Key events
Lisa Cox
Governments accused of not doing enough as 17 species added to Australia’s threatened wildlife list
Seventeen species, including two birds, two fish, several reptiles and the Lord Howe earthworm, have been added to Australia’s list of threatened species.
The sooty shearwater, known for its long-distance journeys, has been listed as vulnerable, while the red-tailed tropicbird, which breeds on Christmas Island, has been listed as endangered.
The Lord Howe earthworm, Daintree rainbowfish, Moroka galaxias and seven reptiles, including the Jardine River turtle, Mitchell’s water monitor and northern blue-tongued skink, entered the list at critically endangered – the most urgent threat category.
A further four reptiles and one fish were listed in the endangered category and one bird, the Mallee whipbird, was moved up from vulnerable to endangered.
Australian Conservation Foundation nature campaigner Peta Bulling said the list was “a poignant reminder that governments and businesses are not doing enough to protect Australia’s reptiles”.
Read the full story:
Firefighter who died in house blaze made ‘ultimate sacrifice’
A firefighter who died battling a house fire has been remembered as a man with a “vibrant spirit” who made the ultimate professional sacrifice.
Michael Kidd, 51, died on 12 December after being struck by a falling wooden beam while fighting a blaze that engulfed the house at Grose Vale, in Sydney’s outer north-west.
He was dragged from the house and colleagues tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kidd was laid to rest at St Monica’s Catholic church in Richmond on Friday, in a service attended by hundreds of mourners including NSW premier Chris Minns and emergency services minister Jihad Dib.
His casket, draped in the Australian flag, was brought to the church on the back of a vintage fire engine as part of a Fire and Rescue NSW motorcade, accompanied by the strains of the agency’s brass band.
Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell paid tribute to the on-call Richmond Station 82 firefighter as a man who loved his job.
Michael loved being a firefighter, whether that was with Fire and Rescue or Rural Fire Service, and he was bloody good at it.
He juggled family, work and other commitments – despite all this he was still one of the most regular attendees at the fire station.
The lethal blaze was one of thousands Kidd attended over his many years of service since starting as a rural firefighter in 1989, Fewtrell said.
– Australian Associated Press
Matilda Boseley
A yuletide call-out!
In order to send the year off with some festive cheer we want to highlight the unsung heroes of the holiday spirit – that is of course, our poor pets whom we have forced into wearing little antlers, menorah hats and elf costumes, then bribed with treats to hold still for extensive photoshoots.
We want to create a Christmas gallery of the best of the best – so if think your dog/cat/mouse/turtle/fish/local pigeon you befriended should make the cut, send your cutest pet holiday pet photos to the Guardian Australia Instagram page or email them to [email protected]
And make sure to include your furry friend’s name (and the name of any humans there too) and who we should credit for the photo.
Sometimes we complain that our cat Astro doesn’t pay rent. But actually he does contribute to the household, it’s just he doesn’t it in the form of dejectedly putting up with the annual Christmas costume shoot: pic.twitter.com/4pxWNsGvVS
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) December 22, 2023
Albanese says position put forward by Usman Khawaja ‘pretty uncontroversial’
Anthony Albanese says the position put forward by cricketer Usman Khawaja is “pretty uncontroversial”, after Khawaja was criticised for wearing shoes with the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on the sides at a recent training session, and was charged by the International Cricket Council for wearing a black armband in the first Test against Pakistan in support of people in Gaza.
At a press conference in Cairns, Albanese said:
I think that Usman Khawaja is a great Australian cricketer and that the position that he put forward is one that I think is pretty uncontroversial – one that all lives are equal is a sentiment that I think is uncontroversial, and I think that he’s someone who plays a really important role for Australian cricket. Usman Khawaja made his position clear, which is he didn’t see it as a political statement.
Albanese praises flood-affected communities ‘helping each other out’
Anthony Albanese continues, praising community efforts on the ground in flood-stricken communities in tropical north Queensland:
We know there are challenges ahead, but I’m very confident that we can overcome them working together, each level of government, along with businesses, along with the local community here.
And the support that people have been given here is inspirational. All those people who’ve really gone that extra yard to support – we met one fellow in Holloways Beach who’s got three different families staying at his place, along with, I think, more animals and pets than there are people in the property – dogs and cockatoos and blue-tongue lizards and every other sort of pet that you can imagine is all there. People are just helping each other out.
As we approach Christmas Day, that’s really the spirit of Christmas – that spirit of giving and looking after each other that we’re seeing on the ground here in Cairns and in tropical north Queensland.
Support package for flooded north Queensland
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is addressing press from Cairns, announcing a support package for flooded north Queensland, on top of disaster recovery payments.
Here are the details:
We’ll provide $25 million for primary producers who’ve suffered as a result of the flood events. $25 million for a separate package for small business and not-for-profits to provide them with that support. $1 million for each of the nine local government areas, just as a top-up payment because of the additional costs that they’ll be dealing with. And an additional $5 million that came out of a request that was given to the premier when he met with tourism operators here just a couple of days ago to provide support for tourism promotion in this area.
“I have great confidence that the people and businesses of tropical north Queensland will not only survive – they’ll thrive into the future,” Albanese said.
