Dutton ‘a dangerous personality’, Keating says as China responds to speech – as it happened

A Sydney highway patrol officer has been found guilty of public mischief after anonymously reporting an off-duty colleague was at a primary school with a gun.

As a result of Snr Const Ricky Wayne Colbron’s report that the subject was on school grounds and “may or may not be a police officer”, an urgent job was broadcast on police radio.

The full report is here:

I don’t want to ruin your weekend, but here’s a story about a “highly mutated” Covid variant:

A 1.8-metre public sculpture of an anthropomorphic banana has caused a rumble among residents in Melbourne – and has already been victim to vandalism.

The artwork, which features a menacing skull facing out onto Rose Street in Fitzroy, is titled Fallen Fruit. Erected on 8 November, it was purchased by the City of Yarra for $22,000 out of a $100,000 grant bestowed by the Transport Accident Commission.

Full story by Michael Sun here:

As flagged in this piece from earlier today, it has been reported the Warragamba Dam has now reached capacity.

This is interesting (and I must admit this is the first time I’d read anything on this issue). A Queensland parliamentary committee has approved shield laws that protect federal MPs involved in Brisbane Olympics planning from being embroiled in state anti-corruption investigations.

Full story from AAP here:

Controversial Olympic laws shielding federal politicians from scrutiny in Queensland have been ticked off by a state parliamentary committee.

The Economics and Governance Committee says the laws should be passed despite a number of concerns about transparency and accountability.

Under the bill, federal MPs and senators on the Olympic organising committee would be exempt from scrutiny by Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission.

Commission chair Alan MacSporran has warned the exemption is too broad and could have unintended consequences “given the absence of an equivalent commonwealth integrity body”.

The parliamentary committee says it’s unclear why federal politicians should be held to a different standard of accountability than other board members.

The committee’s report said:

Very strong justification would be required to warrant such a provision, and to date no such reasoning has been provided.

It recommended that premier Annastacia Palaszczuk find out why the clause is necessary from the federal government and report back to parliament.

However, the committee stopped short of calling for the Australian Olympic Committee or the International Olympic Committee to explain the controversial accountability clause.

The bill would shield documents “communicated in confidence” by or for the AOC or IOC, from right-to-information applications.

The government has said the exemption only relates to documents involving the AOC and IOC, in matters such as sponsorships, and was consistent with laws for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Information commissioner Rachael Rangihaeata said in a submission that the clause was inconsistent with the 2008 Solomon report, which said any RTI exemptions should be limited and “clearly justified”.

The parliamentary committee said removing the clause would better reflect the transparency and accountability “community members expect”.

However, it stopped short of calling for any action to be taken to make the IOC further explain why the clause was necessary.

The report said:

Ultimately, given the limited scope of the exemption proposed in this instance, it is unlikely to lead to any difference in outcomes for access to information than would otherwise be the case.

However, the committee would welcome any willingness on the part of the AOC and IOC to reconsider their position as to the necessity of the exemption, and the strong message that would be sent by its removal from the legislation, placing the public interest squarely at the forefront.

The committee recommended the government engage with the AOC and IOC to ensure the need for confidentiality was balanced with the right to information of public interest.

Liberal National Party committee members Ray Stevens, Michael Crandon and Dan Purdie expressed reservations about the conflict of interest and RTI clauses.

AAP has filed this report on Scott Morrison’s flying visit to Adelaide:

The prime minister has urged South Australians to push the state’s Covid-19 vaccination rate above 80% just days after the state opened its borders.

Taking advantage of the relaxed travel rules, Scott Morrison jetted into Adelaide on Friday, for two events in the marginal federal seat of Boothby.

Latest figures have the double-dosed rate at 79.5%, putting the state close to what he said was a significant milestone.

Morrison said:

We can hit 80% today here in South Australia. So if you haven’t had your second dose of the vaccination, let’s go out and get that jab today.

Morrison said the national plan for dealing with the virus was being realised in SA.

We’re opening safely here in South Australia so we can remain safely open.

I am going to give a big PM’s challenge to South Australia. The call is out – if you haven’t had your second dose, go out and get it.

Morrison’s call, which was later thought to have been reached, came as SA Health revealed two new virus infections on Friday and released more virus exposure sites linked to several cases in travellers from NSW and Victoria.

The new cases involved interstate travellers, one a man in his 20s and the other a woman in her 20s, but officials have stopped providing further details.

The exposure sites included a number of Qantas flights into Adelaide, a restaurant in the state’s Riverland, a northern suburbs shopping centre and a separate Woolworths supermarket.

South Australia has five active coronavirus infections, all in hotel quarantine. At least three of those were detected in passengers on incoming flights from Sydney and Melbourne.

Under SA’s new travel rules, anyone coming into the state must be double-vaccinated and use a new online border entry process known as EntryCheck SA, which assesses an individual’s vaccination status, departure location and Covid risk.

Based on the information provided, travellers may also be prompted to use a new HealthCheck SA app, which will help them monitor daily symptoms and guide them through any testing and quarantine requirements.

In most cases, travellers are required to have a Covid test within 72 hours of departure. Unvaccinated travellers must get a special exemption with applications to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

An Aboriginal woman and sexual assault survivor with a serious heart condition who was forcibly strip-searched by a team of prison officers is suing the Australian Capital Territory government for breaching her human rights, arguing that her treatment was degrading and humiliating and amounted to torture.

The full story by Christopher Knaus and Lorena Allam is here:

Victoria’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, has been giving evidence to an inquest into a Covid outbreak at a nursing home that led to 45 deaths. Here’s a story on his appearance from AAP:

Counsel assisting the inquest into a Covid-19 outbreak at a Melbourne aged care home will submit that Victoria’s chief health officer had a big knowledge gap when he directed its workforce to furlough.

During Victoria’s second wave of the virus in July 2020, 45 residents at St Basil’s Home for the Aged died of Covid-19, after regular workers were sent home and replaced by inexperienced agency staff.

There were at least 50 positive cases connected to the home when St Basil’s staff were declared close contacts, and state and federal health authorities began working on a plan to replace the entire workforce.

