Australia news live: Labor shelves nature positive bill indefinitely; Dutton declines to detail where Coalition would cut ‘wasteful’ public service spending
Labor shelves plans for federal EPA indefinitely
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Plans for a federal environment protection agency have been shelved indefinitely after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, intervened once again to quell a backlash in Western Australia.
Guardian Australia has confirmed contentious laws to create the EPA have been pulled from this week’s draft Senate program and won’t be debated before the election, due on or before 17 May.
The move, first reported in The West Australian, came after a backlash from miners and WA Premier Roger Cook to attempts from the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, to revive her signature bill.
It is the second time Albanese has stepped in to push the EPA off the agenda in a matter of months after he intervened late last year to scuttle a draft deal Plibersek reached with the Greens and independent David Pocock to establish the nature watchdog.
The Greens are now unwilling to support an EPA without a blanket ban on native logging, while the Coalition remains firmly opposed, leaving Labor without a path to get it through the Senate.
In a statement, a government spokesperson cited the political deadlock as the reason the legislation was pulled.
With the Greens Party making increasingly extreme demands, it’s clear there is no path to deliver a sensible EPA in this term of Parliament.
Even though the Samuel Review was initiated by the former Liberal Government because business and environment groups all say the current Act is outdated and needs reform the Coalition have continued to be obstructionist.
Key events
Heatwave puts pressure on fire-ravaged state
Sweltering, dry weather in February could spell a longer fire season in a state already ravaged by blazes, as a three-day heatwave is set to test firefighters.
An extended heatwave could worsen bushfires in two national parks that have destroyed property and burnt more than 100,000 hectares.
The mercury is predicted to reach the high 30s and low 40s across Victoria from Sunday to Tuesday, as part of a three-day heatwave.
The high temperatures also bring the chance of dry thunderstorms and lightning, increasing the risk of fires in western and central districts, including metropolitan Melbourne.
Fires continue to burn in Victoria’s Grampians National Park while the threat in the Little Desert National Park has reduced after crews were able to contain the blaze.
Firefighters are working to manage hazardous trees, set up containment lines and extinguish hotspots as those living nearby are warned to enact their bushfire plan as conditions worsen.
High levels of smoke and ash have been reported in the area, with a smoke haze from the Grampians fire blanketing Adelaide on Sunday morning.
It comes as fire crews ready for a longer-than-usual fire season, with little rain predicted for Victoria in February.
Elsewhere, vast parts of WA have high and extreme fire danger ratings on Sunday as North Queenslanders brace for historic rainfall leading to life-threatening flooding.
– AAP
People with insufficient home insurance more likely to risk their lives in bushfires, experts say
People are more likely to risk their lives in bushfires if they are uninsured or underinsured, experts have said.
In the chaos of an approaching fire, most people struggle to make rational decisions; having no house insurance could feed into making the dangerous decision to stay and protect a home, bushfire behaviour and management professor at the University of Melbourne, Trent Penman, said.
Last year, 1.6m Australian households struggled to pay for home insurance, a 30% increase on the year before, according to the Actuaries Institute. Some areas also are becoming uninsurable.
A 2024 Compare the Market survey found more than one in four Australians did not have home or contents insurance.
It’s also the first essential item people stopped paying for “when things got tough”, the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss) has found.
“Insurance premiums have surged by an average of 11% and as high as 30% in disaster-prone regions over the past year,” chief executive officer Dr Cassandra Goldie said.
For more on this story, read the full report by Guardian Australia reporter Tory Shepherd:
BoM: heavy rain likely to continue in north Queensland
Rainfall up to 620mm has fallen in 24 hours on some parts of northern Queensland in the latest Bureau of Meteorology update.
Dean Narramore, senior BoM meteorologist, said these falls have led to major flash and riverine flooding along the Herbert River, the Ross River, the Boley River and the Hortern River in the Townsville area.
Unfortunately, that rain is likely to continue in the coming days.
Narramore said a slow-moving tropical low sliding west-southwest across the state is driving moderate to heavy rainfall, with intense rainfall in some areas, conditions that will continue into Monday before it starts to ease.
The BoM was current warnings for heavy to locally-intense rainfall and damaging winds in the region with the potential for 400mm of rainfall in some areas.
Woman’s death in Queensland flood waters ‘heartbreaking’, says PM
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has described reports of a death in a community outside Townsville as “heartbreaking”.
Heartbreaking news out of Queensland today, with police confirming a woman has died in flood waters in Ingham.
My thoughts are with the family and the entire community at this awful time.
The full support of the Queensland and federal governments is being deployed to assist with these floods.
I have spoken with premier Crisafulli and reiterated we will supply whatever resources are required to deal with this event.
