Australia news live: Monique Ryan ditches Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership; Jacinta Allan sworn in as Victorian premier

‘Deep honour and privilege’: incoming Victorian premier Jacinta Allan speaks

Victoria’s incoming premier Jacinta Allan says it is a “deep honour and privilege” to be chosen to lead the state.

Victorian Labor MPs have voted to appoint Allan as party leader and the 49th premier of the state, after Daniel Andrews announced his resignation on Tuesday. Cabinet minister Ben Carroll has been elected deputy leader.

Allan was elected unopposed but caucus members confirmed Caroll had initially flagged an intention to run against his colleague for the leadership.

Speaking to reporters, Allan says she was endorsed unanimously to succeed Andrews. She vows to continue to work “incredibly hard” as Victorian premier:

Can I say 24 years ago, almost to the day, when I walked into this place as a much younger woman from regional Victoria, I never expected to have this length of service or indeed to be able to have had the honour and privilege of serving the Victorian community in various ministerial roles.

Allan also pays respect to outgoing premier Daniel Andrews.

The appointments will come into effect when Andrews officially resigns as premier at 5pm.

Incoming Victorian premier Jacinta Allan exits the caucus room at Parliament House. Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Updated at 01.20 EDT

Key events

ACTU says early childhood educators will have ‘seat at the table’ after bargaining win

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has welcomed the win by the United Workers Union, the Australian Education Union and the Independent Education Union of Australia to bargain across multiple employers in the early childhood education sector.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil said:

This victory will mean that early childhood educators will now have a seat at the table through their unions.

For years early childhood educators’ real wages have gone backward, forcing them to leave the job they love to put food on the table for their own families in this cost-of-living crisis. Over 90% of workers in the sector are women who in the past have been locked out of the bargaining process and had their work undervalued.

Lifting early childhood educator wages is crucial to recognise the value of their work and put a stop to the workforce crisis that is devastating the sector.

Updated at 04.08 EDT

New Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson and chairman Richard Goyder both say they had no discussions with the federal government about its decision over Qatar Airway’s requested expansion.

Nationals senator and committee chair Bridget McKenzie asked the top executives whether they had formal, or informal, discussions with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, regarding the ruling that would impact their market share if agreed to.

Both said they hadn’t.

Hudson was then asked about why Qantas began lobbying in January 2023 regarding the Qatar Airways bid to run an extra 28 flights a week to Australia’s major cities.

Earlier in the day, Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka told senators she had met with transport minister Catherine King in January 2023, who had mentioned former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce had been in touch regarding the Qatari request and was “not happy”.

Hudson denied knowing anything about it:

It’s my knowledge that we weren’t told that a decision was imminent, and we actually weren’t formally told a decision had been made.

McKenzie asked Goyder to check with Joyce: “I’m sure he’d take your call.”

Qantas took on notice when it was first told about the pending Qatar application.

New South Wales has raised concerns about the “volume of gambling advertising” but declined to endorse an inquiry’s call for a total ban within three years, prompting concerns federal Labor may use state resistance to opt for a cap rather than ban.

State and territory ministers responsible for the regulation of gambling were consulted about the mooted ad ban on Tuesday, with no definitive decisions taken as they are still waiting for the commonwealth to state its position.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who has labelled the ads “annoying”, told the Guardian’s Australian Politics podcast that gambling ads “have become more obtrusive now”.

Read more below:

A West Australian man has faced court after he was accused of fleeing police and trespassing onto the tarmac at Perth Airport on Monday.

The Australian federal police (AFP) said officers were speaking to the 18-year-old at the airport when he allegedly gave them false information and then fled. Police allege he ran from police using an emergency exit door to run into a restricted area at the airport, and then used another exit to get onto the tarmac.

AFP officers arrested him on the tarmac, and he has been charged with giving false personal details, using false identification information, and trespass. He could face a fine of $3130 or up to 12 months in jail.

