Penny Wong: ‘the security of the Pacific is the responsibility of the Pacific’
Foreign minister Penny Wong has again jetted to the Pacific, travelling to Samoa and Tonga days after China signed bilateral agreements with both nations, AAP reports.
The pact came off the back of China’s foreign minister Wang Yi embarking on a travel blitz through the Pacific.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he had already spoken to his Indonesian counterpart Sri Mulyani and would be working to engage with others across the Pacific region:
All of us in our own portfolios, in our own ways, can make a contribution to strengthening our relationships and our partnerships with friends in our neighbourhood.
The first week of my treasurership was about engaging with state and territory treasurers, peak business groups and unions. I’ve moved on now to engaging with international counterparts, and part of that will be Pacific friends.
The treasurer and new finance minister Katy Gallagher will also be working to enact the government’s Pacific strategy as it moves to counter Chinese influence in the region.
While China has signed bilateral agreements with some Pacific nations, the Asian powerhouse has put a region-wide security deal on ice. Beijing instead set out a position paper on the Pacific, covering areas such as security and development, along with greater dialogue and diplomatic ties.
Wong will meet with Samoan head of state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, followed by Tongan prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni and Tonga’s foreign minister.
She said Australia would increase its contribution to regional security.
We understand that the security of the Pacific is the responsibility of the Pacific family, of which Australia is a part. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Pacific family in addressing the existential threat of climate change, and we will deepen cultural and sporting ties.
While security will feature heavily in talks with Pacific nations, Wong is also expected to speak with Tonga’s government about relief efforts following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami there earlier this year.
Central Victoria is looking particularly beautiful today as minus temperatures brought morning frost.
Australian boss of AstraZeneca given knighthood
The Australian boss of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which produced the first major vaccine for Covid-19, has been given a knighthood by the Queen, AAP reports.
Sir Pascal Soriot, who has dual citizenship and spent much of his time during the coronavirus pandemic in Australia, has been knighted for services to UK life sciences and the response to Covid-19.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was approved in December 2020, and jabs were initially rolled out among the older and the most vulnerable in society.
In a statement, Pascal said:
I am truly humbled by this recognition. Growing up in France, I had many dreams and hopes for the future, but I never thought I would receive a knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen.
As an Australian citizen, it is a great privilege to receive this award and an honour to work with so many outstanding people around the world dedicated to following the science in order to bring medicines to patients. This recognition is also theirs and I would like to thank each of them for their commitment to our mission.
AstraZeneca chair Leif Johansson applauded Pascal’s knighthood, saying he was dedicated to scientific advances.
AstraZeneca played a crucial role in the global battle against Covid-19. It famously made its vaccine available at no profit and most of the doses supplied since have been at cost.
More than three billion doses have been delivered to more than 180 countries, including Australia. Sir Pascal, who is a doctor of veterinary medicine, has been CEO of AstraZeneca since 2012.
Canva pulls out of Russia
Ben Butler
An update on our story last month about Australian tech darling Canva continuing to operate in Russia despite Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine: the company has pulled out.
In a statement, the company said its earlier strategy of trying to “raise awareness” in Russia by providing anti-war templates to users of its online clip art product no longer worked:
Though there was room for voices and protest during the early stages of the war, the Russian government has now shut down the vast majority of communication channels, making it impossible for people to voice dissent.
Those who do find workarounds or stand up in opposition to the government now face horrendous charges and prison sentences for speaking out.
As a result, it no longer operates in Russia and its landing page in the website now shows a message saying: “We categorically condemn Russia’s ongoing illegal war in Ukraine”. It also urges Russian users to visit the UN website for information about the invasion.
You can read our earlier coverage here:
Some of today’s NSW Covid deaths date back to April
The NSW total of 23 deaths notified in the past 24 hours includes 12 deaths notified through the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, with some dating back to late April.
More info: https://t.co/Q2V9OAR5oc
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 1, 2022
NSW records 23 deaths, 7,585 new Covid cases
New South Wales Health has released today’s Covid update. Another 23 people have lost their lives due to the virus.
There have been 7,583 new Covid cases recorded in the latest reporting period.
There are 1,066 people being treated in hospital including 30 people in ICU.
COVID-19 update – Thursday 2 June 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:
– 96.4% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
– 94.9% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/96Ygx2RrJD— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 1, 2022
Victoria records nine deaths, 10,204 new Covid cases
The Victorian Department of Health has released today’s Covid update.
