Afternoon Update: Landmark gender equality bill; Nationals oppose Indigenous voice; and Bob Dylan’s ‘fake’ signature

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here, and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter

Labor has kicked off a busy legislative week with the passing of the signature Respect@Work bill. The law aims to improve gender equality in the workplace, a year after the sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins, handed down a report outlining key recommendations to address toxic work cultures.

The other big ticket items the Albanese government is hoping to pass this week are the industrial relations bill, a federal anti-corruption commission and strengthened privacy laws with tough penalties for company data breaches. If you missed the news this morning, the IR bill is set to pass now that independent senator David Pocock has won a few concessions.

Top news

  • Respect@Work bill passes | Conduct that results in a hostile workplace environment on the basis of sex is now clearly prohibited, after the bill passed parliament.

  • Morrison faces censure | Labor will officially move to censure Scott Morrison this week – the parliamentary equivalent of a slap on the wrist – over his secret ministries scandal. Albanese says the push to reprimand his predecessor was important for the accountability of Australia’s democratic system. The Coalition will probably oppose the censure.

  • Nationals oppose Indigenous voice to parliament | It’s official – the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, confirmed the party’s position, saying it didn’t want to create “another layer of [bureaucracy] in Canberra”. The proposed voice would act as an Indigenous consultative body with input into government decisions. Greens senator Barbara Pocock criticised the Nationals’ call as “incredibly disappointing”.

  • RBA governor apologises | The Reserve Bank head, Philip Lowe, has apologised for saying interest rates were unlikely to rise until 2024. Lowe acknowledged people “acted on that [advice] and now find themselves in a position they don’t want to be in”. Asked if Lowe should resign, Albanese said it wasn’t up to him “to give an ongoing, running commentary on the actions of the secretary of the Reserve Bank”.

  • Terrorism threat level downgraded | After eight years Asio has reduced the threat level from “probable” to “possible”. Australia increased its terrorism alert level from medium to high in 2014 – a time when Islamic State controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria and was attracting recruits from abroad.

  • Solitary confinement of children | The UN committee against torture is urging Australia to end the practice of solitary confinement as well as raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, which the committee said is set to a “very low” age of 10. The committee also pointed out the “persistent overrepresentation” of Indigenous children and children with disabilities in the youth justice system.

  • Brussels riots | Clashes erupted in the Belgian capital after Morocco’s surprising 2-0 victory over Belgium in the World Cup. Cars were torched and vandalised, and electric scooters set on fire, as police deployed water cannon and teargas to disperse crowds. Belgium has a sizeable Moroccan immigrant community, and prominent Belgian-Moroccans were quick to condemn the violence, and stressed that most celebrations were peaceful.

  • Bob Dylan auto-signature | Another apology, this time from the famous musician who has admitted to using an autopen to sign books and artworks. Special copies of his new book had been advertised as “hand-signed” and came with a letter of authenticity from publisher Simon & Schuster. Fans who paid US$599 (AU$897) for the autographed book were quick to discover those signatures weren’t so authentic after all.

Full Story

Who will foot the bill for global climate disasters?

Developing countries had a win at Cop27, this year’s international climate summit, with developed countries agreeing to chip in to a fund to cover loss and damage from climate disasters. But will rich countries actually pay? Listen to this 20-minute episode.

What they said …

In numbers

Queensland will continue to export coal for “as long as the market dictates”, the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said. The state has committed to slashing emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, lower than the 50% targets set by New South Wales and Victoria.

Before bed read

Few myths have persisted as long as the lost city of Atlantis – now it has a Netflix touch. The new series, Ancient Apocalypse, is presented by author Graham Hancock, who for decades has advanced the idea that a flood destroyed the advanced civilisation, and its survivors spread knowledge and science throughout the more primitive world. Archaeologists say there’s little evidence to back up these grandiose claims. So, is the new Netflix show presenting conspiracy theories dressed up as science?

Sign up

If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here. And start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know. Sign up for our Morning Mail newsletter here.

Contributor

Antoun Issa

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Laura Tingle becomes ABC staff-elected director – as it happened
The 7.30 political correspondent will sit on the broadcaster’s board alongside chair Ita Buttrose

Henry Belot and Natasha May (earlier)

31, Mar, 2023 @7:00 AM

Article image
Anthony Albanese vows ‘no delaying or deferring’ of Indigenous voice vote
In Garma speech, PM says there is ‘nothing to fear and everything to gain’ and no vote in referendum would only lead to ‘more of the same’

Lorena Allam Indigenous affairs editor

05, Aug, 2023 @3:32 AM

Article image
Guardian Essential poll: majority of Australians continue to support Indigenous voice
With 65% of respondents supporting the change, survey suggests Peter Dutton’s soft no campaign is failing to shift sentiment

Katharine Murphy Political editor

06, Feb, 2023 @2:00 PM

Article image
Liberal party accused of ‘turning its back’ on Indigenous people by opposing voice
Voice advocates say Peter Dutton is ignoring voters and ‘tying himself in knots’ over stance on constitutional recognition

Josh Butler and Lorena Allam

05, Apr, 2023 @3:00 PM

Article image
Greens claim opposition leader ‘trying to ignite a culture war’ – as it happened
This blog is now closed.

Caitlin Cassidy and Mostafa Rachwani (earlier)

05, Apr, 2023 @8:57 AM

Article image
Guardian Essential poll: support for Aukus and Indigenous voice declines
Anthony Albanese improves in personal measures, including honesty and vision, despite waning support for major policies

Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

20, Mar, 2023 @2:00 PM

Article image
Media must not confuse voters about Indigenous support for voice, Anthony Albanese says
PM reels off names of prominent yes campaigners backing ‘a moment of national unity’

Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

27, Jun, 2023 @1:06 AM

Article image
Australians’ support for Indigenous voice steady with 60% in favour, Essential poll finds
Guardian Essential poll finds high level of backing for voice to parliament, despite other polls showing support flagging

Josh Butler and Paul Karp

12, Jun, 2023 @3:00 PM

Article image
Albanese says it’s ‘dumb’ to expect change without Indigenous voice in talkback radio clash
PM tells 2GB radio’s Ben Fordham that media have a responsibility not to ‘raise red herrings’ after being repeatedly questioned over impacts of voice proposal

Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

19, Jul, 2023 @2:04 AM

Article image
BoM provides El Niño update – as it happened
This blog is now closed

Daisy Dumas and Emily Wind (earlier)

21, Nov, 2023 @7:25 AM