Chris Minns details plans to strengthen hate speech laws in NSW
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is detailing his plan to strengthen hate speech laws in the state, speaking with ABC RN.
He said hate speech laws had been in place for a long time, but they have criminalised acts that have induced violence in the community, “not, for example, vilification, which has been in the civil courts”.
And civil penalties [are] still against the law that requires a private individual to launch a prosecution. So we’re going to be looking at that aspect of the law. It’s in place in other jurisdictions around Australia. I think, self evidently, something needs to change.
Minns said there was “no question that Islamophobia is prevalent, and it does happen in NSW”. But the latest information shows there has been “a dramatic, dramatic rise in antisemitic attacks and vilification in the state,” he said.
[It is] many times the number of Islamophobic attacks in the state … I’m not suggesting that’s the case permanently, and I’m also not making the case on your program that we should be turning a blind eye to any kind of racist vilification in our community where it occurs, wherever it occurs. There needs to be a common set of rules, and they need to be applied consistently.
Key events
O’Neil welcomes ceasefire news as ‘moment of absolute relief’
Clare O’Neil says news the ceasefire is going ahead would be “a moment of absolute relief” for Australians watching on.
Speaking with the Today Show, the housing minister said the conflict has created “untold violence and incredible loss of life” and many Australians have direct connections to those who have been impacted on both sides.
I think this is a really important step forward, and of course, Australia will be playing a productive role in that discussion globally wherever we can.
Contingencies in place and plans for reform amid psychiatrists’ resignations
Chris Minns said the NSW government was “obviously” concerned about the prospect of the mass resignation of psychiatrists because “we’ve never seen it before on this scale.”
But we have made contingencies, and we’ve put them in place … That might mean that we use private health facilities, it might mean that we are able to use locums or individuals to go into a community that desperately needs help with psychiatric care.
The premier said there were also plans in place to reform the system, because “we’re very dependent on psychiatrists, and therefore very vulnerable if they decide to resign en masse”.
And there are things that we can do to ensure that counsellors, psychologists, mental health practitioners, acute psychiatric care nurses, have a bigger say in the mental health system [and] we don’t leave them vulnerable during industrial disputes.
Minns on mass resignation of psychiatrists in NSW
More than 200 psychiatrists working for NSW Health are expected to resign tomorrow over staffing and pay issues – two-thirds of public sector psychiatrists.
Asked if he would be offering any further pay deal at a meeting today, Chris Minns said his government had increased the public mental health budget in the state:
We’ve done that at the specific request of [advocates] in the field who said that it’s desperately needed, and we’ve done it because we think it’s important to public safety and the mental health of the people that live in the state.
But this particular dispute is about a 25% pay increase for psychiatrists, and to put that in context, for an individual psychiatrist, that’s the equivalent of a $90,000 a year increase in salaries for a single psychiatrist – that’s the equivalent of the entire salary for a first year nurse.
He acknowledged the salary wages cap in place for 12 years under the previous government but said “I can’t make that right in a single year”.
I just make the point for the entire decade the previous government was in office, psychiatrists didn’t resign en masse, and they didn’t strike as a result of industrial action.
Minns says people should be ‘free from vilification on basis of race or religion if you live in Australia’
Continuing to detail the hate speech laws, Chris Minns argued they were necessary because “we don’t have the freedom of speech laws that exist in the United States, for example, we’ve never had them in NSW or Australia”.
They’re tighter restrictions, and I think that’s been on the basis of the fact that we have people from around the world, from many different religions and faiths and backgrounds and cultures, and we encourage them to live in Australia, but you’re not free to bring prejudices to our country and divide our community in half.
And if that does take place in our community, then we – collectively as a civic institution, as civic leaders – will stand against it.
So I think that this is as important to multiculturalism as all of our other important aspects of public education that promote and engender the idea of cultural diversity. It’s as important and that is, that is you’re free from vilification on the basis of your race or religion if you live in Australia.
Chris Minns details plans to strengthen hate speech laws in NSW
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is detailing his plan to strengthen hate speech laws in the state, speaking with ABC RN.
He said hate speech laws had been in place for a long time, but they have criminalised acts that have induced violence in the community, “not, for example, vilification, which has been in the civil courts”.
And civil penalties [are] still against the law that requires a private individual to launch a prosecution. So we’re going to be looking at that aspect of the law. It’s in place in other jurisdictions around Australia. I think, self evidently, something needs to change.
Minns said there was “no question that Islamophobia is prevalent, and it does happen in NSW”. But the latest information shows there has been “a dramatic, dramatic rise in antisemitic attacks and vilification in the state,” he said.
