Key events
3d ago03.33EDT
What we learned, Wednesday 24 April 2024
With that, we’ll end our live coverage of the day’s news.
Here’s a summary of the main news developments:
Seven juveniles have been arrested as part of extensive counter-terrorism raids across south-western Sydney, with police alleging they adhere to a “religiously motivated violent extremist ideology”.
The bishop who was allegedly stabbed in his Sydney church last week has written an affidavit for Elon Musk’s X, arguing video of the attack should not be censored as ordered by the Australian online safety regulator, the federal court has heard.
Woodside Energy has suffered an embarrassing rebuke of its climate credentials after its emissions plan was overwhelmingly rejected by shareholders at its annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Having pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child, a former teacher now wants the conviction overturned on the basis she cannot be held legally responsible due to her gender.
Victorian homicide detectives are investigating the death of a woman after her body was discovered in the state’s north on Tuesday.
Thanks for reading, and have a pleasant evening.
3d ago03.08EDT
Queensland’s state library launched an AI war veteran chatbot. Pranksters immediately tried to break it
“Charlie”, the AI war veteran chatbot, was programmed to educate people about the first world war, mateship and life in the trenches in time for Anzac Day.
But less than 24 hours after the bot was launched, internet users were already attempting to “jailbreak” it.
Read more from Eden Gillespie and Josh Nicholas:
3d ago02.46EDT
Shareholders reject Woodside’s climate plan
Jonathan Barrett
The voting numbers at Woodside Energy’s annual general meeting are now in, with more than 58% of votes cast against the company’s climate report.
It is by far the strongest protest vote recorded against any of the dozens of listed companies around the world that regularly put climate-related resolutions to shareholders.
“Naturally, we’re disappointed but respect the result,” Woodside chair, Richard Goyder, said shortly after the results were announced. Earlier today Goyder was re-elected against a shareholder push to oust him as chair over the company’s climate credentials.
“The board will reflect closely on the result and continue to engage with shareholders as we progress our strategy.”
The battle over the climate plan pitched the country’s biggest oil and gas producer against global investors increasingly concerned about the energy sector’s contribution to global heating.
The vote on the climate report, which outlines how Woodside will align operations with rising environmental concerns, is non-binding, however the results put pressure on the company to align policies with the views of its shareholders.
Read more:
3d ago02.28EDT
Police believed ‘an attack might ensue’
Counter-terrorism police carried out raids and arrested a group of teenagers who they allege adhere to a “religiously motivated violent extremist ideology”, and who they had been surveilling because investigators feared “an attack might ensue”.
David Hudson, the NSW police deputy commissioner, said the juveniles – seven of whom were arrested and five of whom are assisting police with inquiries after the Wednesday raids – had been surveilled following the stabbing at a Wakeley church last Monday that was deemed a terrorist incident.
Hudson said:
Their behaviour whilst under that surveillance led us to believe that if they were to commit any act, we would not be able to prevent that. And we believed through the investigation that it was likely that an attack might ensue.
3d ago02.21EDT
Seven arrested, five assisting police after Sydney counter-terror raids
Seven juveniles have been arrested following counter-terrorism raids across Sydney and its south-west focussed on individuals allegedly adhering to a “religiously motivated violent extremist ideology”.
Through the raids – which were in response to last Monday’s terrorist incident stabbing at an Assyrian church in Wakeley – police said 13 search warrants were executed in total, leading to the arrest of seven “juveniles” including 15, 16 and 17-year-olds. Five others are assisting police with their inquiries.
Hudson alleged that all of the individuals are known to each other and are “all linked in a common purpose”, but said there was no immediate danger to the community.
On Wednesday afternoon, David Hudson, the NSW police deputy commissioner, said more than 400 members of the joint counter-terrorism team from the state and federal police forces as well as the NSW crime commission were part of the action that began at about 11.15am.
Hudson said:
From that initial (Wakeley) incident, a number of associates were identified that we believe warranted further close attention and investigation. We will allege that these individuals adhere to a religiously motivated violent extremist ideology.
These investigations have been progressing since the incident, the investigations including comprehensive surveillance activities and intensive scrutiny of these individuals.”
3d ago01.57EDT
Amy Remeikis
And the band played on … spoons?
Australia’s and New Zealand’s defence forces are once again coming together at Gallipoli – this time to ensure New Zealand’s military band can play on.
The band’s luggage was among thousands of bags lost during last week’s Dubai floods, with embassy staff only able to retrieve one instrument and a handful of dress uniforms ahead of the 25 April dawn service in Turkey.
While 35 of the missing 65 bags were located, only a handful had managed to be sent on to where the Anzac and Chunuk Bair commemorations were taking place, local media reported.
New Zealand media reported the group’s drummer had been practising making the drumbeat with two spoons, while plans were in place for vocalist Lance Corporal Bryony Williams to sing anthems without accompaniment.
Read more:
3d ago01.22EDT
The last straw …
Handmade millet brooms have been produced in Tumut since 1946, and now a new generation of craftsmen is getting swept up in the trade.
