Samantha Ratnam to step down as leader of Victorian Greens for federal tilt
Benita Kolovos
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam says she will be stepping down as leader of the party in the state after she was successfully preselected to run in the federal seat of Wills, currently held by Labor’s Peter Khalil on an 8.6% margin.
Speaking alongside federal leader Adam Bandt in Coburg, she said:
I’d also like to announce that as a result of my candidacy, I will be stepping down as leader of the Greens Victorian party room. We’ll be meeting on Tuesday to elect a new leadership team. They are a formidable team. They have my full confidence and I know they’re going to continue to shake up Victorian politics for years to come.
Ratnam says she’ll also resign from parliament before the end of the year.
Over the next few months the party will conduct a pre-selection to select my replacement in the seat of Northern Metropolitan. I plan to leave my seat of Northern Metropolitan once that process is complete over the next few months’ time, before the end of the year.
Photograph: Erik Anderson/AAP
Key events
NSW health minister says backlog of overdue surgeries has fallen by the thousands
The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, says overdue surgeries have fallen by the thousands since he established a surgical care taskforce last year.
Park spoke to the media from Brisbane earlier today, where a meeting of state and federal health ministers was held. He said overdue surgeries had fallen from 14,000 to 2,100 since the taskforce was established in March 2023.
While acknowledging challenges in the health system, Park said:
When we took over there were around 14,000 people waiting longer than clinically recommended for their surgery. [The] surgical care taskforce got the very, very best clinicians from across the hospital system in NSW and started to work on what we could do … to make surgeries quicker and be able to get them faster for people in the community…
What has that resulted in? 14,000, from day one, now down to 2000, [and] that is a massive improvement in the space of a 12 month period…
Non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention – ombudsman
Paul Karp
The commonwealth ombudsman has made a submission to the Senate inquiry into Labor’s deportation bill, warning it could add to the “risk of indefinite detention”.
It said a non-citizen in immigration detention who was subject to a removal pathway direction would have two choices: “return to their country of origin or a safe third country; or go to prison”.
If the person chooses non-compliance with the direction, once they have served their prison sentence, without change to their visa status, they would be returned to immigration detention where they could be subject to further ministerial removal pathway directions … The only way for a non-citizen to break the cycle of detention and imprisonment is to return to their country of origin or a safe third country.
The submission also questions whether a mandatory minimum of one year in prison for refusing a direction to cooperate with deportation would even work – because non-citizens may prefer prison to immigration detention.
The report says that “in my view, immigration detention facilities are unsuitable for long-term use”, with the office receiving reports on “barriers to accessing medical care, dental treatment and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs”.
… as well as losing access to life and work skill programs they may have commenced while in the community or in correctional facilities. Indeed, my office has recorded instances of detainees expressing a preference for incarceration over immigration detention due to the certainty and better range of meaningful activities that can be attached with a prison term.
It is therefore possible that the deterrence potential of a prison term has been overestimated and that some people on a removal pathway will choose noncompliance with a ministerial direction over removal and remain in a cycle of detention and imprisonment for prolonged periods or even indefinitely.
Boy, 9, among four killed in WA car crash
Four people including a nine-year-old boy have died in a fatal car crash in Western Australia.
Officers from the major crash investigation section are investigating the crash that occurred in Clackline in the early hours of Friday.
About 12.30am, a silver Nissan Navara utility was travelling east on the Great Eastern Highway when the vehicle left the road and struck a tree, police said.
The four male occupants of the vehicle – aged 45, 21, 19 and nine – sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
Major crash investigators are urging anyone with any information relating to this crash, or who saw the silver Nissan Navara utility travelling in the area prior to the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Greens yet to take position on bill banning non-prescription vapes
Benita Kolovos
Greens leader Adam Bandt says the party is yet to form a position on the federal government’s bill banning non-prescription vapes.
It comes as the Australia’s state and territory governments said they backed the legislation that, if passed, would force vape stores to close by preventing the domestic manufacture, advertisement, supply and commercial possession of non-prescription vapes.
Bandt said at a press conference:
We’re having a look at the legislation and we’re talking with experts and stakeholders to work through our position. We take a principle-based approach where we’ll listen to the evidence and the experts.
Generally, we know that prohibition doesn’t work and hasn’t worked in the past. But we also are very concerned about the rise especially of children vaping, I say that as someone who’s got two children in primary school … the real question is what is the best way to tackle that?
