Rowland proclaims states have agreed to toughen working with kids checks
The lawyer basic Michelle Rowland is addressing the media after discussing nationwide reforms to Working With Kids Checks with state lawyer generals:
The foremost precedence of any authorities is to maintain Australians protected and that notably extends to probably the most weak in our group – our younger folks.
And that’s why at this time, all jurisdictions have agreed to ship formidable reforms to deal with systemic gaps within the Working With Kids Checks regime to enhance the protection of kids throughout Australia.
Lawyer generals-today agreed to toughening the system, by guaranteeing that should you’re banned from holding a working with kids verify in a single jurisdiction, you’re banned in all of them. Banned in a single – banned in all.
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Up to date at 23.25 EDT
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Melbourne cinema to pay tribute to ‘certainly one of a sort’ David Stratton
Cinema Nova in Melbourne pays tribute to the late movie critic David Stratton, with two free screenings of 1952 traditional, Singin’ In The Rain.
A press release from David’s household steered his devotees “have fun David’s outstanding life and legacy by watching his favorite film — Singin’ Within the Rain.”
Talking about this weekend’s screenings in Stratton’s reminiscence, Cinema Nova co-director, Natalie Miller stated in an announcement:
David was certainly one of a sort. His unbelievable data of movies leaves me in awe. His help of the Australian movie business was wonderful, and I’m grateful that I knew him professionally and as a good friend.
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And, Australia’s most underrated native animal is …
The rakali, or native water rat, has been voted Australia’s most underrated native animal in a ballot by ABC Radio Nationwide, as a part of Science Week 2025.
Gathering greater than 20% of the 65,000 votes forged, the rakali beat 9 different finalists, together with the enormous cuttlefish, dugong, turtle frog and palm cockatoo.
Dr Ann Jones, host of Radio Nationwide’s What the Duck?!, stated in an announcement:
The rakali is the quintessential underrated Australian animal – it’s widespread however secretive, it’s fluffy however a kick-arse fighter, it surprises and delights observers and its very presence repels launched black rats out of its territory. It may journey nice distances over land, however swims higher than Kieren Perkins (sorry Kieren). The rakali is worthy of this crown. It’s greater than a rat – it’s the Ruler of ALL the Rats.
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Up to date at 00.18 EDT
Soccer followers to set alarms for return of Premier League
It’s that point of the 12 months once more when diehard soccer followers put together for late nights or set their alarm clocks to go off at ungodly hours: the Premier League is again, stuffed with thrills however dealing with a menace to its superpower, as Barney Ronay writes.
The brand new season kicks off this weekend, with champions Liverpool starting the defence of their title in opposition to Bournemouth within the curtain raiser at 5am AEST on Saturday morning. For the primary time, the most-watched league on this planet can be broadcast by 9 Leisure-owned Stan Sports activities, after Optus Sport transferred its sports activities streaming rights for a sum of about $300m.
Even with out Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked by Tottenham regardless of the Australian coach’s success within the Europa League closing, 9 has recognised the broader attraction of the Premier League and can present one recreation from every of the primary three rounds this season on its principal free-to-air station Channel 9.
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Up to date at 00.09 EDT
Albanese’s newest items: a plaque, a felt hat and a vase
Josh Butler
Anthony Albanese has declared receiving a present of a terracotta plaque from Pope Leo and a white felt hat from the Canadian prime minister in his newest replace to the parliamentary register of pursuits.
The beginning of the brand new parliamentary time period, after the election, means all MPs and senators are nearing the deadline to lodge their register of pursuits, which incorporates properties, financial institution accounts, inventory holdings and items they’ve obtained. Many have already performed so forward of the deadline, however a quantity nonetheless have their listing excellent. We’ll be bringing you extra reporting on these declarations quickly.
Albanese’s register, revealed on-line this week, notes two funding properties – his former residence in Marrickville and the Central Coast seaside home he bought together with his fiancé, Jodie Haydon, final 12 months, in addition to the rental revenue from each.
The prime minister declared he had obtained items together with a picket carving of the well-known Indonesian Garuda statue from President Prabowo Subianto, which is displayed in Australia’s embassy in Jakarta.
