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Australia news live update: NT on edge over growing Covid cluster; debate about Victoria’s pandemic laws rages Australia news live update: NT on edge over growing Covid cluster; debate about Victoria’s pandemic laws rages
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s news liveFollow all the day’s news live
Major floods are expected in the NSW central western town of Forbes after hundreds of people spent an anxious night evacuated from their homes, as slow-moving flood waters continue to rise, reports AAP.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the swollen Lachlan River to peak at 10.65 metres during Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas of the town.
Forbes mayor Phyllis Miller says residents have been waiting for the flood for almost a week but waters are rising at “a snail’s pace” and she’s concerned people are becoming complacent. She told the Nine Network on Wednesday:
Yesterday morning some 1,800 residents were ordered to evacuate by the State Emergency Service, which was concerned the river levels would match or exceed major floods in 2016.
SES commissioner Carlene York said 800 homes may be flooded, as she pleaded with some reluctant locals to evacuate:
An evacuation centre has been set up at St Andrews Presbyterian church for those unable to get to alternative accommodation with family or friends.
Moderate flooding has already occurred upstream at Cowra, and major flooding at Nanami, where the river peaked at more than 12 metres.
Downstream from Forbes, major flooding is also expected at Cottons Weir and Jemalong from Thursday.
The Macquarie, Paroo, Macintyre, Belubula and Snowy rivers have also flooded after parts of the state copped a month’s worth of rain in days.
Labor is hoping to make Australia’s internet frustrations an election issue, promising a revamped national broadband network that will stay in public hands and allow more choice.
With Australia still ranked 59th in the world for broadband speeds, and 32nd out of the 37 nations in the OECD, Labor is promising a $2.4bn boost to the nationwide broadband rollout, promising to update the already ageing network.
The opposition says the funding commitment is off-budget, and will be financed through the NBN corporation itself, which Labor has committed to keeping as a public entity.
The Labor promise builds on the government’s $4.5bn retrofit announcement from last year, which aimed to upgrade fibre-to-the-node, fibre-to-the-curb and cable connections for homes in designated areas. That followed years of complaints of poor speeds and connectivity. The Coalition has maintained its decision to upgrade the copper network it had previously insisted on using, was part of a “strategic review” and not because of on-going complaints.
You can read the full report below:
9.30am is shaping up to be busy!
A Victorian Pride Lobby survey has found the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual community do not trust the police force.
The lobby’s largest survey of attitudes towards Victoria police heard that more than 1,500 respondents had overwhelmingly negative perceptions of them, including that about 80% did not think police understood issues that impacted them, and about the same percentage did not feel safe when there was a large police presence at community events.
A report released on Tuesday night also found the incidents such as the police raid on Hares and Hyenas and breach of Dani Laidley’s privacy had further eroded the community’s trust in the force:
Victorian Pride Lobby co-convenor Devina Potter said Victoria police had made progress but still had a long way to go to mend the relationship with the community:
We are still waiting for confirmation on what exactly will be announced at this unusual 9.30am press conference from the Victorian premier. I’ll keep you posted.
The average Australian is working 1.5 hours more unpaid overtime each week since the start of the Covid pandemic, according to a new survey.The average Australian is working 1.5 hours more unpaid overtime each week since the start of the Covid pandemic, according to a new survey.
The poll, which used a nationally representative sample, found the average employed Australian is working 6.13 hours unpaid each week in 2021, up from 5.25 hours in 2020 and 4.62 hours in 2019.The poll, which used a nationally representative sample, found the average employed Australian is working 6.13 hours unpaid each week in 2021, up from 5.25 hours in 2020 and 4.62 hours in 2019.
The findings are based on a poll of 1,600 people by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work released on Tuesday to coincide with go home on time day – a campaign that urges workers to push back against unpaid overtime.The findings are based on a poll of 1,600 people by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work released on Tuesday to coincide with go home on time day – a campaign that urges workers to push back against unpaid overtime.
By working an extra 319 hours a year unpaid in 2021, workers are doing the equivalent of an extra eight 38-hour weeks of work. Employers are benefiting from a total of $125bn of free labour, estimated to cost $461.60 a worker every fortnight.By working an extra 319 hours a year unpaid in 2021, workers are doing the equivalent of an extra eight 38-hour weeks of work. Employers are benefiting from a total of $125bn of free labour, estimated to cost $461.60 a worker every fortnight.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
I mentioned before that the 30-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Covid-19 in the emote community of Robinson River is the sister of federal Labor senator for the NT Malarndirri McCarthy.I mentioned before that the 30-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Covid-19 in the emote community of Robinson River is the sister of federal Labor senator for the NT Malarndirri McCarthy.
McCarthy has just appeared on ABC RN to discuss the worrying implication of the Delta variant entering a remote Indigenous community, and the stress her family are now under:McCarthy has just appeared on ABC RN to discuss the worrying implication of the Delta variant entering a remote Indigenous community, and the stress her family are now under:
McCarthy said part of the reason misinformation on social media hadbeen able to flourish in these communities was that not enough official government advice was made available in First Nation languages:McCarthy said part of the reason misinformation on social media hadbeen able to flourish in these communities was that not enough official government advice was made available in First Nation languages:
Three out of every four video ads the United Australia party has posted on YouTube since late September have been pulled by Google for allegedly violating the tech giant’s advertising policies, according to Google’s transparency report.Three out of every four video ads the United Australia party has posted on YouTube since late September have been pulled by Google for allegedly violating the tech giant’s advertising policies, according to Google’s transparency report.
