Australia news live: ‘perilous path’ to avoid global recession, Chalmers says; Olivia Newton-John memorial in Melbourne

Key events

Independent MP Zali Steggall suggests Labor’s take on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is “greenwashing,” following the appearance of Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, on ABC Insiders this morning.

Updated at 20.09 EST

Treasurer defends super tax ‘tweaks’

Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended potential alterations to tax breaks on multimillion-dollar superannuation balances on Sky News this morning.

The changes could include a cap on large super balances that attract concessional tax treatments – Chalmers says they are not “especially controversial”.

The fundamentals won’t change. The tax concessionality will still be there, but we do need to consider whether we can afford the degree of tax concessionality for people who’ve got very big balances.

Chalmers acknowledged that the Coalition made similar “tweaks” to the superannuation taxes, including changes in 2016 that raised $5 billion.

He also denied that these changes would be the first of many – which was suggested by former Liberal prime minister John Howard.

I’m not interested in a war of words with John Howard. John Howard is someone who I respect and he deserves better than to be wheeled out to prop up Angus Taylor’s dodgy arguments or to shore up Peter Dutton’s failing leadership.

Possible changes to super concessions have been floating around federal politicians’ discussions for months. It ramped up last week with a proposal to enshrine an objective for superannuation into legislation, AAP reports.

Updated at 19.29 EST

More from Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, on ABC Insiders this morning.

Bowen is asked his view on putting a climate trigger in environmental law so that approvals of new non-renewable energy projects have to consider the climate impact before approvals.

He says his view is Labor is “getting on with the job”.

Tanya Plibersek is progressing very important reforms to the EPBC Act, a big step forward. I’m progressing reforms in the safeguard mechanism. The two are both complementary, but not related to the legislation.

My view is we’re getting on with the job of implementing the election mandate.

I believe the Samuel reforms that Tanya is progressing, which provide more transparency, accompanied by the reforms to the safeguard mechanism, get real emissions reduction.

Updated at 18.19 EST

Bowen says banning new coal mines ‘not part of the agenda’

Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, spars with David Speers on ABC Insiders this morning, in a back and forth over why Labor is not banning new coal and gas projects.

Bowen says Labor will take the national energy market to 82% renewables by 2030, which “inevitably” leaves 18% coming from non-renewables. In the medium-term, he says, that will be gas as coal-fired power stations leave the system.

Speers questions: do we need new coal mines to do that?

“David, the only coal matter that’s been decided by this government is Tanya Plibersek’s decision to reject Clive Palmer’s coalmine.”

He is pushed again: for net zero, do we need new coal?

“The Labor Party is not proposing new coalmines.”

And again: why not say to the Greens, ‘we will ban new coal’?

“We believe in insisting the regime is improved so emissions come down from everyone, all big emitters.”

In a final confirmation of Labor’s stance, Speers asks: there won’t be any ban or time-frame as to when we can stop opening up new coal and gas?

“That’s not part of the agenda, won’t be part of the negotiations.”

Bowen reiterates his goal is to “get emissions down from all our emitters”.

I understand the focus on gas and coal and oil in this discussion. That’s very important. So is, finally, finally, getting a regime in place which reduces emissions from all our big emitters.

Inevitably, any new development has emissions implications … that’s why I’m so determined to get a framework in place to see emissions come down. If safeguards reforms don’t pass there’s no constraint on parliament on biggest emitters, emission also continue to go up.

Minister for climate change, Chris Bowen: ‘I’m … determined to get a framework in place to see emissions come down’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at 18.04 EST

Federal senator Lidia Thorpe has tweeted that she is proud to have joined #PrideInProtest at the Sydney Mardi Gras parade last night.

This comes after footage showed her confronting police as she appeared to be staging a protest by lying in front of a truck on Oxford Street.

A spokesman for Sydney Mardi Gras confirmed the parade had been interrupted by Senator Thorpe as she attempted to stage a protest.

“While we respect the individual’s right to protest, interrupting the parade in this way has significant implications for the safety of our participants and audience,” the spokesman said.

Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.

