Australia news live: 24 taken to hospital after Melbourne carbon monoxide leak; new mental health and contraception warnings for Ozempic-like drugs

4.53am GMT Woman killed in dog attack in north-east WA A woman aged in her 20s has been killed in a dog attack in Fitzroy Crossing, about 400km east of Broome in Western Australia’s north-east. WA police confirmed that about 12pm on Sunday it was called about the attack, and found a woman had died. A man in his 20s was taken to Fitzroy hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police said in a statement: Rangers from the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley assisted with the removal of the two dogs. Inquiries remain ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Updated at 4.59am GMT 4.33am GMT Drugs regulator adds mental health and contraception warnings for semaglutide drugs The medicines regulator has added two new safety warnings around mental health and contraception for people taking high profile diabetes and weight loss drugs. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says because suicidal behaviour and ideation have been reported with these relatively new GLP-1 receptor agonists, doctors should “monitor patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviours, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour.” This warning around the potential risk of suicidal thoughts applies across the GLP-1 RA class of medicines including Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Trulicity and Mounjaro. The TGA has also issued a separate warning around Mounjaro and contraception. After investigating the potential reduced effectiveness of oral contraception when first taking or increasing the dose of Mounjaro, they say they cannot rule out the association. As a precautionary measure, they have updated the product warnings for Mounjaro to include further advice for patients using oral contraceptives to switch to a non-oral contraceptive or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after first taking the medicine and for 4 weeks after each increase in the dose. They add that none of the GLP-1 RA class of medicine should be used during pregnancy. Updated at 4.36am GMT 4.32am GMT More than 20 taken to hospital after Melbourne carbon monoxide leak Twenty four people from a Melbourne pork processing plant required treatment after carbon monoxide exposure earlier on Monday. Ambulance Victoria confirmed that paramedics assessed and treated patients on the scene at the plant in Derrimut, in the city’s west, about 12.45pm today. It said that 24 patients were transported by ambulance to four nearby hospitals. All patients were believed to be in a stable condition, Ambulance Victoria said. Updated at 4.36am GMT 4.28am GMT Independent says ACT to become first state or territory to legislate Closing the Gap commitments An independent member in Canberra says he has secured ACT government backing to pass a bill which would make Closing the Gap commitments law. The independent member for Kurrajong, Thomas Emerson, said in a statement that he had secured ACT Labor support to pass the Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation Amendment bill 2025, with minor amendments. It is set to be debated in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Emerson said government amendments were developed in close consultation with his office and the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, and would help ensure the bill significantly increased action and accountability in relation to the ACT government’s Closing the Gap commitments. He said: For too long, Closing the Gap initiatives have been treated like optional extras. We’ve been talking about Closing the Gap for 20 years, and I believe the ACT can be the first state or territory to actually do it. Updated at 4.32am GMT 4.06am GMT That’s all from me. Nino Bucci will be your guide on the blog this arvo. Take care! 3.52am GMT Firefighters respond to mass carbon monoxide incident at Melbourne factory Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to a mass carbon monoxide incident at a pork processing plant in a Melbourne suburb this afternoon. Officials said firefighters arrived around 12.45pm to find 60 people evacuated from the factory in Derrimut, with multiple people suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide exposure. Crews provided oxygen to those needing assistance until ambulance teams arrived. On entering the factory, firefighters recorded carbon monoxide readings inside at dangerously high levels. They ventilated the facility until safe levels were reached. The leak came from meat preservation machinery inside, FRV said. Updated at 4.05am GMT 3.35am GMT Marles wants to assure Australians ‘we are monitoring our areas of interest’ Marles says he is speaking about the Chinese flotilla to assure Australians that the country is monitoring “our areas of interest”. Marles: We’re not about to give a running commentary on the movements of all Chinese navy vessels, but in light of the report that was made on Thursday, we thought that it was important to make these statements and to make them in the