Albanese welcomes China’s first emissions target but says it should not open new coal plants
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese says China should do more on cutting carbon emissions, including closing more coal fired power stations.
In a video statement to the UN in New York, president Xi Jinping said China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while “striving to do better”.
It is the first time Beijing has committed to an absolute target to cut its emissions.
Speaking at an event at The New York Times, Albanese said it was not enough:
It is good that there is progress being made. We, of course would like there to be more, but it is a step forward, and indeed, China has exceeded its previous targets.
We’d like to see new coal fired power plants not open. But it is a step forward. If you look at the transition that’s occurring as part of what President Xi announced, as well of electric vehicles, that’s been a revolution, frankly, in a relatively short period of time.
Key events
Benita Kolovos
Theft continues to be the fastest growing and most common crime in Victoria
Theft from motor vehicles increased significantly, with 86,351 offences recorded – a rise of 24,409 offences, or 39.4% on the previous year.
Number plates were the most commonly stolen item, making up almost 40% of all thefts from vehicles, with 32,481 offences – an increase of 10,750 or 49.5%.
Motor vehicle theft also surged, reaching 33,018 offences – an increase of 9,786, or 42.1% – marking the highest level since 2002.
Breaches of family violence orders rose to 64,713 offences, an increase of 9,252, or 16.7%, as Victoria reached a record total of 106,427 family violence incidents – up by 7,617 incidents or 7.7%.
Theft from retail stores continues to rise persistently, with 41,667 offences recorded – an increase of 9,004, or 27.6%.
Theft (other) was the fifth fastest-growing offence category, with 58,593 offences – up by 7,931, or 15.7%. Within this category, petrol was the most commonly stolen item, accounting for 5,891 offences – an increase of 1,188.
Victoria’s crime rate rises by 13.8% as thefts increase
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s crime rate has increased again – by 13.8% – with theft the biggest driver.
The Crime Statistics Agency on Thursday released data showing 638,640 criminal offences were recorded in Victoria in the 2024/25 financial year – an increase of 86,587 offences or 15.7%. When adjusted for population, the crime rate per 100,000 people was 8,998.9, marking a 13.8% rise.
It is marginally smaller than the increase recorded in the previous quarter of 15.2%, but Victoria police’s deputy commissioner for regional operations, Bob Hill, said it was still unacceptably high:
As a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted – every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their home, within the community and on the roads. Victoria police is tackling these issues head on.
Our members are doing exceptional work to resolve these crimes. But it must be said – the number of arrests we are seeing reflects an unacceptable level of offending.
Tom McIlroy
PM looking forward to meeting Trump next month
Anthony Albanese says he is looking forward to visiting Donald Trump at the White House next month, after the pair met for the first time in New York overnight.
The US president hosted world leaders visiting for the UN general assembly and Albanese took the opportunity to snap a selfie with Trump. The pair did not have a formal meeting in New York, and will instead have a stand-alone bilateral discussion in the Oval Office.
The Aukus nuclear submarines deal, trade tariffs and defence spending will feature heavily in the conversations on 20 October.
“We had a very warm and engaging chat,” Albanese said. “I tend not to broadcast private discussions but it was very welcome, and we look forward to a further discussion in a few weeks.”
Macquarie will pay thousands of members who invested in failed Shield Master Fund
Macquarie Investment Management will pay thousands of members who invested their retirement savings in the failed Shield Master Fund, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (Asic) said this morning.
Macquarie admitted to contravening the Corporations Act, and said it would pay members 100% of the amounts they invested in the Shield fund, minus any amounts they withdrew. As a superannuation trustee, Macquarie oversaw about $321m in super investments into Shield by about 3,000 members between 2022 and 2023.
Sarah Court, the deputy chair of Asic, said in a statement:
This is an important outcome that stems the significant losses that threatened thousands of members’ retirement savings after they used Macquarie’s platform to invest their super in Shield.
Many members thought their funds were safe when they used Macquarie’s super platform to invest in Shield, which had no track record.
