Minns announces intention to begin independent review into Sydney trains
The state government is looking at beginning an independent review to look into maintenance and punctuality of Sydney trains, NSW premier Chris Minns says.
It comes as Sydney commuters avoid travelling by train this morning after major disruptions to the network yesterday afternoon involving high-voltage wires collapsing on the top of a train and shutting down the entire westbound line.
The premier said on 2GB:
We’ve got to get better, this is nowhere near good enough, and it’s certainly not on par with international standards.
I need an independent review into this. We are looking at bringing someone in from the airline sector … A fresh set of eyes that can look at three things. The maintenance program that we’ve undertaken, the punctuality of trains on the Sydney trains network, and also communication … I don’t think that we are clear enough about what the immediate and longer-term impacts will be.
Key events
Luca Ittimani
Housing shortage to worsen as new builds fall short of Albanese government target, agency predicts
Australia will miss the Albanese government’s target for 1.2m new homes by nearly a quarter, increasing homelessness and overcrowding, the independent housing agency has warned.
Housing shortages will be compounded by the target shortfall of 262,000 new builds plus 113,000 predicted demolitions over the period from financial years 2025 to 2029, according to the government’s National Housing Supply and Affordability Council’s annual report, out today.
The combined effect of the shortfall and demolitions is expected to see the shortage between Australia’s needs and new builds worsen by mid-2029, with the 825,000 expected net new homes well behind the increased underlying demand from 904,000 extra households.
Australians would mostly deal with the worsening shortfall by staying in homes of larger numbers, risking overcrowding, or by piling into the already-overheated rental market, though some would be unable to afford conventional housing at all, analysts at the Council wrote. The report read:
Some of this unmet demand will be absorbed by a lower [rental] vacancy rate. Some will result in a greater reliance on suboptimal types of shelter … such as caravan parks, hotels and emergency shelters. A portion will contribute to the growing homeless population.
All states and territories were forecast to fall short of their target commitments, with New South Wales likely to build only two-third of its share. Without new policy action, the housing shortage would not be overcome, the report suggested:
Australia has one of the least responsive housing supply systems in the world …
It is unlikely that unexpectedly favourable conditions alone could enable the Housing Accord target.
Daisy Dumas
Chris Minns is still addressing media about the Sydney train network. He went on to say that a fare-free day on Monday was “the least we can do”.
I don’t expect it to make up for the chaos of the last 24 hours or commuters’ unhappiness with the system over a prolonged period of time, but it’s a little bit that we can do to show that we understand that there’s been major disruptions.
He said that a “short and sharp” independent outside review would look at maintenance, punctuality and communications from Transport for NSW.
He said that the disruptions would continue to affect the network for the remainder of the day and urged commuters to leave work early, if possible, to avoid peak hour travel when more heavy rain is forecast.
He said he didn’t “want to see scenes of hundreds of thousands or hundreds or thousands of people waiting to get access to a train this afternoon, when the heavens have opened up and it’s incredibly difficult and potentially dangerous to get on public transport.
I regret that that message is going out, but it’s one we would like you to consider as you attempt your afternoon, your afternoon journey home.
Transport minister John Graham thanked commuters for their patience.
“We understand that their patience is wearing thin,” he said.
Daisy Dumas
Premier says NSW government on ‘short leash’ with commuters after train chaos
Chris Minns admits that the New South Wales government is on a “very short leash” with commuters after Tuesday’s massive train network outage continued to wreak travel havoc in the city and statewide.
Speaking with reporters at midday, the premier said that the government needed to “make sure that people have got confidence” in the Sydney trains network.
He said:
That’s not happening. The consistency in the network is not there. Punctuality is not there. We know that we have to turn around, and we’re on a very short leash from the commuters of New South Wales who are demanding answers as to why they can’t get reliability on the public transport network.
He said there were “specific technical reasons” for the shutdown and “the commuting public would have been understanding of those circumstances if there hadn’t been a persistent lack of reliability on the public transport network over a long period of time.
In fact, I think their patience has worn thin, and I want them to know that the government has heard that message absolutely loud and clear.
He was joined by the transport minister John Graham and Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland.
More to come.
