Key events

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

Evidence from the parliamentary touch footy game this morning is building a case for Queensland being dudded by a bad refereeing call, after emergency services minister Murray Watt accused prime minister Anthony Albanese of scoring a “dodgy” try.

Queensland captain (and sports minister) Anika Wells swore she got a touch on the PM before he dived in to plant the ball with a spectacular diving one-handed effort on the stroke of halftime in the annual state of origin match.

Photos showed Wells claiming a tag but the on-field referee gave the try to Albanese, taking NSW to a 3-1 lead.

National Rugby League CEO Andrew Abdo was on the sidelines of the match, having earlier briefly played for Queensland, to witness first-hand another refereeing controversy. Sadly the Parliament House playing fields do not have video replay or bunker facilities but photos from the game are filtering in to show Wells had a case.

News Corp has published photos showing Wells appearing to get a touch on the PM’s side as he dived for the try. Albanese’s own social media team posted a pic from a slightly different angle, also showing Wells reaching out to claim a touch.

Albanese joked in a sideline TV interview:

I scored the try to put it 3-1 ahead and at that point I think the game should have been stopped at halftime. Apparently these other referees, this fellow called Andrew Abdo from the NRL, he is sort of trying to run the show.

We’ve reached out to the NRL for comment on yet another refereeing controversy.

Jacinda Ardern pledges millions to fund Samoan climate projects

AAP has an update on New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Samoa:

New Zealand has made a multimillion-dollar pledge to fund Samoan climate projects and to rebuild an Apia waterfront market.

Jacinda Ardern at Faleolo international airport in Samoa yesterday
Jacinda Ardern at Faleolo international airport in Samoa yesterday. Photograph: Ben Mckay/AAP

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced NZ$27m (A$24.3m) for the Pacific nation, with climate investments to be decided in tandem between the two governments:

This funding will help build Samoa’s resilience to the impacts of climate change and its transition to a low emissions economy.

Ardern is in Samoa on a two-day visit on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of both Samoan independence and the signing of a treaty of friendship between the two countries.

The New Zealand delegation – including the opposition leader, other MPs, business and religious leaders – were the first arrivals after Samoa relaxed its border regime yesterday to allow international tourists to visit again.

Back to Australian politics: Paul Karp has had a look at what an Indigenous voice to parliament will mean:

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has released the proposed draft change to the constitution to recognise Indigenous Australians with a voice to parliament.

But what will Australians be asked at a referendum, and what do we still need to know about a voice?

You can read more on the US mission here:

Joe Biden is still testing positive for Covid, so he is giving this statement from isolation.

Joe Biden gives statement on Ayman al-Zawahiri strike

US president Joe Biden is giving a statement from the White House on the US strike that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, who had taken over the helm of al-Qaida:

People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer. The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm. We make it clear again tonight that, no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out.

Tuesday mornings are always a little slower because the parties hold their meetings, meaning the proceedings don’t get under way until a little later.

Given all the focus on interest rates and the RBA’s move on the cash rate, you might need a little refresher on what it all means. Here’s a little something we prepared earlier:

What is the cash rate? And how is it different to interest rates? | News glossary – video

‘The RBA do have our support’

Anthony Albanese was also asked if he had faith in the RBA governor Phil Lowe after the football game this morning, in an interview with the Nine Network:

He does, and the RBA do have our support. They are an independent authority. Look, we recognise that people are doing it really tough and people are worried about increases in their mortgage.

That was foreshadowed well before the federal election that that would occur. The RBA are in charge of monetary policy, of course, and the independent Reserve Bank will make their decision this morning.

But we are very conscious of the feelings that are out there that people are doing it tough and every half a per cent or quarter of a per cent in interest rates means higher payments for people and that means they are having to make choices about how they get by.

On the fuel excise, Albanese echoed Jim Chalmers and said:

We acknowledge that people are getting it tough, we get that completely, but we also know that we inherited a trillion dollars of debt from the former government and unless that has got under control, then people will do it tough down the track because it will have an impact on the economy.

So we are very conscious about that. Jim Chalmers gave an economic statement last week to the parliament. We will be bring bringing down our product in October.

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

Blues triumph in parliamentary state of origin touch footy

Prime minister Anthony Albanese was accused of a “dodgy” try by his Queensland opponents as NSW won the annual parliamentary state of origin touch footy match this morning.