He was released on bail after his court appearance, on conditions including that he cannot go near Perth Airport. He is due to reappear in court on 3 October.

Some endorsements of the new incoming Victorian premier from federal politicians.

Monique Ryan ditches Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership

Monique Ryan is the latest politician to ditch her membership to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as the domestic carrier faces tough questioning in a Senate inquiry today.

Ryan told Guardian Australia she ditched the coveted invitation-only membership last week because she was planning to introduce a private member’s bill later this year to regulate lobbyists who “swarm parliament”.

The Australian public wins when we regulate lobbying. We all know that the relationship between Qantas and the Morrison and Albanese governments has been too close. It’s not been transparent. It’s harder to do the right thing when you’re being wined and dined by expert lobbyists like Qantas.

The bill, if passed, would force ministers to publish their diaries and strengthen the lobbying code of conduct to stop the revolving door between Parliament House and lobbying firms.

Ryan isn’t the first MP to give up their membership, with at least two lower house MPs having already done the same.

Queensland Greens MPs Elizabeth Watson-Brown and Stephen Bates both relinquished their access to the lounge on 14 September.

Watson-Brown also ditched her access to the Virgin Australia equivalent, ‘Beyond’.

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has given up her Qantas Chairman’s Lounge access. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated at 03.46 EDT

PwC scandal an example of ‘greed let loose in an old boys network’, Barbara Pocock says

In response to the release of the PwC Switkowski report, the Greens senator Barbara Pocock says the company is “a case study of what happens when uncontrolled greed is let loose in an old boys’ network that does not tell the truth”.

She said:

PwC are trying to win back public confidence after an egregious breach of our trust. The voluntary, unregulated measures contained in the Switkowski report will not ensure the level of transparency and accountability that the Australian public expects and deserves.

A few independent directors, audited accounts and ASX governance principles don’t cut it. What happens when these don’t happen or things go off-course? Absolutely nothing – because they are not backed by regulation or public accountability. PwC’s partnership model of aggressive profit pursuit means that ethics fall at the first hurdle without proper regulation. PwC have lost their right to the benefit of the doubt: they have form.

Pocock said if PwC wants to convince Australians they are serious about cleaning up their act they need to come clean and reveal all who were involved in the confidential leaks and who benefited.

Exonerating international partners from any culpability and throwing a few local fall guys who have already left the firm under the bus, won’t wash. Australians – and the Senate – need to see to all the evidence.

Updated at 03.34 EDT

Qantas CEO questioned about Qatar and flight traffic rights

Asked by Senator Simon Birmingham if Qantas would make a version of the submission public, Hudson backed Finch’s reasoning for not wanting it released, saying “we think that that’s an important part of democracy”.

Hudson reiterated that Qantas’s opposition to extra Qatar Airways capacity was due to fears of market distortion when, in October 2022, the aviation market was earlier in the Covid recovery. She acknowledged Qatar wanted to almost double what was just 2% of market share of flights between Australia and the Middle East.

However, Hudson repeatedly dodged answering questions from Birmingham who was asking if Qantas’ position on Qatar Airways’ expansion had changed, given that the market had recovered since.

“As I said before senator, traffic rights are a matter for the government to decide. These are not decisions that Qantas makes.

“If the government were to reopen the traffic rights debate and were to ask Qantas for an opinion, we would provide it at the time but that is not happening at the moment.”

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Updated at 03.26 EDT

Jacinta Allan sworn in as Victorian premier

It being 5pm and with Daniel Andrews officially resigned as premier of Victoria, his successor Jacinta Allan has now been sworn in.

Updated at 03.13 EDT

Qantas does not want its submission on Qatar Airways made public

Qantas executives are unwilling for their submission opposing Qatar Airways’ extra air rights to be made public, claiming it would deter corporations from making submissions to government inquiries in the future.

Appearing before a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson and general counsel Andrew Finch gave permission for the submission – which the airline prepared in October 2022 after an invitation from the transport department – to be provided in redacted form and kept confidential to the Senate committee members.

