No state funeral service for George Pell: Victorian premier
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not:
I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.
Victoria's premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: "I couldn't think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that."
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
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Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: “I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.”
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
At the press conference in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west, Andrews said he offered condolences to Pell’s friends and family but acknowledged the cardinal’s death would be challenging for victims of institutional child sexual abuse:
Whilst we send our condolences, of course, it’s a very sad time for family and friends and colleagues. But it’ll be a very, very distressing time [for victims]. Because some of these things can be triggering. That’s what the experts tell us.
And to those brave, brave Victorians – and in doing so, many beyond Victoria, who live every day and carry the burden, and some who aren’t here any more because of that burden – the way they were treated, the way they were abused and the way that was covered up … it was just a completely inadequate response.
We send our best wishes to them, and we always commit to have them foremost in our thoughts.
The premier said he would not dignify comments made by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who described his overturned child sexual abuse conviction a “modern-day political persecution”, with a response.
I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.
Dutton said in a written statement released on Wednesday afternoon:
On his passing, the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor Government and its institutions that led this modern-day political persecution.
In 2018, Pell was convicted of molesting two choir boys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. Pell always maintained his innocence and his convictions were quashed in a unanimous decision in the high court in 2020. He served 13 months in jail before being released.
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Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
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Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not:
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I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.
\n
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Victoria's premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: "I couldn't think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that."
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
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At the press conference in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west, Andrews said he offered condolences to Pell’s friends and family but acknowledged the cardinal’s death would be challenging for victims of institutional child sexual abuse:
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Whilst we send our condolences, of course, it’s a very sad time for family and friends and colleagues. But it’ll be a very, very distressing time [for victims]. Because some of these things can be triggering. That’s what the experts tell us.
\n
And to those brave, brave Victorians – and in doing so, many beyond Victoria, who live every day and carry the burden, and some who aren’t here any more because of that burden – the way they were treated, the way they were abused and the way that was covered up … it was just a completely inadequate response.
\n
We send our best wishes to them, and we always commit to have them foremost in our thoughts.
\n
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The premier said he would not dignify comments made by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who described his overturned child sexual abuse conviction a “modern-day political persecution”, with a response.
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I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.
\n
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Dutton said in a written statement released on Wednesday afternoon:
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On his passing, the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor Government and its institutions that led this modern-day political persecution.
\n
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In 2018, Pell was convicted of molesting two choir boys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. Pell always maintained his innocence and his convictions were quashed in a unanimous decision in the high court in 2020. He served 13 months in jail before being released.
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Yesterday, NSW’s corruption watchdog, Icac, warned that the findings from its probe into Gladys Berejiklian may be delayed until after the NSW election. It said the matter concerned complex matters of law and fact and a draft report would be completed as soon as possible.
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Former NSW supreme court judge and assistant commissioner of the Icac, Anthony Whealy, KC, has spoken out saying the delay is “a black mark against Icac”.
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Whealy told ABC Radio this morning:
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I think it’s a real black mark against Icac in NSW. I’ve long been a supporter of Icac and rebutted criticism after criticism but on this issue I’m afraid I have to be critical.
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I think the situation has really reached an unsatisfactory point and something has to be done to resolve it.
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You’re looking at anything up to 18 months from the conclusion of evidence for a report – while it’s a very important report – it’s not a difficult one at all.
\n
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Whealy said it’s not a decision that should be taking this length of time given “in this particular case there’s no dispute about the facts”.
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Ms Berejiklian’s role in relation to grants to the Wagga electorate are well documented and well known. Mr McGuire’s activities are well known. They’re not in dispute now and no one is saying it didn’t happen or that there’s a complex series of facts.
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Whealy believes Icac has “lost control” of the process.
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I think really is the simple situation is that they have an assistant commissioner there whose job it is to write the report. And I’m afraid Icac has lost control.
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PNG foreign affairs minister Justin Tkatchenko said the bilateral defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea “will be signed today”.
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It will be announced today after our bilateral talks … our officials from both sides have been working on this for three or four months.
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Earlier Australia’s Pacific minister Pat Conroy said the treaty was still being negotiated.
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Tkatchenko said the treaty was about regional security, defence cooperation and also enhancing the PNG defence force.
