Newcastle port climate protesters hail ‘magical experience’
Protesters blockading the world’s largest coal port over what they say is the failure of government to act on climate change have called the overnight protest a “magical experience” as they approach the end of their action.
Groups of 50 to 60 protesters took turns paddling out into Newcastle port’s shipping lane overnight to continue a 30-hour blockage, which is due to end this afternoon at 4pm.
Local organiser Alexa Stuart told AAP today:
Pancakes were being made, tea drunk, dolphins swam nearby and people watched the sunset and sunrise. Those involved say it was a magical experience.
The group behind the protest, Rising Tide, claims more than half a million tonnes of coal will have been prevented from leaving the port by the time the action ends.
Rising Tide says safety was paramount as the protesters spent the night on the water, rostered in two-hour shifts.
The action has won the support of senior members of the Greens and former federal leader Bob Brown.
Key events
Amy Remeikis
For anyone following along with the NSW Liberal senate vote (I know, we are all on the edge of our seat) we can tell you that there is still no result.
With nine candidates making a play for Marise Payne’s vacancy (it was ten, but Lou Amato dropped out late last week) there are a lot of votes to get through.
We are told there was a ‘minor technical glitz’ with the electronic voting system the 700-or so electors are using, but it was back to 100% in just a few minutes.
So just a little election day drama there for you all.
We are also told there should be a result ‘soon’. So stay tuned.
Search for missing bushwalker
A large-scale search is under way to locate a missing bushwalker on the south coast of New South Wales.
Christopher Karmadonoff, 22, was last seen entering bushland off Back Creek Road in Nethercote about 10.30am yesterday.
Police were alerted when he failed to return home from the hike and couldn’t be located or contacted.
Police officers, SES and a helicopter have conducted an extensive land and air search of the area but have failed to locate the 22-year-old, who took food and water with him.
NSW police said “serious concerns” were held for his welfare and urged anyone with information to contact local police:
Christopher is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 187cm tall, medium build, with brown hair.
He was last seen wearing a green/blue fishing shirt, board shorts, and work boots.
‘Terrific’ turnout for Newcastle blockade
Protesters at the Newcastle port blockade are celebrating a high turnout on social media.
Since yesterday the demonstrators have been blocking access to Australia’s largest coal port in a call for climate action.
Their blockade was due to end at 4pm.
Covid cases soar in NT
Covid cases have spiked sharply in the Northern Territory amid rising cases across Australia.
The NT Centre for Disease Control says more than 500 cases have been reported to it in the past four weeks, up from about 190 cases in the previous four weeks, the ABC reports.
These represent the results of PCR tests, as it is no longer mandatory to report positive rapid antigen test results, so authorities expect the prevalence of the disease to be much higher.
Israel has rights – and obligations under rules of war, Bowen says
Continuing on from the previous post, Chris Bowen was asked whether Israel has “any right to continue the conflict”.
Bowen said:
Israel has always had rights, but also they have obligations under the, you know, the rules of war, and we continue to call for those obligations to be observed, and as I said, Penny Wong, I thought, very articulately in this interview two weeks ago outlined what she would like to see happen.
I think what is happening is pretty close to what Penny Wong outlined, and of course we’ll continue – you and I don’t know what’s about to happen in the Middle East, nobody really does, all we can do is express our principles and our principles are very clear, and a ceasefire and the steps towards it have been a very encouraging development.
Amy Remeikis
‘Israel can only really be secure and free when Palestine is secure and free’
At the end of Chris Bowen’s interview on Insiders this morning (a very big thank you to Steph for covering off) the energy minister was asked about Gaza and Israel.
As an MP who represents western Sydney, Bowen was asked about what happens when the temporary pause in airstrikes ends.
He said:
We continue to call for steps towards a ceasefire, and the more enduring that ceasefire is, of course the better the world is, the better the region is, the better the people of Palestine are. Ultimately, I believe that Israel can only really be secure and free when Palestine is secure and free, and ultimately, that is our long‑term objective.
Out-of-control bushfire burning east of Perth
An emergency warning has been issued for an area east of Perth as a bushfire burns out of control.
The fire started near the intersection of Bruce Rock-Quairading and Shepherd roads in Kwolyin.
