Australia news live: NSW will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech report; Victorian doctors to go on strike

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Minns government will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech report

Penry Buckley

The NSW government will not expand a controversial offence for inciting hatred to include religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, against the recommendation of a report which it has been sitting on for eight months.

In a statement this afternoon, the NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, said the government was today releasing the report by former supreme court justice John Sackar, first provided to the government in November.

In the report, Sackar has recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence for inciting hatred on the grounds of race, brought in last year against the recommendation of the NSW Law Reform Commission, be “amended to included all attributes currently protected by section 93Z”.

Section 93Z, the offence for inciting violence, covers offences committed on the basis of someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/Aids status.

Daley said:

double quotation markAfter careful consideration of the Sackar Review and its recommendations, the NSW Government has decided not to expand the existing criminal offence of inciting racial hatred to apply to additional protected attributes. There is no place for hatred in NSW. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from intimidation, regardless of their background, faith, sexuality or identity. The Government’s view is that expanding the racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raises complex questions about freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the consistent application of the criminal law across the community.”

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny:\n The shadow attorney general, Damien Tudehope, has admitted to leaking a confidential draft report from a parliamentary inquiry to a member of the Reformers.

Tudehope was asked if he could recall coming into possession of a confidential draft copy of the inquiry’s report in February 2023, when the Liberals were still in government. He said he could not, but said he was aware of the obligation to keep a draft report confidential.

Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, was shown an email in which he had sent the report as an attachment to Reformer Jeremy Greenwood.

\n Dwyer: Did you send that report in draft to Mr Greenwood?\n Tudehope: It appears that I did.\n Dwyer: Why did you do that?\n Tudehope: Oh well, I thought he would have had an interest in that report.\n Dwyer: What was your purpose in providing it to Mr Greenwood?\n Tudehope: Its contents.\n

Asked what his purpose was in providing the report to Greenwood, Tudehope said he did not know what Greenwood did when he received it, and does not know if he would have shared it with fellow Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet. “That would have been a decision for him,” said Tudehope.

The chief executive of the Bureau of Meteorology has commissioned an independent review of the agency, to “ensure it delivers value to Australians in a rapidly changing environment”.

In November, the BoM publicly apologised for how it handled its new website launch – the first redesign in a decade. Guardian Australia revealed that the full cost of the website overhaul was approximately $86m, which came after years of delays and millions in cost blowouts.

That followed an attempted rebrand in 2022, and allegations of a toxic workplace culture.

The review, which will inform the BoM’s next strategic plan, to come into effect in late 2027, will assess the “effectiveness of public communications and responsiveness to stakeholder needs”.

The environment minister, Murray Watt, said the review would “bring an independent perspective to understanding the services being delivered and how that value can be strengthened into the future”.

The BoM chief executive, Dr Stuart Minchin, said the review would help the agency “better understand current and future customer needs”, adding:

\n Our work underpins essential services, economic activity, environmental health and community wellbeing, for all Australians every day, so it’s important we get it right.\n

A report by the review panel is expected by 31 March.

The NSW government will not expand a controversial offence for inciting hatred to include religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, against the recommendation of a report which it has been sitting on for eight months.

In a statement this afternoon, the NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, said the government was today releasing the report by former supreme court justice John Sackar, first provided to the government in November.

In the report, Sackar has recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence for inciting hatred on the grounds of race, brought in last year against the recommendation of the NSW Law Reform Commission, be “amended to included all attributes currently protected by section 93Z”.

Section 93Z, the offence for inciting violence, covers offences committed on the basis of someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/Aids status.

Daley said:

\n After careful consideration of the Sackar Review and its recommendations, the NSW Government has decided not to expand the existing criminal offence of inciting racial hatred to apply to additional protected attributes.\n There is no place for hatred in NSW. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from intimidation, regardless of their background, faith, sexuality or identity.\n The Government’s view is that expanding the racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raises complex questions about freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the consistent application of the criminal law across the community.”\n

Australian households show no sign of pulling back on spending despite the Middle East conflict exacerbating cost-of-living concerns, AAP reports.

Strong growth in electric vehicle purchases and a bounce back in air travel drove a surprisingly strong 0.8% increase in household spending in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Analysts had been expecting a rise of just 0.2% in the month.

Spending growth was driven by a 3% rise in transport spending in the month, where new vehicle sales stood out.

The ABS head of business statistics, Tom Lay, said:

\n Electric vehicle sales increased significantly over the year and have continued that trend in June, accounting for a growing share of overall new vehicles sales as households adjust their spending behaviour in response to rising fuel prices.\n

EV sales doubled in the space of three months as the Middle East conflict disrupted oil supplies and sent fuel prices soaring, the Australian Automobile Association said on Sunday.

