Australia politics live: Labor optimistic of nature laws deal with Greens; catastrophic fire warning for NSW’s central west | Australian politics
As summer holidays approach, Labor optimistic about laws of nature engages Greens
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Labor is optimistic that a deal can be reached with the Greens to quickly implement environmental protection laws before parliament recesses for the summer.
The government is desperate to pass legislation to overhaul the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in the last two sessions of the year, and it is finally achieving its goal Graeme Samuel A plan to correct the country’s broken natural laws.
The bill was not included in Wednesday’s draft schedule but Guardian Australia understands it will be quickly added to the draft schedule as soon as Labor is confident it has the numbers to get the 1,500-page bill through the upper house.
Minister of Environment, Murray Watt, He is genuinely open to a deal with either the coalition or the Greens, and has offered loads of concessions to both in the hope of winning the support of both parties.
As we reported yesterday, these concessions did not impress either side.
important events
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji we are here with you, thank you Martin Farrer for starting us.
As we have just told you, time is running out for the government to reach an agreement on environmental reforms, but it seems quite confident that it can get there in the next two days; Tomorrow is the last parliament session day of the year.
This morning the treasurer, Jim Chalmersis making the rounds to the media ahead of the latest monthly inflation data to be released later this morning.
Stay with us, this is going to be another big day!
NSW doctors’ union trial begins at Industrial Relations Commission
Natasha May
The NSW industrial relations commission will begin hearing a doctors’ union’s case over a new award this morning.
You’ll recall that the state’s public system doctors took strike action in April, claiming they had the worst wages and working conditions among their professions anywhere in the country. Since no decision was reached in the arbitration with the government, the commission will now consider their case.
The Australian Salaried Paramedics Federation union said it would be the first full review of doctors’ work value, responsibilities and conditions in more than two decades, and would take evidence from around 100 witnesses, 54 of whom represent ASMOF.
President of ASMOF NSW, Dr. Nicholas Khashoggi, “The evidence will demonstrate the depth of the crisis facing the NSW healthcare system, including unsafe working hours, chronic fatigue and burnout, worsening understaffing and a widening pay and conditions gap between NSW and other states.”
ASMOF will argue that the current award is outdated and no longer reflects the reality or value of modern medical work.
Our aim is clear. Safe and feasible working hours. Fair and competitive pay that allows NSW to attract and retain the doctors it needs. Appropriate staffing levels.
This is the case that will determine the future of the NSW healthcare system.
New bill means fines and prison sentences for NDIS breaches
Sarah Basford Channels
NDIS providers who repeatedly breach the code of conduct designed to keep participants safe could face huge fines of up to $16.5 million in the federal government’s latest attempt to tighten the rules of the programme.
The Albanian government will today introduce a new bill introducing tougher penalties and even prison sentences for NDIS providers who engage in abuse and unsafe practices.
NDIS provider codes of conduct require companies to take reasonable steps to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and neglect; provide service with competence and skill; and to act with integrity and honesty, among other things.
The changes would increase the fine for a company for serious violations of the code from $400,000 to $16.5 million. Additionally, if passed, NDIS providers who are required to be registered (such as specialist disability accommodation) could face up to two years in prison and fines of up to approximately $16.5 million if they operate unregistered.
NDIS minister, Jenny McAllisterHe said the program “must be sustainable, effective and operate with integrity.”
Where there is fraud, we often see violence, abuse and neglect. This isn’t just about cracking down on bad actors in the system, it’s also about keeping NDIS participants safe. These are common sense measures ready to be implemented. We also know there is more work to be done.
Tom McIlroy
Ted O’Brien to explain Coalition economic strategy at National Press Club
Ted O’BrienThe shadow treasurer and deputy opposition leader is speaking to the National Press Club today and will argue that a future Coalition government will deliver a disciplined, growth-focused economic strategy to build prosperity in Australia.
O’Brien will focus his speech around Jess, a 38-year-old mother of two, who she says is in a difficult situation due to the policies of the Albanian government. In his speech, O’Brien will say that Jess and her husband Matt lived in a townhouse in the outer suburbs but could not afford a house of their own.
O’Brien will say voters like Jess need to be kept in the minds of politicians in Canberra, according to an advance copy of the speech.
A strong economy is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. This is a means by which Jess, Matt, and their children can aspire to a better life.
But the harsh reality is that today our intergenerational compact is falling apart, and all signs point to it breaking down further.
Our mission as Liberals in 2025 must be to reassure Jess and the millions of millennials like her, younger Gen Zers and still younger Gen Alphas, that we see them and are here to serve them.
He will use his speech to highlight rising government debt and rising government spending.
Cait Kelly
Major fire warning in NSW
A catastrophic fire warning has been issued in NSW for the first time in two years as a total fire ban is imposed across Sydney and large parts of the state.
A catastrophic fire danger is expected for the lower mid-west plains region on Wednesday, with high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds making conditions dangerous, the NSW rural fire service said in a statement:
Catastrophe is the highest level of bush fire danger and the most dangerous conditions for fire. Your life may depend on the decisions you make even before the fire breaks out.
The fire department said the safest course of action is to leave the fire risk area.
Stay away from grasslands and bush areas during the hottest parts of the day.
In these conditions, houses cannot withstand fire. You may not be able to leave and help may not be available.
Extreme fire warnings are also in place for the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Southern Slopes, Eastern Riverina, Southern Riverina, Northern Riverina.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Guardian Australia understands that as of Tuesday night the government was closer to reaching a deal with the Greens than with the Coalition, after the opposition leader: Susan Ley, He described Labour’s offer as “wholly inadequate”.
The Greens were also unhappy with their proposals, which included changes that would prevent the acceleration of coal and natural gas projects, but continue active negotiations with the Labor Party.
Watt has signaled he is ready to shorten the proposed three-year period to hold local forest logging to national environmental standards, giving further ground to one of the first concessions made to the Greens.
If Labor reaches a deal with the Greens it would mark a dramatic turnaround from 12 months ago. Anthony Albanese Under pressure from miners and the premier of Western Australia, he intervened to speed up the EPBC deal with the minor party. Roger Cook.
As summer holidays approach, Labor optimistic about laws of nature engages Greens
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Labor is optimistic that a deal can be reached with the Greens to quickly implement environmental protection laws before parliament recesses for the summer.
The government is desperate to pass legislation to overhaul the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in the last two sessions of the year, and it is finally achieving its goal Graeme Samuel A plan to correct the country’s broken natural laws.
The bill was not included in Wednesday’s draft schedule but Guardian Australia understands it will be quickly added to the draft schedule as soon as Labor is confident it has the numbers to get the 1,500-page bill through the upper house.
Minister of Environment, Murray Watt, He is genuinely open to a deal with either the coalition or the Greens, and has offered loads of concessions to both in the hope of winning the support of both parties.
As we reported yesterday, these concessions did not impress either side.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I Martin Farrer with the best night stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
Prepare for a spirited final two days of parliament as Labor believes it can strike a deal with the Greens to rush through its signature environmental protection laws before the summer recess. Details are coming.
And this morning, politics aside, New South Wales woke up to its first catastrophic fire warning in two years, with high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds putting the lower mid-west plains region, which covers eight local government areas in the state’s mid-west river region, on alert in two years.
A shooting ban has also been imposed across Sydney and much of the state.
More is coming.
