Kathryn Campbell’s pay bundle particulars launched after resignation following robodebt inquiry
Sarah Basford Canales
The main points of former senior bureaucrat Kathryn Campbell’s final annual pay bundle have been launched.
The Division of Defence’s newest annual report, launched Tuesday, exhibits Campbell was the third-highest paid public servant within the division for her function as senior adviser on the Aukus challenge.
It exhibits she obtained a complete of $835,970 for the 2022-23 monetary 12 months with a base wage of $698,644.
The bundle put her slightly below defence secretary Greg Moriarty and defence pressure chief Angus Campbell. Curiously, she paid greater than Jonathan Mead, the chief of the nuclear powered submarine taskforce, who she reported to, in line with an organisation chart within the division’s finances papers.
Mead obtained a complete bundle of $707,822 with a base wage of $526,670.
Campbell, who has since resigned from the general public service, has been within the highlight for her function within the robodebt saga.
The previous secretary of the social companies and human companies departments had been suspended with out pay three days after the royal fee handed down its report into the unlawful debt restoration scheme.
Campbell has not publicly responded to the findings.
Up to date at 21.40 EDT
Key occasions
Cait Kelly
Many farmers are persevering with to defy office legal guidelines designed to guard susceptible employees, with the FWO naming and shaming the nation’s sizzling spots for exploitation.
The crackdown throughout the nation has resulted in fined employers $316,860 nationally and recovered $72,301 for 184 employees underpaid employees. Of the notices, 26 had been issued to labour rent entities and 22 had been to growers.
Honest Work Inspectors have issued 48 Compliance Notices to growers in areas ‘stubbornly non-compliant’ (Riverland, Mildura and Coffs Harbour) while discovering improved circumstances in locations like Vast Bay, Moreton Bay, Stanthorpe and Manjimup.
Honest Work Ombudsman Anna Sales space stated the regulator would proceed to prioritise the agriculture sector throughout the following 12 months – due to its reliance on susceptible employees.
Sales space:
With very excessive numbers of visa holders within the workforce, too many agriculture employers are breaching record-keeping and pay slips legal guidelines, that are the bedrock of office compliance.
It’s a purple flag if employees aren’t issued pay slips, can’t establish their employer and are paid cash-in-hand by people seemingly unrelated to the obvious using entity. We see this all too usually in multi-level provide chains.
Breaches of record-keeping and pay slips legal guidelines usually point out elevated dangers of underpaying employees in addition to non-compliance with different Commonwealth legal guidelines. Employers ought to entry our free assets and get it proper, or they’ll proceed to face fines, backpayments and authorized proceedings.
Benita Kolovos
Simply ending the Tim Pallas press convention:
Pallas stated his authorities thought of the authorized ramifications when introducing the levy, citing a 1973 choice to broaden the definition of consumption tax:
On the again of the present legal guidelines it stood. We principally had each confidence that it could stand. The courtroom in its knowledge has now taken a unique view of what constitutes an excise.
Requested in regards to the federal authorities’s place – to again the electrical car driver’s case – Pallas stated:
Make no mistake, the federal authorities was not arguing in opposition to the cost, they had been simply arguing that they need to be capable of cost it. So individuals who don’t personal the highway community, need to have the ability to get a income stream.
Kumanjayi Walker’s household offended as inquest is once more postponed
Nino Bucci
The household of Kumanjayi Walker say they’re upset by additional delays to his inquest, which has already taken 9 months longer than was anticipated.
A spokesperson for the NT coroner’s courtroom confirmed earlier at present that subsequent week’s hearings can be postponed after an utility was filed by Zachary Rolfe for the coroner within the case, Elisabeth Armitage, to recuse herself.
Rolfe shot Walker useless throughout a bungled arrest within the distant group of Yuendumu in November 2019. He was later charged with homicide however discovered not responsible.
Rolfe was because of give proof on the inquest from subsequent week.
Samara Fernandez, Walker’s cousin, stated in an announcement:
Each delay … makes work for us; it’s the undoing of months of planning, months of conversations, of build up the energy to be current, solely to have to begin over once more.
We have now tried to be affected person, we’ve tried to be understanding of the method, however we’re pissed off and we’re offended.
An announcement attributed to different relations of Walker, the Robertson household, stated:
We’re the Warlpiri individuals, we don’t let issues go. We would like what is correct for us and to battle for justice for Kumanjayi.
Steven Marshall, Walker’s grandfather, additionally expressed his anger on the delays.