Lower fuel prices in June also supported spending on air travel, which returned to pre-Iran war levels.

The Australian Medical Association Victoria branch said doctors will engage in a stop-work action on Thursday 13 August, affecting hospitals across the Melbourne CBD and in Parkville. It’s the first time doctors have taken protected industrial action in the area in 20 years.

The action, centred on a pay dispute, will occur from 12.30pm to 4pm alongside some statewide actions across all health services. Hospitals affected include the Royal Melbourne hospital and the Royal Children’s and Women’s hospitals.

AMA Victoria said the industrial action had been carefully designed to protect patient care, with a spokesperson adding:

\n Participating doctors will work with their hospitals to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place so that patient care is not compromised.\n Many doctors will remain working instead of taking industrial action specifically so that their colleagues can participate in the action without compromising patient care.\n

Doctors working in emergency departments and those in other, critical frontline services will not participate in the stop-work action.

AMA Victoria president Simon Judkins told the ABC doctors had tried to negotiate a better pay deal for a year, saying many had reported “incredibly high levels of fatigue and stress, and they’re incredibly worried in those conditions about whether they might be prone to making errors”.

Bob Montgomery, a charity cyclist who recently finished a 5,200km bike ride from Broome to Bowral, died on Monday at the age of 82.

His family confirmed his death on social media, saying he had died unexpectedly just a day after completing the cycling feat as a fundraiser for motor neurone disease, alongside his grandson, Tom. They wrote:

\n This was Bob’s sixth interstate fundraising ride in support of Motor Neurone Disease NSW, raising vital funds and awareness for a cause that was deeply personal to him. Fittingly, and now poignantly, the ride was named One Last Ride.\n At 82 years of age, Bob was still passionately sharing his message only hours before his passing.\n

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @broome2bowral.4mnd

MND NSW shared a tribute saying the body was “deeply saddened” by the sudden passing, calling Montgomery a “cherished friend and tireless supporter of MND NSW”.

The group’s CEO, Liam O’Meara, said in a statement:

\n For many years, Bob dedicated himself to raising vital funds and awareness for people living with motor neurone disease. His most recent achievement, riding from Broome to Bowral at the age of 82 alongside his 18-year-old grandson, was nothing short of inspirational.\n Bob understood that behind every diagnosis is a person and a family navigating one of life’s most challenging journeys. His fundraising helped ensure that more people could access the care, equipment and support they need, when they need it most.\n

Australia’s share market is trading at a five-month high, led by a strong rally by the major banks and a subdued oil price, AAP reports.

The S&P/ASX200 jumped 114.7 points by midday, up 0.28%, to 9,134.8, as the broader All Ordinaries gained 120.2 points, or 1.31%, to 9,298.6.

The top-200 came within 66 points of its 9,202.9 record peak set in February, as the local bourse tracked a strong Wall Street on hopes the US and Iran would restart diplomatic efforts to solve the Persian Gulf conflict.

The Australian dollar is buying 70.13 US cents, down from 70.27 US cents on Monday at 5pm.

Icac’s Operation Rosny has heard that hotelier Michael O’Hara, a former business partner of Damien Tudehope from their time as lawyers, met Christian Ellis and Robert Assaf at an event at Tudehope’s home.

Under questioning from counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, Tudehope has accepted that he introduced the men, and he would not have been surprised that O’Hara would be happy to support their factional work financially.

But like O’Hara, a prohibited political donor because of his involvement in the liquor industry, who appeared before the commission last week, Tudehope has disputed whether payments to the Reformers would count as political donations. He says:

\n If you think that I would expose a friend of mine to that level of scrutiny that he was exposed to, 83 years of age with stage … four cancer, do you think that I would have done that in circumstances where I knew that he would be a prohibited donor for the purposes of the Electoral Funding Act, not on your life.\n

Ecologist Lana Austin, from conservation group Earthcare St Kilda, said bird flu was likely to arrive at a little penguin colony in Melbourne’s bayside area, which is home to about 1,400 of the birds.

Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne on Tuesday, Austin said she was “pretty worried because I don’t want to lose one bird”, and that efforts to protect the colony would require “a whole ecosystem response”. She said:

\n We need to be concerned at St Kilda, not just for penguins, but for all the other wildlife that hang out in Port Phillip Bay generally.\n So, we have dolphins, seals, rakali, which is a native water rat. It’s very likely that they will also be affected.\n

Austin said it was unclear how bad the impact of the virus would be on the colony, due to a lack of data for little penguins, and that authorities had “probably missed the boat” on vaccination efforts.