Emergency WA says people in the area bounded by Bruce Rock-Quairading Road to the north, Shepherd Road to the east, Groves Road to the south and Pantapin South East Road to the west and surrounds in parts of Kwolyin and Pantapin are in danger and need to act immediately.
See the Emergency WA website for more.
Newcastle port climate protesters hail ‘magical experience’
Protesters blockading the world’s largest coal port over what they say is the failure of government to act on climate change have called the overnight protest a “magical experience” as they approach the end of their action.
Groups of 50 to 60 protesters took turns paddling out into Newcastle port’s shipping lane overnight to continue a 30-hour blockage, which is due to end this afternoon at 4pm.
Local organiser Alexa Stuart told AAP today:
Pancakes were being made, tea drunk, dolphins swam nearby and people watched the sunset and sunrise. Those involved say it was a magical experience.
The group behind the protest, Rising Tide, claims more than half a million tonnes of coal will have been prevented from leaving the port by the time the action ends.
Rising Tide says safety was paramount as the protesters spent the night on the water, rostered in two-hour shifts.
The action has won the support of senior members of the Greens and former federal leader Bob Brown.
Two hospitalised after five vehicles collide in Bondi
Five vehicles collided in the beachside Sydney suburb of Bondi today, with two people sent to hospital.
The accident happened on Bondi Road near Dudley Street and involved four cars and a motorcycle.
The motorcyclist, a 36-year-old man, has been taken to hospital with leg injuries, while a 60-year-old man, a driver of one of the cars, was also taken to hospital in a stable condition, according to reports by Nine.
Traffic was banked up for hours as authorities worked to clear the scene. The road is now open and traffic conditions are normal, according to Traffic NSW.
Tory Shepherd
Bone cows bred in Australia replace human donors for dental grafts
Bone cows, specially bred in mad-cow-free Australia, are being used instead of human donors for dental and medical bone grafts.
While bovine grafts have been tested for spinal fusion, foot reconstructions and to fix skull traumas, the Australian versions are predominantly used in dental work to strengthen degraded jaws before tooth implants.
Dental bone grafts in the past required the use of bone donated from the bodies of people who gave consent while alive or from the patient themselves.
But now synthetic bones as well as xenografts – bone from animals including pigs or cattle – can often be used instead. Cow bones have become the most commonly used, but the next evolution is set to be artificial 3D-printed products.
Scott Davis, federal president of the Australian Dental Association, said people were “more comfortable” with bovine products than human, and they had been shown to work.
Read the full story here:
Tasmanian Labor MP seeks spot in lower house
A Tasmanian MP is trying to swap his upper house seat for a spot in the lower house at the next state election, as Labor keeps up the pressure on Australia’s last Liberal government, AAP reports.
Josh Willie has announced he will nominate for preselection for the Hobart-based lower house electorate of Clark.
Having sat in the Legislative Council as Labor’s member for Elwick since 2016, Willie will resign from parliament when the next election is called if his preselection tilt is successful.
The decision has been endorsed by Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White as the party readies to announce all of its election candidates next month.
Willie acknowledged the move wasn’t without risk for him and Labor but said it was purely about changing the government, which is formed by lower house results:
It’s not a secret that we need to build our vote in the northern suburbs of Hobart.
The next Tasmanian election is scheduled to be held on or before 28 June 2025 but the island state’s government has been in minority since May, when two MPs quit the Liberals to sit on the crossbench.
The resignation of former attorney general Elise Archer in October prompted a recount in Clark, which was won by Liberal candidate and Hobart councillor Simon Behrakis. It returned the Liberals to holding 11 of the 25 lower-house seats.
Five Liberal lower-house MPs have resigned from Tasmanian parliament since the party was re-elected in 2021. All were replaced in recounts by fellow Liberals.
The government, under the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, has faced several no-confidence motions in parliament this year but all have failed.
Legislation was passed last year to increase the number of MPs in Tasmania’s lower house from 25 to 35, restoring figures to pre-1998 levels.
Seven MPs will be elected from each of the state’s five lower-house electorates.
Rallies in Sydney and Melbourne
Here are some more images of the rallies being held across the nation today.
This morning the Australian Jewish Association joined community members calling for the release of all remaining Israeli hostages.
From 1pm crowds have gathered in Melbourne’s city centre and at Sydney’s Hyde Park, urging the Israeli government to commit to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Tens of thousands still turning up in Naarm Melbs for Palestine!
