Australia news live: Marles says Greens’ ‘Robin Hood’ tax plan is unrealistic; Albanese secures backing for Pacific policing initiative

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Inflation falls to lowest level since December 2021

Inflation has fallen to its lowest level since December 2021, pulled down by a 5% cut to electricity prices as billions of dollars in government rebates kicked in.

Consumer prices fell to 3.5% in the year to July, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has said.

That compared with the 3.8% pace recorded for the month of June, and the 3.4% rate expected for July by economists.

Slower increases in petrol costs, rising by only 4.0% compared to 6.6% in the year to June, helped bring travel costs and inflation down towards the Reserve Bank’s target of 3% overall.

Inflation data for July about to be released

Inflation data for July will be released in a few minutes. Economists are expecting a pretty significant fall in consumer prices from June’s 3.8% down to 3.4% or lower.

A fall would probably have been driven by lower electricity costs, which were forecast to be cheaper by a third by the end of September thanks to billions of dollars of government subsidies.

But a fall wouldn’t come as a surprise to the Reserve Bank, which is expecting a slide by December to 3.0% for inflation and 3.5% for the more reliable trimmed mean measure. Even with those forecasts, the RBA says it won’t be cutting interest rates this year – so a fall shouldn’t raise hopes of relief for mortgage holders.

Rising rents and construction costs are also believed to have countered the benefits of lower energy prices, limiting the extent to which inflation eased last month.

A closer look at the weather warnings amid today’s heavy winds

As we flagged earlier, there are severe weather warnings in place right across southern parts of the country amid strong winds today.

In New South Wales, a cold front is forecast to move eastward across southern and central parts later this afternoon and evening, with winds turning westerly in its wake.

In Victoria, a vigorous westerly airstream with an embedded front will continue to affect Victoria today, easing tonight as the cold front moves off the coast and over the Tasman Sea.

And in Tasmania, a series of fronts embedded in a vigorous westerly airstream will continue to affect the state today, with a brief easing expected during Thursday.

Closing ceremony for veteran suicides inquiry begins

The closing ceremony for the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide has begun.

The ceremony is to acknowledge the trauma and stories of every veteran and their families who gave evidence, and what they have went through in getting there.

The commission was established in 2021 after a long fight by veterans’ families, particularly Julie-Ann Finney, who lost her 38-year-old son David to suicide.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Indigenous ancestors returning home from New Zealand

First Nations ancestors will return to their communities and countries, AAP reports, after a repatriation ceremony in New Zealand.

Five ancestors are returning to Australia from the Auckland War Memorial Museum and one from the University of Auckland.

Representatives from the Dambeemangaddee community of Collier Bay in Western Australia travelled to New Zealand for a ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum to mark the return and will accompany their ancestor home.

Dambeemangaddee community member Gary Umbagai said:

Within our cultural beliefs as Wanjina-Wunggurr people, we recognise that the spirit of our ancestors is embedded in their bones. Our people’s bones should be in their Country, not somewhere else; that is not right.

We are pleased to see our ancestor being returned and we know that the spirit of that person will be happy to be home, after such a long time away in a strange place.

At the request of the Wamba Wemba community, one ancestor was returned under stewardship of the federal government. The government will provide care for another four ancestors until they can be returned to their respective communities.

Indigenous affairs minister Malarndirri McCarthy commended the work of those involved in the repatriation.

When Anthony Albanese fronted the media in Tonga just a few minutes ago, he was joined by the prime ministers of Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea and the president of Palau as he announced an agreement on the Pacific policing initiative.

Without directly mentioning China, Albanese said it was a case of the Pacific working together to make the security of the entire region “much stronger”, with security “looked after by ourselves”.

‘Nothing about Greens’ economic policy is realistic’ – Marles

Richard Marles was also asked about the Greens’ new “Robin Hood” reform proposal, to be outlined at the Press Club in a few hours’ time. Paul Karp had all the details on this earlier in the blog, here.

Marles argued there was “nothing about Greens’ economic policy which is realistic”.

Economic policy is far from the Greens’ strong suit. They [have] the luxury as a party that has never governed, and never will, to say whatever they like.

I make this point – the Labor party is not about doing deals with the Greens. We are focused on winning a majority at the next election in our own right and doing [what] we can manage the economy for all Australians.

Richard Marles taking questions from reporters in Sydney

The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, has been speaking to reporters in Sydney and is taking questions around the CFMEU, following yesterday’s rallies across the country.

The demonstrations happened yesterday, but nothing changes the fundamental proposition of the government, and I might say the broader union movement, that there is no place within the union movement for corruption, for criminality and thuggery. And indeed construction workers deserve to have a union which is free of that.

Australia to provide substantial long-term support for Pacific policing initiative

The prime minister said Australia would provide substantial long-term support to “ensure that this initiative succeeds and delivers on the aspirations for our region.”

This is a great outcome and it was very positive, the response from the many leaders who spoke in support of this initiative today to make sure that this endorsement means it can go forward.

Pacific policing initiative to include training hub in Brisbane

Anthony Albanese said there were three pillars to the Pacific policing initiative.

First, regional police training centres of excellence to be located in up to four Pacific countries “to undertake specialist police training and support”.

Second, a police support group comprising a “trained pool of officers from multiple Pacific countries, ready to deploy in response to requests for assistance to major events or to provide support in times of crisis”.

And third, the policing development and coordination hub, to be hosted in Brisbane for training and deployment preparation.

PM says he has secured backing for Pacific policing plan

Anthony Albanese is speaking to the media from Tonga and has confirmed the endorsement of the Pacific policing initiative.

The prime minister said:

It was a major objective that we had from this Pacific Island Forum meeting. This demonstrates how Pacific leaders are working together to shape the future that we wanted to see.

The first task of an international leader is to look after the security and safety of our residents and that is what this is about. Making sure that by working together, the security of the entire region will be much stronger and will be looked after by ourselves.

Australia appears to secure support for Pacific policing initiative

Australia appears to have overcome concerns from some Pacific nations to secure backing for a Pacific policing initiative.

Anthony Albanese is about to speak in Tonga. We’ll bring you more details soon.

Man pours hot liquid on baby in Brisbane park

Police are appealing for help to identify a man who poured hot liquid on a baby at a park in Brisbane, AAP reports.

The nine-month-old boy was with his family at Hanlon Park, Stones Corner, at midday on Tuesday when the incident unfolded.

Police said a man approached the family and poured the hot liquid on the baby. Emergency services were called and the boy was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Child protection and investigation detectives have launched an investigation into the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

New South Wales SES responds to 93 incidents since midnight amid strong winds

The chief superintendent of the New South Wales SES, Dallas Burns, is speaking with ABC TV about the wild, windy weather in Wollongong:

We’re anticipating gusts over 110km/h [around the Illawarra] … but strong winds across the Hunter, through the central tablelands, through to most likely Friday.

Burns said the SES is expecting to see a “significant increase in operational activity” with trees coming down, branches damaged and power lines. He said the SES had responded to 93 incidents since midnight.

The majority for trees down, branches down. No significant infrastructure damage. But for those residents impacted, it’s significant for those people.