Albanese, who visited Rome for the Pope’s inauguration and met the brand new pontiff, additionally obtained: a carved terracotta plaque; a white felt stetson hat from Mark Carney, Canada’s chief; and a vase and bowl from “Sky Information / The Australian”.
The PM additionally famous he’d obtained tickets to the primary and third recreation of the State of Origin rugby league collection from the NRL in Might and July.
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Up to date at 00.34 EDT
Lawyer basic guarantees no requirements in youngster safety scheme will drop on account of harmonisation
Rowland additionally stated the scheme received’t be precisely the identical in all states and territories however the authorities can be aiming to attain a consistency in requirements:
Once we speak about harmonisation, we’re not taking a look at a scheme to make each single state precisely the identical. We aren’t trying to redo particular person state techniques. We’re in search of consistency.
And one of many key factors that happened from at this time’s settlement in SCAG is that no state and territory can be required to decrease the … requirements that they’ve. Now, they’re totally different in between every state and territory and I’m completely satisfied for my colleagues, individually, to talk in direction of that.
However the important thing situation right here is that we have now agreed that no jurisdiction can be required to decrease their requirements. On the contrary – we wish all requirements to elevate – to elevate throughout the commonwealth in order that we have now probably the most strong scheme.
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Up to date at 23.36 EDT
Rowland says working with kids reforms have been accelerated
Rowland stated all states and territories have agreed to “pull out all stops” to make sure the reforms are carried out as quickly as attainable, bringing ahead the the timeline:
We took this pressing reform to SCAG [the Standing Council of Attorneys General] as a precedence, initially anticipating that this might take as much as 12 months as a possible time-frame that the commonwealth, states and territories may conform to for implementation. So I’m extraordinarily happy to speed up supply of the reform with states and territories agreeing to working in direction of implementation by the top of this 12 months.
There’s a agency dedication from all states and territories to drag out all stops, and we’re working collectively as a workforce.
… This isn’t a set and overlook train. We are going to proceed to work collectively, together with in future meet[ings] of SCAG to assist hold our younger folks protected.
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Up to date at 23.33 EDT
Rowland proclaims states have agreed to toughen working with kids checks
The lawyer basic Michelle Rowland is addressing the media after discussing nationwide reforms to Working With Kids Checks with state lawyer generals:
The foremost precedence of any authorities is to maintain Australians protected and that notably extends to probably the most weak in our group – our younger folks.
And that’s why at this time, all jurisdictions have agreed to ship formidable reforms to deal with systemic gaps within the Working With Kids Checks regime to enhance the protection of kids throughout Australia.
Lawyer generals-today agreed to toughening the system, by guaranteeing that should you’re banned from holding a working with kids verify in a single jurisdiction, you’re banned in all of them. Banned in a single – banned in all.
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Up to date at 23.25 EDT
Aussie shares make historical past with record-breaking streak
Australia’s key benchmark index has spiked above 8,900 factors for the primary time, making 5 document resets in 5 classes for the native bourse, AAP stories.
The S&P/ASX200 spiked to a recent excessive of 9,177.3, earlier than easing to eight,882.6 factors by noon, up 8.8 factors, or 0.12%, because the broader All Ordinaries gained 11.9 factors, or 0.13%, to 9161.
Tony Sycamore, an analyst for IG Markets, stated it was a feat “unprecedented over the previous decade”.
This week’s good points have adopted a rally on Wall Road, the Reserve Financial institution’s latest 25-basis-point charge reduce to three.6% and July’s in-line labour power report, reinforcing the RBA’s cautious 2025 charge reduce technique and teasing additional cuts forward, almost certainly in November and February.
Friday’s comparatively regular begin got here after a flat US session in a single day, after producer value progress on this planet’s largest economic system weighed on expectations of the timing and magnitude of future rate of interest cuts.
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Up to date at 23.12 EDT
Katy Gallagher identifies ‘worrying pattern’ of younger males believing there’s ‘an excessive amount of give attention to ladies’
The minister for girls, Katy Gallagher, stated it’s a “worrying pattern” that some younger males consider ladies are receiving all of the alternatives in a method that’s impacting male rights, AAP stories.
Gallagher informed the Girls in Media nationwide convention at this time:
In Australia, our ethos of everybody having a good go and treating folks equally is de facto sturdy – definitely throughout enterprise, group and authorities.