\n Arthur Rylah [Institute] did a great risk assessment early last year where they looked into vaccination possibility … It did have some good effects and birds had some resilience and immunity to the disease. However, it had to be introduced before bird flu arrived.\n We have missed the vaccination boat and it’s more just about managing it once it arrives.\n

Australians lodged nearly 120,000 complaints with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the most recent financial year, a record number that reflects the intense economic pressures being felt across the community.

That was about 20% more than the previous financial year, according to the preliminary numbers.

Personal transaction accounts, car insurance and credit cards were the most complained about products in 2025-26, AFCA said.

Complaints relating to the way banks dealt with customers in financial difficulty jumped by 17% in the year, and credit reporting complaints by 22%, AFCA said.

But AFCA said the largest growth was driven by major investment failures and rising superannuation disputes, most notably the collapses of the Shield Master Fund and First Guardian.

Complaints alleging failure to act in the client’s best interest remain the top issue with a 65 per cent increase on last year, up to 2081.

Deborah Jenkins, AFCA’s chief customer officer, said:

\n While most financial advice firms do the right thing, we are seeing a significant number of complaints stem from major financial collapses that have affected thousands of consumers. These matters are complex and can be incredibly stressful for individuals and their families.\n

Retired businessman Frits Maré has been telling the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) about a 2020 meeting in which Reformers Jean-Claude Perrottet and Christian Ellis asked him to contribute $50,000 to an operation to unseat the Liberal member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.

On Monday, Reformer Robert Assaf told the commission he was concerned that the Perrottets, including former premier Dominic Perrottet and brothers Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, had a “vendetta” against Hawke, who had “backstabbed Dom” and become a “kingmaker” in the party.

Neither Hawke nor Dominic Perrottet is accused of any wrongdoing. Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet have previously denied any wrongdoing.

Maré, a Liberal party member who is not named in any allegations and is not accused of any wrongdoing, described meeting Jean-Claude Perrottet at Young Liberals fundraiser in 2019. After repeated attempts by Jean-Claude Perrottet to set up a meeting, Maré met with him and Ellis at Maré’s office in May 2020.

He says the men asked him for $50,000 to fund a call centre to sign up new members at the party, so that they could “get enough people to challenge Alex Hawke in his seat and then vote him out”.

“I found it strange,” says Maré. “I thought the sitting member was doing a good job in parliament.”

Maré said he asked the men if they had budgeted how they would spend the $50,000. He says Ellis said “he hadn’t done a budget, but he’d go and do one”, but Maré declined their request for a contribution. “For the record, I never paid the money. I never caused it to be paid by anyone else or by a corporation,” he says.

I’m at government house where the new Victoria premier Ben Carroll’s cabinet is being sworn in. Unlike his predecessor Jacinta Allan’s reshuffle in April, this appears to be a major shake-up of portfolios.

Gabrielle Williams, the deputy premier, takes on Carroll’s portfolio of education, amid a long-running pay dispute with the state’s public school teachers.

Colin Brooks has been given the treasury portfolio, ending Jaclyn Symes’s time in the job. Symes was the state’s first female treasurer.

Anthony Carbines, one of Carroll’s most loyal supporters, has lost his police portfolio but keeps racing and picks up major events, AI and the digital economy – the latter appears to be a newly created role.

Paul Edbrooke – who was only recently elevated to cabinet – has scored a major promotion, taking on the police portfolio.

Sonya Kilkenny, an Allan supporter who made a surprise bid for leadership during last week’s Labor caucus meeting, has retained her attorney general and planning portfolios and adds prevention of family violence. But she loses finance to Enver Erdogan.

Another Allan supporter, Steve Dimopoulos, has lost major events but takes on WorkSafe, TAC and equality alongside sport. The ceremony is ongoing.

Gambling giant Tabcorp is up in the Senate inquiry this morning.

The company’s head of government affairs, Julian Whealing, says claims of illicit drugs, sex workers and alcohol being provided to problem gamblers is not “part of Tabcorp’s customer offering”.

“Tabcorp has zero tolerance for this behavior, we are Australia’s most regulated wagering company, and we take our responsibilities to compliance seriously,” he said.

\n Any evidence of this illegal activity should be referred to the relevant authorities.\n

Betting giant Sportsbet says it has no evidence to substantiate allegations made in Monday’s hearing about the Albanese government’s gambling bill, including that gambling companies provided illegal drugs and sex workers to customers.