Since former the Liberal MP Craig Kelly joined the UAP in late August, the party has spent $2.684m on 25 ads run on YouTube, boosting the number of views on the party’s videos into the millions. The spend far outweighs the amount being spent by any other political party. The next nearest is Labor with $60,750.Since former the Liberal MP Craig Kelly joined the UAP in late August, the party has spent $2.684m on 25 ads run on YouTube, boosting the number of views on the party’s videos into the millions. The spend far outweighs the amount being spent by any other political party. The next nearest is Labor with $60,750.
It is not clear from the report what the removed videos contained or which of Google’s policies they are alleged to have violated.It is not clear from the report what the removed videos contained or which of Google’s policies they are alleged to have violated.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
Flooding in the regional NSW town of Forbes continues to cause havoc today. Here is a look at what some residents are dealing with:Flooding in the regional NSW town of Forbes continues to cause havoc today. Here is a look at what some residents are dealing with:
You better believe that Albanese also spoke to ABC News Breakfast. Here he was asked about reports in the Herald Sun newspaper that Labor is poised to settle on a 40% emissions reduction target by 2030.You better believe that Albanese also spoke to ABC News Breakfast. Here he was asked about reports in the Herald Sun newspaper that Labor is poised to settle on a 40% emissions reduction target by 2030.
Albanese:Albanese:
Host Michael Rowland:Host Michael Rowland:
Albanese:Albanese:
Rowland:Rowland:
Albanese:Albanese:
Rowland:Rowland:
Albanese:Albanese:
The other big headline today is Labor announcing its $2.4bn plan to improve the NBN if elected.The other big headline today is Labor announcing its $2.4bn plan to improve the NBN if elected.
Party leader Anthony Albanese has promised more than 10m premises will have “world-class” internet speeds by 2025 under a Labor government. Basically, the plan is to go back to all the homes and businesses that only got copper to the node in the first rollout and give them the option to switch to a fibre connection to the premises.Party leader Anthony Albanese has promised more than 10m premises will have “world-class” internet speeds by 2025 under a Labor government. Basically, the plan is to go back to all the homes and businesses that only got copper to the node in the first rollout and give them the option to switch to a fibre connection to the premises.
It’s estimated up to 660,000 premises in regional areas and 840,000 in the suburbs stand to benefit.It’s estimated up to 660,000 premises in regional areas and 840,000 in the suburbs stand to benefit.
Albanese has been out and about discussing this with the media this morning. Here is what he had to say to ABC radio:Albanese has been out and about discussing this with the media this morning. Here is what he had to say to ABC radio:
Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley with you here on this glorious Wednesday morning.Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley with you here on this glorious Wednesday morning.
Unfortunately, I don’t have great news to bring you.Unfortunately, I don’t have great news to bring you.
Things are looking tense up in the Northern Territory where health teams are preparing for the worst after nine Covid-19 cases were diagnosed across two Indigenous households in a single day.Things are looking tense up in the Northern Territory where health teams are preparing for the worst after nine Covid-19 cases were diagnosed across two Indigenous households in a single day.
It’s the greatest number of cases diagnosed in the NT in a 24-hour period, bringing the total for the outbreak to 11. This is also the first time a case has been reported in a remote NT Aboriginal community, with fears it could lead to infections in dozens of other First Nations people.It’s the greatest number of cases diagnosed in the NT in a 24-hour period, bringing the total for the outbreak to 11. This is also the first time a case has been reported in a remote NT Aboriginal community, with fears it could lead to infections in dozens of other First Nations people.
A 30-year-woman and a 43-year-old man tested positive on Monday. All 11 cases are household contacts and live in Katherine, about 320km south-east of Darwin.A 30-year-woman and a 43-year-old man tested positive on Monday. All 11 cases are household contacts and live in Katherine, about 320km south-east of Darwin.
The 30-year-old is the sister of federal senator Malarndirri McCarthy. She is unvaccinated and had travelled to the remote community of Robinson River where she was diagnosed with the virus.The 30-year-old is the sister of federal senator Malarndirri McCarthy. She is unvaccinated and had travelled to the remote community of Robinson River where she was diagnosed with the virus.
No new cases have been found since at Robinson River, but results from the first round of testing won’t be known until Wednesday. Overcrowded housing and low vaccination rates trouble many Indigenous communities across the NT, with reports some homes in Robinson River have 20 occupants.No new cases have been found since at Robinson River, but results from the first round of testing won’t be known until Wednesday. Overcrowded housing and low vaccination rates trouble many Indigenous communities across the NT, with reports some homes in Robinson River have 20 occupants.
Moving south to Victoria, protesters have spent another night camped out on the steps of Parliament House as part of a large demonstration objecting to the state government’s proposed pandemic laws.Moving south to Victoria, protesters have spent another night camped out on the steps of Parliament House as part of a large demonstration objecting to the state government’s proposed pandemic laws.
Debate on the public health and wellbeing amendment (pandemic management) bill began in the upper house on yesterday afternoon and went well into the night. It is on hold today as the chamber deals with non-government business but is expected to resume on Thursday.Debate on the public health and wellbeing amendment (pandemic management) bill began in the upper house on yesterday afternoon and went well into the night. It is on hold today as the chamber deals with non-government business but is expected to resume on Thursday.
Despite the effort of protesters the controversial bill (which gives the premier and health minister the power to declare a pandemic and make public health orders), is all but guaranteed to pass now that the government made amendments to the bill to win over three crossbench MPs.Despite the effort of protesters the controversial bill (which gives the premier and health minister the power to declare a pandemic and make public health orders), is all but guaranteed to pass now that the government made amendments to the bill to win over three crossbench MPs.
I’ll bring you all the updates on these stories and everything else here on the blog, so grab a coffee, settle in and let’s jump into the day.I’ll bring you all the updates on these stories and everything else here on the blog, so grab a coffee, settle in and let’s jump into the day.