Four arrested after climate protesters occupy Dominic Perrottet’s office – as it happened
Four arrested after climate protesters occupy Dominic Perrottet’s office
NSW police have confirmed that four people have been arrested as part of a protest that occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office in Epping.
A group of six teenagers and a dozen adult supporters occupied the office earlier today, protesting the approval of new coal and gas projects.
Police say that at least 15 people entered the office, with no reports of injuries.
In a statement, they said the police approached the protesters at around 11am:
About 11am today (Friday 17 March 2023), officers from the Ryde Police Area Command responded to reports of an unauthorised protest involving 15 people at an office complex in Rawson Street, Epping.
Two men, aged 62 and 64, and two women, aged 40 and 65, were arrested for trespassing.
All four were taken to Ryde Police Station and are currently assisting with inquiries.
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And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of the main events today:
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The US state department has approved the sale of up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia, to the tune of $1.3bn.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australian banks are “well placed” to withstand some vulnerability.
The PM was campaigning with NSW opposition leader, Chris Minns, and said that the incumbent government had reached “the end of its life”.
NSW Nationals MP Stephen Bromhead died earlier today.
The Productivity Commission said in its five-yearly report that “the often touted ‘four-day week’ is that much harder to achieve”.
Four people were arrested after climate protesters occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority chief said tomorrow will be “biggest fire day since devastating 19-20 bushfire season”.
TIME released its list of the world’s greatest places for 2023 and the only Australian capital to make the list was Brisbane.
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NSW police have confirmed that four people have been arrested as part of a protest that occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office in Epping.
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A group of six teenagers and a dozen adult supporters occupied the office earlier today, protesting the approval of new coal and gas projects.
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Police say that at least 15 people entered the office, with no reports of injuries.
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In a statement, they said the police approached the protesters at around 11am:
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About 11am today (Friday 17 March 2023), officers from the Ryde Police Area Command responded to reports of an unauthorised protest involving 15 people at an office complex in Rawson Street, Epping.
Two men, aged 62 and 64, and two women, aged 40 and 65, were arrested for trespassing.
All four were taken to Ryde Police Station and are currently assisting with inquiries.
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If the ACCC is Australia’s market regulator, the Productivity Commission is the nation’s market motivator to offer what it says is evidence-based advice to foster economic growth.
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Today it released its five-yearly report, optimistically entitled “advancing prosperity”. The first such inquiry, “shifting the dial”, didn’t shift much at all after its release in 2017.
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Wading through the 1,000-plus page report might not be the most productive use of your time. There are no fewer than “29 reform directives and 71 specific recommendations”.
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As the commission has said previously, we are getting more productive (making more from less) at the slowest pace in yonks. “Over the decade to 2020, average annual labour productivity growth in Australia was the slowest in 60 years, falling to just 1.1% compared to 1.8% over those six decades to 2019-20,” it says.
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Instead of doubling output every 39 years, we’ll take 64 years at this pace. Or in their words (for all those taking today off): “The often touted ‘4-day week’ is that much harder to achieve.”
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Overall, services – unlike mining, say – are harder to automate, so the more our economy becomes service-based the harder it is to generate more output.
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Government operations tend to be “non-market”, sometimes without competition or cost to the client. The larger this sector grows, the tougher it will be to drive innovation, so the PC says.
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“If productivity growth in the non-market sector continued at its historic level, then (under the simplest assumptions) in 40 years that sector would account for more than 40% of employment,” it says. The current share is about 25%.
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Mind you, the market sector is not particularly nimble either. “Some 98% of Australian businesses do not produce new-to-the-world innovations,” the report says.
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Unlike the 2017 report, there is a large section dealing with climate change, particularly decarbonisation efforts. The PC hasn’t been a fan of climate action in the past, and they seem reluctant backers now. If we are going to act, we should have “a single, explicit carbon price” – which was scrapped by the Abbott government in 2014.
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It recommends an expansion of the federal government’s safeguard mechanism to include electricity generation to the 200-odd industrial sites captured, roughly doubling the carbon emissions cover to a bit over half.
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Still, any action might prove a drag on productivity, particularly if it’s not effectively done. “Because the cost of carbon emissions has not been reflected in GDP or business profits, abatement efforts could, in many instances, increase the cost of production and could put downward pressure on measured productivity, at least in the short term,” it says.
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(Of course, if Australia and other polluters don’t act, productivity will likely spiral downwards amid ecosystem and societal collapse.)
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There are a bunch of other interesting recommendations, which we’ll highlight soon. Stay tuned.