Jules Norton Selzer, director of corporate affairs, has told the inquiry today the company has “zero evidence of the allegations”.

“We have no tolerance for that kind of deplorable conduct and information,” he said, going on:

\n No information has been provided to us beyond what was referenced yesterday, and we will gladly investigate it.\n Our objective is for adult customers to enjoy our product safely and responsibly, and that is why we continue to support measures to reduce underage exposure and strengthen consumer protections across the range of federal and state regulatory models that we operate within.\n

Along with the industry lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia and Tabcorp, the company is expected to face more questions about the evidence this morning.

Matt King has described the NSW State of Origin team as the “love of his life” after being named as Laurie Daley’s permanent replacement as the new Blues head coach.

AAP reports Daley walked away from the role on Monday after leading the Blues to a series victory last month and the NSWRL has wasted no time in appointing King as his replacement on Tuesday.

King played nine games for the Blues and has been part of the coaching staff under Daley and Michael Maguire over the last three series.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by NSW Blues (@nswblues)

The 45-year-old King, who played for Melbourne, Souths and Warrington, has never been a senior coach but has spent the best part of the last decade working as an assistant to Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters.

King said:

\n I’ve had a front-row seat the last couple of years with Laurie and 12 months before that with Michael Maguire and I have a true understanding of what it means to lead this great state of ours.\n The one true rugby league love of my life has been the NSW Blues and to know now that I have the opportunity to guide the team moving forward, means the absolute world to me.\n

Thomas Bradley, a Queensland supreme court judge, will be appointed Queensland’s new governor. Bradley will replace the former state chief health officer Jeannette Young, who has served in the role since 2021.

He will be appointed in November.

The premier, David Crisafulli, announced the decision at a press conference in the state’s defunct upper house chamber on Tuesday, flanked by his deputy premier, committed royalist Jarrod Bleijie, and Bradley.

Crisafulli said Bradley had been selected in May, but the king had only approved his appointment last week.

“I share the goals of my predecessors as governors of Queensland to carry out the constitutional responsibilities with dignity, fairness, and a commitment to the rule of law,” Bradley said, on Tuesday. He went on:

\n I look forward to spending time with as many Queenslanders as possible across the state as I serve, I call to mind all that we have in common as Queenslanders, the joy that we share in each other’s successes, and the comfort that we give each other in our sorrows. I’m reminded that in communities large and small, we are part of one common endeavor.\n

He has served on the supreme court since 2018 after a career as a legal academic and commercial barrister, and was promoted to the court of appeal in 2025.

Andrew Hastie said he’s “not worried” about the next election, but hopes he receives preferences from One Nation when it comes down to it.

Hastie spoke to News24 (formerly Sky News) this morning ahead of One Nation’s expected launch in his seat of Canning in Western Australia. He had this to say:

\n I’m not worried. Everyone who comes in this job has to have a sense of their political mortality, and if this is the end, this is the end. You do your best, and it’s up to the Australian people.\n We’re also a democracy. So I don’t have a problem with any political party starting a branch.\n

Hastie maintained the Coalition had ruled out any deal with One Nation for a joint government, saying the Nationals were the “one Coalition partner” for the Liberals. But he said he still hopes One Nation preferences flow to him:

\n We’re in a two-party preferred system. So preferences matter.\n Labor receives preferences from the Greens, and I’d hope we’d receive preferences from one nation. But in the end, I want to form government under Angus Taylor by winning on primary votes.\n

Murray Watt, the federal environment minister, was asked earlier about former rugby league star Luke Bateman’s testimony before a parliamentary inquiry on gambling reform.

Bateman alleged betting company promoters supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, also alleging he attended private Gold Coast events hosted by gambling firms where senior figures took illegal drugs with clients.

Watt said those claims were distressing, before noting that anyone who engaged in such behaviour should face penalties. He told RN Breakfast:

\n We all feel for him and the circumstances that he went through. And for anyone to be offering illegal drugs as an inducement or for any other reason is obviously a crime. Should not be committed and people should pay a price if they’re engaging in that kind of criminal behavior.\n

Watt said the government was trying to strengthen gambling guardrails, including a national register to opt out from betting and gambling inducements.

Top NSW officials are urging people to avoid the emergency department except in cases of extreme health needs, warning the next three weeks will see hospitals at capacity amid a surge in winter illness.