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He said China was one of PNG’s “biggest economic partners” when asked why Beijing was funding a new military hospital in PNG:
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And we work with them in many different ways, on the understanding [of] what we can do together without causing issues amongst ourselves and our partners.
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At the end of the day, China is economic partner and we will work with them for the benefit of our country … friends to all, enemies to none. We [will] work with everybody for the long-term benefit of our country and our sovereignty.
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Fires are continuing to burn in Western Australia’s south-west, with three out-of-control bushfires. This comes just one week after the “once-in-a-century” flooding in the Kimberley.
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An emergency warning remains in place for parts of Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Noggerup. A blaze in Preston national park, east of Donnybrook, has destroyed 3,000 hectares of forest and farmland.
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AAP is reporting that about 60 firefighters are tackling the blaze and an evacuation centre has been set up at the Donnybrook recreation centre.
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The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfire had been started by lightning and was not contained or controlled.
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A watch and act alert is in place for surrounding parts of Noggerup, Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Yabberup.
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04:09 AM -Bushfire ADVICE for parts of BEELERUP, BROOKHAMPTON, QUEENWOOD and CHARLEY CREEK in the SHIRE OF DONNYBROOK-BALINGUP : https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 11, 2023
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Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and, while my colleague Emily Wind will be along shortly to take you through the day, we’ll have a quick look at the main stories overnight.
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The death of Cardinal George Pell continues to dominate much of the news today with Pope Francis praising the “determination and wisdom” of Australia’s most senior Catholic who died on Tuesday in Rome. We’ll have coverage of a mass being held in his honour in his hometown of Ballarat, and all the other reaction as it happens.
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Anthony Albanese will be making headlines today as he visits Papua New Guinea for talks aimed at yielding a new security agreement. The prime minister will become the first foreign government leader to address PNG’s parliament and will say he sees the relationship between the two countries as “a bond between equals”.
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There’ll also no doubt be interesting follow-ups from last night’s news that two of Australia’s richest men, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, have fallen out over plans to build a giant solar farm to supply Darwin, Indonesia and Singapore with power, with the venture entering voluntary administration.
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Key events
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Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
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Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not:
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I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.
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Victoria's premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: "I couldn't think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that."
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
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At the press conference in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west, Andrews said he offered condolences to Pell’s friends and family but acknowledged the cardinal’s death would be challenging for victims of institutional child sexual abuse:
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Whilst we send our condolences, of course, it’s a very sad time for family and friends and colleagues. But it’ll be a very, very distressing time [for victims]. Because some of these things can be triggering. That’s what the experts tell us.
\n
And to those brave, brave Victorians – and in doing so, many beyond Victoria, who live every day and carry the burden, and some who aren’t here any more because of that burden – the way they were treated, the way they were abused and the way that was covered up … it was just a completely inadequate response.
\n
We send our best wishes to them, and we always commit to have them foremost in our thoughts.
\n
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The premier said he would not dignify comments made by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who described his overturned child sexual abuse conviction a “modern-day political persecution”, with a response.
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I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.
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Dutton said in a written statement released on Wednesday afternoon:
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On his passing, the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor Government and its institutions that led this modern-day political persecution.
\n
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In 2018, Pell was convicted of molesting two choir boys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. Pell always maintained his innocence and his convictions were quashed in a unanimous decision in the high court in 2020. He served 13 months in jail before being released.
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Yesterday, NSW’s corruption watchdog, Icac, warned that the findings from its probe into Gladys Berejiklian may be delayed until after the NSW election. It said the matter concerned complex matters of law and fact and a draft report would be completed as soon as possible.
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Former NSW supreme court judge and assistant commissioner of the Icac, Anthony Whealy, KC, has spoken out saying the delay is “a black mark against Icac”.
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Whealy told ABC Radio this morning:
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I think it’s a real black mark against Icac in NSW. I’ve long been a supporter of Icac and rebutted criticism after criticism but on this issue I’m afraid I have to be critical.
\n
I think the situation has really reached an unsatisfactory point and something has to be done to resolve it.
\n
You’re looking at anything up to 18 months from the conclusion of evidence for a report – while it’s a very important report – it’s not a difficult one at all.
\n
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Whealy said it’s not a decision that should be taking this length of time given “in this particular case there’s no dispute about the facts”.
