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Barilaro denies former chief of employees’s claims, calling them ‘fictitious’
Michael McGowan
Former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro has put out an announcement rejecting the explosive submission from his former chief of employees Mark Connell as “fictitious” and “false”.
As we’ve reported, this morning the higher home inquiry into Barilaro’s appointment to a profitable New York commerce job heard bombshell proof from Connell concerning a dialog between the 2 that he alleges passed off in April 2019.
Connell mentioned the previous deputy premier informed him: “that is it; that is the job for after I get the fuck out of this place” previous to the roles being publicly introduced.
However Barilaro has dismissed the proof, and insisted the inquiry ought to name him as a witness. He mentioned in an announcement:
The dialog he has recalled is fictitious, false and solely serves as a reminder as to why we needed to half methods.
If this inquiry is real in its intent to know the method and the reality by which I used to be appointed, then certainly I’d be referred to as as much as present this element instantly.
The continued drip feed of choose data from the inquiry into the general public area goes in opposition to all procedural equity.
Key occasions:
Behaviour was “unprecedented” premier says
Andrews is requested if he regrets not having acted within the a long time he has been in parliament.
I’m not wanting backwards. What I’ll say is that this, the really stunning and unprecedented nature of what was happening is famous and the dimensions of this, the distinctive nature of that is famous by the company at this time within the report.
It grew to become recognized to us at about 9 o’clock on Sunday night time. By 9 o’clock Monday morning, I had sacked a minister and set about an excessive intervention, and unprecedented intervention by a Nationwide Get together to important take over the Victorian get together.
We didn’t wait as a result of there was no time to attend, Jenny Macklin and Steve Bracks have labored onerous to place down suggestions and have faithfully delivered on all of these. There may be extra work to be carried out, after all, and this report calls on us to do this but in addition to simply have it is a operate of the foundations of the get together.
Victoria committing to “the biggest overhaul of the integrity system within the nation” lawyer basic says
The lawyer basic, Jaclyn Symes, has taken to the mic :
We thank the integrity company for his or her vital work. We’re not shying away from the findings of the report and apologise for the conduct any members of the federal government have been concerned in and committing to the biggest overhaul of the integrity system within the nation.
Symes says she is assured of bipartisan help in implementing suggestions and can begin from at this time bringing collectively committees to progress them:
There’s a good set of suggestions within the report and 21 can be supported by the federal government however as a premier has indicated, that is about the entire parliament, Victorian expectations, their representatives, and it’s a good place to begin, and ethics committee, bipartisan, multiparty membership of the ethics committee which can additional develop the suggestions within the report as a result of they go to the operate of the Parliament, the operate of MP extra importantly, and I’m assured of bipartisan help.
As chief of the federal government within the higher home, it’s common observe for me to take care of multi-parties and know that is one thing many members of Parliament can be eager about.
Andrews guarantees to transcend the 21 suggestions within the report to answer “disgraceful behaviour”:
To offer you some examples, fee of advantages by traceable means, checks and balances to ensure the electoral roll is correctly used, manufacturing of picture ID when an individual joins a political get together.
It’s not adequate and never sufficient, you have got these as a matter of get together guidelines and they need to be the regulation of the state … I’ve indicated this to each the Ombudsman and the Ibac Commissioner however we’ll go nicely past that by writing that into regulation.
If a political get together didn’t have processes, practices and plans to ship all of these issues and probably issues like exterior audits like we have now had – essentially the most intensive maybe in Australian political historical past – if a political get together didn’t take these significantly and ship these issues and extra, than they’d not be eligible for public funding. Public funding which after all elevated considerably after we made sweeping donation reforms on the finish of 2018.
In additional basic phrases, however the report tabled at this time reveals is completely disgraceful behaviour. Behaviour that doesn’t meet my expectations or the expectations of hard-working members of the Victorian committee.
Andrews takes “full accountability” and apologises
Andrews has mentioned:
As chief of the get together and chief of our state I take full accountability for that conduct. That’s what the highest job is about and I apologise for it.
Andrews responds to IBAC findings, accepting all report suggestions
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is talking in response to the discharge of the state’s integrity company’s report into Labor’s department stacking scandal.
