Inflation eases in the year to June
Patrick Commins
Inflation has dropped to 3.8% in the year to June, from 4% in the previous month, with lower than anticipated underlying price pressures weighing against the chance of another Reserve Bank interest rate hike.
The unexpected drop in headline inflation by the monthly measure was married with a softer than expected 0.8% quarterly increase in the RBA’s preferred trimmed mean measure of price growth, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.
Before the latest inflation report, the chance of an 11 August hike had dwindled to 16%, from 50% on Friday, according to financial markets.
The latest consumer price figures come as Iran launched a volley of missiles at US bases in the region, puncturing days of calm and partially reversing some of the steep oil price falls over recent days.
Key events
Fears for endangered sea lions after Kangaroo Island bird flu detection
Donna Lu
Conservationists have expressed fears for Kangaroo Island’s iconic Australian sea lion population, after H5N1 bird flu was detected in a greater crested tern at Seal Bay.
South Australian authorities believe it is “extremely likely” that local transmission of the virus is occurring between birds, after 11 new suspected detections were reported on Wednesday morning.
Alexia Wellbelove, campaigns director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said:
double quotation markThis is the news we feared but predicted given the experience of bird flu internationally. Endangered Australian sea lions are now on the frontline of the potential wildlife crisis, and a positive detection in a greater crested tern at one of the largest breeding colonies means we must be on high alert. With only 12,000 individuals left, the Australian sea lion simply cannot absorb the kind of losses we have seen bird flu inflict on marine mammals overseas.
In South America, this virus killed 30,000 sea lion pups in just six months following transmission from birds to marine mammals. On our own Heard Island, it killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups in a single season … we now have to face the very real possibility of similar devastation here at home, in a species already teetering on the edge.
Groups including the AMCS and the Invasive Species Council have called on the federal government to establish a $200m national wildlife resilience fund, “focused on emergency protection and recovery for our most at-risk species”.
Sea lion pups on Kangaroo Island. Photograph: Louise M Cooper/The University of SydneyShare
Updated at 22.06 EDT
Graham Readfearn
Former treasury secretary claims Australia’s climate policy architecture at risk
Former treasury secretary Ken Henry will take aim at other environment and climate advocates in a speech today, making a bold claim that “every bit” of Australia’s climate policy architecture is at risk.
With the Coalition stepping away from net zero climate targets, Henry will warn that renewable energy projects “are being opposed by conservation and community groups because of their environmental impacts”.
Ken Henry. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
In a speech to be delivered today at the Clean Energy Summit in Sydney, Henry, who is now chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, will say:
double quotation markEnvironmental restoration projects financed by carbon revenues are being opposed because they are seen to be making life easier for carbon emitters. And a small set of conservation and climate groups is ramping up a campaign to do away with carbon offsetting altogether.
Last week four major groups – The Australian Conservation Foundation, Bob Brown Foundation, the Wilderness Society and Wilderness Australia – published a set of forest principles that included banning the use of carbon and biodiversity offsets from public native forests.
Updated at 21.51 EDT
Inflation eases in the year to JunePatrick Commins
Inflation has dropped to 3.8% in the year to June, from 4% in the previous month, with lower than anticipated underlying price pressures weighing against the chance of another Reserve Bank interest rate hike.
The unexpected drop in headline inflation by the monthly measure was married with a softer than expected 0.8% quarterly increase in the RBA’s preferred trimmed mean measure of price growth, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.
Before the latest inflation report, the chance of an 11 August hike had dwindled to 16%, from 50% on Friday, according to financial markets.
The latest consumer price figures come as Iran launched a volley of missiles at US bases in the region, puncturing days of calm and partially reversing some of the steep oil price falls over recent days.
Share‘Shit sheet’ prepared by NSW Liberal faction group about minister, inquiry hears
Penry Buckley
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has resumed its examination of former Liberal staffer Dylan Whitelaw who yesterday was asked about group chat messages which made reference to a potential donations made by Angus Taylor to the Reformers – a conservative right faction group involved in branch stacking efforts.
