NSW police investigate a spate of alleged domestic violence incidents; Australia's record on Indigenous incarceration under scrutiny at the UN; the Australian Rollers win the IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championship.
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TRANSCRIPT
First up, a warning: the following story contains references to family violence
New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna says four separate alleged domestic violence incidents over the weekend highlight the seriousness of the crisis in Australia.
A five-year-old boy died in an incident in Blue Mountains, while his two siblings and 42-year-old mother were critically injured after they were found with stab wounds inside a car at Valley Heights.
Deputy Commissioner McKenna says officers are waiting to question the mother, who is being treated in hospital, and is now considered a suspect in a domestic-related homicide.
"I can't remember a weekend like this in my career. It is really overwhelming. What I will say is that none of those relationships were known to us for domestic violence. There were no AVOs in place. They weren't on our radar at all. It’s a whole-of-societal issue, domestic violence. It is an issue that everyone needs to speak about. Government needs to make sure that they're throwing every resource at. And certainly, in the New South Wales Police Force, it is our number one priority."
Those impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence can contact the 1800RESPECT hotline on 1800 737 732. If you need help immediately, call emergency services on Triple Zero.
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Australia's record on Indigenous children in jail could overshadow the Albanese government's UN Security Council bid.
The prime minister is in New York for this week's annual UN General Assembly to lobby support for Australia to get a seat on the council for the 2029-30 term.
SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson is in New York and says there is a risk the over-representation of Indigenous children in Australian jails could derail Canberra's UNSC ambitions.
"The UN Committee on the Racial Discrimination issued an early earning and early action procedure earlier this year, expressing grave concerns about racial discrimination against Indigenous children -- through education, healthcare and housing – saying that it was a key factor contributing to their heightened vulnerability to arrest incarceration and reoffending. The prime minister said there were issues he would address with Indigenous leadership when he arrived back in Australia at the end of the week. And that he is proud of Australia's Indigenous Affairs record, and is committed to the Closing the Gap measures."
Mr Albanese says he intends to speak with Indigenous leaders when he returns to Australia, about further steps that can be taken to improve outcomes for First Nations Australians.
"I want every Australian, regardless of who they are and where they’re born, and how humble or wealthy the beginning of their lives are, to have the same opportunity. And there’s nowhere you can do that more important than in education. On economic empowerment, we’re providing support for Indigenous communities to engage in growth of their local economies and business engagement as well."
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A coronial inquest into the deaths of six primary school students in a jumping castle incident in Tasmania has started with a four-day hearing block.
The incident happened nearly five years ago in December 2021, during end-of-year celebrations.
The coronial inquest will consider what risk assessments were undertaken, and whether there were deficiencies in the practices of the department of education.
Mother Georgie Burt, whose son died in the incident, will be among the witnesses to give evidence, along with Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar and the head of Ambulance Tasmania.
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The latest Intergenerational Report is due to be released today, projecting the impact of the government budget and outlooks for the economy over the next four decades.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will release the full report at the Australian National University.
But preliminary Treasury information shared with SBS News suggests the report is forecasting the economy to be more than twice its current size and completely transformed by artificial intelligence.
The treasurer also told News24 that Australians are expected to live longer, healthier lives and have fewer children in 2066.
"Australians living longer and healthier lives is worth every dollar of extra pressure that that puts on budgets, but you can see, and you will see in the document that I release on behalf of the government, very serious economic risks, very serious budget pressures, but also very substantial advantages as well. And that's what makes it not a pessimistic document, a confronting document in parts."
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And now to sport.
Australia have won their first wheelchair basketball World Championship title since 2014.
The Rollers defeated the Italians 81-57 in the final, to add a third IWBF World Championship title to their name.
The team were undefeated in the tournament.
In a statement, five-time Olympian and Labor MP Dan Repacholi congratulated the team, saying they have done Australia proud.