Papers, polls, PR and politics: meet the powerful lobby firm with a finger in every Tasmanian pie
Tasmania’s Derwent Valley Gazette is not the kind of publication that generally springs to mind as part of a powerful media empire. For 72 years, it has quietly served the local news needs of the region west of Hobart.
But some in the island state are concerned that ownership of a string of local publications and a polling company has passed to owners that also operate a powerful lobby firm, present political commentary on their podcast and have worked on campaigns for the incumbent Liberal government.
Font Public Relations, based in Hobart, represents clients with a high profile in the state, including Airbnb and Salmon Tasmania.
“No one knows their way around Tasmanian state and federal politics better,” its website says.
Until 2019, there was nothing very unusual about its work. But then the company saw an opportunity to move into the newspaper business, buying a handful of struggling local papers – including the Gazette and the Sorell Times.
Questions about media diversity at the time were met with assurances the titles would be independently edited.
In 2020, it added two more, and now Font Publishing manages eight titles across the state. None are large publications, but a bit of local coverage can go a long way in a market the size of Tasmania.
For more on this story, read the full feature from Guardian Australia investigative reporter Ariel Bogle:
Ben Smee
Almost six years to the day since last major Townsville flood
Residents in parts of Townsville will have woken this morning with a sense of deja vu – it is almost six years to the day that the last major flood prompted evacuations of low-lying areas of north Queensland’s largest city.
Authorities have ordered a “black zone” be evacuated by midday. That includes mostly low-lying areas by the banks of the Ross River. They include Hermit Park, Railway Estate and Rosslea – all older city suburbs on the northern bank – and parts of the southern side with newer suburban areas, including Idalia, Oonoonba and Cluden.
More than 300mm is expected to hit parts of north Queensland in about six hours. The Ross River Dam, which flows down through Townsville, is already at 142% capacity.
That is still well below historical highs and the level from 2019. But if there is a huge dump of rain today, authorities will need to begin the fraught discussions about how and when water is released into the river system to ease pressure. Doing so can create flooding problems downstream.
Police respond to latest anti-Jewish vandalism in Sydney’s east
New South Wales police are investigating after homes and cars have been vandalised with anti-Jewish graffiti, the latest in a string of such incidents.
Police officers were called to See Lane, Kingsford and King Lane, Randwick on Sunday morning after reports of cars, garages and properties had been spray painted.
Crime scenes have been established at both locations and Strike Force Pearl, which has been set up to tackle hate crimes, is conducting an investigation.
New South Wales police has encouraged anyone with information to contact crime stoppers.
Evacuation orders could be expanded as Ingham flood threatens to be ‘worst flow’ in a century, says Crisafulli
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has flagged that evacuation orders may be expanded to other areas around Townsville should the situation change, and residents are encouraged to monitor information to respond.
The premier also says the flood at Ingham is “threatening to be the worst flow that Ingham has seen in a century”.
The 1927 event, there is not a lot of information of that, it was a large event; this is threatening to be as big as 1967, which is the flood that everybody uses as the benchmark. It will be bigger than 1977, 1998, this is a once in a century occurrence for the community. We just need to let them know we will be there in the weeks and months ahead.
Asked about the death reported earlier, Crisafulli says, “This will hurt.”
It is a small town and people matter.
Woman died in flood waters during SES rescue operation, police say
Queensland police are giving more details about the death during a State Emergency Service rescue operation.
Details are scarce, and with events unfolding, the situation is not always clear, but the current information says there were two SES workers and four members of the public on board the boat when it capsized.
A woman, one of the members of the public, died.
The cause of this is unknown, but floodwaters are notably hazardous places with debris and hidden objects that are not always visible.
Federal government announces emergency payments to flood-affected residents in Queensland
The federal government is activating recovery support for some flood-affected communities around Townsville, the minister for emergency services, Jenny McAllister, says.
This will enable affected area residents to access a $180 emergency payment and up to $900 for families of five or more, among other forms of financial aid for damaged household goods and income-tested grants for structural repairs and reconnection services.
The federal government will also support affected councils to carry out disaster-response efforts, such as road repair.
McAllister also extended her condolences to the family of the person who died at Ingham.
This will be a very hard time for that person’s family, for their community, and for the emergency services personnel in that area. I offer my condolences to them, and I know that all Australians will be thinking of those people at this very difficult time.
Person killed in Ingham flood waters had been travelling in boat that capsized
The person who we earlier reported died flood waters had been travelling in a boat responding to a call for assistance in Ingham when it capsized on Sunday morning.
The Queensland deputy police commissioner said the boat was carrying six people when it sank about 9:20am today.
Five passengers were recovered, but a sixth person, a member of the public, was killed in flood waters.
This is tragically sad. It highlights the dangers and the risks of these events, and that’s why we are engaging with members of the community and asking them to heed the advice of emergency services workers.
But these type of events do put our members of the community at risk. But also it puts our emergency services workers and our emergency services volunteers at risk.