proper context. So that Australians can be assured that we are monitoring our areas of interest and we are monitoring the movements of the Chinese navy. Updated at 3.43am GMT 3.33am GMT Richard Marles announces ‘one of the biggest changes to defence’ that Australia has seen Defence minister Richard Marles is speaking in Canberra about a major shake-up to the country’s defence bureaucracy. He is detailing the creation of a new defence delivery agency, an independent body, that will streamline defence procurement. Marles: This is one of the biggest changes to defence that we have seen. It will greatly change how defence operates. It will greatly improve the quality of the defence spend, and it will make sure that as we spend more money in the defence budget, we are doing so in a way which sees programs delivered on time and on budget. Pat Conroy, the minister for the defence industry, describes the new agency as the biggest reform to defence organisation in Australia “in 50 years”. It’s all about getting the equipment the brave men and women of the Australian Defence Force need into their hands sooner, while providing, as Richard said, better bang for buck for taxpayers. Updated at 3.42am GMT 3.20am GMT Australia tracking Chinese navy flotilla, Marles says Defence minister Richard Marles has confirmed Australia is tracking a Chinese navy flotilla in the Philippines Sea, amid concerns it may be heading towards Australian waters. The development comes months after a Chinese naval task group unexpectedly circumnavigated Australia’s coastline and raised concerns at the highest levels in Canberra. Defence is currently tracking the trajectory of the latest navy group, which has the capability to reach Australia before the end of the year. In February, a Chinese cruiser, frigate and supply ship made an unannounced journey towards Australia, including conducting live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. The exercise forced commercial aircraft to change their flight routes due to serious safety concerns. Marles says it is too early to tell if the latest flotilla is headed towards Australia. Officials will continue to track its progress. Defence monitors all air and sea traffic around Australian territory, including in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and in Asia. Updated at 3.38am GMT 2.56am GMT SA police appeal for information after threatening emails sent for nearly a year SA police have urged the community surrounding the Glenunga International High school in Adelaide to come forward with any information after an unknown person allegedly sent threatening emails targeting the school for nearly a year. Officials released details of the messages, alleging that a person using the online alias “Brian Cole” had accessed a shared computer and used several key phrases and distinct images in the missives. Some of those images incorporated a spider with the school’s logo, while another included containers of maple syrup and honey alongside a handwritten note. Deputy commissioner of police Linda Williams said the investigation had been dynamic and “technically complicated”, adding: We are now taking the step of asking the school community and the public to assist us by sharing some details of the investigation. These details include information about the person making the threats, their computer use habits and some images and handwriting that may be recognisable to those who know the individual. … Any information we receive may be a vital piece to this puzzle and help identify this person. Updated at 3.35am GMT 2.39am GMT It’s time to play Whamageddon, the most difficult Christmas game in the world Do you love Wham? Do you hate Wham? Can you avoid Wham’s 1984 classic Last Christmas at all costs? Then Whamageddon is for you. It’s the first day of December, and that means some of the challenge-obsessed are hoping to go the longest without hearing the holiday anthem at all, anywhere. Take a look at some of the rules here, there’s still time before the dulcet tones of George Michael ensnare your ears. Related: Whamageddon: is this the world’s most difficult Christmas game? If you’re prepared to lose from day 1, here you go: 2.16am GMT Misinformation blamed as Australian vaccine rates slide Misinformation, anti-science sentiment and vaccine hesitancy is being blamed for a “worrying” drop in Australia’s immunisation rates, AAP reports. The Australian Medical Association is urging Australians to reverse the trend, warning lives are unnecessarily being put at risk and emergency departments are being stretched too thin. Their latest report released on Monday shows vaccination rates across child, adolescent and adult programs, as well as seasonal flu vaccination, have all dropped. AMA president Danielle McMullen says immunisation prevents between two and three million deaths a year but misinformation and anti-science sentiment are eroding public trust: We are seeing increasing global conversations about vaccine hesitancy, and it is putting lives at risk. Unfortunately Australia is not immune, and it is deeply concerning to see declining rates here, especially among children. Immunisation