Albanese defends Labor ad that targeted Dutton on Medicare
Anthony Albanese was asked whether Labor’s message about cost-of-living relief was actually getting through to voters, after the latest polling numbers released yesterday. He responded:
We know that all of those cost-of-living measures, including the tax cuts, were opposed by Peter [Dutton], every single one of them, and if he had have had his way, Australians would be – on average – $7,200 worse off.
And we know that he’s planning further cuts. He won’t tell people what they are, but he’s saying there’ll be cuts. And last time around, that meant a GP tax.
The prime minister was asked about an ad the Labor party ran regarding Dutton’s stance on Medicare, and whether Labor is running a “Mediscare” campaign. Albanese again pointed to the attempted GP tax, and continued:
It is accurate to say that Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax every time people went to the doctors … On the weekend, he did an interview again where he repeated … the statement that you don’t value it if it’s free.
Key events
NSW government ‘at the end of the road’ in rail union negotiations – Minns
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, also addressed the media earlier this morning, where he discussed the breakdown in negotiations between the rail unions and the state government.
Minns said that with “the amount of time that’s been focused on these negotiations, we’re at the end of the road.” But he didn’t want to speculate on the outcome of the Fair Work Commission hearing on Wednesday:
I’m not going to speculate on it. The reason is – and I’m not trying to be coy about next steps – the reason I don’t want to speculate on it … is because I don’t want to prejudice our case before the commission, and I want to treat their decision and their deliberation with respect. But I’m not ruling anything out …
I’m at a disadvantage here, because by speculating on it, I think that we would be – I just don’t want to do it. I want to see the court make a decision.
ACTU secretary: it would be ‘dire mistake’ for RBA not to cut rates
The ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, has been speaking to reporters in Sydney ahead of the Reserve Bank interest rates decision this afternoon.
She said it would be a “dire mistake” for the board to decide not to cut rates:
They would be harming working people, harming the real economy, which is, of course, working people’s budgets. So we are urging them to get with the program and to get behind the country and get behind Australia and working people who are the drivers of our economy to cut interest rates today.
We would like to see that at least a quarter per cent cut, but half a per cent will be much better. We need this in order to move forward. Again, real wages are growing. However, the big missing piece at the moment is the RBA actually moving and cutting interest rates, like central banks have done around the world.
Government calls on Russia to release Oscar Jenkins
A spokesperson for the foreign minister, Penny Wong, has issued a statement after an unverified video uploaded to YouTube appears to show Australian Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity, though weak and with a serious injury.
In January there were reports that Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, had died after his capture while serving alongside Ukraine’s armed forces. The video appears to be intended to counter those reports.
In a statement, the spokesperson said:
We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare. Australia has made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The government calls on Russia to release Mr Jenkins. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide consular support to his family.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian government introduces new nurse-to-patient ratios
Victoria patients in intensive care units will be assigned a designated nurse at all times under new nurse-to-patient ratios to be introduced to parliament.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and the health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, held a press conference at the Royal Melbourne hospital to announce the amendments to the state’s nurse-to-patient ratios, which were a key commitment at the 2022 state election. They include:
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Introducing a “gold standard” 1:1 nurse to patient ratio in ICUs on all shifts for all level 1 and 2 hospitals. ICUs will also require a team leader and liaison nurse rostered on at all times for the first time
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1:4 midwife-to-patient ratios in postnatal and antenatal wards on night shifts, down from 1:6
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The introduction of an in-charge nurse on night shifts in standalone high dependency units and coronary care units
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The introduction of a dedicated nurse in each resuscitation bay in emergency departments on every shift
The government says the changes will lead to an increase in the number of nurses working on night shifts and with the expertise to manage patients with multiple and complex needs. Allan said in a statement:
Anyone who’s experienced the incredible care of our nurses and midwives knows just how special their work really is. These reforms will mean an extra pair of hands, and an extra set of eyes, for some of our most precious patients.
We’ll bring you more from the press conference shortly.
Deadly house fire linked to ‘relentless’ tobacco wars, police say
A house fire that killed a “completely innocent” woman is a case of mistaken identity linked to Melbourne’s tobacco wars, police say.
AAP reports that Katie Tangey, 27, died after arsonists hit the wrong address while she was house-sitting her brother’s home in Truganina, in the city’s west, in the early hours of 16 January.
Arson and explosives squad Det Insp Chris Murray today said the crime syndicate’s efforts are “relentless” and vowed to get justice for Tangey and her family.
Katie Tangey – a daughter, a sister, a friend, a beloved member of her community – has needlessly lost her life in this senseless and despicable incident, which we are investigating as a deliberate act. This is a tragedy. To those responsible: we are committing every resource we have to finding you and holding you accountable for this homicide.
The violence that we have seen from these organised crime syndicates and this relentless drive for profits above all else has resulted in this incident. It could be described as nothing less than a flagrant disregard for human life. This is the type of crime even the most hardened criminal would be disgusted with.
