Federal MPs paid emotional tributes to independent Helen Haines in the House of Representatives after she was seriously injured in an alleged vehicle attack outside her Wangaratta office. Haines has lost both legs, and her condition is now described as serious. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor both spoke of hoping she will return to parliament. Albanese warned that rising anger and division in public life must not be ignored, while Taylor rejected any link between robust debate and violence.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick gave a lengthy speech at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Bournemouth fixture, acknowledging the club has lost its way. The side sits 13th in the Premier League and has lost two of its first three Champions League games, including a 4-1 defeat at Como. Carrick spoke of the club's history of humility, hard work and resilience, and said the squad must respect what it takes to win.
Tasmania's Australian Education Union has called on politicians to stay away from public schools for the rest of term 4. The union wants Premier Jeremy Rockliff to apologise for a social media post about a northern Tasmanian school's end-of-year event, which had been renamed End of Year Extravaganza. Mr Rockliff has refused to apologise and said he has the right to voice his opinion. Treasurer Eric Abetz said politicians of all parties support schools. Labor leader Josh Willie backed the union's stand and called for an apology.
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Calls have grown for Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff to apologise over comments about a northern Tasmanian school renaming its Christmas event. Rockliff posted online about efforts to remove Christmas references from end-of-year celebrations and urged the education department to act. The school had renamed its Christmas on the Hill event to End of Year Extravaganza! The Australian Education Union has passed a motion seeking a ban on politicians attending public schools in term four unless he apologises. Rockliff says he is entitled to his opinion and has condemned adverse behaviour towards others.
Kevin Hinchliffe will enter his Ford Sierra Cosworth at the Noosa Summer Hill climb, held on 14 and 15 November. It will be his first time racing at the Hill on Gyndier Drive, after campaigning the car at events in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Leyburn in Queensland. The car is painted in the Monte Carlo colours of two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion, making it easy to spot. Grandstands and viewing areas are set up at the start line and at Turns 2, 4 and 8 so spectators can watch the cars in action.
Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the OECD and a former Liberal finance minister, has warned that mainstream parties should not adopt populist economics. Speaking to the Centre for Independent Studies, he said the grievances behind populism, including falling real incomes and housing access, were real. He argued that tariffs, migration caps and state intervention were not the answer. Cormann also set out a reform agenda covering tax reform, including a GST overhaul, and the use of artificial intelligence to lift productivity.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has not apologised after publicly criticising a school for allegedly removing Christmas references from its end-of-year celebrations. The school's calendar still lists Christmas events, including Santa and carols. The school's acting principal is on stress leave, and the Australian Education Union has launched a petition calling for an apology. Labor leader Josh Willie accused Mr Rockliff of getting the facts wrong and leaning into culture wars.
Tasmanian government ministers have continued to post on social media about a northern Tasmanian primary school's alleged move to drop Christmas references from its end-of-year event. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he had asked the Education Department to step in, and said he stood by his expectation that schools celebrate Christmas. The Australian Education Union said members were upset and accused ministers of joining a pile-on. Minister Nick Duigan said he was not a fan of culture wars but supported celebrating Christmas.
The Federal Parliament will sit for one day at Old Parliament House in April next year. The sitting marks 100 years since the national parliament first met in Canberra. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Question Time and legislation will return to the chambers for the first time in decades. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the day would be cramped but a special occasion for MPs. The centenary celebrations will cost taxpayers $3 million.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition in Melbourne after she was struck twice by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office. She lost a leg in surgery. Police have taken Brendan Nugent, 43, into custody and he is alleged to be the driver. Parliamentarians say the attack has heightened fears for their safety. The government and the Coalition are reportedly in talks on security measures for all elected officials.
Greens leader David Shoebridge and Senator Jordon Steele-John disagree over whether Steele-John agreed to take leave while allegations against him are investigated. Shoebridge said the WA Greens were conducting an investigation and that Steele-John had taken leave from the party room. Steele-John denies being on leave and says the leader cannot place an MP on leave from Parliament or the party. Shoebridge says he believes leave is appropriate, and that his position does not prejudge the inquiry. The allegations concern claims of inappropriate behaviour towards women, which Steele-John disputes in part.
Up to 12 open wheel racing cars are set to appear at this year's Noosa Summer Hill climb, with the pits open to visitors on 14 and 15 November. Phil Charles, who has taken his 1977 GRD Nota to the hill more than 25 times, will be among the entrants. The car has a 1600cc turbocharged twin cam engine and weighs just over 400 kilograms. Charles recently raced in the rain, when many others stayed dry, and won his class at the Grafton Historic meeting this year.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is being urged to apologise after a Facebook post about a Launceston school's end-of-year event drew wide attention. Rockliff wrote that schoolchildren should be encouraged to sing Christmas carols, and asked the education department to step in. The school, Trevallyn Primary School, had planned to rename its Christmas on the Hill event as the End of Year Extravaganza. Rockliff said he would not apologise, and the education department said no decision had been made on changes to school celebrations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that a partial retreat on the tax office's credit card ban was his doing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers denied being overruled and said the two had agreed on the change. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor seized on the remark, calling it a humiliation for the treasurer. The column says the remark was probably careless rather than a deliberate snub. It also notes Health Minister Mark Butler has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Albanese.
NYE On The Hill, the South Gippsland music festival, has announced that its 2026 event will be its last. The festival began in 2009 as an invite-only gathering for Melbourne bands and their friends. Over 17 years it has hosted more than 600 bands and 2,500 musicians and performers, and many played their first festival sets there. The final celebration runs from December 30, 2026, to January 1, 2027, with a lineup including Ball Park Music, The Pacific and Meg Jäger.
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Don Strachan, now 97, is one of few living Wallabies to have beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park. He started in Australia's 8-3 win in Auckland in 1955, though New Zealand kept the Bledisloe Cup. Strachan is the oldest living Australian rugby union player and is Wallaby number 413. A motorbike crash nearly cost him his leg, but he returned to play. He later captained the Combined NSW Country side and helped found the Orange Emus Rugby Club.
The Liberal Party has pledged $800,000 to move the Moorabool Street bus interchange to Geelong railway station if it wins November's state election. The pledge also includes funding for a business case on redeveloping Market Square and a free council-run city shuttle. Shadow planning minister David Southwick said the shopping centre urgently needed revitalisation. Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said resolving Market Square's future was key to moving 14 approved central Geelong projects forward. The business case could pave the way for state acquisition of the privately owned site.
INXS co-founder Andrew Farriss has acquired a luxurious beachfront property in Kingscliff, NSW, for $9 million. The 2018-built residence, situated on a 1012 square metre beachfront reserve, features five bedrooms, an open-plan living area, a home cinema, and an outdoor alfresco space with a pool. The sale, handled by local agent Nick Witheriff, set a new street record and was finalised within a week. Farriss and his wife, Marlina, operate a cattle farm near Tamworth, having purchased the historic Piedmont Station in 1992. The couple previously resided on Sydney’s northern beaches during the band’s early years.
