NSW Labor’s Kiama byelection win ‘gift from voters’, Minns says
Labor shouldn’t take the electorate for granted despite a solid win in the Kiama byelection that the NSW premier, Chris Minns, says was a “gift from voters”.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning, Minns said that he was concerned Labor MPs may “misread the message or mishear the message that the next election’s won without us even fighting for it without us even fighting for it”.
We’ve got to make progress, and one of the areas I want to identify is reliability on the heavy rail public transport network, which is not good enough and must be an urgent priority for us.
Minns said the party had gone into the byelection with a message of “try before you buy” on its newest MP, Katelin McInerney.
What that meant is that Katelin’s a great candidate. We think she’s fantastic. There’s an opportunity for you to put her to work for you for 18 months before you make a more permanent decision at the 2027 election.
Noting the large independent and minor party vote in the byelection, Minns said it was “hard for me to glean what [voters’] motivations were across the board”, but said he had faith that Labor’s performance over the next year would demonstrate the strength of the party.
At the end of the day, if you get close to the next election and we can show real progress in major public hospitals, investment in schools and our public transport network, then we think we’ll have a solid foundation to approach the next election on but that’s going to be up to the voters.
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Updated at 04.36 CEST
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Addressing questions about the new security pact with Papua New Guinea, Albanese says Australia is “not planning” on garrisoning Australian troops in the country.
He adds that Australia “operates very significantly” with a number of regional neighbours, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
Increasingly we are doing exercises and operations with all of those countries and they in turn are doing exercises and operations here in Australia. And I think what we’ll see with the defence agreement that we signed in the coming days is an agreement which speaks to an enormous amount of ambition between our two countries to work even more closely together.
Albanese described the upcoming agreement as a “refresh of an old agreement, which has been in place since 1977”.
But the level of ambition that both of us have brought to the table has meant that really, I believe what we’ll be saying in the next few days is a genuinely historic agreement between our two countries.
One of the aims of the agreement, Albanese says, is to “try and evolve the capability” of PNG’s defence force.
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The prime minister has thrown his support behind the War Memorial Council after its decision not to grant an award to a book covering the activities of Ben Roberts-Smith.
I must say that the Australian War Memorial, which is a sacred site for Australians, it is visited each and every day by young and older Australians to pay respect, to learn about the contribution that the men and women who’ve served us in uniform have made, and to give respect, particularly to those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.
The prime minister then passes to minister Matt Keogh, who says that the operation of the war memorial is “independent of politics and partisanship”. Keogh says the government sought to clarify with the memorial what occurred following media reports.
Well, this only this only came to my attention this week with the media reporting because what it does in that regard is independent. We saw some an explanation as to what’s occurred there. And they’re running that process and it’s now completed. And they communicated that with people that were involved in that competition. And they’ll keep doing these education programs and various different ways. And that’s a good thing that the war memorial does.
For more on what happened, read Guardian Australia’s reporting here:
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Updated at 04.50 CEST
‘You don’t defend the country with a media release’, PM tells media
Asked whether Australia will be able to sustain this investment, Albanese says unequivocally “yes”, saying today’s announcement is the product of “work that’s been done”.
What we have done is consistent with the way that my government operates across portfolios. It is orderly. It is considered. It always acts in the Australian national interest. We get it right. We get the detail right and then we make an announcement.
This is a restatement of the prime minister’s theory of government that very much focuses on process and consultation.
You don’t defend the country with a media release. This here is what you defend the country with, with assets, with capability. And that’s what we’re investing in.
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Updated at 04.43 CEST
Defence capability announcement ‘will be welcomed’ by US and UK, Marles says
Asked about the demands being made by the Trump administration, Albanese says “Australia has always pulled our weight.”
We pay our way and we contribute to our alliance each and every day. What we have done here, if you look at what we’ve done since the Defence Strategic Review is invest in capability to make a difference.
Marles also steps in to contribute, emphasising the announcement is an investment in Australia’s defence manufacturing capability.
And so I’ve got no doubt this decision will be welcomed in the United States as it will be welcomed in the United Kingdom because it is a another step forward down the Aukus path. But fundamentally, what we are doing here is an Australian announcement and it is based on meeting the timing needs that we have to maintain the momentum around this facility.
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Updated at 04.41 CEST
SA and WA the ‘winners’ from defence industry investment, Albanese says
Questions now and the first is hard to hear but it appears to be about whether South Australia is being cut out of this investment.
