Scrapping of 2026 Commonwealth Video games had ‘no discernible profit’, report finds
Adeshola Ore
The Victorian authorities’s scrapping of the 2026 Commonwealth Video games value taxpayers greater than $589m, with the state’s auditor basic discovering it had “no discernible profit”.
An auditor basic report, tabled in state parliament on Wednesday, described the price as vital given the Victoria’s rising debt:
This waste of taxpayer cash on an occasion that won’t occur is important.
Beforehand the federal government revealed it agreed to pay Commonwealth Video games our bodies $380m in compensation, with former premier Daniel Andrews describing it because the “greatest end result” the state may get.
Key occasions
Greens senator Janet Rice has repeated her name for the federal government to lift revenue help to a minimum of $88 a day to convey it above the Henderson poverty line.
Rice says the indexation enhance just isn’t value of dwelling aid and shouldn’t be described as such:
After Labor has simply pushed via a $4500 a 12 months tax lower for billionaires and politicians, giving themselves a pat on the again for “supporting Australians doing it powerful” is a slap within the face to folks on revenue help.
Governments on either side routinely enhance JobSeeker by CPI – there’s nothing new right here. Taking credit score for an computerized, already-legislated indexation enhance and claiming it can present cost-of-living aid is a joke.
Right this moment’s indexation is a measly 96 cent a day enhance for somebody on JobSeeker. This doesn’t even get funds near the poverty line, not to mention make them sufficient to reside on.
Poverty is a political selection, and this authorities is doubling down on their selection to go away folks with out heating or meals or medicines as they battle to pay the lease.
Daniel Hurst
The Greens senator Janet Rice has been right down to the protest rally out the entrance of Parliament Home, coinciding with the go to by China’s overseas minister, Wang Yi.
Rice stated:
My message to each Penny Wong and Simon Birmingham* is to place the problem of human rights in China and in Tibet completely prime of the agenda. We can not have regular relationships with China whereas the folks of Tibet are being oppressed, persecuted, do not need non secular freedom, are being taken off their lands, whereas youngsters are being despatched off to Chinese language-run boarding colleges.
Australia has to talk out and say this isn’t adequate.
Rice additionally talked about the Uyghurs, the growing silencing of dissent in Hong Kong, and the plight of human rights campaigners in China. She stated China “must be taken to process”. Australia can have a relationship with China however human rights must be on the centre of it, Rice stated.
* Each the Australian minister for overseas affairs and the Coalition shadow minister might be assembly with Wang right this moment
Benita Kolovos
Organ donation report suggestions tabled in Victorian parliament
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has urged the state authorities to contemplate reintroducing the choice to register for organ and tissue donation when making use of for or renewing a driver’s licence to assist enhance donation charges.
The Legislative Meeting authorized and social points committee’s report into organ donation, tabled in parliament on Wednesday, makes 74 findings and 41 suggestions to encourage extra registrations on the Australian Organ Donor Register and higher promotion of household dialogue about donation.
It discovered that whereas most Victorians help donation, solely 23% are registered to be donors, which is far decrease than the nationwide common of 36%. The speed of registration for younger folks is especially low, with simply 10% of individuals aged 16 to 25 having registered a donation choice.
In South Australia 70% of persons are registered to be donors. The committee suggests SA has the very best organ donation price within the nation as a result of it’s the solely state the place it’s nonetheless potential to file a donation choice on a driver’s licence. The scheme was phased out in Victoria within the early 2000s.
The inquiry really useful the federal government reintroduce the scheme with a sure registration possibility solely.
Committee chair Labor MP Ella George stated it was additionally necessary for folks to have a dialog with their household about their donation needs:
We all know that may considerably enhance the probability {that a} household will consent to a donation going forward …
It may be extremely confronting to be requested to consent to a cherished one changing into a donor. However we realized that many households discover the power at a time of intense unhappiness to recognise that they will help others.
Natasha Might
Funding for bone marrow donor registry
Extra Australians’ lives may very well be saved with greater than $4m to extend the quantity and variety of bone marrow donors.
Bone marrow donations present the stem cells which are required for stem cell transplants, that are life-saving remedies for folks with leukaemia and a variety of different blood cancers.
However Australia’s pool of donors via the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is shrinking.
The registry has $13m it has accrued from exporting Australian umbilical wire blood abroad over 20 years, to fund a marketing campaign to broaden the registry in Australia – however it wants commonwealth and state authorities approval to spend the cash.
Federal and state and territory well being ministers have this morning introduced they are going to be releasing as much as $4.2m from this fund, in further to the $1m from the fund they launched in February final 12 months.
The well being minister, Mark Butler, stated:
Previously, Australia has not moved quick sufficient to allow simpler matching of bone marrow donors with sufferers who want them.