Andrews says the federal government will settle for all 21 suggestions and “go nicely past” these suggestions by way of reform.
Josh Taylor
ACCC trialling rip-off web site takedown
The Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee is quietly trialling a brand new service to take down phishing web sites, with dozens taken down prior to now three weeks.
The phishing websites – the place they impersonate companies to be able to steal private data and banking credentials – have been taken down by UK firm Netcraft in a trial by the ACCC and the Australian Securities and Funding Fee, ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb informed a Legislation Council of Australia occasion on Tuesday.
The automated takedown trial is concentrated on rip-off web sites reported to the ACCC’s Scamwatch web site, and to ASIC, and is identical used prior to now 4 years by the UK’s nationwide cyber safety centre.
Cass-Gottlieb mentioned:
Over the previous three weeks we have now submitted greater than 300 malicious web sites concentrating on Australians to the service, leading to dozens of takedowns thus far with dozens extra pending. Many of those are phishing websites impersonating Australian companies and authorities authorities, although others relate to pet scams, shoe scams, cryptocurrency funding scams and tech help scams.
She mentioned it was one piece of the puzzle in disrupting rip-off websites, along with informing customers about scams, and getting extra organisations to determine and disrupt scams as they come up.
We notice Business Codes are nonetheless being developed in lots of areas, however in any occasion organisations ought to already be taking the next steps in relation to phishing rip-off prevention.
Organisations know when they’re an everyday goal of impersonation by scammers. Organisations ought to actively monitor for, warn about, and request the removing of internet sites impersonating their model. Complaining of a branding or copyright violation to a web site internet hosting supplier is quick and simply confirmed relative to, for instance, the ACCC requesting a web site’s removing for not delivering items after buyer fee.
She mentioned phishing scams have been the most typical scams Australians expertise, with 32,000 experiences within the first half of 2022 alone.
Cass-Gottlieb additionally took intention at banks for not doing sufficient to stop folks being taken in by cryptocurrency scams. She famous that one financial institution within the UK blocks all transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges, and whereas the ACCC isn’t calling for that, banks ought to be alert for patrons who wouldn’t usually switch cash to such exchanges.
Christopher Knaus
Federal court docket hears closing submissions in Mostafa Azimitabar case in opposition to federal authorities
Within the federal court docket, closing submissions are presently underway within the case of refugee Mostafa “Moz” Azimitabar, who’s suing the Australian authorities for unlawfully detaining him within the Park and Mantra inns in Melbourne for 15 months.
Azimitabar was significantly ailing when he was dropped at Australia for medical remedy and stored within the inns in late 2019.
His case alleges that the Australian authorities had no energy to designate the inns as locations of detention. He additionally alleges the expenditure incurred by the federal government in establishing the inns as detention centres was illegal.
Azimitabar’s barrister Lisa De Ferrari SC on Wednesday morning mentioned the inns had been used to punish refugees after the Australian authorities publicly promised that no refugee who got here to Australia underneath the Medevac laws can be allowed to stay right here.
The detainees confronted extreme restrictions on their motion. Azimitabar was repeatedly pat-searched, spent 23 hours a day locked in his room, and had no contemporary air. The federal government has sought to justify the restrictions, no less than partly, by blaming Covid-19.
However De Ferrari mentioned:
There was no Covid-19 in Australia when the Mantra resort was established as an [alternative place of detention], none. And the historical past reveals that they did set up it as a result of on the time the Medevac laws had handed and nice numbers of individuals have been coming to Australia. The historical past reveals that the commonwealth authorities was tremendous clear that there was no manner completely that any one who got here to Australia as a medical transferee would ever be allowed to stay in Australia.
And what that meant was that they’d be detained, and detained for a really lengthy time frame, as a result of by the way, like my shopper … they have been all recognised to be refugees underneath the scheme that the federal government selected to implement by means of offshore processing.
So the place would you ship them? Not again to their nation of origin, as a result of that may be refoulement on the a part of Australia. In order that they knew these folks can be punished by being stored in these Apods [alternative places of detention] for a really lengthy time frame, and so they did that nicely earlier than Covid-19 and so they did that in opposition to the proof that your honour has that the commonwealth had a coverage of transferring away from detention centres.