Anthony Albanese:
Not at all. The two biggest, the two big states that are winners from what we are doing in defence are Western Australia and South Australia.
The work that is going on in South Australia is already seen training of new and upskilling of the workforce there in preparation for what will occur.
The investment that’s occurring in South Australia is enormous and here in Western Australia it is as well.
Albanese says both the South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, and WA’s Roger Cook are “very pleased every time we cross the borders into either of those states”.
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Updated at 04.38 CEST
Defence industry could overtake agriculture in WA, premier says
We’re back with the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, who is speaking about how the Australian government is spending $127m over the next three years to perform “early works and planning to scope this project”.
This [facility] will underpin the building of army’s landing crafts. It will provide for the basis of the sustainment of nuclear powered submarines here at Henderson and in time this will provide the place where we will see the building of the Mogami-class frigate in Australia.
After Marles, we have the Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, who echoes the words of the prime minister in describing this about jobs for the local economy.
There’s a huge opportunity for us. We want to diversify our economy, make sure that WA stays the strongest economy in the country. We want Western Australians have access to the quality jobs and the business opportunity that comes from a diversified economy and the development of our defence industries is an important part.
Cook says the investment represents “a significant body of work” that is “potentially overtaking agriculture as Western Australia’s second biggest industry.”
So for us this is a big deal, and we are extremely excited to play the role that we can.
WA Premier Roger Cook earlier this year. Photograph: Aaron Bunch/AAPShare
Updated at 04.39 CEST
Albanese touts $12bn investment in WA Aukus shipyards
Anthony Albanese is in Western Australia to mark the $12bn investment in new shipyards to support Australia’s acquisition of nuclear submarines under the Aukus agreement.
Speaking to reporters now, the prime minister says the facility to be built will be “world class” and provide 10,000 jobs along with “strong opportunities for local industry”.
There’s no greater honour than serving our country and our nation’s uniform. And my government is dedicated to investing in the defence capabilities that our nation requires to keep Australians safe. My government has already made record investments across shipbuilding here in the west. And today’s announcement builds on that.
Albanese said “progressing these capabilities is absolutely critical”.
Unfortunately the presser has been interrupted by the weather, so we will pick this up when they regroup.
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Updated at 04.30 CEST
New Zealand police asked to help in Dezi Freeman manhunt
Victorian police have called in backup from New Zealand to help in the manhunt for Dezi Freeman.
The acting deputy commissioner of regional operations, Russell Barrett, spoke to the media on Sunday morning to give an update on the search.
He said police from New Zealand had been called in for their expertise, given the rugged, mountainous environment where Freeman is believed to be at large.
Barrett said there are “so many places to hide”.
If we think of Freeman and what he’s capable of, every step must be taken really really carefully.
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Updated at 04.21 CEST
NSW Labor’s Kiama byelection win ‘gift from voters’, Minns says
Labor shouldn’t take the electorate for granted despite a solid win in the Kiama byelection that the NSW premier, Chris Minns, says was a “gift from voters”.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning, Minns said that he was concerned Labor MPs may “misread the message or mishear the message that the next election’s won without us even fighting for it without us even fighting for it”.
We’ve got to make progress, and one of the areas I want to identify is reliability on the heavy rail public transport network, which is not good enough and must be an urgent priority for us.
Minns said the party had gone into the byelection with a message of “try before you buy” on its newest MP, Katelin McInerney.
What that meant is that Katelin’s a great candidate. We think she’s fantastic. There’s an opportunity for you to put her to work for you for 18 months before you make a more permanent decision at the 2027 election.
Noting the large independent and minor party vote in the byelection, Minns said it was “hard for me to glean what [voters’] motivations were across the board”, but said he had faith that Labor’s performance over the next year would demonstrate the strength of the party.
At the end of the day, if you get close to the next election and we can show real progress in major public hospitals, investment in schools and our public transport network, then we think we’ll have a solid foundation to approach the next election on but that’s going to be up to the voters.
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Updated at 04.36 CEST
YouGov emissions poll ‘rare alignment between the public, business and scientific advice’
A new YouGov poll suggests two in three Australians want the government to commit to an emissions reduction target of 75% or higher by 2035 in an indication of strong support for a more ambitious climate action.
In the poll at the end of August, 1,502 voters were asked whether they would support Australia accelerating its timeline to reach net zero to 2035 “as advocated by many climate groups and climate scientists”; whether Australia should push to reduce emissions by 75% by 2035 “as advocated by some progressive Australian businesses”; or seeing no new emissions reduction target for 2034 “as advocated by some members of the opposition”.
