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Australia news live: Anthony Albanese and Finland PM Sanna Marin affirm ‘common vision based on equality, trust and shared values’ | Australia news

Australian and Finland strengthen ties

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has released a joint statement with Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin, after their meeting earlier today. It marks the first visit to Australia by a Finnish PM.

The statement says:

Leaders reaffirmed the warm and productive relationship between Australia and Finland, underpinned by a common vision based on equality, trust and shared values.

They underlined the need to work together in strengthening their resilience as open and democratic societies and in fostering sustainable development.

They agreed that managing complex supply chains, energy sources and investing in trustworthy critical and emerging technologies was needed to promote economic, political, social and environmental stability as well as human rights.

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese (with dog Toto) greets the prime minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, during a visit to Kirribilli House in Sydney today. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

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Peter Hannam

Peter Hannam

Home loan approvals decline in October as higher rates dim demand

If the Reserve Bank is on the lookout for signs that its elevated interest rates are reducing demand in the economy, housing finance figures out today from the ABS will provide some more evidence.

The value of new home loans that were approved in October tallied $25.8bn, down 2.7% for the month, and the lowest level since December 2020, according to RateCity.

The value of new home loan approvals dropped for a ninth month in a row in October as the impact of higher borrowing costs continued to sap demand. The $25.8bn total was the lowest since December 2020, @RateCity said. pic.twitter.com/CKQLCThLLN

— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) December 2, 2022

The drop, smaller than the revised fall of 4.4% in September, means the value of new home loans was 17.1% lower than for October 2021.

The $25.8bn total was neatly divvied up with two-thirds going for owner-occupied homes and one-third for investors.

The number of owner-occupier first home buyer loans dropped again in October, down 3.2% from September and off almost 26% from the same time a year ago, RateCity said.

A sign that there’s still a bit of competition in the market is shown by the size of refinancing, with $17.84bn in loans between switched to new providers in October.

While 1.1% lower than in September, the total remains almost 10% higher than for the same month a year earlier.

Whether new or refinanced, mortgage holders are still shying away from fixed-interest loans. In dollar terms, fixed loans make up just 4% of the total compared with almost 50% in mid-2021, RateCity said.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has taken to social media to reflect on his visit to Gough Whitlam’s family home in Cabramatta, which was officially dedicated today to mark the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s election.

This morning I went to Gough Whitlam’s family home to celebrate the anniversary of a famous victory, and the home’s preservation.

Fifty years ago, people all over Australia voted to change the direction of our nation.

At around 11 pm, the street outside this home was filled with cheering supporters and was lit up by the flash of cameras, as Gough returned home and addressed the nation from this lounge room as prime minister-elect.

Thank you to all those who worked to acquire and preserve this home. I was delighted to be there to see it opened so Australians can share this piece of history for years to come. [4/4] pic.twitter.com/eZB2VnZf0G

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 2, 2022

Lisa Cox

Lisa Cox

Tiwi Islanders celebrate ‘historic victory’ over Santos project

Tiwi Islanders say they are celebrating the federal court’s decision to reject Santos’ bid to re-start drilling for its multibillion-dollar Barossa gas project.

The full federal court upheld an earlier ruling that Santos’ drilling approval should be set aside because the oil and gas regulator Nopsema failed to properly assess whether the company had consulted everyone affected by the proposed drilling.

Tiwi senior lawman Dennis Tipakalippa said the court’s decision would have significant implications for the Barossa gas project, with drilling stalled since early October and Santos now required to go back to the drawing board on their plans:

We want the whole world to hear our voice. We want the whole world to see our power.

We have fought to protect our sea country from the beginning to the end and we will never stop fighting. Our sea is like our mother – we are part of the sea and the sea is part of us.

Santos and every other gas company must take note that this is our country and we must be consulted.

Santos has been ordered to pay Tipakalippa’s costs.

Tiwi mayor and senior elder Pirrawayingi said “this decision shows that the spirits of our people are always with us”.

Environmental Defenders Office special counsel, Alina Leikin, called the decision a “historic victory” and said the court had “confirmed unequivocally that Tiwi people have a direct and immediate interest in their sea country and that they must be consulted”.

Tiwi senior lawman Dennis Tipakalippa: ‘Santos and every other gas company must take note that this is our country and we must be consulted’.
Tiwi senior lawman Dennis Tipakalippa: ‘Santos and every other gas company must take note that this is our country and we must be consulted’. Photograph: Rebecca Parker

The two prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the swift conclusion of a comprehensive and ambitious EU-Australia Trade Agreement.

