Health News at Your Fingertips

Chris Bowen says spike in power prices due to Coalition’s ‘nine years of policy chaos’ on renewables

The incoming energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the sharp increase in the standard market price set by the Australian Energy Regulator was the result of “nine years of delay and denial” by the Coalition government that would now be left with households and businesses to pay.

Bowen said “the Liberal legacy is higher power prices” for the residents of Queensland, NSW and South Australia covered by the so-called default market offer.

He added that “nine years of policy chaos means we don’t have enough renewables in the system”, nor enough transmission to link them up “the cheapest form of energy” to the grid.

Bowen also took aim at his predecessor Angus Taylor for acting to delay the release of the higher default market offer. As reported by Guardian Australia earlier this week, Taylor ordered the regulator to delay the new offer from 1 May until today, after the election.

“Angus Taylor knew this report was coming out,” Bowen said. “They sat on this report. They approved its delay until after the election … they put power prices up and were dishonest about it.”

A spokesperson for Taylor earlier this week denied the delay was for political reasons. During the campaign, Coalition ministers and Scott Morrison claimed power prices had fallen by as much as 10%, a figure also included in the March budget.

By the end of March, though, wholesale power prices had more than doubled compared with a year earlier and have continued their sharp rise since, leaving the incoming Albanese government an early challenge to resolve.

Daniel Hurst

Angus Taylor says he will not contest Liberal leadership position

The former energy minister, Angus Taylor, who has previously been labelled a future Liberal leadership aspirant, confirmed he would not enter the race, and would back Peter Dutton for the role.

Speaking on Sky News, Taylor said the debate about whether the Liberal party should move to the right or to the left in the wake of the election loss was the wrong focus.

He said the party needed to focus on its “core values”.

”I’ve been supporting Peter Dutton to lead the party. I think he’s the right person to lead us,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Dutton would lead the party at a time when it needed to hold the Labor party to account and when the economic agenda would be “enormously important”.

When asked whether he wanted to be shadow treasurer, Taylor did not deny his interest in the key frontbench role but said it would be a decision for the leader.

Peter Dutton confirms he will run for Liberal party leadership

Paul Karp

The former defence minister Peter Dutton has confirmed on 2GB Radio that he will put his hand up for the Liberal leadership (which will be unopposed).

Dutton reintroduced himself to the Australian public, arguing that his image had been harmed by Twitter and leftwing news sites, and the perception he is tough because of the portfolios he has held.

You’ve got to be tough to be the defence minister of this country.

Of course, many of Dutton’s low points like boycotting the apology to the Stolen Generation and arguing that Lebanese-Muslim migration in the 1970s had harmed Australia were not strictly requirements of the job.

Dutton also appeared to draw a contrast with his predecessor, Scott Morrison, by observing that he doesn’t attend church regularly, and is a lapsed Catholic who hasn’t sought to make religion a part of his public persona.

Dutton said he expects the Albanese government to be a “bad government” because it doesn’t have the depth of frontbench, who he said was full of Rudd-Gillard era “throwbacks”.

Power prices will be higher under Labor, unemployment will be higher.

Dutton confirmed that Tanya Plibersek had apologised for likening him to Voldemort:

Yes she has to her credit. It’s water off a duck’s back. You read this sort of stuff online, it’s the sewer of Twitter. I don’t think you need to be nasty and mean.

Dutton said that he was “not bald by choice” and was “diagnosed with a skin condition”.

On China, Dutton wished the new government “every success in dealing with the most important issue to face our country this decade”.

On the deputy leadership, Dutton said it will be for the party room to decide and praised the contenders as “great candidates”, particularly Karen Andrews who has withdrawn. The other contenders are Sussan Ley and Jane Hume.

There are a number who could serve very ably as deputy, we’re just working on that at the moment.

Benita Kolovos

Victoria secures return of rare artworks by Wurundjeri artist William Barak

The Victorian government has contributed $500,000 to secure the purchase of rare artworks by Wurundjeri artist William Barak and bring them back to the state.

The Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation had raised $117,627 via a crowdfunding page to buy the artworks, which were being auctioned off by auction house Sotheby’s in New York on Thursday morning.

The government contributed $500,000 after a meeting with the corporation late on Wednesday night.

The two artworks – a painting and a parrying shield – date back to 1897. Corroboree (Women in possum skin cloaks) depicts three rows of women wearing possum skin cloaks in a ceremony. The carved hardwood parrying shield is long and pointed with a geometric design and a unique motif at its centre.

The painting sold for more than $530,000 and the parrying shield sold for more than $74,000.

While Barak’s artworks are held in prestigious public and private collections around the world, this is one of a rare few to return to Wurundjeri ownership.

The premier, Daniel Andrews, told reporters on Thursday:

They’re now owned by the Victorian community and that’s a fantastic outcome. We didn’t want them going into a private collection on the other side of the world.