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The Victorian Covid numbers are out – and they have also increased slightly. The state has recorded 3,960 cases this week, up from 3,319 last week.
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Sadly, there have been 29 deaths, down from 33 the previous week.
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This week we reported 3,960 new cases with a daily average hospital occupancy of 114 and 4 patients in ICU.
29 deaths were reported in the past 7 days.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/poGgD59cPd
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) March 16, 2023
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The NSW Covid numbers are out:
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In the 7 days to 4pm Thursday there are 8,905 new cases – up from the 7,871 recorded last week, and 22 deaths, which is down from the 36 recorded last week.
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COVID-19 weekly update – Friday 17 March 2023
In the 7 days to 4pm Thursday 16 March:
– 8,905 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded: 4,601 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 4,304 PCR tests
– 22 lives lost pic.twitter.com/e3d55ESAtH— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 16, 2023
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We are looking at a new wave but epidemiologists say it is not expected to be as high as previous ones – read more here:
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The premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet, has released a statement about the death of Nationals MP Stephen Bromhead, who was affectionately called Brommy:
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On behalf of the NSW government and the people of NSW I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Stephen Bromhead MP, who passed away yesterday after a battle with mesothelioma.
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In particular, I extend my deepest sympathies to Stephen’s wife Sue, to my Nationals colleagues, and to the people of Myall Lakes who are mourning the loss of a dear friend and loyal member.
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Stephen’s passing comes just 10 days before what would have been the 12-year anniversary of his election as the member for Myall Lakes.
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Stephen was the quintessential Nationals member, dedicated wholly to making sure the people of Myall Lakes – and all of regional NSW – got their fair share.
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Given his early career in health, it is fitting that Stephen’s great legacy can be seen in the major upgrades to health facilities he delivered for his community, among many other important achievements.
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We’ve got some more information on the news the Albanese government is set to spend $1.3bn buying 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said Australia would be working closely with the US to get more missile capability.
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“It’s a really important part of what we need to be doing with our posture, which is to have a greater ability to project,” he told Nine’s Today program on Friday.
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Making sure we have longer-range strike missiles is a really important capability for the country. It enables us to be able to reach out beyond our shores further and that’s ultimately how we are able to keep Australia safe.
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The defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, said the missiles were able to be fired from the US Virginia-class submarines Australia would be acquiring under the Aukus deal.
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“We certainly want the best possible capability for the Australian defence force so that includes the ability to strike opponents as far away as possible from the Australian mainland,” he told ABC TV.
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The cruise missiles are a critical part of that, as are the submarines that launch them.
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The announcement of the missiles follows criticism from former Labor prime minister Paul Keating about the submarine deal.
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Chalmers is asked about international banking after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the bailout of Credit Suisse.
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He says globally there is “a lot of uncertainty, a lot of vulnerability and volatility” but that Australian banks are well regulated, and in a good position to withstand global uncertainty.
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Our banking system is really well capitalised. It’s well regulated. We’re well placed in Australia to withstand some of the vulnerability in banking systems.
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Whether it’s Silicon Valley banks, and the steps taken by the Americans, or credit Swiss, and the loans provided by the central bank, we’re monitoring it closely.
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The US state department has approved the sale of up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia, Reuters is reporting.
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If the deal goes through it will cost Australians $1.3bn.
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The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency told the US Congress of the possible sale on Thursday.
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More to come.
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Morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the day’s news. I’m Martin Farrer getting you up to speed with what’s on the agenda and in the headlines.
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One of the big stories today will be the Productivity Commission’s 1,000-page report due to be released today with 71 suggestions to kickstart Australia’s sluggish productivity performance – and with it wages and overall prosperity. It’s likely to focus on five key trends identified as the growing services sector, the costs of climate change, the need for a more skilled workforce, the growing role of data and digital technology and the impact of geopolitical tensions. More coming on this soon.
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The fallout from the announcement of the Aukus submarine deal is continuing to be felt from high politics to the possible impact on local communities around Australia. Anthony Albanese hit back at Paul Keating’s criticisms of the deal but the former PM has been joined in the sceptics camp by another former resident of the Lodge, Malcolm Turnbull, and former Labor environment minister, Peter Garrett. And we’ve got a report today from Wollongong where residents are angry about reports that Port Kembla could be made the east coast base for the subs. They fear it will jeopardise jobs in other sectors.