coverage rates for two-year-olds currently sits at about 90%, with coverage rates for one- and five-year-olds decreasing to 91.63%. The figures are below the government’s 95% aspirational target required to achieve herd immunity for highly infectious diseases. Updated at 2.18am GMT 1.58am GMT Forty five bushfires are burning across NSW, with 11 not yet contained Alongside the first day of summer, the NSW Rural Fire Service says there are currently 45 fires burning across the state, with 11 yet to be contained. Around 600 firefighters are working to strengthen the containment lines around those blazes, but the agency said afternoon conditions are expected to deteriorate. As of 12:00pm, Monday 1 December, there are 45 fires burning across NSW, with 11 yet to be contained. 600 firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines around these fires. Throughout the afternoon conditions are expected to deteriorate further. https://t.co/SwFG8PzKTA pic.twitter.com/RjjqjAg0fo— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 1, 2025 Large parts of the state have total fire bans enacted, including Sydney and the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter region and parts of north-western NSW. Updated at 2.01am GMT 1.43am GMT What could be part of that defence shake-up? A looming announcement could include reorganisation of key agencies and the creation of a new structure, helping with Aukus and the government’s response to China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. On Friday, defence flagged property sales from an audit of holdings around the country. Defence currently owns nearly 3m hectares of land, including 70 major bases, 28 airfields, and more than 60 wharves. Property sales could help provide land for new housing and fund new costs from within the department. Marles has already flagged dwindling patience with major projects running overtime and over budget, pointing to about 30 projects running a combined 97 years late. Separately, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has added a new division to handle Aukus arrangements. It will be headed by acting deputy secretary Kendra Morony. Additional reporting by Sarah Basford Canales Updated at 1.44am GMT 1.35am GMT Major shake-up to defence bureaucracy in the works The federal government is preparing to announce a major shake-up to the country’s defence bureaucracy, in a bid to stop major cost blowouts and streamline operations. As the Trump administration pushes for Australia to spend as much as 3.5% of GDP on defence and Labor prepares to spend more than $360bn on the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement, in June the defence minister, Richard Marles, said the reform agenda would be broad. He promised “everything is on the table” for changes, including in the $56bn defence department, the Australian Defence Force and other agencies. The changes are expected to see existing agencies including the naval shipbuilding and sustainment group, the guided weapons and explosives ordinance group and the capability acquisition and sustainment group merged. It is expected surplus defence land will be sold off, potentially including the Victoria Barracks site in Brisbane and Spectacle Island on Sydney Harbour. - Additional reporting by Sarah Basford Canales Updated at 1.40am GMT 1.17am GMT Truck driver jailed for Melbourne bus crash A truck driver has been jailed for more than 12 years after crashing into a school bus and seriously injuring many students, AAP report. Brett Michael Russell, 63, collided with the back of a bus carrying 32 people, including 27 Loreto College Ballarat students, in September 2022. The students and teachers had been on their way to Melbourne airport to travel to the United States for a Nasa camp. No one died in the crash but most of the passengers were taken to hospital and 10 of them suffered serious injuries including spinal fractures. Russell in October pleaded guilty in the Victorian county court to 12 offences, including 10 counts of negligently causing serious injury. He admitted he knew the brakes of his 62-tonne vehicle had been faulty before he got behind the wheel on September 21. But his barrister argued Russell’s actions after the crash, including early admissions to police about the brakes and his guilty pleas, showed his “fundamental decency”. In sentencing Russell to 12 years and nine months’ jail, Judge Michael O’Connell accepted the 63-year-old had been frank with investigators and was profoundly remorseful. Updated at 1.24am GMT 1.15am GMT Puberty blockers review handed to Queensland government but may not be made public Queensland’s review of gender affirming care has been received by the state government. Health minister Tim Nicholls announced the review in January, and banned prescribing of puberty blockers and hormone therapy in the state’s public hospitals. The ban was later found to be unlawful, but has been reimposed. “The Vine report was received yesterday in accordance with its terms, and it’s a very lengthy report, and it will be considered by cabinet in due course,” Nicholls said on Monday. “As I’ve said all along, that’s a matter