This morning, Taylor, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, has denied payments were ever made.
Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin SC has been asking Whitelaw about efforts by the Reformers to brief against the former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott.
Whitelaw says the Reformers – part of the Liberal hard right faction – had a “large distaste” for Elliott, who was a member of the Liberal centre-right faction.
He says he does not recall being asked by a member of the Reformers, Jeremy Greenwood, to prepare a document with negative stories about Elliott. Curtin reads him intercepted messages between from December 2020.
Curtin: You asked Mr Greenwood: “When did you want the Elliot document by?” … You see that?
Whitelaw: Yes.
Curtin: And Mr Greenwood responds: “Take your time on it.”
Whitelaw: Yes.
Curtin: So it does appear that you’ve been asked by Mr Greenwood to prepare a document in relation to a person by the name of Elliot. Would that be David Elliot?
Whitelaw: I would assume so.
Curtin reads him an email with an attachment titled “David Elliott shit sheet” sent by Greenwood to himself 11 days later. Whitelaw says he does not recall seeing the document or giving it that title.
One of the allegations Icac is investigating is whether members of the Reformers solicited or accepted donations from fugitive property developer Jean Nassif in exchange for the pursuit of outcomes, including damage to Elliott’s career.
Whitelaw, who has been described as an associate of the Reformers, has not been named in any allegations.
Updated at 21.28 EDT
Local transmission of H5N1 bird flu ‘extremely likely’ after 11 new detections in SADonna Lu
Local transmission of H5N1 bird flu in South Australia is “very, very likely”, authorities believe, after 11 new suspected detections were reported today.
Clare Scriven, SA minister for primary industries, said the detections were all in greater crested terns in the state’s south-east, including four on Kangaroo Island.
Scriven said:
double quotation markThose samples have been sent to the national laboratory in Geelong and we will wait for confirmation, but it is highly likely they are positive for H5 bird flu …
This is concerning but not unexpected. We knew that eventually when bird flu arrived in Australia it would spread. It has spread on every other continent around the globe.
One of the Kangaroo Island detections was at Seal Bay, which has the country’s third-largest Australian sea lion population. Scriven said beach tours there were temporarily paused to keep people separate from the “very vulnerable” animal population.
She added:
double quotation markIt seems extremely likely that we do have that localised distribution …
There has … around the world been local transmission so it was pretty much inevitable it would occur.
There had been no H5 detections in commercial poultry in Australia to date, Scriven said.
H5N1 bird flu may have been detected in 11 more greater crested terns. Photograph: DEA/P. JACCOD/De Agostini/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 21.24 EDT
Daniel Andrews pays tribute to Jacinta Allan and says Carroll will win next election
Benita Kolovos
The former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has issued a rare public statement paying tribute to his successor Jacinta Allan and declaring that Labor’s new leader, Ben Carroll, can win the state election in four months’ time.
Andrews said he first met Allan when he was the “most junior official at the ALP Head Office and she was the youngest candidate in a seemingly unwinnable Liberal stronghold in Bendigo.” He went on:
double quotation markTogether, we worked to win that seat and for the next 25 years, to elect Labor governments and deliver a Labor agenda for working people. There is no greater compliment in politics than to say someone lives their values – that has always been true of JA. For nearly three decades, she has been a champion for Bendigo, for workers, for women, for the future of Victoria. I wish Jacinta, Yorick and the kids all the very best for the future.
He also congratulated Carroll on his election, saying he is a “great campaigner who will take it up to the Liberal Party and One Nation.” Andrews said:
double quotation markI well remember campaigning shoulder to shoulder with Ben in the Niddrie byelection in 2012. I saw then what I know now, he is a great campaigner who will take it up to the Liberal Party and One Nation. Elections like this are won by a handful of votes in a handful of seats. I believe Premier Carroll and his team can win in November. As he has rightly pointed out the stakes are high. Working people across Victoria cannot afford the cuts that will come with a Wilson-Hanson Government. I wish Premier Carroll and his team well for the future.
