Australia news live: Dutton says he makes own decisions despite ‘proud friendship’ with Credlin and Abbott; NSW police barred from WhatsApp at work | Australia news
Sydney commuters vent frustrations amid year-long train shutdown
Mostafa Rachwani
Commuters along the Bankstown line have been voicing their frustrations at the shift to buses while the train line is converted to a Metro service.
The Bankstown to Sydenham train service has been replaced by buses for at least the next 12 months while the conversion is completed, and some travellers said that has added up to 30 minutes to their commute.
Isabelle Oritz said she has had to wake up an hour earlier to get her bus into the city for her job.
I’ve had to load up on coffee to get here on time. It’s super annoying, and I don’t know how I’m going to survive the year.
It’s so inconvenient, and I’ve had to rearrange my life and schedule around it. There are thousands of people who are similarly being inconvenienced, all of us here are affected.
Asked if she feels it’s going to be worth it, she shrugs.
I hope the Metro will be quicker.
Key events
George Savvides won’t seek reappointment as SBS chair
Amanda Meade
The government is recruiting a chair for SBS following the decision by George Savvides to not seek reappointment following the completion of his second term in July 2025.
Savvides has chaired the board of SBS since July 2020, before which he was deputy chair from February 2017.
The minister for communications Michelle Rowland thanked Savvides for his service to the multicultural broadcaster.
Mr Savvides is a champion of diversity and has been instrumental in positioning the SBS as a distinct, contemporary public broadcaster for today’s Australia.
Under his stable leadership the SBS continues to deliver multilingual and multicultural broadcasting and digital media services reflecting our society, fostering social cohesion and celebrating and respecting Australia’s diverse way of life.
Dutton weighs in on Rudd travel bill
Peter Dutton was also asked about reports that taxpayers have funded $150,000 for Kevin Rudd to go on overseas trips from the US, since he was appointed Australia’s representative in Washington DC. Dutton said:
I think the message needs to be sent to Kevin Rudd that his spending needs to be in check, and he needs to make sure that it’s reasonable. And at the moment, I just think clearly it’s not.
Dutton was also asked if Rudd would have to look for a new job if he were elected PM.
Well, Kevin Rudd’s a former prime minister, so we owe him that respect. He’s also representing our country, and I think that depends on the administration in the US at the time and the job that the ambassador’s doing.
We support him being in that role and representing our country, but I think it comes with a special responsibility, particularly around expenditure.
Dutton says article detailing Credlin and Abbott’s influence on Coalition ‘not credible’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, says an article in the Sydney Morning Herald detailing Peta Credlin and Tony Abbott’s influence over the Coalition is “not a credible story”.
Speaking to 4BC Breakfast radio today, Dutton said the journalist “never contacted” him but spoke with his office, who “gave him some detail, which I’m not sure really made it into the story, but it’s not a credible story.”
I’ve got a very good friendship with both Peta Credlin and Tony Abbott, but I wouldn’t have spoken to Peta Credlin twice this year. So sometimes, I think some of these journalists fill in the blanks and it’s not a credible story.
I’m very proud of my friendship with Tony and Peta and Brian and others. But I make up my own decisions and I think I’ve demonstrated that I’m happy to listen to a lot of people, but in the end, you’ve got to make the decisions that you believe are in our country’s best interests.
Social media and encrypted messaging apps banned from NSW police work phones
Police officers in NSW will be barred from using encrypted messaging apps and social media on work-issued devices, AAP reports.
NSW police said it had introduced security software that meant “social media and other personal apps will not work or be downloadable to NSWPF issued devices”. It “provides secured access to approved NSWPF systems and applications for all users,” a NSW police spokesperson said.
The move will impact about 17,000 officers who have been ordered to remove all communication software from their work-issued phones, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The restriction comes after an investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission into claims of a police cover-up over an officer’s car crash in Sydney’s NorthConnex tunnel in 2023.
The watchdog urged NSW Police to consider whether the practice of automatically deleting electronic messages was consistent with official policy on keeping records, and to issue guidance on use of encrypted apps on work phones.
After the probe, police commissioner Karen Webb referred concerns officers were using encrypted messaging services to NSW police’s public affairs branch. The Professional Standards Command was “also currently reviewing other LECC positions and opinions from that same report”, a spokesperson said.
Sticking with the weather for a moment, and here are the national forecasts for Australia’s capitals, thanks to the Bureau of Meteorology:
Extreme heatwave conditions in parts of Top End this week
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting extreme heatwave conditions for parts of the western Top End this week.
