Greens senator says Plibersek should have rejected Woodside gas project ‘well before upcoming election’
Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens’ environment spokesperson, has issued a statement in response to Peter Dutton’s pledge to “approve” Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project within 30 days if elected.
The senator said Peter Dutton had “launched a Trump-like attack on the people that protect and defend nature.”
We all have a stake in the health of our environment and his plan to lock communities out of legal avenues is a threat to our democracy and the health of the planet.
Hanson-Young also accused Dutton of “doing the bidding of the fossil fuel companies”, saying the project is “not in our national interest”.
Woodside’s gas greed would be an environmental disaster, and environment minister Tanya Plibersek should have rejected it well before the upcoming federal election.
This extension would unleash billions of tonnes of carbon pollution out to 2070, threatening cultural heritage at Murujuga and pristine ecosystems like Scott Reef, home to 33 threatened species like the green sea turtle and the pygmy blue whale. Heavy shipping and drilling will also jeopardise whale migration pathways.
Key events
Jonathan Barrett
WiseTech review finds Richard White ‘not fully transparent’ over relationships
The embattled billionaire founder of software firm WiseTech Global, Richard White, made “incomplete” disclosures to the company about the nature and length of personal relationships, according to a board-ordered review into his conduct.
The review found he was also “not fully transparent” and made “misleading” disclosures to the company concerning a relationship he had with an employee and, separately, a relationship with a supplier.
In an update to the ASX today, WiseTech said it had indicated to White that a number of matters raised in the review “are serious in nature” and that such conduct must not be repeated.
White announced last year he would step down as CEO and transition into a consulting role, after weeks of damaging revelations about his personal life hammered the software company’s reputation and share price.
He has since returned as executive chair and has retained that role. White is still by far the largest single shareholder in the company, through a 36.6% stake.
The ASX announcement said that White accepted the findings of the review.
“Mr White understands the importance of this role in creating and influencing the culture of the business, and seriousness of his actions,” the statement said.
WiseTech shares are down more than 30% this year, weighed down by upheaval at the company as well as broader market weakness for technology stocks.
White has been contacted for comment.
NSW police launches operation focusing on child offenders in regional towns
Young offenders stealing cars or holding elderly people at knife-point are being put on notice with dedicated police officers posted in hotspots to tackle a surge in regional crime, AAP reports.
Launching the police operation in Dubbo, which has experienced an uptick in juvenile crime, the NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, said up to 60 officers would be dispatched for dedicated units in the north and west of the state.
Their mission is to address an escalation of violence in offenders between 11 and 16 years of age.
“It’s about reducing fear in the community, nobody deserves to be frightened in their own home and in regional NSW that has been the case, it has to stop,” Webb said on Wednesday.
Deputy commissioner Paul Pisanos said high-visibility police operations would try to stop crime from happening in the first place, but he also had a tough message for anyone caught offending.
This is about sending a clear message to these young criminals that we are going to find you and lock you up.
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, told parliament the operation would focus on recidivists and ringleaders, as well as diverting young offenders from criminal behaviour.
It is being rolled out in areas such as Moree, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Dubbo, Orange, Kempsey, Taree and Newcastle.
Emily Wind
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Josh Taylor will take you through the rest of today’s news. Take care.
Amanda Meade
Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson return to court as costs deadline approaches
Today is the deadline for Network Ten to pay Lisa Wilkinson the remainder of the $1.15m it was ordered by the federal court to pay for legal bills the former broadcaster incurred defending a defamation action by Bruce Lehrmann.
The parties will return to court today at 4.30pm before Justice Michael Lee to consider submissions in relation to the costs of an external referee.
The referee was hired to determine how much of Wilkinson’s legal bill was reasonable, after she retained separate counsel and briefed Sue Chrysanthou SC.
The referee’s report was not required because Ten agreed to settle the matter for $1.15m.
The network has already paid Wilkinson $558,000 and will have to pay the remainder of the $1.15m by 19 March.
