Dry lightning ignites Grampians fire front as community faces ‘devastating loss’
Firefighters are continuing to battle an out-of-control blaze north-west of Melbourne that has destroyed two homes and an accommodation lodge.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning to provide an update. He said crews had been working “very hard” overnight on the Little Desert fire and the fire in the Grampians.
Melbourne wasn’t let go either, with a grassfire very early this morning in Altona that needed to be responded to by Fire Rescue Victoria and assisted by the CFA.
Today, attention will turn back to the western part of the state. Crews will continue to black out and overhaul that fire ground as residents continue to return into the township of Dimboola to check their properties … unfortunately we’ve seen that loss of property there, and the nature lodge as well, which will be devastating for the local community.
Key events
Sydney commuters have been hit with another round transport delays following the suspension of light rail lines due to an issue with communication systems.
This morning three lines including L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford were suspended, with Transdev issuing an alert warning travellers to allow extra travel time.
Light rail services have since begun running again in a limited fashion, with buses continuing to supplement some services.
It follows train union halt work bans that have wrought havoc across Sydney’s transport network in recent months, as negotiations with the state government continue.
Transdev has been approached for comment.
Victoria launches advisory council to boost music industry amid struggles
The Victorian government has launched a new music industry advisory council to provide expert advice on the challenges facing the state’s music industry and future-proofing its global recognition.
Chaired by the managing director of independent music publisher Concord Australia and Apra Amcos board member, Jaime Gough, the group is made up of 14 artists, venue operators, promoters, publishers, managers and other industry leaders.
The minister for creative industries, Colin Brooks, said he looked forward to working with the new body to ensure Victoria remained the “beating heart” of Australian music.
We’re supporting Victorian artists and venues to thrive, creating more opportunities for creative projects, live gigs and local jobs while strengthening our state’s renowned music industry.
The news follows the cancellation of Splendour in the Grass for the second year in a row, with organisers citing needing “a little more time to recharge”.
Throughout 2024 a federal parliamentary inquiry into the faltering live music sector held a series of hearings across the country.
Rising operational costs and increasing incidences of extreme weather – necessitating last-minute cancellations and driving up the cost of insurance premiums – were the most common reasons cited at the hearings for the sector’s failure.
Greens pledge $31bn for public hospitals under new plan
The Greens have announced a $30.6bn election commitment to public hospitals across the nation, which would increase commonwealth funding to the co-funded sector.
The pledge would see a pathway to 50-50 funding of public hospitals between the states and territories and the federal government and remove the 6.5% cap on funding growth.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, the Greens spokesperson for health and mental health, said he had heard from nurses and doctors that they “desperately need our governments to invest more in our local public hospitals”.
It’s time for the major parties to stop passing the buck between state and federal governments and do what the community expects – that is, invest the money needed to ensure everyone can access the best possible healthcare at our local public hospitals.
This election there is a clear choice – more of the same underfunding of our local public hospitals, or we can get more Greens into federal parliament to make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax to fund the public healthcare our community needs, like well-resourced local public hospitals, dental into medicare, and seeing the GP for free.
Head of Victorian lodge ‘devastated’ at loss from bushfire
The camp director of Little Desert Nature Lodge, Moshe Kahn, appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning following the loss of the accommodation facility in bushfires yesterday.
Kahn said he was “just devastated” and there was “no thought of a bushfire” when about 100 people visited the lodge over the weekend.
It was beautiful. It was peaceful. An incredible uplifting weekend. I left on Sunday morning. Monday morning, all of the other guests left and there was no thought of a bushfire.
The lodge has been in operation for five decades and had entered new owners’ hands two years ago. Asked if anything had been saved, Kahn said the manager’s residence was spared but the entire main block including 40 bedrooms was “all gone”.
The guests left at about 11am. There was no talk of fire. At about 12.30pm … [we had a] phone call from the CFA saying that there was a fire but you don’t need to evacuate. We evacuated about 5pm and by 8pm it was already on fire.
We’re going to need help rebuilding … there’s open grass all around … it’s quite incredible that it even caught on fire. But it ended up flying across and landed right on the deck with the ember so that’s ultimately what got it going … Had you asked me on Monday morning… it’s not what we thought would happen.
Origin Energy fined $1.6m after revealing details on violence-affected families
Australians fleeing family violence had their private details shared without their consent and were pursued for debt recovery by a major energy retailer, AAP reports.
