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| Australia news live update: Daniel Andrews ‘won’t be deterred’ by Victoria protests; NT records eight new Covid cases; flood warnings for NSW | Australia news live update: Daniel Andrews ‘won’t be deterred’ by Victoria protests; NT records eight new Covid cases; flood warnings for NSW |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news live | Follow all the day’s news live |
| Scott Morrison’s ‘can-do capitalism’ is a hypocritical example of ‘do nothing’ leadership, writes Amy Remeikis. | |
| Human rights advocates have welcomed the inclusion of concerns about self-censorship in new guidelines against foreign interference in universities. | |
| The federal government today released a new version of guidelines developed by the university foreign interference taskforce - a body that includes government agencies and the higher education sector. | |
| The new guidelines say “attempts to inappropriately influence academic discussions or public statements made by members of the university community can lead to self-censorship, and conflicts with the principle of academic freedom”. | |
| The document says universities should put in place policies and procedures to manage the risk of foreign interference, including “harassment and intimidation that can lead to self-censorship”. | |
| Human Rights Watch - which has previously published a report on self-censorship on matters related to China - welcomed the new guidelines. | |
| The group’s Australia researcher, Sophie McNeill, said in a statement: | |
| “These new efforts to ensure universities have policies in place to counter state-backed harassment and intimidation are long overdue and have the potential to make a real positive difference on the lives of students and academics. | |
| “The Taskforce’s acknowledgement of the corrosive impact of self-censorship on Australian university campuses and the need to introduce new measures to counter that, is a welcome development. We agree that new education programs highlighting the impact of intimidation and harassment on academic freedom and freedom of speech need to be put in place by universities and we call for those to be implemented as soon as possible.” | |
| From AAP: | |
| Australia’s Human Rights Commission has issued a set of guidelines designed to stamp out racism in crowds at sporting events. | |
| Major professional sports organisations including the AFL, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and some of the nation’s largest stadiums have already endorsed the Spectator Racism Guidelines, and more are expected to sign on. | |
| Among the 13 guidelines released on Wednesday, players will be encouraged to report racial abuse in the crowd and even stop play to alert authorities, while there is a recommendation for culturally sensitive counselling and social support services for targets of racism. | |
| They include a number of proactive measures to prevent racism from occurring. | |
| The framework is the result of consultation hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission with professional sporting codes, clubs, players, venue operators and anti-racism experts. | |
| Race discrimination commissioner Chin Tan said the commission spearheaded the development of these guidelines in response to numerous incidents of spectator racism over the past year. | |
| “When racist incidents happen they can have a long-lasting impact on those affected and damaging social consequences. There is no place for racism anywhere and that includes sport,” Commissioner Tan said in a statement. | |
| Victorian MP Fiona Patten has been pushing for a Minister for Loneliness since 2018 - and it looks like she’s finally got it. | |
| “A Minister for Loneliness will help address this issue at a state level and introduce an integrated approach to tackle social isolation,” she previously said. | “A Minister for Loneliness will help address this issue at a state level and introduce an integrated approach to tackle social isolation,” she previously said. |
| “For every policy that is introduced, we will have someone asking the questions ‘how does this impact people’s ability to connect. This is about driving action on loneliness across all parts of the community.” | “For every policy that is introduced, we will have someone asking the questions ‘how does this impact people’s ability to connect. This is about driving action on loneliness across all parts of the community.” |
| Warm oceans, unusual currents and strange weather patterns have coincided with an outbreak of disease that has forced the closure of South Australia’s Coffin Bay farms. | Warm oceans, unusual currents and strange weather patterns have coincided with an outbreak of disease that has forced the closure of South Australia’s Coffin Bay farms. |
| Health authorities have said they would now investigate whether climate change was a factor in the spread of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters, which has been linked to 45 cases of gastroenteritis since September. | Health authorities have said they would now investigate whether climate change was a factor in the spread of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters, which has been linked to 45 cases of gastroenteritis since September. |
| Undercooked shellfish and fish can carry Vibrio, which in turn can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps, fever and headache. Raw oysters are often the cause of Vibrio infection. | Undercooked shellfish and fish can carry Vibrio, which in turn can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, cramps, fever and headache. Raw oysters are often the cause of Vibrio infection. |
