value for the Australian taxpayer because we want to have the incentives in place to grow the economy, to give Australians hope, to look at a future horizon where they believe that hard work’s going to pay off.
Wilson also said the Coalition would seek to “go back and address the systemic issues of corruption that exist at the heart of this government”, after earlier calling for more attention on fraud and corruption issues he claimed existed in the NDIS.
Minns ‘concerned’ by Sydney airport near-miss incident
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, says he is “concerned” to hear about the near miss incident involving a Jetstar and Qatar Airways plane while taxiing at Sydney airport this morning.
Passengers travelling through Sydney airport have been warned of delays this week due to air traffic controller rostering issues.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Minns said he was concerned about potential safety risks and stressed the importance of the airport operating at full capacity:
That’s hugely important for our economy.
We’re hopeful that there’s a plan in place to recruit more people for a highly specialised but very important job … we’re opening a brand new airport in the not too distant future, so there’ll be even more strain on that service than there is today. I know it’s hard to employ people, particularly for these specialised services, because we’ve got a very tight labour market. But this isn’t a nice to have; it’s a must have.
NSW premier Chris Minns. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
Flights being spaced out at Sydney airport after tarmac near-miss incident
AirServices Australia says departures have been spaced out at Sydney airport after the incident involving a Jetstar and Qatar Airways plane this morning.
In a statement, a spokesperson for AirServices Australia said:
Airservices Australia has enacted Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures including departure spacing at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to safely manage projected airborne and departure demands following a reported safety incident between two aircraft moving on taxiways.
We are working with airlines to reduce delays and the impact on passenger travel as much as possible.
Airservices is reviewing the incident and will assist with any safety investigation.
Witness describes Jetstar-Qatar near miss at Sydney airport
A witness to the near miss between Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes at Sydney airport has spoken to the ABC.
Dani Brown was on another plane at the Sydney airport tarmac when she witnessed the incident this morning. She told the ABC the plane’s pilot told passengers there was a “traffic congestion issue”:
It was looking like a very close near miss.
Our flight was meant to leave at 7.15 and we just sat at the tarmac at our gate, because it was quite close to the gate. And we just had to wait until the Jetstar plane was towed away and it was clear for us to move. It was a pretty empty flight for us.
Protective services officers to be stationed at major Victorian hospitals under Coalition plan
The Victorian Coalition has pledged to deploy protective services officers (PSOs) to the state’s major hospitals if it wins November’s state election.
The proposal, unveiled on Sunday, aims to reduce violence at hospitals.
In a statement, the Coalition said 70 PSOs would be deployed as part of a two-year pilot at seven major Victorian hospitals.
PSO teams would provide additional security, respond to serious incidents and escort hospital workers to their vehicles, a statement said.
The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, said:
Doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff should be able to do their jobs safely so that they can provide Victorians with the care they need.
The state’s shadow health minister, Georgie Crozier, said health workers need “greater protection.”
The safety of our health workers is paramount – you should feel safe, feel protected, whether you are triaging a patient in ED or walking to your car after ending your shift.
Jetstar and Qatar Airways plane involved in near-miss while taxiing at Sydney airport
A Jetstar pilot was forced to brake suddenly when a Qatar Airways plane came into “close proximity” while the other plane was taxiing at Sydney airport this morning.
Guardian Australia understands a Jetstar cabin crew member was injured in the incident, and was treated by paramedics.
The Jetstar flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast was taxiing out from its bay at Sydney airport this morning when the incident occurred.
A Jetstar spokesperson said:
Our aircraft was following instructions by Air Traffic Control when the pilots were forced to brake firmly after another aircraft came in close proximity.
We have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Coalition demands NDIS changes focus on fraud, corruption
Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson also called on the government to focus more on fraud and corruption issues in the NDIS, as the Coalition and Labor negotiate on changes to the disability scheme.
The government’s bill is being examined by a parliamentary committee, with a report due this coming Friday. Labor may seek to bring that bill back on for debate and vote in the second week of this coming parliamentary sitting.
Wilson accused the government of “an ongoing tolerance” to fraud in the system. The NDIS minister, Jenny McAllister, was on News24 this morning also, and we’ll get you some of her contributions shortly.
He said:
We have people who are awarding either packages to people when they shouldn’t be used, we’re having people taking advantage of the system and we know this is being exposed.
And so as a consequence we’ve seen this massive growth continue to go on and we need to make sure that that’s the focus, not the targeting of the clients. You know, if you go out to voters in Australia, there are a lot of people who are on disability support packages who are very nervous about their future and it’s because of how this government has looked at reforms and they feel like they’re being targeted, not the fraudsters.
Wilson raises concerns about gambling ads reaching children
Josh Butler
The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, says he’s concerned that gambling advertisers could still be able to reach children, under the government’s proposed wagering reforms.
Labor’s gambling bill has little support outside the government, with the Coalition, Greens and other cross benchers opposed. Amendments are being discussed to win support in the parliament, and while Wilson wouldn’t say which specific areas the Coalition was negotiating on, he said the bill may not go far enough to reduce harms for kids.
Speaking to News24 this morning, Wilson said:
We’re not wowsers, we do believe in protecting children, particularly from harm.
