Australia politics live: BoM told to make changes to new website; one in 10 couldn’t afford necessary health care last year | Australia news
Watt addresses backlash on BoM website
Josh Butler
Bureau of Meteorology’s new website ‘does not meet the expectations of many users’, environment minister says Murray Watt He admits that he assigned the governor of the Central Bank to make some changes.
The weather website’s revamp has upset many users due to numerous complaints regarding its accessibility and usefulness. Watt said he met with the acting general manager. Peter Stone“to discuss public concerns with the updated website.”
Watt said in his statement:
It is clear from the significant feedback provided to the Bureau in recent days that the new BOM website does not meet the expectations of many users.
At the meeting, I made clear my expectations that BOM should take this feedback into account and, where appropriate, adjust the website’s settings as soon as possible. This includes urgent consideration of improvements to the functionality and usability of the website.
Watt said Stone is taking the feedback into account and that if users are dissatisfied, the minister’s office will look into the matter.
Australians deserve to have confidence in these important services… I strongly encourage Australians to continue to provide feedback to the BOM to ensure changes can be made where necessary.
important events
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thank you Martin Farrer for starting us.
We have another busy legislative day ahead of us, so let’s dive right in!
Benita Kolovos
Meanwhile, Emma VulinThe Pakenham MP moved colleagues to tears during his contribution to the debate. Speaking via new text-to-speech technology, the Labor MP shared his experience of living with motor neurone disease and said he may one day choose to use the state’s VAD laws:
“I don’t know how my journey with MND will turn out, but I do know that knowing that voluntary assisted dying is available as an option gives me strength. It allows me to live more peacefully, focus on the moments that matter, and spare my loved ones from witnessing my prolonged suffering that serves no purpose.
A number of Liberal MPs also spoke at the debate, with some reversing the position they took when Victoria’s VAD laws were passed in 2017.
opposition leader Brad Battin He said the deaths of two close friends led him to rethink his stance and support the changes. old leader John Pesutto also confirmed he had changed his view, while new MPs – Brighton’s James Newbury and Kew Jess Wilson – they also confirmed their support.
More information about the changes:
Victoria’s assisted dying debate will continue until 2am
Benita Kolovos
Labor MPs are expected to hold a vote of conscience to oppose a bill put forward by their party to change the state’s voluntary assisted dying scheme.
The lower house debated the proposed VAD amendments until the early hours of Wednesday morning and then adjourned until 2 a.m. It will start again this morning.
With MPs from both Labor and the Coalition taking a vote of conscience, the outcome will cut across party lines, just as it did during the debate.
Labor MP for Greenvale, Iwan WaltersTrump, aligned with the SDA group, proposed an amendment Tuesday afternoon to block the bill from being read a second time for further consultation.
Walters told parliament the bill was “rushed into this place without any consideration of the expected and unintended consequences and with little robust consultation beyond a select group of advocates”.
He continued:
If enacted, these measures would significantly weaken the protections in the 2017 VAD Act and have profound consequences for the safety of vulnerable people in our society.
The motion was rejected by 66 votes to 17, but Labor MPs Anthony Carabiners, Natalie Suleiman, Anthony Cianflone, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Nathan Lambert And Daniela DeMartino supported.
WA governor apologizes for 1834 massacre
Chris Dawson He apologized to the Noongar people for the Pinjarra massacre.
At a commemoration ceremony south of Perth on Tuesday to mark the 191st anniversary of the Pinjarra massacre, the provincial governor apologized as governor to the Binjareb Noongar people James Stirling “terrible mistakes”.
“I apologize to the Bindjareb people who still feel the trauma of the punishment meted out to their ancestors that day, when so many innocent people lost their lives.”
In 1834, Stirling led 25 armed men in the Pinjarra massacre, firing on Bindjareb Noongar men, women and children for an hour. Many WA landmarks, including the Stirling Ranges, bear the name of the man behind the bloody massacre.