Krishani Dhanji
Australia and the EU are inching closer towards a free trade agreement, that stalled under the last parliament.
Trade Minister Don Farrell held a second meeting with EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Šefčovič last night, after Anthony Albanese met with EU President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome on Sunday.
The two trade representatives discussed the ongoing sticking points, and the need to diversify trade, following Donald Trump‘s tariffs.
Farrell said in a statement it was “great” to meet with Šefčovič and that “it’s more important than ever to advance free and fair trade”.
A trade deal with the European Union has the potential to deliver great opportunities for Australian businesses and jobs.
Better access to the EU, means better access to a market of around 450 million people and a GDP of US$20 trillion.
The government is seeking to improve access for Australian beef, lamb, sugar and dairy into the EU, and is holding firm against the EU on naming rights, on products like prosecco and feta.
No natural disaster declaration for mid-north coast and Hunter regions as yet
There has not been a natural disaster declaration for the mid-north coast and Hunter regions, the NSW emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, says:
A natural disaster declaration will usually occur after the response phase. We’re still in the response phase. We have had conversations with local government at the minister for recovery. The focus has to be right now on the response and then we can go through and do an assessment. The commonwealth has been made aware and the reconstruction authority … but at this stage there has not been declaration and we need to focus on the response at this point.
The NSW SES commissioner, Mike Wassing, says flood rescues have involved medical episodes and livestock rescues:
It is a significant number of flood rescues. We have highly trained flood rescue technicians that are volunteers that are also staff both in SES as well as fire rescue, multiple services, then all the support capabilities making sure those people are looked after when they are evacuated.
We are seeing rescues ranging from last night, we had large numbers of rescues, flood waters on the Pacific Highway, 24 in one location, also a number of animal rescues, acknowledging a lot of these areas have either livestock or horses or other large animals, so some flood rescues have been associated with that. Some associated with medical episode, getting paramedics in and patients out. But our primary focus is very much on people that are in the area that commenced yesterday and I focus for those people stuck in flood waters especially in homes that in many cases have been inundated and where most rescues this morning and into the rest of the day are primarily focused.
Nine helicopters active in Taree, Glenthorne and Coffs Harbour
NSW SES have nine helicopters are active in Taree, Glenthorne and Coffs Harbour areas.
The NSW SES commissioner, Mike Wassing, joins the emergency services minister live. Wassing says:
There have been situations overnight where we were not able to access people by air or through water. But these are highly trained volunteers and staff doing their best and continue to reach out to any calls of support and rescue. We are prioritising those rescue operations. We have people on roofs, are in contact with most and we are prioritising and containing to prioritise the greatest requirements of those rescue operations and will continue to do so.
Emergency services minister Jihad Dib says rain is falling hard in the mid-north coast and Hunter regions, and is not moving away:
I want to thank not only the SES volunteers at other agencies. The ADF responded to a request and provided assistance on its way in addition to that. We have a situation where the rain has been falling quite heavily and hard and it has not been moving away. Part of that is because the ground is saturated and the rivers are swollen.
We have been clear in terms of giving information to communities and getting that information out quickly and I would remind people the best source of information is the SES, so look at the website, their Facebook page, official SES ones, the Bureau of Meteorology and our Hazards Near Me app.
Almost 300 flood rescues, emergency services minister says
There have been 284 flood rescues amid wet conditions pummelling the NSW Hunter and mid-north coast regions in the last 24 hours, the emergency services minister, Jihad Dib says.
Since midnight, there have been 150 rescues.
Dib is speaking live:
We have seen an enormous amount of rainfall over the Hunter and mid north coast area.
Falls have reached up to 280mm in some areas. Conditions are expected to persist into the rest of the day, with 150 to 200mm of rainfall predicted in the mid-north coast. Rain is also moving further north, affecting southern parts of Coffs Harbour.
More than 1,600 SES volunteers are on the ground, with 20 multiagency flood rescue teams.
What we’re seeing is a clear example of throwing every single thing we have at this event.
Taree resident recounts ‘hectic’ conditions among floods
Taree resident Hugh McLeod has had to move boats to higher ground three times since yesterday, amid heavy rain and flooding in mid-north coast NSW.
