Firefighters battle blazes in Queensland and NSW – as it happened

With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening. Thanks for joining us for day two of Senate estimates. If you’re in areas affected by fires right now, please stay safe and take care. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow.

Until then, here were today’s major developments:

• Firefighters are continuing to battle blazes in New South Wales and Queensland, with several communities remaining under evacuation orders as of Tuesday evening. QFES has confirmed five homes were lost in the bushfires in Millmerran and Tara. Conditions are likely to continue throughout the week.

• Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, has slammed a cartoon by News Corp cartoonist Mark Knight, saying the Herald Sun should be able to depict women without using “sexualised” imagery.

• The prime minister is continuing his visit in the US, with a White House dinner to take place tomorrow with a performance from the B-52s. Australia’s most recent former US ambassador, Arthur Sinodinos, said the Aukus deal is “looking more positive than [it was] even a week ago”. Speaking to ABC RN, Sinodinos said this is because the US has put another $3bn on the table for a submarine industrial base, meeting the concerns of Republican senators like Roger Wicker.

• And the referendum working group member and key yes campaigner Thomas Mayo has backed suggestions for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee, similar to the voice, which could exist outside legislation.

A fire ban in parts of Queensland has been extended until next Wednesday due to ongoing dangerous conditions.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has released its latest climate update, confirming we are still in for a hot and sweaty summer.

El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are persisting, with warmer and drier than average conditions likely across most of Australia through to at least January.

Oceanic indicators continue to exhibit a clear El Niño state. Models indicate some further warming of the central to eastern Pacific is likely, with sea surface temperatures remaining above El Niño thresholds into the early southern hemisphere autumn 2024.

A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is under way. All models indicate that this positive IOD will likely be sustained to at least December.

The long-range forecast for Australia indicates warmer than average conditions are likely across most of Australia from November to January and below average rainfall across much of Australia excluding parts of the south-east.

As for the coming days, localised heatwaves are likely for northern Australia, with temperatures up to 40C possible in parts of the Northern Territory.

Minister for home affairs and cyber security Clare O’Neil has echoed the condemnation of Penny Wong regarding alleged arson at mosques in Adelaide.

We must all stand against Islamophobia.

24 Oct 202303.16 EDT

Josh Taylor

Consultancy firm McKinsey was paid $1.3m for just over a month’s extra time on a contract for its work on the cybersecurity strategy released in September, Senate estimates has heard.

McKinsey was initially brought on for just over $860,000 for two months’ work between February and April, but in April the contract was extended for just over another month at a cost of $1.3m, bringing the total value of the contract to McKinsey to more than $2m.

Hamish Hansford, deputy secretary for cybersecurity in the home affairs department, said the extension was due to the “volume of work” being undertaken by the department with McKinsey’s support. A second extension was considered but decided against.

He said the minister’s office did not request for the work to be extended, but confirmed the minister met representatives from McKinsey during the strategy development 22 times. The expert advisory board met McKinsey eight times.

Hansard said value for money was one factor considered in granting the contract extension.

The contract went to tender in early February, and was open for one week. The firm was one of three brought on to work on the strategy, with CyberCX and Clyde & Co.

McKinsey’s consultancy work was the focus of an episode of Last Week Tonight this week.

24 Oct 202303.09 EDT

Sarah Basford Canales

No ceasefire until Hamas terror removed ‘once and for all’, Israeli ambassador to Australia says

The Israeli ambassador to Australia has suggested a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas is unlikely until the Palestinian militant group is removed “once and for all”.

Amir Maimon, who will deliver an address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, told Sky News on Tuesday evening he did not think a ceasefire was possible while the threat of Hamas existed.

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The ambassador said he believed it was going to be a “very long war”, exceeding the length of other past military operations in the region.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based Islamist militia group, has recently launched attacks on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Maimon said it was a “very tense situation” but Israel “will be ready” if the situation deteriorates further.

We are not interested in opening a new front but we are determined that if such a front will be open, we will be ready.

24 Oct 202303.01 EDT

Josh Taylor

‘Vast majority’ registering to self-exclude from gambling websites are under 40

Almost 10,000 people have signed up in two months to self-exclude from gambling websites as part of the federal government’s BetStop program, the vast majority aged under 40.

The program, which launched at the end of August, requires all wagering providers to close the betting accounts of people who have signed up, and must not let them bet or open a new account, and they cannot send marketing messages to anyone on the register, Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma) chair Nerida O’Loughlin told Senate estimates.

O’Loughlin said the “vast majority” of the people registering were under the age of 40, and were registering for an exclusion from betting sites for life.

We’re seeing this combination of younger people excluding for life, which we think really explains the importance of this initiative, particularly for younger Australians, who want to be in more control of their gambling.