There will be a few sore hamstrings in Parliament House this morning after politicians and staffers squared off on a chilly morning for the interstate bragging rights in the charity match. NSW captain Pat Conroy assembled a formidable squad including Albanese, Michael McCormack, Alex Hawke, “Big Dan” Repacholi and Channel Nine commentator/NRLW star Ruan Sims; Queensland captain, sports minister Anika Wells, led a team including Murray Watt, Nationals leader David Littleproud, Graham Perrett, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, and, controversially, ACT senator David Pocock.

The greatest scandal since [Greg Inglis] playing for Queensland,” Albanese joked in a Channel Nine interview from the sidelines.

(To be fair, Pocock lived in Queensland first, after moving from South Africa as a child, before moving to the ACT. Barnaby Joyce, now representing the NSW seat of New England, also ran out for Queensland.)

With 6 foot 8 Repacholi, Wallabies international Pocock, and a handful of Canberra Raiders stars on the field, the game was arguably the most fearsome sight seen on the Senate fields since Senator Glenn “Brick with Eyes” Lazarus terrorised the press v pollies games during the 44th parliament.

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Queensland scored the first try, and looked dangerous, with Perrett a livewire from the back of the ruck, Pocock giving good service from dummy half and Joyce trying to throw a few dummy passes. But NSW steamed back to score three in a row, with Albanese scoring the third on the stroke of halftime.

Queensland players including Nationals MP Keith Pitt jeered from the sidelines, accusing Wells of letting Albanese slip through to plant the ball down. Wells swore she got a touch on the PM before he scored, with Watt – a close Albanese ally – accusing his boss of claiming a “dodgy try”.

Watt joked about he handing in his resignation. Albanese shot back that he might name the Queensland senator to a junior committee role instead.

As the former Nationals leadership team of McCormack and Littleproud good-naturedly wrestled on the sidelines, Queensland MP Garth Hamilton arguably committed a professional foul as he bodychecked a Pocock staffer who tried a chip-and-chase kick over the defensive line.

Albanese told Channel Nine:

Barnaby has very short stints on the field. Even though he represents the NSW seat, he has a Maroons jersey on as well. There should be an inquiry into some of these players and where they are playing for.

The game ended 3-1 to the Blues, with Conroy lifting the trophy for yet another year.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese after the match
Prime minister Anthony Albanese after the match. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
ACT senator David Pocock evades a tackle
ACT senator David Pocock evades a tackle. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
Albanese after scoring his try
Albanese after scoring his try. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

‘My responsibility is to make the Reserve Bank’s job as easy as possible’

There are just two things Jim Chalmers is being asked about lately.

Whether or not he will continue the fuel excise pause (it’s a no at this stage) …

We’ve made it clear for some time now that it would be too expensive to continue that fuel excise relief indefinitely. Even to extend it by six months would cost something like $3bn … It would be too expensive to continue it forever.

… and whether RBA governor Phil Lowe has his support:

My focus isn’t on the Reserve Bank governor. I don’t think this is a time to take pot shots at Phil Lowe. My responsibility is to make the Reserve Bank’s job as easy as possible. That means not splashing cash around unnecessarily. It means dealing with the supply side issues in the economy where we can so that we make the job of the Reserve Bank easier, not harder.

Now, I’ve got a Reserve Bank review for a reason. I want our central bank to be the best in the world to have the best set of institutional arrangements. That’s not about taking pot shots at anyone. It’s about making sure going forward that we’ve got the best monetary policy setting in the world.

The Reserve Bank governor himself multiple times now has been quite upfront about the language that he’s used in the past to describe the future movement of interest rates. He has said publicly that the circumstances changed faster than the Reserve Bank anticipated. These are not decisions taken by the government. They are decisions taken by an independent Reserve Bank and they can explain and defend their own decisions.

Queensland Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather congratulated after first speech

The first speeches continued last night. Mike Bowers was in the chamber when the new member for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather, gave his speech.

Some special visitors from the Senate came to watch as well.

The Greens member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather is congratulated by his colleagues
The Greens member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather is congratulated by his colleagues. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
Max Chandler-Mather received hugs from his Senate colleagues
Max Chandler-Mather receives hugs from his Senate colleagues. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian




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