This blog is now closed.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration has ordered all local and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to stop female employees from coming to work, just days after they ordered universities to close to women.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has condemned both decisions, issuing a statement in the last hour on the latest announcement banning women from NGOs:
Australia condemns the Taliban’s appalling decision to ban women from NGOs in Afghanistan.
This decision seriously impacts the country’s ability to deal with a major humanitarian crisis.
We support the UN which is leading discussions with the Taliban to annul this decision.
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines from today:
Sydney fog delays flights, halts ferries
Fog disperses in time for Sydney to Hobart start
Isolated rainfall of up to 400mm predicted for Northern Territory as flood watches current for all rivers
Heatwave conditions in South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania to lead to elevated fire danger: BoM
South Australia awaits flood deluge
Two dead in light plane crash in the Northern Territory
Dating app operators to meet with government on reform
Coles issues urgent recall of cheese after traces of E coli found
Shane Warne remembered at first Melbourne Boxing Day test since death
Australia condemns Taliban’s decision to ban women from NGOs
Housing industry calls for changes to migration processes to ease skills shortages
Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us – we will be back tomorrow. Until then, stay safe!
Police divers are searching Black Diamond Lake near Collie in Western Australia after a man, 30, did not return from his swim on Christmas Day.
The group he was celebrating with called police at 2.30 pm when they realised he had not returned.
Police and members of the public – some on paddleboards searched around the lake with the help of a police helicopter.
Divers are now helping as the search continues.
Home builders want migration processes tweaked to make it easier to plug skills gaps in an industry that’s suffering severe labour shortages.
The Housing Industry Association says existing migration processes are too complex, costly and fail to recognise the unique way the industry operates, making it difficult for trades to recruit skilled workers from overseas.
In a submission to the Department of Home Affairs’ review of the migration system, the association said upskilling and training was central to building a sustainable long-term workforce.
But in the meantime skilled migration should play a bigger role in easing labour shortages, it said.
While high-demand building trades are among the occupations well serviced by visas, there has been very little take-up by industry.
That’s partly due to the cost, the submission said, with much of the trade contractor workforce made up of small businesses with limited resources.
Another barrier is a visa requirement that mandates that workers stay with an employer for a set period of time.
The association said this is impractical in the construction industry as skilled tradies often operate as contractors and work across multiple sites and for several builders each week.
‘Devastating loss’: family of eight lose home after Christmas Day fire
A Tasmanian family of eight is facing the “overwhelming” loss of their home and possessions after a Christmas morning fire, AAP has reported.
Multiple fire crews were called to the property at Lower Barrington, in the state’s north-west, at 10.55am on Sunday.
The Tasmania fire service said the house was well alight when crews arrived and the main fire was extinguished by 12.55pm with everyone living there was accounted for.
“The cause was deemed to be accidental and the damage was estimated at $300,000,” the a fire service spokesperson said.
A relative set up an online fundraiser via the GoFundMe website with the aim of raising $10,000 to help ease the “devastating loss” suffered by the parents and their five-year-old child and five teenage children,
“The results of this fire is catastrophic, the entire house is ruined and the house is completely uninhabitable. However, it could have been a lot worse and we are so thankful the family and pets are safe,” the fundraiser’s organiser stated.
After posting the fundraiser on Sunday, the organiser said she was “honestly blown away by the kindness of everyone” after online donors pledged more than $8,800 in the space of 20 hours, including one anonymous donor who pledged $1,000.
Melbourne you are cleared for bay swimming!
The EPA Beach Report forecast for this afternoon and tomorrow has 36 beaches rated good. Three locations on Yarra Watch are poor today and tomorrow but Warrandyte is forecast to be good. For more information, go to https://t.co/jQIAo5Xq8w pic.twitter.com/GfmNvK5bLf
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for central and eastern parts of Victoria:
A SEVERE Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for today, Monday 26 December, for HEAVY RAINFALL and DAMAGING WINDS.
Locations which may be affected include Bendigo, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Traralgon and Bairnsdale. More info via @BOM_Vic https://t.co/dN9awPlJJH pic.twitter.com/ilCw7j1OPw
Police and investigators working to access remote NT location of fatal plane crash
We have more information on the plane crash that left two dead in the Northern Territory over the weekend from AAP:
Police and investigators are working to access the crash scene after a single-engined light aircraft missing in Arnhem Land was located in dense bushland near Bulman.