Read more from Eliza Spencer:
3d ago01.11EDT
Emily Wind
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Elias Visontay will guide you through the rest of today’s rolling coverage. Take care.
3d ago01.10EDT
Police to address media about joint counter-terrorism raids across Sydney
NSW deputy commissioner David Hudson and AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett will address the media this afternoon about the search warrants executed in Sydney by the joint counter-terrorism team.
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw earlier confirmed the raids were in relation to the Wakeley church stabbing.
The press conference will be held at 4pm, and we will bring you the latest here on the blog once that begins.
3d ago01.08EDT
Elon Musk v Jacqui Lambie saga continues
The Elon Musk v Jacqui Lambie saga is continuing, with the independent senator stating Musk should “put his big boy pants on and do the right thing”.
Lambie posted on Instagram (not X, as she deleted her account yesterday) reiterating her call for Musk to delete 65 tweets relating to the Wakeley church stabbing, as requested by the eSafety commissioner.
Lambie shared a photo of herself wearing face paint and wrote:
Elon Musk should put his big boy pants on and do the right thing – but he won’t because he has no social conscience.
This comes after X boss Musk called Lambie the “enemy of the people of Australia” in a tweet overnight, and stated that she has “utter contempt for the Australian people” in another tweet.
3d ago01.04EDT
Woodside concedes shareholders likely to vote down climate report
Jonathan Barrett
Woodside Energy has suffered a sharp rebuke of its climate credentials after the company conceded it was “unlikely to receive majority support” for its emissions plans at its annual general meeting today.
Woodside chair Richard Goyder told shareholders in Perth:
The board will seriously consider the outcome when reviewing our approach to climate change. We take the shareholder feedback seriously.
The result will represent the strongest protest vote recorded against any of the dozens of listed companies around the world that regularly put climate-related resolutions to shareholders.
Climate reports outline how a company plans to align operations with rising environmental concerns.
While they are subject to non-binding votes, and therefore don’t automatically trigger a policy change, they are a way for shareholders to express their disapproval, placing pressure on directors to change direction.
The voting results will be disclosed shortly.
3d ago00.54EDT
Families of two Australians missing in Taiwan want search resumed ‘once its safe’
The families of two Australians reported missing during an earthquake in Taiwan earlier this month have called for the search and rescue operation to resume “once it is safe to do so”.
Australians Issac Sim Hwee Kok and Ann Neo Siew Choo were holidaying in Taiwan but were caught up in the earthquake that struck on 3 April.
The search to find the pair was under way but paused on 12 April “when it became dangerous for the rescue teams to operate”, a statement from the families said.
The families dearly want them to be found but cannot allow this to be at the risk of someone else’s life … We ask that they resume the search and rescue operation once it is safe to do so. However, we also ask that they do so by always putting their own safety first.
In a statement, the families thanked every member of the Hualien County Fire Department, and the search and rescue dogs, for their “dedication and tireless efforts” regarding the search.
The families thanked numerous other agencies for their assistance during the search including local police and the Australian office in Taipei.
3d ago00.45EDT
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel says Wakeley stabbing video should not be removed from X, court hears
Josh Taylor
The bishop who was allegedly stabbed in his Sydney church has written an affidavit for Elon Musk’s X arguing that the video of his alleged stabbing last week should not be censored as the Australian online safety regulator has ordered, the federal court has heard.
X’s legal representative Marcus Hoyne told the federal court in a case management hearing this afternoon that X would need to put on a lot of documents in the case over the eSafety ordered takedown of 65 tweets of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a Wakeley church last week.
Hoyne indicated X had obtained an affidavit from the bishop that the footage should be available. He also said the case was “above his paygrade” and X was approaching barrister Bret Walker SC for the case.
Justice Geoffrey Kennett extended the interim injunction ordering the posts be hidden from view until 5pm 10 May 2024, when the court will hold an injunction hearing.
Counsel for the eSafety commissioner, Christopher Tran, said the current order had not been complied with.
Hoyne said there were significant legal issues to do with eSafety’s powers over content overseas to be dealt with:
I’m not dealing with the political or media issues here. I’m just dealing with the legal issues.
3d ago00.39EDT
Caitlin Cassidy
Universities Australia backs calls for government to ease burden of student loans
The peak body for the tertiary sector has backed calls for the federal government to ease the burden of student loans after today’s revelations debts will rise by 4.8% in June.
Ceo of Universities Australia Luke Sheehy said the commonwealth’s recent consideration of changes to Hecs/Help payments was welcome in light of the increase:
Universities are very supportive of the government’s focus on changing the way student repayments are made ... we recognise young people are facing increasing cost-of-living pressures and have called for targeted support for students in the May budget.
Help has led to a significant expansion of the university system, and it is essential that we continue to open the door to university for more Australians as our need for graduates grows.
Today’s CPI figures showed that millions of Australians with student loans will be hit by increases of more than $1,000 in June. Here’s an explainer (from last year) on how Hecs/Help loans are linked to CPI:
