Australia news live: Frydenberg rules himself out of Aston byelection as Dutton says he will campaign

Peter Dutton will campaign in Aston byelection

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has committed to campaigning in Aston to retain outgoing Liberal MP Alan Tudge’s seat.

Dutton is not super popular in progressive Victoria, but he confirmed to Channel Nine he would join the campaign. He said:

Yeah, of course, there’s no question about that. As I say, I mean byelections are always difficult and there are different issues, lots of local issues – the government’s ripped money out of road projects in Aston, they have, I think abandoned the area for a long period of time, and as I say, Alan is a popular local member and that always brings a vote with it, which won’t be present in the byelection. But we’ll preselect a great candidate, and that process has already started. You’ll be seeing lots of us down in Aston and you know, we regularly get to Melbourne.

Dutton is already playing down expectations, describing what was until recently a safe Liberal seat as “a tough seat for us to hold”.

Byelections usually see a swing against the government. In fact, no government has won a seat off the opposition at a byelection in more than 100 years. So it’s a little cute for Dutton to be playing underdog.

Updated at 18.52 EST

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Home affairs ‘caught in a loop’ and faces ‘devil’s choice’ on contracts: Pezzullo

In December my colleague Amy Remeikis revealed that the department of home affairs extended a contract for civil maritime surveillance for six years, just months after a critical report found it had paid for flight time when no planes were in the air.

The auditor general in October 2021 found the department’s management of the contract with Surveillance Australia was “not effective” and “as a result, while surveillance services have been provided, the quantum and range of those services has fallen short of the contractual requirements”.

That included not having actual planes in the air for billed surveillance flight times, which the audit office estimated cost taxpayers up to $87m.

The contract was extended for another six years with very little variation just three months after the auditor general’s report. The contract, now worth $2.6bn to the company, has not been put to tender since it was first awarded in 2006.

Today the department’s secretary, Michael Pezzullo, fronted the audit committee to discuss the issue, conceding that he does not think it is acceptable there had been no competitive tender in 20 years for the contract.

Instead, there had been “market sweeps” to survey whether other providers could give the same capability before the contract was extended.

Pezzullo said the “best practice” would be an investment approach in which the department had guaranteed funds for capital, allowing it sufficient certainty to run a full tender process.

Pezzullo said the department is “faced with the devil’s choice” of losing operational capability or rolling over existing contracts.

He said:

When there’s no competitive process for 21 years we’re in a loop … there’s no competitive process because there’s no capital program.

Pezzullo said without more capital investment, the government would be forced to deal with a “monopoly provider” of an “outsourced capability” or it would face the “darker” possibility of not flying surveillance aircraft.

Surveillance Australia acted within the terms of its contract, and Guardian Australia is not suggesting it acted improperly.

Pezzullo said the department does not “necessarily agree” with the ANAO’s conclusion, arguing the report’s criticism related mainly to 2008 to 2017 and procurement has improved since then.

He said the report “ does not adequately consider the outcomes based nature of the contract, or the complex and dynamics, civil maritime security operating environment in which the contract itself operates”.

Updated at 18.55 EST

Australian search and rescuers en route to Turkey

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed that the team of 72 Australian search and rescuers have left for Turkey from Richmond air base.

The defence minister, Richard Marles, says the emergency service personnel will “make a real difference when they get on the ground” in the earthquake-affected region.

The ABC is reporting that they will stay in Turkey for two weeks where they will have rotating teams so they can work around the clock 24 hours a day.

Albanese and the minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, have expressed their thanks to the Australian emergency service personnel.

Updated at 18.51 EST

RBA to reveal more clues to rate rise plans

Some acronyms catch on, but we’re guessing SoMP won’t be one of them. That’s the statement on monetary policy that the RBA releases every quarter.

We’ll get today’s 80-plus page statement in about an hour. Economists will be parsing the language for clues as to why the central bank is so confident further rises in the cash rate are necessary.

In case you’ve been paddling down a river lately (or otherwise out of the news cycle), the RBA raised its key interest rate for a ninth consecutive month (excluding their January summer break) on Tuesday and warned of more increases to come.

Markets have adjusted their predictions of how high the RBA will go, and are now pencilling in a 4% peak rate, implying three more typical increases from the 3.35% level as of Tuesday.

The statement will provide some updated projections on various economic numbers, with its inflation views likely to be looked at most closely.

Also of interest (so to speak) will be the RBA’s views on China given that the previous statement in November could not have anticipated Beijing’s sudden U-turn on Covid policies. Going from rolling, severe lockdowns to the bulk of 1.4bn contracting the virus in a matter of weeks was no small reversal and it may take a while to understand the economic and social impacts of such a shock move.

Updated at 18.45 EST

Anthony Whealy calls on Michelle Rowland to become advocate for donations reform

The chair of the Centre for Public Integrity and former supreme court judge Anthony Whealy spoke to ABC News this morning following the revelations that communications minister, Michelle Rowland, accepted donations from a gaming company before the May election.

Nine newspapers reported that Sportsbet paid for a campaign dinner and made a donation to Rowland’s campaign in the lead-up to the federal election. Labor did not disclose the donations because they were below the reporting threshold.