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\n
Ms Berejiklian’s role in relation to grants to the Wagga electorate are well documented and well known. Mr McGuire’s activities are well known. They’re not in dispute now and no one is saying it didn’t happen or that there’s a complex series of facts.
\n
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Whealy believes Icac has “lost control” of the process.
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\n
I think really is the simple situation is that they have an assistant commissioner there whose job it is to write the report. And I’m afraid Icac has lost control.
\n
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PNG foreign affairs minister Justin Tkatchenko said the bilateral defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea “will be signed today”.
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It will be announced today after our bilateral talks … our officials from both sides have been working on this for three or four months.
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Earlier Australia’s Pacific minister Pat Conroy said the treaty was still being negotiated.
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Tkatchenko said the treaty was about regional security, defence cooperation and also enhancing the PNG defence force.
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He said China was one of PNG’s “biggest economic partners” when asked why Beijing was funding a new military hospital in PNG:
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And we work with them in many different ways, on the understanding [of] what we can do together without causing issues amongst ourselves and our partners.
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At the end of the day, China is economic partner and we will work with them for the benefit of our country … friends to all, enemies to none. We [will] work with everybody for the long-term benefit of our country and our sovereignty.
\n
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Fires are continuing to burn in Western Australia’s south-west, with three out-of-control bushfires. This comes just one week after the “once-in-a-century” flooding in the Kimberley.
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An emergency warning remains in place for parts of Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Noggerup. A blaze in Preston national park, east of Donnybrook, has destroyed 3,000 hectares of forest and farmland.
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AAP is reporting that about 60 firefighters are tackling the blaze and an evacuation centre has been set up at the Donnybrook recreation centre.
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The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfire had been started by lightning and was not contained or controlled.
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A watch and act alert is in place for surrounding parts of Noggerup, Glen Mervyn, Mumballup and Yabberup.
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04:09 AM -Bushfire ADVICE for parts of BEELERUP, BROOKHAMPTON, QUEENWOOD and CHARLEY CREEK in the SHIRE OF DONNYBROOK-BALINGUP : https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ
— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 11, 2023
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Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and, while my colleague Emily Wind will be along shortly to take you through the day, we’ll have a quick look at the main stories overnight.
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The death of Cardinal George Pell continues to dominate much of the news today with Pope Francis praising the “determination and wisdom” of Australia’s most senior Catholic who died on Tuesday in Rome. We’ll have coverage of a mass being held in his honour in his hometown of Ballarat, and all the other reaction as it happens.
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Anthony Albanese will be making headlines today as he visits Papua New Guinea for talks aimed at yielding a new security agreement. The prime minister will become the first foreign government leader to address PNG’s parliament and will say he sees the relationship between the two countries as “a bond between equals”.
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There’ll also no doubt be interesting follow-ups from last night’s news that two of Australia’s richest men, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, have fallen out over plans to build a giant solar farm to supply Darwin, Indonesia and Singapore with power, with the venture entering voluntary administration.
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Filters BETA
Michael McGowan
Cardinal George Pell will not be offered a state funeral in New South Wales, the Guardian understands.
The Victorian premier Daniel Andrews ruled out offering Pell a state funeral in that state earlier on Thursday, saying he “couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that”.
While NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet has yet to comment on Pell’s death the Guardian understands that he has ruled out offering a state funeral to the former Sydney Archbishop.
Pell – who served as Sydney’s Archbishop between 2001 and 2014 – is to be buried in a crypt below the St Mary’s Cathedral in the city alongside other senior figures in the Catholic Church in Australia.
Anthony Albanese has just touched down in Papua New Guinea, where a bilateral defence treaty will be discussed and the PM will become the first foreign leader to address the PNG parliament.
Albanese is joined by the foreign minister, Pat Conroy, and Senator Nita Green on the trip.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that severe thunderstorms with heavy or intense rainfall are likely in the central and northern interior of Queensland today, which could lead to flash flooding.
A major flood warning for the Georgina River and moderate flood warning for the Eyre Creek remain in place.
⛈️Thunderstorm forecast today 12/1: Severe thunderstorms with heavy or intense rainfall that could lead to flash flooding are likely in the central and northern interior today #Longreach #Barcaldine, #Blackall.
