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NT Chief Minister steps down.
Michael Gunner has resigned as chief minister moments after handing down the Northern Territory budget, saying his head and heart are no longer in the job.
The first territory-born Top End leader attributed the decision to the birth of his second son, Nash, on April 29 and wanting to spend time with his family. Gunner, 46, said a heart attack in January 2020, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic had also taken a toll and he was tired.
“It has caused me to reflect a lot over the past few weeks. I’ve always given 100 per cent to this job and anything less is short-changing the people that sent me here,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I can no longer keep looking Territorians in the eye and say ‘I can keep giving 100 per cent every day’, and if I can’t do that I shouldn’t be in the chair.”
Hello Nash!
— Michael Gunner (@fanniebay) May 1, 2022
You think you remember all the love and joy from first time round - then bam - totally overwhelmed.
Nash Michael Huckleberry Gunner born happy healthy 3.8kgs 48 cm. Mum well. Nash well. Hudson being the best big brother you could wish for. pic.twitter.com/jSbxXx9oQP
Time with Hudson is simply the best #LudmillaLads pic.twitter.com/pAaNyXFvON
— Michael Gunner (@fanniebay) October 23, 2021
Gunner said he didn’t need a second near-death experience to know life is unpredictable and can be cut short.
“When I held Nash for the first time, that was it - game over. I knew straight away that I was done,” he said. “I am not going to stay in the job longer than I need just for the cheque or the ego.”
The announcement came almost immediately after the Labor leader, originally from Alice Springs, delivered the NT’s budget for 2022/23. After his budget speech to parliament, Gunner told the house it was the right time for him to go, but he would remain in parliament as the Member for Fannie Bay.
“My head and my heart are no longer in the job. They are at home,” he said.
Gunner said he loved the Northern Territory because it was a place of potential and possibility.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, you can have a crack and make something of yourself. I like to think my own story shows that. A kid who grew up in public housing, who stacked shelves to get himself through uni, can serve the territory as its chief minister.”
Image: AAP/Twitter.
QLD announces coercive control laws.
This post deals with domestic violence and might be triggering for some readers.
The Queensland government has announced it will be introducing legislation to make coercive control a criminal offence by the end of 2023.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news, labelling the legislation “historic and wide-reaching”. It will also work towards overhauling laws and practices designed to protect victim-survivors experiencing domestic violence. Not to mention, ensuring tougher laws and penalties towards perpetrators.
The $363 million package will include new laws and programs, as well as a Commission of Inquiry into police responses and expansion of the specialist domestic and family violence (DFV) courts.
Hannah Clarke’s parents, Sue and Lloyd, have welcomed the government’s response, as they have been strong advocates for stronger coercive control legislation.
“As our foundation, Small Steps 4 Hannah tries to achieve, this is all about HALTing the cycle of domestic and family violence,” they said in a statement. “H’ for Hannah, ‘A’ for Aaliyah, ‘L’ for Laianah and ‘T’ for Trey, the members of our family who we have lost.”
BREAKING: Queensland will introduce legislation to make coercive control a criminal offence by the end of 2023 and today I’m announcing an historic overhaul of laws to better protect Queenslanders. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/xN8DVCrB3R
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) May 9, 2022
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.
The Men’s Referral Service is also available on 1300 766 491 or via online chat at www.ntv.org.au.
Aussies with type 2 diabetes experiencing medicine shortage.
It’s being reported that Aussies with type 2 diabetes have not been able to get their required medication for months now. Thousands have been using the drug Ozempic for unnecessary reasons unrelated to type 2 diabetes, which has then led to a nationwide shortage of the drug.
Sydney woman Carol is in her 50s and has type 2 diabetes. Speaking to Mamamia, she said it’s been really distressing to not have access to her medication.
“This month I’ve been unable to even put my script into the pharmacist because there is no supply. It’s really upsetting, as there is no substitute medication,” she said.
The president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey spoke to 2GB this week about the shortage.
He said: “So what the drug Ozempic has been approved for use in Australia for, it’s strictly for those with type 2 diabetes. You’ve got to have a certain body mass index to able to be eligible. There’s been these entrepreneurial GPs who are popping up on these apps that are issuing a script without them ever seeing a patient. This is what’s driving up that demand unfortunately.”
In a statement, the company behind the drug, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, said they have been experiencing “strong demand” and hope to have stable supply soon for those who are living with type 2 diabetes.
Australian TV just entered its villain era.
The 2022 TV BAFTAs were held this week, gifting us a prestigious awards show celebrating the best international and British TV shows and a glitzy red carpet. The winner’s list contains your next must-watch TV shows.
And we’ve finally gotten our first look at Avatar: The Way Of Water, the first of four sequels being made in the Avatar franchise. The film brings back all the big names from the original, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver, along with new faces like Vin Diesel, Kate Winslet, and Michelle Yow. There’s a lot of excitement around the trailer, but we’ve noticed a pretty glaring problem with Sam Worthington.
And the new season of Big Brother kicked off this week, bringing a number of famous faces from the franchise back into the house. But that’s not what the headlines are focused on today. Instead, it appears that Australian TV is entering a new villain era and we’re pretty sure the general public is not prepared for this.
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Nick Cave’s eldest son dies, and all the news you need to know this morning.
Morning,
Here are the top five news stories you need to know today, Tuesday May 10.
