Jacob Greber announced as 7.30's new political editor
With an almost 30 year career in journalism covering politics, economics and world affairs, he's been a foreign correspondent and got his start working as a copy boy in the Canberra Press Gallery.
He takes over the role from Laura Tingle, who departed 7.30 last month to take up the role of ABC's Global Affairs Editor.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
15 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Legal marathon
Anwalt Dr. Wolfgang Babeck On October 2, 2020, women on ten aircraft were initially arrested on the runway at Doha Airport and forced out of the aircraft by Qatari security forces at gunpoint and without giving any reason, including the five Australians who were on their way to Sydney. The women were taken to ambulances parked on the tarmac, were supposed to remove their underwear and had to undergo an invasive compulsory gynecological examination. The reason for the operation is said to have been the discovery of a newborn child in a plastic bag in the airport waiting room. Extensive investigations were ordered in order to find the mother. Attorney Dr. Wolfgang Babeck, who reported the incident to this program at the time, was also on board the Qatar Airlines flight to Sydney. It has now taken years before the Australian plaintiffs were finally granted the right to sue Qatar Airways, although it should be noted that this was only possible after another court overturned an earlier decision that had dismissed the case. And we must recognize that the Australian Federal Court's ruling is only a partial victory for women, because although the airline can be prosecuted, not the state of Qatar, which entrenches itself behind its sovereignty. Dr. Wolfgang Babeck says that the women still have a long legal journey ahead of them. Disclaimer: We would like to point out that the opinions expressed in this article represent the personal views of the interviewed/interlocutor.
SBS Australia
15 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 1 August 2025
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English, I'm Camille Bianchi. Police fear there will be more attacks by gangs, after a man with links to crime gangs was shot dead in Melbourne. 26-year-old Athan Boursinos had been linked with the death of a rival gang leader before he died, and there are concerns there could be more violence to come. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas is with the Victoria Police. "This is deliberate and obviously targeted. We will work now to piece together what has gone on." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to the Northern Territory for Australia's largest Indigenous gathering. The Garma Festival is held over the next four days in remote northeast Arnhem Land - on the land of the Yolngu people. Yothu Yindi Foundation hosts the Garma Festival, and the foundation's chief executive is Denise Bowden. "I think when those Yunupingu men first hatched the Garma idea, I do think they did understand it would be nationally significant. But maybe it needed some years to brew a little. Just imagine how incredibly difficult it is, given its very remote location and the logistics of barging supplies to Gove. And I am very pleased to say the 25th anniversary - it really is quite an honour." Russian missile and drone attacks have killed at least 15 people and injured 155 others in Kyiv, Ukraine. Senior U-S diplomat John Kelley told the United Nations Security Council that President Trump wants a deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine within one week. "Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace." Senior leaders in the Australian government say recognition of a Palestinian state will happen in the future. Canada has joined the U-K and France in recognising the state of Palestine before a UN General Assembly vote in September. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Palestinian statehood is the best pathway out of the violence in Gaza. "From an Australian point of view, recognition of the state of Palestine is a matter of when, not if. And so in that light, this progress, this momentum that we're seeing, is welcome, but it's also conditional. We need to make sure that there's no role for Hamas in any future leadership. We need to make sure that the hostages are released and so our support is conditional on meeting some of those overcoming some of those obstacles." In golf, Australian Grace Kim is hoping for success at the Women's British Open in Wales over the next few days. She is among nine Australians competing at the event, including Hannah Green and Minjee Lee - who wants to win the tournament. Kim says she is well prepared. "It is the last major of the season. But yeah, I am going to try and carry on the mentality that I had which was worry-free. And I know my game is good enough. My team has been put into a lot of effort into my own game. My physical, everything behind the scenes. So hopefully, we just showcase that." That's the latest SBS News in Easy English.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘How is this fair?': Transport for NSW staff question 950 job cut move during livestream
