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Right here’s in the present day’s Afternoon Replace – for all of the information you missed and all the pieces you wish to make amends for, courtesy of Antoun Issa:
Right here’s somewhat teaser for our forthcoming video sequence on the Victorian state election later this month, from the queen of one-minute explainers, Matilda Boseley, and our glorious Victorian state reporters, Benita Kolovos and Adeshola Ore.
Melbourne Luna Park’s ‘Mr Moon’ to get a facelift
Simply stepping away from politics for a quick second to carry you the crucial information, per AAP, that the enormous face on the entrance to Luna Park Melbourne, “Mr Moon”, is having a facelift for the primary time since 1999.
The face with a gaping mouth, which has swallowed up guests getting into the park since 1912, is present process a restoration as a part of the theme park’s one hundred and tenth anniversary celebrations.
Native Melbourne artist Mark Ogge is finishing the work, which will probably be overseen by Bob Clutterbuck – the final individual to color Mr Moon.
The face has been restored a number of instances over time, taking it from its unique hen wire, hessian, and cement kind to the fibreglass mannequin unveiled and final painted in 1999.
Daniel Hurst
Defence contemplating contract for 3 extra navy ships
Defence officers have confirmed the Australian authorities is contemplating a proposal from the Spanish firm Navantia to construct three extra ships for the navy, with it now topic to a danger research.
Navantia’s pitch to construct three extra Hobart-class destroyers has beforehand been the topic of media reporting. The corporate has argued it may present “extra firepower” this decade to fill functionality gaps.
At Senate estimates this afternoon, Defence confirmed the corporate had made an unsolicited proposal with three choices: construct the destroyers in Spain with some modules in Australia; construct them in Spain however with the fight system integration largely finished in Australia; and construct them completely in Australia.
Defence has ordered analysts from Rand Company to do a “danger discount research” on the proposal so the federal government can weigh up the thought. An official, Tony Dalton, stated:
It’s fairly a fancy unsolicited proposal … so we now have taken some extra time and have sought some exterior help to conduct that evaluation of that proposal.
The navy was first approached with the primary unsolicited proposal in Could.
Dalton stated the corporate had submitted a second unsolicited proposal inside the previous 4 weeks, which “added some extra functionality choices to the three destroyers”.
He stated Navantia was additionally providing to construct six small warships referred to as corvettes. Up to now, this second concept has not been despatched to Rand for overview. Navantia has additionally pitched this to the defence strategic overview.
Thunderstorm bronchial asthma danger in components of Victoria tomorrow
There’s a excessive danger of thunderstorm bronchial asthma tomorrow in Wimmera in Victoria, and average danger throughout the state’s west.
Luke Henriques-Gomes
Official says she failed to inform Scott Morrison scheme may very well be illegal
A former senior Division of Social Companies official, who was given damning authorized recommendation the robodebt scheme was illegal, has advised a royal fee she lacked the “braveness” to talk up and was now “ashamed”.
In dramatic hearings on Wednesday, the royal fee was advised Serena Wilson, a former deputy secretary at DSS, was made conscious of the authorized recommendation in early 2015 when the scheme was being designed.
However she stated she didn’t personally inform former prime minister Scott Morrison the plan may very well be illegal as she was underneath the idea it had already been “killed”.
Wilson then claimed she was unaware for about two years that the illegal “revenue averaging” technique was getting used within the robodebt scheme, saying she had been given assurances by one other official, Malisa Golightly, who has since died.
Wilson stated she lastly realised the illegal technique was getting used within the “latter half” of 2017, however she didn’t have the “braveness” to inform anybody.
She advised the listening to:
And now I’m ashamed. And in hindsight I may have spoken up.
Learn the total story right here:
The SES have issued an evacuation warning for the NSW city of Darlington Level on the Murrumbidgee River.
Emergency Warning – EVACUATE earlier than 7pm Wed 9 Nov:
👉 Darlington Level Caravan Park
👉 Components of Darlington Level to the eastYou will need to evacuate earlier than this time. Harmful floodwaters are persevering with to rise.
👉 Go to https://t.co/BCnxAdOSBj to maintain updated on all warnings. pic.twitter.com/Lff2UGugVN
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) November 9, 2022
Peter Hannam
Santos’s NSW fuel undertaking nonetheless has hurdles to clear
The controversy over tips on how to carry down power costs in Australia nonetheless has a methods to run.