An attempt by local Noongar people to rename Perth’s Stirling council was rejected in 2021.
Describing the incident as a “shootout,” Stirling’s records say about 15 people were killed that day. Oral histories say the figure was much higher, but Mr Dawson said it was impossible to know the exact figure.
Mr Dawson said traditional owners had been waiting to hear the truth about the massacre for more than 190 years. He said this action and apology would be a step towards a meaningful reconciliation.
“My appeal to all West Australians is to tell the truth,” he said.
Read more about the massacre here:
One in 10 Australians couldn’t afford the medical care they needed last year, consumer survey finds
Natasha May
Only one in three people are confident they can afford the care needed if they become seriously ill, according to new national research released today by the Australian Consumer Health Forum (CHF).
The group’s national consumer sentiment survey, published today, also found one in 10 Australians could not afford the medical care they needed last year.
The report was based on a survey of 5,000 Australians in late 2024 for their thoughts on the healthcare system across a range of areas.
It also found that nearly half (49%) of consumers reported not being able to access the healthcare they needed at least once in the past 12 months, and more than half (51%) were fairly confident they could get the care they needed if they became seriously ill.
Doctor Elizabeth Deveny, Consumer Health Forum CEO said:
Consumers told us Australia’s health situation is deeply unequal, especially for young adults, people with chronic diseases and people struggling to make ends meet.
The survey tells us that people are delaying care or skipping it altogether due to cost and other access barriers. Society expects that by 2025, people will be able to access healthcare services whenever and wherever they need them.
Environment minister charts path to pass EPBC laws before Christmas
Dan Jervis-Bardy
watts He will introduce Labour’s new natural laws to parliament tomorrow and remains determined the reforms can be passed before Christmas, despite resistance from the Coalition and the Greens.
The Albanian government will immediately press for a 25-day parliamentary inquiry into the planned rewrite of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC Act), which will report back just in time for the legislation to clear the Senate before parliament convenes on 27 November.
However, the government must first reach an agreement with the Coalition or the Greens; None of them are prepared to support the bill without making major concessions.
Watt called on both parties to support the legislation, saying five years from now Graeme SamuelAccording to EPBC’s review, “it was long overdue to do so”.
Every day delay in these reforms harms our environment and costs our business time and money. The Coalition and the Greens must decide whether they will support these important reforms or band together to delay them once again. Will they put their own political interests ahead of the environment and business, or will they support our important legislation?
Watt addresses backlash on BoM website
Josh Butler
Bureau of Meteorology’s new website ‘does not meet the expectations of many users’, environment minister says Murray Watt He admits that he assigned the governor of the Central Bank to make some changes.
The weather website’s revamp has upset many users due to numerous complaints regarding its accessibility and usefulness. Watt said he met with the acting general manager. Peter Stone“to discuss public concerns with the updated website.”
Watt said in his statement:
It is clear from the significant feedback provided to the Bureau in recent days that the new BOM website does not meet the expectations of many users.
At the meeting, I made clear my expectations that BOM should take this feedback into account and, where appropriate, adjust the website’s settings as soon as possible. This includes urgent consideration of improvements to the functionality and usability of the website.
Watt said Stone is taking the feedback into account and that if users are dissatisfied, the minister’s office will look into the matter.
Australians deserve to have confidence in these important services… I strongly encourage Australians to continue to provide feedback to the BOM to ensure changes can be made where necessary.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrer with the most important stories of the morning before Krishani Dhanji takes the reins.
Minister of Environment, Murray WattHe summoned the Bureau of Meteorology boss to his office and told him that the new website “did not meet the expectations of many users”. Watt said he asked Peter Stone Considering public feedback and making changes to the site.
A new survey shows that only one in three people are confident they can afford the care they need if they become seriously ill, and one in 10 said they could not afford the treatment they needed in the last year. Natasha May We’ll have more details shortly about the new research published today by the Australian Consumer Health Forum.
More is coming.
