The Reserve Bank governor acknowledges the pain Australians have felt in the fight against inflation; A poentially-historic case regarding Indigenous sacred sites makes it to the High Court; And in sport, Netball Australia now searching for a new chief executive.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Reserve Bank governor acknowledges the pain Australians have felt in the fight against inflation;
- A potentially-historic case regarding Indigenous sacred sites makes it to the High Court;
- And in sport, Netball Australia now searching for a new chief executive.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank has acknowledged the toll rising interest rates have taken on many Australians in 2023.
Michele Bullock denies Australia is falling behind other countries in fighting inflation.
She says her central bank has taken a cautious approach in trying to bring it down, and will continue to watch the relevant data.
The interest rate hikes dotted throughout 2023 are a result of the bank's action to try and get inflation down.
Ms Bullock says, as many people get ready to take a break of some kind over Christmas and the New Year period, things may get better in 2024.
"I know everyone's worked really hard this year. It's been a hard year. It's been a hard year for people at work. It's been a hard year for people who are dealing with rising interest rates and rising inflation. I'd like to think that we can all take some time to be with our families, and, hopefully, things are going to get better next year."
The monthly Westpac-Melbourne Institute index has 2023 as the second-worst calendar year for consumer sentiment since 1974.
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The High Court has begun hearing a final appeal from Indigenous land custodians in the Northern Territory who want to prosecute the federal government.
The case could set an important precedent.
The long-running legal battle centres on damage caused during the construction of a walkway to the top pools of the iconic Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park.
The walkway, built by Parks Australia, was built too close to a men's sacred site.
Parks Australia successfully argued in the Northern Territory Supreme Court that, as a Commonwealth body, it was not bound by the territory's sacred sites laws.
The Indigenous land custodians are appealing that.
Valerie Martin is the Deputy Chair of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.
She says the Commonwealth is trying to avoid accountability.
"Sacred sites are important are for Aboriginal people, and for all Australians, The Commonwealth are saying they are above the law, but we say, we must be accountable at all costs."
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The federal opposition claims the government's migration reforms will make the housing crisis worse.
The proposed cut in migration is being touted by some as a solution to the current housing crisis.
But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the government not taking a decision to bring in more tradespeople from overseas will make it harder to increase housing supply.
"At the moment you can't build a house, and you can't get a renovation done in a reasonable time at a reasonable cost because of the massive shortage of tradies in this country. So, the government, in a single decision, is going to make it harder to find a tradie, and more expensive."
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Netball Australia Chief Executive Kelly Ryan has resigned.
Ms Ryan had been in the role since 2021- her stint in the job dominated by the sport's financial problems.
A long-running, bitter pay dispute between the governing body and its elite players was only resolved last week.
In a statement, Ms Ryan says she has delivered on the objectives of the Netball Australia board.
The board's chair, Wendy Archer, says Ms Ryan has shown great resilience and integrity, and has made an enormous contribution to the sport.
Stacey West, Netball Australia's Executive General manager of Performance, will be interim Chief Executive.