[It is] many times the number of Islamophobic attacks in the state … I’m not suggesting that’s the case permanently, and I’m also not making the case on your program that we should be turning a blind eye to any kind of racist vilification in our community where it occurs, wherever it occurs. There needs to be a common set of rules, and they need to be applied consistently.
Ayres on Labor’s chance of majority government at next federal election
Tim Ayres was also asked what chance Labor has of achieving a majority government at this year’s federal election.
He said the party doesn’t “take any election for granted” and the government had made “significant progress” on inflation and cost of living relief, and “we’ll continue to do that”.
This is a government with the biggest pro-manufacturing package in Australian history. We are implementing steadily, and the alternative for Australia is no cost-of-living support from Peter Dutton and the Liberals and Nationals, and just leaving Australian manufacturing to continue to decline and costing good jobs in our regions and in our outer suburbs.
Tim Ayres provides more details on aluminium announcement
The assistant minister for the Future Made in Australia, Tim Ayres, has spoken with ABC RN about this morning’s aluminium announcement (see earlier post).
He said the move would help transition the industry to lower emissions, and support “thousands of jobs” through central Queensland, in the Hunter Valley and in northern Tasmania.
Each of these companies still has to work through its power purchasing agreements in each of the states … but these production tax credits guarantee the viability of the aluminium processing sector in Australia, meaning that we won’t just be digging up bauxite in Australia and sending it offshore to be processed somewhere else.
Rio Tinto makes billions in profit each year – why does it need government help, and why can’t it self fund this transition? Ayres said the industry was “highly competitive”, adding:
Effectively, there’s two choices here for for Australia: one is that we abandon local manufacturing in an environment where our global competitors are taking these kinds of steps to ensure that … manufacturing occurs onshore in their countries. The alternative is the Future Made in Australia approach where we step up to the plate on the competitive questions and make sure that manufacturing has got a platform for investment in Australia.
Lambie says Labor doing ‘a fair bit of clean up’ from nine years of Coalition
Asked about polling showing Peter Dutton had drawn level to Anthony Albanese as preferred PM, and whether this could be attributed to Dutton’s stance on law and order, Jacqui Lambie responded:
It hasn’t got any worse or better, I can assure you. You didn’t get much out of him after nine years, but if people want to fall back into that and go, well, you know, Labor’s had three years and that’s all we’re going to give them, and you want to go back to the good old days – which I wouldn’t say were the good old days under the Liberal National Party – then be my guest.
Lambie said it was more likely “a Christmas time thing” and that people were really feeling the impacts of the cost of living.
It’s not just about the last three years in government, it’s probably about the last ten. So have a look at who had control of that for nine years beforehand.
Because quite frankly, I think Labor’s doing a fair bit of clean up. Labor’s also put a lot of things in which you will not see coming to fruition until the next three years.
So that’s where we’re at. You can either let them finish the job, I guess, for the following three years, or you can go back to the old way of the LNP. That’s that’s the choice that they’re going to have in this election.
Lambie says strengthened hate speech laws should be coming from federal level
Senator Jacqui Lambie spoke with the Today Show earlier about news the NSW government was moving to strengthen the state’s hate speech laws.
Lambie said that “hate speech right across the board in Australia is out of control”.
And quite frankly, I find it absurd that it’s coming from a state level instead of being dealt with from the government, from federal. It’s not applied right across the country.
Aukus deal ‘on course’ amid new US administration, deputy PM says
Moving to the US, Richard Marles was asked about Donald Trump’s inauguration – which will occur tomorrow morning, Australian time. Marles outlined Australia’s relationship with the incoming administration as follows:
The alliance between Australia and America is our most important relationship that is really the cornerstone of both our foreign policy and our national security, and we have a lot of equities in the relationship, and we’re very excited about being able to pursue them with the Trump administration.
He said comments from the incoming administration regarding the Aukus deal had been “hugely positive”.
All the indications are there that this will continue under the Trump administration … All the agreements that we’ve asked to be signed and steps to be taken are being taken. Aukus is happening, and it is on course.
Is Marles worried negotiations may break down amid ceasefire?
Richard Marles was also asked how worried he is about Israel resuming hostilities if negotiations break down.
He acknowledged it was a “very fragile and delicate process” and said “we [can’t] take anything for granted as we move forward”.
We’ve seen temporary ceasefires in the past, but I do think that there is an opportunity in what has been announced for this to be the beginning of a new chapter. I think the world has to hope and lend its voice [to apply] international pressure towards that outcome, and we will certainly be a part of that.
Focus right now is on ensuring ceasefire process continues: Marles
Asked if Australia would commit to helping rebuild Gaza, Richard Marles said Australia had “already contributed humanitarian assistance”.