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the next few weeks will be the “worst of the year” after a moderate beginning to the winter season:

\n I’ve spoken to emergency departments in Maitland, in Cessnock, in Western Sydney over the last two or three weeks since who have said it’s a late-starting season, but it’s hitting us hard now.\n

Minns said that advice was targeted at those with “cuts, abrasions, bruises, things that can wait until the morning”. But people fearful of a dangerous health condition, including those with symptoms of stroke or heart attack, should absolutely head to the ED. He said on 2GB:

\n If you feel or you’ve got any suspicion that your life might be in danger, please go to the emergency department, please call 000.\n No one’s going to yell at you if you turn out to be wrong and it’s some other ailment that’s not life-threatening. Everybody understands that.\n

The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, added earlier this morning:

\n We always prioritorizing those most unwell, and that’s why we’re calling on people. If you don’t need to use an emergency department, if it’s not an emergency, use that 1800 022 222 number.\n

As wildfires rage in the northern hemisphere, Greg Mullins, Australian firefighter and former commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, warns an incoming El Niño combined with significant fuel loads could contribute to bushfires in Australia.

Since 2020, wet weather in places and floods in places such as Lismore in NSW have prevented firefighters from doing as many hazard reduction burns as scheduled.

Mullins told the ABC’s 7.30:

\n It’s been too wet to burn and what we increasingly find is that conditions swing from being too wet to suddenly too hot and dry.\n The hotter temperatures dry out the bush very quickly and the windows to carry out hazard reduction have reduced from months every year to just weeks.\n

He is less concerned about the current conditions as many parts of Australia are not in drought.

But with the El Niño coming, hotter, drier conditions are also likely to follow.

\n What worries me is the year after an El Niño is usually the hottest.\n So 2027, I think, we’ll have a busy year for fires – it will be back on the TV screens, but then the summer of 27-28 could be a real worry.\n

NSW police have arrested and charged two men after one of them allegedly brandished a fake replica gun, wearing a bulletproof vest with a US flag and carrying a toy police badge, at a busy Sydney entertainment precinct, AAP reports.

Uniform and specialist police swarmed the pair at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park on Monday afternoon.

Chaotic social media footage showed dozens of police officers including some wearing tactical gear surrounding the alleged offenders and confused shoppers running, just before 5pm.

On arrival, officers located two men, one of whom was allegedly wearing a vest and carrying a firearm, police said in a statement.

The two men, aged 35 and 39, were arrested and a replica firearm, a vest, plastic handcuffs and a badge were allegedly seized.

Both were taken to Surry Hills police station where, during a search of the older man, police allege they located an amount of prohibited drugs.

The younger man was charged with possessing an unregistered, unauthorised pistol in a public place and for offensive behaviour.

He was refused bail to appear in court today.

The older man was charged with possessing a prohibited drug.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in court on 20 August.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.

We start with charges that have been laid overnight after a security scare and major police action at Sydney’s popular Moore Park entertainment precinct. More on that soon

Key events

• 31m agoSenior NSW Liberal admits to leaking confidential report to Reformers
• 1h agoIndependent review of Bureau of Meteorology announced
• 2h agoMinns government will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech report
• 2h agoEV sales, air travel drive rebound in consumer spending
• 3h agoVictorian doctors to go on strike for first time in 20 years
• 3h agoCharity cyclist who just finished 5,200km MND fundraising ride dies aged 82
• 3h agoAustralian shares surge to five-month high
• 4h agoNSW shadow attorney general admits he introduced friend who made alleged prohibited donations, inquiry hears
• 5h agoExpert warns too late to vaccinate St Kilda's little penguins at risk of bird flu
• 5h agoRecord number of complaints about financial products
• 6h agoCorruption inquiry hears about request for $50,000 to branch stack against federal member
• 6h agoNew Victorian premier launches major portfolio shake-up
• 6h agoTabcorp rejects allegations over perks for problem gamblers
• 6h agoSportsbet says 'zero evidence' on allegations over drugs and sex workers for problem gamblers
• 7h agoNSW announces new Origin coach
• 7h agoJudge announced as new Queensland governor
• 8h agoHastie ‘not worried’ as One Nation eyes his seat
• 9h agoMinister says anyone who engaged in alleged illicit gambling inducements should be punished
• 9h agoNSW officials urge those with injuries ‘that can wait’ to avoid emergency department
• 11h ago‘Massive’ fuel loads pave way for worrying summer fires in 2027
• 11h agoCharges laid after alleged replica gun scare in Sydney entertainment precinct
• 11h agoWelcome

Jordyn Beazley

NSW government accused of denying LGBTIQ+ communities equal protection after rejecting Sackar report key recommendation

The Minns government has been accused of denying LGBTIQ+ communities equal protection from hate after announcing it would not implement a key recommendation from a report it sat on for 8 months.

