Albanese defends Labor ad that targeted Dutton on Medicare
Anthony Albanese was asked whether Labor’s message about cost-of-living relief was actually getting through to voters, after the latest polling numbers released yesterday. He responded:
We know that all of those cost-of-living measures, including the tax cuts, were opposed by Peter [Dutton], every single one of them, and if he had have had his way, Australians would be – on average – $7,200 worse off.
And we know that he’s planning further cuts. He won’t tell people what they are, but he’s saying there’ll be cuts. And last time around, that meant a GP tax.
The prime minister was asked about an ad the Labor party ran regarding Dutton’s stance on Medicare, and whether Labor is running a “Mediscare” campaign. Albanese again pointed to the attempted GP tax, and continued:
It is accurate to say that Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax every time people went to the doctors … On the weekend, he did an interview again where he repeated … the statement that you don’t value it if it’s free.
Key events
Warne says union will ‘comply with whatever the Fair Work Commission’ decides tomorrow
Continuing from our last post: Toby Warne said the union members who haven’t shown up for work “obviously aren’t being paid”.
On the Fair Work Commission hearing tomorrow, he added:
If the Fair Work Commission grants that order, then obviously we comply with whatever the Fair Work Commission [says]. You saw it yesterday when the trains ran smoothly after the president issued a recommendation. So we’ll see what the full bench of the Fair Work Commission comes down with tomorrow.
RTBU secretary provides update amid breakdown in pay negotiations with NSW government
Toby Warne from the NSW Rail, Tram, and Bus Union spoke with the Today Show earlier this morning amid a breakdown in pay negotiations with the state government.
Yesterday, the NSW premier Chris Minns said the state government “cannot give in to the union’s blackmail”. Warne responded to this on the program, and rejected the notion:
I don’t think the premier knows what blackmail is. That was a very, very odd statement … We’re one small payment away from reaching a deal. We should have reached a deal last Thursday, but once again, the NSW government threw its toys out of the cot and walked away from the negotiating table.
Warne said the average Sydney train driver earns $88k a year, and train cleaners $55k – but negotiations aren’t “about wages anymore.”
This is about [an] existing entitlement that sits in our enterprise agreement that Transport for NSW, right at the last minute, decided it wanted to get back.
Less food is being wasted, according to new report
Australia throws out over 7.6m tonnes of food each year, enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 times over, but some progress is being made to reduce waste as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
AAP reports that big supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths, caterers and manufacturers who are all part of the Australian Food Pact have reduced their overall food waste by 13% in the last three years.
A 21-page report published today by End Food Waste Australia found that an estimated 505,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions were avoided and about 16,000 tonnes of food saved from 2022 to 2024.
The environmental benefits go beyond emissions, with food waste reduction saving water and arable land. Savings have also accrued financially for food, sellers with the report estimating a combined $57m retained.
The report noted that of the food Australia wastes each year, about 70% is perfectly edible. However, the current tax framework treats food donations the same as waste disposal, discouraging businesses from donating surplus food to charities.
Bushfire danger period lifted early for nine NSW LGAs amid recent rainfall
Due to easing conditions and recent rainfall in north-eastern NSW, the Rural Fire Service has declared an early end to the bushfire danger period for nine LGAs:
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Ballina
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Bellingen
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Byron
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Clarence Valley
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Coffs Harbour
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Kyogle
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Lismore
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Richmond Valley
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Tweed
Fire permits are still required in all other areas, the RFS said.
One dead in house fire in Sydney’s west
A person has died in a house fire in Sydney’s west this morning.
Emergency services responded to the blaze at Guildford just before 5am, which caused extensive damage to a home, NSW police said.
Five occupants escaped, however a man – yet to be formally identified – was found inside. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Officers have established a crime scene and an investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the fire. A report will also be prepared for the coroner.
NSW transport minister ‘not suggesting we are close’ to ending rail dispute
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, also spoke on ABC News Breakfast this morning to provide an update on the state’s rail network and negotiations with the unions.
He said services were running “close to time” this morning, “despite having more than 100 staff who haven’t shown up to work”.
Many of those families or businesses who are hoping for a cut from the RBA, when it comes to interest rates later this afternoon, will be hoping for an end to this rail dispute also. It has put huge pressure on families and businesses right at the moment.
Asked how long the dispute with the unions may continued – for days, weeks? – Graham pointed to the Fair Work Commission hearing about the action tomorrow morning.