State health chief Brett Sutton has given evidence that in the days before he made the order to furlough staff, he was unaware several doctors had expressed opposition to the plan.

Counsel assisting Peter Rozen QC told Prof Sutton he would make submissions to the coroner that this was a “very big gap in your knowledge base” in making the public health orders.

Sutton said:

I accept that there is additional evidence that could have been brought to my attention.

The inquest has heard that the day before the handover to the emergency workforce on 22 July, almost half of the necessary emergency workers could not be found, and within hours of the transfer residents had missed meals and medications.

But Sutton said the potential consequences of furloughing staff had to be weighed against additional Covid-19 infections, which were fatal for one-in-three aged care residents.

He said he believed that had he not made the orders, almost all the residents and staff at St Basil’s would have been infected, and more people would have died.

Sutton read a statement acknowledging the loss endured by relatives of St Basil’s residents who had died.

He said:

I want to express my heartfelt suffering for the sorrow that they have gone through.

Earlier on Friday, he also give evidence that his orders to furlough staff were conditional, with an “overarching caveat” that a handover would only take place once appropriate replacement workers had been found.

I think everyone understands that if there was no sign of replacement staff on the 22nd, the handover would not take place.

Sutton said that although he had not made any inquiries himself, he had not been told of any specific problems in finding an emergency workforce.

He said the chairman of St Basils’ had initially refused to follow health directions, and this held up the health response and likely led to further cases.

Victoria’s health department has provided another 2,000 pages of evidence to the inquest as it concludes its second week of witness evidence, with one lawyer telling Victorian state coroner John Cain that there had been no time to review the documents.

The hearing continues.

Here’s the full story from our Daniel Hurst about Peter Dutton’s comments regarding China earlier today:

There’s been another retirement from the Andrews government in Victoria, with John Eren stepping away after almost 20 years as an MP. I think that makes it five MPs that have hung up the boots this week.

I am just going to hand over to my colleague Nino Bucci for the next little while.

The trade minister, Dan Tehan, has formally announced he will travel to Geneva to lead Australia’s delegation to the World Trade Organisation’s 12th ministerial conference (as we reported yesterday morning).

Tehan’s travel comes amid calls for Australia to do more to secure a deal on a waiver of intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines.

In this afternoon’s statement, Tehan said of the meeting known as MC12:

The rules-based trading system, with the WTO at its core, has contributed to Australia’s ongoing prosperity and created jobs across our economy. Australia is offering its leadership and negotiating energy to secure an outcome at MC12 that demonstrates the WTO’s value in protecting and promoting the multilateral trading system.

One in five Australian jobs relies on trade, and by ensuring the WTO continues to deliver for Australian businesses by reducing the barriers to trade and maintaining adherence to the global trade rules, this will support the Australian economy as we recover from Covid-19.

As Covid-19 vaccination hubs wind down in Victoria, a rise in demand for testing is putting more pressure on the system.

AAP reports the Victorian government on Friday confirmed the closure of eight state-run vaccination clinics, starting from the end of this week, as dose rates slow to a crawl.

Landmark sites at the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will deliver their last jabs in mid-December, along with Box Hill Town Hall.

Other clinics at Eastland shopping centre and Wyndham’s Eagle Stadium are scheduled to shut at the end of the week, followed by St Vincent’s Private in Werribee, the Melbourne Showgrounds and the Olivia Newton-John centre next to Austin Hospital.

State-run hubs have been the engine room of Victoria’s vaccination push since first opening in March, delivering about half of the state’s 10.6m doses.

Fifteen metro and regional sites will remain open into next year to administer booster shots and potentially first and second doses to five-to-11-year-old children, if and when a Covid-19 vaccine is approved by federal regulators.

Victoria recorded 1362 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths on Friday, the state’s highest daily number of infections since 1 November.

The rising cases coincide with strong testing numbers, including 73,419 processed on Thursday.

The health department’s Covid-19 response deputy secretary, Naomi Bromley, said average testing had jumped from 41,000 in August to 71,000 at present.

She told ABC Radio Melbourne the testing system had been scaled up to meet rising demand this week, but average wait times had blown out to 60 minutes across the network.

Bromley said:

One of things that has been driving it is we’ve got kids back at school. A lot of kids are getting symptoms ... and in some cases are being directed to go get a test if there has been a Covid case in their classroom.

To counteract the trend, some the state’s 200 testing sites have shifted their opening hours from 8am to 8pm to 7am to 7pm to give parents more time to get their children tested before school.

It comes after a major vaccination deadline passed, with about a million Victorian workers now needing to show proof to their employer they are double-dosed to continue working on site.

Those in jobs on the state’s authorised worker list – including professional athletes, lawyers, journalists, mining workers, court staff and personal trainers – are required to be fully vaccinated as of Friday.

In further Covid-related changes, Victoria has scrapped its travel permit system and updated its check-in app so parents and guardians can add their children’s vaccination certificates.

Meanwhile, the state government offered all 11 upper house crossbenchers a briefing on its proposed pandemic laws on Friday ahead an expected vote on the stalled bill when parliament sits next week.

Labor’s defence spokesperson, Brendan O’Connor, has called on prime minister Scott Morrison to “rein in” defence minister Peter Dutton, arguing it was “really irresponsible” for the defence minister to misrepresent the views of the Australian opposition.

O’Connor told Sky News:

I think he has every right to say that we have to be prepared for the worst and obviously look to ensure the best possible outcome in our region - but I do not think using for political purposes war rhetoric has been useful, has been helpful, has in any way been wise.

O’Connor said former prime minister Paul Keating no longer spoke for the federal parliamentary Labor party, which supported the Aukus deal with the US and the UK to acquire at least eight nuclear-propelled submarines.

O’Connor said:

We will not back down to the list of demands from China, and we support the government when it comes to defending our values and our interests in this region.

Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer says she didn’t want to be hauled into a meeting with Scott Morrison after she crossed the floor to support an independent MP’s integrity commission bill.