The listening to continues.
Particular person in custody after three youngsters die in WA hearth
An individual is in custody after three youngsters died in a home hearth in Port Hedland in Western Australia’s Pilbara area, AAP experiences.
The our bodies of the youngsters, aged 10, seven and 5 months, have been discovered inside the home by firefighters who responded to the blaze on Anderson Avenue round 4.45pm on Tuesday.
Premier Mark McGowan mentioned it was a horrible tragedy and an individual was in custody:
There may be presently a prison investigation underway as to how the fireplace began and somebody is in custody over that.
Michael McGowan
Perrottet denies ever discussing Barilaro taking over a commerce commissioner job
The New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, has denied ever discussing John Barilaro taking over a New York commerce commissioner job when the roles have been being devised in 2019.
It follows the explosive submission from Barilaro’s former chief of employees, Mark Connell, that the previous deputy premier informed him in April 2019 that he needed the profitable New York commerce job for “after I get the fuck out of this place”.
The alleged dialog passed off, Connell mentioned, following a gathering with the then-treasurer, Perrottet, and funding minister and deputy Liberal get together chief, Stuart Ayres.
In a brief assertion simply launched Perrottet mentioned:
The previous deputy premier, minister Ayres and I had quite a few discussions in 2019 in relation to the institution of International NSW and at no level in any of these discussions was it ever raised that the previous deputy premier could wish to maintain a place as a commerce commissioner.
Labor chief, Chris Minns, has referred to as on Perrottet to handle the media over the explosive proof earlier than he flies out on a 10-day commerce mission later at this time.
Barilaro has labelled Connell’s submission as “false” and “fictitious”.
Milton Dick ‘honoured’ to be endorsed as parliament’s new speaker
Sarah Martin
In case folks missed this late yesterday, Queensland Labor MP Milton Dick has been confirmed because the parliament’s new speaker.
In an announcement, Dick mentioned he would settle for the federal government’s nomination as Speaker of the Home of Representatives for the forty seventh Parliament. Dick mentioned:
I’m honoured to be endorsed at this time by the Federal Parliamentary Labor Get together.
Out of deep respect for the Workplace of Speaker I can be consulting with Members from throughout the Home of Representatives, to seek the advice of and search their help.
I’ll now observe and respect the processes of election to this vital position.
Brrrr, it’s chilly down south
There have been very chilly circumstances for the southern components of the nation this morning, with frost in Tasmania, whereas components of Melbourne had the coldest morning in 4 years.
With settled circumstances and clear skies, many components of #Melbourne noticed their coldest morning in 4 years at this time.
Minimal temperatures <0°C in most components, with loads of frost round.🥶A cool and sunny day forward, high of 13°C within the metropolis. ☀️
Observations: https://t.co/M58ZA9f0kX pic.twitter.com/vFSwbQ6Er3— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) July 19, 2022
Adeshola Ore
Victorian opposition seizes on Ibac findings
The Victorian opposition has seized on the findings of a joint integrity company investigation that exposed the widespread misuse of public funds for political functions and a “catalogue” of unethical behaviour within the state’s Labor Get together department.
The investigation discovered two former Andrews authorities ministers breached parliamentary codes of conduct once they misused public funds to gasoline an unlimited department stacking operation, however there was not sufficient proof that they had dedicated prison offences to suggest prosecution.
It discovered the blatant use of public assets within the average Labor faction was extraordinary and stunning. However no proof of potential misuse of public funds was found inside different factions.
Opposition chief Matthew Man mentioned the report confirmed the Andrews authorities was “mired in corruption, cover-ups, and political video games on the expense of Victorians”.
He mentioned in an announcement:
Victoria wants a Premier and a authorities completely centered on ending the well being disaster and supporting communities to recuperate and rebuild.
Bear in mind this November, Daniel Andrews and Labor should not a celebration for our state’s future.
Josh Butler
‘Now we have the strongest doable partnership with Sri Lanka’: dwelling affairs minister
Let’s return to the sooner Radio Nationwide interview from dwelling affairs minister Clare O’Neil, who mentioned Australia’s support to Sri Lanka isn’t simply “transactional” to stem potential asylum seeker boat arrivals.