Dan Andrews and Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP
In his first press conference as leader yesterday, Carroll sought to differentiate himself from Allan and Andrews. He told reporters:
double quotation markLet me make one thing very clear: I am not Daniel Andrews. I am not Jacinta Allan. I will do things differently, because different times require a new approach.
Carroll comes from the right of the Labor party while Andrews and Allan are members of the Socialist Left.
Updated at 21.03 EDT
Brittany Higgins joins calls for pre-recorded testimony in NSW
Separately, Britanny Higgins joined a coalition of 26 community services and legal academics on Wednesday calling for reforms allowing adult sexual assault complainants to be given the option to prerecord their evidence in NSW, AAP reported.
They argue that current court rules cause unnecessary harm and distress, with serious impacts on survivors’ wellbeing, healing and recovery.
“Justice shouldn’t require survivors to put their lives on hold,” Higgins said.
double quotation markThe option to prerecord evidence recognises that every day spent waiting for trial is another day carrying the emotional weight of what happened to you.
Updated at 20.56 EDT
Higgins legal saga brought to a close with settlement
A workplace lawsuit linked to the Britanny Higgins saga reached a confidential settlement after mediation earlier this month, AAP reports.
Ex-Liberal staffer Fiona Brown, former chief of staff to then senator Linda Reynolds, launched legal action in 2025, alleging the commonwealth failed to stop her from becoming embroiled in a political storm following Higgins’ allegations that she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House.
A criminal trial of Higgins’ allegations was abandoned in 2022 due to juror misconduct. Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence. A defamation case launched by Lehrmann against Network Ten found that Higgins was, on the balance of probabilities, raped by her former colleague in the office.
Brown had alleged former prime minister Scott Morrison and senior office staff did not allow her to publicly defend herself against allegations that she had participated in a political cover-up.
If the matter was not settled, it would have reached a federal trial in 2027, in which Morrison would be put under oath.
A spokesperson for the attorney general, Michelle Rowland, confirmed a settlement had been reached and said further comment would be inappropriate “due to privacy considerations, legal professional privilege and confidentiality obligations”.
Updated at 20.55 EDT
Angus Taylor denies involvement in Icac case
Tom McIlroy
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, says no payments were made in relation to a growing corruption case involving members of the NSW Liberal party, insisting he is not a party to the proceedings.
During a press conference in Queensland this morning, Taylor was asked about being named as a potential donor to a conservative Liberal group known as the Reformers, now being investigated by the New South Wales corruption watchdog.
During a hearing as part of Operation Rosny on Tuesday, a screenshot of a text message from the Catholic Schools NSW chief executive, Dallas McInerney, was shown in evidence. The screenshot was sent by Robert Assaf, a member of the Reformers, to a group chat that included Dylan Whitelaw in March 2021.
“I want to shake down Angus for 10k,” the message, read aloud at the inquiry, allegedly said. Asked if “Angus” referred to Angus Taylor, the witness and former staffer Dylan Whitelaw said: “I would assume it’s Angus Taylor”.
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, earlier in July. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Taylor is not accused of any wrongdoing.
“I’m not a party to the proceedings. No payment was made,” Taylor said on Wednesday.
Asked if he would agree to appear as a witness, he said no such request had been made and he would not discuss hypotheticals.
“I haven’t been approached by the commission and I’m not going to give a running commentary,” Taylor said.
Updated at 20.45 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Victoria premier maintains he is a strong supporter of Airport Rail project
Carroll also said his new cabinet would discuss the $34.5bn Suburban Rail Loop project, which was first announced by Daniel Andrews, championed by Jacinta Allan, and received billions of dollars from the federal government in its May budget.
He would not say whether this would involve reviewing the project:
double quotation markI’m going to run a disciplined, proper cabinet process.
But he did reiterate that he was a supporter of Airport Rail, which had stalled up until recently. Carroll said:
double quotation markEveryone knows there’s not a stronger supporter for airport rail … than me … airport rail will electrify the north-west – it is a gamechanger, it’s been talked about for a hundred years. And as premier, I’m very focused on airport rail.