Macquarie said the payment will “eliminate the necessity for investors to wait for a likely complex multi-year process as Shield liquidators Alvarez & Marsal continue to pursue recovery of funds”, adding:
Macquarie’s decision to devote resources to achieve this outcome recognises Shield’s unique circumstances, notably the scale of the issue, its material impact on many investors and their limited access to recourse from the many different entities which played a role. The approach of providing immediate certainty and an improved outcome for investors benefits all parties.
Incoming NSW police commissioner hopes to be judged on ‘performance’
Mal Lanyon, the incoming commissioner of New South Wales police, said he hopes to be judged on his performance in his role leading the agency, not by incidents in his past.
Lanyon was named as the successor to Karen Webb yesterday and will begin his role on 1 October. As Guardian Australia’s Jordyn Beazley reports, he faced intense questions yesterday over two incidents: a 2021 episode where he was found collapsed near Goulburn’s “Big Merino” sculpture, after he was reportedly “smashed” and had a run-in with paramedics who were called to help him.
He also recently made an admission, following a complaint to the police watchdog, that he taken his wife and another couple aboard an operational police boat for New Year’s Eve in 2023.
Layton said he had been “as open and honest as I can about those incidents”, telling RN Breakfast:
This is the type of job, because of its prominence, because the community rightly expects to be kept safe, the police commissioner’s role is always one that is appropriately scrutinised. My focus is very much on leading the organisation to make sure we do keep the community safe. That would be my focus.
I would hope to be judged on my performance in that role and the performance of the New South Wales police force going forward.
NSW arts minister says federal government ‘open minded’ on tax reform for creative sector
John Graham, the New South Wales arts minister, spoke to RN Breakfast this morning after government data showed Australia’s cultural and creative industries delivered more than $67bn to the national economy in 2023/2024.
Government and industry leaders are meeting in Sydney today to discuss tax reform for the creative sector to help support the industry. Graham said while there are no guarantees about what could come out of the meeting, it’s good the federal government is “open minded” and recognises there is a need for change.
Graham said:
Even with increased arts funding, because of the actions of other countries we can’t keep up at the moment. It’s a good time to look at these tax settings. I’ve been really encouraged by the fact that the commonwealth’s been open to letting this conversation unfold, and they’re in a position now where they’re looking to the long term. That’s good news for some of these proposals.
It’s difficult to change the tax system, but the good news is if you do make a change, it’s big enough to make a difference and it’s there for the long term. So it will give certainty to some of these organisations.
Former US ambassador says Australia’s recognition of Palestinian state not ‘fatal’ to relationship
Arthur Sinodinos, the former ambassador to the US, said Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state hasn’t been “fatal” to the two countries’ relationship.
Sinodinos spoke to RN Breakfast, saying it was important Anthony Albanese meet with US president Donald Trump to ensure the White House of Australia and its partners of “the essential role we play”. Sinodinos said:
In a sort of era of America first, we have to make sure it’s not America only.
The former ambassador went on to say that there has generally been a “certain ballast” to the relationship between the US and Australia, where “most of the time, it’s in fundamentally good shape”. He added he didn’t believe Albanese’s recognition of a Palestinian state would deeply damage that relationship:
I don’t think that it’s been fatal or anything to the relationship. I mean, any criticisms about this have been from the administration have been aimed – there was one or two at Australia specifically – but most of them have been a general spray at the countries that have done this.
Aldi has lowest home brand grocery prices, Choice survey says
Luca Ittimani
Aldi recorded the lowest prices for home brand groceries and retained its crown as the supermarket with the cheapest staples, while IGA’s home brand goods cost nearly 20% more.
Consumer group Choice’s quarterly supermarket price survey found Coles and Woolworths ranked in between, with the latter’s basket of home brand goods just 10c more expensive.
Woolworths’s basket, though, was 20c costlier, or 45c excluding specials, when shoppers reviewed a broader basket of staples including fresh fruit, milk, chicken breasts and Weet-Bix. The two supermarket giants have tracked very closely on prices throughout Choice’s surveys.
New South Wales shoppers also continued to score the lowest prices, as Choice found in March, with Western Australians paying $57 for a basket priced just $53 in NSW. Victorian shoppers spent just $55.20 at Woolworths
Shoppers in Victoria paid less than other states at Coles and Woolworths, spending $55.20 on the survey basket, while those in New South Wales got the best deal at Aldi, spending just $53.80 on the same basket. Western Australian shoppers spent $57.49 for the same goods at Aldi or nearly $60 at Woolworths and Coles.