Up to date at 23.05 EDT
PM and Dutton welcome Fijian chief forward of query time
Query time is about to start – however forward of the questions, Anthony Albanese (and later Peter Dutton) are welcoming the Fijian prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Up to date at 23.04 EDT
‘Wealthy elites’ evading gas tax by shopping for electrical autos, says Bridget McKenzie
Bridget McKenzie desires the federal government to “instantly convene a gathering of state and territory governments to debate the way forward for petrol tax and highway person costs within the wake of the excessive courtroom ruling state taxes on electrical autos invalid”.
With every passing day the present gas tax system turns into much less and fewer equitable because the wealthy in our internal cities are in a position to decide out of paying for roads by buying electrical autos.
Regardless of the Intergenerational Report highlighting the demise of petrol excise, the minister has explicitly refused to think about making certain all highway customers contribute pretty to the maintenance of our roads.
Within the midst of a cost-of-living disaster, Australians will ask why the prime minister is subsidising the wealthy elites with a reverse Robin Hood gas tax system.
Up to date at 23.03 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Excessive courtroom’s 4-3 cut up on EV tax choice exhibits it was ‘very contentious’: Pallas
The Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, says he’ll search authorized recommendation as as to if electrical car customers will likely be entitled to a refund:
We’d like authorized recommendation on and I see that the lawyer for the plaintiff has indicated that that’s unclear and must be labored by way of.
Requested if this choice was embarrassing for the federal government, Pallas stated:
It was a 4-3 choice. I feel you’d must say it’s clearly a really contentious matter … I’m disenchanted by it. And to the extent that this tax, this cost, was being put in place, I’ve little doubt that it was finally in the long run pursuits of all highway customers.
It was a good cost. It was a cost that meant that everyone paid their share of the price to the highway community. It will seem now that as a result of they don’t pay gas excise, … electrical car customers will likely be exempt from that cost.
Pallas wouldn’t speculate on the additional ramifications of the choice. He stated:
I do know there’s a good bit of hypothesis on the market in the intervening time. I’m not going to play that recreation. Clearly we’ve a duty to the group to make it possible for we take in the choice.
We, in fact, comply and settle for the choice of the excessive courtroom, after which go about ensuring that we shield the pursuits of the taxpayer and ensure … that the income base within the state assures Victoria’s [services] are preserved.
Up to date at 22.53 EDT
Query time will likely be in about quarter-hour – take the time to seize your self one thing to get by way of it.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian treasurer ‘disenchanted’ after excessive courtroom strikes down EV tax
The Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, says he wants time to soak up the impression of the excessive courtroom’s choice to declare his electrical car tax unconstitutional.
The choice might pave the way in which for challenges to different state authorities excise taxes.
Pallas instructed reporters outdoors parliament:
I’ve to confess, I’m disenchanted with the choice. Secondly, the choice implies that the legislation is invalid. It’s a really substantial choice. There are some 400 pages.
It’s a four-three majority, so you’ll be able to see the courtroom was very a lot in two minds across the path that they finally took. However I feel the easy proposition is at 400 pages, we’re going to wish to learn by way of and take in precisely what this choice means.
Up to date at 22.48 EDT
The Medical Affiliation for Prevention of Struggle has known as on the federal government “to precise within the strongest doable phrases that Australia helps the applying of the rule of legislation impartially and in all circumstances, and explicitly condemns violations of it not solely by Hamas but in addition by Israel within the horrific struggle unfolding within the Center East”
From the assertion:
The destruction of the al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza Metropolis, killing lots of of sick and wounded individuals in addition to healthcare employees and others sheltering there, and the lack of but extra crucial medical infrastructure, is unconscionable and should be condemned as a struggle crime.
MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham stated,
Whereas MAPW welcomes the federal government’s name for Israel to comply with the principles of struggle, we deeply remorse that the federal government’s phrases carry no message of shock or outrage on the struggling and terror being inflicted on Palestinian civilians, together with the households and buddies in Gaza of many Australians.
Are Israeli assaults on well being care, meals, water and gas not atrocities that ought to be named as such, simply as all of us recoil in horror on the atrocities dedicated by Hamas in opposition to youngIsraeli civilians?
MAPW urges condemnation of Israeli crimes with languageand calls for that match the dimensions of what’s unfolding in Gaza.
Up to date at 22.46 EDT
Emily Wind
Bushfire smoke from east coast seen at 36,000km above Australia, BoM says
Dipping out of politics for a second –in line with the Bureau of Meteorology, bushfire smoke was seen from 36,000km above Australia this morning as firefighters continued to battle bushfires alongside the east coast.