The NSW government released the long-awaited report on Tuesday and announced it would not expand a controversial offence and criminalise inciting hatred on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

This went against a key recommendation of the report, which was written by former supreme court justice, John Sackar, and recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, which crimnialises inciting hatred on the grounds of race, be expanded.

Equality Australia said of the decision:

double quotation markThe government said that expanding the existing racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raised complex questions about freedom of expression and religion. The government has already shown it can balance these rights when it comes to racial hatred. Claiming that the same approach cannot apply to other communities is disingenuous, creating an inconsistent legal framework and a hierarchy of protections

Penry Buckley

Witness claims Dominic Perrottet knew brother was in Fiji during parliamentary inquiry, watchdog hears

NSW Liberal shadow attorney general Damien Tudehope has concluded giving his evidence to the Icac’s Operation Rosny.

In the latter stages, questioning from counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, focused on a parliamentary inquiry which preceded Icac’s current inquiry.

The inquiry has heard last week that Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of the-then Liberal premier, Dominic Perrottet, travelled to Fiji to avoid appearing before the parliamentary inquiry, which was not known publicly at the time.

Tudehope has admitted to discussing the details of Jean-Claude’s location with Dominic Perrottet:

double quotation markI did have a discussion with Dom at one stage, and it was a very casual discussion ... I just said, ‘Where is Jean-Claude?’ And he said he didn’t know. But then, on a subsequent discussion, I think he may have told me he was in Fiji.

Dominic Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing, while Jean-Claude Perrottet has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Senior NSW Liberal admits to leaking confidential report to Reformers

Penry Buckley

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny:

The shadow attorney general, Damien Tudehope, has admitted to leaking a confidential draft report from a parliamentary inquiry to a member of the Reformers.

Tudehope was asked if he could recall coming into possession of a confidential draft copy of the inquiry’s report in February 2023, when the Liberals were still in government. He said he could not, but said he was aware of the obligation to keep a draft report confidential.

Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, was shown an email in which he had sent the report as an attachment to Reformer Jeremy Greenwood.

double quotation markDwyer: Did you send that report in draft to Mr Greenwood? Tudehope: It appears that I did. Dwyer: Why did you do that? Tudehope: Oh well, I thought he would have had an interest in that report. Dwyer: What was your purpose in providing it to Mr Greenwood? Tudehope: Its contents.

Asked what his purpose was in providing the report to Greenwood, Tudehope said he did not know what Greenwood did when he received it, and does not know if he would have shared it with fellow Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet. “That would have been a decision for him,” said Tudehope.

Damien Tudehope arrives to give evidence during the Icac Operation Rosny hearings in Sydney. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Melissa Davey

Carers and advocates give evidence at Support at Home inquiry

The Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into aged care Support at Home reforms heard evidence of lengthy waits for assessments and funding, reduced access to care, and a growing burden placed on unpaid carers.

Dementia Australia advocate Lynda Henderson, a key participant in a working group established by the Department of Health to advise on the reforms told the inquiry she felt “personally cheated” by the decision to use algorithms to determine funding outcomes, without any capacity for human override.

She said the survey known as the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) was designed to support clinicians in assessing individual needs, not to replace the professional judgement of qualified assessors.

Guardian Australia previously reported Henderson’s story and the impact of the IAT, which is underpinned by an algorithm to determine government funding.

“I now feel personally cheated as well as horrified by the numbers of incorrect assessment results produced by these algorithms and the consequences of those,” Henderson told the inquiry.

Representatives from Dementia Australia told the committee in their submission that “a national crisis is unfolding in Australia’s aged care system”.

Their national survey found 94% of professionals reported dementia-related needs were not being fully captured through the assessment process.

Shadow health minister Senator Anne Ruston said; “Every story we have heard reinforces that aged care cannot be reduced to forms, queues and computer-generated decisions”.

Read more:

Independent review of Bureau of Meteorology announced

Donna Lu

The chief executive of the Bureau of Meteorology has commissioned an independent review of the agency, to “ensure it delivers value to Australians in a rapidly changing environment”.

In November, the BoM publicly apologised for how it handled its new website launch – the first redesign in a decade. Guardian Australia revealed that the full cost of the website overhaul was approximately $86m, which came after years of delays and millions in cost blowouts.

That followed an attempted rebrand in 2022, and allegations of a toxic workplace culture.

The review, which will inform the BoM’s next strategic plan, to come into effect in late 2027, will assess the “effectiveness of public communications and responsiveness to stakeholder needs”.

The environment minister, Murray Watt, said the review would “bring an independent perspective to understanding the services being delivered and how that value can be strengthened into the future”.