Bandt wouldn’t put a timeframe on this work, saying:
We’re going to take the time necessary. It’s a very important piece of legislation.
Benita Kolovos
Introducing Samantha Ratnam, federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said:
I am absolutely thrilled that Sam Ratnam is putting herself forward for the people of Wills as their next member of parliament. Sam has an incredible history representing people of Wills over a decade, representing this area as the local member, as well as being the leader of the Victorian Greens, which has a strong history and connection with this area and a strong track record of fighting for the people of Wills.
People are disappointed in Labor. They don’t want Peter Dutton and now, this time, they can vote for the Greens.
Samantha Ratnam to step down as leader of Victorian Greens for federal tilt
Benita Kolovos
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam says she will be stepping down as leader of the party in the state after she was successfully preselected to run in the federal seat of Wills, currently held by Labor’s Peter Khalil on an 8.6% margin.
Speaking alongside federal leader Adam Bandt in Coburg, she said:
I’d also like to announce that as a result of my candidacy, I will be stepping down as leader of the Greens Victorian party room. We’ll be meeting on Tuesday to elect a new leadership team. They are a formidable team. They have my full confidence and I know they’re going to continue to shake up Victorian politics for years to come.
Ratnam says she’ll also resign from parliament before the end of the year.
Over the next few months the party will conduct a pre-selection to select my replacement in the seat of Northern Metropolitan. I plan to leave my seat of Northern Metropolitan once that process is complete over the next few months’ time, before the end of the year.
Photograph: Erik Anderson/AAP
Daniel Hurst
‘Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people’ – Dutton
Circling back to opposition leader Peter Dutton’s speech to the St Kilda Hebrew congregation in Melbourne this morning, where he leaned heavily into good versus evil rhetoric:
A Coalition government under my leadership will always distinguish the lawful from the lawless, always differentiate civilisation from barbarism, and always discern the good from the evil. This is why the unequivocal condemnation of Hamas is right. And that is why we must unambiguously denounce Iran’s military attack on Israel, and the regime’s sponsoring of terrorist groups across the region.
Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people … any self-respecting society would expect that of their democratically elected government.
Israel has every right to respond militarily to thwart the existential threats that it faces.
The Labor government has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned Hamas’s 7 October attacks and has also condemned Iran’s recent attacks. The government has said Israel has a right to defend itself, but also said how it does so matters, and that it must comply with international law and protect Palestinian civilians.
Dutton went on to say that the resolve of democracies around the world were being “tested” and he believed “our very civilisation, as we know it, our civilisational values are under threat”.
He said it was “not a time for weak leadership, it’s not a time for weasel words, this is not a time to try and walk both sides of the street”.
The Coalition stands with our ally and our friend Israel and we stand with Australia’s Jewish community in fighting against antisemitism in every season.
Disability and mental health check for accused terror teenager
A teenage boy facing a possible life term in prison for alleged terrorism over the stabbing of a bishop has shown behaviour consistent with mental illness or intellectual disability, his lawyer told a court today.
The 16-year-old is accused by police of travelling 90 minutes from his home to attack Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a live-streamed sermon at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, in Sydney’s west, on Monday night.
The teenager did not appear in court during a brief mention of the case today, when he was refused bail at a hearing. A brief of evidence is due to be served when the matter returns to court on 14 June.
The teenager’s lawyer, Greg Scragg, said he might seek an earlier date, having been instructed the boy had a long history of behaviour consistent with a mental illness or intellectual disability.
He told Parramatta children’s court:
We may seek to bring this matter back earlier if a question arises in relation to his treatment or assessment for those conditions whilst he’s in custody.
The magistrate made a recommendation for the boy to be assessed by Justice Health while in custody.
– from AAP
Opposition leader says Palestinian state alongside Israel not ‘conceivable’ until Hamas defeated
Daniel Hurst
Peter Dutton has given a speech saying the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel “isn’t even conceivable” until after Hamas is defeated.
Sky News has broadcast footage of the opposition leader speaking at the St Kilda Hebrew congregation in Melbourne this morning. Dutton used the speech to declare that the Coalition “stands with our ally and our friend Israel” amid the ongoing military operation in Gaza.
He also accused the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, of having “significantly damaged our relations with our most important ally in the region, Israel” by stressing the importance of a two-state solution to end the cycle of violence in the long term.
Dutton said:
It was Hamas’s barbarity on October 7 which has set back the goal of a two-state solution. Until Hamas is defeated, a two-state solution isn’t even conceivable because Hamas will always pose an existential threat, an existential threat to the State of Israel. That’s why I characterised the foreign minister’s remarks as utterly illogical, as ill-timed and inappropriate.
The audience applauded at that comment.
In her speech on 9 April, Wong mentioned that the international community was considering recognition of a Palestinian state as part of building momentum to a two-state solution, but she gave no timing for Australia to do so. Wong was emphatic that the Australian government saw “no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state”.
PM says social media firms have ‘responsibility to act’ on misinformation and graphic content
Anthony Albanese said social media companies “have a responsibility to act” when it comes to misinformation and violent images from its platforms.
Speaking to the media just now, he said:
It shouldn’t [take] the eSafety commissioner to intervene, to direct companies – in this case X and Meta – to take down violent videos that show people of lost their lives …
Albanese said images that were circulated from the Bondi Junction stabbing attack had a “real detrimental impact”. He said people with footage from the attack should have forwarded it to police to assist with their investigations, rather than post to social media.
[We all have] a responsibility, but the social media companies that make a lot of money out of their business have a social responsibility and I want to see social media companies start to understand their social responsibility that they have to others as well, because that’s where they get their social licence.
Federal government ‘committed’ to doing more to tackle violence against women, PM says
Turning to the mass stabbing attack at Bondi Junction last weekend, Albanese said that violence against women is “far too prevalent”. He also noted a demonstration held in Ballarat last week on the issue.
What we know is that violence against women is far too prevalent. It too often occurs from a partner or a family member and we know that the statistic of a woman on average dying every week due to violence from a partner or someone they know, it doesn’t tell the story – numbers don’t tell the story. These are human tragedies.
As well, violence has an intergenerational impact on children who witness it in the home and we need to do more to combat violence against women. My government is committed to doing that and they know that state and territory governments are committed to that as well.
PM says ‘a range of programs’ aimed at supporting healthcare as AMA flags record surgery wait times
Anthony Albanese is speaking to the media from Melbourne, taking questions from reporters.
The PM is asked about a report from the Australian Medical Association showing planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are now the longest on record. We covered this earlier in the blog here.
Responding, Albanese said “doctors [are] interest groups in the lead up to a budget, there’s nothing unusual about people putting forward bids”.
He pointed to a national cabinet meeting last year which established principles to see the commonwealth provide increased support for the health and hospital systems in the states and territories.
In addition to that, we have a range of programs aimed at supporting primary healthcare as well, and that’s one way that you take pressure off the public hospital systems.
He pointed to urgent care clinics and said 58 were opened by the end of last year.
Youth on welfare ‘pushed’ into homelessness, report shows
Teenagers who rely on welfare to pay rent are being pushed towards homelessness and the situation is worse now than a year ago, AAP reports.
Analysis from Homelessness Australia has found people aged 16 and 17 continue to pay more than three-quarters of their income on rent.
Young tenants in Brisbane are in a worse situation now than 12 months ago as they have to dedicate 83% of their income toward housing, up from 76% in March 2023. Perth’s youth have also fallen behind, paying 76% of income – which is 2% higher than last year.
The percentage of income young tenants spend on rent has remained high elsewhere, but the situation is improving slowly.
The portion of income spent on rent is 94% in Sydney, 73% in Melbourne, 77% in Canberra, 63% in Darwin, 60% in Hobart and 59% in Adelaide. Homelessness Australia cross-referenced payments against rental prices for a two bedroom unit in major metropolitan areas to come up with the results.
Chief executive Kate Colvin said young renters were lower down the pecking order when seeking housing because they received less income support:
Right when they need stability to take their first steps in employment or further education they are pushed into poverty, resulting in social exclusion, mental illness and lost lifetime productivity.
The costs and consequences of our warped housing system will only escalate for young people and the broader society, unless we make better choices.
Australia must protect multiculturalism, prime minister says
Anthony Albanese has defended Australia’s multiculturalism as cracks in social cohesion emerge after two stabbing attacks in Sydney, AAP reports.
The prime minister said multiculturalism had overwhelmingly been a success and the nation was enriched by the diversity. He told 3AW radio:
Multiculturalism has been a part of modern Australia, and people in cities like Melbourne and Sydney live in peace and harmony.
We need to, like most things that are important in life … make sure that we nurture our multiculturalism, that we at all times show respect for each other.
Young people concerned government isn’t planning for the long-term, thinktank says
A non-partisan thinktank run by younger Australians says political leaders should ensure they are planning for the long-term, with young people feeling “let down” and uncertain for the future amid overlapping crises.
