Amanda Meade
Lattouf case headed for trial
The ABC will defend its decision to sack casual Sydney radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf in a federal court trial listed to start on Monday 3 February.
Lattouf was removed by ABC management after sharing a post from Human Rights Watch alleging Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. The ABC had reported on the Human Rights Watch claim.
The ABC strongly denied being influenced by lobbyists after revelations of a campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists to have her dismissed.
Witnesses called to give evidence include former ABC chair Ita Buttrose, outgoing chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor and outgoing managing director David Anderson.
Lattouf was taken off air three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023 after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war, which the ABC said was a breach of editorial policy.
The Fair Work Commission found Lattouf was sacked, paving the way for the journalist to pursue an unlawful termination case.
The ABC had argued at the commission that Lattouf was not sacked because she was paid for the full five days of her contract.
Mediation between the two parties held late last year failed.
Key events
Labor and Coalition blame each other for continuing slump in school attendance
Caitlin Cassidy
The federal education minister says the former Coalition government is to blame for falling school attendance, with new data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) showing rates are still languishing at pandemic lows.
The data, released yesterday, found school attendance rates from Years 1-10 were 88.3% in 2024, down slightly from 88.6% in 2023 and sitting well below 91.4% in 2019.
The percentage of students with above 90% attendance was 59.8% in 2024, down from 61.6% in 2023.
Jason Clare said the poor trend was a result of the previous government’s national school reform agreement, which “didn’t contain the necessary reforms or targets”.
School attendance began trending down under the Liberal party from 2015. The Liberal party was happy to hand over a blank cheque, I’m not. That’s why the reforms and targets included in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement are so important. Four jurisdictions have signed on to this agreement which includes a target to increase the student attendance rate to pre-pandemic levels. The government is continuing to work with other jurisdictions.
The shadow education minister, Sarah Henderson, said Labor had “failed to implement meaningful reforms to lift attendance”.
While the government has adopted the Coalition’s call for explicit instruction and other evidence-based teaching methods, Jason Clare has failed to detail how teachers will be sufficiently supported in the classroom, ignoring … recommendations for a national behaviour curriculum.
Sydney’s cult hero “Putricia” yet to begin blooming
Although she was expected to begin blooming days ago, Sydney’s resident corpse flower, “Putricia”, is keeping us on our toes.
The corpse flower at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden has become a cult hero in the capital city – and for people around the world, thanks to a YouTube livestream with a very active chat, and thousands of people routinely watching at any given moment.
Sydneysiders are able to line up each day and catch a glimpse of the amorphophallus titanum plant for themselves, from 8am to 6pm each day until the bloom ends.
You can read all about the phenomenon below, thanks to Rafqa Touma:
Caitlin Cassidy
Experts named for national council on university governance
The CEO of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Melinda Cilento, will chair the federal government’s expert council on university governance, tasked with cracking down on hefty executive pay packets and corporatisation in the sector.
Education ministers have today announced their government-nominated representatives on the council, which will make recommendations to the government on university governance and campus safety.
The council was a key recommendation of the federal government commissioned universities accord, which found entrenched noncompliance with staff payments and a failure by management in their responsibilities as employers.
Also appointed was trade unionist, human rights and climate action advocate Sharan Burrow AC and mergers and acquisitions lawyer Bruce Cowley.
University Chancellors Council, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Governance Institute of Australia, the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, the Law Council of Australia, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and Universities Australia will also have representatives on the council.
The education minister, Jason Clare, said the National Tertiary Education Union and National Union of Students would nominate an expert to act as a bridge between the council and the wider community, playing a “strong and active role”.
Lehrmann seeking judge-only trial in Toowoomba
Joe Hinchliffe
Bruce Lehrmann will seek a judge-only trial as he seeks to defend himself against two charges of rape, a Toowoomba court has heard.
More on police investigation into alleged Newtown assault
Police are seeking to identify the three unknown men – the first described as being of Māori/Pacific Islander appearance and around 20-30 years old, with short curly black hair, wearing a white T-shirt, and dark blue jeans.
The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 20-30 years old and wearing a tan colour vest, tan colour cargo pants and black sneakers.