that will be considered by cabinet, and once cabinet is considered, we’ll be making announcements”. The government has not committed to releasing the report to the public. Nicholls said there had been no decision made either way. The minister refused to give a timeline for when it would make a decision about the report. “I imagine it will be considered in fairly prompt time, but as I say it’s a big document. We only got it yesterday. It’ll take time to read through it. It’ll be time to understand what it recommends, and then time for consideration by cabinet,” he said. Related: Queensland’s puberty blockers review panel criticised for lacking gender experts and trans lived experience Updated at 1.19am GMT 1.08am GMT Hero diver set to join SA recovery effort Thai cave hero Richard Harris is reportedly set to join a mission to recover the body of a man who died while cave diving in South Australia. SA Police confirmed on Sunday a 65-year-old man from Victoria had drowned while diving Tank Cave, in the state’s south-east, and that a recovery operation with Water Operations Unit officers was under way. “There are no reports of any other injuries and there are no safety concerns regarding the incident,” police said in a statement. ABC reported today that Harris would join a crew of about six specialist cave divers to navigate the complex cave system. The Cave Divers Association of Australia describes Tank Cave like this: The small surface lake leads to an extensive, maze-like system with over 7km of dive-able passage – this makes it one of the longest underwater caves in Australia. You can read more about the underwater network near Mt Gambier and the unfolding ecological disaster it is facing here: Related: Thai cave rescue diver Richard Harris devised an experiment. If it worked, he’d be a hero. If it didn’t, he could explode Updated at 1.17am GMT 12.59am GMT More than 670 NSW pokies venues to be stripped of ability to stay open after 4am More than 670 poker machine venues across New South Wales will lose their “outdated exemptions” to operate after 4am as the state government responds to pressure to address “a public health catastrophe”. The decision, announced by the state’s gaming minister David Harris, will ensure gaming rooms are closed at the mandated 4am deadline. Currently, some venues allow them to be played 24/7. The change, which may result in pushback from the powerful clubs and pubs lobby, comes after criticism from the government’s own independent advisory panel on gambling, a damning audit report and political pressure from the Greens and Liberals. It also follows state government-funded research that showed poker machine players were significantly more likely to experience harm after midnight. The exemptions have been provided for a variety of reasons, including venues being considered tourist destinations or experiencing financial hardship. Clubs and pubs that believe they have a “strong case” for the exemptions to remain will be able to appeal the decision before 31 March, but must meet tougher conditions imposed by the state’s independent regulator. Read more: Related: More than 670 NSW pokies venues to be stripped of ability to stay open after 4am 12.50am GMT ‘Completely incorrect’ to suggest digital ID system pending, eSafety boss says Further on eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant, she says the Coalition is “completely incorrect” in claiming that a new age checking system for search engines like Google was the first step toward a digital ID system. She also conceded the under-16s social media ban would not be perfect, and expected many young people to migrate to different social media platforms not included in the ban - and that some of those may eventually be wrapped into the ban. “We watched what American kids did when TikTok went blank. They went to Rednote, they went to Lemonade, which is an Instagram clone. We’ve been talking to the likes of Yubo, which is a French site … we expected there will be some migration, and some of these will become age restricted social media platforms,” she said. “We don’t think we’re going to totally turn off the spigot. We will be watching the migratory patterns, and we’ll be talking to these companies. Some of that’s going to happen inevitably, but that’s what teenagers do. So again, it’s not going to be perfect, but the normative change in the mid to long term will be significant.” Asked about Coalition claims on the age checking for search engines, coming in later in December, Inman Grant responded: “Well, that’s just completely incorrect.” She said the new system would compel search engines to blur violent pornography, explicit violence – giving the example of Charlie Kirk’s assassination – and other unsavoury content. Updated at 1.00am GMT 12.46am GMT Tech companies ‘disappoint’ eSafety boss ahead of social media ban eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant says it’s “disappointing” more tech companies haven’t put out earlier advice to users about the under-16s social media ban, with several large platforms not having communicated to users yet about what they’ll need to do. Inman Grant was at