| Australia’s second-biggest debt management company made threats against clients, including telling them they could go to prison if they spent money at McDonald’s, the corporate regulator has alleged. | Australia’s second-biggest debt management company made threats against clients, including telling them they could go to prison if they spent money at McDonald’s, the corporate regulator has alleged. |
| In documents filed with the federal court on Tuesday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission accused A&M Group, which trades as Debt Negotiators and promotes itself as a “reputable debt help company who uses our knowledge and expertise to help you get out of debt”, of breaking the law by harassing or coercing customers. | In documents filed with the federal court on Tuesday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission accused A&M Group, which trades as Debt Negotiators and promotes itself as a “reputable debt help company who uses our knowledge and expertise to help you get out of debt”, of breaking the law by harassing or coercing customers. |
| Scientists have investigated the links between the Covid-19 pandemic and the deterioration of the world’s ecosystems and their biodiversity, discovering feedback loops that suggest a potential increase in future pandemics. | Scientists have investigated the links between the Covid-19 pandemic and the deterioration of the world’s ecosystems and their biodiversity, discovering feedback loops that suggest a potential increase in future pandemics. |
| Odette Lawler is collaborating with a team of students and fellows contributing to the study in the University of Queensland’s Biodiversity Research Group. | Odette Lawler is collaborating with a team of students and fellows contributing to the study in the University of Queensland’s Biodiversity Research Group. |
| Lawler said that the links between biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and zoonotic disease transfer had long been understood, but it’s taken an international pandemic to bring the issue to public attention. | Lawler said that the links between biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and zoonotic disease transfer had long been understood, but it’s taken an international pandemic to bring the issue to public attention. |
| “Covid-19 has shown the world that human health and environmental health are intricately linked,” Lawler said. | “Covid-19 has shown the world that human health and environmental health are intricately linked,” Lawler said. |
| “We’ve long known that issues like land-use change, intensive livestock production, wildlife trade, and climate change drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases, as they increase human-wildlife interactions. | “We’ve long known that issues like land-use change, intensive livestock production, wildlife trade, and climate change drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases, as they increase human-wildlife interactions. |
| “Now we’ve also found that these issues are being compounded by outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in feedback loops that are likely to promote future zoonotic disease outbreaks. | “Now we’ve also found that these issues are being compounded by outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in feedback loops that are likely to promote future zoonotic disease outbreaks. |
| “For example, research has found that rates of deforestation have substantially increased in many regions around the world over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.” | “For example, research has found that rates of deforestation have substantially increased in many regions around the world over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.” |
| NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has hit out against suggestions he wants to implement over-reaching new pandemic powers. | NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has hit out against suggestions he wants to implement over-reaching new pandemic powers. |
| Hazzard, on behalf of Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant, sought to extend Covid-19 provisions on Tuesday. | Hazzard, on behalf of Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant, sought to extend Covid-19 provisions on Tuesday. |
| But Premier Dominic Perrottet scrapped the proposed changes, saying he would defer the decision on extending or changing any of the state’s emergency pandemic powers to next year. | But Premier Dominic Perrottet scrapped the proposed changes, saying he would defer the decision on extending or changing any of the state’s emergency pandemic powers to next year. |
| On Wednesday Hazzard defended the changes, saying: “far from granting additional powers, the powers are exactly the same as exist now and are simply tweaks on timing for two provisions in the massive Public Health Act”. | On Wednesday Hazzard defended the changes, saying: “far from granting additional powers, the powers are exactly the same as exist now and are simply tweaks on timing for two provisions in the massive Public Health Act”. |
| We’ve got floods in NSW and now fire danger in Victoria ... all very cool and not concerning | We’ve got floods in NSW and now fire danger in Victoria ... all very cool and not concerning |
| Greg Hunt has talked up the ‘safeguard mechanism’ within the Coalition government’s climate policy as a good way to get companies to cut their emissions. | Greg Hunt has talked up the ‘safeguard mechanism’ within the Coalition government’s climate policy as a good way to get companies to cut their emissions. |
