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Today’s headlines at a glance
By Josefine Ganko
This is where we will wrap up today’s blog. Thanks so much for reading.
As we wrap up our coverage, here’s a look back at what we covered today.
- The Reserve Bank opted to hold interest rates steady at 4.35 per cent, as governor Michele Bullock warned the economic path is getting narrower as risks to inflation grow.
- During the final day of Chinese premier Li Qiang’s Australian visit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism over his initial handling of an incident where Chinese officials attempted to block formerly detained journalist Cheng Lei from the view of cameras.
- Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is expected to announce several sites for future nuclear power plants tomorrow morning.
- In Victoria, the Allan government introduced long-planned legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.
- In NSW, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s state budget had housing and health at its centre, but his message was somewhat derailed by the unexpected retirement of former treasurer Matt Kean.
- Overseas, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was charged in a royal insult case, as a series of legal cases threaten to plunge Thailand into political turmoil.
Scott Morrison prepared to take witness stand in Reynolds-Higgins defamation row
By Jesinta Burton
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been named among the high-profile witnesses called to give evidence in WA Liberal senator Linda Reynolds’ high-stakes defamation trial against former staffer Brittany Higgins.
The WA Supreme Court was today told Morrison had filed and signed a witness outline ahead of the defamation trial to commence in late July.
Senator Linda Reynolds arriving at court today with her lawyer, Martin Bennett.Credit: Jesinta Burton
The court was told the bundle of evidence adduced by Reynolds’ legal team would also contain sworn evidence from WA senator Michaelia Cash and her former chief of staff.
Cash’s attendance in person will hinge on parliamentary sitting dates, with Higgins’ lawyers continuing a push to delay the slated July 24 start date to accommodate new WA-based counsel.
Outside court, Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, told the waiting press pack Morrison was expected to be overseas at the time of the trial, but was prepared to give evidence remotely if required.
And Reynolds, who made a surprise appearance at court, mentioned Morrison by name while sharing her gratitude to her former parliamentary colleagues for their support.
In 2021, Higgins alleged she was raped in Reynolds’ parliamentary office by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann – a claim Lehrmann has long denied. Lehrmann is appealing a decision by Federal Court Justice Michael Lee in an April 2024 civil defamation case that, on the balance of probabilities, he did rape Higgins. A rape charge against him was withdrawn in after his 2022 criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.
Reynolds, the former boss of Lehrmann and Higgins, has faced years of criticism over her handling of Higgins’ rape allegation.
The senator said the ongoing fallout had a significant impact on her and others, with her medical professionals among those expected to take the witness stand.
“I need to clear my name finally, after well over three years … so many people have been so damaged by this,” Reynolds said.
Wong says Albanese ‘directly’ raised Cheng Lei incident with Chinese premier
By Josefine Ganko
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has rebuked suggestions Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mishandled an incident in which Chinese officials tried to block formerly detained journalist Cheng Lei from camera view during an event at Parliament House yesterday.
In a press conference yesterday afternoon, Albanese said he didn’t see the incident. By this morning, he had revised his stance, calling the move by Chinese officials “ham-fisted” and “clumsy”.
Wong defended Albanese, saying the PM “directly raised the issue” with Premier Li Qiang this morning.
“The prime minister and I understand the importance of standing up for Cheng Lei, that’s why we worked for two years to secure her return home,” Wong said.
“We are going to have things on which we disagree, on things in which we disagree very deeply because of who we are. And freedom of the press is very important to Australia.”
Wong said the status quo is far preferable to the icy relations with China under the former Coalition government.
“Australia has tried it Mr Dutton’s way. You know, it got us nowhere. We know that Mr Dutton’s focus is always on what is a domestic political fight, not actually on getting outcomes for Australians. That’s what we’re focused on.”
Dutton to announce nuclear sites on Wednesday
By James Massola and Paul Sakkal
The federal opposition is pressing ahead with its plan to introduce nuclear power to Australia, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton expected to announce several sites for future nuclear power plants tomorrow morning.