Under the government’s proposed bill, it doesn’t limit the capacity to advertise to children and that’s something that I’m concerned about, making sure that we’ve got the measures that are consistent, appropriate, and also reflecting the changing nature of technology
Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Wilson noted many people are watching sport on other platforms beyond TV. The proposed gambling rules include a quirk where streaming platforms will be able to show more ads during breaks in play, if those platforms offer a “triple lock” function which includes an opt-out feature.
“What we need to make sure is that the interests are in alignment, we’re protecting children and of course we’re making sure that measures are taken so that people aren’t taken advantage of,” Wilson said.
Ben Carroll vows to boost Victoria’s school funding to meet Gonski standards
Victoria’s new premier, Ben Carroll, says the state government will boost its funding for public schools before the November election, and opening up a pathway for a federal cash injection.
In an interview with the ABC, Carroll pledged to increase funding of the state’s public schools by 5% – fulfilling its obligations under the former Gonski plan.
Victoria’s school funding model lags behind other jurisdictions, with the state only paying 70% of the Schooling Resource Standard – an estimate of a school’s funding based on student’s needs – and the federal government contributing 20%.
Under the national agreement, Carroll’s pledge means Canberra will match the funding increase to close the gap.
Carroll said he had discussed the funding increase with Anthony Albanese.
The teacher’s union has demanded the state fully fund public schools as part of its drawn-out pay dispute with the Victorian government.
The new Labor Premier Ben Carroll Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian
ABC’s Insiders is marking its 25th birthday with a special anniversary edition this morning.
The show’s founding host, Barrie Cassidy, has returned to the couch for the first time since he retired in 2019.
Reflecting on how Australian politics has changed since the show began in 2001, Cassidy says:
You’ve had that degrading of the support for the major parties, 80% to 50% in the life of Insiders, and that’s quite extraordinary. It happened kind of like bankruptcy – slowly, and then all at once.
The all-at-once period was pretty much just in the lead-up to the last election.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young was also asked about her call for a moratorium on building of data centres until there are the proper laws in place to regulate their impact on the country’ energy, water use, environment and communities.
Asked about the proposal, Hanson-Young said:
I want an ironclad guarantee for the Australian people: their power bills won’t go up, their water is going to be protected, their jobs are going to be protected, and that they get some type of community benefit because without those things there is going to be no social license and it’s evaporating very quickly.
Labor ‘playing games’ on gambling reforms, Sarah Hanson-Young says
Hanson-Young says she had spoken to the communications minister, Anika Wells, about amendments to the government’s gambling reform but has not spoken directly to Anthony Albanese.
Asked if she expected to speak to the prime minister, the Greens senator said “I hope so”:
The government said they weren’t prepared to move at all, and now here they are. So, I mean … they’re playing games here.
Their own backbenchers know it’s not strong enough.
Hanson-Young said she would not vote for what was “on the table at the moment”
If you are not prepared to do what’s needed here, well, we’ll take this out of your hands and we’ll do it in the Senate ourselves.
Greens call on Albanese to put ‘cards on the table’ as gambling negotiations continue
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, has called for the Albanese government to put its “cards on the table” as part of a potential strengthening of its gambling reform.
Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders, Hanson-Young said:
If the government’s now willing to move on some things … good. But the devil’s going to be in the detail. And what I say to the prime minister and to the government is, put your cards on the table.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
SA premier meets Apple chief following social media ban
The premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas has visited Apple’s headquarters and met with outgoing chief executive Tim Cook in the United States.
Malinauskas posted on LinkedIn that Cook was keen to discuss the under-16s social media ban, which kicked off with South Australia’s proposal last year before the federal government adopted a national approach.
Documents released under freedom of information laws this week suggest the pair discussed the possibility of Albanese visiting Apple’s California headquarters on his next trip to the United States.
The documents surrounding the call between Albanese and Cook reveal an unnamed employee at Apple following up the call in late June and enquiring about “the possibility of the PM visiting Apple Park in Cupertino (California) when he visits the US for the UN General Assembly.”
Any potential visit by Albanese to Apple may come after Cook steps down as chief executive, and is replaced by John Ternus on 1 September, as the UN general assembly’s 81st session commences on 8 September.
Bird flu detected in inland NSW, on the Murray Darling Basin
Petra Stock
New South Wales recorded its first cases of H5 bird flu in two local birds on Saturday, including one found near Wentworth on the Murray-Darling Basin.
Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, said:
That should be ringing alarm bells for governments because it suggests it could soon be spreading among inland bird colonies ahead of spring breeding season.
Birds in the Murray-Darling basin are already in decline due to feral animals, insufficient water to critical wetlands and the loss of habitat - now they have a deadly disease to contend with.
Samples from two deceased greater crested terns in NSW – the other found near Narooma on the south coast – tested positive at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
On Saturday, a further 28 positive cases were confirmed in South Australia, bringing the state’s total to 147. An additional 13 suspected cases were also detected, including an ibis in Adelaide and a cormorant in Carpenter Rocks on the Limestone Coast.
Victoria confirmed 10 positive cases on Saturday, all from greater crested terns in south-west Victoria and Clyde in south-east Melbourne.
As of 3pm yesterday, Australia had a total of 215 H5 bird flu cases nationally.