Once concluded, a trade agreement between the European Union and Australia would herald a new era in EU-Australia relations and offer significant economic benefits to both sides.

The leaders also condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as “a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter”.

The prime ministers demanded that Russia immediately end its war and withdraw its forces from within Ukraine’s borders. They expressed their commitment to work together with the international community to continue supporting Ukraine.

Albanese and Marin said fighting climate change and protecting biodiversity will require global cooperation.

We need to make rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and act urgently to adapt to climate change in order to reach the goals of the Paris agreement. We affirm our resolve to work with the international community to pursue efforts to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

For those interested, you can read the full joint statement on the PM’s website.

Australian and Finland strengthen ties

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has released a joint statement with Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin, after their meeting earlier today. It marks the first visit to Australia by a Finnish PM.

The statement says:

Leaders reaffirmed the warm and productive relationship between Australia and Finland, underpinned by a common vision based on equality, trust and shared values.

They underlined the need to work together in strengthening their resilience as open and democratic societies and in fostering sustainable development.

They agreed that managing complex supply chains, energy sources and investing in trustworthy critical and emerging technologies was needed to promote economic, political, social and environmental stability as well as human rights.

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese (with dog Toto) greets the prime minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, during a visit to Kirribilli House in Sydney today.
Prime minister, Anthony Albanese (with dog Toto) greets the prime minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, during a visit to Kirribilli House in Sydney today. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Tesla rolls out its first electric trucks

Vehicle giant Tesla has delivered its first electric semitrailers in the US, with chief executive Elon Musk promising the trucks would “look like an elephant moving like a cheetah” and provide a “step-change” in transport and emissions.

The Tesla Semi, delivered five years after it was first unveiled, promises to travel 800 kilometres on a single charge while fully loaded, and use four independent motors to reach speeds of 96km/h in just 20 seconds.

Musk said producing a semitrailer may not seem to “make sense from a brand standpoint” for Tesla but could make a significant impact on transport emissions.

In the US, there’s 15 million passenger vehicles and 200,000 semi trucks so it seems like a small percentage but it’s actually 20 per cent of US vehicle emissions because you’ve got a huge vehicle and it’s being driven all the time.

When you factor in the number of hours driven and the weight that it’s carrying – although it’s only one per cent of vehicle production it’s 20 per cent of vehicle emissions and it’s over a third of all the particulate emissions.

From a health point, particularly in cities, this is a huge impact so that’s why we’re doing it.

Tesla also revealed it had developed a megawatt charger to recharge the vehicles – technology that would later be used with its Cybertruck – and the truck would feature traction control, regenerative braking, and an automatic clutch.

– from AAP

Tesla chief executive, Elon Musk, during an unveiling of the company’s first electric semitrailers.
Tesla chief executive, Elon Musk, during an unveiling of the company’s first electric semitrailers. Photograph: TESLA/Reuters

Ben Doherty

Ben Doherty

Homicide squad commander praises investigators and Lynette Dawson’s family

Homicide squad commander detective superintendent, Danny Doherty, paid tribute to police investigators but gave particular credit to Lynette Dawson’s family for their unstinting efforts to seek justice.

The family and friends of Lynette Dawson never gave up hope, they’ve been the driving force behind this.

Doherty said Lynette Dawson’s case would remain open, and urged anyone with information, particularly about the location of her body, to come forward to police.

Obviously, this is unfinished business, the case is still open because we haven’t found her.

Emily Wind

Emily Wind

Thanks Natasha! Hello everyone, I’ll be with you all for the next little bit on the blog.

Natasha May

Natasha May

Thanks for following along, it’s been a big day of news. I leave you in the hands of my lovely colleague Emily Wind. Have a great weekend!

Reporter:

You spoke about what Gough’s legacy, obviously, meant for you and your family. What feelings do you have when you walk through these halls?

Albanese:

It’s just a sense of honour that someone who was here celebrating with neighbours and the true believers with the Hills Hoist. It’s a very humble home. The Whitlams were big on vision, but big in size as well. And you look at the size of the bedrooms there, where they were crowded in. And it just shows that it is a great country where people of humble background living here in the suburbs made a difference for all of the neighbours and the communities that have come to make western Sydney their home.