Origin Energy has paid $1.6m in fines after it was served penalty notices by the Essential Services Commission for breaching rules to safeguard the vulnerable cohort between June 2021 and March 2024.
In that span, the ASX-listed company disclosed confidential information of 16 family violence-affected customers without their consent 21 times and took debt recovery action against another 38 without considering the potential impact.
Under Victorian rules, energy retailers cannot disclose a customer’s information to third parties without consent and are required to consider the potential impact of debt recovery on those customers.
Origin’s conduct was disappointing and highlighted the need for a continued focus on supporting family violence victims, commission chair Gerard Brody said.
This penalty shows the Essential Services Commission is determined to ensure retailers follow those rules.
Origin has been contacted for comment.
Race discrimination commissioner condemns neo-Nazi rally in Adelaide
Australia’s race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has condemned a neo-Nazi rally held in Adelaide on Australia Day, warning a national anti-racism framework is needed to combat the white supremacy movement.
South Australian police arrested 16 men on Sunday alleged to be members of the National Socialist Network, following a march through Adelaide’s CBD. One was charged with using a Nazi symbol.
Sivaraman said far right rallies were a “horrific manifestation” of what happened when racism was normalised.
The rise of far-right movements in this country and their influence cannot be ignored. This was a day of national significance which is also a day of sorrow and remembrance for many First Nations people.
Politicians and other prominent figures need to be careful that their language doesn’t embolden these acts of hatred. The media needs to be careful about which ideologies it platforms and how.
If we really want to target these and other similar threats, the only way forward is national anti-racism action that addresses the roots of this ideology in Australia.
Woman charged with murder after alleged stabbing near Shellharbour
A woman will appear in court today on murder charges following the death of a man near Shellharbour in regional New South Wales on Tuesday.
Emergency services were called to a street in Dunmore about 3pm after a 25-year-old man was found critically injured.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man for a stab wound to his abdomen but he died at the scene.
Following police inquiries, a 35-year-old woman was arrested at a home at Albion Park Rail this morning and taken to Lake Illawarra police station, where she was charged with murder.
She has been refused bail to appear in Wollongong local court today. Police believe a number of people were at the scene at the time and inquiries are continuing.
People with disability to get ‘more choice over where they live’ under Labor plan
The minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning ahead of launching an updated disability strategy to improve accessibility for 5.5 million Australians living with a disability. It will have a particular focus on homelessness and housing.
She said:
What the strategy will do is actually get all levels of government … making sure that when it comes to homelessness services, there will be a particular focus on meeting the needs of people with disability. And when it comes to building homes, there will be a focus on making sure that those homes are more accessible as well, so that people with disabilities have more choice over where they live.
Rishworth pointed to a spot of intriguing local news for her South Australian electorate, with reports that her main opponent for the Liberal party will be another Rishworth – her cousin.
How do you feel about that?
Rishworth replied that she hadn’t been in contact with her opponent, adding that “it’s a democracy”.
Anyone can run. So I’ll be putting what I stand for and my record forward at this election. And I’m really proud to stand by the fact that I’ve fought very hard for my electorate every single day that I’ve been the local member and I’ll be standing on that record.
Third man charged over alleged bashing of off-duty police
A third man accused of involvement in a bashing that left two off-duty police officers in hospital has been hit with charges, AAP reports.
Emergency services were called to the popular Sydney entertainment precinct of Enmore Road in Newtown on 22 January, where they treated the officers, including a 25-year-old who was unresponsive.
An off-duty nurse gave him CPR until paramedics arrived and he was taken to hospital. Both police have since been released from care.
Koby Weaver, 20, and Danai Deneiderhavsein, 18, faced Downing Centre local court last Friday on charges relating to the incident but neither received bail.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that a 22-year-old man was also arrested in Enmore on Tuesday afternoon.
He has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others.
Police did not issue him bail and he will face the Newtown local court on Wednesday.
Weaver was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while Deneiderhavsein was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company
A court was last week shown a brief phone-camera clip said to capture part of the alleged confrontation.
Woman due in court over alleged murder in Coffs Harbour
A woman has been charged following an investigation into the alleged murder of a man on the New South Wales mid-north coast last year.
Emergency services were called to Kurrajong Street in Coffs Harbour about 4.15am on Thursday 26 September 2024 following reports of an assault.
Officers found a 41-year-old man suffering injuries to his upper body and he was taken taken to Coffs Harbour hospital, where he later died.
