Vic government working on ongoing Indigenous representative body
It says the peak Aboriginal body will have a direct line to ministers and departments to consult on laws that directly affect First Peoples, but will not have veto powers on policy or legislation.
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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Morning News Bulletin 6 July 2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemns an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne. Israel says it is considering a response to a ceasefire proposal after Hamas says they are ready to engage in talks Matildas lose one-nil to Panama in the first of two friendly matches. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, when a man allegedly doused the front of the building in flammable liquid and set it alight on Friday night. Leaders of the Jewish community have also come out in solidarity after the attack. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and their families, including children, were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. Luckily, no one was injured in the attack. Daniel Aghion, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry says its not just an attack on Australian Jews but on the Australian way of life. "This synagogue has been in place for 150 years. It was first founded six years after the creation of the Victorian colony. We're talking about a community that is part of the fabric of Melbourne and Victoria. This is not just an attack upon Jews or the Jewish community, it's an attack upon our way of life. The answer we give to that is: we're proud, we're Australians and we're Jewish and we're not going anywhere." The attack took place the same night as an angry demonstration took place outside of an Israeli restaurant, prompting Jewish leaders to express safety concerns. The winners of the annual National NAIDOC Awards have been revealed, recognising the individual excellence and achievements of First Nations people. Ahead of the 50th annual NAIDOC Week celebrations, the winners were announced at a ceremony in Perth, chosen from some 200 nominees. West Australian general practitioner and dentist Daniel Hunt was honoured as NAIDOC person of the year for his work in the health sector. Former AFL player Michael Long was recognised with a lifetime achievement award for his lifelong service to his people and country in speaking for Indigenous rights and fighting against racism in sport. Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy congratulated the winners, who were chosen from a field of 27 finalists. "Today's generation will keep our stories alive and will help all Australians to know that our people, our voices, our culture are worth celebrating. And that's what this year's NAIDOC Week theme is all about: the next generation, strength, vision, and legacy." Israel says it is considering a response to the US-brokered ceasefire deal, after Hamas responded positively and indicated a willingness to enter talks. The deal includes a 60-day ceasefire, a release of hostages from Gaza and negotiations on ending the 21-month-old conflict. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official says concerns remain over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Israeli media says the cabinet would discuss sending a delegation to Doha for talks as early as Sunday. Mr Trump says he's optimistic that there could be a deal. "I think they're going to be positive about it. We have to get it over with. There could be a Gaza deal next week. I'm very optimistic. But it changes from day to day. We've gotten a lot of hostages out, as you know, from Gaza, a lot. But unfortunately, we came in and we inherited that situation." United States President Donald Trump says he will start talking to China about a possible TikTok deal. Last month, President Trump extended a deadline to September 17 for China-based company Byte Dance to divest the US assets of social media giant TikTok or be banned from the country. A deal had been in the works to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new company majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following the Trump administration's announcement of high tariffs on Chinese goods. Mr Trump says the United States is close to a deal on the sale of the app. "Yeah we pretty much have a deal. I think we're going to start Monday or Tuesday talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we pretty much have a deal. But we probably have to get it approved by China." In football, a freshly rebuilt Matildas squad have lost one-nil against Panama in the first of two friendly matches in Western Australia. While missing several star players to injuries and featuring four debutant Matildas, it remains a shock for new coach Joe Montemurro, who is now just three games into his tenure. The match saw both starting goalkeepers leave the pitch with suspected injuries, with Panama's Yenith Bailey stretchered off in the third minute of the match and Australia's Teagan Micah forced off in the 61st. And it was a goal from 19-year-old substitute Sherline King that gave the Central Americans the win. The two sides will face each other again on Tuesday night in Perth.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
As the government looks to save money on the NDIS, is this the future of disability support?