NSW government workers facing the possibility of being jobless just before Christmas have been left with more questions than answers following an all-staff livestream meeting. Last week, Transport for NSW staff were informed via email that 950 Transport Senior Service Manager (TSSM) and Award positions would be cut, with the changes expected to be finalised by the end of 2025. Only office staff are in the firing line for these job cuts, with frontline roles exempt from the restructure. This is in addition to the previously announced reduction of 300 Senior Executive roles, more than 200 of which have already been delivered. In the email, Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray said he knew the news would be 'significant and concerning' for many people. The move is part of a bid to save $600 million in costs and 'get back to a model that is sustainable long term'. On Friday, more than a week after the announcement, Mr Murray held an all-staff livestream in order to provide employees with more information and answer questions. 'I know there are a lot of very specific questions as well as some general understanding that we want to dig into and we are dedicated to answering your questions and to have that conversation,' he said. Mr Murray said there was 'no glossing over' the fact that Transport for NSW is facing significant cost pressures, claiming the organisation has been 'living beyond our means' in recent years. Over the last five years an extra 3000 workers had been hired during and after the Covid period. Addressing the restructure, Mr Murray said a detailed branch design will commence this month, with the aim to have all Transport for NSW branches determined by the end of the year. However, it seems some of the 3500 staff who joined the livestream weren't impressed with the secretary's almost 40-minute long speech. One Transport for NSW employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told that the explanations provided by Mr Murray made things 'as clear as mud'. '(He) basically said a whole lot of nothing,' they said. The employee revealed that just two minutes was left for questions at the end of the livestream. They ended up choosing just one question to answer from the many that were posted in the online forum, claiming many of the others had already been addressed. The question related to whether the 950 number would include 'current fixed term labour hire positions that might be coming to an end'. In his response, Mr Murray said the 'buckets' for labour hire or consultancies have 'already been set targets'. And, while they do intend to make further reductions in those areas, they have been 'open' about the fact that it will be TSSM and Award roles that will be impacted. He added that, if during the process they discover areas where changes can be made that would make a real impact to the ongoing costs of the organisations, then 'of course' it would be prioritised over the impacts to TSSM and award roles. has been provided some of the questions posted by staff that were receiving the most 'likes' in Q&A forum during the stream. One employee pointed out the job cuts relating to senior executive staff were announced 'well in advance' and have taken over a year to be implemented, with the process still ongoing. 'In contrast the job cuts affecting TSSM and award roles were announced abruptly over email with very short notice and are expected to be completed by the end of December 2025,' they wrote. 'Had we been given notice earlier we would have had sufficient time to explore better opportunities. How is this fair? Why weren't we informed sooner?' The employee continued, stating staff had been asking for clarity for a long time but had been 'repeatedly told and reassured that there would be no impact on award or TSSM'. 'This sudden decision directly contradicts those assurances. It is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about transparency and communication and transport core values,' they wrote. Another person questioned why the initial announcement on the job cuts was circulated via email and not livestream, noting a lot of staff found out through the media. One employee questioned why Transport for NSW wasn't using working from home as a way to save costs without losing staff. 'WFH flexibility is a win-win for transport and its employees as it keeps the workforce happier which is more important than ever right now, but also reducing office cost. If 'all avenues are being explored', surely this is a priority,' they wrote. Another staff member asked for clarification whether fixed term contract roles would be included in the 950 figure. 'We have been advised that fixed term employees are considered 'out of scope' but that contracts will not be extended beyond the end dates. This affects 1800 people,' they wrote, pointing out this suggests these job losses 'are in addition to the 950 roles flagged'. At the end of the meeting, Mr Murray said all the questions would be addressed, with answers provided 'through the Q&A process'. NSW Public Service Association (PSA) has slammed Transport for NSW over the latest job cuts announcement, claiming more cuts could instead be made to Senior Executive staff in order to spare other employees. 'While TfNSW and the NSW Government crow that they have cut 200 Senior Executives already, the fact is there are still substantially more senior executives employed in Transport than any other Department,' the union said in a statement on Friday. 'With over 1000 TSSE's they have nearly three times the amount of senior executives within Health, despite having a quarter of Health's workforce. 'The PSA continues to call on the NSW Government to stop their protection racket for senior executives, have a look at their numbers again, and if they need to make $279 million in internal labour savings, continue reducing the size of their Senior Executives to avoid job cuts for Award staff.'