There have been 10,204 new cases reported and nine further deaths.
There are 525 people being treated in hospital with the virus, including 28 people in ICU.
Ousted Victorian Liberal Bernie Finn reportedly to run for DLP
Bernie Finn was ousted from the Victorian Liberal party for posting on Facebook that abortion should be banned, even for survivors of rape.
BREAKING: @SkyNewsAust has confirmed ousted Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn will run at the November state election for the Democratic Labour Party. More to come. #springst
— Simon Love (@SimoLove) June 1, 2022
Snaps of the cold snap
Here are some snaps of just how frosty it’s been in central Victoria from our reporter Calla Wahlquist (featuring her beautiful ponies).
As mentioned earlier, there has been some disparity around Australia between the actual temperature and the “feels like” temperature, which has been several degrees lower in some places this week.
Why the difference?
Well, according to Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood, who very helpfully answered my musing on Twitter, the “actual” temperature measures still air, unaffected by wind or direct sunlight.
The apparent temperature, as the “feels like” temperature is officially known, is a way of gauging what the current weather feels like for humans, especially regarding wind chill.
Treasurer questioned on staff shortages in hospitality
Amid his media blitz, treasurer Jim Chalmers appeared on Sunrise this morning discussing energy woes.
But he was also asked about ongoing staffing shortages hitting the hospitality sector, with businesses struggling to find staff and greater absences due to Covid-19.
What are we going to do to alleviate those staff issues and how long is it going to take for that to happen?
“Well, there are three ways,” Chalmers replied.
Obviously there is a role for cheaper childcare so that if people want to work more and earn more we can tap [into] that really big workforce of parents that find it too hard because they get priced out of work by the childcare system. And we are up for … conversation with business about migration settings to make sure that they are appropriate so that they are not a substitute for doing those other things at home.
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment ‘to be broken up’
Looks like the DAWE (Dep of Ag, Water, Enviro) super department will be broke up #auspol
There will now be:
– Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
– Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water— Jamieson Murphy (@jamiesonmurph) June 1, 2022
New Agriculture Minister Murray Watt wants to end culture wars stoked by previous govt, that pitted farmers against environmentalists, agriculture against climate change or regions against cities #auspol via @thelandnews https://t.co/g4gcBzUmZJ
— Jamieson Murphy (@jamiesonmurph) June 1, 2022
Matt Thistlethwaite: ‘next step’ after voice to parliament is Australian head of state
Assistant minister for the republic Matt Thistlethwaite is appearing on Radio National.
He reiterates Labor’s first term in government will prioritise a voice to parliament for First Nations people, after which the “next natural step” is for Australia to have its own head of state.
As the Queen comes to the twilight of her reign we should pay respect for her for the wonderful job she’s done but I think Australians are beginning to think about what comes next for our nation.
It’s time we start the serious conversation once again … and looking to have one of our own as our head of state, to recognise that independence and maturity going forward.
He said there wasn’t a preference for a model to “force” on Australians (a big reason cited for the failure of the previous referendum on moving to become independent) but he “overwhelmingly” wanted to make it a force that “unites Australians” rather than divides.
Jim Chalmers warns of ‘tricky’ economic conditions
Chalmers also appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning, and was quite frank about the situation Australians are facing, with rising energy prices compounding the cost of living crisis.
We have high and rising inflation feeding through into rising interest rates, falling wages, and our capacity to deal with that is constrained by the fact that there is more than $1 trillion of debt in the budget we have inherited. I say to those Australians [featured on the ABC], thank you for your candour. The new government in Canberra shares your view of the big challenges in the economy and the hard work to address them has already begun.
We can have a bright future in this economy but only if we navigate these tricky conditions we have inherited from the former government, including some uncertainty around the world. We can get through these difficulties. But only first by acknowledging these difficult issues and addressing them.
Tamsin Rose
Koalas found in Kosciuszko
There is fresh hope for koalas in New South Wales after evidence of an important population was discovered in Kosciuszko national park.
Surveys done between last November and February found male koalas at 14 different places across the park’s Byadbo Wilderness Area.
The NSW environment minister, James Griffin, said it was big news because until now, there had been just 16 recorded sightings of koalas in Kosciuszko in 80 years.
This exciting news provides hope that Kosciuszko national park may be a refuge for this iconic species.
ANU koala expert David Lindenmayer explained the researchers believed the park could be home to a more significant population that may be “more resilient to climate change”.