The poll found the result was split by equal thirds, with more men than women supporting the position associated with the Coalition, and more young people calling for bringing forward deadlines to reach net zero.
The Future Group CEO, Simon Sheikh, said the polling showed “a rare alignment between the public, business and scientific advice”.
Australians are demanding ambition. This isn’t a fringe view; it is a clear majority of voters saying they want a 75% target or higher by 2035. Businesses are saying the same, and the science has long been clear. There’s now a united front for government to act.
The real story here is alignment. For once, the public, business and experts are all pulling in the same direction. The opportunity for Australia is to lead, not lag, in the global race for clean industries and good jobs.
The modelling comes as the government is expected to announce its emissions reduction targets after months of speculation. The government has previously flagged that political concerns will be factored into its decision.
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Updated at 04.18 CEST
PM says protesters have forced electorate office to move
Anthony Albanese is being forced to move his electorate office after the lease has been “discontinued”.
In a statement the prime minister appeared to suggest that the discontinuation of the lease at the Marrickville address was the result of repeated protests that had blocked access for nearby residents and businesses.
I’m incredibly proud of the work electorate officers, past and present, have done in assisting my community from this location.
Sadly, over the past two years, aggressive protesters have repeatedly blocked access to the electorate office for people seeking assistance.
This has also significantly impacted churchgoers attending the neighbouring St Clement’s church, including disruption to funerals and other church services.
The electorate will continue to be serviced by hardworking, dedicated electorate officers at locations in the community, online and via telephone during this time.
The statement said the office will “open at a new location in the heart of Grayndler once it is made fit for purpose”.
Albanese’s electorate office was opened by the former prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1993 for the then member for Grayndler Jeannette McHugh.
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Updated at 03.31 CEST
Disgraced MP’s seat falls to Labor as Liberal soul-searching begins
NSW Labor has picked up an extra seat after a byelection to replace a disgraced MP convicted of rape.
Voters in the electorate of Kiama chose a new representative to state parliament after former MP Gareth Ward was forced to resign after being convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July.
It is the first time in three decades a seat in a byelection has gone to the government.
For more on this story read the full report at the Guardian here:
Katelin McInerney is tipped to have won Kiama for Labor. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare
Updated at 04.23 CEST
New technology could make oceans transparent and Aukus submarines vulnerable
Military history is littered with the corpses of apex predators.
The Gatling gun, the battleship, the tank. All once possessed unassailable power – then were undermined, in some cases wiped out, by the march of new technology.
“Speed and stealth and firepower,” the head of the Australian Submarine Agency, Jonathan Mead, told the Guardian two years ago of Australia’s forthcoming fleet of nuclear submarines. “The apex predator of the oceans.”
But for how much longer?
In the first quarter of the 21st century, nuclear submarines have proven a formidable force: essentially undetectable deadly attack weapons. Some also carry a vital “second-strike” deterrent effect: any attack on a country armed with nuclear-powered submarines is made with the knowledge that retaliation is certain – from a warship hidden beneath the waves.
But a drumbeat of declarations – much of it speculative but most of it from China, the very nation the Aukus pact was established to counter – report rapid developments in submarine-detection technologies: vast networks of acutely sensitive sonar arrays; quantum sensing; improved satellite tracking able to spot tiny perturbations in the ocean’s surface; technologies that detect minute disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field; real-time AI processing of vast reams of data.
Could emerging technologies render the last opaque place on Earth – the oceans – transparent?
For more on this feature story read the full report by Guardian Australia’s Ben Doherty:
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Updated at 02.50 CEST
Proud moment as PNG celebrates independence anniversary
Papua New Guinea will be alight with festivity as world leaders and dignitaries gather in Port Moresby to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence.
Half a century after the Raggiana bird of paradise was officially first hoisted on black and red, Papua New Guinea remains fiercely proud of its independence.
The country will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its arrival as the independent state of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, with an air of festivity expected to flow through its capital Port Moresby as visiting dignitaries and world leaders assemble to pay their respects.
Community groups in Australia have been holding smaller events over the weekend to bring together family and friends in celebration, among them a gathering of the Papua New Guinea Australia Association and community members at Melbourne’s Yarraville Gardens.
The association’s president, Peter Bakua, says is moved by the celebrations, as are his family and the broader diaspora.