Jex Truran-Lakaev is Deafblind and when he moved to regional New South Wales a decade ago, found it hard to socialise. So, in 2015 he started the Hunter Deafblind Project in Newcastle for locals who had hearing loss, vision impairment or both. "As Deafblind individuals, we've all got very similar experiences, but [we had] no real place that we could go and be together," he said. The group started out mostly hosting social gatherings like dinners and sporting events. But over time it became much more than a just place for a very isolated community to make connections. Mr Truran-Lakaev said it was one of the only places his community could access information about important issues. He said during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were options for people who were deaf or blind to access critical information, but not both. Blind people could listen to updates on radio or TV and Deaf people were able to see captions and Auslan interpreters. "But for those of us who are Deafblind, neither of those things were accessible. We went without all of that critical information," he said. Instead, Deafblind group members received updates about lockdowns through the Hunter Deafblind Project. More recently the project has hosted the fire brigade and sessions with health workers about bowel cancer screening. When those workers hold workshops for the group, learning is a two-way street as many have not met a Deafblind person before. Do you have a story to share? Email The federal government hopes more community-led programs like this one could help reduce spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which has been projected to cost $48 billion this financial year. Labor has already made a number of changes to bring down costs. It hopes to reach an 8 per cent annual growth target in the coming years, down from the 20 per cent growth it inherited when elected in 2022. Key to realising that target are two words at the centre of generational reforms currently underway: "foundational supports". A recommendation of the 2023 NDIS Review, foundational supports have been pitched as a new tier of services outside the scheme, jointly funded by the federal government and states and territories. Previous minister Bill Shorten indicated foundational supports would begin by the middle of 2025. But as we approach the middle of the year, and as participants report an increase in cuts or reviews of their plans, foundational supports are still yet to be set up or properly defined. A Commonwealth-state and territory funding deal for foundational supports remains unsigned, despite all parties agreeing to fund them in 2023. Autistic people and children with developmental delay will be among those who will rely on foundational supports in the future and Ms Rogerson said their lack of progression had caused concern. "The autism community is nervous because the NDIS has been a one-stop place for us to get children the services and supports they need. To be told that could be no longer true for some, builds some anxiety in those families," Ms Rogerson said. However, Ms Rogerson said she would prefer governments took time to get the "once in a generation" reforms right, rather than rush them. "There has to be some evidence behind these programs, so we're not just allowing private and non-profit service providers to be running towards this pool of funding," she said. In a statement, federal NDIS Minister Mark Butler said the funding negotiations with the states and territories would be finalised as soon as possible. "The first work on foundational supports is children under the age of nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism," he said. "The second big piece of work … has been identified as those Australians with ongoing, usually quite severe, psychosocial disability who are not getting any support right now. We know [they] without support are bumping in and out of emergency departments, in contact with justice and police systems, are vastly over-represented in our homeless population and, frankly, deserve better." Mr Butler said that focus was in line with the NDIS Review's recommendations. Meanwhile, the Hunter Deafblind Project has been going from strength to strength, swelling in size. Newer members such as Melissa Henderson have found it an empowering space to come to terms with and find pride in their disabilities. Ms Henderson lost her hearing in her twenties and her vision in her thirties and said it was scary. "When I came to this group I'd never met someone who was blind or completely Deaf before. It helped me overcome the fear of going blind," she said. Funding for the group was recently renewed for another 12 months. Mr Truran-Lakaev might have moved to rural Queensland in the years since starting the group, but said he hoped it would continue long into the future. "We've become a really solid, strong community," he said.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Two days of free train travel for NSW after government, unions sign pay deal
Rail commuters will travel for free over two days as a peace offering from the NSW government after months of disruption due to its stoush with the unions over pay. On Saturday afternoon the government signed a three-year deal with the rail unions with 92 per cent of workers voting in favour of the new enterprise agreement. Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Toby Warnes described the result as "truly a majority", saying the voter turnout from members was a "historic high". He said the period of bargaining had felt long but what has been agreed upon was "something that people were really quite happy with". "But we're really glad we've been able to get this bargain agreement over the line, now we can carry on providing service to the people of New South Wales as our members love to do every day." Under the agreement workers will get a 12 per cent pay rise over three years plus back pay, they will also see an improvement to their conditions and technological advances. Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink will also become one entity. From Thursday July 31 and Friday August 1, metro and regional train trips across the NSW will cost nothing. Minister for Transport John Graham told ABC News it was a great result for rail commuters, adding it would allow for further investment into the reliability of the network. "We know this has been a big impact on people, we know it's been a huge inconvenience — that disruption is over," Mr Graham said. Four rail unions and the state government have been locked in an ongoing pay dispute for months. The unions had been demanding better pay and working conditions, with negotiations often clouded by multiple rounds of industrial action and legal proceedings. "These enterprise agreements have to run through the processes," Mr Graham said. "This is half the time it took to land the last agreement but for commuters it has been a big disruption." Last year, doubt was cast over whether Sydney's iconic New Year's Eve firework celebrations would go ahead, after the union threatened to bring the city's rail network to a halt. On several occasions, the network faced complete shutdowns, including four days of strike action in November last year. Saturday's landmark agreement, which is now submitted for formal approval with the Fair Work Commission, will last for three years. "We'll work really closely over these three years with the workforce, and I hope we're on good terms as we come to the next agreement," Mr Graham said. "But of course, rail workers at the end of this agreement will have the chance to renegotiate their pay and conditions." Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said it was a win for staff but an even bigger win for the travelling public. "With this certainty, Sydney Trains can resume its focus on delivering a safe, reliable, and disruption-free service," Mr Longland said. "Passengers can have renewed confidence that the trains they rely on will be there when they need them." The government hopes passengers will use the fare-free period to support local businesses hit hard by the industrial action. "Some of these businesses took a big hit during the period of disruption and they deserve a shot in the arm," Mr Graham said. Opal gates will be switched off for the 48-hour period at all Sydney trains, NSW TrainLink, Sydney Metro and Airport Line services. Buses, ferries and light rail trips will still come at a cost.