Right this moment’s announcement delivers on the dedication made by the Albanese Authorities and all states and territories to strengthen our blood donor registry for the good thing about the numerous Australians who want a transplant annually.
Learn extra right here:
The Greens are introducing their payments which might give the ACCC divestiture powers to interrupt up the grocery store duopoly.
The federal government has not proven any indications it can help it, so the invoice is unlikely to go far. But it surely mirrors the same name from independents Bob Katter and Andrew Gee who’ve been listening to from producers and different farmers in regards to the affect of the supermarkets on their lives and companies, so there’s help within the parliament for it – simply not from the key events.
Wong pushes for commerce ‘predictability’
Penny Wong’s opening feedback to Wang Yi at their assembly had been made publicly – the remainder of the assembly is for behind closed doorways.
The general public remarks are a whoosh whoosh of the problems we all know the assembly will cowl:
At our final overseas and strategic dialogue, we agreed to start out or resume dialogue in a variety of areas, and I’m happy that since then, now we have held our annual leaders’ assembly, commerce and financial talks, our 1.5 observe high-level dialogue and consultations on defence, consular points, and local weather.
We additionally welcome progress on commerce between our nations, together with on wine exports, and stay up for the decision of excellent points.
Predictability in enterprise and in commerce is in all our pursuits.
You and I additionally agreed on the significance of dialogue between our two nations, not simply to take ahead our shared pursuits, but additionally to trade views on the problems that matter to us and to navigate correctly, any variations now we have.
With that in thoughts, I stay up for talking frankly with about Australians detained in China, human rights, maritime safety and security, and regional and worldwide points such because the Pacific, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the battle within the Center East.
Victoria’s shadow legal professional basic Michael O’Brien says he doesn’t assume the federal government proposed trial of ankle displays for youngsters on bail will work. He says:
I don’t assume that any person who’s going to interrupt into your home at night time with a machete goes to be frightened about certainly one of Jacinta Allan’s ankle bracelets. I believe they’ll be sporting them as a badge of honour. They’re extra prone to be swapping them like Taylor Swift friendship bracelets.
Benita Kolovos
‘Shackling kids? That’s not humane’
Nonetheless in Victoria, the response to the federal government’s backflip on youth bail legal guidelines continues.
Victorian Greens chief Samantha Ratnam can be very sad. She tells reporters:
Look, it’s very troubling to listen to these accounts this morning. We’re but to be briefed on the element from the federal government. However now we have been pushing for extra humane justice coverage for many years now. And the Greens received’t quit on pushing for extra humane justice coverage.
It’s actually regarding to listen to about this information that ankle bracelets for youngsters and there are two issues that come to thoughts after I heard that this morning. One – are we now letting the police write our justice coverage on this state? And two – I considered that mural in Preston that a few of you would possibly know, that depicts First Nations folks being shackled, to remind us of our colonial previous and the way we must always by no means return there.
Is that this authorities now asking us to contemplate these photos as soon as once more in 2024? Shackling kids? That’s not humane … and the Greens will combat it.
Scrapping of 2026 Commonwealth Video games had ‘no discernible profit’, report finds
Adeshola Ore
The Victorian authorities’s scrapping of the 2026 Commonwealth Video games value taxpayers greater than $589m, with the state’s auditor basic discovering it had “no discernible profit”.
An auditor basic report, tabled in state parliament on Wednesday, described the price as vital given the Victoria’s rising debt:
This waste of taxpayer cash on an occasion that won’t occur is important.
Beforehand the federal government revealed it agreed to pay Commonwealth Video games our bodies $380m in compensation, with former premier Daniel Andrews describing it because the “greatest end result” the state may get.
‘I’m not considering that we received’t attain that vacation spot’
That trade ended with the query of what occurs if the federal government doesn’t get bipartisan help:
Mark Dreyfus:
We’re aiming to achieve a bipartisan end result.
Q: What occurs if you happen to don’t?
Dreyfus:
That’s what constructive work is, if you end up aiming to achieve a bipartisan end result and I’m not considering that we received’t attain that vacation spot. That’s one thing that we’ve been speaking about for a really very long time.
Dreyfus stresses need for bipartisanship on non secular discrimination regulation
Legal professional basic Mark Dreyfus was requested this morning in regards to the authorities’s plans to shelve the non secular discrimination laws if it doesn’t get bipartisan help.
We’ve made it actually clear that, so far as we’re involved, no Australian must be discriminated towards due to who they’re. All Australians ought to be capable of reside free from discrimination. That is one thing we’ve been engaged on for a very long time, we’ve been consulting about for a very long time. And we’re very eager, because the prime minister stated yesterday, to work with the opposition for a bipartisan end result on this. We’re going to work constructively with the opposition in the direction of a bipartisan end result.
That led to this trade:
Q: However are we leaping the gun on demanding bipartisanship on non secular discrimination from the opposition when it hasn’t offered laws, or launched the ALRC report?