| But on Wednesday emissions reduction minister Angus Taylor said it was never meant to force businesses to reduce their emissions. | But on Wednesday emissions reduction minister Angus Taylor said it was never meant to force businesses to reduce their emissions. |
| So which is it? Peter Hannam explains. | So which is it? Peter Hannam explains. |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| New Zealand will dismantle the hard border around Auckland in time for Christmas, allowing separated Kiwis to reunite over the holidays. | New Zealand will dismantle the hard border around Auckland in time for Christmas, allowing separated Kiwis to reunite over the holidays. |
| However, police will fine any unvaccinated citizens who attempt to leave the country’s biggest city, undertaking random spot checks similar to drink-driving patrols to keep Covid-19 at bay. | However, police will fine any unvaccinated citizens who attempt to leave the country’s biggest city, undertaking random spot checks similar to drink-driving patrols to keep Covid-19 at bay. |
| New Zealand is enduring its worst outbreak of the pandemic, with daily case numbers around 200, the majority of them in Auckland. | New Zealand is enduring its worst outbreak of the pandemic, with daily case numbers around 200, the majority of them in Auckland. |
| On Wednesday, health officials announced one fatality connected to the virus - of an Auckland man in his 60s - bringing the country’s death toll to 35. | On Wednesday, health officials announced one fatality connected to the virus - of an Auckland man in his 60s - bringing the country’s death toll to 35. |
| McCormack has attacked Labor and the Greens for wanting to legislate net zero. | McCormack has attacked Labor and the Greens for wanting to legislate net zero. |
| “The Labor and Greens’ way, that’s to legislate these targets. They’re going to close the resource sector and many of the mines down. They don’t care about the Hunter. | “The Labor and Greens’ way, that’s to legislate these targets. They’re going to close the resource sector and many of the mines down. They don’t care about the Hunter. |
| “They don’t care about the farmers in Forbes or elsewhere. We are there and we’ll protect not only industry and protect families, protect small business, but we’re also going to lower emissions. | “They don’t care about the farmers in Forbes or elsewhere. We are there and we’ll protect not only industry and protect families, protect small business, but we’re also going to lower emissions. |
| “That’s the responsible thing you’d expect a Coalition government and the Nationals in government to do.” | “That’s the responsible thing you’d expect a Coalition government and the Nationals in government to do.” |
| Patricia Karvelas is asking Michael McCormack about Barnaby Joyce saying the Nationals didn’t sign the Cop26 climate pact. | Patricia Karvelas is asking Michael McCormack about Barnaby Joyce saying the Nationals didn’t sign the Cop26 climate pact. |
| McCormack says: “The Nationals agreed to net zero. The Nationals agreed to put that in place, along with our Liberal colleagues in a Coalition government. We’re governing Australia for the future. | McCormack says: “The Nationals agreed to net zero. The Nationals agreed to put that in place, along with our Liberal colleagues in a Coalition government. We’re governing Australia for the future. |
| “We’re in full agreement with the government and the government’s position is the government’s position we took to Glasgow. The farmers that we represent, for the resource industry which we proudly represent, is going to continue to be there. | “We’re in full agreement with the government and the government’s position is the government’s position we took to Glasgow. The farmers that we represent, for the resource industry which we proudly represent, is going to continue to be there. |
| “May Coalition governments long continue into the future because that’s one way we will ensure we have the economic power base in the ag sector, the resource sector and not charging people through the nose through their power point.” | “May Coalition governments long continue into the future because that’s one way we will ensure we have the economic power base in the ag sector, the resource sector and not charging people through the nose through their power point.” |
| Nationals MP Michael McCormack is talking on Afternoon Briefing now. He is in Forbes and helping with the evacuation and flood response. | Nationals MP Michael McCormack is talking on Afternoon Briefing now. He is in Forbes and helping with the evacuation and flood response. |
| “We heard 47 dwellings have been evacuated. That’s 122 people,” he said. | “We heard 47 dwellings have been evacuated. That’s 122 people,” he said. |
| “There have been a number of people who have said that we’re going to stand here and stand our ground. | “There have been a number of people who have said that we’re going to stand here and stand our ground. |
| “I spoke to Brian Miller who lives around here and he’s not concerned even though the water is creeping up into his backyard. He says it’s not as high as the 2016 flood which reached 10.56m. It’s about 12 centimetres below that at the moment.” | “I spoke to Brian Miller who lives around here and he’s not concerned even though the water is creeping up into his backyard. He says it’s not as high as the 2016 flood which reached 10.56m. It’s about 12 centimetres below that at the moment.” |
| And while we are on vaccines - some really, truly, very great news here. | And while we are on vaccines - some really, truly, very great news here. |