Current warnings: https://t.co/CinugnxqkN pic.twitter.com/hzOWcG3QxD
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 11, 2023
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Five injured in Brisbane e-scooter fire
Two men, a woman and two teenage girls are in hospital after suffering burns and smoke inhalation in an e-scooter fire at a home in Brisbane’s south-west, AAP reports.
The scooter reportedly caught fire inside the home in Darra about 4am on Thursday, paramedics say.
A man in his 40s suffered burns to his back and was treated by a critical care paramedic before being rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital for treatment.
A woman in her 30s with minor burns to her hand and a teenage girl who inhaled smoke were also taken to the same hospital.
A man in his 50s also suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital, while another teenage girl was taken to Queensland children’s hospital after she inhaled smoke.
Queensland ambulance service said all five patients were in stable conditions on Thursday morning.
Monique Ryan: ‘I don’t think Senator Hume understands’ how referendums have worked in the past
The independent member for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, and Liberal senator Jane Hume just appeared on ABC Melbourne to discuss the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous voice to parliament.
Hume said her biggest concern is that there “won’t have an official pamphlet going out to households”:
Now, that is, I think, a great concern because in an age of misinformation, you would think that it would be most important that the government take the lead and provide that clear information.
Ryan responded by saying, “I don’t think Senator Hume understands how this has worked in the past”:
What has happened is that the parliament votes on a referendum and whether or not we’re going to have one, and on the wording that will be put before the Australian people. And that’s what has happened.
And then what has happened in the past is the parliamentarians who have been supportive of that referendum have produced a pamphlet. And if there’s a no case, then the parliamentarians, not the government, who are opposed to that referendum have produced that no case.
Now, there’s nothing to stop Senator Hume from producing a pamphlet of her own if she’s opposed to the voice.
Concluding the heated exchange, Hume said “I think it’s very premature to suggest that she knows what my position is on the voice”.
Major renewables conference to be held in SA
Australia’s prowess in the renewable energy sector will be showcased at an international conference to be held in South Australia next year, AAP reports.
The federal climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, says Adelaide has been chosen to host the International Renewable Energy Conference in April 2024, bringing together 3500 of the sector’s global leaders.
It will include experts from government, industry, science and community groups working on the world’s clean energy future.
Bowen said:
The future of energy in Australia and the world is renewable, and sharing the latest knowledge with international partners and experts will help make that vision a reality.
Where better to hold the 2024 IREC than South Australia, with their world leading integration of renewables into their grid.
Congrats to the Malinauskas Govt. in securing Adelaide as the host city to sell Australia to the world as the renewable energy superpower we will become. pic.twitter.com/2Ua42ChLdL
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) January 11, 2023
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Where better to hold the 2024 IREC than South Australia, with their world leading integration of renewables into their grid.
Congrats to the Malinauskas Govt. in securing Adelaide as the host city to sell Australia to the world as the renewable energy superpower we will become. pic.twitter.com/2Ua42ChLdL
— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) January 11, 2023
A key part of the Adelaide conference will be to involve Indigenous communities in deploying clean energy projects to ensure they benefit from the transition to renewables.
South Australian energy minister, Tom Koutsantonis, said the conference would showcase the state’s green energy credentials, including its plans for a hydrogen hub in the upper Spencer Gulf.
The conference has been held biennially since 2004, with previous venues including Seoul, Washington, Beijing and Madrid.
No state funeral service for George Pell: Victorian premier
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.
Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not:
I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.
Victoria's premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: "I couldn't think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that."
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
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Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse: “I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that.”
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 11, 2023
At the press conference in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west, Andrews said he offered condolences to Pell’s friends and family but acknowledged the cardinal’s death would be challenging for victims of institutional child sexual abuse:
Whilst we send our condolences, of course, it’s a very sad time for family and friends and colleagues. But it’ll be a very, very distressing time [for victims]. Because some of these things can be triggering. That’s what the experts tell us.
And to those brave, brave Victorians – and in doing so, many beyond Victoria, who live every day and carry the burden, and some who aren’t here any more because of that burden – the way they were treated, the way they were abused and the way that was covered up … it was just a completely inadequate response.
We send our best wishes to them, and we always commit to have them foremost in our thoughts.
