Victoria creates anti-hate taskforce after alleged antisemitic attacks
The Victorian government has convened a new anti-hate taskforce after a spate of alleged antisemitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said the taskforce will build on the work undertaken by the Local Escalation and Help (Leah) at the local level, by looking “at the bigger picture across our city and state.”
The taskforce will be formed by the Victorian police and the government.
Allan said:
It will have its first meeting this week where I will be updated on: how Victoria Police plans to operationalise the criminal components of the Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act; progress and updates from the LEAH meetings occurring within the Jewish Community; the progress of community consultation and development of legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest.
I will also invite representatives of Melbourne’s Jewish Community to participate in this meeting, so their voice is heard from the outset.
The taskforce will meet regularly and consist initially of representatives of Government including myself and the Minister for Police, Victoria Police and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne – with membership to expand over time.
Hate doesn’t belong in Victoria. It has no place outside synagogues or inside restaurants.
We have a strong action plan and we’re implementing it piece by piece. We back our police, we’re giving them more powers – and we won’t rest until every Victorian feels safe to be who they are.
Key events
Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, appeared briefly a little earlier to speak about the governments response to antisemitism after an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.
Earlier today, the government announced it would be setting up a taskforce between Victorian police and the government to look “at the bigger picture across our city and state.”
Allan said:
I’ll continue to stand with a strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day, every single day. They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time. They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws and the response of Victoria Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are, and practice their faith safe and free from hate.
Australia lifts aid to Fiji and deepens ties after Rabuka visit
The Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s week-long visit to Australia has borne fruit, with Anthony Albanese’s government agreeing to bolster aid to the Pacific nation by tens of millions of dollars.
Australia has agreed to a fresh commitment of $52m of support, with a focus on border security, taking commitments to Fiji to just under $500m over the next four years.
Foreign minister Penny Wong has also announced a deepening of policing and security ties, including officers and advisers to be embedded in Fijian operations.
Rabuka arrived in Canberra last week, meeting with governor general Sam Mostyn before a series of meetings with Australian officials, including Albanese.
He addressed the National Press Club on Wednesday, calling for a deepening of defence ties and raised the prospect of Fijian soldiers serving in the Australian defence force.
– via AAP
NSW police hunt for ‘contract crew’ after man killed and another buried alive
New South Wales police have alleged a “contract crew” linked to a drug trafficking syndicate is responsible for “six days of carnage” in which one man was fatally shot and another was shot and buried but survived in 2024.
Police said it was investigating the alleged murder of 32-year-old Rich ‘Dylan’ Choup – who was fatally shot in Sydney last July – and two other violent incidents believed to be linked:
Police believe the three incidents occurred within a six-day period and may be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate.
Detectives are appealing to the public for information about the incidents.
Police said the incidents include a 31-year-old man from south-west Sydney who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured.
Another incident included the alleged attempted murder of a man in Jimboomba, Queensland.
Police said the 23-year-old man was shot through the eye and then buried:
Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later.
Victoria creates anti-hate taskforce after alleged antisemitic attacks
The Victorian government has convened a new anti-hate taskforce after a spate of alleged antisemitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said the taskforce will build on the work undertaken by the Local Escalation and Help (Leah) at the local level, by looking “at the bigger picture across our city and state.”
The taskforce will be formed by the Victorian police and the government.
Allan said:
It will have its first meeting this week where I will be updated on: how Victoria Police plans to operationalise the criminal components of the Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act; progress and updates from the LEAH meetings occurring within the Jewish Community; the progress of community consultation and development of legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest.
I will also invite representatives of Melbourne’s Jewish Community to participate in this meeting, so their voice is heard from the outset.
The taskforce will meet regularly and consist initially of representatives of Government including myself and the Minister for Police, Victoria Police and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne – with membership to expand over time.
Hate doesn’t belong in Victoria. It has no place outside synagogues or inside restaurants.
We have a strong action plan and we’re implementing it piece by piece. We back our police, we’re giving them more powers – and we won’t rest until every Victorian feels safe to be who they are.
McCarthy says ‘now is the time’ for federal action on truth-telling
Malarndirri McCarthy has said that “now is the time” for the federal government to take “the steps that are required around truth-telling”.
The minister for Indigenous Australians was speaking on ABC News Breakfast a short time ago.
McCarthy was asked if she could see could see the federal government undertaking a truth-telling inquiry in the wake of Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission releasing its report.