Lehrmann has appealed against his defamation loss in the full federal court with a hearing yet to be scheduled.
Chaney says Dutton making move ‘out of Trump playbook’ by ‘overriding approval process’ of gas project
The independent MP for Curtin, Kate Chaney, has described Peter Dutton’s plan for the future of energy in Western Australia as “reckless.”
At his press conference earlier, where he promised to “approve” Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project within 30 days if elected, Dutton took aim at Chaney a number of times, accusing her of seeking “green votes”.
In a statement this afternoon, Chaney said that when it comes to Woodside’s North West Shelf, “we need to be disciplined about working out whether the benefits exceed the costs.”
The federal government is currently working through the approval process to determine whether the project meets environmental and heritage standards.
Chaney accused Dutton of making a move “straight out of the Trump playbook” by trying to “override approval processes and proper scrutiny.” She argued that the project wouldn’t lower gas prices because “90% of this gas is exported.”
It’s unclear whether a national interest test would result in approval of the North West Shelf anyway … Today’s announcement is another political distraction from Peter Dutton’s expensive nuclear mirage …
Heavy rainfall eases for north-east Queensland as flooding persists
The Bureau of Meteorology says that heavy rainfall in north-east Queensland has eased, while flooding is continuing in some areas.
You can watch the full weather update below:
Greens senator says Plibersek should have rejected Woodside gas project ‘well before upcoming election’
Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens’ environment spokesperson, has issued a statement in response to Peter Dutton’s pledge to “approve” Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project within 30 days if elected.
The senator said Peter Dutton had “launched a Trump-like attack on the people that protect and defend nature.”
We all have a stake in the health of our environment and his plan to lock communities out of legal avenues is a threat to our democracy and the health of the planet.
Hanson-Young also accused Dutton of “doing the bidding of the fossil fuel companies”, saying the project is “not in our national interest”.
Woodside’s gas greed would be an environmental disaster, and environment minister Tanya Plibersek should have rejected it well before the upcoming federal election.
This extension would unleash billions of tonnes of carbon pollution out to 2070, threatening cultural heritage at Murujuga and pristine ecosystems like Scott Reef, home to 33 threatened species like the green sea turtle and the pygmy blue whale. Heavy shipping and drilling will also jeopardise whale migration pathways.
Myer hit by ‘Swiftonomics’
Jonathan Barrett
A year ago there was a lot of economic talk about how Taylor Swift’s sold-out concerts might lead to a spike in consumer spending, giving a boost to the hospitality industry.
There were also fears that “Swiftonomics” might fuel a bout of inflation, like Beyoncé had done elsewhere.
It turns out it wasn’t just hotels and restaurants that benefited from the pop star’s seven sold-out Australian shows last year. Department chain Myer reported a slump in recent sales at its half-year results today.
But the 2.6% decline, compared with the same five-week period last year, wasn’t simply a result of cost-of-living pressures leading to fewer clothing purchases, according to the retailer.
Myer says that there were some “non-recurring” events that happened in February 2024 that temporarily increased sales, before going on to cite the Taylor Swift concerts.
It seems more than a few Swifties shopped at Myer for their concert clothes.
O’Neil and McKellar debate DEI initiatives being pared back in US, if this would impact Australian workforces
In Canberra, the ACTU president Michele O’Neil and CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, have been holding a debate at the National Press Club.
The host, Greg Jennett, asked about the reversal of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the United States and if this is something we may see replicated in an Australian context?
McKellar said this wasn’t applicable “to the same extent in Australia because, frankly, we have not seen those sorts of arrangements in anywhere near the same level”.
We have to be very careful about getting into a regime where you are regulating for particular outcomes, setting particular thresholds or targets or quotas, and I think that would be an adverse thing and that would bring a counter reaction and potentially some of what we’re in the United States. But I do not think this is something that should be exported to Australia.
O’Neil also weighed in, and said she hopes “we do not see America as the sort of country we want Australia to be”.
She said she doesn’t want to see “some of the worst of Donald Trump’s policies imported into this country” – pointing to Peter Dutton’s move to force public sector workers to work from the office five days.