(Nick Miller has an evidence on why the smoke has been noticed at 36,000km above Australia – it’s the geostationary orbit altitude, the place you set satellites if you need them to remain put above a sure level on the Earth – ie a great place to place climate satellites.)
In New South Wales, the Willi Willi highway fireplace (which has burnt greater than 22,300 hectares) is but to be contained, with residents being urged to observe circumstances. The evacuation centre for affected residents has been reopened on the Kempsey Showground.
The Springwood Park Highway fireplace at Cope, in far north-west NSW, has burnt 866 hectares and is being managed. The RFS stated firefighters carried out backburning throughout the fireground in a single day, and can proceed this at present.
In the meantime, the Queensland Hearth and Emergency Service stated its firefighters have responded to about 60 fires throughout the state this week alone.
Queenslanders have been doing a fantastic job by reporting fires early, permitting our crews the best alternative to carry them below management.
We nonetheless have a variety of lively incidents and other people ought to proceed to keep up consciousness of their native state of affairs.
Residents of Deepwater, within the Gladstone Area, are being warned it isn’t secure to return in the event that they beforehand left.
Up to date at 22.45 EDT
Peter Hannam
China GDP development in September quarter outdoes predictions
China’s September quarter GDP numbers have simply landed (simply 18 days after the quarter ended*) and so they have landed higher than economists had anticipated.
The world’s second-largest economic system expanded 4.9% in contrast with the September quarter final 12 months, greater than the 4.5% fee predicted by analysts. The quarter-on-quarter improve was 1.3%, topping the 0.9% market consensus.
China had been recognized as the highest “draw back” danger to the worldwide economic system in the newest outlook report by the Worldwide Financial Fund.
Australia’s authorities will likely be amongst these relieved by indicators that the nation’s largest buying and selling associate could also be stabilising. Royalties streams from iron ore and different commodities, in spite of everything, helped ship the $22bn surplus for 2022-23, and may carry the present 12 months’s finances near breakeven.
Increased retail spending but in addition industrial output helped ship the quicker-than-tipped general development growth.
Nonetheless, there are lingering points, not least within the struggling property sector.
Gross sales by ground space fell at an accelerating tempo in September to be 7.5% decrease than a 12 months in the past for the primary 9 months of 2023, versus the 7.1% slide reported for the January-August interval, Reuters stated.
Funding was off 9.1% for the January-September interval from a 12 months earlier, in contrast with 8.8% decrease for the primary eight months. New begins had been down 23.4% for the primary 9 months of 2023, barely lower than the eye-watering 24.4% drop for the January-August interval. Grim, however not fairly so grim.
*Australia’s nationwide accounts for the September quarter received’t land till 6 December.
Up to date at 22.42 EDT
PM to satisfy Lithuania president on Friday
Anthony Albanese will meet the Lithuanian president, Gitanas Nausėda, this Friday.
Nausėda is right here with a enterprise delegation to debate the Australian-Lithuanian relationship. It’s the second time the leaders have met this 12 months – Albanese travelled to Lithuania for the Nato summit in July.
Up to date at 22.34 EDT
Amanda Meade
Kiis FM proprietor ARN Media launches takeover bid for rival Southern Cross Media
ARN Media and a personal fairness agency have launched a takeover bid for Southern Cross Media, which operates 99 radio stations and a number of free-to-air tv stations throughout the nation.
ARN is the proprietor of the hit FM station Kiis FM which broadcasts the Kyle and Jackie O present, whereas Southern Cross has the rival Hit and Triple M networks.
ARN and Anchorage Capital Companions introduced the non-binding indicative provide to amass 100% of Southern Cross to the Australian Inventory Trade on Wednesday.
ARN chairman, Hamish McLennan, stated the board believes the transaction can be transformative for each units of shareholders:
ARN’s regional radio footprint can be virtually doubled whereas we’d keep a centered metro radio community, underpinned by the recognised Kiis and Triple M manufacturers in metro areas.
The elevated scale helps the potential for future index inclusion and liquidity as soon as the transaction is full.
Up to date at 22.25 EDT
Sarah Basford Canales
Tammy Tyrrell joins calls urging transport minister to entrance Qatar Airways Senate inquiry
The Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell has joined calls urging the transport minister, Catherine King, to “entrance up” to a Senate inquiry into the choice to dam further flights from Qatar Airways to Australia.
King dominated in July in opposition to granting approval for the Qatari service to run an additional 28 flights to main cities, saying it was within the “nationwide curiosity”.
