The energy crisis is continuing to dominate the agenda for the newly elected government.
Energy minister Chris Bowen will meet his state and territory counterparts today to discuss possible solutions to the gas supply problems and power prices exacerbating cost-of-living pressures.
Caitlin Cassidy is here to take you through it, and unfortunately, we’re spare on good news this morning.
The Australian Council of Social Services has written to Bowen that it is “deeply concerned” about the financial pressures on low-income people. In contrast, the Greens have warned a “significant shift” in thinking is needed away from fossil fuels.
Speaking of cost-of-living pressures, first-home buyers will likely be hardest hit by the RBA’s decision to lift the official cash rate to o.85% yesterday, the highest increase in over 20 years. In the coming months, more additions have been flagged to curb unacceptable inflation levels.
Westpac is the first major bank to pass on the full value of the interest rate rise to mortgage holders, with the other banks expected to make their decision today.
We’re not the only ones feeling the pinch. The World Bank has warned the nation is on the cusp of a situation similar to the 1970s oil price shocks as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, slowing economic growth and pushing up the prices of goods.
In better news, Australia has kept its World Cup dream alive after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in a qualifier match in Qatar. The final sudden-death playoff for a spot in the cup will occur next Monday against Peru.
There’s much to get to, so let’s get cracking.
Updated at 17.28 EDT
Queensland’s energy minister has issued a statement ahead of the state and territory leaders’ meeting with Chris Bowen today.
Mick de Brenni said he was taking to the meeting with a “sense of optimism”: the new government’s “cooperative and collaborative” approach would yield better results than previously seen.
I will take to this meeting direct input from the Queensland energy industry, the conservation sector, and energy consumers, who will meet with me this morning to guide delivering the best outcome for Queensland.
De Brenni said greater investment in renewables would be the cheapest means to lessen the impacts of the global market and could deliver Australia’s energy independence.
While all options are considered at the EMM, Queensland would continue to promote policy responses that supported our record on delivering new, cheaper, and cleaner generations into the market.
The formula we follow to keep downward pressure on power prices focuses on connecting more renewables and backup storage to our grid.
China has warned the AFP and Guardian staff report that Australia to stop “provocations” or face “serious consequences” after the federal government said a Chinese jet plane was intercepted, the AFP and Guterday the Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft came near the airspace of the disputed Paracel Islands – known as Xisha in China.
The aircraft “approached for reconnaissance, ignoring repeated warnings from the Chinese side”, defense ministry defense Tan Kefei said at a press conference.
The People’s Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to identify the military aircraft “issuing a warning,g to drive it away”, Tan said.
The Australian military plane seriously threatened China’s sovereignty and security, and the measures taken by the Chinese military were professional, safe, reasonable, and legal.
Tan accused Australia of spreading “false information” and called the actions of the Australian pilots “dangerous and provocative”. China warned Australia to manage the activities of its naval and air forces or face “serious consequences”.
Defense minister Richard Marles didn’t reveal the exact location of the incident at the time or exactly how close the planes came to each other – but he did outline further details at a press conference.
Katharine Murphy
NASA rockets will be launched into space from the Northern Territory in June and July under an agreement to be unveiled by the Albanese and Fyles governments on Thursday.
The prime minister and the Northern Territory chief minister will confirm three scientific suborbital sounding rockets will be launched between June 26 and July 12, 2022, from the Arnhem Space Centre, owned and run by Equatorial Launch Australia.
The two governments say the looming event will be the first time NASA launches rockets from a commercial facility outside the United States. They will be the first NASA rockets launched from Australia since 1995, when launches were conducted from the Royal Australian Air Force Woomera Range Complex.
Albanese said:
We can trace Australia’s celebrated connection to the space industry back to the 1950s, and as a nation, we have to build on that legacy.
Approximately 75 NASA personnel will be in Australia for the launches. The two governments say the missions will investigate heliophysics, astrophysics, and planetary science phenomena only observable from the southern hemisphere.
The Arnhem Space Centre is located on the Dhupuma Plateau near Nhulunbuy, on the lands of the Gumatj people. The two governments say the traditional owners have been consulted as part of the approval process.
‘The longer back you go, the less likely there’s going to be a public interest
Mark Dreyfus says.s how far back the commission will be able to look will not be a decision for the government, but the longer before you go, the less likely the hearings will hold a public interest:
How far back will the commission be able to look?
“We’re going to leave this as a matter for the discretion of the commission … the longer you go, the less likely there’s going to be a public interest in that investigation.”
– @markdreyfusQCMP, Attorney General
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) June 7, 2022
when will the full design of the commission be announced?
“I’m going to be consulting across the parliament before we do; the election of many independent members of the parliament who campaigned on integrity issues tells us about the level of public support” @markdreyfusQCMP
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) June 7, 2022
Updated at 17.56 EDT
Anti-corruption commission hearings will ‘overwhelmingly’ take place in private.