Finch said this was due to a “desire to ensure that corporates and individuals feel comfortable when they make submissions to the government on matters of these things and particularly when they’re invited to do so that their submissions are kept confidential”.

Post 1/2

Updated at 03.24 EDT

Circling back to some news we flagged earlier on the blog:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the latest available data on the causes of death, with Covid-19 deaths a significant contributor and entering the top three causes of death.

The data reveals there were 190,939 deaths in 2022, almost 20,000 more than 2021, and Covid-19 caused 9,859 of those deaths.

There were a further 2,782 people who died of other causes but with Covid-19 mentioned as a contributory cause of death on their death certificate.

While it is normal for the number of deaths to increase each year due to an ageing population, Australia recorded higher than expected mortality, significantly driven by these Covid-19 deaths, the ABS said.

There was a change in the top five leading causes of death in 2022 for the first time since 2006, with Covid-19 entering the top three. Ischaemic heart diseases remained the leading cause followed by dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), with cerebrovascular diseases and lung cancer rounding out the top five.

For those who died from Covid-19, their median age at death was 85.8 years.

Alcohol is also an increasing cause of death, the data shows. The rate of alcohol-induced deaths has increased by 9.1 per cent between 2021 and 2022. This is the fourth consecutive year that there has been an increase in the rate of deaths from alcohol in Australia and this is the greatest year-on-year increase. This is also the highest rate of alcohol deaths in a decade.

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education CEO, Caterina Giorgi, said:

It is absolutely devastating to see the ways that alcoholic products cause so much harm to so many families and communities.

Behind these deaths are alcohol companies that are experiencing bumper profits at the expense of people’s lives.

Daisy Dumas

A passenger on an Australian cruise ship has died while ashore in Vanuatu, P&O Cruises Australia has confirmed.

A spokesperson said:

P&O Cruises Australia can confirm a guest of Pacific Adventure has tragically passed away while in port at Mystery Island, Vanuatu.

The Pacific Adventure is billed as the cruising company’s “newest and largest ship yet”.

The spokesperson added:

We extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones and are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.

Trams diverted in Melbourne CBD for rally celebrating Dan Andrews resignation

Melbourne commuters may face travel disruptions on their journeys home, with trams to be diverted in the city due to a planned rally.

Melbourne city council has confirmed three city intersections will be closed due to a rally at state parliament celebrating the resignation of outgoing premier Daniel Andrews.

The intersections are Spring Street and Albert Street, Exhibition Street and Bourke Street and Collins Street and Bourke Street.

Trams will be diverted on Bourke Street in the blocked off area.

A small group of protesters have gathered at state parliament ahead of the rally. The council confirmed preparations have been made for up to 1,500 protesters.

Updated at 02.50 EDT

Fair Work Commission approves multi-employer bargaining in childcare

In May Guardian Australia revealed that early childhood education would be the first sector to face a claim for multi-employer bargaining, with unions seeking a 25% pay rise in the sector.

On Wednesday the Fair Work Commission approved multi-employer bargaining, meaning that negotiations for a pay rise for about 12,000 educators across the country can commence, with the aim of extending any funded outcome to the rest of the sector.

Employer peak bodies the Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) supported the union application.

CCC’s acting executive director Daniela Kavoukas said:

Paying minimum wage does not reflect the value, qualifications or responsibilities of the early education and care workforce and the sector is united on the need to address this. We know that multi-employer bargaining can help make our sector a career of choice, based on current successful Victorian agreements that have significantly raised wages and conditions. Today’s decision allows our sector to come together to negotiate the professional wages that early educators and teachers deserve.

Cela’s chief executive Michele Carnegie said:

This is an historic opportunity to take an inter-generational handbrake off our economy. This agreement can finally deliver professional pay to thousands of educators and improve access to quality early education for children and families.

