Thomas Sewell crashed Victorian premier’s press convention
Benita Kolovos
Self-proclaimed neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell has crashed a press convention held by Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, and the state treasurer, Jaclyn Symes.
As Allan was requested about Sewell’s involvement in Sunday’s March for Australia rally in Melbourne, he approached the premier and commenced yelling at her.
He was separated from her by the premier’s safety element and he or she and Symes rapidly left, with the press convention deserted.
Key occasions
It’s a celebration room assembly morning …
These FoI adjustments are little question being mentioned within the varied celebration room conferences going down round parliament this morning.
We’ll get a briefing on what goes down within the Labor and Greens celebration rooms, and we’ll wait to see if we get a briefing or a press convention from the opposition.
All of it means we gained’t hear these bells ringing for slightly bit longer – the homes will start sitting from noon.
Josh Butler
Transparency advocates increase alarm over plans to cost for FoI requests
Transparency advocates are alarmed on the authorities’s plans to impose utility charges on freedom of data requests. Kieran Pender, affiliate authorized director on the Human Rights Legislation Centre, mentioned the present FoI system is “not working”.
“Any steps to restrict entry to the FoI regime have to be fastidiously scrutinised,” he mentioned.
The Albanese authorities ought to prioritise fixing whistleblowing legal guidelines and winding again draconian secrecy offences, relatively than making authorities data much less accessible and costlier.
Allan convenes anti-hate taskforce over assault on Camp Sovereignty
Benita Kolovos
Earlier than Sewell crashed the premier’s press convention, Jacinta Allan was requested what she made from the scenes at Sunday’s rally and the assault at Camp Sovereignty. She instructed reporters:
I … completely condemn these individuals who engaged in these despicable acts of violence and racism. There may be completely no place for that, and that’s the reason, over the course of this week, alongside Victoria police, I can be convening the anti-hate taskforce to each take a look at the incidents over the weekend, but additionally perceive too, that this goes past simply being a legislation and order problem.
Allan instructed reporters there was “one thing deeper happening” with the rally. She went on:
Individuals’s sense of financial safety is being exploited by a small variety of individuals, who’re wanting to make use of cracks in our society and exploit them to drive division in our society. There is no such thing as a doubt that over the previous few years, Australians have endured quite a bit. It’s been a tricky time.
However the answer to these robust occasions isn’t in a quest to divide us… That’s not the answer … it makes us weaker, it makes us poorer, it makes us much less resilient.
She mentioned she noticed the pathway to social cohesion by means of “constructing a stronger society”:
A spot the place individuals have jobs, individuals have rights and are revered. And that’s actually the pathway my authorities is constructing right here in Victoria, constructing actually for the longer term, ensuring there may be that sense of financial certainty and safety, but additionally seeing Victoria as a spot the place everybody has the correct to be who they’re and accomplish that safely, protected by the legislation.
Josh Taylor
Age assurance report a ‘gross sales pitch’ for biometrics business, digital rights group says
The chair of Digital Frontiers Australia, John Pane, has mentioned the discharge of the age assurance expertise trial report on tech to maintain underneath 16s from social media vindicated his considerations raised final month concerning the mission.
Pane, who was on the stakeholder advisory board overseeing the trial previous to quitting final month, mentioned the social media ban is “unhealthy coverage, unhealthy legislation, and a gap-ridden technological answer that’s simply circumvented by technical means or third-party collusion”.
It doesn’t resolve the issue of algorithmic manipulation that steals customers’ consideration and engagement, nor does it repair the inherent shortcomings in our privateness and on-line security legal guidelines by means of a mandated digital obligation of care.
He mentioned the report reads “like a gross sales pitch or advertising materials for the age authentication, identification verification and biometrics business”. The “inevitable” errors in tech equivalent to facial age estimation would bolster the case for the federal government to deploy ID verification applied sciences, Pane mentioned.
Shadow legal professional normal says Labor talked ‘massive sport’ on transparency however has not lived as much as guarantees
Labor talked a “massive sport” on transparency however has delivered something however, says the shadow legal professional normal, Julian Leeser, attacking the federal government’s transfer to cost for freedom of data requests.
Talking to reporters in Canberra, Leeser says that underneath Labor’s watch, transparency has decreased, the variety of FoI refusals has elevated and the federal government has intentionally prevented Senate orders to launch paperwork:
We’ve seen will increase in refusals of FoI [requests] since they got here to workplace. We’ve seen stakeholders being pressured to signal agreements in relation to non-disclosure agreements in relation to laws as numerous as office relations and spiritual discrimination, we’ve seen the federal government intentionally flouting Senate orders for manufacturing of paperwork.
We’re now seeing adjustments to the standing orders to make the federal government much less accountable, and we’ve seen the employees of members of parliament, whose job it’s to carry the federal government to account, slashed.
Leeser says he’ll get a briefing from the federal government on the adjustments later right this moment, and is open to reforms for the FoI system, to sort out points recognized by the federal government round bots and ‘nefarious actors’. However he says he’s “very involved a few transparency tax”.