It’s a way of promoting PNG to the world, so it is a significant moment in history for our country. We’re very thankful to the government for doing that. The PNG people worked very hard to get independence.
We can call ourselves a nation, have freedom and can make our own laws. It makes us proud.
Peter Bakua during the celebration in Melbourne. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAPA proud moment for Papuans. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP
Papua New Guinea was granted independence during the prime ministership of Gough Whitlam, on 16 September 1975.
Since its independence, PNG has built still closer ties with Australia, most recently via a defence agreement said to have strengthened security and economic cooperation.
The Australian government has also poured $600m into the creation of an NRL team to represent the rugby league-obsessed nation, a move expected to kindle pride within locals.
– AAP
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Updated at 02.49 CEST
Australia working to ‘lock down’ regional allies
Australia is expected to sign a new defence agreement with Papua New Guinea to a day before its northern neighbour marks half a century of independence.
The Australia-Papua New Guinea bilateral security agreement has been a long time in the making and is expected to integrate the militaries of the two countries.
The agreement is being signed against growing geopolitical tension and competition between the US and China.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning retired army Maj Gen Gus McLachlan said the agreement was part of a soft power campaign to “lock down partners and allies in regional countries”.
We saw the pressure that came on to the Morrison government when the Chinese government negotiated an agreement to train police on the Solomon Islands.
What we are seeing here is Australia seeking to lock down its relationship with, frankly, I think, probably our most important regional partner. We are 100 or so kilometres apart at the narrowest point. The PNG military and Australia have had a long relationship.
The deputy commander of Australia’s third brigade in Townsville is a Papua New Guinea officer on secondment who fills that important role. This is a further signal we will be joined at the hip with PNG, not leaving room for strategic competitors to nudge their way in.
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Updated at 02.21 CEST
New South Wales police will speak to the media about an ongoing investigation into a public shooting that took place in Sydney’s west on Sunday morning.
Det Insp Ricki Lindner of the Cumberland police area command is expected to speak at 11.15am outside the Granville police station.
We will bring you the latest as it happens.
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Updated at 02.08 CEST
Police appeal for help finding hiker missing in Snowy Mountains
Police have made a public appeal for help in a search of a man who went missing while hiking and skiing in the Snowy Mountains.
Cameron Little, 57, left to go back country skiing and hiking from the Guthega power station located in the Snowy Mountains-Kosciuszko national park on 4 September.
New South Wales police say he was last heard from on 6 September. However, he has not been able to be contacted and has not been seen since.
He was due to return on Saturday and when he failed to return, police were alerted and have started inquiries into Little’s whereabouts, including a land and air search involving local police, with the assistance of PolAir, the Rural Fire Service, SES and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Police say Little’s vehicle – a blue Mitsubishi station wagon – has been found unattended at the Guthega power station during the search.
Concerns are held for Little’s welfare, as he is an experienced hiker and skier, and his failure to return is out of character.
Little is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, with a fair complexion, brown hair and with an unshaven grey beard.
He is believed to be travelling with a backpack.
Initial inquiries have led police to believe Little may still be in the Snowy Mountains back country area, in the vicinity of Mount Jagungal.
Anyone with information on Little’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Queanbeyan police station or 000.
The Snowy River in Kosciuszko national park. Photograph: Ingo Oeland/AlamyShare
Updated at 02.17 CEST
Marles says Islamophobia report ‘very significant’
Asked about recommendations from the Islamophobia envoy, specifically about calls for some kind of sanction on MPs who make racist statements, Marles says “we are going to go through the process of responding to this report”.
It is a very significant report with 54 recommendations, so we are going to give it the respect that it deserve and take the time to go through it. Let me be clear: the parliament should not be a place for people to be making racist statements.
Asked directly whether there should be some form of sanction for politicians who say something racist, Marles says:
The way in which this is described in terms of how parties govern themselves, and from the Labor party’s point of view, we have a zero-tolerance approach to racism being spoken about from any of our members. It is utterly unacceptable and no one speaks in those terms.
We welcome the report that has been done by Mr [Aftab] Malik. It is a really important body of work. We are going to review it and give it the attention that it deserve of, but dealing with Islamophobia in this country is something, which as Mr Malik has said, has become intensified particularly after the last couple of decades, after September 11.
It is something we need to deal with and it is part of the ongoing work of our nation.
And that’s a wrap.
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Updated at 02.24 CEST
