Government confirms no fuel excise relief; South Australian Premier is confident someone will buy the Whyalla steelworks; And Sydney Swans hope midfielder Justin McInerney will be fit for the finals.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The government confirms no fuel excise relief.
- South Australian Premier is confident someone will buy the Whyalla steelworks.
- Sydney Swans hope midfielder Justin McInerney will be fit for the finals.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas insists plans to secure a new owner for the Whyalla steelworks remain intact.
Up to 600 jobs are set to be lost after the steelworks went into administration, with the blast furnace out of operation since April.
A $10.2 million assistance package has been out in place to provide workers with career counselling, job placement services, and targeted retraining.
Premier Malinauskas told Channel Nine it's critical for the nation as a whole for Whyalla to be brought back into action by a new owner.
He says that will require significant investment but insists the plans to find a buyer continue:
"What Whyalla needs to see is that sale process concludes, and then that new owner just does what they say they're going to do, and if that happens, then by the end of the decade this town will be in a really strong position."
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The federal government has ruled out any further fuel excise relief as oil prices approach $150 a barrel, saying the reprieve was always meant to be temporary.
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles says the government is focusing on maintaining fuel supply within Australia, rather than reacting to daily price movements.
Climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen is travelling to Saudi Arabia next week to meet his Saudi counterpart to discuss fuel supply.
He says our fuel reserves are stable.
"We've got 3.3 billion litres locked in to be delivered over the next four weeks. We have 41 day’s worth of petrol on hand in Australia, for example. And these are the figures that I provide every weekend."
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Western Australia's child protection policies have come under intensified scrutiny after a group of up to 15 Indigenous children were found living without adult supervision in a public housing home in South Hedland.
One of the children was just five years old.
An investigation by The Weekend Australian newspaper revealed the children had been left to fend for themselves for up to a week at a time.
Police reports describe the home as a "hellhole" property with urine-soaked floors, layers of filth, and makeshift bedding composed of soiled clothing.
WA’s Department of Child Protection is reported to have known about the situation for at least nine months.
WA senator Michaelia Cash told Channel Nine it's an issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
"Our kids – in particular our Indigenous kids – they need adults and the government to do the right thing by them; their lives are too precious."
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A package of law reforms will be introduced into Federal Parliament today, to put binding legal limits on Australian weapons and apply restrictions to public money, investment and trade being used to support genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and illegal occupation.
The 'Red Lines' bill is being introduced across both houses of Parliament by Dr Sophie Scamps and senator David Pocock, with the support of senators Lidia Thorpe, Mehreen Faruqi, Fatima Payman and Andrew Wilkie.
The group of MPs wants the Albanese Government to impose boundaries on the supply of armaments to allies, including Israel, citing its actions in Gaza.
Mr Wilkie referenced Australian-made weapons components used in Israeli strikes.
"Now I find it absolutely inconceivable that there isn't in the contract for what we are doing, some provision not to supply components to any country operating that aircraft that is guilty of breaches of international law — and in particular, genocide. If we have inked a contract with no provision, then whoever wrote that contract or agreed to that contract is a blithering idiot."
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To Sport, and AFL Swans Coach Dean Cox says Justin McInerney is being strongly considered to join the team for the team's blockbuster preliminary final against Fremantle.
McInerney hasn't played since Round 13 due to a hamstring injury.
Cox told Fox Sports the star midfielder has been monitored throughout training and rehabilitation in recent weeks and they'll make a decision later this week.
"We'll watch our main session on Wednesday to make sure he gets through that and then sit down with Justin and the medical team and coaches and go through that process."
Tickets for Saturday's match at the SCG have already sold out.