Parliament House today with social services minister Tanya Plibersek, speaking about tech-facilitated abuse and domestic violence. At a press conference, the commissioner said more tech companies will release information this week – specifically noting TikTok’s advice would come within days – but said companies could be doing more to tell users what their age assurance technology systems will require. Inman Grant said: It’s disappointing ... We suggested the best timeframe was two weeks in advance. My powers don’t come into effect until December 10, and that’s when we’ll start gathering information notices. We’ve been working on compliance plans. We’ve been engaging. We’ve been telling companies what best practice is. We’ve been talking to them for over a year. So this should be a surprise to none of them, but there’s nothing I can do, from a regulatory perspective, to light a fire under them, only that this is the right thing to do to their young users that are going to use the platform. Meta’s platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Threads – and Snapchat have put out that advice, but the likes of TikTok, X and Google’s YouTube have not yet. She said the eSafety office had asked all tech companies to “compassionately and kindly” tell users how their accounts will be deactivated or moved. Updated at 12.51am GMT 12.40am GMT Queensland government considering mandatory jail for breach of bail Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie says the Queensland government is considering mandatory sentencing for children who breach bail conditions. LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa won the north Queensland seat of Hinchinbrook at a byelection on the weekend on a platform of “breach of bail go to jail”. “I think it’s fair to say the government’s now actively considering breach of bail go to jail, considering the historic result we had on the weekend, and the strong support from that community for those laws,” Bleijie said at a press conference on Monday. Labor suspended the state’s Human Rights Act to make breaching bail a criminal offence in 2023. Two third of children charged under Labor’s laws were Indigenous, according to police data from that year. Related: Two-thirds of children charged with Queensland’s new breach of bail offences are Indigenous Updated at 12.43am GMT 12.24am GMT Workforce shortages in early childhood sector ‘significant and ongoing’ despite pay rise, union says The Australian Education Union (AEU) says the federal government’s 15% pay rise for early childhood educators is welcome, but further reforms are needed to address workforce pressures facing the sector. Educators received the first 10% of the pay rise last December, with the final 5% coming into effect on Monday. It’s equivalent to an extra $160 per week, or $200 per week when combined with minimum wage rises. The AEU’s deputy federal president, Meredith Pearce, said today’s rise was “recognition of the professionalism, skill and dedication of early childhood educators across Australia”: This pay rise is meaningful and will make a real difference to educators’ lives. But we know the workforce shortages in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) are significant and ongoing. To attract and retain the highly skilled professionals children deserve, we must continue to improve pay, address workload, and provide secure employment across the sector. Updated at 12.26am GMT 12.04am GMT Melbourne could have its coldest 1 December since 1987 Melbourne may be on track to have its coldest first day of summer since 1987, if the sun doesn’t come out. The Bureau of Meteorology says if the city’s thermometers don’t top 15.5C today, it’ll be the coldest 1 December since 1987. The forecast for the day is a high of 15, but it’s already reached 14.7C. Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the BoM, said a large stretch of south-eastern Australia is in for temperatures 10 to 15C cooler than average, including parts of inland NSW and Victoria. But at the same time, Perth is on track for temperatures 5 to 10C above average, with a forecasted high of 37C. Updated at 12.07am GMT 11.49pm GMT Sydney police charge four men over alleged ‘international satanic child sex abuse material ring’ NSW police say they have uncovered an “international satanic child sex abuse material ring” and charged four Australians for their alleged involvement, AAP reports. Detectives from the sex crimes squad said that as part of Strike Force Constantine, an investigation into the online distribution of child sexual abuse material involving ritualistic or satanic themes, they disrupted a Sydney-based network. In a statement, police alleged the network was actively involved in possessing, distributing and facilitating this material through a website that was “administered internationally”. Detectives, accompanied by the riot squad, carried out six search warrants in Waterloo, Ultimo and Malabar on Thursday morning last week. Read more here: Related: Sydney police charge four men over alleged ‘international satanic child sex abuse material ring’ 11.32pm GMT NSW experiencing ‘unusually prolonged flu season’ New South Wales is experiencing an “unusually prolonged flu season” which is continuing to affect hospitals across the state, NSW Health has warned. More than 370 people presented to emergency departments across the state with an influenza-like illness, while more than 3,100 cases were notified in NSW in a single week in mid-November. NSW Health said this is the second week in a row that cases have climbed and were around the same number of cases notified as at the start of June this year, the first week of winter. The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said: When we compare this respiratory illness season to others, we are experiencing a longer tail, which is a concern. Usually by September or early October influenza levels have tapered to quite low levels from the peak, which traditionally occurs during winter – but we’re well into November and notifications are increasing. No one wants influenza, or any respiratory illness for that matter, to ruin the end of their year, so it’s important everyone takes preventive measures to stop its spread. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. If you are sick, please stay home, and wear a mask if you need to go out, to help stop the spread. Updated at 12.05am GMT 11.06pm GMT Some residents of Geraldton in WA told to 'leave now' as bushfire threatens homes An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes and properties in Geraldton, with residents warned to leave now or put their lives in danger, AAP reports. An emergency warning is in place for residents of Bluff Point, Spalding and Sunset in Geraldton, Western Australia. “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” the warning reads. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued an evacuation order just before 6am on Monday. Residents in Glenfield have also been told to prepare to leave. A full list of active alerts can be found here. 06:23 AM - Bushfire Emergency Warning - LEAVE NOW - BLUFF POINT, SPALDING and SUNSET BEACH: https://t.co/dh3YtI2ctW— DFES (@dfes_wa) November 30, 2025 Updated at 12.13am GMT 10.52pm GMT Victoria premier says Pauline Hanson’s ‘division is not welcome here’ Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has been on a media blitz this morning to spruik the Metro Tunnel’s opening yesterday. Appearing on ABC Radio Melbourne, she was asked about an anti-immigration protest that also happened on Sunday, which included a speech by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson. Hanson, in her speech, told the crowd she wasn’t from Victoria and that she “wouldn’t move” to the state. Asked by host Raf Epstein what she made of Hanson’s comment, Allan replied: Good. That sort of division is not welcome here. That sort of divisive politics has been rejected by the Victorian community. Epstein also asked the premier whether police would be releasing the number of searches they conduct in Melbourne’s CBD after declaring the city and its surrounds a “designated area” for six months. Allan replied that the release of such figures was an operational decision for police. She went on: Transparency, of course, is important, but not where it compromises the operational work of Victoria police to keep our community safe. This is why these powers are important. It is keeping the community safe, and I think we saw that yesterday … [it] was a safe and peaceful day around the city. Alongside the opening of the Metro Tunnel, there were the Christmas windows. It was a big and busy weekend in Melbourne’s CBD, and people were able to go around and shop and enjoy a meal, check out the Metro Tunnel, and did so safely. Updated at 10.58pm GMT 10.30pm GMT Is McLaren costing Oscar Piastri the F1 title, department asked at Senate estimates It’s a strong start to Senate estimates this morning, with Nationals senator Matt Canavan asking the department of infrastructure secretary, Jim Betts, about the F1 results from Qatar overnight. As an F1 fan myself, my ears immediately pricked up. Canavan asked: It’s been a bit of a frustrating night for some Australians … you deal with transport and cars, so do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship? Without going into too many details, Piastri is an Australian F1 driver on the McLaren team, who went into this morning’s race in first place but came in second at the end due to some poor calls from his team. There’s just one race to go for the championship and those points were critical, to say the least. Betts wasn’t keen to dive into the controversy: “You’re asking for an opinion there senator”, he said. “Good answer”, Canavan replied, and then asked the representing minister, Anthony Chisholm the same question, who said: I definitely think he’s copped some raw decision [making] this year. Both senators said their kids are very invested. Updated at 10.42pm GMT 10.09pm GMT New energy infrastructure needed if major coal plant shuts as planned: Aemo report Urgent investment is needed in new energy infrastructure – particularly synchronous generators – if the Eraring coal power plant in New South Wales is to shut as planned in 2027, authorities have