Lismore MP to lead flood recovery as Minns reshuffles cabinet
A veteran MP has landed a state cabinet posting and responsibility for leading disaster recovery efforts after becoming a key voice for local communities devastated by floods, AAP reports.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will enter the inner circle of NSW premier Chris Minns’ government as part of a reshuffle sparked by a minister’s resignation over her use of a taxpayer-funded car.
Saffin has been a high-profile advocate for the region following record-breaking floods in 2022 that left thousands of homes uninhabitable or damaged. The Labor veteran was first elected to state parliament in 1995 and also served a six-year stint as the federal member for Page.
Saffin has been given a newly created post as recovery minister, and will also take on the portfolios of small business and minister for the north coast.
John Graham has also been permanently given the role of transport minister, leaving him responsible for handling a bitter dispute with rail workers over pay.
Graham has been acting in the role after his predecessor Jo Haylen resigned from the portfolio after using her ministerial car to travel from a holiday home to a winery for lunch and for other private trips.
He will keep his role negotiating with private toll operator Transurban to overhaul pricing on Sydney’s sprawling network of motorways. He will also keep his responsibilities as special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for music and minister for night-time economy.
Roads will become the responsibility of Jenny Aitchison, whose existing portfolio of regional roads will be absorbed into the ministry.
Key events
Chalmers praised “quite remarkable acts of selflessness” from first responders and the SES before confirming the allowance and the payment would be extended.
This will be a bit of extra help for the people who are hardest hit. And we have been primarily focused throughout on the human cost of these natural disasters, but there will be a very substantial economic cost as well, and recovering and rebuilding from natural disasters will be a key influence on the Budget that Katy Gallagher and I will hand down in eight days’ time.
Remember, around 5 million Australians were in harm’s way, when it comes to Cyclone Alfred. Around 2 million homes. At one point, there were than 450,000 homes without power. In our part of the world, that’s actually the most ever, simultaneously, and there was something like 12 million work hours lost when businesses closed down. So we are getting a handle on the economic costs, and we are getting a handle on the costs to the Budget, and we will report our initial assessment of that in the Budget, Tuesday next week.
He said, as flagged, there would be a bout a $1.2bn hit to economic output as a consequence of the ex-tropical cyclone – equivalent to a quarter of a percentage point in GDP.
We made a heap of progress on inflation numbers … but we can anticipate some upward pressure on building costs as a consequence. There will also be costs to the Budget, and they will be substantial. We will provision an extra $1.2bn in next weeks in new funding in new payments, and also to help rebuild local communities as well. That new $1.2bn will be part of $13.5bn total in the Budget to respond to and rebuild after natural disasters.
Jim Chalmers is appearing in Queensland, extending the allowance of the jointly funded disaster payments for ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
Before him, the state’s education minister said help was available for people who had lost essential services, including household contents, food, clothing and medicine.
The disaster recovery allowance has been extended to an additional two LGAs, Bundaberg and Toowoomba. South of the border, we also have changes that we need to make, along with changes in Queensland, so if a person has suffered some of the most extreme impacts, including major damage to their home, serious injury or loss of a loved one, they may be eligible for the Australian government disaster recovery payment.
That is the payment that offers eligible residents $1000 and $400 per eligible child. Today I can announce that this payment will be made available in Brisbane, in Ipswich, in Moreton Bay and in Toowoomba, and in localities in the Somerset local government areas. South of the border the payment will be made available in the shires of Clarence Valley, Richmond, Bellingen, Kyogle. We know then we’ll be in the longer term more to do when it comes to recovery.
Victoria’s worst-hit spots for numberplate theft
Casey has been handed the unenviable title of Victoria’s epicentre for numberplate deaths, with just shy of 2,000 reports made to police in the 12 months to September 2024.
Hume ranks second (1,408), followed closely by Greater Dandenong (1,374), with Wyndham (1,121) and Brimbank (1,110) rounding out the top five hardest hit in the state.
More than half of all thefts from vehicles across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia relate to stolen licence plates.
Only 22% of stolen registration plates are recovered.
The Casey local area commander, Insp Stu Richards, said stolen number plates were attached to other vehicles – many of which were stolen – to help offenders “fly under the radar and commit further crimes including aggravated burglaries, arson attacks, drug trafficking and petrol drive-offs”.
Having to replace your plates is not only an inconvenience, it’s also costly. Especially if you keep receiving tolls or fines once they’re in the hands of criminals.
That’s why we encourage vehicle owners to use anti-theft screws to deter thieves in the first instance. These screws are available free-of-charge at your local police station.
Natasha May
Climate-spurred burden of cardiovascular disease to ‘more than double’ by 2050
Hot weather is responsible for 7.3% of the heart disease burden in Australia and is set to double by the middle of the century, according to research published today in the European Heart Journal.
The research, led by Prof Peng Bi from the University of Adelaide’s school of public health, found that during the 15-year period from 2003-18, there were more than 48,000 years of life lost each year to cardiovascular disease attributable to high temperatures in Australia.
The researchers used data from the Australian burden of disease database on illness or death caused by cardiovascular disease and then applied a statistical model to calculate how much cardiovascular disease or death can be attributed to hot weather.
The researchers then used their own model to look at the likely impact of climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions in the future under two different scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In one scenario, emissions stabilise, and in another they continually rise.
Under the scenario of emissions stabilising, the number of healthy years of life lost due to cardiovascular disease is expected to increase by 183% to 139,829 by 2050.