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Fifa have admitted defeat and dropped plans to include the Saudi tourist board as one of the sponsors of this year’s Women’s World Cup starting in Australia and New Zealand in July. A backlash from players and coaches – centred on the Saudi kingdom’s poor human rights and gender rights record – has forced Fifa into a U-turn, announced at the football governing body’s congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
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Key events
What we learned today, Friday 17 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of the main events today:
The US state department has approved the sale of up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia, to the tune of $1.3bn.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australian banks are “well placed” to withstand some vulnerability.
The PM was campaigning with NSW opposition leader, Chris Minns, and said that the incumbent government had reached “the end of its life”.
NSW Nationals MP Stephen Bromhead died earlier today.
The Productivity Commission said in its five-yearly report that “the often touted ‘four-day week’ is that much harder to achieve”.
Four people were arrested after climate protesters occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority chief said tomorrow will be “biggest fire day since devastating 19-20 bushfire season”.
TIME released its list of the world’s greatest places for 2023 and the only Australian capital to make the list was Brisbane.
Light plane crash reported at Bankstown airport
AAP is reporting that a light plane has crashed at an airport in Sydney’s south-west, with fire crews working to free the pilot from the wreckage.
The single-engine, four-seater aircraft came down at Bankstown airport about 3.40pm on Friday, Fire and Rescue NSW confirmed.
The plane flipped on impact, trapping the male pilot.
Eight fire crews are on scene to manage fire risk as rescue crews work to free the pilot who has suspected leg injuries.
Paramedics are also on standby to stabilise the pilot and assess his condition.
It’s not yet clear what caused the crash.
Missing police stun grenade found in Townsville
AAP is reporting that a police stun grenade missing in a suburban street has been found four days after a fatal siege in north Queensland.
Police realised they had lost the device after an audit of specialist gear used in a nearly 10-hour siege that ended with the discovery of an armed man’s body in the Townsville suburb of Kirwan on Monday.
Officers repeatedly searched the street for the grenade but were forced to admit it was lost and asked the public to help.
“The device is not a lethal device but has the capacity to cause injury to a person in close proximity if the device is handled incorrectly,” they said in a statement on Thursday.
“Members of the public who have information about the location of this device may not know the significance of such a piece of equipment and are urged not to tamper with it and call police immediately.”
A day after the public plea, police found the “distraction device” still at the scene.
Police will review how the device was lost during the police operation, which started after a man fired several shots at nearby houses, a car and police vehicles on Sunday night.
The shots left bullet holes in windscreens and panels of five vehicles that investigators believe officers were in at the time.
Police have not detailed the weapon used and have confirmed officers did not fire back.
The emergency order was revoked at 6.45am after police entered the home and found a 50-year-old man dead.
No one else was injured.
More on WA death of abseiling instructor
Just building on the news of the abseiling instructor who died while abseiling with a group of school students at a popular West Australian tourist spot, the school principal has released a statement.
Newman College acting principal Lucie McCrory said the students had been taking part in an outdoor education camp, and extended her condolences to the family of the instructor on behalf of the school.
The college has deployed all necessary resources to support the wellbeing and pastoral care of students and staff who have been impacted by this tragic incident. They arrived home late last night.
Police have praised the conduct of our staff and students and their response to the emergency services. The college will provide such assistance as is necessary to the relevant authorities as they investigate this incident.
Tim Ayres asked about Aukus effect on manufacturing
The assistant minister for manufacturing was just on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, where he was asked about the manufacturing “uplift” the Aukus deal will bring.
Ayres said he was confident that, with the support of the states, Australia’s manufacturing capacity can be resuscitated to meet its needs:
You are right to point to both the enormous opportunity for Australian industry and the significant challenges in front of us.
We need to make sure that we’re skilling generations of workers to come – PhD, engineers, tradespeople, submariners, all of the way through – these are very significant opportunities for the Australian industry.
It sits very comfortably alongside our ambitions in the National Reconstruction Fund and our industry policy ambition for critical minerals and supply chains to lift Australia up the value chain, but that is going to require consistency, stability, a commitment in terms of purpose, allocating resources in terms of skills in particular, and that’s why the critical path process focused on those issues very strongly.
I’m very confident that with the co-operation of the states and with the pathway forward that was identified in the statements this week, that we will be able to deliver an onshore manufacturing program that will really revitalise Australian industry and put manufacturing back again at the centre of the national economy.
More on Menindee mass fish deaths
AAP is reporting that millions of native fish have washed up dead near Menindee in outback NSW, in a series of mass kills caused by floods and hot weather.
