Key events
Good morning, Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Thanks to Martin Farrer for getting things started.
Andrew Messenger
Renewables push in Queensland for cooperation between state and federal governments
The Queensland state government is being urged to do a deal with the commonwealth for national support to build more local renewable energy and storage projects.
The federal government has made renewable energy transformation agreements with every other state, meaning billions of dollars of Commonwealth funding become available for green power projects like batteries and solar.
Stephanie Gray, a campaigner with the Queensland Conservation Council, said regional communities deserve their fair share of federal funding.
We’re concerned recent moves by the Queensland government indicate they’re opposed to new clean energy investment, which if true, is bad news for regional economies, power bills and climate action.
The Queensland government has recently cancelled a windfarm they previously approved and moved to implement controversial legislation changes that will make it very challenging to get a large-scale renewable project approved.
Gray said Queensland’s coal-fired power stations had broken down “a staggering 78 times over the last summer period”.
As our ageing coal fleet heads towards retirement, it’s only practical to make sure that new renewable energy supply is coming online to keep the lights on, manage power bills and reduce emissions in our most polluting sector …
We simply cannot depend on our coal clunkers any more, and their unreliability is driving up wholesale power prices.
Investigation launched after NSW plane crash
An investigation has been launched after a pilot died when his recreational aircraft crashed in NSW’s central west yesterday afternoon.
Officers were called to Meadowview Road near Tottenham, about 140km north-west of Parkes, at around 3.40pm when the aircraft was found crashed in a paddock.
The 48-year-old pilot, a local man, died in the crash. A report will be prepared for the coroner while an investigation into the crash is being conducted by Recreational Aircraft Australia.
Poll support for super tax reforms
Krishani Dhanji
More than half of Australians support or strongly support reducing tax concessions for super balances over $3m, according to YouGov polling commissioned by the Australia Institute.
The polling found 52% backed the idea, while 26% of people oppose or strongly oppose the changes and 22% are undecided.
YouGov surveyed 1,535 voters finding those between 25 and 34 years and 35 and 49 years supported the proposed tax change the most. Those over 50 supported it the least.
The most supportive also happened to be those who voted independent, followed by Labor and Greens voters.
The Australia Institute’s executive director, Richard Denniss, said it should come “as no surprise” that many Australians don’t “share the hysteria” about the proposed policy change.
“Given that most Australians have less than $200,000 in super, it should come as no surprise that the vast majority of ordinary Australians don’t share the hysteria about this small change expressed by some very vocal critics …”
“One of the most interesting results is that independent voters, the voters who have cost the Liberal party so many of their once safest seats, are the most supportive of Labor’s proposed changes.”
Tom McIlroy
Trump says G7 ‘wrong’ to kick out Russia and advocates for Chinese membership
As Albanese lines up meetings, the main G7 action is in full swing. Donald Trump has met the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and other world leaders here in Canada overnight.
Trump said the G7 was wrong to kick out Russia, and that he would like the group of economic powers to be restored to the G8.
Trump and Carney talked about tariffs and international trade, similar themes to what is expected when the US president sits down with Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.
“I’m a tariff person. I’ve always been a tariff person,” Trump said in his press conference. “I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good. We’re going to take a look at both.”
Trump also advocated for China to join the grouping.
Albanese is having private meetings this morning, Canadian time, ahead of his formal talks with the leaders of Nato and South Korea.
Tom McIlroy
What’s on Albanese’s agenda at the G7 summit?
Anthony Albanese is in Calgary again today, meeting world leaders ahead of tomorrow’s G7 summit in nearly Ananaskis.
On the agenda for the PM today are bilateral talks with South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, and Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte. Both talks are expected to focus on defence and security, including the possibility of South Korea building new frigates for the Australian Defence Force.
In talks with Rutte, Albanese is expected to discuss Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Later in the day, Albanese is due to attend a welcome reception for G7 outreach leaders hosted by Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, ahead of a welcome dinner hosted by the governor general of Canada, Mary Simon.
All eyes are on Albanese’s meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday local time (Wednesday here), the first time the two leaders will meet face to face.
As mentioned earlier, our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, is in Canada and he has sent an analysis of how the prime minister might be trying to approach this week’s summit.
Tom argues that Anthony Albanese will be treading a delicate path in Alberta as he tries to pivot gently towards building more alliances while trying to avoid controversy with Donald Trump. Read his piece here:
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser to guide you through what may well be another very busy news day.
Our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, is in Canada at the G7 summit in Canada, where Anthony Albanese is lining up meetings with leaders and trying to navigate the currents of geopolitical crisis. We’ll have blow-by-blow coverage and analysis for you here soon.
On the domestic political front it’s a big day with the fate of the New South Wales Liberal party to be decided. The party’s federal executive will weigh up whether to end or extend its control over the division at a crunch meeting. The Victorian Liberals may also cast off the party elders conducting a review of that state divison. We’ll have the news as it happens.
A poll by YouGov has found that more than half of voters support or strongly support reducing tax concessions for super balances over $3m. The survey, commissioned by the Australia Institute, found 26% of people oppose or strongly oppose the changes and 22% are undecided. More coming up.
