Afternoon Update: furore over Jacinta Price’s ‘offensive’ remarks; minister blocks release of Qatar papers; and Hunter Biden indicted
Jacinta #Jacinta
Good afternoon. Indigenous people are “disgusted” by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s shocking claims that there were “no ongoing negative impacts of colonisation” on Indigenous Australians, minister Linda Burney says.
The fallout from the Coalition senator’s extraordinary National Press Club speech reverberated today, with Greens leader Adam Bandt also weighing in, saying the party had “a different view” to Price.
Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam writes that Price’s remarks “deny and belittle the lived experience of hundreds of Aboriginal people”.
Top newsCatherine King has claimed public interest immunity over documents on the Qatar Airways flights decision. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AP
Catherine King blocks release of Qatar Airways flight decision papers | The embattled transport minister sparked further controversy after claiming public interest immunity to reject a Senate request for the papers on the government’s decision to refuse Qatar’s application to increase flights to Australia. The Greens said it was “disappointing”, while the Coalition’s Bridget McKenzie accused the federal government of a “cosy, personal and political relationship” with Qantas.
Woman dies in Newcastle after being shot with Taser | New South Wales police officers allegedly shot a 47-year-old woman with a Taser and bean bag-style rounds, claiming she had threatened officers with an axe. The woman’s death in hospital will be examined by the force’s watchdog.
Stuart MacGill has been charged over allegedly supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images
Stuart MacGill facing cocaine charge | The former Australian Test bowler has been charged over the supply of a commercial quantity of cocaine that led to his alleged kidnapping. Six men have been charged over the alleged kidnapping, which took place on Sydney’s lower north shore in April 2021.
Chris Dawson jailed for another three years | The former teacher and convicted wife-killer was sentenced for having unlawful sexual activity with one of his students four decades ago. It comes on top of the 24-year jail term he is currently serving for murdering his wife, Lynette Dawson.
Victoria’s proposed levy on short-term accommodation could raise $42m for the government. Photograph: Alamy
Victoria mulls 7.5% levy on Airbnbs | The levy – an Australian-first proposal being put to state cabinet next week – would add about $17 a night to the average price of a short-stay rental in metropolitan Melbourne (currently $231), $29 more to a stay in Barwon South West (currently $381) and $42 on the Mornington Peninsula (currently $557), according to Inside Airbnb figures. Meanwhile, the Queensland Greens are proposing a 1,000% hike on Brisbane city council rates for Airbnb investment properties to improve the long-term rental pool.
Man who ate poisoned Snickers bar in court sentenced | A 76-year-old Victorian sex offender who ate the chocolate bar after being found guilty in June has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment. The man was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl more than 30 years ago.
Hunter Biden has been charged with felony gun possession. Photograph: Julio Cortez/AP
Hunter Biden indicted | US federal prosecutors indicted Biden after a plea deal with the president’s son fell apart in July. A court filing alleges Hunter Biden, 53, illegally obtained and possessed a Colt revolver in October 2018 after falsely declaring that he was not a user of, or addicted to, narcotic drugs.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy to visit Biden | While Vladimir Putin courts Kim Jong-un with the possibility of receiving North Korean arms, the Ukrainian president is expected to meet Joe Biden next week as Congress debates a US$24bn ($37bn) aid package to Ukraine.
Cars piled up atop wave breakers and the rubble of a building destroyed in flash floods after the Mediterranean storm, also known as a ‘medicane’, hit Libya’s eastern city of Derna. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
‘Medicane’ – the climate crisis link to Libya’s floods | The flash flood that killed as many as 20,000 people in Libya this week followed a “medicane”, a rare but destructive weather phenomenon that scientists believe will intensify in a warming world. Read this explainer on the medicane and what it means for the region.
Climate rallies kick off in New York | Progressive lawmakers and climate activists are planning marches in the city ahead of the UN’s climate ambition summit on 20 September. Dozens of activists protested outside of the headquarters for asset manager BlackRock and Citibank this week to call attention to both firms’ investments in fossil fuels.
Full StoryA month from voice referendum day, the no campaign’s lead appears to be growing on the back of a strategy of sowing fear and doubt. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Is the no campaign’s strategy of division here to stay? – with Lenore Taylor
Our editors discuss how divisive politics are shaping the debate on an Indigenous voice to parliament. Listen to the 25-minute episode.
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What they said …Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney in parliament. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
“It’s a real betrayal to the many families that have experienced things like stolen generations. The idea that colonisation in any country … doesn’t have long and far-reaching effects is simply wrong.” – Linda Burney on Price’s remarks
In numbers Illustration: Guardian design
The new pay rate will come into effect in October.
Before bed viewing Composite: The Guardian
If your canned tomatoes come from southern Italy, it’s likely that organised crime had a hand in getting them from the farm to the supermarket shelf.
Watch this four-minute video on how the Italian mafia makes millions from canned tomatoes.
Daily word game Photograph: The Guardian
Today’s starter word is: RATE . You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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