As strawberry season returns and punnet prices slip to $3, Choice’s mystery shoppers also found Coles stocked the longest-lasting strawberries. Coles’ strawberries showed no decay after one day in the fridge and less than half of the purchased punnets showed decay within five days.
Home brand products surveyed included spaghetti, soy milk, tomato paste, tomato sauce, cream cheese, thickened cream, puff pastry and frozen berries.
What time is Albanese speaking at the UN general assembly?
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese will deliver Australia’s national statement to the UN general assembly this morning, Australian time.
We expect the prime minister’s speech a bit after about 10am AEST.
It will be Albanese’s first time delivering the set piece speech.
We are told he will speak about Australia’s role as a leader in our region and a middle power in the world as well as the role every nation – big and small – has to play in preserving peace and security.
The speech will also cover Australia’s commitment to action on climate change and how Australia is doing this to create jobs and opportunities for people.
Albanese welcomes China’s first emissions target but says it should not open new coal plants
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese says China should do more on cutting carbon emissions, including closing more coal fired power stations.
In a video statement to the UN in New York, president Xi Jinping said China would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 7-10% by 2035, while “striving to do better”.
It is the first time Beijing has committed to an absolute target to cut its emissions.
Speaking at an event at The New York Times, Albanese said it was not enough:
It is good that there is progress being made. We, of course would like there to be more, but it is a step forward, and indeed, China has exceeded its previous targets.
We’d like to see new coal fired power plants not open. But it is a step forward. If you look at the transition that’s occurring as part of what President Xi announced, as well of electric vehicles, that’s been a revolution, frankly, in a relatively short period of time.
Creative sector made up 2.5% of Australia’s GDP in 2023/24, delivering $67bn to economy
Kelly Burke
Australia’s cultural and creative industries delivered $67.4bn to the national economy in the 2023/2024 financial year, according to newly released government data.
The creative sector accounted for 2.5% of Australia’s GDP. It increased by 6.6% from the previous year and outpaced the nation’s overall nominal GDP growth of 4.1%.
The $67bn figure places the sector on par with the rental, hiring and real estate industry, the report by the Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research found.
Key drivers of the growth were advertising and promotion, print media and publishing, film and television production, and architectural services.
The data is expected to influence how the federal government will support the creative industries in coming years, as part of Labor’s Revive national cultural policy.
Arts minister Tony Burke said the results demonstrated the positive impact a strong arts and cultural sector can have on Australia’s economy.
“There’s always room for growth, and our government is continuing to make targeted investments to ensure our creative economy continues to thrive,” he said in a statement.
Albanese attends climate action meeting in New York
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese attended a special event on climate action convened by the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, this morning.
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, co-hosted the event in the lead up to Brazil hosting COP30 summit in November.
The prime minister showcased Australia’s ambition of new national emissions targets and climate policies, and highlighted the economic, trade and investment opportunities for Australia in the world’s transition to net zero. He told the event:
This is the decisive decade for acting on the environmental challenge of climate change – and seizing the economic opportunities of clean energy”.
We all grasp the scale and the urgency of our task.
He also said Australians know too well the cost of climate change, in the form of natural disasters, and told citizens and governments around the world that it is not too late to act.
If we act now, if we move with common purpose and shared resolve, then we can do more than just guard against the very worst.
We can protect our environment and build a stronger and fairer economy for the next generation.
Good morning and happy Thursday. Nick Visser here to take over from Martin Farrer. It’s a busy morning, let’s dive in.
Natasha May
Penny Wong was also asked whether the decision on Palestinian recognition could lead to even more drastic action from the Israeli government, after members of the Israeli government called for countermeasures which would include annexing the West Bank and crushing the Palestinian Authority.
“I think the world is seeing the extent to which the Netanyahu government seems to be prepared to go to avoid a ceasefire and peace. And if those actions are taken, I think that will confirm that. We all want a ceasefire. We all want the hostages returned, and we want a pathway to peace. What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable.”
Wong was asked: “Are you saying the Israeli government does not want a ceasefire in order to continue its operations in Gaza?”