One aspect typically ignored is that getting new fuel provide into the market may take years (and arguably make little distinction to costs given japanese Australia has bolted itself to international costs).
Anyway, Santos yesterday up to date traders on a number of issues, together with the timing of when its much-delayed Narrabri coal seam fuel undertaking may stand up. In brief, the corporate isn’t anticipating to make a closing funding determination till its 2023-24 12 months.
Price retaining in thoughts Santos isn’t anticipating a closing funding determination on its Narrabri fuel undertaking till 2023-24. Timing is topic to securing pipeline approvals and a local title dedication. (Supply: yesterday’s funding briefing.) #auspol pic.twitter.com/HbEyJLqBRF
— @phannam@mastodon.inexperienced (@p_hannam) November 9, 2022
The corporate additionally famous that the timing hinges on approvals for the fuel pipeline and Indigenous land title claims.
The undertaking is meant to ship as a lot as 70 petajoules of fuel a 12 months for 20 years to native customers throughout its first part involving 850 wells in and across the Pilliga state forest in northern NSW.
These wells, by the way in which, will produce as a lot as 840,000 tonnes of crystallised salt over the undertaking’s life that might want to discover a new dwelling (and is among the circumstances that the state’s Unbiased Planning Fee included in its approval of the undertaking).
Anyway, not each chicken is within the hand proper now.
Albanese authorities pledges $15m to ease backlog of claims in baby abuse redress scheme
Christopher Knaus
Advocates for survivors of kid sexual abuse have welcomed the federal government’s announcement of $15m in new funds to assist take care of backlogs and delays within the nationwide redress scheme.
Final week, a Guardian analysis of government data revealed a rising backlog of claims sitting earlier than the fee. The evaluation confirmed the quantity of claims being obtained by the scheme had greater than doubled to a fee of about 710 a month this 12 months. The backlog of claims awaiting a call has elevated by 265% previously two years.
The social providers minister Amanda Rishworth on Wednesday introduced $15m to assist to cut back delay and tackle the “vital enhance in functions” obtained for the reason that second half of final 12 months.
The Blue Knot Basis stated the additional funding was welcome and stated it will assist to take care of the added quantity of claims – a pattern it described as constructive.
Cathy Kezelman, the organisation’s president, stated:
Hopefully, this may imply that survivors – together with many who’ve already waited many years – will obtain a delicate trauma-informed service in a well timed method.
We’re happy that from early 2023, this authorities will reply to the excellent suggestions of the 2-year overview, to offer for a extra survivor-centric scheme. Many modifications have already been made, and this extra funding will assist help the implementation of a course of during which the Scheme can extra effectively reply to candidates, higher assembly their wants.
Much less ready, minimising any extra trauma, and truthful and equitable redress will reply to the aims of the Royal Fee’s redress suggestions within the tenor during which they have been handed down.
Learn the background to this story right here:
Daniel Hurst
Military chief indicators determination approaching troubled Taipan helicopters
The chief of military, Lt Gen Simon Stuart, has renewed considerations concerning the MRH90 Taipan helicopter, whereas signalling the federal government is at the moment weighing up its choices.
The helicopters are utilized by the military – together with to offer help to particular operations – whereas the navy additionally depends on them for maritime help, however the Howard government-era acquisition has had quite a lot of issues.
The then defence minister Peter Dutton said late last year that Australia was possible to purchase as much as 40 Black Hawk helicopters from the US as a substitute for the Taipans.
Stuart advised Senate estimates in the present day:
As you’re conscious and as a matter of public file, regardless of efforts by all stakeholders, the MRH system has not been in a position to ship the anticipated fee of effort and is dearer to function than we are able to afford over time.
Stuart stated these issues had led Defence to develop choices, which have been “at the moment being thought-about by the federal government”. He stated a call had not but been made on the UH-60 Black Hawk.
The secretary of the Division of Defence, Greg Moriarty, was reluctant to provide timing on a call, though it appeared like one is likely to be imminent. He stated a call could be “introduced by the federal government when it’s prepared to take action”:
A call will probably be introduced at a time of the federal government’s selecting.
Josh Butler
Indigenous voice referendum ought to occur ‘quickly’, Uluru assertion co-chair says
Uluru Assertion from the Coronary heart co-chair Pat Anderson has urged the federal authorities to not waste “momentum” for the Indigenous voice to parliament, saying the referendum on the constitutional change ought to occur “quickly”.