Archer told Guardian Australia that while the meeting was friendly, it was a “frank discussion – not just a pastoral care meeting”.

“I would have preferred not to have the meeting at that time while I was feeling emotional,” she said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia may be planning to hold out on higher interest rates for another two years, but the market’s not waiting.

Higher borrowing costs for banks have lately squeezed the margins they make on their mortgages, a trend that has knocked the shares of major banks down a peg or two lately. Commonwealth Bank shares have sunk from a closing high of $110-plus on 8 November by more than 10% since then to about $95 today.

Well, some of that pain is being passed onto customers. CBA today lifted its fixed-rate mortgages by as much as 0.3-0.6 percentage point depending on whether you’re an owner occupier or investor.

That’s the third increase in six weeks from the bank, which is Australia’s largest mortgage issuer. A five-year load will now carry a 3.39% annual rate, or an increase of 0.3 percentage points.

RateCity estimates that rate rise will increase average monthly payments on a $500,000, 30-year loan with a fixed term by $82 a month.

“CBA has once again bowed to funding pressures which have soared in recent weeks,” RateCity.com.au research director, Sally Tindall said.

It’s raining rate hikes and the storm is nowhere near over. The flood of fixed-rate hikes is likely to keep going as the cost of fixed-term funding continues to rise.

NAB is the only big four bank with a rate starting with a ‘1’ – its one-year fixed rate – however this is likely to rise in the next round of the bank’s rate hikes.

The sign of rising borrowing costs plus record levels of “stock” on the market this week in capital cities is another reason to think the boom in property prices has reached its “twilight” phase, as CBA’s chief Australian economist Gareth Aird said at the start of this week.

NSW Rural Fire Service footage of a rescue of a man from the roof of his car this morning, which had become trapped under water.

Victoria will increase its cap on non-urgent surgeries at private hospitals by a quarter, while public hospitals can resume up to 50% of capacity in some regional areas, AAP reports.

The state government said, beginning on Monday, public hospitals in Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and the Latrobe Valley will be permitted to resume up to 50% of normal elective surgeries.

Previously, only private hospitals and day procedure centres were permitted to perform non-urgent surgeries up to 50% capacity, but this will rise to 75% from Monday.

Major public hospitals in Melbourne and Barwon Health will continue to only provide urgent and emergency surgeries.

This is to ensure there is “adequate capacity within the health system” to care for patients with Covid-19 requiring hospitalisation, the government said in a statement.

The situation will be monitored to ensure there is capacity, in case hospitalisations surge.

“Reducing hospitalisations has given us the flexibility to further expand elective surgery and help ease the burden on Victorians waiting for procedures,” health minister Martin Foley said.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely so that we are ready to respond to any surges in Covid-19 activity, while also making sure we are supporting the dedicated staff who keep our operating theatres running.

The decision comes after health bodies, including the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, called for the government to ditch surgery caps all together due to growing wait lists.

RACS sent a proposal to the state’s health department to support “rapid” change to the current system.

It is calling for more transparency about how these decisions are made, and said many small private hospitals should be permitted to recommence surgery with no cap, since they do not form part of the Covid response.

However, a Victorian government spokeswoman said it would “continue to adopt a staged approach” to increasing non-urgent surgeries.

As of September 30, 67,000 Victorians were waiting for elective surgeries.

Labor’s response to defence minister Peter Dutton’s National Press Club speech. Shadow foreign minister Penny Wong says Dutton is auditioning for the PM’s job.

Some more on Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath’s press conference earlier, via AAP.

D’Ath has apologised after a confusing week-long feud about the cost of PCR tests needed by travellers to enter the state.

Under the state’s reopening plan vaccinated domestic arrivals need to provide a negative PCR test once 80% of Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.

However, domestic travellers, tourism operators and airlines were in limbo for six days as the state and commonwealth argued about who would fork out for the tests.

The spat ended on Tuesday when federal health minister Greg Hunt clarified tests for domestic travel would be free after the state confirmed it would accept a text message as proof of a result.

D’Ath, who has been off work sick this week, says she’s sorry about the uncertainty caused for travellers.

I’m happy to apologise. There was a lot of confusion around this. We’ve made it clear there isn’t a cost without needing a certificate, we don’t require the certificate.

A text, which we have always said, a text is suitable. It’s been on our border pass systems since it went live at 70%.

I’m just pleased that people do not have to incur this cost. They can get the PCR test which is absolutely invaluable in stopping this virus coming into our state.

Deputy chief health officer Peter Aitken said PCR tests were always provided to domestic travellers for free under co-funding arrangements.

However, he sidestepped a question about why he hadn’t advised the government about that during the PCR test brouhaha.

Look, we’ve gone through this as the minister said, everyone’s been aware, we’ve told yourselves and the community, and rapid testing is available, and the commonwealth has clarified any concerns or confusion.

Meanwhile, Queensland is on track to hit its 80% vaccination target earlier than the 17 December deadline.

From that date, unvaccinated people will also be banned from venues across the state.

Dutton is asked whether, like with the submarines contract, he is considering cancelling the frigates contract with the UK, given the ongoing delays and issues. Dutton says he has regular contact with the UK and BAE, and he will not tolerate blowouts, but he is “not minded to cancel the contract”.

Very different circumstances to what you raise in relation to the cancellation of the diesel powered submarine, which wasn’t going to meet the technological advances deployed by China into the 20, 30s and 2040s. In particular. And I wasn’t going to put our people in harm’s way and wasn’t going to have the capability that wasn’t giving us the best chance of the preservation of that piece, and also original superiority, which frankly, we have at the moment with the Collins class submarines. The only other thing I would say is don’t believe everything you read. You look old enough to know that already.

Dutton was asked whether he still held leadership ambitions, and could be opposition leader after the election. He joked the Morrison government would be around until 2049 and to ask him again in 2048.

