Australia news live: Albanese says Dutton’s ‘bizarre’ push for Woolworths boycott would cost jobs

Key events

Labor says Australia respects Nauru decision to sever ties with Taiwan

The Australian government says it was not taken by surprise by Nauru’s decision to scrap diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China – but says it respects the Pacific island country’s right to make its own choices.

The Australian minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, said the government was notified in advance of Nauru’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a move that led to the severing of such ties with Taiwan.

Speaking at a media conference in Canberra today, Conroy played down the impact:

This was a decision by the sovereign government of Nauru and we respect their decision. I would make the point that three Pacific Islands Forum members recognise Taiwan [whereas] 13 members recognise the People’s Republic of China, including Australia, and we’ve got excellent relations with every single Pacific island nation, including those ones who recognise the PRC. So we respect Nauru’s decision. What you’ve seen under the Albanese Labor government is a very significant improvement in our relationship with the Pacific. We’re turning up, we’re listening, we’re acting on their priorities.

Asked whether the Australian government was taken by surprise by Nauru’s announcement yesterday, Conroy said:

No … I can be very clear that we were aware in advance of the announcement that was being made.

But he declined to go into details of exactly when Australia was notified of the diplomatic switch.

Asked whether Nauru had asked Australia for any financial support to avoid its decision, Conroy said:

They had no conversations with us about that particular matter – switching diplomatic recognition – other than giving a heads-up that the decision had been made.

Updated at  21.22 EST

‘Extreme’ consumer pessimism extends into January, survey finds

The monthly survey of consumer sentiment by Westpac and Melbourne Institute was also relatively static in January (see earlier post) but carries a gloomier analysis.

Their index eased 1.3% to 81, with the cost of living and high interest rates blamed for the “deeply pessimistic” level of confidence to kick off 2024. It was the weakest reading for a January (a month when we are supposedly a bit more upbeat) outside the early 1990s recession, Westpac said.

Matthew Hassan, a senior Westpac economist, said:

Many consumers may be facing a bigger than usual post-Christmas financial ‘hangover’ as the full impact of the higher cost of living on festive-season spending becomes apparent.

Another reason for the sagging sentiment, it seems, is that 52% of those surveyed still think the RBA has another interest rate rise up its sleeve.

While down from 60%, that proportion is at odds with financial markets, which don’t expect another rate rise and are fully pricing a 25 basis point cut by August as the central bank’s next move, according to the ASX.

Perhaps when consumers become less shellshocked, sentiment will rebound a bit (as might the standing of the federal government in the polls).

Updated at  19.43 EST

Five people killed on NSW roads in past day

Senior police officers are speaking to the media from western Sydney about the death of five people on NSW roads in the past 24 hours.

Supt Anthony Boyd said there had been four major collisions, resulting in the death of five people and serious injuries to six others.

He is urging people to take responsibility for their driving behaviour over the busy holiday period:

The accidents in the last 24 hours are all related to driver behaviour, not related to any factor other than people making poor decisions on the roads and causing serious-injury collisions.

… Your behaviour whilst you are driving a motor vehicle is your responsibility. You will be held accountable when you drive in a manner which is dangerous, outside of the road rules.

Updated at  19.43 EST

Labor signs $37m deal for Australia to begin making missiles

Australia will start making missiles in 2025, the federal government has announced.

Pat Conroy, the acting defence minister, said the government had signed a $37m contract with US defence contractor Lockheed Martin to make an initial batch of missiles to “prove up our capability”.

He said this would be done in Orchard Hills in western Sydney and be undertaken by Lockheed Martin employees.

It would begin with the assembly of components provided by the US.

Conroy said the long-term aspiration for domestic manufacturing of missiles would require a purpose-built facility down the track.

We live in the missile age.

Updated at  19.03 EST

Measles alert for western Sydney

NSW Health has advised people in western Sydney to stay alert for symptoms of measles after being notified of one case.

The case, a nine-month-old infant, was infectious while visiting some locations in Sydney’s inner west and south-west.

NSW Health said the infant recently returned from Asia, where there has been an outbreak of measles in several countries, including Pakistan and India.

The health department also said it had identified and contacted close contacts to arrange preventative treatment if needed.

It has listed Five Star Coffee and Nuts on Yerrick Road, Lakemba, as an exposure site on Friday 12 January between 3-5pm.

Sydney Local Health District’s clinical director of public health, Dr Leena Gupta, said while this location posed no ongoing risk, if you, or someone you know, visited this shop during this time it was important to be on the lookout for symptoms.

Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes. It can take 18 days for symptoms to appear.

Updated at  18.38 EST

Albanese says Dutton’s ‘bizarre’ push for Woolworths boycott would cost jobs

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has spoken to 2HD mornings, taking aim at Peter Dutton over his call to boycott Woolworths for not stocking Australia Day merchandise.

He said “of course” people can make those choices, but he finds it “bizarre” that “the so-called party of the free market is calling for a boycott of a company that employs 200,000 Australians”.

Now think about the implications of this. If everyone boycotted Woolworths, that’s 200,000 people who would lose their jobs. It’s an extraordinary overreach by a guy in order to make a point on a radio interview. It’s just extraordinary, and an example of how Peter Dutton will say anything without thinking through the implications of it.

Albanese noted that Kmart made a similar decision more than a year ago.