It is forecasting maximum temperatures in the high thirties to low forties, with overnight minimum temperatures in the low to mid twenties.
Severe heatwave conditions have developed over central and northern parts of the Daly district and are expected to linger for at least the next week. Locations likely to be impacted include Acacia Hills, Bark Hut, Belyuen, Berry Springs, Nauiyu, Noonamah and Litchfield National Park.
Health insurers ‘sticking’ public on hospital bed costs
Private health insurers failing to pay their fair share of public hospital bed bills are costing New South Wales $140m each year, the state government says.
As AAP reports, the NSW government says 44 of 53 private health insurers pay their fair share of bed costs, which are government subsidised, but some large insurers unfairly profit from the system.
NSW Health estimates the average hospital bed cost at $1075 a day, with some insurers contributing just $474 a hospital bed. That is despite NSW Health already charging private health insurers below cost at $892 per hospital bed a day, the government says.
The NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, said private insurers refusing to pay their bills robbed the public system of critical funds. Health minister Ryan Park said private insurers shifting costs to taxpayers was a “burden our health system can no longer shoulder”.
We’re seeing some of the largest for-profit insurers, who enjoy billions of dollars in profit each year, sticking taxpayers with the tab.
In June, the government said it reserved the right to take stronger action on the issue if it was unable to get a breakthrough with the private health funds. The problem arose after insurers withdrew from a deal struck in 2013 to pay the full bill of public hospital stays, the government says.
AAP contacted the Insurance Council of Australia for comment.
Sydney commuters vent frustrations amid year-long train shutdown
Mostafa Rachwani
Commuters along the Bankstown line have been voicing their frustrations at the shift to buses while the train line is converted to a Metro service.
The Bankstown to Sydenham train service has been replaced by buses for at least the next 12 months while the conversion is completed, and some travellers said that has added up to 30 minutes to their commute.
Isabelle Oritz said she has had to wake up an hour earlier to get her bus into the city for her job.
I’ve had to load up on coffee to get here on time. It’s super annoying, and I don’t know how I’m going to survive the year.
It’s so inconvenient, and I’ve had to rearrange my life and schedule around it. There are thousands of people who are similarly being inconvenienced, all of us here are affected.
Asked if she feels it’s going to be worth it, she shrugs.
I hope the Metro will be quicker.
Birmingham labels Wong’s UN advocacy for two-state timeline ‘a foolish idea’
Q: Penny Wong told the United Nations a few days ago she wants a timeline set for a two-state solution in the Middle East. The Coalition’s formal policy is supportive of a two-state solution, so what was wrong with her expressing that view?
Simon Birmingham responded:
What’s wrong is that it’s a foolish idea that creates the wrong incentives. Just having an arbitrary timeline won’t solve the problems in the Middle East. What you need are clear preconditions. Preconditions in relation to the release of the hostages Hamas still holds, the surrendering of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure, the achieving of security commitments and agreements between the two parties.
Ultimately those steps and then, of course, the long-term fundamental issues that need to be resolved – agreed and secure borders, challenging issues about rights of return and citizenship rights – so just saying “we need an arbitrary timeline” isn’t going to secure peace because it leaves all of the difficult issues unresolved.
Wong told the UN general assembly on Saturday that “every country in this room” must abide by the rules of war, and Israel “must comply with the binding orders of the international court of justice”. You can read more below:
Birmingham demands ‘visas cancelled’ over Hezbollah flags at Sunday rallies
Simon Birmingham was also asked about reports that photos of Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah flags had been spotted at pro-Palestine rallies in Australia yesterday.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, has warned of visa cancellations for anyone seeking to incite “discord” in Australia. Birmingham said he “absolutely” agreed with this approach and that “the government should be going further than that.”
These are despicable and reprehensible acts to see people celebrating the life of a terrorist and promoting the values or ideals of a terrorist organisation. It has no place in Australia. We should be seeing thorough investigations by the police.
Those investigations should be leading to criminal charges using the laws that have been put in place to ban the promotion of terrorist propaganda and symbols and slogans, as well as seeing visas cancelled. And the government needs not to just show words in relation to this, but demonstration actions and do so swiftly.
Shadow foreign minister responds to call for Hezbollah and Israel ceasefire
The shadow foreign minister, Simon Birmingham, spoke with ABC News Breakfast just earlier, and was asked whether he supports calls for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
He responded that “obviously what we’re seeing are deeply troublesome times and we do wish to see a ceasefire and for peace to be achieved”.