This is a really important part of our history. It’s a really important part of healing and our journey forward. So we are absolutely delighted, thrilled to be able to have made that contribution and to be able to secure overnight at auction in New York those really important artworks.

Where they go, whether it’s the NGV [National Gallery of Victoria] or [Melbourne] Museum, that will be worked out. I’m sure the Koori Heritage Trust will put bid in for it.

There’ll be lots of different groups that want a piece of that, they’re very, very significant and we’re delighted to have been able to secure them for every single Victorian forever.

Kylea Tink rejects Scott Morrison’s description of teal independents’ campaigns as ‘vicious and brutal’

Newly successful teal independent in North Sydney, Kylea Tink, has hit back at former prime minister Scott Morrison, who earlier this morning described the teal campaigns as “vicious and brutal”.

Speaking to Sky News, Tink said her campaign was the “antithesis” of Morrison’s description:

I don’t think our campaign was brutal at all. It was the antithesis of that.

Should the Labor Party, as they take government, choose to adopt a similar style of governing to what the Liberal Party did, then I have no doubt we’ll see people – like myself – in communities like the North Sydney community, rise up and run against Labor candidates.

Adeshola Ore

Victoria’s opposition criticises Mark McGowan after WA premier’s comments on other states’ budgets

Victoria’s opposition has hit out at Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, after he launched an attack on the Andrews government over the carve-up of GST funding.

Victoria’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, has repeatedly said Victoria does not receive a fair share of the GST based on its population under the current system. But on Wednesday, McGowan hit back and said other states needed to better manage their budgets. He also singled out Victoria for its $2.6bn investment in the Commonwealth Games, saying the state should make “different” decisions.

In a rare moment of bipartisanship, opposition treasury spokesman, David Davis, said it was “very clear” Victoria had a “poor deal” in GST funding.

The opposition leader, Matthew Guy, said McGowan had a “nasty streak” and said the Commonwealth Games were “not a waste of money”.

There’s no need to attack Victoria like that. We’re trying to get our region’s back on their feet and have bipartisan support for the Commonwealth Games.

Adeshola Ore

Victorian opposition calls for ‘circuit breaker’ summit to address strained healthcare system

Victoria’s opposition has called for an urgent health summit in a bid to fix the state’s overburdened system.

It comes after a budget estimates hearing last week heard that 21 Victorians had died waiting for an ambulance over the past six months. The opposition leader, Matthew Guy, said a summit – made up of healthcare professionals – would act as a “circuit breaker” for the sector.

Guy said the meeting would help draw on the experience of health professionals like paramedics and doctors who understand the system:

We need to have a way that brings people, particularly from all walks of the health service, in the room … to find out what are those ways to fix the system now so Victorians know when they call an ambulance it will come.

Ben Smee

Annastacia Palaszcsuk announces $175 ‘cost of living rebate’ for state’s households

The Queensland government has announced a $175 “cost of living rebate” to all households, to be paid as a deduction on power bills.

The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, made the announcement on the same morning the Australian Energy Regulator revealed it would lift its standard electricity price, meaning households in Queensland and NSW would face double-digit increases in their bills.

Palaszczuk said the rebate was only possible because the state maintains ownership of the majority of its power generators.

Julian Simmonds, Liberal candidate for the Brisbane seat of Ryan, has conceded to Greens challenger Elizabeth Watson-Brown after a very tight race.

Addressing his followers via his Facebook page, Simmonds said he was “disappointed” and did not mention his successor:

While I am disappointed that I will not be able to continue to serve as you as the member for Ryan, I am reminded of how lucky we are to live in a democracy and how important it is that we continue to defend our country, our values and our way of life.

The seat, which takes in parts of Brisbane’s inner west, has been won by the LNP at every election for decades. Watson-Brown has romped home with a 10.2% swing and Labor preferences.

Queensland government to introduce legislation to ban swastikas and other hate symbols

The Palaszczuk government will introduce legislation into Queensland parliament to ban swastikas in a bid to strengthen the state’s response to hate crime and vilification.

If passed, the legislation would make it a criminal offence to display symbols promoting hatred and causing fear. It’s expected there will be an exemption for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains who use swastikas as a religious symbol.

Queensland’s plan for a ban on hate symbols comes after the Victorian government introduced a bill to ban them earlier this month. The NSW government has also signalled its plans to criminalise hate symbols.

The Labor state government is expected to introduce further changes to strengthen the state’s response to hate crimes following a parliamentary report last year.

As part of the report, the Queensland parliament’s Legal Affairs and Safety Committee made 17 recommendations to improve Queensland’s response to vilification and hate crimes.

Some of these included banning the display of hate symbols relating to Nazi and IS ideology, working with the commonwealth to address online vilification and moving the section of the Anti-Discrimination Act that deals with serious hate crimes to be relocated into the criminal code.

The parliamentary report followed after the extensive #BetterLaws4SafeQld campaign which was launched by the Cohesive Communities Coalition, a collective of organisations representing more than 20 of Queensland’s diverse communities.