Whealy says the “most important lesson” he draws from the incident is the need for urgent reform to the federal donation system.

As to Michelle Rowland herself, she was not a minister at the time these donations were made, so I find it difficult to see that she has been in breach of ministerial code of conduct.

I think that what has to happen is that we have to reform the donation system, and I would like to see her become an advocate for that reform. That, to me, would expiate this perception that has been created by acceptance of these amounts of money.

And what we need to do is we need to get transparency in relation to disclosing donations. You see, this dinner was probably not disclosed because it doesn’t fall within the definition of a donation, and the amount of $10,000 which was the actual donation, falls underneath the present threshold federally, so you don’t have to disclose it. It’s got to be over $15,000 before you have to disclose it. So that’s the first thing: We need transparency in relation to the disclosure of donations.

Secondly, we need to lower the cap federally, or even impose a cap on federal donations. All the states and territories have caps on donations. Federally we don’t, so you can give as much as you like.

Updated at 18.44 EST

Foreign ministers in South Australia

The Indonesian foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, is visiting South Australia, the home state of her Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, after wrapping up the meeting between the two nations’ foreign affairs and defence ministers in Canberra yesterday.

At that meeting they discussed Asean priorities under Indonesia’s Chairmanship, as well as maritime security, economic resilience and cooperation for the Pacific.

Wong has released her own statement at its conclusion saying:

Indonesia’s voice matters to Australia, to our region and to the world.

Updated at 18.28 EST

More work needed before alcohol ban opt-out, McCarthy says

The Northern Territory government will introduce laws next week reinstating bans in Indigenous communities in an effort to address alcohol-fuelled violence.

The federal assistant Indigenous Australians minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, said while communities would be able to opt out of the alcohol bans if more than 60% supported it, it would take time before that occurred.

She told ABC Radio on Friday:

We’ve got a tremendous amount of work to do before we even get to that point. I’m not keen on getting to that point right now. I think that right now we have to just stabilise the situation.

McCarthy was meeting with community leaders in Alice Springs on Friday, along with the minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, to discuss crime and alcohol issues.

The NT senator said residents in communities were keen on moving forward.

What I do feel from all the people that I’ve spoken to, whether it’s in person or on the phone from Canberra, is that they want to get to the other side of this.

So I do get a sense that whilst we’ve seen really horrid stuff over the past month or more, I do feel there is a sense of fatigue over them and people want hope for the future.

– AAP

Updated at 18.16 EST

Australian researchers may have found key to Covid immunity

If you and your family and friends are still puzzling over why it is some you have never become sick with Covid-19 while others have suffered serious illness, you’ll want to read our health editor Melissa Davey’s latest report.

Researchers have discovered a natural immune receptor that’s lining our lungs and blocks and controls the virus, and you can read about it here:

NSW records 62 Covid deaths and 931 people in hospital

There were 6,440 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and 24 people are in intensive care.

As in Victoria, the summer wave continues to ebb. This week’s figures are down from 6,567 cases and 88 deaths last week.

Peter Dutton will campaign in Aston byelection

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has committed to campaigning in Aston to retain outgoing Liberal MP Alan Tudge’s seat.

Dutton is not super popular in progressive Victoria, but he confirmed to Channel Nine he would join the campaign. He said:

Yeah, of course, there’s no question about that. As I say, I mean byelections are always difficult and there are different issues, lots of local issues – the government’s ripped money out of road projects in Aston, they have, I think abandoned the area for a long period of time, and as I say, Alan is a popular local member and that always brings a vote with it, which won’t be present in the byelection. But we’ll preselect a great candidate, and that process has already started. You’ll be seeing lots of us down in Aston and you know, we regularly get to Melbourne.

Dutton is already playing down expectations, describing what was until recently a safe Liberal seat as “a tough seat for us to hold”.

Byelections usually see a swing against the government. In fact, no government has won a seat off the opposition at a byelection in more than 100 years. So it’s a little cute for Dutton to be playing underdog.

Updated at 18.52 EST

Victoria records 52 Covid deaths and 118 people in hospital

There were 2,941 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and seven people are in intensive care.

That’s down from 3,056 cases and 70 deaths last week.

Australia sends rescue personnel to earthquake zone

Australia will send more than condolences, with 72 NSW emergency service personnel flying out of RAAF Base Richmond today to assist with search and rescue efforts, AAP reports.

The contingent includes 52 firefighters specially trained in urban search and rescue operations and disaster response and five special operations paramedics.

Fire and Rescue NSW assistant commissioner David Lewis said the crews were taking everything they needed to be self-sufficient. This includes 22 tonnes of high-tech equipment and critical supplies, from tents and bandages to bolt cutters, chainsaws and drills.

Lewis said:

We are virtually taking a hardware store over with us.

Technical equipment includes search cameras, or “snake cams”, to help find survivors in the rubble; laser building monitoring systems to alert rescue workers when rubble moves; and seismic listening devices, which can detect further tremors and any survivors tapping for help.

Lewis said:

This gear will go wherever our firefighters are deployed … we have everything they’ll need from climbing harnesses and portable radios to triple-A batteries and notepads.