Benita Kolovos
St Vincent’s statement on cyber-attack
Here’s the full statement from St Vincent’s:
On Tuesday, 19 December 2023, St Vincent’s Health Australia began responding to a cyber security incident.
St Vincent’s immediately took steps to contain the incident, engaged external security experts, and notified all relevant state and federal governments and the necessary agencies.
Late on Thursday, 21 December, St Vincent’s found evidence that cyber criminals had removed some data from our network.
St Vincent’s is working to determine what data has been removed.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing.
Key activities include securing and containing the incident, understanding what the cyber criminals have done, and identifying what data may have been accessed and stolen.
To date, this incident has not affected the ability of St Vincent’s to deliver the services our patients, residents, and the broader community rely on across our hospital, aged care, and virtual and home health networks.
Our priority is the health and safety of our patients, residents, and our people, and the continuity of St Vincent’s services for the community.
We thank the Australian Government and our state government partners for their support since first notifying them of the incident.
Health provider St Vincent’s hit by cyber-attack
Benita Kolovos
St Vincent’s – the nation’s largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider – has fallen victim to a cyber-attack.
A spokesperson for the provider confirmed to Guardian Australia the attack, which was first discovered on Tuesday, and an investigation remains ongoing into what data has been stolen.
We’ll have more on this shortly.
Widespread storms expected for Queensland
Storms are possible over much of Queensland today, excluding the far west of the state, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Storms over inland central and southern districts may become severe, with a risk of damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.
⚡⚡Thunderstorm forecast for TODAY: Storms are possible over much of #Qld apart from the far west. Over inland central and southern districts storms may become severe, with a risk of damaging winds, heavy rain, and large hail. Look for warnings at https://t.co/3y3FfQjgQB pic.twitter.com/n5u8RXLqFe
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 22, 2023
ABC’s Melbourne office vandalised with red paint and Israel–Palestine messages
The ABC’s Melbourne office has been vandalised with red paint splattered on windows and messages about the Israel–Palestine conflict scrawled across the building.
The national broadcaster’s Southbank office had its front window daubed with “Tell the truth about Palestine” in white paint overnight and red paint was splashed on the building’s doors.
Police have opened an investigation into the “criminal damage incident”. A Victoria police spokeswoman said:
Officers were called to reports unknown offenders had spray painted sections of the building on Southbank Boulevard about 3.50am.
An ABC spokesman confirmed no one was hurt in the incident. “There was minimal damage,” he said.
Approximately 1,200 people died and up to another 200 were taken hostage when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October, according to the United Nations.
Israel’s subsequent military action has resulted in the deaths of about 20,000 people in Gaza, with the UN citing unconfirmed data provided by the Gaza health ministry.
It’s the second time in a week the ABC office was targeted, with portraits of Palestinian journalists killed in the conflict plastered on the building on Wednesday.
Nine’s Melbourne newspaper the Age and TV office also faced protests on Wednesday after activists blocked the entrance to its headquarters in Docklands.
Free Palestine Melbourne tweeted on Wednesday that they blocked the entrance to the Age to “protest Australian media silence on journalist deaths in Gaza”.
BREAKING Wednesday 20 December 2023
Activists block entrance of The Age headquarters dressed in press vests and helmets to protest the Australian media silence on journalist deaths in Gaza pic.twitter.com/gPrDToVsq9
— Free Palestine Melbourne (@FPMelbourne) December 19, 2023
– AAP
Albanese defends Red Sea warship decision
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has defended the decision not to send a warship to the Middle East despite an American request, saying the US administration respects the call.
A US request was made to send a Royal Australian Navy ship to secure international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels blockade the waters in support of Palestine during the conflict in the Middle East.
While Australian navy personnel will be sent to the region, the prime minister rejected criticism the government was not doing enough to help the US in its military efforts. He told Sky News this morning:
The US administration is very satisfied that our priority and the role that we play in our region in the Indo-Pacific, a fairly large region that we look after, is absolutely the priority, and we work very closely with our American friends.
We’re one of 39 countries that are involved in the operation (in the Middle East) to support maritime activity there at the base in Bahrain.
We’re providing additional support there which is appropriate.
Up to six extra Australian Defence Force officers will be deployed to Bahrain as part of the Combine Maritime Forces early next year, with five personnel already embedded in the operation.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been quite critical:
It takes a lot of effort with a special blend of weakness and incompetence for our Prime Minister to turn his back on our closest ally, a decision that could only be welcomed by Hamas (a listed terrorist organisation).
Doesn’t that say it all? https://t.co/oLlH09BWoy
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) December 21, 2023
– AAP
Some sound advice from Jane Hutcheon on how to evade tricky Christmas conversations (I have a feeling there might be more than usual this year):
I don’t feel like talking about that as it’s far from over, but did you know we bought a puppy?
Usman Khawaja says ICC charge over armband ‘makes no sense’
Usman Khawaja is speaking to press at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, after the Australia batter was charged by the International Cricket Council for wearing a black armband in the first Test against Pakistan in support of people in Gaza. He also wore shoes with the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on the sides at a recent training session.