More seriously, on what he intends to do around the Brereton report in the next few months, he says he couldn’t be prouder of the SAS, but says the rule of law applies equally to all Australians, and the evidence is being worked through. But he flags he is looking forward, not back:

I’m not going to hang people out to dry. They do tough work in exacting circumstances, something that none of us, the vast majority of us in this room, bar a few, would have no comprehension of and the dire circumstances in which they operate need to be recognised and, for many, that takes a very heavy toll and we should never forget that so lessons are learned. But 99.9% of people who do the right thing in our country’s name, every Australian should be proud of their actions now and into the future because they, frankly, are the reason we’re able to sit here in peace and stability in our country. We take a lot for granted in this country.

Hi there, Josh Taylor here taking over from Cait Kelly after defence minister Peter Dutton’s National Press Club address.

In other news, the voluntary assisted dying bill passed the NSW lower house today, after all the amendments were considered. It’ll go to the upper house next year.

Dutton:

The great Chinese story is that people have, in the diaspora community around the world, been educated, remitted money back, returned back with the desire and the drive to build a modern society.

That’s what we want of China.

That’s what we want for her people and we want that to continue and I think if you look at the actions against the words of the Chinese government.

As I pointed out in my speech, it does cause you some concern if the Chinese government took a decision that they were going to go into Taiwan by 2049, as they have publicly stated, or to reunify.

Tingle is now asking Dutton about how other commentators – notably Greg Sheridan from The Oz, have also said it’s irresponsible to engage in this type of rhetoric about conflict.

If we pretend that nothing is going to happen over the next 20 years and China is just bluffing when the direct quotes we’ve heard from president Xi are not going to be acted upon.

You need to weigh all of that up and I think the Australian public deserves an honest conversation.

Dutton is asked if he thinks Labor are just trying to appease China.

To answer, he talks about Paul Keating and is now attacking Labor’s record.

When I was last in government, they ripped money out of defence. They did it because they had a $16bn hole in border protection policies and they spent money on pink batts, school halls and the rest of it and they took money away from our capacity to acquire the assets that we need.

They took money away from soldiers and from those within the Australian Defence Force and the department to plug other holes.

Tingle asks why the Australian government has ramped up its rhetoric against China, when no one else including the US has:

I’ve tried to lay out for you and for the Australian public the reality of what we’re dealing with. In Lithuania – I acknowledge the ambassador here today – in Lithuania overnight there have been very difficult circumstances to deal with, threats against the Lithuanian government because of their acknowledgement of Taiwan.

Just for the record – Australia does not formally recognise Taiwan.

Laura Tingle asks Dutton who would actually win in a conflict between China and the US if it got that far:

“he consequence would be terrible, calamitous, as I point out, if there was to be conflict in our region.

There’s no shirking from that and nobody seeks to hide that but equally you need to think through what the next step is.

Does an occupation or reunification of Taiwan satisfy the Chinese government? Or do they move into the Senkaku Islands where, at the moment, they’re bumping up against Japanese vessels.

Dutton said the Aus public expect the government to deliver on national security.

The government has taken all necessary steps to keep Australians safe and security. Breaking the business model of people smugglers, thwarting terrorism, removing criminals from our shores, countering child exploitation, obstructing organised crime, fending off cyberattacks, foiling foreign interference and safeguarding our critical infrastructure.

Now, as we contend with escalating tensions in our region, the government is doing everything necessary to make sure defence gets on with its core business, to deter coercion, to prevent conflict, to preserve peace, to prepare for whatever may be on or below the horizon.

Dutton said Australia’s defence force needs to be helped by good relations with countries in the region.

Ultimately, regional stability requires, though, the United States to be completely engaged right here, to continue to protect the peace and prosperity it’s engendered. And from which we have all benefited since the end of the second world war and that’s exactly what the United States is doing.

Dutton said this is all needed because of the heightened tensions.

This firmer approach is commensurate with public expectations, a new sense of urgency stemming from the deteriorating situation in the Indo-Pacific and the consequent need to rapidly acquire defence capabilities.

Dutton said the government is investing $1bn in new weapons that “are transforming the nature of warfare as significantly as the first rifles or indeed the maxim gun”.

Dutton is now defending the Aukus agreement and the government’s history on defence.

When this government came to power in 2013, defence spending was at its lowest level since 1938 at around one 1.5% of GDP. We’ve lifted it to 2% and it will continue to climb from there.

We’ve built three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, the most potent warships ever operated by our Navy and among the most capable in our region, support of our fifth generation AirForce, 44 of a planned 72 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have already taken to the skies.

In February of 2014, we approved the purchase of eight P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance and response aircraft and in February 2016 we approved an additional four of these highly capable planes. All 12 Poseidons are now in service with the RAAF.

Dutton has said if China invaded Taiwan, it would then take the islands in the East China Sea.

The Chinese Communist party could not be any clearer. Not always with their words, but certainly with their actions and the point I make is the regional order on which our prosperity and security is founded would change almost overnight. In the absence of a counter-pressure, the Chinese government becomes the sole security and economic partner for Indo-Pacific nations.

Now, that is a perilous military and economic situation for our country, but for so many more.

Dutton is now tabling the size and substance of the Chinese defence force.

Over the next decade, China’s nuclear warhead stockpiles, estimated to be in the 200s last year, is projected to reach between 700 and 1,000 warheads.

Every major city in Australia, including Hobart, is within range of China’s missiles.

Dutton is talking about China acting in more aggressive ways in the area and to Australia.

Inflicting tariffs and bans on Australian imports, like barley and beef and coal and lamb, lobster, timber and wine, for political purposes, undermining collective faith in China’s commitment to global free trade and investment, the fabrication of a propaganda image, disgracefully depicting an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child.

The issuing of a dossier of 14 disputes with Australia, a list of grievances which imply that our nation should refrain from making sovereign decisions and acting in its self-interest. And its Ministry of State Security engaging in repeated cyber activities against foreign government and commercial institutions.

Dutton says Australia is a “finger in the dye” of cyber security.

Today, friends, we face the most significant change in our strategic environment since the second world war.

Once again, Australia finds herself in a region at the epicentre of global strategic competition.