For a permanent ceasefire in Gaza *and* the West Bank, an end to Israeli occupation and apartheid, and a free Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/77s4X0MyUU
— Chris Woods 🏳️⚧️ (@tophermwoods) November 26, 2023
Thousands gather for pro-Palestinian rallies
Australians have once again amassed in major centres for the seventh week in a row demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
It follows a brief “humanitarian pause” in the conflict amid hostage deals secured between Israel and Hamas.
The rallies for Palestine are being held across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Broome, Castlemaine and Gubbi Gubbi.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe appeared at Melbourne’s rally this afternoon, expressing a solidarity between Indigenous people and Palestinians.
Earlier today, a pro-Israeli demonstration in Sydney’s Martin Place was also held, calling for the release of all remaining hostages.
Independent MP Allegra Spender addressed the rally, saying she was “appalled” by reports of antisemitism and hate speech in the community.
The week ahead in politics
Amy Remeikis
Being the last week of (joint) sitting in the parliament, both the government and opposition are getting ready to come in swinging. Labor’s honeymoon has well and truly ended and Peter Dutton feels as though he has some momentum in areas he traditionally feels stronger in – borders and law and order. (Even if facts get sacrificed along the way.)
So leading in to what will be the last house sitting week until February, the government is feeling a little bruised, and is keen to refocus attention on what it is doing.
This week there will be debate on the Closing the Loopholes legislation, which is an area where Tony Burke shines. Burke has slowly been chipping away at industry scepticism about the bill, and now has the independent crossbench in the Senate to win over.
The bill expanding paid parental leave will get through the house and we will see the passage of the legislation making hate symbols, including Nazi symbols, a crime.
The Murray-Darling legislation will be the main attraction for NSW and Victorian MPs from all sides of the chamber, with Tanya Plibersek looking to win enough support for it to pass the Senate.
Labor is also pushing through its legislation which will strip Australian citizenship from terrorism offenders (who meet the threshold). That comes as part of the increased focus on home affairs.
But you are also going to see a lot of anger. Amid all the Christmas messages and end-of-year drinks, the fight is well and truly on. Here is a taste from Burke this morning:
The Opposition is doing what the Opposition likes to do, which is to shout at the world and talk tough. Talking tough doesn’t keep Australia safe, strong laws do. We’ll be introducing strong laws on citizenship in the exact way that we advised Peter Dutton years ago, he could have done. He chose not to, chose to take chances with people’s security, and has left it for us to clean up.
Nino Bucci
Questions posed by the Wieambilla attack
There was a small arsenal of guns. Troubling online posts, rendered even more sinister in hindsight. And complete isolation, in and of itself not a concern, but – in combination with the other factors – is perhaps a cloak to hide the dagger.
All this emerged in the days after six people, two of whom were police officers, were killed at 251 Wains Road, Wieambilla, on 12 December 2022.
It was hard to imagine a less likely place for a deadly act of terrorism – which police labelled Australia’s first Christian terrorist attack – than the remote Queensland property.
Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, who lived there, were found to have been primarily motivated by a “Christian violent extremist ideology” when they killed police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow and neighbour Alan Dare. The Trains were shot dead during a gunfight with heavily armed tactical police in the hours afterwards.
Almost a year later, a question remains unanswered: could law enforcement and intelligence agencies do anything differently to stop a similar attack happening? And, if so, have authorities already changed the way they work?
Read the full story here:
Jonathan Barrett
Climate policies of big-four banks in spotlight
There is a growing gulf between the climate policies of Australia’s big banks, with some pledging to severely limit future financing for fossil fuel projects, while others have left the door open, according to an analysis of updated lending policies.
Part of the discrepancy lies in the banks’ approach to arranging bonds, which are used by companies to access financing along with, and sometimes instead of, a direct loan.
When companies issue bonds, they receive money from investors in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the initial capital at a later date. In short, investors become lenders.
Kyle Robertson, a banks campaigner at the environmental activist group Market Forces, said coal companies had turned to bonds to raise money after direct funding avenues started to dry up:
We’ve seen a pivot towards bonds, and coal companies actually get two-and-a-half times more money from bonds than from traditional lending, so to have no policy on that is just a massive gap.
Read the full story here:
And a little architectural visual feast for your Sunday.