Obviously, we’ll work through all of the opportunities that present themselves in terms of the way in which Australia can help as we move forward, but I think right now, the focus is on ensuring that all the effort is maintained so this fragile and delicate process continues.
Marles welcomes ceasefire deal as ‘very positive and very constructive’
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is speaking with ABC RN about the hostage deal and ceasefire in the Middle East, describing this as “very positive and very constructive in the context of the tragedy that we have watched unfold over the last 15 months”.
It is a wonderful thing to see hostages reunited with their families. It is also, obviously, wonderful to be seeing the beginning of humanitarian assistance start to flow into Gaza, and there’s clearly a long way to go in terms of the rebuilding of Gaza.
Marles said there was a long way to go to achieving lasting peace, and “this is a fragile and delicate process, and it’s one which is going to require constant effort and vigilance.”
Australia [will] continue to lend our voice to the promotion of peace, to seeing this arrangement fulfilled, and to seeing the return of all the hostages, and to seeing the rebuilding of Gaza.
Bank of Queensland to close 14 branches across four states
The Bank of Queensland has closed 14 formerly owner-managed branches across Queensland, WA, NSW and Victoria.
The Finance Sector Union said alongside previously announced closures, there would be 16 branches closing across February 2025 with a net loss of 18 roles. National assistant secretary Jason Hall said:
Australians rely on local bank branches and no amount of corporate spin from banks can deny that fact … The removal of branches and ATMs are designed to boost profits while reducing services. The absence of minimum standards allows banks to cut services on a whim with no regard to local needs or preferences.
The full list of branches to be closed, including 14 announced today and two previously announced, includes:
-
Logan Central was announced to staff on 3 January and will close on 7 February
-
Werribee, VIC – announced in late 2024 and will close on 13 February
-
Newtown, NSW – to close on 19 February
-
Bella Vista, NSW – to close on 20 February
-
Applecross, WA – to close on 27 February
-
Moonee Ponds, VIC – to close on 27 February
-
Richmond, VIC – to close on 27 February
-
Docklands, VIC – to close on 27 February
-
Hampton, VIC – to close on 27 February
-
Rockdale, NSW – to close on 27 February
-
Caloundra, Queensland – to close on 27 February
-
Carindale, Queensland – to close on 27 February
-
Elanora, Queensland – to close on 27 February
-
Sherwood, Queensland – to close on 27 February
-
Springwood, Queensland – to close on 27 February
-
Toowong, Queensland – to close on 27 February
Two teenagers die after waterfall accident
Two teenagers have died after an accident at a waterfall on the Sunshine Coast, AAP reports.
A 17-year-old girl fell off a waterfall at Queensland’s Wappa Falls about 2.30pm yesterday and a 17-year-old boy jumped into the water to help her when she did not resurface, emergency services said.
Police said the boy, an acquaintance of the girl, also went missing. A search and rescue operation found the girl’s body about 3.30pm and divers recovered the body of the boy at about 7.30pm.
Wappa Falls remains closed amid a police investigation and officers were set to prepare reports for the coroner regarding both teenagers.
Aluminium sector to share in billions to help go green
Australia’s aluminium industry is set to share in billions of dollars of investment to help it convert to renewable energy, AAP reports.
Anthony Albanese will today unveil a green aluminium production credit scheme that will provide financial support to smelters changing their energy source before 2036.
As part of the $2bn program, facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean Australian aluminium they make over a decade. The production credits form part of the federal government’s signature manufacturing program, set to cost $22.7bn.
It’s estimated revenue to GDP for the Australian aluminium industry will increase from $5.1bn a year to $6bn annually by 2050. Australia is the sixth-largest producer of aluminium globally.
The industry minister, Ed Husic, said the production credit scheme would help to boost aluminium jobs while also reducing emissions.
With an entire aluminium supply chain uniquely located right here in Australia, we’re well positioned to capture the rewards of the global green energy transition. Communities and businesses rely on aluminium smelters, and we have an opportunity to partner with the private sector to support these secure well-paying jobs into the future.
Welcome
Emily Wind
Good morning, and welcome back to a new week on the Australia news live blog. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.
Making news first up this morning: Australia’s aluminium industry is set to share in billions of dollars of investment to help it convert to renewable energy.
As AAP reports, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will today unveil a green aluminium production credit scheme that will provide financial support to smelters changing their energy source before 2036.
As part of the $2bn program, facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean, Australian aluminium they make over a decade.
In Queensland, two teenagers have died after an accident at a waterfall on the Sunshine Coast. We’ll bring you more details in a moment via AAP.
If you have any story tips, feedback or questions, you can reach out through email: [email protected]. Let’s go.