O’Neil mentioned Sri Lanka is one in every of Australia’s “very pricey and previous pals”, and warned the nation’s meals and gasoline shortages, and financial disaster, would get “dramatically worse within the months forward”. The minister visited Sri Lanka, traditionally a key transit level for asylum seeker boats attempting to achieve Australia, in mid-June and mentioned she mentioned the nation’s financial disaster, crime, and folks smuggling.
O’Neil mentioned:
That is an space on which we have now the strongest doable partnership with Sri Lanka.
Overseas minister Penny Wong introduced final month that Australia would give Sri Lanka $50m in improvement help for meals and healthcare wants. Requested whether or not Australia would offer extra funding to the nation, and whether or not Sri Lanka’s financial points could immediate extra asylum seeker boats, O’Neil mentioned Australia was in discussions.
We’re persevering with to speak to Sri Lanka about how we are able to help them. You’re making this sound very transactional and it’s genuinely not.
There’s a geopolitical context right here. Australia is most secure in a area of affluent, useful, robust democracies, of which Sri Lanka was one till very just lately, so we have now an absolute nationwide curiosity in serving to this nation again on its toes.
However O’Neil additionally despatched a stern message to folks smugglers, reinforcing that Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders stance on boat arrivals had not modified.
Don’t get on a ship… you’ll be despatched again.
Everybody will get returned. That’s the Australian authorities’s coverage.
Queensland experiences 15 Covid deaths and 1,034 folks in hospital
There have been 9,650 new instances within the final reporting interval, and 21 individuals are in intensive care.
Michael McGowan
NSW opposition requires solutions after Barilaro’s chief of employees’s claims
The New South Wales opposition has seized on the proof from John Barilaro’s former chief of employees, calling on premier Dominic Perrottet to entrance the media to reply questions earlier than he leaves on a 10-day commerce mission to Japan, South Korea and India on Wednesday.
NSW Labor chief Chris Minns mentioned the submission from Mark Connell steered the New York commerce job was “created by John Barilaro for him to fill”.
Minns mentioned:
These revelations point out that that was the plan all alongside.
I believe all of us have to have the reply as to how and whether or not another cupboard ministers within the NSW authorities have been conscious of this scheme and in the event that they have been, what steps will the NSW premier take to be able to rectify this. On the finish of the day this goes to the integrity of the NSW authorities.
Labor’s chief within the higher home, Penny Sharpe, who sits on the committee probing the appointment, additionally mentioned she would welcome Barilaro giving proof. She additionally mentioned:
[It is] clear that each Mr Ayres and Mr Perrottet are going to have to return earlier than the committee sooner quite than later.
Barilaro, as we informed you earlier, has denied Connell’s proof that he indicated he needed the job as early as April 2019 as “false” and “fictitious”.
Albanese says CHO Kelly didn’t suggest masks mandate to him
Circling again to the Prime Minister’s press convention in Melbourne, the place Anthony Albanese was requested about masks mandates.
Q: “Prime minister, did Professor Kelly, the chief well being officer, truly suggest mandates to you?”
Albanese responded: “No.”
He was then requested if he’s anticipating his colleagues to put on masks in Parliament subsequent week.
I’m anticipating colleagues to observe the recommendation which is on the market, which is when you can’t socially distance, when you’re across the corridors of Parliament Home, then it’s best to observe the recommendation which is to put on a masks.
The prime minister mentioned chief well being officers had spoken about desirous to encourage masks the place applicable.
The rationale is that we take heed to the recommendation from the chief well being officers. And what the chief well being officers who met final week mentioned was that they needed to encourage masks carrying the place it was applicable.
And we all know that there are some mandates in place. The reality is that in case you have mandates, you’ve acquired to implement them. And the mandates, like after I spoke to the New South Wales premier final week, he indicated that while there are mandates on public transport in New South Wales, not everyone seems to be carrying a masks. So we do wish to encourage that behaviour.
Individuals have been extremely accountable throughout this pandemic. Individuals have carried out it powerful. Individuals have taken care of one another, and I’m assured that they’ll proceed to take action.
We’ll proceed to take recommendation from the specialists who’re the chief well being officers.
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