The premier said he would not dignify comments made by the federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who described his overturned child sexual abuse conviction a “modern-day political persecution”, with a response.
I think there’s absolutely no need for me to dignify his commentary by providing any further response, which is why I’m not.
Dutton said in a written statement released on Wednesday afternoon:
On his passing, the fact he spent a year in prison for a conviction that the High Court of Australia unanimously quashed should provide some cause for reflection for the Victorian Labor Government and its institutions that led this modern-day political persecution.
In 2018, Pell was convicted of molesting two choir boys in the sacristy at St Patrick’s Cathedral while he was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996. Pell always maintained his innocence and his convictions were quashed in a unanimous decision in the high court in 2020. He served 13 months in jail before being released.
David Pocock calls for national debate on housing as figures show rising number of women over 50 on rent assistance
Independent senator for the ACT, David Pocock, is drawing attention to the growing number of women over 50 needing commonwealth rent assistance over the last 4 years.
Pocock told the Canberra Times he wanted to use Senate estimates to better understand the trend, and has called for national debate on the purpose of housing in Australia:
Rising inflation hurts people on fixed incomes, including income support, hardest.
Coupled with the severe shortage of social and affordable housing these figures paint a bleak picture of the very real suffering that is increasingly widespread across our community.
An extra 50,000+ women over 50 needing Commonwealth Rent Assistance in the last 4 years alone is deeply concerning.
The data confirms the acute pressures we know are being felt in the community and the urgent need to address this growing crisis.https://t.co/9ABi1PiqBH
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) January 11, 2023
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An extra 50,000+ women over 50 needing Commonwealth Rent Assistance in the last 4 years alone is deeply concerning.
The data confirms the acute pressures we know are being felt in the community and the urgent need to address this growing crisis.https://t.co/9ABi1PiqBH
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) January 11, 2023
Greg Jericho
Last month, the Parliamentary Budget Office released an incredibly useful tool for our economic debate that not only reveals the secrets of the budget figures, but also highlights how badly the stage-three tax cuts mismanage the budget.
In the middle of December, the PBO gave us all an early Christmas present – one that oddly has largely been left under the tree. So let me do us all a favour and open it.
It released a “build you own budget” tool.
If you know the struggle of trying to repeal a traffic offence, you’ll want to have a read of Elias Visontay’s piece this morning about his seven-month legal battle:
Former Icac assistant commissioner says delay ‘black mark against Icac’
Natasha May
Yesterday, NSW’s corruption watchdog, Icac, warned that the findings from its probe into Gladys Berejiklian may be delayed until after the NSW election. It said the matter concerned complex matters of law and fact and a draft report would be completed as soon as possible.
Former NSW supreme court judge and assistant commissioner of the Icac, Anthony Whealy, KC, has spoken out saying the delay is “a black mark against Icac”.
Whealy told ABC Radio this morning:
I think it’s a real black mark against Icac in NSW. I’ve long been a supporter of Icac and rebutted criticism after criticism but on this issue I’m afraid I have to be critical.
I think the situation has really reached an unsatisfactory point and something has to be done to resolve it.
You’re looking at anything up to 18 months from the conclusion of evidence for a report – while it’s a very important report – it’s not a difficult one at all.
Whealy said it’s not a decision that should be taking this length of time given “in this particular case there’s no dispute about the facts”.
Ms Berejiklian’s role in relation to grants to the Wagga electorate are well documented and well known. Mr McGuire’s activities are well known. They’re not in dispute now and no one is saying it didn’t happen or that there’s a complex series of facts.
Whealy believes Icac has “lost control” of the process.
I think really is the simple situation is that they have an assistant commissioner there whose job it is to write the report. And I’m afraid Icac has lost control.
Josh Taylor
Tennis Australia commits to more NFTs despite mayhem in the crypto markets
Tennis Australia is expanding its NFT ball art offering for this year’s Australian Open, saying it is in it for the long haul despite the uncertainty in the crypto market.
The Open last year launched an “AO Artball” collection as the hype around all things crypto peaked, with 6,776 ball artworks sold as non-fungible tokens that are linked to 19cm x 19cm plots on the court at Melbourne Park.
An additional 2,454 NFTs are on offer this year.
