Key Points
- Qantas apologises to former workers after major fine
- Some NSW beaches closed over suspected great white shark attack
- Webster says he’s fighting for his place on Australian cricket team
TRANSCRIPT
Qantas has apologised to more than 1,800 workers it illegally sacked, after the Federal Court ordered it pay a $90 million fine.
In a statement, the airline acknowledges today's judgement holds it accountable for actions that caused real harm to employees.
Today's penalty follows an unsuccessful High Court appeal by Qantas, after the Federal Court previously ruled the outsourcing of workers was designed to curb union bargaining power in wage negotiations.
Outside court, former Qantas worker, Don Dixon, said the mass sacking was traumatic, and he hopes Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson will learn from the ruling.
"This is a great result for us and we now look forward to the courts closing this in the near future and we can all put this behind us and move on, and I hope Vanessa Hudson is listening, and she changes the way she treats her staff."
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Beaches including Cabarita and nearby Norries Cove are closed on New South Wales Far North Coast today, after a shark attack.
A surfer encountered a shark who bit his board almost in half while he was sitting on it, at Norries Head Beach this morning.
Surf Live Saving New South Wales says the surfer was not physically injured.
There are unconfirmed reports a great white shark was spotted by a drone in the area soon after.
A 16-year-old boy was bitten by a shark at the same area in late June.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denies his move last week to recognise a Palestinian state was premature.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Albanese says no one has been able to come with up a better plan leading towards peace.
"For the people who are saying this is the wrong direction, they need to come up with an alternative pathway, because quite clearly, at the moment, it is not providing for peace, and the idea that you just relocate an entire nation, like some have suggested in just not tenable."
It comes as Senator Jacqui Lambie has called on the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Gaza, to ensure humanitarian aid can reach residents, amid growing concern over reports of starvation and malnutrition.
In a statement to SBS, she says, establishing a protective corridor for food aid would bring immediate relief, not interfere with much-hoped-for peace talks.
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Ahead of tomorrow's economic roundtable, the Productivity Commission's chair says policies that come from it, could have a major impact on life for younger generations.
Commission chair and economist Danielle Wood says regulation has not adequately addressed challenges in competition, climate change and housing affordability for millennials and younger generations, in particular.
She told the National Press Club, Australians born in the 1990s are the first generation not to earn more than people born the decade before.
"People of that generation, now in their 30's, have struggled to buy a house. Because house prices have increased faster than incomes for the best part of three decades."
A three-day economic roundtable will run from tomorrow in Canberra, with governments, union representatives and experts all contributing.
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The shape of Tasmania's next government will be decided when its parliament resumes tomorrow.
The state's Liberal and Labor parties have been courting independent M-Ps since the snap July 19 election, which was triggered by a no-confidence motion in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Meanwhile Tasmania Labor leader Dean Winter is condemning a recently announced independent review into the scandal-plagued local salmon industry.
"This industry has already had a long term review a few years ago, through the Legislative Council. They have had a Senate Review. We know what this industry is and we know how important it is to regional Tasmania."
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In cricket, all-rounder Beau Webster says his early-season Sheffield Shield form will determine whether he keeps his spot in the Australian Test team for this summer's Ashes series.
The 31-year-old Tasmanian has played all seven Test matches for Australia since he was picked to make his debut against India in January.
But, with younger rival Cameron Green set to be fully healthy again, and some confusion about the composition of Australia's batting lineup, there is set to be lots of pressure on Webster to retain his spot in the team for the series against England, which starts on November the 21st in Perth.
Webster says he just has to keep proving himself on the field.
“Yeah, I suppose when you are at the top level there's only one way you go- and that's out of the team. There's not many places you can higher than that. So, it's about runs and wickets again, like it is for any cricketer. We've got three or four Shield games to play before the team gets picked, and I'll be looking to win some games for Tasmania."