O’Loughlin said people were also registering for a support person to help them stop gambling - that is typically a family member, friend or counsellor to assis through self-exclusion.

Acma is now focused on making industry comply with the register, and O’Loughlin said while the focus has been on building voluntary compliance, the regulator would not hesitate to take formal action.

24 Oct 202302.55 EDT

Amy Remeikis

ABC updates editorial policy after Four Corners report on Woodside protest

The ABC has updated its editorial policy to include procedures of what to do if a journalist learns of a crime or a potential crime as part of their reporting.

The question is in relation to the issue of protesters outside a Woodside executive’s home, which was filmed as part of a Four Corners episode.

The ABC is still going through procedures to see what footage, if any, it would hand over to police, in response to a notice to produce from Western Australia police. ABC managing director David Anderson said the ABC has given undertakings they will not be revealing confidential sources.

Under questioning from Liberal senator Sarah Henderson, who has been very critical of a number of ABC editorial decisions, Anderson said the ABC’s policy has been updated to advise journalists to contact managers if they learn of potential criminal activity.

What I’m doing is making it clear that should happen by making it crystal clear whoever the crew, wherever they are, they should be in touch with their manager about what they know at the time and a judgment should be made.

He said the journalist on the Woodside story had been in touch with their manager.

I think there was judgment that was exercised locally, without an upward referral. That I think probably should have happened. In fact, I think it should have happened.

Over to New South Wales, and a “watch and act” warning has been issued for Tenterfield, in the New England region.

A grass fire is moving in an easterly direction under strong winds.

Under this warning, there is a heightened level of threat.

Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.

Dozens of fires across the state are at an “advice” level – meaning they are either being controlled or under control.

Minister for foreign affairs Penny Wong has condemned reports of arson at Adelaide mosques this week.

There have been media reports circulating of two instances of arson at separate mosques in the past week, as well as an incident at a northern suburbs school, as conflict in the Middle East continues.

Wong took to X, formerly Twitter, to highlight the “responsibility to call out discrimination, hate speech and prejudice” in all forms.

All of us – including every political leader – must stand together against Islamophobia.

Bushfires in Queensland are persisting into the evening, with seven communities under multiple warnings to leave their homes and one further community on alert to evacuate.

The latest information has Cypress Gardens, Millmerran Downs, Tara, Wieambilla, Kogan, Goranba and Weranga under an emergency warning. Communities are being urged to leave immediately, as firefighting planes assist ground crews.

Weranga is under a “watch and act” warning and being told to prepare to leave, as is Milmerran Woods, which remains unsafe to return to.

Four areas are at the “stay informed” level, including Carnarvon Gorge, Westgrove and Injune, Captains Mountain, Tallebudgera Valley and Wolvi near Gympie. This means residents must follow their bushfire survival plan, stay indoors and monitor the situation lest it deteriorates.

If you’re in areas currently under warnings, monitor the latest here, including evacuation centres, and remember to check for road closures and stay hydrated.

24 Oct 202302.14 EDT

Police lock down Strathpine streets in Brisbane, negotiating with armed man

Andrew Messenger

A standoff with armed police has entered its 14th hour, with some residents of a north Brisbane suburb locked inside their homes since 4am.

Queensland police were called to the Peter Street home, in Strathpine, at about 1.30am this morning.

They began negotiating with the man, who was alone in the residence.

At 4am they locked down the area, issuing a emergency declaration.

The lockdown boundaries cover Gertrude Street, Peter Street, Rowland Street and Cavendish Street.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area and those within the exclusion zone are asked to remain indoors until further notice.

Traffic is being diverted around the area.

Circling back to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for an additional $10m to be provided to the ABC in the light of a hot summer ahead.

In June, the federal government announced a three-year $20m Broadcasting Resilience Program (BRP), to “improve the resilience” of 107 ABC radio sites used for emergency broadcasting, which are at a higher risk of service failure due to natural disasters.

Hanson-Young said the ABC played a “hugely important role” in updating the community during times of crisis.

This is the scary beginning of what is going to be a pretty horrifying summer … We have to be better prepared. The ABC plays a hugely important role, they are the official emergency broadcaster across the country.

The government should bring the extra money needed. I wrote to the communications and emergency management [minister] today calling on them to give the ABC an extra $10m, this is important. Summer is going to be hard, it will be hot and dangerous and Australians need to know they can trust that when information is needed it will be able to be provided by the ABC.

24 Oct 202301.54 EDT

Lisa Cox

Environment department reviewing salmon fishing expansion in Macquarie Harbour

The federal environment department has told a senate estimates hearing it is examining three requests to review a 2012 decision to expand salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania without further assessment under national environmental laws.