Investigations over the past month have led police to believe the arson attack was likely linked to Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade wars. A dark vehicle – similar to a BMW X3 – was captured on CCTV travelling north on Forsyth Road in Truganina at approximately 2.12am. A ring camera at the house captured the moment the house was engulfed, before two men, one carrying what appears to be a jerry can, fled the scene.
No one has been arrested or charged as of Tuesday morning, police confirmed.
Warnes: union will ‘comply with whatever the Fair Work Commission’ decides
Toby Warnes said the union members who haven’t shown up for work “obviously aren’t being paid”.
On the Fair Work Commission hearing on Wednesday, he added:
If the Fair Work Commission grants that order, then obviously we comply with whatever the Fair Work Commission [says]. You saw it yesterday when the trains ran smoothly after the president issued a recommendation. So we’ll see what the full bench of the Fair Work Commission comes down with tomorrow.
Rail workers ‘one small payment away’ from a deal – union chief
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s NSW secretary, Toby Warnes, has accused the state government of walking away from negotiations during an interview on the Today Show earlier this morning amid a breakdown in talks.
Yesterday, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the state government “cannot give in to the union’s blackmail”. Warnes rejected the notion:
I don’t think the premier knows what blackmail is. That was a very, very odd statement … We’re one small payment away from reaching a deal. We should have reached a deal last Thursday, but once again, the NSW government threw its toys out of the cot and walked away from the negotiating table.
Warne said the average Sydney train driver earns $88,000 a year and train cleaners $55,000 – but negotiations aren’t “about wages any more”.
This is about [an] existing entitlement that sits in our enterprise agreement that Transport for NSW, right at the last minute, decided it wanted to get back.
Less food is being wasted, according to new report
Australia throws out over 7.6m tonnes of food each year, enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground 10 times over, but some progress is being made to reduce waste as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
AAP reports that big supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths, caterers and manufacturers who are all part of the Australian Food Pact have reduced their overall food waste by 13% in the last three years.
A 21-page report published today by End Food Waste Australia found that an estimated 505,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions were avoided and about 16,000 tonnes of food saved from 2022 to 2024.
The environmental benefits go beyond emissions, with food waste reduction saving water and arable land. Savings have also accrued financially for food, sellers with the report estimating a combined $57m retained.
The report noted that of the food Australia wastes each year, about 70% is perfectly edible. However, the current tax framework treats food donations the same as waste disposal, discouraging businesses from donating surplus food to charities.
Bushfire danger period lifted early for nine NSW LGAs amid recent rainfall
Due to easing conditions and recent rainfall in north-eastern NSW, the Rural Fire Service has declared an early end to the bushfire danger period for nine LGAs:
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Ballina
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Bellingen
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Byron
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Clarence Valley
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Coffs Harbour
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Kyogle
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Lismore
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Richmond Valley
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Tweed
Fire permits are still required in all other areas, the RFS said.
One dead in house fire in Sydney’s west
A person has died in a house fire in Sydney’s west this morning.
Emergency services responded to the blaze at Guildford just before 5am, which caused extensive damage to a home, NSW police said.
Five occupants escaped, however a man – yet to be formally identified – was found inside. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Officers have established a crime scene and an investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the fire. A report will also be prepared for the coroner.
NSW transport minister ‘not suggesting we are close’ to ending rail dispute
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, also spoke on ABC News Breakfast this morning to provide an update on the state’s rail network and negotiations with the unions.
He said services were running “close to time” this morning, “despite having more than 100 staff who haven’t shown up to work”.
Many of those families or businesses who are hoping for a cut from the RBA, when it comes to interest rates later this afternoon, will be hoping for an end to this rail dispute also. It has put huge pressure on families and businesses right at the moment.
Asked how long the dispute with the unions may continued – for days, weeks? – Graham pointed to the Fair Work Commission hearing about the action tomorrow morning.
We are hoping for an end to this industrial action, a chance to have a cooling-off period, negotiate an end to this industrial action and a fair pay deal for those rail workers.
But he went on to say, “I am not suggesting we are close”.
I don’t want to make predictions given the twists and turns in this tale, but [we] will put a strong case in the morning.
Hanson-Young: ‘definitely time’ for interest rate cut
The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke on ABC News Breakfast just earlier, ahead of today’s interest rate decision by the RBA. She said it was “definitely time for a cut” and that families across the country were hoping for this.
We need the RBA to heed the concerns of Australians and economists – inflation is down, people are hurting, businesses are struggling. It is time to cut.
Hanson-Young added that Australians needed more than a cut, which would be “very small”.
Anything at this point is helpful, but we need more cost-of-living relief for families. We need more from the federal government and Peter Dutton as we go into this election.
The opposition has put nothing on the table for cost-of-living relief for families. Some for the bosses, so they can go and have lunch, but very little for helping families pay for the lunches of kids as they get ready for school in the morning.