Updated at 02.41 EDT

Monaro MP Steve Whan promoted to NSW skills, Tafe and tertiary education minister

Monaro MP Steve Whan will be the next New South Wales minister for skills, Tafe and tertiary education when he is sworn in later today.

The premier, Chris Minns, has promoted the veteran politician into the position after the sacking of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp over his failure to declare a number of properties owned by his wife and her family.

Neither Crakanthorp’s wife nor her family have been accused of any wrongdoing.

Whan was a minister in the previous Labor government before taking a break from politics only to return after Labor’s endorsed candidate for the regional seat pulled out just weeks before the election in March.

Finance minister Courtney Houssos will have domestic manufacturing and government procurement added to her job as part of the changes announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Minns said:

[Steve] will bring his considerable skills and experience to helping rebuild TAFE and the VET sector after decades of underfunding.I have asked Courtney to step into the highly important area of boosting domestic manufacturing and to end the exodus of jobs and ideas offshore.

NSW Labor MP Steve Whan. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at 02.45 EDT

Hudson backs Joyce claim about Qatar flights and market distortion

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has denied the airline lobbied the government to oppose Qatar Airways’ request to almost double its flights to Australia to benefit its own finances, as she backs claims from predecessor Alan Joyce that the extra flights would have distorted the aviation market.

Asked about the claim the extra flights would distort the market – a claim first aired by Joyce – Hudson told the Senate select committee on bilateral air agreements:

I can’t talk on behalf of Alan Joyce but what I understand in terms of the submission that we made with regard to Qatar [in October 2022, when Qantas opposed the expansion].

The international market had not yet recovered from Covid and our submission pointed to that, awarding a 200% increase in traffic rights to Qatar when the market hadn’t even returned to 100%, we felt that it was important that the market returned to 100% before we structurally changed.

Senator Ralph Babet asked Hudson if the decision “was important to your bottom line?”.

Hudson replied:

No, not at all. We actually could see that the market was coming back, that that was an important part, that there are many competitors now back in the market, 52 competitors are back in the market now. The market will be at 100% by early next year.

Hudson said she welcomed competition. “We think it’s important though that you strike the right balance between growth and growth in tourism, but also maintaining a healthy Australian aviation market at the same time”.

Updated at 02.34 EDT

Ballot to select Victorian premier would have been ‘messy process’: Brumby

John Brumby says that if the Victorian Labor leadership had gone to a membership ballot, it would have been a “messy process”, but he says it did not and that shows the “strength of the relationships within the caucus” and the strength of the relationship between incoming premier Jacinta Allan and her incoming deputy Ben Carroll.

Updated at 02.36 EDT

‘Firm but fair’: John Brumby says Jacinta Allan a ‘fabulous choice’ for Victorian premier

The former Victoria Labor premier John Brumby says the party choosing Jacinta Allan as premier is “a fabulous result”.

He told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:

She grew up in Bendigo, has raised her family in Bendigo. She is the first Labor premier to be born in Bendigo since Albert Dunstone, right back in 1935.

So she brings a bit of history. She has a wonderful way with people. She will be a firm but fair leader. She has got enormous experience in the parliament, more than 20 years in the parliament.

She has been the leader of the house. She understands the people’s side of politics through her role as member for Bendigo East, she has experience as a minister under Steve Bracks’ government, under my government, and Daniel Andrews’s government.

You put all that together, she is a person who gets on extraordinary well. She has great people skills. She is great on her feet and she is just a warm, friendly person but she will be firm but fair. So I think she is a fabulous choice.

Updated at 02.18 EDT

Victorian opposition leader questions if ‘anything will change’ under Allan

Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, is questioning if “anything will change” after Jacinta Allan was elected to become the state’s premier.

Pesutto urged Allan to “take action on the budget” and accused Allan of ignoring the record debt the state faces when she gave her first press conference as premier-elect:

Not one word on how the new premier will address mounting debt.

Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto speaks to the media this afternoon. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Updated at 02.55 EDT