Under the model of emissions continuing to rise, the years of healthy life lost due to cardiovascular disease are projected to increase by 226% by 2050 to 161,095.
Prof Bi said:
Predicting future disease burden always comes with some uncertainty, and our models rely on assumptions that may not capture every real-life detail. However, despite these uncertainties, the comprehensive nature of our approach makes the study especially valuable for planning future climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Our research shows that as climate change brings more frequent and intense heat, the risks associated with higher temperatures are likely to increase, especially for vulnerable groups. It highlights the importance of taking precautions during hot weather, such as staying hydrated, finding cool environments and seeking medical help when needed.
Seven arrested and man hospitalised after alleged street brawl in western Sydney
Seven people have been arrested following an alleged stabbing brawl in western Sydney this morning.
About 4.15am on Monday, emergency services were called to a road in Green Valley following reports of a brawl. Officers arrived to find a group of people allegedly fighting in the street, including a 29-year-old man – allegedly wearing a balaclava – with a stab wound to his back.
He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Liverpool hospital under police guard in a serious but stable condition.
Police arrested four women – aged 32, 33, 59 and 19 – and two men – aged 26 and 21 – before taking them to Liverpool police station.
Officers have established a crime scene and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident.
Following initial inquiries, police believe the group allegedly confronted two men – both wearing balaclavas – after they tracked a vehicle allegedly stolen from Mount Prichard earlier this week to Green Valley.
Police have also been told one of the men wearing a balaclava fled the scene before police arrived. No charges have been laid.
Lismore MP to lead flood recovery as Minns reshuffles cabinet
A veteran MP has landed a state cabinet posting and responsibility for leading disaster recovery efforts after becoming a key voice for local communities devastated by floods, AAP reports.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will enter the inner circle of NSW premier Chris Minns’ government as part of a reshuffle sparked by a minister’s resignation over her use of a taxpayer-funded car.
Saffin has been a high-profile advocate for the region following record-breaking floods in 2022 that left thousands of homes uninhabitable or damaged. The Labor veteran was first elected to state parliament in 1995 and also served a six-year stint as the federal member for Page.
Saffin has been given a newly created post as recovery minister, and will also take on the portfolios of small business and minister for the north coast.
John Graham has also been permanently given the role of transport minister, leaving him responsible for handling a bitter dispute with rail workers over pay.
Graham has been acting in the role after his predecessor Jo Haylen resigned from the portfolio after using her ministerial car to travel from a holiday home to a winery for lunch and for other private trips.
He will keep his role negotiating with private toll operator Transurban to overhaul pricing on Sydney’s sprawling network of motorways. He will also keep his responsibilities as special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for music and minister for night-time economy.
Roads will become the responsibility of Jenny Aitchison, whose existing portfolio of regional roads will be absorbed into the ministry.
Federal budget to put cost of living ‘front and centre’ – Gallagher
Cost of living will be “front and centre” of Labor’s budget ahead of the federal election, following scathing reports in News Corp tabloids that suggested the price of groceries had soared under the Albanese government.
Front page headlines across metropolitan New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania included “aisles be damned – Labor pains at checkout as groceries soar 30%”, “$3000 extra at the shops” and “Albo’s shop of horrors”.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher told reporters in Canberra on Monday that the budget, to be handed down next week, would follow the same path as the previous three delivered with a focus on driving down inflation and helping households.
The fourth Albanese budget will have a higher premium on responsible economic management. Of course, cost of living will be front and centre, making sure that we are supporting households where we can now that we’re seeing inflation come back to the more normal range.
Cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise program the government was keeping pressure on the supermarket sector in response to concerns over grocery prices.
We keep saying to those supermarkets they have got to do something at the checkout because families are really feeling those grocery price increases.
We’re proud of the fact that we have brought inflation down from 6%, which we inherited under the Liberals, to just over 2%. But there’s still more to do to make sure that people are feeling a bit of relief at the supermarket checkout.
– with AAP
Search on for man, 23, missing after reportedly falling into Queensland waters
In Queensland, a search and rescue operation is continuing today to attempt to locate a 23-year-old man reported missing from Jindalee boat ramp yesterday.
Emergency services were called just before 5.40am on Monday following reports the man had fallen into the water and failed to resurface.
This morning’s search is focusing on the river and shoreline upstream from Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Search assets include general duties officers conducting foot patrols, water police, Polair and the SES.
Radio National back after outage
Good news to the radio waves – ABC RN is back across digital and analogue platforms and streaming, more than two hours after it first cut out.
Police seize Brett Whiteley art and luxury yacht from crime syndicate
More than $11m in luxury assets – including a yacht, Rolex watches, Cartier jewellery and Brett Whiteley art – has been forfeited to the commonwealth as suspected proceeds of crime after an Australian federal police (AFP) investigation.
The decision in the supreme court of Victoria grew out of AFP-led operation, which focused on a large Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate’s alleged access to firearms, large-scale drug importation activity, extensive wealth and threats to life.
The investigation uncovered significant plots involving alleged drug importations, including how they were planned by syndicate leaders from prison.
It also included an investigation into numerous luxury items owned by syndicate members, which were suspected of being proceeds of crime. They included a luxury yacht worth $800,000, investment funds, original paintings, fine jewellery and properties.
AFP detective superintendent Scott Raven said the seizure was “key to disrupting and deterring serious organised crime across the country”.
Money remains the lifeblood of organised crime and cutting off the flow of ill-gotten finances helps prevent further harm to the community by cutting off revenue and motivation.
