Morning News Bulletin 15 November 2024

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TRANSCRIPT
Labor launches a new plan to cap political donations
New Zealand’s parliament erupts in protest
The Socceroos survive a nail-biting finish to notch a nil-all draw against the Saudi Green Falcons
Labor will seek to create new caps on political donations and campaign spending with a bill set to be introduced to Parliament on Monday.
The reforms would cap parties’ spending at $90 million for federal political campaigns and limit expenditure in individual electorates to $800,000.
The changes include an increase to taxpayer funding given to political parties and candidates, as well as near real-time disclosure for donations above $1,000.
There would also be new restrictions on the amount of money individuals and companies can donate towards political candidates and campaigns.
Labor is hoping to push the bill through Parliament within a fortnight – but that would require Coalition support.
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Victorian police officers are striking for the first time in more than two decades as they escalate a protracted pay dispute with the state government.
It comes as part of a series of stop-work meetings with police demanding a 24 per cent pay rise over the next four years, and the introduction of eight-and-a-half hour shifts.
A previous deal proposed by the government was knocked back by police union members in May, and the pay dispute in now before the Fair Work Commission.
Victorian Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt says police shouldn’t have to fight for fair pay.
“We want to see a fair and reasonable outcome for police that takes into account their worth their contribution, but also the danger and importance of the work that they do in keeping us safe. You only have to turn your telly on to see how dangerous it is to be a police officer, night after night, day after day, they put themselves, they put their own safety ahead, sorry, behind the interests of the community … put a price on that.”
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New Zealand’s parliament was briefly suspended on Thursday after Maori members staged a haka to disrupt the vote on a contentious bill that would re-interpret the nation’s treaty.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by Maori chiefs and the British Crown in 1840 and lays out how the two parties agree to govern. It continues to guide policy and legislation today.
Critics say the controversial bill would undermine Indigenous rights – sparking this defiant haka from Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, New Zealand’s youngest MP.
Sounds of haka protest
A large protest – or hīkoi – is also making its way down New Zealand’s North Island and is expected to arrive in the capital next Thursday for a rally that could attract tens of thousands.
Although the bill has inflamed racial tensions, it will almost certainly fail.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he doesn’t support it.
“We don’t agree with this bill, and we don’t agree with it for a number of reasons. The first thing is that, you know, treaty issues are complex, and we have built up over a hundred and eighty four years, and you know, you do not go negate with a single stroke of a pen a hundred and eighty four years of debate and discussion with the bill that I think is very simplistic.”
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A new report has calculated how much annual climate finance would need to flow from rich nations to Pacific countries to help them cope with rising seas and natural disasters.
The report by Caritas Australia and the Jubilee Australia Research Centre finds $2.3 billion is needed each year.
The current shortfall is calculated to be around two-thirds of that.
It comes as world leaders at COP29 negotiate a new global target for climate finance.
Report co-author Damian Spruce, from Caritas Australia, says those funds would help speed the energy transition, address climate impacts, and deal with loss and damage caused by climate change.
“So we need countries to step up – to be delivering a more ambitious goal for climate finance. And we need to make sure that it is good quality climate finance. That it is delivered as grants and not as loans that will just increase the debt levels of the global South and lead to ongoing economic disasters.”
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Officials in India’s capital Delhi say all primary schools will close due to air pollution.
Classes will move online until further notice due to thick smog.
The pollution in Delhi and nearby cities are at levels considered hazardous to people’s health.
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The Socceroos have held Saudi Arabia’s Green Falcons to a nil-all draw in the World Cup qualifier at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
It was a frustrating match for both sides as each failed to exploit their opportunities in front of nearly 28,000 fans.
The visitors thought they’d clinched the match with a late goal in the ninety third minute – but that was denied by an offside call.
The result leaves Australia second in Group C on six points, with the pressure now on to secure a win at next week’s away game against Bahrain.