Wong said:
“I’m saying if the hypothetical threats that you are putting to me I carried out, I think that would be the conclusion the world would draw. The reason we have recognised, alongside the United Kingdom and Canada, a Palestinian state is because simply this, the Palestinian people deserve a state, and we believe it’s in the interest, ultimately, also of Israel, that there will not be long term peace and security in the region without there being.
“I would say to the Israeli government that they should ensure there is a cease fire, and I would say to Hamas we call again for the unconditional release of hostages.”
Penny Wong says she met Iranian counterpart to ‘look him in the eye’
Natasha May
Penny Wong said she met with her Iranian foreign minister “to look him in the eye” and explain why Australia made its decisions to expel its ambassador over intelligence Iran directed antisemitic attacks.
“I thought it was the right thing to do to meet directly with my counterpart and to look him in the eye and tell him precisely why we made the decisions we made and why what we believe has occurred. I made it very clear that the actions of the IRGC crossed a line, that they were unacceptable and that Australia was compelled to take the action we took. I made that very clear to him, and I thought that was the right thing to do in the context of all we know has occurred that we know has occurred.
Asked about whether he made any attempts to deny the involvement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran in those attacks, Wong said:
“Obviously you wouldn’t expect them to accept these assertions, I made clear, we accept the advice we have confidence in the assessments.”
Penny Wong says Australia takes a ‘different view’ from Trump on climate change
Natasha May
The foreign minister has reiterated Australia has a “different view” to the Trump administration when it comes to climate change, after the US president’s speech to the UN in which he called climate change a “con job”.
Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 yesterday evening, Penny Wong was asked about the speech:
“These are issues where President Trump has been very consistent. His position has been clear. Australia does take a different view.
“We accept the reality of climate change. We see it in our lives, and we believe in the importance of transitioning our economy to operate in a world of net zero. We believe that renewable energy is the cheapest new form of installed energy, and we will continue to transition our economy.”
Tom McIlroy
Von der Leyen says social media platforms ‘addict children through manipulative algorithms’
Von der Leyen said social media platforms are working as intended, “to attract and addict children through manipulative algorithms”.
She said she was establishing a panel of experts to assess the best options for European Union member states and would be guided by the experience of countries like Australia.
“Everyone understands that it is our duty to do our best to equip families with the tools to live as safely as possible, and empowering parents to collectively say ‘no’ to social media to their young children is one of these.”
Robert Abela, the prime minister of Malta, as well as Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji and Aisake Valu Eke of Tonga also attended the event.
European Commission president ‘inspired by Australia’s example’ on social media ban for kids
Tom McIlroy
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has praised Australia’s efforts to keep children aged under 16 off social media, calling it a bold decision by a country determined to improve online safety.
Von der Leyen and Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended a special event hosted by Anthony Albanese at the United Nations in New York overnight, designed to build support for the looming social media age ban, due to come into force from December.
Along with the communications minister, Annika Wells, Albanese made the case for curbing the ability of kids to use social media, up from the existing age of entry at 13.
“I have been inspired by Australia’s example,” von der Leyen said. “You are the first to give this a try.
“We in the EU will be watching and learning from you as you implement your world first and world leading social media ban.
“Our next generation needs us to step up, and to be daring and give this a go.”
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before Nick Visser gets on the case.
Anthony Albanese is attending a special event on climate action convened by the UN secretary general, António Guterres, in New York this morning as he continues his intensive round of diplomacy in the US. It comes as we report exclusively that the climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen appeared with Turkey’s first lady, Emine Erdoğan, at a major environment event in New York as negotiations over hosting rights for the COP31 summit come down to the wire.
Albanese also met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen who praised Australia’s efforts to keep children aged under 16 off social media, saying she had been “inspired by Australia’s example”.
Penny Wong, speaking on 7.30 last night, has reiterated that Australia has a “different view” to the Trump administration when it comes to climate change, after the US president’s speech to the UN in which he called climate change a “con job”. More coming up.
Aldi has recorded the lowest prices for home brand groceries and retained its crown as the supermarket with the cheapest staples, while IGA’s home brand goods cost nearly 20% more, according to Choice survey.