A region witness to a military build-up of a scale and ambition that historically has rarely been associated with peaceful outcomes and a region where tensions continue to rise in a matter exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Peter Dutton is talking about the Australian Defence Force.

And over the last two years, Australians have seen ADF personnel, including reservists, at work in their communities. Throughout the 2019-20 bushfire season and during the New SouthWales floods earlier this year. As we approach Christmas, most of us will look forward to celebrations and time with our family and with our friends.

But it’s not always so for our defence personnel. Men and women of all services routinely spend long periods separated from their families whilst on deployment.

He acknowledges the royal commission has started in Brisbane today.

Our obligation is to do everything within our power to improve the situation for those and their families who live with the scars of war and conflict far beyond their service.

He is defending the government’s stance on terrorism and strong borders.

The government’s strong stance on countering terrorism has also yielded success, with 21 imminent attacks being disrupted since 2014.

More than 140 people have been charged as a result of 70 counter-terrorism operations in our country. Terrorism, however, has not been the only tool of those who seek to strike at the heart of our democracy.

Our nation is weathering an onslaught, as we know, of espionage and foreign interference activities, at levels greater than at any time since the height of the Cold War.

Stop whatever you are doing – this is very funny. (I think the best one is actually her one?)

At the same time, the royal commission into defence and veteran suicides started.

The wide-ranging inquiry is being led by former New South Wales deputy police commissioner Nick Kaldas – he said it would be an opportunity to heal.

The establishment of this royal commission requires that we examine, understand and expose all systemic issues and risk factors concerning defence and veteran deaths, and will notify any and all actions necessary to address the issues and risks.

So we can reduce and prevent future deaths. The significance and magnitude of this work is not lost on us.

We know the defence the veteran community will watch closely and rightly so stop we are honoured and humbled by the gravity of the task ahead and we are focused on the opportunities for change and healing.

Earlier today Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath spoke to media about Covid.

She said if Queenslanders travel interstate and become Covid positive they have to follow the rules of the state they are in and are not allowed back until they test negative.

She said the government “can’t just open the floodgates” when the state hits 80% because that means 20% of the population are still vulnerable.

“Not to mention children under 12 who are not eligible.”

The ABS has just reported that national retail sales had a big jump in October, rising 4.9% seasonally adjusted from the previous month and 5.2% from October 2020.

The market consensus was for a 2.2% month-on-month rise, so these figures will add to expectations that the economy is bouncing back quickly from the lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and the ACT (big spenders that they are in the nation’s capital). The growth also accelerated to almost quadruple the pace of September’s 1.3%.

In an accompanying statement, Ben James, an ABS economist, said the retail turnover was now at the highest pace since June 2021.

With lockdown ending on October 11, New South Wales sales rose 13.3% returning to the levels seen in the months immediately prior to the Delta outbreak, while Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory remain below pre-Delta levels.

Clothing, footwear and such items jumped 27.7%, department stores advanced 22.4%, while cafes and restaurants and takeaway food registered (excuse the pun) a 12.3% rise.

Victoria’s sales were up 3% and the ACT’s 20.2%, the latter quick a bounceback since the lockdown there only ended on October 15.

Food retailing was the only industry to fall this month, down 0.5%, the ABS said.

Albanese says it’s “no wonder” the government has backed away from the integrity commission, because of Porter’s secretive legal trust and the car park scandal.

It is no wonder that this government have backed away from having a national anti-corruption commission, it is very clear that Australians know, that if they want a national anti-corruption commission, and they want to restore faith in the political system and integrity, they need to elect a Labor government.

That is the only way that it will happen.

Albanese is now attacking the government for not setting up a federal integrity commission, as it had promised.

This is a prime minister, who does not support a national integrity commission. In spite of the clear commitment that was made prior to the last election.

This is a commitment that was made in 2018, it is now just for sitting days left in 2021, and they had not tabled the legislation that was before the parliament.

Yesterday, we saw the extraordinary circumstances of a prime minister trying to blame Labor, saying that Labor had to agree with any legislation before it was introduced into the parliament.

Albanese is asked if Labor will pass the religious discrimination bill.

I support people being able to practise their faith, free of discrimination, but I also support that happening without any impingement or discrimination based on who people are.

We will examine the legislation, we will await further processes of the Senate inquiry. It will not be concluded this year.

We are back to the Chinese spy ship:

It is well-known that China has become more forward leaning in recent times. We have, in terms of this action, from China, does not bring to advance good relations between Australia and China.

We will continue to support Australia’s national interest, that has got to respond to the fact that China has changed its positioning to be more forward-leaning in the region, in particular, the Indo-Pacific.

It is one of the reasons why we have pointed out that climate change is a national security issue that requires a response for Australia as well. It’s a part of building international relations.

Anthony Albanese is speaking in Sydney:

I also want to take the opportunity to thank our ADF and AFP personnel who have been deployed to the Solomon Islands.

They do important work, and we hope that they are all able to return safely. They are playing an important role for the Solomons, a good partner of Australia, that has experienced civil unrest in recent days.

Labor supports the deployment, thanks those personnel, and wishes them a safe return.

AAP has this summary of the police press conference into the ongoing search for William Tyrrell that we covered earlier this morning over a few posts:

A “painstaking” search for the body of three-year-old NSW boy William Tyrrell has been extended after bad weather hampered the first 11 days of the operation.

But NSW police remain optimistic after uncovering a number of items they say support the massive effort to find William, who disappeared from his foster grandmother’s home at Kendall on the state’s north coast in September 2014.

Teams have been conducting intensive searches around the home and nearby bushland, enduring at least a week of persistent rain.

State crime commander Darren Bennett said the search was “painstaking” and “difficult”.

“The search may well be extended,” he told reporters.

“It is obvious to all of us that we couldn’t have picked a worse time, in terms of weather. The weather has been atrocious pretty much since we started.”

Bennett said he expected the search, which was initially estimated to last three weeks, to now run for at least six weeks.

Several items found during the search have been sent for forensic testing. They are believed to include pieces of clothing. When William went missing he was wearing a Spider-Man outfit.

“The message from the investigative team is what they’ve located so far is cause enough to keep going,” Bennett said.

