logo
Premier Jeremy Rockliff's future set to be decided in Tasmanian parliament

Premier Jeremy Rockliff's future set to be decided in Tasmanian parliament

A no-confidence motion in Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is threatening his political future as leader of the minority Liberal government.
Follow the coverage live in our blog.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Penny Wong spruiks PM's gift of the gab ahead of high stakes Trump meet
Penny Wong spruiks PM's gift of the gab ahead of high stakes Trump meet

News.com.au

time19 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Penny Wong spruiks PM's gift of the gab ahead of high stakes Trump meet

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has praised Anthony Albanese's gift of the gab ahead of the Prime Minister's first face-to-face with Donald Trump. NewsWire understands the two leaders are set to meet on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada starting later this week but a time has not been confirmed. With a tariff carve out and defence spending straining relations between Canberra and Washington, Mr Albanese has no shortage of uncomfortable talking points for the US President. But Senator Wong said on Wednesday Mr Albanese was 'pretty good at handling meetings'. 'He's had a lot of experience, not just as prime minister but as a senior minister for a very long time,' she told Nine. 'Look, we don't agree with the President Trump's administration on tariffs. 'We've made that clear. We think it's not consistent with our free trade agreement. 'We don't think it's in the interests of American consumers. 'We think it's an act of economic self-harm. We've made that clear publicly, consistently, and we will continue to do so.' Senator Wong refused to 'speculate' if bumping up Australian defence spending — which the US has demanded be hiked to 3.5 per cent of GDP — would be on the table. 'We'll always do what is required to keep Australians safe,' she said. 'We've invested more money in defence over the next few years, and also forward over the (next) ten.' Senator Wong added that the Albanese government was 'very aware of the circumstances Australia faces' and that building up ties with Pacific neighbours was key to the strategy. 'A great part of my job is to work with other countries because those relationships contribute to stability and security in our region, which is where stability, security and ultimately our prosperity come from,' she said.

Queensland government dumps zero-emissions vehicle goal set by Labor, introduces new target
Queensland government dumps zero-emissions vehicle goal set by Labor, introduces new target

ABC News

time44 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Queensland government dumps zero-emissions vehicle goal set by Labor, introduces new target

Queensland's LNP government is dumping a Labor-era mandate that required certain vehicles driven by public servants to transition to zero emission alternatives. Public Works Minister Sam O'Connor will today unveil a new emissions reduction strategy for QFleet, which manages more than 11,000 vehicles for the government. Under the former Labor administration, a target was introduced to transition all "eligible" passenger vehicles in the fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2026. This would have impacted around 3,600 vehicles in the fleet. In the new strategy, the ZEV push will be scrapped and a new target will be introduced, aimed at lowering the entirety of QFleet's tailpipe emissions by 10 per cent by 2030. The plan will allow for other vehicles beyond electric vehicles to be used, such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Mr O'Connor said every government agency would be held accountable to reduce their emissions, rather than buying a particular type of car. "We've laid out a genuine pathway to reduce tailpipe emissions and better support the hardworking public servants who rely on QFleet to get them to where they need to be." The new strategy would see the fleet's tailpipe emissions lowered from 33.19 kilotonnes as of June 2024 to 29.86 kilotonnes by 2030. Over the same period, the government wants to grow the fleet of vehicles by about 9 per cent. The strategy notes the plan was put together in response to "significant" feedback from government agencies, particularly public servants in regional areas. "The [emissions reduction] strategy will mean for the first time the progress of total fleet emissions reduction is being monitored rather than just the number of EVs introduced," it said. "This expansion of scope will provide the government with a more accurate account of its progress towards net zero emission targets." The Queensland government has a target for the state to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The previous strategy rolled out by the former Labor government, which included the ZEV mandate, projected the fleet's emissions would drop to 26.7 kilotonnes by 2025-26. It also argued a transition to electric vehicles would result in "significant savings" for taxpayers through running costs, such as fuel. Another aim of the plan was to increase the availability of second-hand electric vehicles in the used car market. The ZEV mandate meant that as a vehicle lease expired, a zero-emission vehicle had to be taken up as long as there was a ZEV alternative and sufficient charging infrastructure was available. The government's new QFleet strategy points out the fleet already has more than 2,000 active EVs. "Thoughtful vehicle selection" and "responsible driving behaviour" are among the measures it lists in its bid to cut vehicle emissions.

NT government to allow public use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray for 'personal safety' in 12-month trial
NT government to allow public use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray for 'personal safety' in 12-month trial

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

NT government to allow public use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray for 'personal safety' in 12-month trial

The Northern Territory is set to become the second Australian jurisdiction allowing residents to carry pepper spray, in a government trial aimed at improving personal safety. The NT government has announced it would "consider" a 12-month trial to allow "approved members of the public" to carry and use a low-percentage Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray "for self-defence under strict legal conditions". OC spray is a non-lethal tool that is used to incapacitate people by causing a painful burning sensation and temporary vision impairment. The trial is expected to begin in September, after consultation led by NT Police and involving stakeholders, industry bodies, licensees and the broader community. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the trial was "about giving Territorians more choice when it comes to personal safety". Western Australia is currently the only Australian state or territory where people can carry the non-lethal spray under strict conditions. "We've seen Western Australia undertake a similar trial, and it's provided valuable insights into how a controlled, lawful model can give people greater peace of mind without compromising public safety," Ms Finocchiaro said. "This is about equipping Territorians with more options, not less control. "It's a practical step that balances personal responsibility with community safety, and we'll be watching the outcomes closely through reporting and evaluation." The government said a "community oversight reference group" would be established to review the trial. The Country Liberal Party government has passed a suite of law and order reforms since coming to power in August, including stricter bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility. The previous NT Labor government passed new laws allowing security guards to carry OC spray.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store