Read more:
NSW won’t scrap stamp duty, premier says
NSW Labor says the state’s premier will never abandon plans for an annual land tax, despite Dominic Perrottet stepping back from his boldest ambitions, AAP reports.
Open for years about his disdain for stamp duty on homes, Perrottet reportedly conceded the one-off tax would have to remain an option for homebuyers. He told the Daily Telegraph:
If there are future reforms, it will all be about choice.
If you give people choice, then it’s very difficult for people to say that there’s a problem with it.
But Labor says re-electing Perrottet in the upcoming March election would give him a green light to introduce the broad-based land tax the premier “has been obsessed with” for years. NSW shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
His plan is to say what he must to get through the election before he charges full steam ahead and introduces a broad-based land tax.
The fact that Mr Perrottet has again refused to rule out extending his land tax even further shows that he will never give up on the plan he spent years fighting for.
Under laws passed in November, first home buyers purchasing a property for up to $1.5m can choose to pay stamp duty or an annual land tax.
While stamp duty adds about 4.5% to a home’s purchase price, the land tax involves an annual charge of $400 plus 0.3% of the property’s land value.
For most owner-occupiers, the sum of annual charges would take about 15 to 20 years to exceed the one-off stamp duty charge.
But the land tax’s recurring nature has Labor calling it a “forever tax on the family home” and pledging to repeal it if it wins government in March.
Stamp duty – making up a quarter of the NSW government’s revenue – has been criticised by leading economists, including former Treasury chief Ken Henry.
In Henry’s 2010 tax review, he described it as a highly inefficient tax on land that discourages people from moving as their personal circumstances change.
Astronomers discover Earth-sized exoplanet
Researchers using Nasa’s James Webb space telescope have for the first time confirmed the existence of an exoplanet, a planet that orbits another star. Formally classified as LHS 475 b, the planet is almost exactly the same size as our own, clocking in at 99% of Earth’s diameter.
A whole new world!
41 light-years away is the small, rocky planet LHS 475 b. At 99% of Earth’s diameter, it’s almost exactly the same size as our home world. This marks the first time researchers have used Webb to confirm an exoplanet. https://t.co/hX8UGXplq2 #AAS241 pic.twitter.com/SDhuZRfcko
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) January 11, 2023
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The space telescope has also given insight into the birth of stars at “cosmic noon” with a newly released image of the NGC 346 cluster.
You can read more here:
Anthony Albanese has taken to social media before his flight to Papau New Guinea, telling us about what his priorities will be in discussions with PNG Prime Minister James Marape.
This morning I leave Cairns for a visit to our closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.
We need to strengthen partnerships in our Pacific region so we can increase our security and prosperity.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
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This morning I leave Cairns for a visit to our closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.
We need to strengthen partnerships in our Pacific region so we can increase our security and prosperity.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
That's why our two countries are forging deeper cooperation on defence.
Business links and investment is also growing, which presents a real opportunity for workers and industry in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
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That’s why our two countries are forging deeper cooperation on defence.
Business links and investment is also growing, which presents a real opportunity for workers and industry in both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
Australian farmers know just how important the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme is. During the trip I'll be discussing ways to expand this program with Prime Minister James Marape.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
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Australian farmers know just how important the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme is. During the trip I’ll be discussing ways to expand this program with Prime Minister James Marape.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 11, 2023
Defence treaty ‘will be signed today’, PNG minister says
PNG foreign affairs minister Justin Tkatchenko said the bilateral defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea “will be signed today”.
It will be announced today after our bilateral talks … our officials from both sides have been working on this for three or four months.
Earlier Australia’s Pacific minister Pat Conroy said the treaty was still being negotiated.
Tkatchenko said the treaty was about regional security, defence cooperation and also enhancing the PNG defence force.
He said China was one of PNG’s “biggest economic partners” when asked why Beijing was funding a new military hospital in PNG:
And we work with them in many different ways, on the understanding [of] what we can do together without causing issues amongst ourselves and our partners.
At the end of the day, China is economic partner and we will work with them for the benefit of our country … friends to all, enemies to none. We [will] work with everybody for the long-term benefit of our country and our sovereignty.
Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea’s minister for foreign affairs, is also due to speak on ABC Radio National this morning in just a few minutes.