Thomas Sewell crashed Victorian premier’s press convention
Benita Kolovos
Self-proclaimed neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell has crashed a press convention held by Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, and the state treasurer, Jaclyn Symes.
As Allan was requested about Sewell’s involvement in Sunday’s March for Australia rally in Melbourne, he approached the premier and commenced yelling at her.
He was separated from her by the premier’s safety element and he or she and Symes rapidly left, with the press convention deserted.
Australia helping UN and companions to look at harm and set up reduction efforts aftter earthquake in Afghanistan
The impacts of the earthquake in Afghanistan are “devastating”, says the overseas minister, Penny Wong, because the worldwide neighborhood helps to determine the extent of harm within the area.
Not less than 800 individuals have been killed by a magnitude 6 earthquake that struck near the Pakistan border on Sunday.
In a press release, Wong mentioned Australian officers are in touch with the UN and worldwide companions.
The impacts of the earthquake in Afghanistan and the lack of life are devastating. Our ideas are with the Afghan individuals, in addition to the Afghan neighborhood in Australia.
Australian officers are in touch with the United Nations and different worldwide companions to determine the extent of harm and standing of reduction efforts.
ABC apologises for airing declare 9 reporter was warned to not ask about Katter’s Lebanese heritage
Amanda Meade
The ABC has apologised for airing an incorrect declare by news.com.au political editor Samantha Maiden on Insiders {that a} 9 reporter was warned to not ask Bob Katter about his Lebanese heritage earlier than a Brisbane press convention.
The impartial MP known as 9’s Queensland reporter Josh Bavas a racist and threatened to punch him at a press convention on Friday when he requested him “You’ve obtained Lebanese heritage your self … ” earlier than being reduce off.
The member for Kennedy walked as much as the Channel 9 reporter and shook his fist at him.
Maiden made the remarks when the incident was mentioned by a panel of journalists on the Insiders episode on Sunday. The feedback have been edited out of this system on iview.
On the Insiders episode broadcast on 31 August the panel mentioned Unbiased MP Bob Katter’s threatening behaviour in direction of 9 journalist Josh Bavas at a press convention in Brisbane,” the correction said.
Throughout the dialogue news.com.au journalist Samantha Maiden mentioned the 2 had a dialog earlier than the press convention about what was going to be requested and steered Mr Bavas was warned to not ask about Mr Katter’s Lebanese heritage. The ABC needs to make clear that no dialog befell. Insiders apologises for the error. The remark has been faraway from the on-demand variations of this system.
FoI costs a ‘fact tax’, opposition says
Tim Wilson is looking the federal government’s plan to place a price on FOI requests a “fact tax”, and says Labor wants to offer laborious proof that the system is being overrun by bots or nefarious actors.
Talking to Sky Information, Wilson says Labor is placing a “veil of secrecy” over the federal government.
As Josh Butler simply introduced you slightly earlier, the federal authorities will begin charging for freedom of data requests, an accountability and transparency software used broadly by politicians and journalists.
Wilson doesn’t maintain again in his criticism of the concept.
The declare they put out there may be that there are bots on the market doing issues, now that could be occurring, however… that is handled by software program platforms on daily basis. If there’s different data that’s being accessed by nefarious actors, present proof the place it is a drawback, however once more, present an alternate answer.
As a substitute, they’re simply imposing a veil of secrecy over all the authorities. It appears form of like what you get when you’ve gotten a authorities with a 94 seat majority and doesn’t need scrutiny.
Josh Butler
Butler suggests FoI system overrun by AI bots presumably linked to ‘overseas actors’ or ‘felony gangs’
Cupboard minister Mark Butler has defended deliberate adjustments to the FOI system to make journalists and politicians pay for looking for authorities data, claiming departments had been “being inundated by nameless requests” – suggesting some could also be coming from abroad adversaries or criminals.
Butler stood behind the federal government’s plan to place what he known as a “modest cost” on the system, which presently permits free functions. He mentioned that somebody needed to pay for requests:
“Both taxpayers pay for them, or individuals looking for entry to that data, whether or not it’s to populate the media that they earn cash from, or whether or not it’s a enterprise group,” he mentioned at a doorstop this morning.
Requested why it was wanted, Butler claimed the system was being overrun.
A lot of them, we’re positive are AI bot-generated requests. They could be linked to overseas actors, overseas powers, felony gangs… we don’t know the place these requests come from.
We’ve taken the view, as state governments have, {that a} modest charging surroundings is in line with standard price restoration rules.
Butler famous, as had legal professional normal Michelle Rowland, that folks looking for their very own private data which was held by the federal government would stay ready to take action freed from cost.
Authorities to cost for Freedom of Info requests
Josh Butler
The federal authorities will begin charging for freedom of data requests, in a significant change to the elemental accountability and transparency software used broadly by politicians and journalists.