Updated at 17.43 EST

Chris Bowen reiterates ALP focus on making super ‘more equitable’

Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, tells ABC Insiders that he has seen liberal MPs “froth at the mouth” at the thought of making superannuation more equitable or sustainable.

When Bowen was shadow treasurer in 2019, he said then-prime minister Scott Morrison’s changes to superannuation was a retrospective tax.

He says Labor’s focus is about making the super system more sustainable and equitable.

We suggested at this time it could go further … I’ve seen Liberals frothing at the mouth, saying how outrageous it is that we should consider making the super system more equitable or sustainable.

Superannuation was a Labor invention to give working people a chance at a dignified retirement. We’re very proud of it. We will build on it. We will make it sustainable and equitable as well.

Updated at 17.32 EST

‘No cost to government’ developments rolled out without infrastructure

Developer-led suburban utopias outside of Sydney can be deceiving. Investigative reporter Anne Davies says residents of Wilton are copping the unexpected consequences, after thousands of houses are being rolled out without enough infrastructure to support them.

Agreements to provide infrastructure “at no cost to government” in Wilton has left roads muddled, blocks sold with no sewerage service, and a proposed new town centre meant to bring in 15,000 jobs that is still a skydiving centre.

It’s set to get worse. Read the full report here:

Updated at 17.26 EST

Mundine urges yes campaign to lift its game

Aboriginal businessman Warren Mundine is a loud voice in the no campaign against an Indigenous voice to parliament – but he wants to be convinced to switch sides.

Mundine told AAP one of the reasons was to get the yes campaign to up its game.

“Part of it is pushing the yes campaign to actively focus on these things, to come up with something.”

Another one of Mundine’s main reservations is the extra level of bureaucracy.

He is unapologetically contrarian – pro-mining, pro-business, but with activist roots in 1980’s Aboriginal-led protests. He switched political allegiance from national president of the Labor party to the Coalition, and former liberal prime minister Tony Abbott appointed him to lead the his hand-picked Indigenous Advisory council in 2013.

Warren Mundine is a loud voice in the no campaign against an Indigenous voice to parliament Photograph: Jane Dempster/The Guardian

Updated at 19.24 EST

Lidia Thorpe confronts police at Mardi Gras

Prime minister Albanese wasn’t the only federal politician to make an appearance at last night’s Sydney Mardi Gras Parade.

Footage showed Indigenous independent senator Lidia Thorpe lying on Oxford Street in front of a float, temporarily halting the parade in an apparent gesture of protest –to a negative response from the crowd.

Two police officers approached Senator Thorpe as members of the crowd booed “Get rid of her! Get rid of her!”.

Thorpe then got up and spoke with police and Mardi Gras crew.

Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.

Updated at 16.52 EST

Good morning

And welcome back to the Guardian’s morning live blog, where we will take you through the day’s rolling news updates.

We wake up sleepy this Sunday after last night’s Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney, where Anthony Albanese became the first prime minister to join the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Alongside him, 12,500 people danced their way along Oxford Street, flaunting rainbow sequins and sparkles. NSW opposition leader Chris Minns and the federal MP for Sydney Tanya Plibersek marched alongside Albanese to cheers from the crowd.

Olivia Newton-John’s memorial will be held at Hamer Hall in Melbourne this afternoon – those attending are encouraged to wear orange in her memory. Albanese will join attendees, as will a lineup of stars. Among them, Delta Goodrem will perform a set of Newton-John’s hits, and Paul Hogan and John Travolta will make virtual appearances.

And, as the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting, Dominic Perrottet is pushing to expand stamp duty reform. In an effort to make it easier for first homebuyers to purchase more expensive properties, they will be allowed to pay an annual tax when they upgrade, rather than upfront stamp duty payments. The NSW premier’s policy announcement comes just weeks ahead of the state election on 25 March, where housing affordability will be a hot-button issue.

I’m Rafqa Touma, taking the blog through the day. If you spot something you don’t want us to miss, you can tweet it my way @At_Raf_

And with that, let’s get started.

Updated at 18.14 EST