In this bulletin; the PM confident Australians can make up their own minds at the Indigenous referendum vote. Concerns for the health of an Australian writer detained in China. And in sport, the co-captains of the Australian Paralympic Team for the Paris 2024 Games are named.
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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin...
** The PM confident Australians can make up their own minds at the Indigenous referendum vote...
** Concerns for the health of an Australian writer detained in China ...
And in sport,
** The co-captains of the Australian Paralympic Team for the Paris 2024 Games are named.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he expects Australians will focus on what the question is, rather than commentary around how people will vote, when they vote at the Indigenous voice referendum.
It comes as polling by Resolve reveals strong support for a 'no' vote in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and NSW.
The referendum will require a majority of votes in a majority of states to pass.
When asked about recent poll results, Mr Albanese has labelled some interpretations as "wild".
"I just encourage people to read the question. Don't look at commentary if you don't want to from either 'yes' or 'no'. But be informed and make a decision yourself. The decision of the Australian people will be respected. But I don't pay any credence either to people saying don't find out, just make a decision based upon not knowing."
Mr Albanese will announce the date of the referendum on Wednesday.
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United States President Joe Biden has expressed his condolences to the victims of a military plane crash off the Northern Territory coast yesterday morning.
A U-S military aircraft carrying 23 marines went down about 80 kilometres north of Darwin during a training exercise.
Three marines were killed - while five remain in hospital, one in a critical condition.
In a tweet, Mr Biden says he and his wife "send our deepest condolences to the families of the Marines who lost their lives in this deadly crash..." adding they are "praying for those who also suffered injuries."
Investigators are working to establish what occured but Northern Territory police commissioner Michael Murphy says the priority is to recover the bodies.
"This recovery and investigation will be prolonged, enduring and complex. We are planning to be at the crash site for at least 10 days at this stage."
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Concerns are mounting over the health of Australian writer Yang Hengjun detained in a Chinese prison.
In a statement released through his supporters, Dr Yang says he fears he may die in jail, with a large cyst on his kidney causing him pain.
Dr Yang was arrested in August 2019 and charged with espionage - and has not received a verdict from his trial in May 2021.
His supporters are urging the Australian government to intervene and secure him medical parole - as embassy officials raise their concerns for his welfare.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who raised the case with China's foreign minister in July, says she is deeply concerned about the ongoing delays.
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Advocates say a 'culture of delay' within the government's visa-processing agency is driving refugees into poverty.
A parliamentary inquiry has been told asylum seekers often make requests to the Department of Home Affairs for personal information required to apply for working visas.
But Refugee Advice and Casework Service director Sarah Dale says a lack of resourcing is leading to delays - putting at risk their safety and liberty.
Data shows that in 2018/19 the department responded to 74 per cent of information requests within the required time frame.
By 2021, that had dropped to 45 per cent - despite a migrant slump during the pandemic.
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A new report has found 98 per cent of Australian public schools are underfunded leading to poorer outcomes.
The Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work study has revealed a further 6.6 billion dollars a year is needed to meet the minimum standards states have committed to and boost high school completion rates.
The Greens have suggested that could be met if the government reduces its spending on private schools by a third.
Federal education minister Jason Clare says he's committed to closing educational gaps - including between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
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A year out from the 2024 Paris Games, Australia has selected its leaders for the Paralympic Games.
Six-time Paralympic Games athletics representative and wheelchair racer Angie Ballard and triple Paralympic canoeing gold medallist Curtis Mcgrath will take on the leadership role.
McGrath says he wants to use his role as co-captain to ensure each member of the team is nurtured and supported along the way.
Ballard has told SBS News she'll be drawing on her vast experience and personal growth, having debuted at the 1998 World Para-athletics Championships at just 16.
"To be actually named co-captain is honestly is just... everytime I think about it I get a little bit of a warm glow because it just means so much. I love what I do and I love our team. It's pretty special to be put in this position.''