The coach and committee member of the Manning River Rowing Club spoke to the ABC a short while ago:
It has been pretty hectic. We first started to evacuate our boat shed around 6am, which had a good turn up. We had to move them to higher ground and enacted our management plan, which we have had in place for a good time. We have been through this once or twice and that started a roster of members taking up positions watching the river, making sure boats stayed in good position and everything was so.
We have had to move, relocate our boats three times now, since yesterday evening. At about 6.30pm we moved to a point [that] was previously higher than the previous high water mark of any previous flood but then at around about midnight last night it came up again and we had to move them again. By that stage, a lot of members had been cut off, they had properties of their own they needed to manage … and about four or five members were within reach able to do it and we were fortunate to move our boats further out of the flood waters.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian premier says angry farmer’s cow manure delivery ‘disgraceful workplace behaviour’
Allan was asked about an incident that occurred during yesterday’s protest, when an angry farmer delivered a box of cow manure to the door of her parliamentary office.
The area is only accessible by parliamentary passholders and required an escort from the MPs, with Liberal Bev McArthur telling the ABC she was with the farmer when he delivered it.
Allan said the incident was “disgraceful workplace behaviour”. She went on:
Could you imagine Raf if you turned up to work today and did the same thing … put a box of cow manure on the desk of one of your colleagues. Could you imagine that happening in any other office or factory, workplace, anywhere around the country? It would be dealt with because it’s inappropriate workplace behaviour and what’s particularly offensive about this behaviour. It’s not funny, it’s not a joke … The staff member who had to deal with these told me how they didn’t feel safe, and told me how their safety in their workplace was violated by this behaviour.
Allan said MPs had a responsibility to behave to the highest of standards and this “falls far short”:
The leader of the opposition, Brad Battin, has done nothing to condemn this behaviour. Has done nothing to condemn and call out this behaviour that’s compromised the safety of my staff, that has seen members of parliament act entirely inappropriate and in any other workplace would be swiftly dealt with.
The manure, in a box, had a note on it that read:
Dearest Jacinta, I have considered your levy and here’s my feedback, it’s bullshit. Love Brutus and family.
Benita Kolovos
Jacinta Allan defends emergency services and volunteers fund
The premier also defended the emergency services and volunteers fund (ESVF) in the face of ongoing protests, including a cavalcade of fire trucks at parliament yesterday.
The levy – which is an expansion of the fire services levy – will also cover the State Emergency Service, Triple Zero Victoria and the State Control Centre. Announced in December (so not during yesterday’s budget), the tax rate will double and take effect from 1 July.
Allan said the increase is important due to the growing effects of climate change, weather-related emergencies and population changes:
[The government is] expanding the support they [volunteers] get because they are responding to more fierce and more frequent flood, fire and storm events. The volunteers – CFA and SES – they’re going to be exempt from paying the levy.
Host Raf Epstein, however, says the rebate of $3,800 might not cover the bigger bill some volunteers will be slugged with. Allan says this is “incorrect”.
They will be exempt from the levy and the treasurer has also announced that those that are in drought affected areas will also have their rates capped as well.
Benita Kolovos
Jacinta Allan defends major state debt after budget delivery
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, appeared on ABC Radio Melbourne earlier this morning to spruik her government’s budget, handed down yesterday.
Defending the state’s massive debt, which is projected to reach $194bn by 2028-29, Allan says it has mostly been used to fund infrastructure projects that did not receive any federal support. She told host Raf Epstein:
When you’ve got a big city like Melbourne, a growing state like Victoria, whether you’re interested in productivity, the efficient movement of people and goods, or you’re also wanting to understand how good transport connections provide an equity of opportunity, because they mean people can get to where they want to go easily, fairly and makes things like universities and Tafe more accessible – well, that’s why we invest in productive infrastructure.
Asked again if debt was a problem, Allan said the government had a fiscal plan. She said:
We’ve delivered an operating surplus as part of this budget, Raf, the first time since the pandemic, [being] only one of three states to deliver an operating surplus. South Australia has a much smaller operating surplus and Western Australia, – we all know the situation with the Western Australian budget – not only the mining royalties … The rest of the country is supporting that sweetheart GST deal.