We are hoping for an end to this industrial action, a chance to have a cooling-off period, negotiate an end to this industrial action and a fair pay deal for those rail workers.
But he went on to say, “I am not suggesting we are close”.
I don’t want to make predictions given the twists and turns in this tale, but [we] will put a strong case in the morning.
Hanson-Young: ‘definitely time’ for interest rate cut
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke on ABC News Breakfast just earlier, ahead of today’s interest rate decision by the RBA. She said it was “definitely time for a cut” and that families across the country were hoping for this.
We need the RBA to heed the concerns of Australians and economists – inflation is down, people are hurting, businesses are struggling. It is time to cut.
Hanson-Young added that Australians needed more than a cut, which would be “very small”.
Anything at this point is helpful, but we need more cost-of-living relief for families. We need more from the federal government and Peter Dutton as we go into this election.
The opposition has put nothing on the table for cost-of-living relief for families. Some for the bosses, so they can go and have lunch, but very little for helping families pay for the lunches of kids as they get ready for school in the morning.
NSW rail union ‘alienating people’ with strikes – Albanese
The prime minister was also asked to weigh in on the ongoing dispute between the NSW government and rail unions – and whether the federal government plans to intervene.
But Anthony Albanese shot this suggestion down, saying this was “a state dispute of a state branch of a union over pay with a state government”.
I support very much the efforts of the Minns government to bring this dispute to an end, common sense has to apply here, and I think that the union needs to acknowledge that it is alienating people through these actions of not turning up to work. And there was hope on the weekend that it would be settled, [and] it should have been …
We’re getting to the point where the union needs to see common sense, settle this dispute with the Minns government. [The NSW premier] Chris Minns is working very hard to get an end to this dispute.
Albanese defends Labor ad that targeted Dutton on Medicare
Anthony Albanese was asked whether Labor’s message about cost-of-living relief was actually getting through to voters, after the latest polling numbers released yesterday. He responded:
We know that all of those cost-of-living measures, including the tax cuts, were opposed by Peter [Dutton], every single one of them, and if he had have had his way, Australians would be – on average – $7,200 worse off.
And we know that he’s planning further cuts. He won’t tell people what they are, but he’s saying there’ll be cuts. And last time around, that meant a GP tax.
The prime minister was asked about an ad the Labor party ran regarding Dutton’s stance on Medicare, and whether Labor is running a “Mediscare” campaign. Albanese again pointed to the attempted GP tax, and continued:
It is accurate to say that Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax every time people went to the doctors … On the weekend, he did an interview again where he repeated … the statement that you don’t value it if it’s free.
Government has ‘serious concerns’ for Oscar Jenkins’ welfare
Anthony Albanese has been asked about the video of Oscar Jenkins – which has not been independently verified by Guardian Australia – and has said the Australian government continues to hold “serious concerns” for his welfare.
I have seen the video, but we still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare. We’ve made it clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and that there are obligations that kick in, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and they must be observed.
We’ve also, of course, made representations to Ukraine, including a one-on-one discussion that I had with president [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy raising Mr Jenkins’ welfare. We have called for Russia to release Mr Jenkins so that he can come home to his family.
PM defends economic record ahead of RBA interest rate decision
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been speaking on ABC Sydney radio ahead of today’s interest rate decision from the Reserve Bank.
He said the RBA would “make a decision based upon the economics, not based upon any politics”, and defended his government’s economic record:
This has been a global inflation spike and overseas, of course, [it] hit double digits in some places. Our neighbours in New Zealand [are] in a deep recession at the moment now. We’ve managed to avoid that. The economy has continued to grow.
We’ve created more jobs than any government since federation, and importantly, I think something I’m really proud of is that we have the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in the last 50 years.
Australian and Chinese officials meet after midair incident
Australian military officials have reportedly raised concerns with their Chinese counterparts about a midair incident over the South China Sea during senior official talks in Beijing, AAP reports.
On Monday, senior officials from both countries met in Beijing for the Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue – the first since 2019. The Australian defence department’s statement after the talks hinted at the midair incident being discussed:
Australia reiterated the importance of all countries in the region operating in a safe and professional manner at all times to avoid the risk of miscalculation or escalation. Both countries exchanged views on bilateral, global and regional security issues, as well as military transparency and communication.
