Key Points
- UN delegates to monitor Australian prisons, detention centres and police stations
- “Extraordinarily high” number of student visas with changed outcomes
- Matildas line up against New Zealand tonight, in the second of a two-game series
TRANSCRIPT
Members of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention are conducting an official visit to Australia to examine the conditions in prisons, police stations and youth detention centres.
Ganna Yudkivska and Matthew Gillett are visiting the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
They will meet government officials, independent oversight bodies, and civil society groups as they evaluate the compliance of Australia's immigration detention policies with human rights law.
Legal, academic and advocacy organisations have released a joint submission urging the investigation of offshore detention, issues around oversight; and impact on vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, transgender people and children.
Lawyer Alison Battisson, owner of group Human Rights for All, says the conditions of detention need to monitored.
"I am still monthly finding people in Australia's immigration prisons who are impacted by the NZYQ decision of the High Court from November 2023. So we're talking more than two years later just because there is no proper system to identify such people. And this will lead to compensation claims against the government - and even more money being spent for no reason on arbitrary detention."
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Senate Estimates has heard the number of student visa cases that resulted in a changed decision in the last quarter is "extraordinarily high".
The principal registrar of the Administrative Review Tribunal, Michael Hawkins, says the tribunal finalised 3,886 student visa cases in four months to October.
He says up to 50 per cent of cases reviewed resulted in a changed decision - where the case was sent back to the original decision-maker for reconsideration.
"So our student visa caseload operates 44 per cent. But is usually between 44 and 50 per cent get remitted. About 30 per cent get withdrawn and that is through our triage process that the Senator referred to. And 20 per cent get affirmed. It is extraordinarily high (the remittance rate). And probably comparable only to the partner and family visa."
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Energy Minister Chris Bowen says authorities are being careful to minimise the risk of blackouts with the closure of Australia's largest coal-fired power station.
The Australian Energy Market Operator says the Eraring coal power plant in New South Wales - operated by Origin Energy - cannot close in 2027, without risking blackouts in eastern Australia.
It says there are enough renewables to cover the plant's closure, but the supporting infrastructure to ensure baseload power is not expected to be ready by 2027.
"So we have plenty of electricity. We do have to manage inertia and system strength. There are ways that can be done through synchronous condensers, and grid-forming inverters. That work is occurring. The New South Wales government is doing good work with Transgrid on the synchronous condenser side of it. We will manage it very carefully. The New South Wales government, Origin Energy and AEMO will manage this transition very, very carefully. There is plenty of electricity in the system. We need to make sure there is enough system strength."
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A landmark inquiry into sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force is being announced today, one year after a Royal Commission recommendation.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh, is set to use the National Press Club address to announce its establishment.
Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy says the government has seen some very distressing claims.
He says that improving the culture in the defence force is paramount.
If you or someone you know requires help, you can contact Open Arms on 1800 011 046, the Defence Member and Family Helpline on 1800 624 608; or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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Jointly-managed parks in Western Australia are creating more opportunities for Indigenous rangers to work on Country.
In the Gascoyne region in the state's mid north - parks are expanding and new ones being developed - with cultural knowledge steering land care and conservation.
The agreement with the WA Government gives Yinggarda people a stronger voice in how their land is managed.
Yinggarda Assistant Ranger Lesley Snowball told NITV the work gives her meaning.
"Working on a place where my ancestors would be and still are, is incredible. I feel connected physically and spiritually as well because I get to walk on this land where they could have travelled also."
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In football, the Matildas are preparing to face New Zealand tonight* in the second of a two-game series their trans-Tasman rivals.
Kyra Cooney-Cross delivered one of the goals of the year for the Matildas in their 5-nil defeat of New Zealand in game one in Gosford on Friday.
Ellie Carpenter says the team is ready to deliver once again.
"I think they definitely would not be happy with their performance. And I think we can expect a totally different New Zealand. We're prepared for that. And we're going to play our own game, our own style of play; and bring it to them again."