Police have so far dug up a garden at the Kendall property, examined a concrete slab laid after William disappeared, drained a nearby creek and sifted through soil in bushland and around the home.

Save the Children’s islands country director, Lisa Cuatt, has put out a statement saying she is “very concerned” about the violence in the Solomon Islands.

“People are scared and sad at the return of such turmoil to the Solomon Islands, having witnessed a long period of insecurity so recently,” Cuatt said.

“The safety and wellbeing of children must be paramount. They will be frightened and distressed, having witnessed such an event.”

Parents of an estimated 4,500 students have today been asked to collect their children’s belongings from the 15 schools in Honiara, because they will close for the remainder of the year.

Save the Children is concerned the security situation is compounding the disruption to education of children already caused by Covid-19.

“After months of disruption to their education due to Covid, children in Honiara are once again missing school,” Cuatt said.

More from AAP on the court this morning:

An airline pilot charged with the murders of Victorian campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay has appeared in court from a regional police station.

Greg Lynn, 55, faced Sale magistrates court for a brief hearing on Friday morning after he was charged on Thursday over the couple’s 2020 disappearance.

Religious discrimination laws and protection for gay students and teachers are set to be flashpoints in the contest between progressive independents and Liberal moderates in inner-city seats.

Already facing challenges from independents campaigning on climate change, Liberal moderates such as Dave Sharma in Wentworth and Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney are urging the prime minister to deliver on a promise to amend sex discrimination laws to prevent students being expelled or teachers being fired on the basis of their sexuality.

I don’t think anyone would have put poem from a premier on their Friday bingo card – but this is where we are at now.

And it’s kinda ... good???

“So stick up the tinsel, sit back and relax, our borders are opening, so please get the vaxx.”

And we have the full story about Paine from the AAP here:

Former skipper Tim Paine is set to miss the first Ashes Test and may never represent Australia again, having taken an indefinite mental health break.

Friday’s bombshell, coming a week after Paine tearfully stood down as captain after revelations of a sexting scandal in 2017, is likely to mark the end of the 36-year-old’s international career.

But that is currently the least of Paine’s concerns.

“We are extremely concerned for his and (wife) Bonnie’s well-being and will be making no further comment at this time,” Paine’s manager James Henderson posted on Twitter.

Henderson termed it an “indefinite” break.

Paine’s teammates were desperate for the wicketkeeper to play on December 8, when Australia’s five-Test series against England begins in Brisbane.

As of Thursday, when the veteran was slated to link up with the Test squad this weekend, everything pointed in that direction.

Paine was called up and set to bat at first drop in Tasmania’s one-dayer against Western Australia on Friday, giving him a chance to play five consecutive days of cricket after a low-key return via the state’s second XI.

But Cricket Tasmania (CT) confirmed early on Friday morning Paine would not take his spot in the side.

“Following discussions over the last 24 hours, Tim Paine has advised Cricket Tasmania that he will be taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future,” CT noted in a statement.

“Cricket Tasmania will continue to support Tim and his family both professionally and personally over the summer.”

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis, already set to take part in the intra-squad clash beginning on Wednesday, are the candidates set to vie for a baggy green in Paine’s expected absence at the Gabba.

Nathan Lyon was one of several players to publicly back Paine to play the first Test.

“The selectors said they were going to pick the best available XI. In my eyes, Tim Paine is the best keeper in the world,” Lyon said.

And finally, the PM closes the presser by saying the economy is bouncing back and everyone needs to start thinking about booster shots.

“The Australian economy is coming back and we are seeing that, 350,000 jobs coming back in the economy in five weeks.

“So, that is exciting. We are securing our recovery and today we have to secure the 80% double dose vaccination in SA.

“So please go out and get your vaccination and if you have had your second dose, please go and get your booster. Thank you much everyone.”

The PM is back to spruiking the Liberal party ... after Bridget Archer crossed the floor to back a federal Icac yesterday.

“In the Liberal party, we encourage our members to be themselves. I don’t lead a team of drones and warm bodies that I just move around in the parliament. That is what the Labour party does. That is how they treat their members.

“If you disagree in the Labour party they kick you out. That is what they think about freedom of thought and expression in politics. We don’t do that in the Liberal party. And so, from time to time, when members might have a strong view on things, I let my party breathe.”

The PM has been asked about when the federal election will be:

“I have always said it would be in 2022. There is no secret there. It is due by about the third week in May. I will make a determination about when that is held next year.”

PM is asked about the new variant of concern, which has several countries worried.

“I am advised that is under investigation and not a variant of concern. But that can change. We monitor all of these variants. We note the responses that are made by other countries and we consider those in real time.

“What is more important is the best protection against any variants including, and those that are present, is vaccination. And having those vaccinations.

“So again, South Australia, let’s hit 80%. We can 80% today in South Australia.”

For those confused – this is our article about it this morning:

OK, the PM is now spruiking the “broad church” of the Liberal party – saying they have members from all walks of life.

“One of the great things about the Liberal party is that we draw experience from so many walks of life. We have bus drivers, we have medical scientists, we even have a few lawyers as well, you have to throw a few of those in every now and then.

“We are former police officers, we have defence force veterans, we have small business people, we are technologist, we have so many walks of life in our parliamentary ranks. That makes our team strong, it’s from all walks of life.”

Let me just remind you of that SMH report into that federal parliament which found: “The average federal MP is a man born in 1969 who graduated from a private school, attained an arts degree and worked in business or management before being elected.”

Very diverse, much representative ...

The PM is asked about the situation in the Solomons:

“The Solomon islands came first to Australia and they also had discussions with Papua New Guinea, and I spoke to their prime minister yesterday about that. We have 23 AFP who arrived last night, operations have commenced there in the Solomons this morning to ensure some stability.”

He said Australia is there to support “our family in the Pacific” to resolve the issues peacefully, not to pass judgment on internal politics.

“They are not issues that Australia involves ourselves in.”

Morrison is asked about the Chinese submarine.