Khawaja said he told the ICC the black armband was worn “for a personal bereavement” and that the charge “makes no sense”:
The shoes were a different matter – I’m happy with that – but the armband – it makes no sense.
I’ve followed all past precedents. Guys have put stickers on their bats, names on their shoes, done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded. I respect all the rules and regulations.
I will be asking and contesting that they make it fair for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That’s all I ask for, and from my point of view, that consistency hasn’t been done yet.
He said his conversations with Cricket Australia, on the other hand, have been “great” and “supportive”.
Site chosen for Tasmanian AFL team’s training base
A $70m high-performance training centre for Tasmania’s AFL team is slated to be built at parklands on Hobart’s eastern shore.
The state government on Friday announced Rosny Parklands as the site of the facility, which will include two ovals and a coaching and administrative base.
The government says the centre will be completed by 2026 for the team’s expected 2028 start in the national league.
Tasmania was in May granted the AFL’s 19th licence, contingent on the construction of a new roofed waterfront stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart.
The high-performance centre will support AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW players along with youth and academy programs.
“It will represent a symbol of the club’s ambitions and values,” the sports minister, Nic Street, said.
We’re confident players and staff will embrace this location.
It is close to the city and the airport, has great amenities nearby and will make the team highly visible.
The state government has pledged $60m towards the build, with the AFL contributing $10m.
– Australian Associated Press
Henry Belot
Total ban on gambling ads ‘the right thing to do’, Labor MPs argue
Several Labor MPs have urged the federal government to introduce a total ban on gambling ads and not to water down the recommendations of an inquiry led by their late colleague Peta Murphy.
The government has spent six months assessing the inquiry’s bipartisan recommendations – prompted by “powerful evidence” of community harm – and consulting with gambling companies, broadcasters, sporting codes and tech giants.
The south-west Sydney MP Michael Freelander told Guardian Australia that legislating a “blanket ban” on gambling advertising was “the right thing to do” and he “strongly believed” there was support for that among his colleagues.
Read the full story here:
Dangerous toys removed from shelves in Christmas blitz
Christmas wands, toys with button batteries and those with small, high-powered magnets are among items removed from store shelves in a pre-Christmas crackdown.
NSW Fair Trading says investigators visited 975 retailers and one toy supplier to check on 17,019 products to ensure dangerous toys and decorations are taken off shelves before Christmas.
It said 69 products were found to be non-compliant or illegal.
These included Christmas wands, toys with coin or button batteries and toys containing small, high-powered magnets.
There were also five toys found for sale which were subject to a permanent ban. All have been removed from the shelves.
Thirty-nine traders and one supplier were selling non-compliant products, two entities were fined, six received a warning letter and four were subject to further enforcement.
“Inspectors also attended the premises of a supplier who was found to be in possession of a large quantity of banned products and these were seized,” NSW Fair Trading said.
People selling non-compliant toys risk fines up to $500,000, while corporations face penalties of up to $10m.
– Australian Associated Press
Amy Remeikis
Refugee has ankle monitor removed ahead of high court action
A refugee previously in indefinite detention has had their ankle monitor and strict curfew conditions removed ahead of a high court action.
The refugee, known as RVJB, has been issued a new visa, minus the strict conditions previously applied, by the immigration minister, Andrew Giles.
RVJB had lived in the community for a year ahead of the high court decision that ended indefinite detention, but was still covered by the government’s tough new visa rules, given his visa situation. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre was preparing to challenge his new visa conditions in the court, on the grounds RVJB had shown rehabilitation over the past eight years, seven of which were in detention and the new measures “had a severe impact on his physical and mental health”.
RVJB has lived as a permanent resident in Australia since he was a child. While the ankle monitor and curfew have been removed, there are still 20 strict conditions attached to his visa, including stringent reporting requirements, as part of the new laws.
So far three people caught in the new visa rules passed in response to the high court decision on indefinite detention have had their ankle monitors removed. Lawyers at ASRC have vowed to continue challenging the new regime in the court.
Staff shortages balloon pay bill to $1.2bn in NSW
Overtime for NSW public sector workers has snowballed, adding millions to the state’s pay bill and increasing the risk of job-related injuries and burnout.
Widespread staff shortages in a series of key agencies has been helping to drive the rapid rise in extra hours among workers over the past three years, according to a NSW audit office report.
Between July 2020 and mid-2023, overtime expenses for staff in the bulk of the state’s public workforce blew out by 40% – compared with a rise of 16% in overall salaries and wages.
One trainee junior medical officer worked more than double their standard hours in 2022-23 for a total of 2,156 hours of overtime, the report said.
A number of other frontline workers, including correctional officers, paramedics and firefighters, did more than 1,000 hours of overtime in the 12-month period.
But the report, released on Wednesday, also highlighted high rates of overtime in other agencies, including Transport for NSW, largely due to “unplanned staff shortages”.
The reasons given for the high overtime rates for the various roles included resourcing constraints, unfilled rosters and the workload demands due to the number of government projects under way.
The combined overtime bill for 25 agencies covering the vast majority of the state’s 430,000 public sector employees was $1.2bn in 2022-23.
– Australian Associated Press
