TRANSCRIPT
- The PM says Australia has secured support for the Pacific Policing Initiative
- Mixed reactions from university leaders to cap on international student placements
- Kokkinakis joins fellow Australians to advance through to the second round of the US Open.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has secured support for the Pacific Policing Initiative.
The Pacific Policing Initiative will establish a multinational force which would be drawn from across the Pacific islands and based in northern Australia, and establish training centres of excellence across the Pacific.
Australia will commit approximately $400 million over five years to the initiative.
Mr Albanese says the initiative was a priority for Australia heading into the Pacific Island Forum.
"This is something that has arisen from the Pacific Family, to look after the Pacific Family ourselves. Our Pacific neighbours stand with each other, and we help each other in times of need. And it is good that this morning, we endorse the Pacific Policing Initiative."
Greens Senator Max Chandler-Mather is facing backlash over his appearance at the Brisbane CFMEU rally.
Tens of thousands of people gathered across Australia calling for a reversal of the government's decision to place the construction arm of the union into administration amid allegations of links to organised crime and corruption.
Senator Chandler-Mather addressed 4,000 people gathered in Brisbane.
"You should be incredibly proud today, because you are not just standing up for the rights of construction workers, for painters, for scaffolders, for all the workers on construction sites. You are standing up for the rights of every worker in this country to have a free union."
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt criticised the appearance.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has announced its commitment to net zero deforestation by 2025 as its annual report was released today.
The report states that by December 31st 2025 Woolworths will source high risk commodities - which includes such products as beef, paper, cocoa and coffee - from net zero deforestation supply chains.
Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Gemma Plesman, told SBS that the environmental advocacy group welcomes the news, particularly as 100 million native animals are killed or injured every year from deforestation alone.
Ms Plesman says the target aligns with the global science base targets initiative which sets targets to reduce emissions in its supply chain.
"The number one driver of deforestation is beef production, and supermarkets like Woolies are some of the biggest beef buyers in Australia. So with a strong implementation plan for this very strong commitment, Woolworths can make a considerable difference in helping the destruction of our forests, helping to end the destruction of our forests, and also the associated emissions from deforestation, which are significant."
It follows ALDI's move earlier this year to rule out the destruction of all ecosystems including native bushland.
Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher says the cap on international students is a return to more sensible pre-pandemic levels.
The government has introduced a limit on international students coming to Australia next year, down to 270,000 from current levels of around 500,000.
Minister Gallagher says there has been adequate consultation with universities, adding that the costs of study fees are determined by universities.
"We've seen pressure not only on universities, but with numbers of people coming to the country. We've had to look across the immigration system to look at what's going on. There was a big influx more than had been expected in international education, and we need to manage that."
Alzheimer's disease could soon be detected by GPs using a small, handheld device developed by Australian experts.
Monash University engineers have developed the first-of-a-kind finger-prick blood test to detect the hallmark protein in early Alzheimer's before symptoms progress.
It uses world-first patented sensor technology to detect ultra low concentrations of disease markers in blood in minutes.
Associate Professor Sudha Mokkapati, from Monash Materials Science and Engineering, said the device removes the need for laboratory-pathology tests and could change the prognosis for countless people.
Alzheimer's, a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disease, affects up to one-in-10 Australians over 65 and three-in-10 Australians over 85.
It's the second leading cause of death in Australia, according to the Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation.
And to tennis,
Thanasi Kokkinakis has become the seventh Australian through to the second round of the US Open.
The 28-year-old received a standing ovation from the crowd as he defeated dual grand slam runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 7-5.
Kokkinakis's fighting four-set triumph over the 11th seed was only his second victory at the Open after nine years battling injury.
He joins fellow Australians Jordan Thompson and Tristan Schoolkate, among others, who also progressed to the second round on day three of the Open.