…There’s a worrying pattern rising … notably with younger males pondering that girls are getting an excessive amount of and that their rights are going backwards, and there’s an excessive amount of give attention to ladies.
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Up to date at 23.02 EDT
Ben Doherty
Sydney Ukrainian group plans to rally forward of US-Russia assembly
Members of Ukraine’s diaspora group are rallying outdoors the US Consulate in North Sydney Friday afternoon, involved on the US president’s assembly with Russian chief Vladimir Putin, with out the Ukrainian president current.
Organiser Anton Bogdanovych informed the Guardian the message of the rally is “appeasement doesn’t carry peace”.
“Ukrainians and supporters are deeply involved with the upcoming assembly between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that’s about to occur in Alaska at this time. The truth that Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, will not be invited to this assembly may be very disturbing, because it violates the precept: ‘nothing about Ukraine with out Ukraine’.
“The assembly in Alaska reminds us of the assembly in Munich between the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler that passed off in September 1938. The Munich assembly decided the destiny of Czechoslovakia – with out the leaders of this nation being invited – which resulted within the settlement that ceded the Sudetenland to Germany.
“All of us do not forget that quickly after the Munich settlement Germany, emboldened by it, began World Warfare II.”
Ukrainians in Sydney are rallying outdoors the US Consulate in Miller Road, North Sydney from 4:30pm, Bogdanovych stated, “to warn US officers and the world concerning the risks of repeating the errors of the previous”.
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Can Labor jumpstart the economic system?
Subsequent week the Albanese authorities will carry collectively enterprise leaders, unions and curiosity teams at an financial roundtable to debate greatest jumpstart the economic system.
Large concepts akin to a four-day work week and limiting destructive gearing have been put ahead, however the prime minister has been fast to dampen expectations.
In at this time’s Full Story podcast, Bridie Jabour talks with the top of newsroom, Mike Ticher, and Guardian Australia’s economics editor, Patrick Commins, about whether or not the Albanese authorities has the ambition for large reform.
Hear right here:
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Up to date at 22.22 EDT
Wait goes on for household of alleged DV homicide sufferer
Prosecutors have been informed to talk to the bereaved household of Molly Ticehurst to clarify the state of affairs because the case in opposition to the person accused of her home violence homicide drags on, 16 months after her loss of life.
Daniel Billings, 30, is charged with murdering Ticehurst at her residence in Forbes, central western NSW, within the early hours of April 22, 2024, stories AAP.
Throughout a quick point out in Parkes native court docket this morning, Billings’ Authorized Help solicitor, Diane Elston, requested for the case to be adjourned, saying negotiations between the attorneys have been persevering with. There would nonetheless be “some work to do” after the prosecution and defence groups meet later in August, she stated.
Justice of the Peace Brett Thomas agreed to a seven-week adjournment, however acknowledged the delay for Ticehurst’s household, who’ve attended every of Billings’ court docket dates.
Prosecutors ought to “keep up a correspondence with them at this time and simply clarify the state of affairs to them,” Thomas stated.
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Up to date at 21.50 EDT
PM speaks on eightieth anniversary of WWII victory within the Pacific
Anthony Albanese has honoured veterans of the second world conflict, 80 years on from victory within the Pacific.
“A part of the debt that we owe to all who served our nation is to remind ourselves how shut historical past got here to taking a really totally different path,” the prime minister stated at a commemorative ceremony in Sydney simply now.
We consider all of the tales of braveness, of resilience and exhaustion, of concern and elation and an infinite eager for the house that so many by no means noticed once more. These should not tales rendered in bronze or marble, however written in flesh and blood, tales of peculiar folks dealing with the extraordinary.
He continued:
They confirmed us what it’s to stay true to ourselves it doesn’t matter what, they confirmed us what it means to face shoulder to shoulder with mates and allies and collectively, they turned the tide.
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Up to date at 22.10 EDT
Australian property traders squeezing out first-time consumers
Property traders borrowed a document sum, practically $130bn, to purchase properties over the 12 months to June, supported by rate of interest cuts however squeezing out first-time consumers.
Banks made nearly 200,000 new loans to landlords over the 12 months, probably the most since 2022, whereas the variety of new first-home mortgages slipped to 116,000, writes Guardian Australia’s Luca Ittimani.
