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Australia news live: Asio warns politicians that internet-connected cars could be bugged; flood warnings after wild weather | Australia news
Key events
Minister maintains any potential changes to capital gains tax discount plans will be minimal
Tim Ayres, the minister of industry and innovation, was asked on RN about changes to the capital gains tax discount after the prime minister wanted any potential changes to the plan would be minimal. Critics have urged the Albanese government to alter the plan, arguing small business would be negatively affected
Ayres said the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, had been firm that the plans would only see minimal changes once they were announced, adding:
The challenge in a lot of the problem for our political opponents is they’ve lost sight of the people who are the subject of these changes. They’re all about the politics of what’s going on. People who will substantially benefit from this are young Australians who have had the property market tilted against them and are finding it very hard to get their first, you know, to get on that first rung of the property ladder. …
We’re legislating to deliver the package that was outlined in the budget to give those young Australians security.
Ayres said many in the housing industry with a “vested interest” in any changes are actively campaigning to see them reversed.
Attorney general says Nacc could use a ‘reset’ after commissioner says he will step down
Rowland also said the National Anti Corruption Commission (Nacc) could get a “reset” after Paul Brereton, the body’s first commissioner, said he would step down from the role in July.
Brereton said this week he felt criticism of him had drawn “attention away” from the Nacc’s purpose, adding he thought “the commission’s success is paramount, and not due to any single person”.
Rowland told RN Breakfast the Nacc needed “public support in terms of perception and in practice”, adding:
I’ve never stated anything but support for the commissioner and confidence in Commissioner Brereton. But this does give us an opportunity with these new appointments to have a reset and I will be engaging across the parliament to make sure that that happens.
Attorney general says any money from 3M suit would be used to recover ‘significant past and future expenses’
The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, is speaking about the government’s legal action against 3M over Pfas chemical contamination. The government is seeking $2bn in damages, the largest legal claim ever brought by the federal government.
She said if the case is successful, the money will be used for recovering “significant past and future expenses” the government has incurred investigating and managing contamination from the use of “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam. She said:
I acknowledge that this has been a cause of significant distress in many communities around Australia, and we have been focused as a government, and we will continue to be focused on taking really practical steps to assist Australians and communities that have been impacted by PFS.
I want to be clear that this action is about the government recovering its costs, it doesn’t relate to personal injury or any human health effects that have alleged to be impacted by PFAS exposure.
A spokesperson told Guardian Australia yesterday 3M has never manufactured Pfas in Australia and stopped sales of the products “around two decades ago”.
Good morning, and welcome to the live blog. It’s Nick Visser here to take up the reins. Let’s get through Friday together.
‘AFP boss says alleged leaker of Ben Roberts-Smith arrest should ‘face consequences’
Sarah Basford Canales
The federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, says she is determined to find out how the media knew of Ben Roberts-Smith’s arrest ahead of time and says the alleged leaker should “face consequences”.
Earlier this week, the federal government’s special investigator for war crimes allegations and the Australian federal police told a Senate estimates hearing they have asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) to investigate media leaks. As of Tuesday, the Nacc had yet to respond to the request.
Arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April, Roberts-Smith faces five charges of war crime murder over allegations he killed unarmed civilians during his service with the Australian SAS in Afghanistan.
The former SAS corporal has vehemently denied the charges, saying “I categorically deny all of these allegations”.
At a Senate estimates hearing last night, the AFP boss said she had no evidence someone in her organisation had shared details of the imminent arrest with journalists but referred it to the Nacc “out of an abundance of caution”.
Barrett said one media outlet was at the airport when Roberts-Smith was arrested and she was “determined to find out how they knew of the arrest”.
Barrett said:
If the date of the individual’s arrest or other sensitive information was disclosed to anyone in the media, this could be an unauthorised disclosure, and in my view, anyone who disclosed that information should face consequences.
Read more:
Full Story wins two Australian Audio awards
Guardian Australia’s Full Story team took home two awards at the inaugural Australian Audio awards held at Carriageworks in Sydney last night.
Full Story won the award for best news and current affairs podcast – major, while Gina: Power, privilege and influence took out the award for best investigative journalism podcast – major.
Full Story is a daily news podcast where Guardian journalists take listeners behind the headlines. Gina: Power, privilege and influence was an investigative series about the life and influence of Australia’s wealthiest person, Gina Rinehart.
The special podcast series Gina won best investigative journalism podacst.
Flood warnings for parts of NSW and Tasmania
There are flood warnings around after some wild weather and downpours in several states.
This morning the NSW SES issued a warning for parts of the Upper Hunter, forecasting heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.
And Tasmania SES has issued a flood warning for Royal George, Avoca and surrounding low-lying areas, saying people in low-lying areas should monitor conditions and prepare to move to safety if conditions get worse.
We’ll bring you any updates on the situation as the day unfolds.
Asio warns MPs, public servants over secrecy in internet-connected cars
Asio has warned politicians and public servants not to discuss sensitive government information in internet-connected cars, due to the risk of electronic eavesdropping.
The country’s top spy agency said discussing classified or sensitive information outside the workplace was always a risk, especially in vehicles which send realtime information back to the manufacturer.
Deputy director general Lisa Alonso Love told a budget estimates hearing last night the warning, communicated to government amid a surge in demand for electric vehicles, was not specific about country of origin or carmaker.
“Obviously, a connected car may have other vectors to gather that information but those conversations should only ever happen in places that are set up for classified conversations,” she said.
“People should be conscious of the things that they are discussing in vehicles, knowing that people may be able to get that information.”
Australia’s spy agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, has already published advice about the risks posed by connected vehicles.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before we get into the main action.
The federal police commissioner has told Senate estimates she is determined to find out how the media knew of the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith ahead of time and says the alleged leaker should “face consequences”. More coming up.
Politicians and public servants have been warned by Australia’s spy chiefs not to discuss sensitive government information while they are in internet-connected cars due to the risk that the vehicles could be bugged. More to come.