A snap meeting of the shadow cabinet has been called for tonight, rather than the usual Monday night timeslot, and will be followed by a meeting of the backbench MPs whose electorates will be named as potential future hosts of nuclear power stations.
Tomorrow morning an online meeting of the full coalition party room will be held followed by an announcement by Dutton, which has been pencilled in for either 9.30am or 11.30am.
Opposition climate spokesman Ted O’Brien has in recent days been asking colleagues which aspects of the nuclear policy it would be most helpful to announce imminently.
“The debate on climate in recent weeks has really accelerated the nuclear announcement,” one MP said.
The announcement will bring an end to months of speculation about the proposed locations of nuclear sites and sharpen the political debate about how Australia will meet its target of a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, and net zero by 2050.
Dutton’s office was contacted for comment.
Watch: Jim Chalmers press conference
Treasurer Jim Chalmers addressed the media to comment on the Reserve Banks’ decision to hold interest rates steady.
Watch the presser here:
Watch: Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean quits politics
Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean has announced his retirement from politics to pursue a career in the private sector.
Watch his announcement here:
RBA governor says tax cuts, inflation decline will boost consumer confidence
By Shane Wright
Next month’s personal income tax cuts could deliver a boost to the confidence of the nation’s consumers, according to Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.
Addressing a post-RBA board meeting press conference, Bullock noted that consumer confidence was “exceptionally weak”.
She said discretionary spending is “not really going anywhere”, with people feeling the impact of inflation and higher interest rates.
But the stage 3 tax cuts, which will deliver about $2179 to someone earning $100,000 a year, should boost people’s spirits.
“Our forecasts see with tax cuts coming, with inflation declining, that real incomes are going to start to rise again in the latter part of the year and into next year,” she said.
“I think that will help people’s confidence that they’ll actually see their real incomes rising. I think that’ll be important.”
Bullock said she expected some people to put their tax cut into their mortgage offset accounts while others would save some of it.
But some Australians would spend it.
“I have no doubt that there will be some people that will be really, really using it to meet their everyday expenses.”
The path to inflation goal is ‘getting a bit narrower’: RBA governor
By Shane Wright
RBA governor Michele Bullock says the economic path is getting narrower for the nation as risks to the economy and inflation grow.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, following the bank board meeting at which the official cash rate was held steady at 4.35 per cent, Bullock said board members discussed whether to lift interest rates at the meeting.
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.Credit: Louie Douvos
The board also discussed the growing uncertainty about the economy with clear signs that households are feeling some financial pain.
“We still think we’re on the narrow path but it does appear to be getting a bit narrower,” she said.
“We need a lot to go our way if we’re going to bring inflation back down to the 2 per cent target range.
“The board does need to be confident that inflation is moving sustainably towards target, and it will do what is necessary to achieve that outcome.”
Bullock said while household consumption was a little stronger than expected, this may be due to people running down their savings to buy essentials.
“We also know that many households are really feeling the impacts of high inflation and higher interest rates,” she said.
“As I noted earlier, on average, households have reduced their saving rate by more than we thought to support their spending.
“It’s tough just to keep up with essentials, groceries, petrol, health, education, rents, insurance, expenses. I could go on. They’re all going up.”
Watch: RBA governor press conference
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock fronted the media for the customary post-interest rates decision press conference.
Hear what she had to say here:
Angus Taylor says interest rates decision proves budget has ‘failed’
By Josefine Ganko
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has given an alternate take on today’s rates decision from Treasurer Jim Chalmers, focusing on the RBA’s repeated mentions of the uncertainty of the economic environment.
“The only thing that is certain is that this government’s budget absolutely failed to deal with those inflationary and interest rate pressures that Australians are facing,” Taylor said.
“It’s simply impossible to get inflation and interest rates back to where they need to be when you have government stimulating the way they are, adding spending and at the same time, productivity is going in exactly the wrong direction.”
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2024-06-18 08:43:15Z
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