Dreyfus:
We expect that it is a subject on which we must be working constructively. That’s why we’ve commenced discussions with the Opposition and why we’re trying to obtain a bipartisan end result.
Q: Will you be sure that there’s a committee inquiry? Why haven’t you allow them to see the invoice? And can you create an inquiry so the bipartisanship can begin?
Dreyfus:
We’ve commenced discussions with the opposition, and we’re trying ahead to working constructively with the opposition on this piece of laws.
Q: So, if you happen to don’t get bipartisan help will you shelve this invoice?
Dreyfus:
That is one thing that Australians have been speaking about for a really very long time. There have been some 10 inquiries since 2016. It’s one thing that we’ve been consulting with the group about, with religion leaders about, for a really very long time. And we’re trying ahead to working constructively with the opposition. We’re aiming to achieve a bipartisan end result.
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s choice to introduce digital monitoring for youngsters underneath fireplace
The Victorian Aboriginal Authorized Service has lashed the state authorities over its backflip on bail and the choice to introduce digital monitoring for youngsters.
Chief govt Nerita Waight has launched a press release saying Vals has been participating with the federal government in good religion for 5 years on bail and youth justice regulation modifications and now feels betrayed. She says “at no time did the federal government tell us that they had been contemplating implementing these Massive Brother techniques”.
Waight’s assertion goes on:
Jacinta Allan is growing a horrible observe file as Premier already with regards to regulation reform. At each flip, she has picked the meanest and most punitive coverage – whether or not its punitive parole legal guidelines or digital monitoring, the Premier appears intent on making Victoria a penal colony as soon as once more.
We’re devastated that we trusted the Allan Authorities, and so they have fully betrayed abused and traumatised kids within the hope it can win them votes on the subsequent election. I ponder if it’s price it ultimately?
Digital monitoring has been tried 1,000,000 instances. It doesn’t work. It’s a failed concept that solely essentially the most determined politicians cling to when they’re too scared to make the fitting choice. This authorities has even tried digital monitoring for youngsters previously and ditched the thought fairly shortly after getting a number of media headlines.
Juice Media falls foul of Tasmania’s Electoral Act
Juice Media, who chances are you’ll recognise from the “trustworthy authorities” commercial satirical movies, has reportedly fallen foul of the Tasmanian Electoral Act with its newest content material.
The difficulty? The content material included a nonetheless of Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff. Which, underneath part 196 of the act, just isn’t allowed with out written consent as soon as the writ for an election has been issued. You possibly can’t even use a candidate’s title.
We’ve gone to the Tasmanian electoral fee for remark however right here is the regulation:
Candidate names not for use with out authority
(1) An individual should not between the problem of the writ for an election and the shut of ballot at that election print, publish or distribute any commercial, “how you can vote” card, handbill, pamphlet, poster or discover which comprises the title, {photograph} or a likeness of a candidate or intending candidate at that election with out the written consent of the candidate.
Penalty: Wonderful not exceeding 300 penalty models or imprisonment for a time period not exceeding 12 months, or each.
(2) Subsection (1) doesn’t apply to any matter printed, revealed or distributed by the Fee or the Commissioner in the midst of selling public consciousness of elections and parliamentary issues.
Whereas the Wang Yi assembly with Penny Wong is underneath method in Parliament Home, there’s a massive protest outdoors, made up of Falun Gong supporters and people advocating for Tibet.
Victoria to trial digital monitoring of kids
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s legal professional basic, Jaclyn Symes, has confirmed she has scrapped plans to introduce a presumption of bail for youngsters.
Final 12 months Symes put the modifications on maintain saying she didn’t need to create a debate “a couple of youth crime disaster that doesn’t exist”. She stated the measure can be launched as a part of a future youth justice invoice in 2024.
However on Wednesday she confirmed to reporters she wasn’t going forward with the plans. As a substitute Symes introduced a trial of digital monitoring of kids on bail:
Right this moment I’m saying we’re not continuing with youth bail modifications. The system is already making use of the unacceptable danger checks as a result of youngsters are passing the upper threshold checks fairly simply, as a result of younger folks can display that it’s an excessive measure to be remanded.
They’re already passing these checks. That’s what I’m listening to is going on in follow. Due to this fact, if that’s what’s taking place in follow, altering it and creating concern that we’re weakening bail, when it’s not essentially the case just isn’t one thing that we have to do.
I haven’t been satisfied that the case has been mounted to make a change that may have any vital affect.
International ministers meet – in photos
The assembly between Penny Wong and her Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi is underneath method.
(Continued from earlier put up)
Bridget Archer stated she was grateful to not have the “nasty, divisive concentrate on these points that we noticed earlier than”.
It’s a tragic state of affairs if the federal government says we’re not going to convey on such laws as a result of we don’t assume the opposite facet will agree ...