The state Department of Primary Industries said fish including bony herring, Murray cod and perch had died on the lower Darling-Baaka River, in the far west, along with carp.
“This event is ongoing as a heatwave across western NSW continues to put further stress on a system that has experienced extreme conditions from wide-scale flooding,” the department said on Friday.
The deaths were likely caused by low oxygen levels as floods recede, a situation made worse by fish needing more oxygen because of the warmer weather.
Bony herring were a boom-and-bust species, the department said, which thrive in floods but are more susceptible to stresses when water flows return to normal.
“NSW DPI understands that fish death events are distressing to the local community, particularly on the lower Darling-Baaka.”
Local nature photographer Geoff Looney found huge clusters of dead fish near the main weir at Menindee on Thursday evening.
“The stink was terrible. I nearly had to put a mask on,” Looney told AAP.
I was worried about my own health. That water right in the top comes down to our pumping station for the town.
People north of Menindee say there’s cod and perch floating down the river everywhere.
Four arrested after climate protesters occupy Dominic Perrottet’s office
NSW police have confirmed that four people have been arrested as part of a protest that occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office in Epping.
A group of six teenagers and a dozen adult supporters occupied the office earlier today, protesting the approval of new coal and gas projects.
Police say that at least 15 people entered the office, with no reports of injuries.
In a statement, they said the police approached the protesters at around 11am:
About 11am today (Friday 17 March 2023), officers from the Ryde Police Area Command responded to reports of an unauthorised protest involving 15 people at an office complex in Rawson Street, Epping.
Two men, aged 62 and 64, and two women, aged 40 and 65, were arrested for trespassing.
All four were taken to Ryde Police Station and are currently assisting with inquiries.
Victoria Country Fire Authority chief says tomorrow will be ‘biggest fire day since devastating 19-20 bushfire season’
Next up Jason Heffernen, chief officer at the Country Fire Authority, tells reporters that there are currently four bush and scrub fires burning across Victoria.
He adds that there are 55 firefighters supporting suppression operations across those fire-grounds, assisted by 17 water-bombing aircrafts.
We will be seeing what is likely to be the most significant fire danger the state has seen this season.
It will likely be the biggest fire day we have seen since the devastating 19-20 bushfire season.
A total fire ban has been declared for the Mali, Wimmera, south-west, northern country, northern central and central parts.
We are expecting quite high temperatures, and hot and gusty northerly winds, perfect for conditions and grass fires should they ignite and spread.
BoM warns of extreme fire danger in parts of Victoria tomorrow
Authorities have stepped up for a press conference on the fire danger in Victoria today.
Keris Arndt, a meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, says that tomorrow will be the most significant fire danger day in Victoria this season.
We’re looking at elevated fire danger across the state. It’s only the fourth time we have issued fire danger warnings for the state of Victoria this season and the first time for more than two districts.
We’re expecting extreme fire dangers through the Wimmera south-west, central and north-central districts and high fire dangers to other districts in Victoria.
These fire dangers are due to hot, dry and windy conditions we see across the state tomorrow.
Generally speaking across the state, we’ll see temperatures rise to the high 30s/low 40s across Victoria. In Melbourne itself, looking at a maximum of 37 degrees. If we reach that 37, it is the latest in the season we have seen temperatures that high since 2007.
Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you, taking you through the rest of the day’s news.
And with that, I am going to hand the blog over to Mostafa Rachwani, whose capable hands will guide you through the afternoon.
Thank you for spending part of your day with me – it was a big morning! And before I go – a special shoutout to our Brissy readers for their (hotly contested) win.
Jonathan Barrett
Australian banks push higher as global fears subside
Australian bank shares lifted in early trading on Friday as confidence seeped back into a global financial system supported by government and regulatory intervention in the US and Europe.
At the end of a tumultuous week sparked by the collapse of California-based Silicon Valley Bank, the US Federal Reserve has offered funds to eligible banks to plug any shortfalls.
In Europe, agencies provided Credit Suisse with a 50bn Swiss franc (US$54bn) loan amid growing concerns for the viability of the major lender struggling for investor and customer support.
The series of supportive measures have helped douse immediate fears that banks might start failing en masse due to financial weaknesses caused by a rapid hike in interest rates.
Shares in Australia’s major banks were all up in early trading following a volatile week, while the broader market was slightly down.
The uncertainty surrounding global banks has changed the outlook for interest rates, with many now expecting the Reserve Bank will leave rates unchanged next month, ending a record run of consecutive rises going back to May.