The third man is described as being of Māori/Pacific Islander appearance, around 20-30 years old with long brown curly hair, long sleeve black strip flannelette shirt, grey track pants and black slides.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police investigating after off-duty officers attacked in Sydney’s inner west
NSW police are investigating a serious assault in Sydney’s inner west overnight, that left an off-duty police officer unconscious.
Police responded to a brawl on Enmore Road in Newtown just after 11pm last night and found the 25-year-old man unconscious on the roadway.
An off-duty nurse performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital, police said, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Police were told the injured man and a second man, both off-duty NSW police officers, had been walking along Enmore Road when they approached three unknown men arguing with each other. Police alleged in a statement:
The two off-duty officers were assaulted with one of them knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked to the head. The three men ran from the scene prior to police arrival.
The second man, also aged 25, suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, but has been discharged. Police have established a crime scene and are conducting an investigation.
WA police investigating after cars allegedly stolen with infants inside
Western Australian police are investigating after an unknown man allegedly stole two vehicles which had infants inside.
Police allege that about 3.50pm yesterday, the man approached and stole a white Kia Sorento sedan on the Great Eastern Highway in West Kalgoorlie. Two infants were inside at the time, but were located safe and well by police shortly afterwards.
Police alleged the man also stole an orange Kia Sportage in Somerville about 4.05pm, and one child was inside the car. Shortly after, the child was located safe and well by police.
Both vehicles have been recovered but the man remains outstanding, police said, urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
The man is described as being around 160cm tall, of slim build and dark complexion, wearing black track suit pants, a black hoodie, and carrying a white clutch bag.
Severe thunderstorms temporarily ease around Gold Coast, but could redevelop
Severe thunderstorms around the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim in Queensland have temporarily eased – but the Bureau of Meteorology says they could redevelop.
The situation is being closely monitored and further detailed warnings will be issued as necessary.
A 93km/h wind gust was observed at Gold Coast airport at 8.52am, the Bureau said.
⚠️⛈️ UPDATED Severe Thunderstorm Warning for people in parts of Gold Coast and Scenic Rim Council Areas.
DAMAGING WINDS possible. Forecast to affect Coolangatta and waters off Tweed Heads by 9:15 am
Details: pic.twitter.com/caTMgbWIkT
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 22, 2025
Catley says police will be out in Sydney amid Australia Day protests and rallies
Taking questions, Yasmin Catley weighed in on the rallies and protests scheduled for Australia Day weekend in Sydney.
She said NSW police already had arrangements in place, and any events would be “policed properly”.
What we say is, you can protest in this city, but you must protest within the framework of the law, and you must do it safely and peacefully, and that is what the police expect. If you don’t, expect to be arrested.
Sydney’s Invasion Day rally and march will begin from 10am at Belmore Park in Haymarket.
NSW police minister urges road safety ahead of Australia Day weekend
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, is speaking to reporters in Sydney ahead of the Australia Day weekend.
She urged people to stay safe on the roads, because “the roads will be absolutely packed”.
We’re expecting people out in large numbers. Remember those safety messages – do not speed, wear a seat belt, do not drive distracted. If you are thinking about using your mobile phone, put it in the boot.
We see so many accidents because people are distracted. Do not, under any circumstances, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you do, police will be out, they will be out patrolling, and you will be caught, and you are likely to lose your license. And please make sure, if you are fatigued, take a rest.
Humanitarian organisations call for $50m funding to help Gaza
Twenty-five of Australia’s humanitarian organisations have penned an open letter urging the federal government to take further action to address the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
The organisations – including the Australian Council for International Development (Acfid), Save the Children, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Caritas and Oxfam – are calling for an initial surge of $50m in humanitarian assistance, amid the temporary ceasefire.
The statement said the delivery of essential assistance on the ground is “urgently needed to address a widespread electricity, healthcare and sanitation crisis across Gaza [which] also continues to be on the brink of famine.”
Acfid’s humanitarian and public engagement lead, Naomi Brooks, said:
Australia and the international community must step up now to prevent further devastation. We remind the international community that this deal is divided into three phases. We will continue to advocate that each phase be implemented fully. We must not and will not be silent until this happens.
You can read the joint statement in full here.