And I just want to finish on this matter by absolutely commending the ongoing work of our emergency services personnel and also our emergency services volunteers, who we have seen for days now, responding to support our community.
The matter is under investigation.
‘Up to you’ to stay safe and heed advice, premier warns Queenslanders
Queensland premier David Crisafulli says he is committed to a “long and difficult recovery and rebuild” but that “today’s focus is safety”.
“Today’s focus is on heeding the advice, and I think Queenslanders have seen we’ve done a lot to prepare for this, and now it’s up to you. It’s up to you to stay safe. It’s up to you to heed the advice. And then it’s up to us to be able to respond. And I have every faith that we’re going to be able to.
More than 2,000 homes without power in Townsville and Palm as schools close
The Queensland premier says there are more than 2,000 properties in Townsville and Palm without power.
State Emergency Services have also been met with multiple requests for assistance.
I want residents to know that we’ll be doing all we can to mobilise in those areas to provide assistance.
The premier says the Bruce Highway remains cut at multiple locations, but local roads are moving.
My advice is stay off the roads. Unless you are in the situation where you are in those black zone suburbs and you need to evacuate by midday. Ideally, we really don’t want you on the roads. We want you staying safe and sound and waiting for the worst to pass. And again … there is a lot of rainfall ahead.
Crisafulli says the government is creating a list of school closures on its website by 1pm.
Person dies in flood waters in Ingham
A person has been killed in flood waters in the far northern Queensland town of Ingham.
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, announced the “terrible news” in his latest update on the flooding situation in the tight-knit rural community where the Herbert river is currently at 14.89 meters – just below the 15.2-meter record set in 1967.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family
Residents near Ingham will soon be without power as the power station is about to be shut off.
The premier has reiterated that residents in areas subject to evacuation orders should leave now. Those suburbs are Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea.
Crisafulli told residents who have decided to stay not to take any risks.
I’ve heard some people referring to the 2019 event and comparing this one. There is more rain to come and there is the prospect of record rainfalls.
Now, I’m just asking people just take the precautions, prepare for the worst, listen to the advice. Please don’t discount this. This is a serious event and we’re asking people to heed the advice as it comes to hand.
Evacuation order issued for Mirrantwa near the Grampians bushfire
Residents in Mirranatwa, Victoria have been told to leave immediately as a fire burning through the Grampians approaches the community.
A bushfire in the Grampians National Park is burning out of control around Victoria Range (Bullawin).
The firefront is travelling southerly towards Red Hill Road and is expected to hit between 11.30am and 12.30pm.
Watch and Act orders have been issued for surrounding communities.
Townsville residents warned to ‘get out now’ ahead of forecast heavy rainfalls
Local authorities in Townsville say conditions are not expected to worsen, with heavy rainfalls and strong gusts of wind predicted this evening.
In the latest update on Sunday morning, authorities reported controlled releases from Ross River dam, which is at 150% capacity and is not expected to overflow under current conditions.
Authorities say those within the “black zone” should evacuate immediately, and those in the “pink zone” should be aware of conditions in case the situation changes.
Even if they are not in one of those zones, people need to be prepared. They need to have thought about their evacuation route. They need to have their emergency kit prepared. With about three days worth of supplies, particularly any medication that they may need. So it’s not only this current event, it’s the flooding that will occur afterwards.
A request has been made for aid from the Australian Defence Force, which has been assisting managing the situation.
Authorities say that most people from 122 houses have evacuated, and those who have chosen to stay are long-term residents who lived through the 2019 flood. Authorities have urged those staying to reconsider.
Again, they’re going to be without power. Power will be switched off to those areas. So again, consider your safety first and go to a safe zone as soon as possible.
The message is that if you’re in a black zone, get out now. That’s as simple as that.
Residents are urged to stay updated by checking the Townsville disaster information Facebook page for the latest information.
Labor at risk from campaign in must-win seats
A federal independent candidate backed by political movement The Muslim Vote is in negotiations with the Liberals, Greens and other independents to preference Labor last in a must-win seat at the upcoming federal election, striking fear that safe seats could fall.
Ministers Jason Clare in Blaxland and Tony Burke in Watson face challenges from grassroots independents looking to seize on anger within large Muslim and Arab populations about Labor’s handling of the war in Gaza.
Watson candidate Ziad Basyouny is in negotiations with the Liberals, Greens and other independents to preference Labor last.
The community is energised, engaged and ready to send a message that they will not be taken for granted anymore.
Our movement is about accountability. Labor cannot expect blind loyalty after everything they’ve done, and they will rank very low on our preferences.
Despite Labor holding the two Western Sydney seats on a 15% margin, there are serious concerns behind the scenes at party’s polling in the area.
Blaxland has a more than 30% Muslim population, and Watson about 25%.
– AAP