[This was] a direct copy of one of the things Donald Trump announced on his first day … I would hope that we are proud of the measures that we put in place in this country and make sure that our workplaces reflect who we are and every part of who lives here.
Townsville records heaviest day of rain this century
Townsville has recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall totals in 27 years.
Weatherzone has reported that a night of relentless rainfall has left parts of Townsville underwater, and that in the 24 hours to 9am today:
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Townsville received a total of 301.4mm, the city’s heaviest day of rain in any month in 27 years.
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The 24-hour rainfall was more than one-and-a-half times the March monthly average of 188.9mm.
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The heaviest rain occurred between 1am and 9am, with a remarkable 241.4mm in eight hours.
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Other nearby weather stations exceeded 300mm, including a station at Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island, just off Townsville, which recorded 351mm.
Henry Belot
Dutton says letters targeting exiled Hong Kong dissidents in Australia ‘deeply concerning’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has described the delivery of letters and pamphlets targeting two exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates living in Australia as “deeply concerning”.
On Monday, Guardian Australia revealed Ted Hui and Kevin Yam were both subjects of anonymous letters and pamphlets that were mailed from Chinese-controlled territories. It is not clear who created and posted the material, which the Australian government has condemned.
Both Hui and Yam, along with the federal government and human rights groups, believe the letters were designed to intimidate and scare the men, who are wanted by Hong Kong authorities for allegedly breaching a controversial national security law.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has also raised concerns about the letters and has pledged to discuss them with officials from Hong Kong and China.
Dutton has now commented on the targeted letters and called on the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to provide an update on the issue:
I am very worried about this. I think the prime minister should provide a national update in relation to what action, if any, the government has taken.
I think it is deeply concerning where a foreign power is trying to influence somebody here in Australia. It is against Australian law.
Every effort should be made by the Albanese government to deal with the issue, and to deal with it promptly. I think the prime minister owes an explanation to the Australian public and we hope it is provided soon rather than later.
Josh Butler
Liberal candidate rubbishes referendum idea at press conference alongside Taylor
The Liberal candidate for a crucial Tasmanian seat has waved away the Coalition’s idea for a referendum on stripping citizenship from dual nationals, telling a press conference – alongside the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor – that “nobody’s talking about this” in his electorate.
As we reported yesterday, there was some split opinions in the Coalition about Peter Dutton’s referendum idea, with many MPs in favour but some raising major concerns – and several saying the idea hadn’t been discussed in either the Nationals nor Liberals party rooms.
Taylor was in Braddon, a battleground seat in Tasmania, this morning with the Liberal candidate, Mal Hingston. It’s held by the Coalition, but the current member, Gavin Pearce, is not standing again, and Labor desperately wants to win it.
Taylor, asked about the referendum idea, said:
We’ve said we’d consider all options. We’ve been absolutely clear on that throughout.
Hingston was asked about the idea too, and whether anyone in his electorate had been talking to him about such a constitutional change. His response, according to a transcript from Taylor’s office:
No, they’re not. People in Braddon are talking about access to health and health services, and they’re talking about cost of living. Nobody’s talking about this here. But I am supportive of anything that’s going to keep Braddon members safe and secure, and give them that sense of security. So, you know, I’m open to these conversations, but it’s not a hot topic at the moment.
So we have an idea how the referendum idea is going down in battleground seats, at least.
Dutton rejects claim pre-approval of gas project would be legal risk
Peter Dutton also rejected the claim that flagging his pre-approval would be a legal risk, and told reporters:
No, I don’t think we see that risk at all. There’s already a national interest test within the act now, [the environment minister] Tanya Plibersek just chooses not to use it – again, because this is not about environmental concerns, this is about political gain.
And Tanya Plibersek is stopping the gas extension from going ahead in WA, and [independent MP for Curtin] Kate Chaney is urging her to stop it, because they’re more worried about green votes than they are about jobs within the mining sector here in Western Australia.