That’s the purpose of the parliament. Carry ahead the laws, put it out for session, permit constituents and different events and others to take a look at it and work their method via it. I simply assume it’s nonsense to say, “Oh, we’re not going to suggest something as a result of we don’t assume we’re going to get settlement.”. That’s the purpose of the place. Simply get in and get it completed.
Impartial ACT senator David Pocock, who has been awarded this 12 months’s McKinnon prize for rising management, additionally stated the federal government ought to convey ahead its proposal.
Archer stated her views on these points “stay unchanged” because the final time they had been debated, when the Coalition proposed laws simply earlier than the final federal election.
In early 2022 Archer was certainly one of 5 Liberals who crossed the ground to vote with the then Labor opposition and amend the Morrison authorities’s proposed non secular discrimination invoice to strip again exemptions for non secular colleges and enhance protections for homosexual and transgender college students.
This morning she didn’t rule out supporting Labor legislative proposals once more:
We come right here to make choices in the very best pursuits of our group and in the very best pursuits of Australia and I’m going to work with anyone who is ready to try this in good religion.
Archer speaks out on non secular discrimination invoice
Karen Middleton studies that Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer has joined the general public debate on whether or not to delay, or not, new laws on non secular discrimination. She is firmly within the “not” camp.
The recipient of this 12 months’s McKinnon prize for federal political management who has constructed a fame as an impartial thinker throughout the Coalition who’s prepared to vote towards her personal social gathering on some points, Archer instructed ABC Radio Nationwide Breakfast this morning that the federal government ought to simply convey it on:
It’s disappointing in my opinion that the federal government is showing to stroll away from coping with any of those points which they took to the final election. They dedicated to addressing these points. I’m undecided actually why that’s. And you already know I believe simply kicking the can down the street just isn’t useful to individuals who need some certainty round these points.
She stated it was necessary to have protections from discrimination for folks of religion and for a few of the most susceptible folks locally.
I’d urge the federal government to resume their concentrate on this problem as nicely.
(continued in subsequent put up)
Hume lashes Labor for ‘mistake’ in respecting excessive court docket choice
Over in breakfast TV land, Liberal senator Jane Hume has repeated the mistruth that the federal government made “a mistake” in releasing extra than simply the stateless NZYQ who introduced the excessive court docket case towards indefinite detention and releasing 149 folks in the identical cohort.
Hume is aware of that is incorrect. When the excessive court docket comes to a decision it units a brand new precedent, which implies that people who find themselves in comparable positions are lined by that precedent. If governments don’t observe the excessive court docket’s ruling, they go away themselves open to litigation – and profitable litigation at that – as a result of the affect of the ruling is fairly clear.
So if the excessive court docket guidelines that it’s unconstitutional for a selected political reside blogger to be denied a bit deal with right here and there, then all political bloggers who meet the factors can be lined by the choice.
The federal government didn’t simply determine to cease indefinite detention and launch folks. It was following a excessive court docket edict that overturned the case regulation governments had been counting on to lock folks up in indefinite detention and the end result would have been the identical irrespective of who was in authorities.
Hume is aware of this. However she, like most within the Coalition, are relying on the general public not figuring out this. And breakfast tv “debates” are usually not precisely the discussion board for nuance, so Hume is free to run off the Coalition’s speaking factors right here:
Let’s take a giant step again and establish the primary failure, which was the truth that minister Giles gave the fallacious recommendation to the excessive court docket on the unique detainee. He stated that he couldn’t be resettled anyplace, and there was recommendation that the excessive court docket primarily based its choice on*. In order that was the primary mistake.
The second mistake was minister Giles not turning as much as briefings from his personal division as a result of he was on the market campaigning on the voice.**
The third mistake was releasing 149 detainees fairly than simply the one which the excessive court docket was making its choice upon, and never ready till the excessive court docket’s choice was made***.
Then the request was that we make preventative detention orders out there. Now the Coalition got here to the social gathering on that. Now we discover out that these preventative detention orders can’t be made as a result of they’re too difficult. We’re standing by prepared to assist****.
Now we discover out additionally that there have been visas issued that had been issued incorrectly. Final week, Clare, you stated that these visas had been from the Abbott period. Effectively, they weren’t. We discovered solely a few hours later that they had been from the Gillard period.
This appears to be blaming anyone else aside from your self for these issues. Fairly frankly, minister Giles must resign, and Anthony Albanese must cease working a safety racket for this incompetent Minister and fairly concentrate on defending the Australian folks.
*the particular person had been in indefinite detention whereas the Coalition had been in authorities and there had been no makes an attempt to resettle them.
**I believe we all know ministers can do a number of issues without delay.
***See above.
****Preventative detention orders that the court docket received’t instantly overturn are difficult, however that doesn’t imply that work isn’t being completed on them. It simply takes time.