Mark Dreyfus says the commission’s hearings will “overwhelmingly” occur privately. However, there will be circumstances in which public hearings will be useful.:
There will be circumstances in which it is clearly in the public interest for a public hearing to occur. Almost all state and territory commissions can hold sparing public hearings.
They can potentially be very useful … it’s a way of building confidence in the commission’s activities if people can see it in operation … it’s something that prompts others to come forward; it brings out evidence if people hear of the investigation.
Dreyfus reiterates the bill will be introduced this year:
I’m not going to set limits on this commission. It’s independent … it’s not there to accept instructions from governments of the day.
What do you see as best practice?
“The commission is going to be independent; it’s going to be powerful. It’s going to deal with serious and systemic corruption; it’s going to be able to receive allegations from a whole range of sources.”
– @markdreyfusQCMP (PART 1)
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) June 7, 2022
Updated at 17.55 EDT
Dreyfus deadbeats pork barrelling question
Mark Dreyfus is asked whether the commission will have the power to investigate pork barrelling. Will it be constituted as corruption?
No, I’m not saying that. And I haven’t said what you’ve just said.
I’ve been repeatedly asked about pork barrelling … and if such programs and this goes for any government program … falls within the commission’s view of serious and systemic corruption … the ambit of the commission’s responsibilities … then that’s going to be a matter which the commission can determine it will look at.
Dreyfus says he hopes the commission will be operational by mid-2023.
Updated at 17.53 EDT
what do you see as best practice?
“The commission is going to be independent; it’s going to be powerful. It’s going to deal with serious and systemic corruption; it’s going to be able to receive allegations from a whole range of sources.”
– @markdreyfusQCMP (PART 1)
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) June 7, 2022
Taskforce’ completed devoted’ to drafting anti-corruption commission bill
Minister for public service and integrity Mark Dreyfus is appearing on Radio National now.
Asked if Labor will start from scratch on an anti-corruption bill or adopt independent MP Helen Haines’ integrity bill, which has been completed and introduced, he says the “full resources” of his department are working on drafting an account to be legislated this year:
My department swung into action as soon as the election result was clear we’ve now got a t. We’ve… completely devoted to ensuring we will legislate an anti-corruption commission this year.
The full resources of the department are now directed to drafting the very best bill we can bring to the Australian parliament.
Updated at 17.47 EDT
Biloela ready to welcome Murugappan family home
The Murugappan family at the center of a decade-long immigration battle is returning home to the central Queensland town of Biloela this morning; They will live in the community on bridging visas while waiting for their case to be processed in court.
The family will return in time to celebrate Tharnicaa’s birthday, who will turn five on June 12.
Home to Bilo campaigner Bronwyn Dendle told Guardian Australia:
We’ve been down in the trenches and haven’t had a thirds-eye view. We’ve rehumanized a group of people that past governments have worked so hard at dehumanizing. But it’s not until you sit back that you appreciate the wider implication of people being able to put a face to asylum seekers.
Updated at 17.46 EDT
Greens urge accelerated investment into renewables
Deputy co-leader of the Greens, Nick McKim, appeared on Radio National this morning, offering the party’s perspective on the energy crisis. He said the government needed to pivot “really quickly” to accelerated investment into renewable energy and to make fossil fuel companies pay their “fair share” of tax:
[The] climate imperative is sitting over the top of everything. I’m happy to work with Labor in the short term around legislation absolutely … alongside that, we need support for people to go electric and invest in solar panels.
McKim said short-term measures like putting a cap on gas prices could be implemented alongside “meaningful investment” to drive down power prices in favor of renewable energy:
We need a significant shift in thinking in this country … [not the] same old last tired planet cooking thinking … [We need to] break the nexus between political parties and the fossil fuel industry.
Updated at 17.35 EDT
The energy crisis is continuing to dominate the agenda for the newly elected government.
Energy minister Chris Bowen will meet his state and territory counterparts today to discuss possible solutions to the gas supply problems and power prices exacerbating cost-of-living pressures.
Caitlin Cassidy is here to take you through it, and unfortunately, we’re spare on good news this morning.
The Australian Council of Social Services has written to Bowen that it is “deeply concerned” about the financial pressures on low-income people. In contrast, the Greens have warned a “significant shift” in thinking is needed away from fossil fuels.
Speaking of cost-of-living pressures, first-home buyers will likely be hardest hit by the RBA’s decision to lift the official cash rate to o.85% yesterday, the highest increase in over 20 years. In the coming months, more additions have been flagged to curb unacceptable inflation levels.
Westpac is the first major bank to pass on the full value of the interest rate rise to mortgage holders, with the other banks expected to make their decision today.
We’re not the only ones feeling the pinch. The World Bank has warned the nation is on the cusp of a situation similar to the 1970s oil price shocks as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, slowing economic growth and pushing up the prices of goods.
In better news, Australia has kept its World Cup dream alive after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in a qualifier match in Qatar. The final sudden-death playoff for a spot in the cup will occur next Monday against Peru.