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese (left), and minister for climate change, Chris Bowen, inspect the family home of former prime minister Gough Whitlam in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta during a dedication ceremony on the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s election.
Prime minister, Anthony Albanese (left), and minister for climate change, Chris Bowen, inspect the family home of former prime minister Gough Whitlam in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta during a dedication ceremony on the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s election. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Whitlam home dedicated on 50th anniversary of election

Today Gough Whitlam’s family home in Cabramatta where he celebrated his 1972 election victory has been officially dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the win.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was at the ceremony:

It is fantastic to be here 50 years to the day when Gough Whitlam declared himself as the prime minister of Australia. The Whitlam government changed our nation, modernised our nation, laid the foundations for the best healthcare system in the world, opened up educational opportunities, changed the way that investment happened in our suburbs, advanced Indigenous reconciliation, and changed our relationship with the world. It is a very proud moment to be here for this restoration and the preservation, for all time, of a part of Australia’s history. And it is important that we recognise our history, that we preserve it, and that we honour it for all Australians. And the Whitlam Institute and Western Sydney University will be able to do that into the future.

Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, outside former prime minister Gough Whitlam’s restored home in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta, during a dedication ceremony on the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s election.
Prime minister, Anthony Albanese, outside former prime minister Gough Whitlam’s restored home in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta, during a dedication ceremony on the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s election. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Asked about whether his own family home in Camperdown might be next, Albanese said:

Well, it is public housing already, of course. It is still there. But I do drive past there very regularly. And there’s a lovely person lives there and it is now her home. And I think that it is important that we recognise our history.

WA records 14 Covid deaths and 185 people in hospital

There were 11,762 new cases in the weekly reporting period, and 4 people are in intensive care.

Cases have remained fairly steady since last week’s 10,520 new cases.

As of 4pm yesterday, there were 7,229 active cases in Western Australia.

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

Wong on Taiwan joining CPTPP trade deal

Both ministers were extremely cautious when asked whether they had a common position on the possibility of Taiwan joining the trade deal known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (a subject of a recent verbal stumble by Anthony Albanese that he later clarified).

Mahuta said:

We have a number of applications to the CPTPP. We’ve got the UK, China, Taiwan, Ecuador, and potentially another fifth country coming online. As a repository of those applications, New Zealand has consistently said we welcome applications into the CPTPP. And it must be a high quality, high standards agreement.

Wong added:

I make the same point that minister Mahuta finished on: that this is a high-quality agreement and any application obviously would be assessed on the basis of parties’ capacity to comply with and observe the fullness of the quality of the agreement. Our focus, at the moment, is obviously the UK and I just make the point that any such application would require the consensus of the parties.

Let me explain quickly what the ministers are alluding to: the focus on high standards can be interpreted as a warning that China may not be able to meet those standards in light of the recent trade disputes with Australia. Meanwhile, Wong’s reference to the need for consensus among all 11 current members is a reminder of the practical difficulties that would accompany either Taiwan or China being accepted unanimously. At this stage it appears the UK has the best chance and is first cab off the rank.

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

NZ welcomes review on rights for its citizens in Australia

The New Zealand minister for foreign affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, says she is pleased with indications from the Albanese government about its review of policies towards New Zealand nationals living in Australia.

The Australian government has previously said it does not “want people to be temporary residents forever” and plans to announce improved pathways to citizenship by Anzac Day 2023. It has also suggested that it is looking at aligning the policy on voting in Australia with New Zealand’s rules – Australians residing in New Zealand for more than a year can vote in local elections.

Asked during her visit to Canberra today about Australia’s review, Mahuta said:

We’re certainly pleased with the indications that we’ve had. This is an area where we have an opportunity to work together. But primarily, that’s a matter for Australia to progress. The opportunity for New Zealand is to ensure that we are advocating in the best interests of New Zealanders who make a contribution here in Australia, and we’ll continue to do so.

At the same press conference, the Australian minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, said:

The prime minister has made our position very clear. We want to progress issues that affect the lives of those New Zealanders resident in Australia in ways that recognise our deep friendship and that apply common-sense outcomes. That’s what the prime minister said after his meeting with [New Zealand’s] prime minister [Jacinda] Ardern and we will work through those with New Zealand.

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

New Zealand interested in Aukus cybersecurity projects

New Zealand has expressed an interest in working with Australia and Pacific countries to boost cybersecurity – potentially under the Aukus banner.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, addressed the media after they met in Canberra today.

