The Federal Government sues a manufacturer over alleged chemical contamination at 28 defence sites, a woman who returned to Australia from Syria charged by terrorism police and Novak Djokovic moves to the third round of the French Open.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The federal government sues a manufacturer over alleged chemical contamination at 28 defence sites.
- A woman who returned to Australia from Syria charged by terrorism police..
- Novak Djokovic moves to the third round of the French Open.
The Commonwealth Government has launched legal action against 3M Australia in the Federal Court, based on allegations of contamination from PFAS chemicals at 28 defence sites across the country.
The government alleges the company withheld information, misrepresented the effects of one of its products, and gave false assurances about environmental impacts and disposal.
Often referred to as 'forever chemicals', PFAS were historically used in firefighting, but have been banned because they don't break down in the environment.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says the allegations against 3M Australia relate to a film-forming foam product.
"The Commonwealth is seeking more than two billion dollars in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historical storage and use of this foam. Let me be clear, this is the this is the largest legal claim ever brought by the Commonwealth."
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Australian Federal Police have arrested a woman as part of ongoing investigations under Operation Kurrajong.
She is being charged by the AFP Joint Counter Terrorism Taskforce but the nature of the charges is not yet known.
The woman is described as having recently returned to Australia.
This week, the AFP and New South Wales and Victoria police reported ongoing investigations into six women who arrived in the country with their children from a detention camp in Syria designated for families linked to IS-group fighters.
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Labor frontbenchers are defending the government's proposed tax reforms, which are expected to pass parliament with the support of the Greens party.
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino says the government is moving fast to provide clarity as quickly as possible.
A bill has been tabled in parliament today which includes the controversial reforms to capital gains tax that have been criticised by business interest groups and the Coalition.
Education Minister Jason Clare has told Channel 7's Sunrise, the changes are designed primarily to address generational wealth disparity.
"I don't want us to be a country where young people are forced to rent for their entire life, where they have no other option, where they can't afford to buy a house. But mate that is where we are going. When we were in our twenties, the average price of a house was around four times your annual salary. Now it is about ten and it is even higher in Sydney where we live."
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Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says while tax reform does need to happen - the proposals by the Treasurer are not the right ones.
The bill is expected to pass through parliament, but Mr Taylor says it is being rushed through the approvals process without proper scrutiny.
"We'll work with anyone and we'll talk to anyone and we have been talking to whoever is prepared to work with us to fight these taxes. And we'll keep doing that."
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Ukraine's leader has sent a letter to the White House and US Congress, appealing for increased support for Ukraine air defences.
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy says there is a critical shortage of air defence capabilities, particularly US-made Patriot systems used to intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
The President says he made the unusual step of addressing both the president and various Congress members, because the war needs to be resolved.
“As long as Russia relies on missiles, its interest in diplomacy is not genuine. We must correct this. And we can only correct it together, with America. Ukraine is grateful to America for all its support. Ukraine will be even more grateful for a dignified peace and guaranteed security. All this is possible if there is enough determination.”
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New research by an Australian charity has found many women have been forced to sacrifice period hygiene in the face of price hikes on essential items.
Share the Dignity conducted a survey of more than 150,000 Australians about their experiences, with 65 per cent of respondents reporting they had used old towels, toilet paper and, in some cases, bread, instead of sanitary products like tampons and pads.
The survey has also found one in four people would wear period products longer than recommended due to cost, while 78 per cent of people living with a disability had experienced period poverty.
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To sport now and in tennis,
Novak Djokovic is still in the running to claim a 25th Grand Slam titles at the French Open, after he beat local player Valentin Royer.
The Serbian third seed is now into the third round of the tournament.
Djokovic says it was a tough time on the court, before he came out on top in a gruelling 18-stroke rally.
"Physically spent quite a bit of energy today on a very hot day. Very challenging conditions. Yeah, it was obviously my fault I didn't finish in straight sets, because I break up twice in the third match point. Just too passive on those points, and he took his chances.”