A 24-year-old man was charged by police and remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries, police arrested a 38-year-old woman at Coffs Harbour police station yesterday and she was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and carry a cutting weapon upon apprehension.
She was refused bail to appear before Coffs Harbour local court today, Wednesday 29 January.
Teens charged after fatal NSW motorcycle collision
Three teenagers have been charged following the death of a motorcyclist in regional New South Wales on Tuesday.
About 7.15am, officers attempted to stop a ute that had been reported stolen from Moree, on the Kamilaroi Highway, west of Gunnedah.
It allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit began before it collided with a motorcycle.
Police stopped to assist the rider, who was critically injured. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.
The ute allegedly continued through Gunnedah on to the Oxley Highway and further police attended to assist and initiated a second pursuit.
At Carroll, east of Gunnedah, the ute left the road with three occupants allegedly running from the scene. Following a search, three boys, all aged 14, were arrested and taken to Tamworth police station.
A 14-year-old boy, who police will allege was the driver, has been charged with 15 offences including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and fail to stop and assist, while the other two boys, both aged 14, have each been charged with five offences.
All were refused bail to appear in a children’s court on Wednesday.
Greens choose western Sydney candidates for election
The Greens have launched two women to run in Barton and Watson in the upcoming federal election as focus turns to Labor’s hold on western Sydney.
Deputy Greens leader and NSW senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi today announced the preselection of Manal Bahsa as the candidate for Barton and Jocelyn Brewer as the candidate for Watson.
Faruqi said:
Jocelyn is a former teacher, parent and psychologist. She is ready to fiercely fight for change for her community. Manal is a practising lawyer and a woman of colour who lives in the heart of Barton. She will be an authentic, powerful voice for her community. We will keep Dutton and his Coalition out, but the truth is that Labor has abandoned western Sydney, and people have had enough.
Brewer pointed to tax reform of bid corporations, free dental and mental health services and the climate crisis and key policy platforms, while Bahsa said she was a “passionate advocate for civil rights”.
While I was born in Australia, my family’s diverse heritage has deeply shaped who I am – my mother is of Greek and Ghanaian descent, and my father is Lebanese.
To me, Australian democracy is about more than just elections – it’s about valuing the inherent dignity of every individual and ensuring everyone has the right to live free from oppression, discrimination and fear.
Heffernan said the Grampians fire had grown to 5,000 hectares overnight as a result of dry lightning on the western side of the national park.
It will continue to burn for some time and be a challenge for firefighters in the days and weeks to come, particularly as we see warmer weather returning to the state.
A lot of work is now starting to be done on the private farmland adjoining the Grampians National Park in anticipation for that warmer weather later on this week and into next week. And it’s just so devastating for the local community, but also devastating for our First Nations people there. As we know, the Grampians is full of such rich heritage for our First Nations people.
Dry lightning ignites Grampians fire front as community faces ‘devastating loss’
Firefighters are continuing to battle an out-of-control blaze north-west of Melbourne that has destroyed two homes and an accommodation lodge.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning to provide an update. He said crews had been working “very hard” overnight on the Little Desert fire and the fire in the Grampians.
Melbourne wasn’t let go either, with a grassfire very early this morning in Altona that needed to be responded to by Fire Rescue Victoria and assisted by the CFA.
Today, attention will turn back to the western part of the state. Crews will continue to black out and overhaul that fire ground as residents continue to return into the township of Dimboola to check their properties … unfortunately we’ve seen that loss of property there, and the nature lodge as well, which will be devastating for the local community.
Gallagher on the chances of interest rates cut
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, is appearing on ABC Radio National ahead of today’s inflation numbers.
Asked if she was confident the RBA would cut rates, she replied the government had been making sure the decisions it took “don’t work against the RBA” and “the statistics speak for themselves”.
When we came to government inflation had a six in front of it, now it has a two in front of it.
Gallagher said there had been “quite extraordinary” job creation in Labor’s term, with 1.1m additional jobs, almost half going to women, and wages growing “for the first time in a decade”.
Asked if Labor would implement further cost-of-living relief if there was no rate cut, she pointed to the upcoming budget, due to be handed down on 25 March.
We get that people have been doing it tough, feeling under pressure, which is why throughout the budget we have found very responsible ways to find some relief from that … As we are putting our budget together, obviously we are mindful of the economic conditions, how people are feeling and whether there are any responsible decisions we can take.