McCarthy said:
I have been watching states and territories. I know that, since the defeat of the referendum, we have looked at what’s going on in each of the state and territory jurisdictions.
But now is the time, I hope, as we go forward, that we can look at what we can do at a federal level in regards to taking the steps that are required around truth-telling.
We do talk about this when we come to Garma, but now is the time to see action, and I do want to read the Yoorrook Justice Commission report and see what we can do at a federal level.
Ley writes to Albanese to offer Coalition support on child safety reforms
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, says she has written to Anthony Albanese to offer the Coalition’s support on safety reforms after allegations against a Victorian childcare worker rocked the sector last week.
On Tuesday, a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old, prompting health authorities to urge the parents of 1,200 children to seek testing.
Speaking on Sunrise this morning, Ley said she felt “physically sick” upon learning of the allegations against the childcare worker.
I have written to the prime minister in good faith to offer our constructive engagement in the lead-up to parliament returning so we can have legislation ready to go to actually act once and for all, to do what I think every parent would expect and every community member would expect – to make sure our children are safe in childcare settings.
When asked whether the Coalition had done enough to strengthen safety in the wake of the 2017 royal commission into child sexual abuse, Ley said it is “not about the blame game”.
The education minister, Jason Clare, is a good person. My shadow education spokesperson is a good person and they will work together.
Designs to be released for essential worker homes at Sydney WestConnex site
The New South Wales government is today unveiling concept designs and plans for 577 homes that will be built on surplus government land at the former WestConnex dive site in Annandale.
The homes will include 220 build-to-rent apartments for essential workers.
The land was secured by the government as part of its $450m build-to-rent essential worker housing program.
NSW premier Chris Minns said:
Housing is the single largest cost of living pressure people face and this block of land has sat unused for years – so we’re using it to help deliver essential housing for essential workers.
This project will deliver hundreds of homes that will cut both costs and commute times for its residents, while allowing workers to build a life close to their jobs, allowing them to deliver world class public services.
Jewish community ‘not OK’ after alleged antisemitic Melbourne attacks
The chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dvir Abramovich, says the Jewish community is “not OK” after a spate of alleged antisemitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend.
Speaking to ABC’s Radio National this morning, Abramovich said antisemitism was “not just an abstract issue, it’s a real-life threat to our lives and to Jewish life here”.
I need Australians to really hear that: if ever there was a moment to break the glass and pull the alarm labelled never again, it’s right now because what happened on Friday night wasn’t some isolated outburst, it was the boiling point of something that’s been building for years now, since October 7.
Abramovich said he went to the East Melbourne Synagogue on Saturday to see the doorway after the fire and “something broke in me”.
And there’s a prevailing feeling in our community that something is cracked. And we’re not sure who’s going to protect us.
He commended strong condemnation from Anthony Albanese, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, and the former attorney general Mark Dreyfus at the weekend but called for strong action, including state and federal hate crime task forces and national anti-vilification education.
Plea for data registry funds in fight against MND
Health advocates are calling on the government to launch a data registry for motor neurone disease, with $12m needed to know the extent of the illness nationwide and target specific support to affected patients.
The disease robs individuals of the ability to walk, talk, swallow, and eventually breathe, as it impairs nerve cells responsible for transmitting signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
More research needs to be done and consolidated through a national database on the causes of the disease, MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan said.
“It’s one of those diseases we still don’t know a lot about, there’s no specific diagnosis,” she said.
“You have to exclude everything else, and then you’re left with motor neurone disease.
“That also goes to why we need better data. We don’t even know how many people in Australia have motor neurone disease.”
– via AAP
McCarthy says Yuendumu counting on action as community awaits Walker inquest findings
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has said the people of Yuendumu and central Australia more broadly are counting on action after the release of the report into Kumanjayi Walker’s death.
Walker, an Indigenous teenager, was fatally shot by then-Northern Territory police constable Zachary Rolfe in November 2019. The NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage will hand down her findings at a special hearing in Yuendumu from 10.45am today.
McCarthy, speaking on ABC News Breakfast this morning, said she and many others looked forward to reading the coroner’s report, but that many continued to feel the toll of Walker’s death.
If there’s one word that can be used, which I’ve heard elder Ned Hargraves use, it’s that they’re exhausted, they’re tired, they’re wearied by all of this.
They are hopeful that some good will come from it, and I’m sure they’ll speak for themselves on it today.