Westpac said on Friday it expects a pause in rate changes in April, followed by a final 0.25 percentage point increase in May, taking the cash rate to 3.85%.
Preliminary high court win for Ruby Princess passenger
From AAP:
A desperate passenger from the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise is set to find out whether she’ll go home with compensation, or just Covid-19, after a preliminary win in Australia’s highest court.
Former nurse Susan Karpik is heading a class action case against the cruise company, arguing the liner failed in its duty to take reasonable care of the passengers after 28 people died from the virus in March 2020.
She’s seeking damages against Australian charter company Carnival, which trades under the Princess Cruises name, and the operator of the Ruby Princess, Bermuda-registered Princess Cruise Lines.
Overseas passengers were excluded from the class action due to an earlier ruling and they’re fighting to get back in.
Karpik is a resident of British Columbia in Canada and signed a US version of the contract.
The high court granted special leave to hear the case on Friday, ruling there was prospect of success.
The substance of the case will be heard at a later date.
Total fire ban for parts of Victoria
From AAP:
The Country Fire Authority has declared a total fire ban across parts of Victoria, with temperatures in the high 30s and up to 45km/h winds expected in affected districts.
The ban was declared for the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central for Saturday.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said Saturday’s conditions could make it difficult for firefighters to suppress a fire should one start.
“We are asking people to take heed of the total fire ban conditions,” he said.
“People need to be aware of the increased fire danger and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”
Total fire bans require no fires be lit or remain lit for the duration of the ban, including campfires and for those who have permits for fuel reduction.
People with fuel-reduction permits must postpone any burns until after the ban is lifted.
Albanese on Perrottet’s future fund for children: ‘It just reinforces inequality’
The prime minister also said he did not approve of the premier’s key election pledge to launch a superannuation-style fund for the state’s children, saying it would create a greater divide between rich and poor.
The Kids Future Fund, which calls on parents to make contributions to an account, with the government matching payments up to $400, could see funds grow for some up to $49,000.
“It’s certainly not a progressive policy, from what I’ve seen,” Albanese told reporters on Friday.
“It just reinforces inequality rather than addressing what is needed.
“A Labor policy would be giving support to the most disadvantaged and the most vulnerable.”
From AAP
Albanese on the NSW campaign trail with Chris Minns
From AAP:
Anthony Albanese has launched a series of bombs at the Liberal party while joining NSW Labor leader Chris Minns on the campaign trail, days out from the state election.
“There comes a time when a government reaches the end of its life,” the prime minister told reporters from the Sydney seat of Balmain on Friday.
“This government in NSW is showing all of those signs.”
Albanese said it was “remarkable” that federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton had not joined Premier Dominic Perrottet during his campaign for re-election as the state’s premier.
“What we’ve seen though is that Peter Dutton wasn’t even at the campaign launch for Dominic Perrottet, and hasn’t been seen with Perrottet since last October,” he said.
“The truth is that the Liberal party are a dysfunctional party.
“They’re riven by division. They’re not fighting for the people of NSW because they’re too busy fighting each other.
A gong for Brisbane’s ‘integrated resort cityscape’
Get ready for a national fist fight!
TIME has released its list of the world’s greatest places for 2023 and the only Australian capital to make the list is … (drum roll) … Brissy!
Queensland’s capital took out the gong for its “integrated resort cityscape”, “perennial sunshine” and the “canopy of Moreton Bay fig trees”.
Fair? Tell me in the comments … I know you want to.
Adelaide festival surpasses box-office targets
From AAP:
Ahead of its closing weekend, the Adelaide festival has brought in just under $6 million so far.
More than a dozen shows have enjoyed sold-out runs, including Windmill Theatre’s surreal Hans and Gret and Christian Spuck’s choreographed Messa da Requiem.
The festival’s return to a full-strength slate of international programming has seen 83,312 tickets sold, with a quarter of those going to interstate visitors.
Among the best-selling were the STC’s latest cine-theatre production, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde.
Most of the 2023 content was programmed by long-time artistic directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield, and their replacement, Ruth Mackenzie, said members of the public approach her on the street with their feedback.
“It’s really great to get notes of things we can do better, but actually an awful lot of people are just saying this is really fantastic,” she told AAP.
Investigation into death of more than a million fish in Darling River
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries is investigating the deaths of more than a million fish in the Darling River at Menindee.
The mass deaths have been attributed to a drop in oxygen levels in the river, with plant matter from recent floods sucking oxygen from the water.
The floods have also coincided with a surge in fish breeding, leading to much larger numbers within the river system. More to come.