“They have every right to be there, under international maritime law, just like we have every right to be in the South China Sea and other free, Liberal Democratic party’s have every right to have freedom of movement in the South China Sea.

“I think the presence of the Chinese navy, which we were aware of, and they were keeping a close eye on us and we were keeping a close eye on them. The importance of that is to highlight Australians that there is a very serious situation in the Indo-Pacific.

“I have been saying that for a long time. These things are true. Australia had to be able to stand up, and that requires great strength.”

The PM says no one “can be complacent” about the situations.

“It is important that you stand up Australia. You need strength to take Australia through a time like this.

“There is never a time for weakness when it comes to leading a federal government. Particularly at a time when you are dealing with these very significant security issues and the economic challenges that we have.”

Morrison said Steven Marshall is not at the press conference because their schedules didn’t align. He is asked about the SA parliamentary inquiry.

“They are matters for the state parliamentary party. I am focused on the federal parliamentary party I lead.

“Stephen’s government, the Marshall government, has been the inspiration to create this culture of transformation in South Australia that’s brought back confidence.

“There is one thing I’ve seen more than anything else that Premier Marshall has achieved here in South Australia is, he brought that pride back. He brought that confidence back.”

Scott Morrison said the answer to economic success is training more Australians in manufacturing.

“This is how we secure our economic recovery. Lower taxes, training people. There are 217,000 Australians right now in trade training in this country.

“It is the highest it’s ever been on record and those records go back to 1963. I wasn’t even born then!”

Jetstar pilot Gregory Lynn, 55, who is accused of murdering two campers in Victoria’s high country has not applied for bail.

Lynn has been charged with two counts of murder and appeared in the Sale magistrates court this morning.

Russell Hill and Carol Clay disappeared were on a camping trip to Victoria’s remote Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.

The campsite was later found burnt out. Lynn, from the Melbourne suburb of Caroline Springs, was arrested on Monday night while camping at Arbuckle Junction, roughly 55km south of the Wonnangatta Valley.

He was remanded until 31 May 2022 for committal.

We are expecting a presser from Queensland government within the next hour – will keep you all updated.

Amnesty UK has been accused of “spreading false information” about the Northern Territory’s Covid outbreak in an extraordinary joint statement from the territory’s peak Aboriginal health organisation and Amnesty’s own Australian operation.

Disinformation about the Covid outbreak in Aboriginal communities near Katherine, spread by third parties online, was on Thursday described by the NT chief minister as “conspiracy theories” pushed by “tinfoil hat wearing tossers”.

Not the biggest surprise but the NSW government has just confirmed that it expects Warragamba Dam to spill by Friday night.

The dam, which is about 80% of Sydney’s water storage, had been releasing water last week to create “airspace”. But there’s limited capability to reduce much more than about 1m of the water level.

The dam will spill at the rate of 100 gigalitres a day by Saturday morning.

More to come on this, as other dams in inland areas are spilling too. And more big rain events to come in the next few weeks, as the La Niña influence amps up.

Speaking this morning, the PM said he opposes Helen Haines’s bill for a federal integrity body because it is too much like the NSW Icac, which he described as a kangaroo court.

Yesterday Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to support debate of Haines’ bill.

“There’s no question about us not wanting to have one. I acknowledge the good intentions of my dear friend Bridget Archer and how strongly she feels about that.

“I understand that. And I think that these things are motivated in good faith, but you’ve also got to be aware that if you design this thing wrong, it turns into the sort of show trials that we’ve seen.”

Letters are being sent to millions of Australians to remind them to get their booster shot.

More than 370,000 people have had their third dose. People who got their second dose six months ago are encouraged to go out and get the third.

Laws criminalising the use of secretly recorded vision of animal cruelty and abuse are posing “too great a burden on speech”, animal rights activists have told the high court.

The Farm Transparency Project, an Australian animal advocacy group, launched a case earlier this year arguing New South Wales laws restricting the use of covert footage were an unfair burden on freedom of political communication.

Serious flooding in the Upper Hunter.

And some more info on Victoria case numbers from AAP:

Victoria has recorded 1,362 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths, as the state’s full vaccination mandate kicked in for about a million authorised workers.

It is the highest daily number of infections reported since November 1.

The new infections bring the number of active cases in the state to 10,887, including 308 in hospital, slightly lowering the seven-day average to 307.

It comes as those in jobs on the state’s authorised worker list are required to have two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination as of Friday.

Industries on the list include AFL and other professional athletes, lawyers, journalists, mining workers, court staff and personal trainers.

A Roy Morgan poll, released on Thursday, found 76% of Victorians surveyed believe an employee in Victoria should not be allowed to enter their workplace unless fully vaccinated.

In a further change to the state’s check-in system, the Services Vic app has been updated to allow parents and guardians to add their children’s vaccination certificates.

We’ve got a breakdown of the NSW Covid numbers today here from CovidBaseAU.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is in Adelaide today to spruik the Liberal candidate for the marginal seat of Boothby. Incumbent Nicolle Flint is standing down at the next election, and Liberal Dr Rachel Swift hopes to take her place.

On radio this morning, Morrison faced questions about the government’s plans for an anti-corruption watchdog.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor yesterday saying she was “offended” the government had prioritised its religious discrimination legislation amid “inertia” on its federal integrity commission bill.

Morrison repeated his argument that he didn’t want an NSW-like corruption commission on ABC Adelaide.

The Liberals have been speaking about the Chinese submarine a lot this morning.

The PM was on Adelaide radio this morning when he was asked about it – he said the government would not make a complaint and that it highlighted the rising tensions in the Pacific.

“People are not making this up,” he said.

“It does mean that Australia has to be on its guard and Australia has to stand up to those who want to coerce us … and slap trade sanctions on things like our wine, and our government is standing up to that.”

Peter Dutton was also talking about it on Channel Nine – he said that this ship would be doing surveillance.

“[The ship] will be involved in intelligence collection, signals collection,” he said.

“They’ll be looking to survey different attributes and have that general presence – let us know that they’re there.

“It was a prolonged [time] that they were very close to Australian waters off the east coast, unusually.