But it is important to see and listen to what the coroner has to say today.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
Toxic algal bloom arrives on Adelaide’s beaches
South Australia’s toxic algal bloom has arrived on Adelaide’s beaches, deepening public concern about the unfolding catastrophe, which has affected the state’s coastline since March.
Until recently, city beaches had escaped the worst of the deadly bloom of Karenia mikimotoi algae, which had devastated marine life from the Fleurieu peninsula, to Kangaroo Island, the Yorke peninsula and the Ramsar-listed Coorong, amid warmer than normal sea temperatures.
But in the wake of a major storm on 24 June, masses of dead rays, fish and rare and unusual marine life began washing up from north of Grange jetty to south of Christies beach surf club.
“Until that time, it hadn’t hit metro Adelaide,” said marine biologist Dr Michael Bossley. “Suddenly, the people of Adelaide and the government and just about everybody are doubling down on their concern.”
Climate and environment reporter Petra Stock has more:
Most older Australians support tax hike for high super balances, report finds
Most older Australians support increasing taxes on high superannuation balances, a new report shows.
The federal government is hoping to lift taxes on super balances above $3 million from 15% to 30% in a move predicted to impact about 0.5% of savers.
Despite outcry from the opposition, about 57% of seniors endorse the change, according to a survey of 3000 people aged 50 and older conducted by National Seniors Australia for the Super Members Council.
The results appear to track with broader public sentiment on Labor’s bill, Super Members Council CEO Misha Schubert said.
“There seems to be broad Australian understanding about the importance of equity and sustainability in the super system, and a strong sense of fairness as the starting point,” she said.
– via AAP
Coalition frontbencher calls for national cabinet after Melbourne attacks
The Coalition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet after several alleged antisemitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend.
“Why isn’t he convening National Cabinet and bringing the states together with urgency to address this issue?” McIntosh asked on ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
But Victoria’s opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another “talkfest”.
“The time for talk is over. We need action,” the Caulfield MP said.
A 34-year-old man from New South Wales has appeared in court charged over allegedly entering the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew congregation on Albert Street at about 8pm on Friday, pouring a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and setting it on fire.
Acoss urges RBA to cut interest rates tomorrow
The Australian Council of Social Service is calling on the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates again tomorrow after the latest inflation data showed that price pressures are continuing to ease.
“With inflation well within the RBA’s target and decreasing, there is no reason to keep interest rates high,” said Jacqueline Phillips, acting CEO of Acoss.
People on low and modest incomes have borne the brunt of interest rate rises and desperately need relief. The economic conditions clearly support a rate cut.
Phillips said a series of rate cuts now would open the door to stronger growth in jobs and help restore people’s incomes after a decade of stagnation.
Low unemployment should be celebrated, not feared. There is no evidence that our current unemployment rate is driving inflation. In fact, inflation continues to fall even with unemployment at these levels.
We should be supporting job creation, not deliberately trying to push people out of employment to meet an arbitrary unemployment target.
While welcome, rate cuts alone would not solve the living standards crisis for people who are hit the hardest, she added.
We need an urgent increase to JobSeeker and other social security payments to lift them to a liveable level.
We also need further investment in social housing and home energy upgrades for low-income renters to bring down energy bills.
Bowen travels to Pacific in push to host Cop31
Krishani Dhanji
While there’s no confirmation of who will host Cop31 next year, climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen will travel to the Pacific this week to discuss Australia’s joint bid with the region to host the climate summit.
Australia is lobbying to host the summit against Turkey, and Anthony Albanese promised during the federal election campaign to hold the summit – if we won – in Adelaide.
Bowen will visit Tuvalu, Palau, Samoa and the Marshall Islands and says the trip will help deepen ties with the region.
It makes sense that the world’s biggest climate conference should be hosted by the region facing some of the world’s biggest climate impacts.
Australia and the Pacific’s joint bid for COP31 is about ensuring that the region’s voice shapes global climate action for the benefit of the Australian and Pacific people.
South Australia’s acting premier, Susan Close, says her state is a “global leader” in decarbonisation, with 75% of its energy coming from renewables, and a target of net 100% renewables by 2027.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to Monday’s live news blog.
The Albanese government will continue its efforts to host the Cop31 climate summit against stiff competition from Turkey, with climate and energy minister Chris Bowen travelling to the Pacific.
And the opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet after a spate of alleged antisemitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend.
I’m Jordyn Beazley and I’ll be taking you through the morning’s news.