Federal investigators said the Cessna 210N aircraft, carrying a 22-year-old male pilot and 43-year-old female passenger, collided with terrain and left debris scattered over a large distance.
A search by police, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Response Centre, spotted the crashed plane on Sunday afternoon.
The authority said the wreckage with two dead was located about 250km north-east of Katherine using dedicated search and rescue aircraft from Cairns and Essendon and additional NT-based planes and helicopters.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau also joined the crash investigation on Monday.
“A team of transport safety investigators from the ATSB’s Brisbane and Canberra offices are preparing to deploy to the accident site where they will commence the on-site phase of the investigation,” Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
“Given the remote location, the ATSB is liaising with Northern Territory Police to determine the best way for investigators to access the accident site over the coming days.”
Parts of Northern Territory prepare for flooding
Residents in parts of the Northern Territory are preparing for flooding as ex-tropical cyclone Ellie continues to dump intense rainfall across a vast area, AAP is reporting.
The massive weather system was hovering over the Barkly District, about 100km south-east of Tennant Creek, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Monday.
Intense rainfall, with 24-hour totals up to 350mm, and life-threatening flash flooding are possible south-east of the town of about 3,000 people, the bureau warns.
A section of the Stuart Highway, linking the Top End to Alice Springs and South Australia, has been closed south of Tennant Creek.
A severe weather warning has been issued and damaging wind gusts with peaks in excess of 90 km/h are forecast east of Tennant Creek.
Significant flooding is also expected in the Bonaparte Coastal Rivers, North West Coastal Rivers and inland catchment areas over the next three days.
Residents are warned some communities and homesteads may become or remain isolated as water levels rise in creeks and low-lying areas.
A 42-year-old man faces multiple charges after allegedly running down a Victorian police officer while trying to avoid a random breath test on Christmas Day.
The officer was struck shortly before 8.30pm on Sunday at Bacchus Marsh, about 50km north-west of Melbourne.
Police allege a Ford Falcon ute stopped short of the RBT site, then approached and was waved into a testing lane, at which point the driver accelerated.
The officer attempted to jump out of the way but was struck in the leg, causing minor injuries, as the driver swerved into oncoming traffic.
Police said in a statement:
It’s alleged the vehicle travelled on the wrong side of the road at excessive speeds while driving from the site, causing numerous vehicles to take evasive action.
A short time later, a member of the public reported a vehicle had become bogged in a nearby paddock.
Police arrested the driver, who was on a disqualified licence and tested positive to methylamphetamine. He also underwent a breath test and returned a reading of .035.
The man was charged with 17 offences including disqualified driving, drink-driving and endangering an emergency services worker with vehicle.
Police are calling for any witnesses or dashcam footage of the incident.
– AAP
PM gives reminder of penalty rates on public holiday
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has taken to social media with a short and sharp message for those of us who are not holidaying today.
If you're working today, you deserve your penalty rates.
Thanks for your attention today – I know the blog is competing with some pretty stunning summer weather around the country, so your eyeballs are especially appreciated. I hand you over to the magnificent Cait Kelly now. See you tomorrow!
Dramatic start to Sydney to Hobart
Supermaxis Andoo Comanche and Hamilton Island Wild Oats have each opted to take a penalty turn inside the first 20 minutes of the most action-packed start to the Sydney to Hobart race in recent memory.
Watched by a large spectator fleet, the drama unfolded in the first couple of minutes of racing, as the fleet of 109 set out in northerly breezes of around 15 knots.
Line honours favourite Andoo Comanche took her penalty turn inside the first few minutes with the suggestion she might have hit a mark.
The boat was later seen flying a protest flag.
Oats took their penalty turn later but only after a debate between skipper Mark Richards and other senior crew members. The reason for the turn was not immediately apparent.
Inside the first few minutes some boats came perilously close to each other as they jockeyed for advantage.
LawConnect took an early lead as the race settled down after a frantic start, which took place in glorious sunshine after heavy early morning fog on Sydney Harbour had raised concerns over visibility.
Comanche flying now, catching the leader and travelling much faster #SydneytoHobart pic.twitter.com/yu7mZiW53k
– AAP
Recent Comments