Think Forward conducted a survey of almost 1,000 young Australians and found only 3% believe their political leaders are thinking for the long-term and have a good plan for the future.
The survey found young people believe a lack of long-term planning contributes to a range of crises, which are affecting their future prospects. This included climate change, the housing crisis, the tax system, growing intergenerational wealth inequality and the growing cost – but declining quality – of education.
The report reads:
Young people have little confidence that their political leaders can develop long- term, bold, and well-designed policy responses to difficult structural problems.
A lack of long-term planning and policy action leaves younger generations in a precarious position with an uncertain future, buffeted by overlapping crises and declining economic outcomes.
Young people believe parliamentarians aren’t planning for the future because outside sources make it difficult, they are just in it for themselves, or they act for donors and lobbyists rather than for the community, the survey found.
The thinktank said there was a “political imperative” for parliamentarians to address the concerns of young people, as Millennials and Gen Z now make up almost 45% of voters.
Canavan declares ‘king coal’s reign continues’ as climate crisis continues to worsen
Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan has released a media statement claiming that “king coal’s reign continues”.
For some reason the press release forgets to mention coal’s role in climate breakdown, such as climate breakdown-induced food shortages, studies predicting that average incomes will fall by almost a fifth as a result of the climate crisis, and March seeing the 10th consecutive monthly record for global heating.
Canavan’s press release coincides with Pembroke Resources’ opening of their new Olive Downs steelmaking coalmine. Conservationists labelled public funding for the project as “deeply irresponsible” years ago:
When first announced, the coalmine was forecast to provide the state with $5.5bn in royalties and be in operation for 79 years. Canavan’s statement reads:
We’ve been told coal is dead as many times as the Great Barrier Reef, but the reality is both are thriving. Coal demand has never been higher.
As we have reported extensively on, the Great Barrier Reef is not “thriving”. It is currently facing its most severe coral bleaching on record as global heating pushes coral reefs across the world to the worst planet-wide bleaching on record.
Civil liberties council ‘concerned’ by push for tougher penalties on parents if children found with knives
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties says it is concerned by a push for criminal offences to be introduced for the parents of minors found with weapons, including knives.
It’s been reported that some NSW police officers have been calling for this change via the union, as we flagged earlier.
The council said data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research indicates knife crime has declined over recent consecutive years, and called on the state government to “resist populist calls for legislative change that will not make our communities safer”.
President Lydia Shelly said charging parents on the basis their child has committed an offence “oversimplifies the intricate circumstances surrounding children who have contact with the criminal justice system”:
The stance reportedly taken by NSW police poses significant risks to children. Parents facing criminal charges and a possible conviction may jeopardise their employment opportunities, destabilise their housing situation, and potentially disrupt their ability to maintain custody of their children.
Shelly said the state government should focus on strengthening families, and a whole-of-government approach was needed to prevent children from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.
Parents of children who have been charged with a criminal offence do not deserve to be demonised by the media, the NSW police or the NSW government.
NSW health minister flags increased talks between states around mental healthcare
The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, says there will be increased discussion between states to ensure pressures on the healthcare system can be alleviated.
He was answering a question on ABC TV about 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, who had recently moved from Brisbane to Sydney before carrying out the Bondi Junction stabbing attack. Cauchi’s family said he struggled with his mental health and had previously received treatment in Queensland.
Park said he and his colleague Rose Jackson would ensure NSW agencies contribute to the coronial inquest, which will work through some of these issues.
I have already asked our agencies to have a look if there are any areas where we can improve that information exchange or information flow.
We know that this person wasn’t a person treated through the NSW mental health services but that doesn’t mean we can’t, as policymakers and legislators, look at ways in which we can make our system stronger …
I want to emphasise this was a person who had only recently come into NSW, had not had anything to do at this stage with our mental health services and tragically, was clearly very, very, unwell. Unfortunately the randomness of this type of attack made it very difficult for any health service to try to provide the care that that person clearly needed.
John Mullen to commence on Qantas board more than two months earlier than planned
John Mullen will commence as non-executive director and chairman-elect of Qantas from Monday, more than two months earlier than previously announced.
Qantas confirmed Richard Goyder remains as chairman. As previously reported, Goyder will retire before the company’s annual general meeting in late 2024.
A statement published today reads:
Mr Mullen’s position on the Board will be put to a shareholder vote at the AGM. He expects to reduce his existing professional commitments over time.