The BoM chief executive, Dr Stuart Minchin, said the review would help the agency “better understand current and future customer needs”, adding:

double quotation markOur work underpins essential services, economic activity, environmental health and community wellbeing, for all Australians every day, so it’s important we get it right.

A report by the review panel is expected by 31 March.

Bureau of Meteorology CEO Dr Stuart Minchin. Photograph: ParlView

Andrew Messenger

More than 1,500 Brisbane children experienced homelessness in past year

At least 1,539 children from 984 families are known to have spent time homeless in Brisbane in the last year.

The statistics were collated by Brisbane Zero, a collaboration between 28 government and non-government organisations.

About 40% of the almost exclusively female-led households became homeless as a result of relationship breakdown; 38% due to violence at home. The average age of the head of household was 25; 72% had experienced at least one health or substance abuse issue in the last year.

The numbers only include homeless people who are known by name.

Acting chief executive officer of Micah Projects Bridget Kinch said the statistics were heading in the wrong direction. She said:

double quotation markI think the housing crisis, the unaffordability for people, I think there’s a lack of housing pathways for people. I think we’ve seen that improve in the first half of this year, so it’s great to see that happening but the concern is where’s the rest of the stock or the places for people.

In the past year 2,326 individuals experienced homelessness, 985 of them for the first time. In that time 261 of them found housing, with 90 returning to homelessness from housing.

Several homeless people also died in Brisbane in the last year, though they are not included on the list.

A tent housing a rough sleeper in Brisbane's Musgrave Park. Photograph: Madeline Begley/The Guardian

Penry Buckley

NSW hate speech report released after lengthy parliamentary battle

Following on from our previous post:

The release of the Sackar report at the start of a busy sitting week and in the middle of a landmark Icac inquiry into corruption in the NSW Liberal party comes after a long-running battle to have the report released by the opposition and crossbench.

The premier, Chris Minns, had refused to release it before the cabinet made a policy decision, amid growing speculation about what it contained.

Earlier this year, the NSW upper house passed a unanimous motion, unopposed by Labor, under a procedure known as standing order 52 (SO52), which requires the government to release documents.

The government returned a five-page document, containing five letters from senior public servants and chiefs of staff in the premier’s, attorney general’s and police minister’s offices, all of them certifying that “no documents covered by the terms of the resolution and lawfully required to be provided are held by The Cabinet Office or the Premier’s Department”.

The upper house subsequently voted to suspend Labor minister John Graham. More recently, it sought legal advice about whether the document was in fact “cabinet in confidence”.

Minns government will not implement recommendation of long-awaited hate speech report

Penry Buckley

The NSW government will not expand a controversial offence for inciting hatred to include religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, against the recommendation of a report which it has been sitting on for eight months.

In a statement this afternoon, the NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, said the government was today releasing the report by former supreme court justice John Sackar, first provided to the government in November.

In the report, Sackar has recommended that section 93ZAA of the NSW Crimes Act, an offence for inciting hatred on the grounds of race, brought in last year against the recommendation of the NSW Law Reform Commission, be “amended to included all attributes currently protected by section 93Z”.

Section 93Z, the offence for inciting violence, covers offences committed on the basis of someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/Aids status.

Daley said:

double quotation markAfter careful consideration of the Sackar Review and its recommendations, the NSW Government has decided not to expand the existing criminal offence of inciting racial hatred to apply to additional protected attributes. There is no place for hatred in NSW. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from intimidation, regardless of their background, faith, sexuality or identity. The Government’s view is that expanding the racial hatred offence to cover other attributes raises complex questions about freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the consistent application of the criminal law across the community.”

EV sales, air travel drive rebound in consumer spending

Australian households show no sign of pulling back on spending despite the Middle East conflict exacerbating cost-of-living concerns, AAP reports.

Strong growth in electric vehicle purchases and a bounce back in air travel drove a surprisingly strong 0.8% increase in household spending in June, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Analysts had been expecting a rise of just 0.2% in the month.

Spending growth was driven by a 3% rise in transport spending in the month, where new vehicle sales stood out.

The ABS head of business statistics, Tom Lay, said:

double quotation markElectric vehicle sales increased significantly over the year and have continued that trend in June, accounting for a growing share of overall new vehicles sales as households adjust their spending behaviour in response to rising fuel prices.

EV sales doubled in the space of three months as the Middle East conflict disrupted oil supplies and sent fuel prices soaring, the Australian Automobile Association said on Sunday.

Lower fuel prices in June also supported spending on air travel, which returned to pre-Iran war levels.