An opposition-led Senate inquiry is making an attempt to dig additional into the choice to find out whether or not it was influenced by Qantas’ lobbying efforts. King has dismissed the inquiry as a “political stunt”.
The committee’s report, handed down earlier this month, beneficial extending the inquiry till the top of November in order that it will possibly hear from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who was abroad throughout its hearings.
A vote on its extension will likely be held this afternoon within the Senate.
Crossbenchers will finally have the deciding vote on whether or not the probe is prolonged however the Greens have but to verify what their place is.
If the Greens don’t vote with the opposition, assist from the remainder of the crossbench is crucial for the vote to succeed.
Tyrrell, alongside together with her colleague Jacqui Lambie, confirmed with Guardian Australia they intend to vote with the opposition this afternoon.
Minister King must entrance as much as the Senate airline inquiry. She made the decision about Qatar, and it’s on her to clarify why.
Jacqui and I persistently hear from on a regular basis Aussies that they need politicians to face up and personal their selections. It’s about accountability.
The Coalition will even want the assist of Ralph Babet, One Nation senators, David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe if the Greens don’t vote with the opposition.
Up to date at 22.28 EDT
Tamil and Iranian refugee ladies full 640km stroll to Parliament Home to spotlight ‘impression of visa uncertainty’
Twenty-two Tamil and Iranian refugee ladies have walked from Melbourne to Australian Parliament Home to spotlight “the impression of visa uncertainty” for 10,000 refugees who don’t have a transparent path to everlasting residency.
The 640km stroll was an effort to attract consideration to what it’s wish to reside outdoors citizenship in Australia, with no the place else to go, after a decade of uncertainty.
Included within the group was Rathi Barthlote, a mom of three from Sri Lanka who co-founded Refugee Girls Motion for Visa Equality. Barthlote misplaced her first little one due to the civil struggle and hasn’t seen her mom for 18 years.
Geetha Ramachandran, one other co-founder of Refugee Girls Motion for Visa Equality, additionally attended, as did Samira Zadeh, whose three daughters had been born in Australia however wouldn’t have entry to Medicare or childcare; Piume Kaneshan, the youngest walker at 19, who has been in a position to attend college with the assist of native Canberra refugee assist group; and Harini Rathnakumar, a 21-year-old Tamil lady who has been unable to see her mom and sister for 10 years and desires to be a nurse to provide again to Australia.
Learn Rathi Barthlote and Geetha Ramachandran’s story right here.
Up to date at 22.23 EDT
Excessive courtroom choice on EV taxes places ‘billions of {dollars}’ of income in danger for NSW treasury, Minns says
Peter Hannam
New South Wales will likely be among the many jurisdictions finding out at present’s excessive courtroom choice to reject electrical car imposts, as reported right here by Paul Karp and Benita Kolovos right here:
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, instructed that state’s parliament the ruling “has caught everybody abruptly”. He famous that the earlier Perrottet authorities had flagged the pending excessive courtroom choice as “a key danger” to revenues forward of final March’s elections.
State-imposed revenues, notably associated to road-user costs, might be in danger. Minns stated such costs “generated not simply lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} however billions of {dollars}” for NSW treasury. It was an “extraordinarily complicated ruling”, however at this early stage there have been “completely different readings” of its impacts. Minns stated:
We’ll have to look at the ruling after which have to talk to the commonwealth about how we fund future highway initiatives throughout NSW.
Up to date at 22.21 EDT
Paul Karp
‘We wish to work’ with states and territories on EV coverage, federal authorities says
The federal authorities has responded to the excessive courtroom’s choice to strike down Victoria’s EV tax, which is a giant win for the commonwealth as a result of it severely limits (if not extinguishes) states’ potential to impose consumption taxes.
A spokesperson for the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, stated:
The federal government acknowledges the choice of the excessive courtroom. These points are complicated so we’ll take time to think about and search recommendation, and we’ll have extra to say sooner or later.
We’re centered on getting extra electrical autos into the fleet and we’ve a plan to ship that, together with incentivising the acquisition of electrical autos by way of exemptions from fringe advantages tax (FBT) and import tariffs. The federal government has additionally dedicated to implement the gas effectivity normal. We wish to work with Victoria and with different states and territories on coverage regarding electrical autos.
Up to date at 22.06 EDT
Prof Richard Holden is talking about among the alternatives in decarbonisation, AI and different future industries.
We’ll hear in to the Q&A to see what else comes up.
Up to date at 22.01 EDT