Ben Carroll at a press conference this morning. Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAPShare
Updated at 20.17 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Carroll has already started work on royal commission into the construction sector
The new premier also told reporters he has already asked the Department of Premier and Cabinet to start working on terms of reference for the royal commission into the construction sector he annouced yesterday.
He confirmed the commission will look into the Labor government’s oversight of the Big Build, where corruption is alleged to have occurred.
Carrol said:
double quotation markI said I want exhaustive terms of reference. No stone unturned. Whether it is top-tier contractors, subcontractors, labour hire, government, unions – these will be exhaustive terms of reference.
ShareNew Victorian premier holds first day presser at KmartBenita Kolovos
The new Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, started his first full day in the top job at Kmart Bourke Street – a nod to his first job. He told reporters he spent eight years working at Kmart Airport West, calling them “crucible years”.
But he also recalls memories “of being intimidated, of being abused, of being threatened” in the job. It’s why he’s chosen to bring forward the introduction of legislation his predecessor Jacinta Allan had already committed to: establishing workplace protection orders.
Under the bill, the courts will have the power to ban or limit people’s access to workplaces when they treat frontline workers unacceptably for up to 12 months.
Breaching an order could result in up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $50,000.
The protections apply across all retail businesses and specified train, tram and bus operators. If passed, the scheme will begin on 29 July 2027 to allow further consultation and to ensure vulnerable people aren’t caught up.
Carroll told reporters:
double quotation markThis is a big reform, it’s been trialled in the ACT but this is going to be nation-leading and we want to make sure we get this right.
Ben Carroll. Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 19.54 EDT
NSW police seize millions in drugs, grenades and ammunition during raid
A young man and woman were arrested after police seized millions of dollars worth of drugs, multiple grenades, ammunition and guns at an alleged safe house.
AAP reports detectives made the find during a raid on a home in Glenfield in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday morning.
Weapons including six grenades, three semi-automatic assault rifles, four shotguns, a pistol, firearm parts and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition were allegedly found at the scene.
Six kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram each of methylamphetamine and ketamine, 15kg of cannabis, 1.1kg of heroin and 107 grams of MDMA were also allegedly discovered there.
The man and woman, both 26, were arrested and charged. The man faces 27 offences and was refused bail. The woman was charged with organising/conducting/assisting drug premises and granted conditional bail. Both will appear before the courts.
Updated at 19.47 EDT
Significant traffic delays in Sydney this morning
Sydney commuters, some frustrating news if you’re already running late for work:
The M5 corridor is backed up for kilometres heading into the city, with roads closed between Beverly Hills and Mascot due to emergency work in the main tunnel.
Heavy traffic is queued on the artery, with motorists advised to avoid the area and consider other routes.
There’s no forecast yet as to when the motorway will reopen to citybound traffic.
Updated at 19.30 EDT
Search to continue for missing infant in South Australia
A search will continue this morning in South Australia for a missing infant in the waters off Port MacDonnell.
The baby has been missing for days after the bodies of a mother and toddler were pulled from the ocean before treacherous cliffs in the small coastal town.
Police have been searching for the infant since Monday. They had to end the effort yesterday afternoon due to severe weather conditions.
ShareDan Tehan sidesteps questions on Angus Taylor’s links to Icac inquiry
Dan Tehan, the shadow minister for energy, didn’t answer any questions this morning after Angus Taylor was named as a potential donor to a conservative Liberal group being investigated by the New South Wales corruption watchdog (Icac).
Taylor is not accused of any wrongdoing. The opposition leader said yesterday the matter should be “allowed to run their course free from political interference or commentary. As such, the leader will not be providing a running commentary on any matters before the commission”.
Tehan was asked if the Icac inquiry risked becoming a distraction for Taylor if he doesn’t clarify his relationship with the group from the hard right faction of the Liberals, known as the “Reformers”. But Tehan told RN Breakfast the focus should remain on the government in power while Icac “does its job”. He said:
double quotation markLet’s let Icac do its job. And in the meantime, let’s focus on the person who’s running this country.
Updated at 18.57 EDT