“I think it’s right people have a clear picture of what’s going on.”

As Scott Morrison comes to the end of a ragged parliamentary week, the organisation bankrolling independents challenging Liberal incumbents in their urban heartland has amassed an election war chest of more than $4m, and bolstered its advisory body.

Former Australian Democrats leader Meg Lees has joined the advisory council of Climate 200, as has the former Liberal party leader John Hewson, and the Labor veteran Barry Jones.

We’ve got some severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of NSW.

Bennett is asked about the number of items that have been found in the search.

“Every item we take that will be deemed to be relevant will be forensically examined. We won’t be announcing the results of those investigations.

“That is a role for the team and coroner down the track, but we are very happy with items in terms of eliminating people or proving what happened to William Tyrrell.”

Bennett was asked what the feeling was among investigators.

“Spirits are still high. The only frustration is the weather and stop-start [nature] of catering to the weather. Look, we are seven years into this investigation, we’re happy with its progress and we will keep going.”

NSW police force commander Darren Bennett says what they’ve found so far has “given them cause to keep going”.

Journalist: What sort of time frame are you looking at now?

“It will defend greatly on the weather and other items that are located. We started off with a time frame of between two or three weeks.

“I tend to think we have to double that now.”

Police are about to give an update on the search for William Tyrrell.

Between 1.5m and 2m Australians are only one life shock away from homelessness, new research from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

Large numbers of Australia’s renters could fall into homelessness if they go through a relationship breakup, get a serious illness or lose work.

According to the research, the greatest numbers of people at-risk of homelessness are in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, the three most populous states.

However, the highest rates of risk per 10,000 persons are in the Northern Territory, followed by Queensland and South Australia. The lowest rates of risk are in the ACT followed by Victoria.

The suburbs with the highest rates of Australians at risk of homelessness are in remote areas and in small pockets of capital cities, while the greatest number of people at-risk of homelessness are living in greater capital cities on the eastern coast of Australia.

“We can’t reduce homelessness by solely responding to people when they present to homelessness services, instead we have to turn off the tap up stream, as it were, by delivering preventative interventions that are tailored for specific areas,” post-doctoral research fellow Deborah Batterham said.

“Understanding the population at-risk of homelessness is critical in designing and implementing such interventions.”

The final vote on voluntary assisted dying legislation in NSW is expected at 1.30pm today.

After passing the lower house on Thursday (53 votes to 36), the legislative assembly unanimously resolved that the amendment debate will conclude at 1.30pm today and the final vote will be soon after.

MP Alex Greenwich, who introduced the bill, will make a statement at 2pm, but said this morning he was “grateful” for the passage of the bill.

“I’m grateful for the strong support for reform from my colleagues, finally our parliament is reflecting the will of the people of NSW,” Greenwich said.

“I thank the opponents of reform for the orderly and respectful way they have continued to act throughout this debate.”

We’ll bring you more on that as it happens.

And in tragic news for fans (others keep scrolling) Midnight Oil has announced its 2022 tour will be its last.

The band said it would release a new album, Resist, and go on a national tour next year.

In a statement, the band said it was not the end of the Oils. Each of the members will continue their own projects over the years ahead.

Home affairs minister Karen Andrews has been out and about this morning – talking about reports a Chinese spy ship took a three-week turn around Australia.

She said the government had been monitoring the ship.

The submarine was travelling in Australia’s 200km exclusive economic zone, then sailed south as far as Sydney before heading across the Tasman to New Zealand.

Just FYI – this is all legal, as long as they don’t come within 12 nautical miles.

Finney said a lot of people she had spoken to were worried the royal commission wouldn’t do anything – and that they would fight that battle when it came.

“I have people come up again say ‘Oh, they won’t they won’t do anything with the recommendations’.

“That’s not our problem right now. We’ll fight that battle when we get to. The battle we need right now is to be the big voice at the royal commission.”

Finney said the defence force needed to “stop promoting incapable people” through its ranks.

“It’s about the culture of defence, we have a chief of defence that has succeeded in making our defence force look like it’s full of criminals. That is not the case.

“There are a lot of heroes out there and I thank them for their service.”

Julie-Ann Finney, who lost her son to suicide, has spearheaded the campaign for a royal commission.

She is currently on the ABC, saying “the culture in defence is absolutely frightening”.

“That is the Department of Veteran Affairs, they delay, delay and deny and they’re doing it now to me, I’m going through the same thing but we will break through this together.”

A Brisbane construction company had $8 in assets and had not commenced trading, when it was awarded a government contract – ultimately worth $1.6bn – to run Australia’s offshore processing on Nauru.

The contract was awarded after the government ordered a “financial strength assessment” that was actually done on a different company.

Good morning, Cait Kelly here to take you through Friday morning’s news.

Here are the big ones so far:

Australian federal police have arrived in the Solomon Islands after days of unrest over a number of grievances, including alleged corruption, poor public services and the government’s decision in 2019 to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China.

Marise Payne said on Radio National there were about 100 Australians in the Solomon Islands and the government would help them if they wanted to leave.

“We understand there are strong reports of damage, particularly in the Chinatown area. There have been some attacks on facilities like police stations,” she said.

Payne said she would not comment on the politics of the situation.

“It is not the Australian government’s intention, in any way, for us to pass any comment or be involved. What we want to do and what we’ve been asked to do … is to contribute to stability, calming things in Honiara.”

Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has blamed foreign partners for the arrest.

There is more rain to come for Australia’s east coast over the weekend before it should ease next week.

The rain band is expected to move through South Australia, over most of NSW, before heading to northern Victoria.

The BOM has put out flood watches for around Clermont, north of Emerald in Queensland, through much of New South Wales, parts of eastern South Australia as well as for parts of northern and eastern Victoria – so keep an eye on those.

And police have said they are “hopeful” they will find the remains of Victorian campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay after a 55-year-old man was charged with their murders.

The man, from Caroline Springs, was charged Thursday night and he is expected to face Sale magistrates court later this morning.

Let’s get stuck into it.