warned. An Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) report on Monday said investment was needed in the country’s main electricity grid over the next decade. It focuses on “system security” – a reference to the frequency and inertia needed in the grid to keep it operating. That security is provided by spinning generators, which can include coal, gas and hydro plants. It does not come from solar and wind energy. It means the system security will need to come from other sources as the amount of solar and wind energy increases, including synchronous condensers that are connected to the grid not to provide electricity, but to stabilise the system. Aemo said energy company Transgrid was fast-tracking investment in synchronous condensers, but they were not expected to be operational until “at least 2028”. It said if Eraring shut before there were enough synchronous condensers in the system the market operator would be forced to intervene, including by ordering spinning capacity that mostly sits idle – gas and hydro plants – to run at “significant cost to consumers”. It said this could happen up to 30% of the time. It said without Eraring or synchronous condensers the NSW system could face periods when there was a “plausible risk of last-resort operational actions” – code for cuts in supply. Updated at 10.21pm GMT 9.53pm GMT Government to issue guidance calling for AI generated content to be labelled Businesses, creators, and AI developers will be encouraged to label AI generated or modified content under new guidance from the government. The guidance is a part of Labor’s national AI plan which will be more broadly released this week. The government has been considering whether to follow the EU and other nations who have implemented a designated AI act. The guidance will also encourage industry to use water marking to verify the authenticity of content and trace its origin and record metadata. Minister for industry and innovation, Tim Ayres, said: AI is here to stay. By being transparent about when and how it is used, we can ensure the community benefits from innovation without sacrificing trust. That’s why the Albanese Government is urging businesses to adopt this guidance. It’s about building trust, protecting integrity, and giving Australia’s confidence in the content they consume. Last week, the government announced it will establish an AI safety institute next year. 9.33pm GMT Queensland Labor to reset all party policy after state conference vote Queensland Labor will reset its entire policy platform following its state election defeat last year. The party secretary, Ben Driscoll, who sponsored the motion, said Queensland Labor’s policy platform hadn’t been reviewed in full since the last time the party spent a term in opposition, under the premiership of Campbell Newman, and it had long since passed elements of the platform into law. The opposition leader, Steven Miles, who was defeated last October, told media that the party had not acted on concerns about crime quickly enough while in government. “Labor has to accept that there were mistakes made in the previous government. That’s why I’ve said we have a policy clean slate, and now we will review the entire party’s platform to ensure that it is fit for 2028,” he said. Parties need to ensure they are constantly evolving, constantly representing what the community is asking for. And that’s why, that’s why this review and the policy claim slate is really important. The party conference was the first since Annastacia Palaszczuk stood down as premier in 2023. It concluded on Sunday. The motion passed on the voices. Updated at 9.39pm GMT 9.17pm GMT Activists lock on to coal equipment during Rising Tide protest in Newcastle Sixteen protesters with Rising Tide have locked themselves to coal equipment in Newcastle this morning. Rising Tide said eight people have locked on to two coal loaders and another eight on to conveyor belts on the final day of the People’s Blockade, an annual climate protest that has seen thousands gather to protest against the use of fossil fuels. Related: Rising Tide protest: climate activists stop three ships from entering world’s largest coal port in Newcastle Fiona Lee, an activist who locked on to a coal conveyor, said she could “not stand by as our government continues to approve the new coal and gas projects that are making these unnatural disasters worse”, adding: It’s time that our government starts supporting coal workers by investing in new industries for our region and making coal corporations pay their fair share. NSW police have arrested at least 141 people during the protest this weekend. An official said there have been no additional arrests this morning so far. Updated at 9.43pm GMT 9.06pm GMT Minister says pay rise delivering security for workers and for kids in their care Jess Walsh, minister for early childhood education, said the pay bump for early childhood educators is already “paying dividends”, saying it is good for workers and good for the kids in their care. Walsh told RN Breakfast: This is a workforce that has been underpaid and undervalued for too long. When we took office, that meant that early educators were