He said:
These findings are important because of the area’s elevation, which we hope will make the populations more resilient to climate change. The project involved using 100 passive acoustic recorders and spotlight surveys.
Griffin said the next step was to better understand the population at the park and work out what it could mean for the endangered species.
Coldest morning of the year
Let’s talk weather.
On day two of winter, it’s been the coldest morning of the year so far in parts of New South Wales and Queensland, including disparity between the actual temperature and the “feels like” temperature.
Coldest morning so far this year in parts of #NSW, with many places the feels like temperature colder than the air temperature. To see what the feels like temperature is in your area, go to the BOM app. Or, check MetEye for the latest weather.
MetEye: https://t.co/1yxAIPrpyJ pic.twitter.com/SvH8AFDwQd— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) June 1, 2022
Scrolling through the BoM app, it’s officially -3.4 degrees in Canberra right now, but it feels like a crisp -7. In Sydney, it’s a warmer 8.2 degrees but feels like 3.3, while in Brisbane, it’s 11.8 degrees but feels like 9.2.
In Victoria, frosts with temperatures down to -2 degrees are forecast this morning in parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West and Central forecast districts.
And a marine wind warning is in place for every state and territory excluding the NT and Queensland.
Budget to focus on wellbeing
Chalmers is asked about the October budget, which will have a greater focus on wellbeing measures, as was rolled out in New Zealand as part of a mental health strategy.
The idea is to implement broader living standards like health and education that impact people’s wellbeing alongside economic data.
Chalmers:
One of my personal obsessions is that we need to get better at measuring what matters … we should be measuring progress in this country more effectively.
No quick fix to energy costs, says Chalmers
Asked what’s currently on the table to ease immediate energy pressures, Chalmers said he wouldn’t preempt discussions and deliberations about the “various levers” governments have.
The energy market operator has already imposed a cap … that’s an important step, there is the so-called trigger which is about domestic supply, we need to recognise that even that potential policy trigger has its own challenges and is not necessarily immediate our most important responsibility is to try and inject the sense of certainty.
If there are near-term steps we will discuss and deliberate with them.
But Chalmers said the government “shouldn’t pretend” there would necessarily be a quick fix to a challenge that had been “building for over a decade”.
He said decent energy policy, including the push to expand renewables, would be the longterm solution.
I’m not going to be the kind of treasurer who says to Australian people … that everything’s fine in the economy when it’s not. I want to be upfront, honest … we’ve got a serious set of economic conditions that we’ve inherited from our predecessors which we have to acknowledge.
If we’re to deal with these challenges, we have to acknowledge them.
Treasurer talks about energy woes
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is speaking now on Radio National.
Asked if he wasn’t upfront enough with Australians about the energy woes facing the nation, he replied, “no, of course not”.
We’ve been upfront with people before and after the election that there’s a cost of living crisis in this country and the most pressing element of that now is these challenges in the energy market … putting extreme pressure on industry but also on households right around Australia.
We’ve … said these are some of the challenges we’ve inherited.
Chalmers said the government would implement a cost of living package in October to get wages moving, push on renewables and implement childcare reform.
He said if there was an “easy fix” to the challenges they would already have been implemented, citing near term and international pressures but also 10 years of inadequate Coalition action.
We shouldn’t pretend that flicking one switch or another will fix things overnight when it won’t.
Good morning
It’s another frosty day on the east coast, compounding Australia’s energy woes as wholesale power prices soar.
Caitlin Cassidy here to guide you through this morning’s news. If my electric blanket usage in just two days of winter is any indication of where my gas bill is heading, I am deeply concerned.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will be briefed today on the situation facing the energy market, which he says is facing a “perfect storm” following a decade of climate change “policy failure”.
Forecast prices in Victoria soared to 50 times their normal level earlier this week, prompting the energy market operator to intervene. Yesterday, it warned of potential gas supply shortages amid the ongoing burst of cold weather.
Meanwhile, Penny Wong has flown to the Pacific for the second time as foreign minister as the Labor government ramps up diplomatic efforts in the region.
Wong arrived in Samoa today and will travel to Tonga tomorrow, after China’s foreign minister signed new deals with the Pacific.
And in one of former environment minister Sussan Ley’s final acts, recovery plans designed to prevent the extinction of almost 180 threatened species and habitats, including the Tasmanian devil, were scrapped by the Coalition.
Grab your blankets, let’s jump in.