It’s prone to face a fierce backlash within the parliament and from accountability advocates. The legal professional normal, Michelle Rowland, tomorrow will introduce laws the federal government says will “enhance Australia’s damaged FoI system”, claiming the adjustments would prioritise “real” requests and forestall taxpayer cash getting used on “frivolous and automatic requests”.
At the moment anybody could make a request for presidency data, from the prime minister’s diary and emails with overseas leaders down to private data held about oneself.
Making a request is free, however departments can degree costs for the time to course of a request – from looking for paperwork and redacting them to make sure they don’t comprise delicate data.
Rowland mentioned the federal government would ban nameless requests, “strengthen” utility necessities to “deter vexatious and frivolous requests” and add a “new fee-structure”.
Her workplace mentioned there could be price exemptions for private data, which accounted for 72% of requests in 2023-24.
However for journalists, politicians and different specialists looking for entry to authorities data, a price will apply. The federal government has not mentioned precisely how a lot, however it’s prone to replicate modest costs on the state degree – round $50 per request.
Rowland’s workplace claimed the FoI system was underneath pressure from web sites or synthetic intelligence in “enabling massive volumes of obscure, nameless, vexatious, abusive and frivolous requests – tying up sources, costing taxpayers cash and delaying real requests”.
Proof to aged care inquiry ‘traumatic and surprising’: Greens senator
The Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne says the Senate is prepared to behave if the federal government isn’t to pressure Labor’s to launch extra house care packages instantly.
The celebration’s aged care spokesperson mentioned the inquiry final Friday discovered that greater than 200,000 persons are on a waitlist for a house care bundle and heard from witnesses who had relations die while ready for care.
Senator David Pocock has mentioned 20,000 further packages are wanted proper now. Allman-Payne says that might be the “naked minimal”.
Each day that the federal government delays is one other day that someone … [is] not getting the care that they want. So we’ve got laws earlier than the parliament. The federal government may really repair this right this moment. They budgeted to launch house care packages on the first of July. [Providers have] instructed us they’re able to go. There is no such thing as a motive for this delay.
As one of many different witnesses on the inquiry mentioned, eight weeks is a very long time for an older particular person. Six months to 2 years is catastrophic.
No readability on tariffs for prescription drugs: Butler
Mark Butler says the Trump administration is targeted on attempting to get their drug costs down and has not given Australia any extra readability on whether or not our prescription drugs are going to get hit with tariffs.
The US president flagged a potential 200% tariff on prescription drugs earlier this 12 months.
Butler says, because the prime minister has, that the federal government gained’t negotiate on the PBS.
The trustworthy reply to that’s no … the sufferers in America pay a number of the highest costs for medicines, as your listeners most likely know on this planet. However fairly how they’re going to try this, what the influence for the remainder of the world could be, is one thing we’re nonetheless, as each different nation is attempting to do, attempting to grasp slightly bit higher.
Butler defends aged care delay as ‘comparatively quick’ as requires early funding intensify
The aged care laws delay is “comparatively quick” says Mark Butler, going through questions on RN Breakfast over why the federal government gained’t convey extra house care packages on-line now.
Talking to RN Breakfast, Butler is requested what number of senior Australians will die ready for assessments and packages between now and November. Butler says he can’t predict that determine, however is working to get the waitlist determine down.
[This is] a comparatively quick delay. Actually, 4 months … we’ve pushed the brand new system down the highway from the first of July to the first of November, as you say. The sector wished it. They didn’t assume they had been prepared to do that.
We’ve now obtained to get this final a part of the laws by means of the parliament this week, as a result of if we don’t, we won’t be able to introduce the brand new system on the first of November.
The Coalition and crossbench will work collectively to pressure the federal government to convey ahead funding for extra house care packages, with an modification to the invoice presently being debated within the Senate.
Shadow power minister: Coalition will ‘take our time’ in figuring out celebration’s power coverage
Dan Tehan is a person underneath strain. Whereas members of the celebration together with Barnaby Joyce push for a extra speedy place on internet zero and nuclear, the shadow power minister has been charged with reviewing the Coalition’s power coverage, which he says will take 9 to 12 months.
Talking to ABC RN Breakfast, Tehan says he gained’t be rushed in setting the Coalition’s power coverage.
Requested whether or not the Coalition can come to an agreed place when Nationals like Joyce and senior Liberals like Andrew Hastie are pushing for internet zero to be scrapped. Tehan doesn’t give us an ironclad promise that they’ll come collectively:
That’s what we’ve set to work by means of over the subsequent 9 to 12 months. And we’ve obtained to make it possible for we land this in the very best pursuits of the Australian individuals. And that’s what I’m looking for to do. And that’s why we’ll work methodically by means of it. Take our time to make it possible for we get it proper.
Sally Sara places former Liberal frontbencher and now OECD secretary normal Mathias Cormann’s plea to the Coalition to concentrate on how you can meet internet zero.
Tehan says “everybody’s feedback are all the time useful” on this debate, however that Cormann is anxious about the place the Australian economy goes (utterly steering away from Cormann’s name to the Coalition).