Updated at 17.13 EST

Black ribbon projection in earthquake solidarity

A black ribbon was projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House last night in solidarity with Turkey and Syria as the two nations continue to count the toll of Monday’s earthquakes.

The NSW minister for multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said the projection on the Sydney Opera House sails was a small gesture to show that NSW stands with the people of Turkey and Syria and surrounding nations.

As a multicultural society, when events like this happen we all feel it, and we all rally together to support those affected.

I want to express my sympathy for those with family and friends affected by this terrible tragedy, and we stand in solidarity with the authorities working to support recovery efforts.

You can follow the developments in the region as the death toll passes 20,000 on our live blog dedicated to the event:

Updated at 17.00 EST

“Severe to intense” heatwave for WA

How says there are “severe to intense” heatwave conditions predicted for Western Australia, with the potential for dry lightning:

It is a very remote part of Australia but we are seeing temperatures climbing to the low to mid-40s for places around the Goldfields, up towards the Pilbara and that will continue over the next few days.

Some of the heat is pushing across the east coast. We are seeing low to severe intense heatwave conditions developing across south-east Queensland and up towards the Capricornia over the weekend.

Temperatures all the way up to Mackay in the mid to high 30s. Very hot conditions which will stick around into next week right across the west and east coast.

Updated at 16.59 EST

Drier, warmer weather for NSW

How says NSW should get a reprieve from the intense rain that lashed the state yesterday, with drier and warmer conditions set to return to tomorrow:

We have seen huge storms over the last couple of days for eastern New South Wales on the coast and through inland areas.

We have seen falls above 100mm for large parts, from the south coast, to the Central Coast, which led to flash-flooding and disruption, including around Sydney, the Illawarra and Dubbo.

We are not expecting to see the huge totals today. There is a bit of moisture in the atmosphere.

Showers and storms through eastern New South Wales and down to eastern Victoria and they could produce heavy rainfall, large hail and damaging winds.

We are looking at much drier and warmer conditions from tomorrow.

Updated at 16.45 EST

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle to make ‘direct hit’ at Norfolk Island

Jonathan How, a senior meteorologist at the bureau of meteorologist, is speaking to ABC News about Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle being upgraded to a severe category three system.

That means the system is capable of producing wind gusts up to 224km/h. Because it is a bit offshore, we are not expecting that along the Queensland coast. It is going to produce hazardous surf conditions and galeforce winds along the coast.

We have warnings current from the Capricornia down to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast today and it will extend to the Hunter coast and Newcastle from tomorrow .

How says Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is moving towards the south-east and is expected to make “a direct hit at Norfolk Island”.

We are seeing the strong easterly winds picking up and there is a warning current. That means we will see gales of more than 100km/h develop either tonight or early on Saturday morning and peaking on Saturday night and Sunday morning with gusts up to 140, even higher and large waves and heavy lashing rainfall for Norfolk Island.

We might see the centre of the tropical cyclone pass directly over Norfolk Island. They will see a period of strong winds from one direction and then a deceptive lull in the middle and strong winds from the other direction. It hasn’t happened since 2017 that we have had almost a direct hit for for Norfolk Island. We could see the severe conditions last into Sunday afternoon for Norfolk Island.

Updated at 16.44 EST

Landslides and storm damage in NSW

The rural fire service were one of the emergency partners helping the SES out yesterday. Here’s an idea what those landslides and storm damage looked like:

Updated at 16.39 EST

SES gets 1,337 calls for storm help in NSW

The New South Wales State Emergency Service has responded to 1,337 calls for help, including 65 flood rescues, in the last 24 hours as heavy rain lashed much of the coast yesterday.

The weather affected 21 schools in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, including six declared non-operational in Wollongong.

The greater Sydney area received more than 437 calls for help, with storm and flash flood-related incidents in parts of Sydney, the northern baches, Central Coast and the Hunter.

Further south in the Illawarra and south coast, 378 incidents included flood rescues from vehicles and people stuck in buildings, and landslides with one landslide along Lawrence Hargrave Drive stranding a bus. SES said all occupants of the bus were safe.

In the state’s west, a storm led to more than 239 incidents at Dubbo, including leaking roofs, water damage and a few flood rescues.

NSW SES State Duty Commander Colin Malone said SES volunteers and emergency partners would be out in the field again today.

We will continue to respond and assist communities and work through the impacts of this rain.

We’re asking people to check conditions before travelling. If you come across a flooded road, please do not take the risk, find an alternative route.

The SES say unsettled weather conditions are likely to continue, with the traditional storm season far from over.

Updated at 16.31 EST

Telcos have blocked 90m scam messages since July

We brought you the news on the blog earlier about the first company to breach Australia’s anti-SMS scam rules, months after the regulations came into effect.

AAP has some more details on the work telcos have been doing to block scams:

Since July 2022, Australian telcos have reported blocking almost 90m messages under the new rules.

Last year, financial losses from SMS scams increased by 188% compared to the previous year, from around $2.3m to over $6.5m.

SMS scams accounted for about 32% of all reported scams in 2022.

Updated at 16.15 EST