1. Nick Cave’s eldest son dies.
Australian singer Nick Cave has confirmed the death of his eldest son Jethro, at the age of 31, in a second tragedy for the family.
"With much sadness, I can confirm that my son, Jethro, has passed away," the Bad Seeds musician said in a statement.
"We would be grateful for family privacy at this time."
Australian singer Nick Cave has suffered another family tragedy after his eldest son Jethro died aged 31.
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) May 9, 2022
More on this story: https://t.co/jib8RPWXUY pic.twitter.com/a1jMV1XaXS
Jethro, who worked as a fashion model, had previously been jailed following an assault on his mother, Beau Lazenby, earlier this year.
At the time, his lawyer announced he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Jethro's death comes seven years after the accidental death of one of Cave's 15-year-old twin sons Arthur in 2015.
2. Labor vows protection for LGBTQIA students.
Labor has vowed LGBTQIA students will be protected as election debate re-emerges on the government's proposed religious discrimination laws.
Scott Morrison said the laws would be a priority for his government should the coalition be re-elected, but he is yet to indicate when amendments protecting gay and transgender students from being expelled from faith-based schools would be addressed.
Labor's education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said any proposal to amend the Sex Discrimination Act would be done in the normal way.
"We have been consistently clear that we don't want to see any child discriminated against," she told reporters in Sydney yesterday.
"If we form government we will consult widely on the legislation. We don't want to do what Scott Morrison has done, which is divide the nation by introducing this type of legislation."
As debate returns on religious discrimination laws, Labor has promised to protect LGBTIQ+ school students if elected.https://t.co/QrXns778gD
— SBS News (@SBSNews) May 9, 2022
Meanwhile, the Coalition will announce the creation of a new technology skills passport which will store information about a worker's experience and education, as part of a $ 5million election pledge.
"Where there are skills gaps to fill, we want Australians to have the first crack at getting that opportunity and our skills passport approach will enable rapid upskilling and reskilling," said Employment Minister Stuart Robert.
3. Putin speech gives no clue on Ukraine path.
Vladimir Putin has given a defiant Victory Day speech but was silent about plans for any escalation in Ukraine, despite warnings he might use his address to order a national mobilisation.
Yesterday's annual parade in Moscow was easily the most closely watched since the 1945 defeat of the Nazis that it celebrates.
Officials in the US and European capitals had openly speculated for weeks that Putin was driving his forces to achieve enough progress by the symbolic date to declare victory - but with few gains so far, he might instead announce a national call-up for war.
He did neither but repeated his assertions that Russian forces were again fighting Nazis.
"You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War II. So that there is no place in the world for executioners, castigators and Nazis," Putin said from the tribune outside the Kremlin walls.
"During these days, you are fighting for our people in Donbas, for the security of our country, Russia"
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 9, 2022
President Putin speaks in Moscow's Red Square as Russia marks Victory Day https://t.co/OP49gdI0V8 pic.twitter.com/olXoR7PuAh
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his own speech, promised Ukrainians they would triumph.
"On the Day of Victory over Nazism, we are fighting for a new victory. The road to it is difficult but we have no doubt that we will win," he said.
In a clear reference to Putin, Zelenskyy added: "The one who is repeating the horrific crimes of Hitler's regime today, following Nazi philosophy, copying everything they did - he is doomed."
4. Petrol prices rise for a third week in a row.
Petrol prices have risen for a third week in a row as global factors undermine the Morrison government's temporary cut in the fuel excise.
The Australian Institute of Petroleum said the national average for petrol prices rose by a further 1.4 cents to 179.6 cents per litre in the past week.
But cities like Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide are paying well over 180 cents a litre, and regional Northern Territory more that $2.
"Unfortunately oil prices are still rising," Commonwealth Securities chief economist Craig James said.
Fuel excise cut savings eroded by rising petrol prices amid increasing cost of living pressures https://t.co/bynVVijyNA
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) May 9, 2022
The latest lift in oil prices came as the Group of Seven nations announced a ban on Russian oil, further cutting the amount of oil to meet global demand.
A survey by financial comparison website Finder revealed almost one-in-three Australian homeowners were feeling the pinch even before the RBA raised the cash rate for the first time since 2010.
5. Queen cancels another major engagement.
In royal news, Queen Elizabeth will miss the opening of UK parliament, as she continues to experience mobility issues.
The 96-year-old's son and heir Prince Charles, accompanied by Prince William, will step in to replace her for the grand set-piece ceremony, in which the monarch sets out the government's agenda, the palace said.
She last missed the event almost six decades ago.
"The queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
#BREAKING: The Queen has cancelled another major engagement on doctors orders. #9Today pic.twitter.com/EVB6bvew1G
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 9, 2022
The Queen, the world's eldest and longest-reigning monarch, has been forced to cut back on engagements since being hospitalised for a night last October for an unspecified illness, and then being told by her doctors to rest.
The palace declined to give details of the Queen's ailment but a source said her decision to pull out of the opening of parliament, which was only made on Monday, was related to the problems she had suffered last year.
She is expected to undertake some private engagements later in the week.
You're all up to speed. We'll keep you updated with more of the top stories throughout the day.
- With AAP.
Election explainer: Everything you want to know but are too afraid to ask.
With less than two weeks to go till election day, The Quicky speaks to a political expert to answer your biggest questions about Australian elections and voting, so you can feel confident when you go to choose your favourite candidate on May 21.
READ:
Feature Image: AAP/Twitter @fanniebay.