The requests come after scientists raised concerns about a crash in the number of Maugean skate, an ancient fish species listed as endangered under the laws but which research has warned may be on the brink of extinction.

Under national laws, the environment minister may review a decision made under the act where substantial new relevant information comes to light.

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Studies have found the Maugean skate’s numbers have fallen sharply over the past decade as its environment has been degraded by human influence, including from salmon farming pollution, hydro power stations altering upstream river flows and rising harbour temperatures due to the climate crisis.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, the Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, said the regulation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour had been “a disaster” and urged the government to “pull every lever available” to ensure the survival of the skate:

The federal government’s 2012 decision to expand salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour was made with the proviso it would not significantly impact the Maugean skate. But scientists now warn the endangered species is fighting for survival precisely because of a decline in water quality attributed largely to salmon farming in the Harbour.

If the federal environment minister does have the jurisdiction to reverse the 2012 decision to rapidly expand salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour then she absolutely should.

More local content quotas needed to offset competition from streaming services

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has appeared on ABC’S Afternoon Briefing, fresh from Senate Estimates. Hanson-Young has been lobbying for greater local content quotas in Australia as streaming services attract viewers away from free-to-air television.

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The Senator said the program rules and regulations were “not fit for purpose” and “way out of date” in light of the move away from commercial television.

For a long time we have had regulations for free-to-air television to create and invest in local stories. We do have this flood of Australians and audiences moving from free-to-air television to streaming services and we do not have the same rules in place, and we need them.

At the last election the Labor Party promised that they would put in place regulations … Eighteen months out from the next election, we have not seen that legislation.

Hanson-Young said the big tech companies weren’t interested in investing in Australian jobs and stories, they just wanted to “make a quick buck wherever they can”.

We were told originally by the minister for arts, Tony Burke, that [there would be] legislation in the Senate this year. That has not happened. They confirm today … that we will see these regulations in place by July next year … we are running out of time to get the legislation done. This will be fight over the next few months … You can understand that the political pressure and the money behind those [big] players will have a detrimental effect.

Hot, windy weather to persist, total fire bans Wednesday for large parts of NSW

Back to the fire situation.

Large parts of New South Wales will be under total fire bans tomorrow as hot and windy conditions persist. Be careful out there.

In Queensland, Tara, Wieambilla, Kogan, Goranba, Weranga, Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs communities are still being urged to leave. Millmerran Woods is not safe to return to because of the fires.

Husic doesn’t back away from calling for protection of Palestinian civilians

Husic has been asked about comments he made last week about the conflict in the Middle East, urging the government to push for de-escalation so that innocent Palestinians don’t pay the price.

Fellow Labor minister Anne Aly said it was “hard to argue” that children were Hamas and therefore deserved to pay the price of the terrorist group’s actions.

Have you been surprised how that has been received, that people seem to think that you were breaking ranks with your fellow frontbenchers?

Husic said he had received “quite a lot of positive feedback” from people “equally concerned” about the potential for the conflict to put a huge burden on innocent people.

We’re just trying to get a bit of balance, a bit of focus on innocent Palestinians that may be affected by what is going on.

I think no-one disputes that Israel needs to be able to respond to the terrible events of October 7 that happened on their soil … and people understand Hamas needs to be held to account, but there is genuinely a concern in the community.

I am only one of many that has expressed this concern and I think it is important that we get that balance right and, to be frank, I think it would be weird for me to apologise trying to express a view that says, ‘can we just please take into account that the toll has been borne by innocent Palestinians in terms of what we are seeing and to find a strategic, more precise way to deal with Hamas’.

A nation of tradies will soon have more ‘digital tradies’ thanks to Microsoft

Industry and science minister Ed Husic has described today’s $5bn Microsoft investment in increased cyber defence for Australia as an investment in “digital tradies” – language we can all understand.

Anthony Albanese confirmed the new investment on the opening day of his state visit to the US, flanked by Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith, and Microsoft Australia and New Zealand Managing director Steven Worrall.

Husic told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing the deal demonstrated a “huge vote of confidence” in Australia.

Our country is really leaning in to the proposition that technology plays an important part in sharpening our economy, strengthening our businesses, creating great jobs.

We have got a talent pool here that Microsoft can tap into and that can skill up … we will see $5bn investment into nearly 10 new data centres across New South Wales and Victoria, joining the other 20 that are already there.

It will provide Cloud and AI products to businesses that are wanting to sharpen up the way that they operate. It will see an investment, in particular, like, digital tradies – will help maintain data centres or provide digital skills across the broader economy … and it will also provide some important work and investment to team up with us on cyber security as well.