leaving the sector in droves. We wanted to see a strong, stable workforce to deliver quality early education, and that’s why we’ve committed to this pay rise. And it is paying dividends. It’s reducing turnover in the sector. It’s allowing educators to stay in jobs that they love. That’s good for them, but it’s also good for the children in their care because a strong, stable workforce is the foundation for quality early education. She went on to say the government was guaranteeing that the sector was strong, adding: “Every child deserves to be safe, and parents deserve to know that their children are safe.” Updated at 9.10pm GMT 8.54pm GMT Final stage of early childhood educator pay rise kicks in Early childhood educators will receive a 5% pay rise today, the last instalment of a promised 15% wage increase by Labor. The government says the increase will mean educators will receive an extra $160 per week. That sits on top of the Fair Work Commission’s minimum wage rise which took effect earlier this year. The government’s also released some retention data, saying the wage rises have helped increase the number of educators by 6% in the year to August, while vacancy rates are down 14% in the year to October. Not-for-profit provider Goodstart says it’s reduced its use of labour hire by 70%. In a statement, the education minister, Jason Clare said: Our early educators deserve to be paid fairly for that work. That’s why we’re delivering this 15 per cent pay rise, with the final 5 per cent hitting the pay packets of early educators from tomorrow. We know the pay rise is working to bring more people into sector and help to keep the great educators we’ve already got. It follows an announcement from Clare that mandatory safety training for educators to begin in February next year, and be undertaken through early childcare centres. The mandatory training was agreed by state, territory and federal education ministers as part of safety reform. Updated at 8.59pm GMT 8.43pm GMT Home price rises outpacing benefits of interest rate cuts Surging home prices have wiped away the benefits of three interest rate cuts to new buyers, new data reveals. AAP reports across Australia, home values grew by 1% in November with the median dwelling now worth $888,941, property analytics firm Cotality reported on Monday. That follows a blistering result in October, when prices rose at 1.1% rise, and 0.8% in September. On a monthly basis, growth in Sydney slowed from 0.7% to 0.5%, while Melbourne fell from 0.9% in October to 0.3% in November. Meanwhile, the mid-sized capitals picked up. Brisbane became the second Australian city to break the $1m median home price barrier. Already, the impact of 75 basis points of cash rate cuts since February are wearing out. Cotality research director, Tim Lawless, calculated the cuts increased the borrowing capacity of a median income household by $55,000, but home values have since risen by $60,000. For renters, the outlook continues to be one of worsening affordability. Rents are rising across every capital city, with the national rental index 5% higher over the past 12 months – the highest annual rate of growth in a year. Updated at 8.57pm GMT 8.35pm GMT Greens call for 25% gas export tax The Greens are calling for all gas exports to be taxed 25% and domestic gas supply to be prioritised as the country faces a future gas shortfall by 2028. The minor party – who just secured a deal with the government on the EPBC nature law reforms – say they will not support any new gas fields. There is more than enough uncontracted gas being exported overseas, they say, to meet any future shortfalls. The 25% tax would replace the petroleum resource rent tax which the Greens say has failed to collect “meaningful” revenue from gas exporters due to “massive loopholes”. Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May says gas corporations have created a “crisis” that Australian households have had to pay for. Government and industry lies are quickly unravelling. We don’t have a gas shortage, we have a gas export problem. If Labor brings forward an option that incentivises new gas and hands more rewards to the corporations that have been ripping off Australians, they won’t have the support of the Greens. Updated at 8.51pm GMT 8.27pm GMT Good morning Good morning, and happy December. Another month down, another season begins. Nick Visser here to get you started on the blog this morning – here’s what’s on deck. The Greens are calling for all gas exports to face a 25% tax, with a new prioritisation on domestic gas supply. The party, which recently secured a deal with the Labor government on new federal nature law reforms, says it will not support any new gas fields. Surging home prices have wiped out the benefit of three interest rate cuts to new buyers, according to recent data. Across Australia, the median dwelling is now worth nearly $889,000. The government is encouraging businesses, creators and AI developers to label AI generated or modified content. Tim Ayres, the minister for industry and innovation, said the strategy would see the “benefits from innovation without sacrificing trust”. Stick with us.