Electric vehicle charging. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Nick Visser

That’s all from me. Achol Arok will take things from here. Take care.

Victorian doctors to go on strike for first time in 20 years

The Australian Medical Association Victoria branch said doctors will engage in a stop-work action on Thursday 13 August, affecting hospitals across the Melbourne CBD and in Parkville. It’s the first time doctors have taken protected industrial action in the area in 20 years.

The action, centred on a pay dispute, will occur from 12.30pm to 4pm alongside some statewide actions across all health services. Hospitals affected include the Royal Melbourne hospital and the Royal Children’s and Women’s hospitals.

AMA Victoria said the industrial action had been carefully designed to protect patient care, with a spokesperson adding:

double quotation markParticipating doctors will work with their hospitals to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place so that patient care is not compromised. Many doctors will remain working instead of taking industrial action specifically so that their colleagues can participate in the action without compromising patient care.

Doctors working in emergency departments and those in other, critical frontline services will not participate in the stop-work action.

AMA Victoria president Simon Judkins told the ABC doctors had tried to negotiate a better pay deal for a year, saying many had reported “incredibly high levels of fatigue and stress, and they’re incredibly worried in those conditions about whether they might be prone to making errors”.

Victorian doctors will strike on Thursday 13 August. Photograph: Xv Studio/Getty Images/500px

Nino Bucci

Antisemitism royal commission hearing evidence about police, protests

The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion has resumed public hearings, with the next block of evidence to focus on protests and policing.

Richard Lancaster SC, counsel assisting justice Virginia Bell, said the hearing would focus on protests held outside the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023 and by neo-Nazis outside NSW parliament on 8 November 2025.

Lancaster said multiple people had told the commission that the Opera House protest was “a critical event in the rise of antisemitism” in Australia.

Sydney Opera House. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

He said one witness told the commission it was “shattering of our physical and psychological sense of safety in this country” a sentiment “echoed by many other Jewish Australians”.

Lancaster also said there was a large body of evidence before the commission showing that protesting against Israeli military action in Gaza or showing humanitarian concern for civilians killed in the Middle East conflict was not antisemitic.

The first witness, David Ossip, the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said he respected the right of people to protest in support of Palestine.

But he said the timing of the rally, which started at Sydney town hall before ending at the Opera House, was insensitive, given the events of 7 October.

Acting deputy commissioner of NSW police, Peter McKenna, said that while he understood the “heightened emotions” regarding conduct at the rally, there were no concerns about community safety. He said:

double quotation markWhen I spoke to police on the ground, they did not have a concern that this protest would get out of control.

The hearing continues.

Charity cyclist who just finished 5,200km MND fundraising ride dies aged 82

Bob Montgomery, a charity cyclist who recently finished a 5,200km bike ride from Broome to Bowral, died on Monday at the age of 82.

His family confirmed his death on social media, saying he had died unexpectedly just a day after completing the cycling feat as a fundraiser for motor neurone disease, alongside his grandson, Tom. They wrote:

double quotation markThis was Bob’s sixth interstate fundraising ride in support of Motor Neurone Disease NSW, raising vital funds and awareness for a cause that was deeply personal to him. Fittingly, and now poignantly, the ride was named One Last Ride. At 82 years of age, Bob was still passionately sharing his message only hours before his passing.

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MND NSW shared a tribute saying the body was “deeply saddened” by the sudden passing, calling Montgomery a “cherished friend and tireless supporter of MND NSW”.

The group’s CEO, Liam O’Meara, said in a statement:

double quotation markFor many years, Bob dedicated himself to raising vital funds and awareness for people living with motor neurone disease. His most recent achievement, riding from Broome to Bowral at the age of 82 alongside his 18-year-old grandson, was nothing short of inspirational. Bob understood that behind every diagnosis is a person and a family navigating one of life’s most challenging journeys. His fundraising helped ensure that more people could access the care, equipment and support they need, when they need it most.

Australian shares surge to five-month high

Australia’s share market is trading at a five-month high, led by a strong rally by the major banks and a subdued oil price, AAP reports.

The S&P/ASX200 jumped 114.7 points by midday, up 0.28%, to 9,134.8, as the broader All Ordinaries gained 120.2 points, or 1.31%, to 9,298.6.

The top-200 came within 66 points of its 9,202.9 record peak set in February, as the local bourse tracked a strong Wall Street on hopes the US and Iran would restart diplomatic efforts to solve the Persian Gulf conflict.

The Australian dollar is buying 70.13 US cents, down from 70.27 US cents on Monday at 5pm.

Australian Securities Exchange headquarters in Sydney. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images