Anthony Albanese says Kristina Keneally had ‘a difficult election campaign’

Amid a media blitz this morning, the PM was on Sky News and addressed the future of failed Fowler candidate Kristina Keneally.

Albanese said people were “getting ahead of themselves” in speculating if Keneally will be given a diplomatic post:

Quite frankly, this discussion about diplomatic posts about various people … I’m not sure whether it’s sort of weird or just strange that people are trying to get ahead of themselves.

I didn’t get ahead of myself in any way before Saturday’s election. The only thing I put in place with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was the arrangements in accordance with their suggestions [about being sworn in early and travelling to Tokyo].

And so that’s my consideration. We haven’t sworn in the full government yet.

Kristina Keneally’s gone through a difficult election campaign. I wish her well. I’m sure [a diplomatic posting] is the last thing on her mind.

Christopher Knaus

Trial date set for Witness K lawyer Bernard Collaery

Almost four years since he was charged, lawyer Bernard Collaery has finally been given a trial date.

Collaery is charged with working with his client, intelligence officer Witness K, to unlawfully disclose information about a controversial bugging operation Australia conducted against its impoverished ally Timor-Leste to gain the upper hand during negotiations over access to oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.

The case against Collaery has languished before the ACT courts since he was charged in mid-2018, delayed time and again by protracted battles over secrecy, access to documents, and interventions by the commonwealth attorney general.

On Thursday, the ACT supreme court set the trial down for 24 October, estimating it will last between four to five weeks.

The setting of the trial date came despite opposition from Collaery’s lawyers, who are still fighting a decision by the court to deny him access to documents about the bugging operation’s legality.

The court has ruled the documents are not relevant to the case against Collaery, a decision which Collaery’s legal team have indicated they will appeal. Collaery’s barrister, Philip Bolton SC, told the court:

Setting down the trial is against the desires and wishes of the accused.

This week, Labor’s Mark Dreyfus indicated he will seek an urgent briefing on the case if appointed attorney general as expected. Dreyfus has repeatedly criticised the delay and secrecy involved in the case, saying he has seen no cogent explanation as to how it is in the public interest.

Households in Queensland, NSW and elsewhere will face double-digit increases in their power bills from July after the regulator lifted its standard electricity price as generation costs soared.

The Australian Energy Regulator, which was ordered to delay the release of its default market offer from 1 May until today by the outgoing Morrison government, said “residential customers in south-east Queensland will see increases above expected inflation of 5.5% to 6.8% (11.3% to 12.6% increases in nominal terms)”.

Similarly in NSW, residential customers will see increases of 2.9% to 12.1% above expected inflation, depending on whether they have controlled load. That will show up as a rise between 8.5% to 18.3% in nominal terms.

The default market offer was set up in 2019 to give consumers who don’t shop around a “price safety net”. The offer serves as a price cap for residential and small business customers for how much energy retailers can charge electricity consumers on default plans, known in the market as standing offer contracts.

Rising gas and coal prices globally have contributed to a spike in wholesale power prices to record levels. Repairs or outages to as much as a third of the coal-fired power fleet have also contributed to the recent jump.

South Australian prices would be 0.2% above expected inflation (5.7% in nominal terms), reflecting that state’s higher renewable energy share of generation than Queensland and NSW.

Victoria, which sets its own default offer, released its reset for 2022-23 on Tuesday, lifting the price by 5%.

Victoria has also recorded a spike in deaths, reporting 19 deaths and 12,421 new cases overnight:

A huge spike in Covid-related deaths in NSW overnight, with the state reporting 30 deaths and 10,926 new cases:

Sticking with Morrison on 2GB, he said he would support “whoever was elected” to the leadership of the Liberal party.

Morrison would not be drawn too extensively on the future of the party, but added that he would not live with any regrets:

It’s not the first time the Liberal party has lost an election.

… You accept the result and you move on.

You’re just very humbled by the opportunity you’ve had, you can dwell on defeat or you can dwell on the things that led you to go and do what you did.

You live every day and you take every opportunity you can to achieve what you’re looking to achieve for the country.

I leave not with regrets but with a great sense of gratitude.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has appeared on 2GB this morning, saying he is enjoying his new life, whilst adding that the teal independents ran very vicious and brutal on-the-ground campaigns.

But in a relatively lightweight interview, Morrison says he is looking forward to “being a dad again,” adding that he had just dropped his daughters off at school.

He did not say if he would be quitting politics, instead promising to remain Cook’s representative.

They’ve been tremendously supportive of me in my electorate, of course. And so I continue on as the member for Cook and [am] able to support a lot of those things happening locally.

I’m going back to the Shire and re-establishing our life back there, getting the girls back into their routine. I’ve just dropped them off at school this morning. And … it’s been a while since I’ve been able to spend as much time as I would like with the family.

You take the good with the bad, and you know, you treat victory and defeat like the imposters they are.