Anderson joined Prof Megan Davis on the Nationwide Press Membership on Wednesday, saying the potential referendum date she had most just lately heard was October 2023. Anthony Albanese has stated the vote will happen someday within the 2023-24 monetary 12 months, however has not dedicated to an actual date.
Anderson stated she needed to see motion start quickly:
There’s a fantastic line between getting everyone prepared for a referendum and when it’s time to go and there’s undoubtedly a time to go.
We will’t go away this hanging round for too lengthy in any other case it removes momentum. I’ve been round right here very long time working within the area and that is the most effective alternative we now have ever had, so it’s time to go, quickly.
Anderson stated she was involved about shedding momentum for the change, if the referendum was not held within the subsequent 12 months or so.
They’re shifting as rapidly as they’ll, there’s a variety of work to do. We have now to work out how we are going to educate the Australian inhabitants, there’s a variety of to-ing and fro-ing however we have to get on the market pretty quickly.
Anderson stated there was nonetheless work to do on educating the general public concerning the potential change, talking up about misinformation.
Davis stated she believed there was robust help for the voice in some components of the federal Coalition, however that there was “quite a bit to run” earlier than the parliament considers the change.
Daniel Hurst
Defence officers reward US navy admiral for resigning from Australian put up to keep away from Aukus conflicts
Defence officers say a retired US navy admiral, Kirkland Donald, acted “in an exemplary trend” by resigning from an Australian authorities place to keep away from any notion of a battle of curiosity.
At a Senate estimates committee listening to, Greens senators have been asking questions on a Washington Post report about a number of retired US admirals or former US navy civilian leaders who’ve taken on roles as paid advisers to the Australian authorities since 2015.
Defence officers confirmed on the listening to that Donald served on the submarine advisory committee from December 2017.
The Washington Submit report stated Donald additionally served, since 2020, as chairman of the board of Huntington Ingalls Industries, which makes Virginia-class submarines, which the Australian authorities is contemplating underneath the Aukus defence pact.
Donald advised the newspaper he resigned from the committee in April 2022 to keep away from any conflicts after “it turned evident” his committee “would want to grow to be concerned in offering unbiased essential evaluation” on buying nuclear-powered subs.
Tony Dalton, a deputy secretary on the Division of Defence, stated the phrases of reference for the submarine advisory committee have been targeted on the French assault class submarines (now deserted) and the present Collins class submarines.
These phrases had not modified after the Aukus announcement in September 2021 however Donald had resigned “to keep away from even the attitude of a battle of curiosity”, the Senate committee was advised.
Dalton stated Donald had managed the matter “in an exemplary trend”.
Paul Karp
Plibersek says she has ‘constantly supported’ authorities on stage-three tax cuts
The setting minister, Tanya Plibersek, has responded to claims by a constituent of hers that she had advised him if it have been as much as her she would “get rid” of the stage-three tax cuts.
Guardian Australia reported the comments final week, after Labor supporter Alex Richardson claimed she advised him this on Saturday 29 October at a faculty truthful.
On Wednesday Plibersek advised reporters in Canberra:
Properly I’ve constantly stated I help the federal government place on that [stage-three tax cuts].
Requested if she denied her constituent’s account, Plibersek stated:
I’m not going to dignify your query with a solution. I’ve constantly stated I help the federal government place.
Query time ends
Yeesh that was an extended one, thanks for bearing with me! I’ve a number of updates to carry you from my intrepid colleagues, who’ve been chasing down every kind of knowledge this afternoon, so keep on with us – in the present day is much from finished!
One other opposition spitball (sorry, that’s simply how they arrive throughout to me within the hectic, schoolroom dynamic of query rime) on energy payments and the “damaged promise” of $275 discount in them, to the prime minister.
It’s from the member for Braddon in Tasmania, Gavin Pearce, so Albanese spins off about Tasmania, ultimately saying that there could be clear power funding within the state over the following decade. Type of. It was a bit exhausting to inform.
Albanese dismisses query concerning the federal integrity fee and union officers
There have been a few questions from the opposition in the present day about why union officers will not be coated by the nationwide anti-corruption fee. They aren’t getting very far – Anthony Albanese solutions this one, and says merely:
Union officers, in the event that they act corruptly in engagement with authorities companies are handled like another third social gathering. And are coated.