Jonathan Barrett
Markets up bets on deeper interest rate cuts
Financial markets are increasing their bets on steeper interest rate cuts after the Reserve Bank governor disclosed that yesterday’s reduction could have been bigger.
Michele Bullock also told a media conference after Tuesday’s quarter percentage point cut to 3.85% that the board would likely have cut rates even without the uncertainty caused by the US tariff regime.
Australian markets are now pricing in a year-end cash rate of 3.1%, according to IG analysts.
Chris Weston, the head of research at Pepperstone, said markets were implying a 25 basis point cut in July or August, followed by another in September. There is then a strong change of a third cut in December.
The expectations represent a considerable upgrade to forecasts heading into yesterday’s decision, with some major bank economists expecting the rate to be at around 3.6% by the end of 2025.
Economists have described the RBA decision, and Bullock’s press conference, as dovish, indicating a policy position that supports lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth.
Bullock was previously seen as hawkish after she consistently cautioned against expectations of aggressive further cuts due to the potential for inflation to reignite.
In that same local facebook group for the Taree area, there are a couple of posts about missing animals as well – including pictures of stranded animals which have been spotted, like a cow standing in water up to its ribs outside a local Liquorland. The picture was posted three hours ago.
An update on the chopper situation in Glenthorn, where residents stranded amidst flooding have been pleading for rescue.
In response to a local woman’s request for help for her kids and baby – alongside a video of flood waters rushing past homes and cars submerged above the wheels – a commenter in a local Facebook group says “chopper picking up now.”
The local woman who made the post posted around an hour ago, saying: “they are out. thank you all.”
Littleproud concedes decision to split with Liberals not unanimous
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, and his deputy, Kevin Hogan, have admitted not all of their colleagues supported the decision to split with the Liberals.
Rumours of discontent among some Nationals MPs have been swirling since Littleproud announced the party would abandon the Coalition for the first time in 38 years.
The Nationals leader said the decision was a matter of “principle” after the Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, refused to immediately guarantee support for four policies, including nuclear power.
The Liberals say the Nationals also would not commit to cabinet solidarity – a basic principle that means senior frontbenchers cannot cross the floor in parliament.
Speaking with reporters in Parliament House, Littleproud acknowledged the decision to split was not unanimous within the party room.
I think you’d be naive to think any party room would get a unanimous decision.
I mean, there’s a diverse range of people, not only in our party room, in the Liberal party room, in the Labor party room, even in our good friends the Greens. I think that’s really superfluous to the fact that as a collective, we got to a position and we’re respecting that position, and we’re going to carry through that position.
In an earlier interview on Sky News, Hogan admitted the decision “wasn’t unanimous but was quite conclusive”.
The split will have huge implications for the Nationals, which will lose shadow cabinet positions (and associated salaries) as well as staffing numbers. It could potentially make it harder to retain Senate seats in Victoria and NSW, where the Nationals run on a joint ticket with the Liberals.
The Nationals’ Bridget McKenzie and Ross Cadell are up for re-election in 2028 in Victoria and NSW respectively.
Littleproud hinted there might still be a possibility of joint tickets in 2028 if state officials from the two parties could come to some agreement. But he acknowledged the threat of losing seats was one of the risks that was weighed up during the party room debate.
I can assure you that when we had discussions in the party room, all those risks and factors were put on the table. We still got to the decision because you know what? We’re here for a reason, and we’re going to put our record in front of the Australian people at the next election and we’ll do it with conviction.
James Patterson on making decisions on principle and policy: ‘We can walk and chew gum at the same time’
Talk about the big coalition split continues, with Liberal senator James Patterson saying he doesn’t see a problem with making decisions on principle before getting to policy.
Patterson was on Sky News a short while ago:
I don’t see a problem at all there. I mean, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We will have a review process which will be thorough and will be focused on listening to the Australian people and hearing their message.
But you have to make tactical decisions every day in politics and how you respond to issues that arise, and the Labor party will bowl up many interesting policy options for us to consider and respond to, some of which they might have a mandate for, much of which they will not, and we will have to determine what we think is in the Liberal party’s interest and the national interest. That’s how we’ll vote.