Birmingham continued:
Now, how that is achieved is what matters. The statement released by the United States and other parties, including Australia, was calling for achieving … enforcement of what is known as UN security council 1701. It’s a longstanding resolution that Hezbollah has been acting continuously in breach by operating within southern Lebanon, by firing missiles and rockets into Israel continuously and this is the type of activity that precipitated Israel’s response and the conflict we’re seeing at present.
If we can see those terms achieved, if we can see 1701 enforced and Hezbollah taken out of action, then that can provide a basis for a peace that we would all wish to see that can end this type of suffering.
NSW police appeal for public assistance after alleged Haymarket stabbing
New South Wales police are appealing for public assistance after a man was allegedly stabbed at Haymarket yesterday.
Officers were told a 22-year-old man was walking near the light rail stop at Chinatown when he was allegedly stabbed in the back by another man, about 4.20pm on Sunday, who then ran away towards Darling Drive.
Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene who was then taken to St Vincent’s hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are hoping to speak to a man who may be able to assist investigators.
He is described as being aged about 40 or 50, of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of medium build, balding with dark hair and a short beard. He was wearing a dark top, blue or black pants with white writing on the front and white joggers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Expert panel exploring end to native forest logging in NSW
A government-appointed panel is exploring the idea of ending logging in NSW native forests within four years, AAP reports.
In August, the government announced the appointment of an independent expert panel to lead consultations on what the forestry industry should look like in the future.
One of five options being put to stakeholders – including industry players – is an end to native forest logging within four years, with supply to be met through other sources. That lines up with the end of existing wood supply contracts from northern forests.
Stuart Blanch is WWF-Australia’s forests expert and says the inclusion of an exit option is a big deal:
I think this is the first time that a NSW government process has seriously consulted stakeholders on ending native forest logging. I think this is showing there’s enough people in government and parliament who think it’s safe enough to articulate this as a real issue they need to explore.
In a statement, the government said the panel had been tasked with consulting widely on the future of forestry in NSW, with its work to feed into an industry action plan.
We want input on what forests and a sustainable forestry industry will look like in the next 30 years.
Barnaby Joyce continues to tout ‘dangers’ of Chinese EV despite Coalition plan
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has again spoken of the “dangers” of Chinese EVs, despite Bridget McKenzie yesterday insisting that banning them in Australia wasn’t the Coalition’s plan.
Speaking on Sunrise earlier this morning, Joyce repeated his argument that China could blow up solar panels and electric vehicles – invoking Israel’s detonation of communication devices in Lebanon earlier this month. Joyce said:
We know with Hezbollah, Israel managed to blow up their pagers, that control of remote devices is certainly part of the new battlefield. We want to make sure Australians are safe, that we clearly disseminate where risks lie.
It is not only that, we also have 200,000 solar panels on the rooftops across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. James Patterson has brought this up in the past. I want to make sure Australians are safe there. It is precautionary.
The host noted that in his example, “this wasn’t China.”
Joyce began responding, “Any malevolent force that has the capacity to do that …”
Host: “Do you think that could happen here?”
Joyce: “I’m not a moron, but I am across the threat that any cogent and proper authority says, then I don’t dismiss it. They know vastly more than I do.”
Chalmers says he got advice on negative gearing changes because it was ‘contentious’
Jim Chalmers was also asked on whether advice from Treasury was sought by himself on negative gearing and capital gains tax changes. He told ABC RN:
I get advice all the time on all the various issues in the economy, including negative gearing, and that’s not especially unusual …
Sometimes the advice comes unprompted, sometimes it’s sought by me. On this occasion, you know, when there’s a contentious issue in the public domain and we’ve got a severe shortage of housing, of course, treasurers get advice from their department on these sorts of issues, and that’s what’s happened here …
I got this advice because it was a contentious issue, it was in the public domain, and it was a big part of the parliamentary debate as well.
Treasurer details budget surplus
Moving now to news of the $15.8bn budget surplus: Jim Chalmers was asked if this is because of under-spending by certain departments, or actual decisions since May to reduce spending?
He responded:
Well, the $80bn in savings are decisions. The spending restraint is a decision, and a substantial amount of the improvement since May is in demand driven programs. There is some under-spending. We’ll detail that when we release all of the figures today …
The improvement from our expectations of the surplus in May to the final budget outcome that we’re reporting today is not about more revenue, it’s not about higher commodity prices, it’s not about more taxes – it’s about the less spending.