Wong said it was an “excellent, productive” meeting covering a range of areas including the Indo-Pacific, the war in Ukraine, and Pacific regionalism. Wong said she appreciated New Zealand’s support for Australia to host a UN climate conference in partnership with Pacific island countries in 2026.

Mahuta said the two countries shared “many common perspectives”.

Asked about Aukus – which includes plans for nuclear-powered submarines, but also other work with the US and the UK on advanced technologies – Wong said:

I think New Zealand is aware of our rationale and our intention in relation to Aukus, which is about being able to ensure regional stability. At a time where there is a lot of competition and contest in the world, Australian comes to those arrangements, just as we come to our regional engagement, with the same perspective and the same objective.

We want a region that is peaceful, that is stable, that is prosperous, and in which sovereignty is respected and all of our work – whether it’s in our defence capability, or our diplomacy, or our engagement in education, on our labour movement position in relation to the Pacific – these are all about working towards that sort of region and ensuring all aspects of Australian power and Australian government engagement are directed to that end.

While the nuclear-powered submarines are clearly a joint project of Australia, the US and the UK, the three Aukus countries have signalled that other aspects of the security partnership could be done together with other close partners.

Mahuta said:

The Aukus arrangements aren’t a set of arrangements that New Zealand are a part of, neither do we seek to be a part of, however we have indicated that where there is a opportunity across the region to cooperate, for example, in areas such as cybersecurity, we remain open to those conversations.

Australian foreign minster, Penny Wong (left), with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Canberra today.
Australian foreign minster, Penny Wong (left), with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Canberra today. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Amy Remeikis

Amy Remeikis

61 bills pass through parliament in Albanese government’s first six months

Canberra is rapidly emptying of politicians but the staff never stop working.

Now that the end of the parliament year is upon us, Anthony Albanese’s office have released this little tidbit – in its first six months, the government has passed 61 bills through the parliament.

That, they tell us, is the most government legislation passed in the first few months since 2013.

‘No sentence is long enough’: Lynette Dawson’s family

Simms has taken some questions outside court, first saying he did not believe that Lynette’s body will ever be found:

I don’t think he’ll ever give it up. His non-parole is 18 years. He’ll be, what, 92, if he lives that long? I don’t think he’ll give up where she is.

Simms was asked if Dawson displayed any emotions today:

No. No emotions whatsoever.

Simm’s wife, Merilyn Simms, said no sentence was going to be long enough:

No sentence is long enough for taking someone else’s life. But it was very interesting to hear the way the judge came about making that decision. So, 24 years – wonderful. He may not live for 24 years, but I hope he lives for quite a long time.

‘At last, we have justice’: Lynette Dawson’s brother speaks after Chris Dawson sentence

Outside the New South Wales supreme court, Lynette Dawson’s brother, Greg Simms, is addressing the media, thanking family, friends, and investigators for their part in securing a conviction for Chris Dawson.

Simms said he and his family would like Lynette to be “remembered as Lynette Joy Simms” and that her family “really never believed this day would come”:

At last, we have justice for Lyn, and that was our main aim. For our family, Lynette will always be remembered as a happy, loving, gentle sister, aunt, niece and friend.

Chris Dawson discarded her. The Dawsons disregarded her. From today on, we would like her to be known and remembered as Lynette Joy Simms. No sentence is long enough for taking someone’s life.

Today is in recognition of the hard work so many people have done to get the resolution we needed. We want to pay special tribute to the family and friends who worked in an unofficial capacity over the last almost 41 years, being Helena, my mother, my sister Pat, my brother Phil, all the aunts and uncles and cousins, and Lyne’s friends.

The system was against us, but we got there in the end. Once again, a huge but inadequate thank you to all the contributing police, Judge Harrison, the incredible barristers and solicitors from the DPP, the media for their support, and especially to Hedley Thomas and his team for from The Australian, and also Ben Fordham.

My hope is that the media and police will work collaboratively in future cases. We really didn’t believe this day would ever come. What we need now is to find Lyne and put her to rest. It’s our time to begin living our lives without having this hanging over our heads. Chris Dawson has had 40 years of freedom. Now, it’s our turn.



https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/dec/02/australia-politics-live-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-scott-morrison-matt-kean-labor-liberal-party-vaping Australia news live: Anthony Albanese and Finland PM Sanna Marin affirm ‘common vision based on equality, trust and shared values’ | Australia news

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