Sussan Ley: Roe v Wade overturning ‘a backward step for women’
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley says the US supreme court’s decision to overturn a constitutional right to abortion is a “backward step for women in the US”.
AAP is reporting comments made on Sky News by Ley, who is also the shadow minister for women.
This has been a step backwards for women in the US. I’m very discomforted by anything that puts a personal and sensitive issue that a woman has to grapple with in many instances, or a family has to grapple with, in the same sentence as criminal.
Education minister Jason Clare, AAP reports, said:
Thank God we are a country here in Australia where abortion is not an issue that divides the Labor party and Liberal party.
I’m thinking at the moment for the women who live in some of these states that are basically being told today that if you want to have an abortion then get on a bus and travel a couple of hundred kilometres.
Multiple US states made abortion illegal within hours of the court’s decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade judgement. Protests at the decision have erupted across the country.
Dutton has told the NSW Libs they shouldn’t be choosing candidates the night before the election – which, to be fair – seems quite sensible.
Paul Karp has the story here:
Heading up to the snow this school holidays? Victoria police have some tips here:
Whilst driving in the snow, make sure you;
❄ Drive cautiously with two hands on the wheel and steady pressure on the accelerator
❄ Brake with steady pressure
❄ Avoid braking when cornering
❄ Fit chains to your tyres when advised or if the road looks icy— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) June 26, 2022
❄ Engage low gear when you drive down a mountain
❄ If you hit ice, apply the brakes gently to slowly regain traction
❄ At night only use low beam lights. High beams don’t work in high mist areas. If you can’t see, pull over, put your hazards on and keep your engine running— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) June 26, 2022
Tasmania – where even the road warnings are beautiful:
On Twitter, some criticism has been levelled at the new PM for not yet making a statement on the Roe v Wade decision in the US.
So our Prime Minister’s really not going to say anything about the Supreme Court decision? Despite many world leaders putting out strong statements condemning the assault on reproductive rights and expressing solidarity with women and LGTBIQ people. Deafening silence says it all.
— Jill Stark (@jillastark) June 26, 2022
The time has come – State of Origin II is just hours away. Here Nick Tedeschi takes us through the lineup for tonight:
NSW may impose bans after deadly bee mite discovered in Newcastle
Graham Readfearn
Beekeepers across New South Wales could be banned from moving their honey and hives after the detection of a deadly invasive mite in Newcastle.
The ABC is reporting the state government could impose the ban as soon as 6pm today, which would prevent any movement of bees, hives, honeycomb and honey.
Australia is the only honey producer worldwide to have stopped the mites from becoming established.
On Friday the NSW government said it had detected varroa mite in biosecurity surveillance hives in the Port of Newcastle.
A 50km biosecurity zone was set up, preventing any movement or tampering of hives, as well as stopping the removal of honey or comb.
The ABC is reporting that biosecurity zone is to be extended across the entire state.
Agriculture minister Dugald Saunders said on Friday an eradication plan had been launched to contain the mites, but warned if it became established it could cost the honey industry $70m a year.
He said Australia was the only honey-producing country to have prevented the mite from establishing itself.
There are two types of the pinhead-sized varroa mite – the Varroa jacobsoni and Varroa destructor – which are considered the most serious pest for honeybees globally. The mite detected in Newcastle was Varroa destructor.
In 2018, Victorian authorities prevented the spread of the mite after a ship from Texas docked in the Port of Geelong with bees infested with the mite.
In Queensland, Varroa jacobsoni mites were detected in Townsville in 2019 and 2020 and then eradicated after an initial 2016 detection.
The Varroa destructor has been responsible for the collapse of European bee colonies “wherever it is present”, information from the Queensland Government says.
The mites suck on adult bees, weakening them “and new bees are born with deformities”.
Ben Butler
Wealthy Australians are avoiding paying tax by having the family trust pay children (who will be taxed less), who then repay the money to their parents for raising them.
A solid story from Ben Butler here about how family trusts are rorting the system:
Andrews out selling new cabinet
From AAP:
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is selling his new cabinet ahead of incoming ministers being sworn in at Government House.
Andrews stepped out with incoming health minister Mary-Anne Thomas and newly promoted cabinet member Sonya Kilkenny on Sunday after unveiling the frontbench he will take to the November state election.
Deputy premier and education minister James Merlino, health minister Martin Foley, jobs minister Martin Pakula and police minister Lisa Neville all resigned on Friday, prompting the reshuffle.
Thomas will take over from Foley as health minister – the state’s fourth in as many years – while Natalie Hutchins is exchanging her corrections portfolio for education.
Five MPs will step into Labor’s cabinet as it seeks a third term in office, including Kilkenny, Lizzie Blandthorn, Steve Dimopoulos, Harriet Shing and speaker Colin Brooks.