Australia affirmed the importance of “all countries acting in a manner that respects sovereignty and upholds peace, security and stability”.
Meanwhile China’s defence ministry said in a statement that the two countries had an “in-depth” exchange of views on bilateral and military relations, regional security and other issues of common concern.
Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communication in defence, properly handle conflicts and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation, the statement said.
Cait Kelly
Burke declines to weigh in on Creative Australia decision
Continuing from our last post: Tony Burke was also asked about the turmoil on the board of Creative Australia after it dumped artist Khaled Sabsabi as the country’s representative to the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Burke would not weigh in on whether CA should reinstate Sabsabi:
They made a decision as to not [be] going ahead with that now. I think the worst thing could happen now would be for politicians to be adjudicating on it. It should be made at arm’s length from politicians, that’s so important.
Burke said he had spoken to the CA chief executive, Adrian Collette, after the artist’s work came up in Senate discussion.
At that point, he had already determined that they were going to have a board meeting that night. I was very clear. I made clear to Adrian Collette, who I have known for more than a decade. I said to him whatever you decide, I will support you and I will support Creative Australia.
Cait Kelly
Burke questioned on Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders among NZYQ cohort
Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 program last night, the home affairs and creative arts minister, Tony Burke, was asked about Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders who were among the so-called “NZYQ” cohort.
He said Nauru had approached the government, but would not say how much Australia had paid the small country in order to offload the refugees.
As you know, you know I’m not going to answer that one. I will explain just something on cost. The costs of an arrangement like this don’t get disclosed. That’s been the case for decades. It’s part of the arrangement with Nauru that is entered into, is that these issues also be kept confidential.
When asked how he would feel if they reoffended on Nauru, Burke said:
Sometimes we’re talking about individuals who have only lived in the community for a very, very short time … and sometimes you get people who the first time they were in the community was the same time they were committing a crime. The concept that Australia owes a particular obligation to these individuals, I really think is a stretch.
Unverified video appears to show Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity
An unverified video appears to show Australian man Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity, after he was feared dead at one point.
In the video, uploaded to YouTube, a man behind the camera says it is 17 January 2025, before Jenkins identifies himself:
My name is Oscar Jenkins … I am 32 years old … I come from Australia.
The man behind the camera says Jenkins is a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine. Jenkins said he feels weak and has lost a lot of weight, and also has a broken arm.
The man behind the camera puts to him, “The information about your death is not right?” to which Jenkins replies, “correct”. The man behind the camera then asks Jenkins to remove his beanie and says:
Everything is OK, he is alive, and I think he will [be] better.
Guardian Australia has not independently verified the video. You can view it in full below, but please be warned: it may be distressing to watch.
NSW government to introduce legislation strengthening racial hatred offences
People making racist remarks publicly could spend up to two years in jail and cop a fine of more than $10,000 under tough new laws in NSW, AAP reports.
Amid escalating antisemitic graffiti and vandalism incidents in Sydney, the Minns government is introducing a racial hatred incitement offence amendment to the Crimes Act in parliament today. The state’s attorney general, Michael Daley, said:
Racial hatred is unacceptable – and under this new legislation, it will be a crime to publicly and intentionally incite racial hatred. It is important for members of our community to be protected from conduct that causes them to fear for their safety, or to fear harassment, intimidation or violence.
The legislation will make it a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race.
The amendment will establish a new section, 93ZAA of the Crimes Act, with a maximum penalty for an individual of two years behind bars, fines of up to $11,000, or both, while corporations can face fines of $55,000. The proposed offence stipulates that it must be a public act and that it intentionally incites hatred based on race.
The government maintains freedom of political speech will be protected and makes an exception “for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings”.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and welcome back to the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.
The New South Wales government will today introduce a racial hatred incitement offence amendment to the Crimes Act, in response to a number of antisemitic attacks in the state. As AAP reports, people making racist remarks publicly could spend up to two years in jail and cop a fine of more than $10,000 under the tough new laws.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to cut the official cash rate today, raising hopes among mortgage holders that the era of high interest repayments will finally start to unwind. The official announcement is due at 2.30pm AEDT – so stay tuned.
Also, an unverified video online appears to show Australian man Oscar Jenkins, who was captured in Russia and at one point feared dead. We’ll have more on this shortly.
As always, you can reach out with any tips, questions or feedback via email: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s get started.
Article by:Source: Emily Wind