[Dutton is] always looking for a culture war. What I’m engaged in is a war on inflation.

Anthony Albanese finds the opposition leader’s Woolworths boycott push ‘bizarre’. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

Updated at  18.51 EST

Worker dies at central Queensland coalmine

A worker has died at a coalmine in central Queensland.

The worker was fatally injured in a vehicle-related incident at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji coalmine, at Dysart, the ABC reported.

The Mining and Energy Union said the whole mining community was shocked and saddened by the incident. Union district president Mitch Hughes said:

This is the worst news we can ever receive.

We are devastated that a coal miner is not returning home at the end of their shift.

Hughes said union safety inspectors were investigating.

We will ensure no stone is left unturned in understanding what has occurred and preventing future fatalities and injuries.

Operations at the mine are suspended.

– via AAP

Updated at  17.50 EST

Man charged after vandalism of Brisbane Woolworths store

Queensland police have arrested and charged a man after the vandalism of a Woolworths store in Brisbane yesterday morning.

Police will allege that around 5am, the man set off a flare at the Teneriffe business, causing the fire alarm to be activated. Police also observed graffiti at the store upon arrival.

A 40-year-old Ormiston man was arrested in Fortitude Valley about 7.45pm last night, and has been charged with one count each of wilful damage and wilful damage by graffiti.

He is expected to appear at Brisbane magistrates court on 21 February.

Yesterday, police said they were investigating after the Teneriffe Woolworths was vandalised.

The store was allegedly painted with the words “Boycott Woolies” on the doors and “5 days 26 Jan Aussie Oi Oi Woolies fuck u” on the exterior.

It comes after Woolworths decided to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise, citing a lack of demand from customers.

The Woolworths store that was allegedly vandalised in Teneriffe. Photograph: The Guardian

Updated at  17.40 EST

Two teenagers killed in Sydney car crash last night

Two teenage boys were killed and another seriously injured in a crash in Sydney’s north-west last night, Australian Associated Press reports.

Emergency services were called to Windsor Road at McGraths Hill about 9.40pm on Monday on reports a car had struck a power pole.

Two teenage boys, who were passengers in the car, were critically injured and died at the scene, police said.

The 17-year-old male driver was treated by paramedics for chest and internal injuries before being taken to Westmead hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition.

Police were told the car had struck another car before leaving the road and striking a power pole.

The driver of the other car stopped and rendered assistance, calling triple zero, and was taken for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Updated at  15.25 EST

Aid groups urge Wong to push for ceasefire

Aid organisations want foreign minister Penny Wong to push for a ceasefire to the war between Israel and Hamas during her visit to the Middle East, Australian Associated Press reports.

Wong will meet regional counterparts during her visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, along with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

Aid group Amnesty International said Wong’s visit to the region should be focused on ways for a ceasefire to be undertaken.

The organisation’s Palestinian Territories and Israel spokesperson, Mohamed Duar, said the 100 days since the start of the war had seen a “chilling disregard of human rights”.

Amnesty has repeatedly documented war crimes being committed by all parties to the conflict.

The scale of death and destruction we witness in Gaza today is unparalleled.

For these reasons, Penny Wong must reiterate Australia’s support for a ceasefire, and for Israel to allow unhindered and immediate humanitarian aid to enter Gaza during her trip.

Wong will be the most senior representative from Australia to visit the region since the current conflict broke out on 7 October and the first from an Australian foreign minister since 2016.

Penny Wong will meet with regional counterparts during her Middle Eat visit. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at  15.28 EST

Heavy rain likely to cause flooding in northern Australia as rivers rise

More forecast rain and strong winds will likely mean ongoing flooded homes, submerged streets, and belongings damaged by fallen trees in multiple states and territories, AAP reports.

Parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland are due to experience dangerous winds and flash flooding today.

A monsoon trough extending from the northern Kimberley of Western Australia to the Cape York Peninsula, as well as a tropical low over the NT is making for a big wet in Australia’s north. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the tropical low to move southeast today, with continued rain.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf of Carpentaria, and for the NT’s north-west.

“We’re already starting to see river rises in some of these areas and further river rises are anticipated over the coming days,” meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

There’s also more rain forecast at centres including Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra on Tuesday. Winds in some metropolitan areas could reach up to 50km/h.

Updated at  15.33 EST

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you the best of the overnight news before my colleague Emily Wind takes the reins.

The Middle East crisis deepened overnight when a US cargo ship was hit by Houthi missiles, making Penny Wong’s visit to the region beginning today even more sensitive. It follows remarks by Anthony Albanese last night declaring that the Australian government won’t participate in the international court of justice (ICJ) proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel, and that his government is seeking a “political solution”.

Our top domestic story is an exclusive report that a senior psychologist treating children in the Cairns police watch house sent a “cry for help” letter detailing “horrendous” conditions and alleged human rights abuses in the lockup. The letter, seen by Guardian Australia, includes claims young people are not being provided adequate food, medical attention or legal support.

More than half of people trying to access emergency financial support for domestic and family violence are having their claims rejected, new data has revealed. Between July and September last year, 57,041 applications were made for the escaping violence payment (EVP) but only 29,437 were found eligible.

And we will be keeping a close eye on northern Australian, with parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland forecast to experience dangerous winds and flash flooding – more on that soon.

Updated at  15.20 EST