Joe Hinchliffe
Small plane with only pilot on board crashes in Queensland
A small aircraft has hit power lines and crashed in a paddock near Bowenville in Queensland’s Darling Downs.
Believed to be an ultralight with only the pilot on board, the plane crashed just before 2.20pm on Sunday, about 20 minutes outside of Oakey.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said shortly after 3pm that multiple paramedic crews were still waiting for the powerlines to be cut so they could attempt to rescue the patient. Marshy ground was also making access difficult and the rescuers were yet to make contact with the pilot, whose condition was unknown.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reported the plane to be upside down and that paramedics only had access by foot to the crash.
Paul Karp
The education minister has blasted Senator Hollie Hughes for “crazy” comments blaming the Liberals’ low youth vote on “Marxist” teachers.
On Sunday Labor’s Jason Clare responded to the remarks, made by the New South Wales senator at a Sydney Institute federal election postmortem on Tuesday.
Eden Gillespie
Shelley Allison will never forget the look on her dad’s face after he walked out of the house where her daughter Haley was murdered. “Before the crime scene clean-up, my father had to do a walk-through of the house and I never understood why,” Allison says. “This big man, he went white … It was heartbreaking.”
ABS to reveal impact on spending of first interest rate in a decade
From AAP:
Economic figures will show what impact higher interest rates and ongoing cost of living pressures are having on the behaviour of Australians in terms of spending and borrowing.
Consumer confidence – a guide to future household spending – has already slumped after consecutive monthly interest rate increases in the cash rate by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Retail trade figures on Wednesday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics will show the actual impact on spending from May’s first interest rate rise in more than decade.
Economists forecasts point to a more modest 0.3 per cent rise in spending in May, coming after a solid run of monthly increases since the start of the year, a worrying sign for the economic outlook more broadly.
Their expectations range from a 0.7 per cent rise to a one per cent decline.
The RBA will release monthly credit figures on Thursday, which may also show some softening in demand for loans after a strong run-up, particularly for mortgages when interest rates were at record lows.
Nasa rocket to launch from Arnhem Land space centre tonight
From AAP:
One of the world’s oldest living cultures is helping scientists understand galaxies and stars with the launch of the first of three NASA rockets from the Northern Territory.
The rocket is scheduled to launch from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Dhupuma Plateau, near Nhulunbuy, about 10.44pm on Sunday.
It will carry an X-ray Quantum Calorimeter, allowing University of Michigan scientists to measure interstellar X-rays with precision to provide new data on the structure and evolution of the cosmos.
About 75 NASA personnel are in Arnhem Land for the launch, which is the agency’s first in Australia in 27 years and first-ever from a commercial spaceport outside the US.
The Yolngu helped build Arnhem Space Centre, which is owned by Equatorial Launch Australia, on their land.
They’re also taking part in the upcoming launch, including retrieving rocket modules when they return to Earth.
Gumatj Corporation chairman Djawa Yunupingu says the space industry can provide opportunities for the Yolngu people.
“We want our young people to see and take up the jobs and business opportunities that come from the growth of the Arnhem Space Centre over time,” he said in a statement.
NSA will launch another two rockets from the ELA complex on July 4 and July 12.
Christine Tondorf
The northern NSW town finds solace by the banks of a river that has wrought so much destruction on it this year
Lismore’s lantern parade is a celebration of nature, to mark the passing of the longest night of winter, but the New South Wales northern rivers town has a troubled relationship with nature.
Jordyn Beazley
In the Moruya North Head campground where about 50 people live, there’s no power and the water in the one private shower is cold. “Sometimes you can’t handle that, so you’ve got to boil up some water and try work it that way,” says Geoff Pike as the sun dips and the winter chill sets in. Lately, it’s been getting down to 3C at night.
When kids are at school and they’re being taught all this absolute leftwing rubbish, that’s where they’re leaving school and that’s where they’re landing.
Senator Hollie Hughes blames Marxist teachers for the fact that so many young people rejected the Liberal Party at the election. pic.twitter.com/mr8pdJ6GJU
— Matt Burke (@matttburke) June 25, 2022
National Covid summary
Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 26 deaths from Covid-19:
ACT
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 819
- In hospital: 116 (with 1 person in ICU)
NSW
- Deaths: 7
- Cases: 7,461
- In hospital: 1,465 (with 48 people in ICU)
Northern Territory
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 221
- In hospital: 16 (with no people in ICU)
Queensland
- Deaths: 2
- Cases: 3,048
- In hospital: 556 (with 8 people in ICU)
South Australia
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 1,996
- In hospital: 216 (with 9 people in ICU)
Tasmania
- Deaths: 0
- Cases: 777
- In hospital: 48 (with 3 people in ICU)
Victoria
- Deaths: 15
- Cases: 5,824
- In hospital: 451 (with 28 people in ICU)
Western Australia
- Deaths: 2
- Cases: 3,544
- In hospital: 250 (with 9 people in ICU)