Cameron Kusher, an unbiased property professional, stated falling rates of interest have made borrowing simpler for mortgage-holding householders and traders than for first residence consumers.
“They’re going to get aid on these mortgages when it comes to their repayments, and so they’re going to be those which might be most likely going to capitalise on this most,” Kusher stated. Learn extra right here:
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Up to date at 21.27 EDT
Josh Butler
Compliance actions for childcare centres as new federal powers enforced
Thirty childcare centres have been hit with compliance actions over high quality and issues of safety, because the federal authorities makes use of its new enforcement powers for the primary time, threatening to drag commonwealth funding if the suppliers don’t form up.
The training minister, Jason Clare, introduced at this time that his division had initiated compliance actions in opposition to 30 early childhood training and care companies after the federal authorities’s new legal guidelines, which handed parliament final month.
The centres had been recognized by the division as having failed to satisfy nationwide high quality requirements “over seven or extra years”, Clare’s workplace stated.
The enforcement actions don’t relate to youngster abuse or felony allegations – however go to points together with play space security, hygiene, workers coaching and supervision. The 30 centres have 48 hours to inform dad and mom concerning the actions, and the names of the centres can be revealed by the division on Tuesday. The centres have six months to enhance their requirements, or danger having their entry to the childcare subsidy suspended or cancelled.
This comes earlier than training ministers assembly subsequent Friday to debate additional security measures, akin to a nationwide register of childcare staff and the function of CCTV. State and federal attorneys basic are additionally assembly at this time, with the working with kids checks system on the agenda.
“We’ve got taken motion swiftly beneath the brand new laws to start rebuilding confidence in a system that oldsters have to have faith in. This isn’t about closing centres down, it’s about lifting requirements up,” Clare stated.
“Over the subsequent six months, these centres might want to elevate their recreation or they are going to face additional penalties together with the chopping off of funding.”
The early childhood training minister, Jess Walsh, added: “We make no apologies for placing [child] security and wellbeing at first.”
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Up to date at 21.08 EDT
Sydney restaurant faces human rights grievance after keffiyeh incident
The Racial Justice Centre is making ready to file a bunch grievance with the Australian Human Rights Fee after a Sydney restaurant denied dine-in service to folks carrying Palestinian keffiyehs throughout a 20-minute interval final weekend.
The authorized centre will file the grievance to Australia’s nationwide anti-discrimination physique on behalf of six Palestinian complainants, concerning an incident that passed off on 3 August on the Merivale-owned Jimmy’s Falafel within the Sydney CBD after the Sydney Harbour Bridge march, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Guardian Australia has spoken to 4 folks, not a part of the grievance, who report being informed they’d be barred from consuming inside at Jimmy’s Falafel except they eliminated their keffiyehs.
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Up to date at 20.58 EDT
Funding in new wind and photo voltaic falls wanting 2030 goal tempo
Petra Inventory
For the second consecutive quarter in 2025, funding in new wind and photo voltaic has fallen effectively wanting the tempo required to hit Australia’s 2030 renewable vitality goal.
Solely 4 initiatives – totalling 615MW capability – reached monetary shut between April and June, in response to information launched at this time by the Clear Vitality Council.
That introduced complete new funding in 2025 to 1.17GW – a couple of third of the speed required (6-7 GW per 12 months) for Australia to exchange its ageing coal energy and keep on monitor for 82% renewables by 2030.
Political and coverage uncertainty throughout the federal election contributed to the weaker consequence, the report stated.
The CEC chief coverage and impression officer, Anna Freeman, stated:
Whereas we now have renewed confidence within the path of journey, many continual and structural points stay unresolved – important delays within the transmission rollout, prolonged and unpredictable environmental and planning processes, workforce bottlenecks and a scarcity of certainty about long-term income for brand new initiatives.
This morning, the setting minister, Murray Watt, introduced he had accepted a 135MW photo voltaic farm with battery storage in New South Wales, at a website adjoining to the Muswellbrook coalmine. Watt stated it was the 97th renewable undertaking accepted beneath the Albanese authorities.
In late July, the federal authorities introduced plans to increase its underwriting scheme to assist speed up the transition to renewable vitality.
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Up to date at 22.32 EDT
