Penry Buckley
Delays continue on Sydney train network as peak hour begins
Buses have been requested to supplement trains on Sydney’s airport rail line, as delays on some of the city’s busiest routes have continued into peak hour.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said passengers should continue to allow extra travel time on T2, T3 and T8 Airport and south services after delays following a track fault between Town Hall and Central stations this morning:
As well as increased service gaps, stops and departure platforms may change at short notice,
Buses have been requested to supplement the T8 line between Central station and Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals, as well as between Campbelltown and Macarthur.
Key events
Fire ants appear to have spread, nests founds in five central Queensland mines
Joe Hinchliffe
More fire ants have been detected in central Queensland mines as authorities scramble to contain an outbreak of one of the world’s worst invasive species.
The National Fire Ant Eradication program dogs sniffed out fire ant nests at five mine sites in Central Highlands and Isaac Council regions between 12 and 14 August.
The ants were detected about 800km from the closest known infestation zone in central Queensland for the first time in history in July, with a major outbreak at a BHP Broadmeadow coalmine.
The eradication program has issued a statement saying its teams are working across central Queensland to contain the outbreak and to determine “whether equipment or materials that can carry fire ants have moved from the affected mines, potentially spreading the invasive species further”.
Penry Buckley
Delays continue on Sydney train network as peak hour begins
Buses have been requested to supplement trains on Sydney’s airport rail line, as delays on some of the city’s busiest routes have continued into peak hour.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said passengers should continue to allow extra travel time on T2, T3 and T8 Airport and south services after delays following a track fault between Town Hall and Central stations this morning:
As well as increased service gaps, stops and departure platforms may change at short notice,
Buses have been requested to supplement the T8 line between Central station and Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals, as well as between Campbelltown and Macarthur.
Andrew Messenger
Adani to invest $50m in Queensland Charmichael coalmine
Multinational mining firm Adani will invest $50m in its central Queensland Carmichael coalmine, the company said today.
The capital investment will increase production at the thermal coalmine by a third over the next four years to 16m tonnes a year.
Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer, Mick Crowe, said the company had already increased production to more than 10m tonnes per annum over the past three years.
Engineering studies and assessments have been completed, and work to deliver increased production will begin by adding more capacity to the Carmichael mine accommodation village.
The Australian company Bravus Mining and Resources is part of the global Adani Group, founded and chaired by Indian magnate Gautam Adani.
Qld police service opposes pro-Palestine march across Brisbane Story Bridge
The Queensland police say a planned pro-Palestine march across Brisbane’s Story Bridge this Sunday will create security risks and disrupt business.
A spokesperson for the police said it had suggested alternative routes to organisers that would minimise the risk to public safety and disruption to the community.
Photograph: Nicky Dowling/Getty Images
It said safety concerns include that the proposed bridge route is not designed for pedestrian gatherings, and that serious disruption would occur to traffic, emergency vehicle access and local businesses. There is also a need to maintain essential access routes for community safety, the spokesperson said.
The QPS respects the right to peacefully assemble; however, this must be balanced with the need to ensure public safety and minimise disruption to the broader community.
While the QPS has concerns if the march goes over the Story Bridge, the service will always respect the decision of the courts.
Brisbane police will have a strong presence on the day to ensure public safety, manage traffic and respond to any incidents.
Liberal’s Dave Sharma criticises government’s decision to cancel Simcha Rothman’s visa
Liberal senator Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, has taken issue with comments made by Katy Gallagher, this afternoon, about “open dialogue and discussion”.
Here’s what he told the ABC:
They have gone and cancelled the visa of a member of parliament of Israel, who sits within the government and Coalition. So how can you say you’re committed to dialogue and diplomacy and open channels when you are preventing any interaction from occurring? I think those two statements are at odds with one another.
Simcha Rothman has described Palestinian children in Gaza as “enemies” and called for Israel’s total control of the West Bank. On Monday, he was denied entry into Australia before he was scheduled to join a “solidarity tour”.
Explaining his decision, the home affairs minister Tony Burke said: “our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division”:
If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.
Katy Gallagher: Australia’s relationship with Israel not broken
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, says Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Israel is “not at all” broken.
Israel’s foreign minister has revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, citing Australia’s “unjustified refusal” to grant visas to Israeli figures and its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.
In a post to X on Monday night, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made after the Albanese government cancelled Simcha Rothman’s visa on Monday before his speaking tour schedule for this month.
Gallagher told the ABC the decision was “very unfortunate” and that the government would “always stand for dialogue and diplomacy, particularly in times of conflict”.
Australia has to be able to have positions on matters about other countries, or in this case recognition of the Palestinian state, and still maintain relationships with other countries.
We will not agree on everything … It’s about open dialogue and discussion, even if there are areas of disagreement. It’s the way we will continue to operate across the world.
NSW $334m regional roads fund to be scrutinised by auditor-general’s office
A large fund for road projects will be scrutinised as more money is tipped into road upgrades in a region approaching a crucial byelection, AAP reports.
The NSW government’s $334m Regional Roads Fund – some of which has not yet been allocated – will be examined by the state’s auditor-general’s office.
It is assessing whether Transport for NSW designed and implemented the grants program in compliance with guidelines for the administration of public expenditure and relevant legislative requirements, focusing on grants to 19 local councils.
The roads minister, Jenny Aitchison, says it is a standard investigation.
She told a budget estimates hearing the audit office’s interest stemmed from the previous government’s method of funding, which included allegations of pork-barrelling.
One project – the Thornton Bridge duplication project – is near the minister’s home in the Hunter region’s Maitland electorate.
She denies any conflict of interest.
There are 20,000 or 30,000 other people who live in that area. That road is of no material benefit to me or my family.
Research foundation calls for alcohol law overhaul to help protect women and children
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education has called for an urgent overhaul of alcohol laws after the South Australian royal commission into domestic, family and sexual violence found it was a significant factor in violence.
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has accepted seven of the royal commission’s 136 recommendations. The state government will respond to the rest of them by the end of the year.
Several of the royal commission’s recommendations related to the sale and supply of alcohol.
The foundation’s chief executive, Ayla Chorley, welcomed the recommendations:
Survivors have consistently told us you cannot address violence towards women and children without considering the impact of alcohol harm – now they’ve finally been heard.
Sarah Basford Canales
Barred far-right Israeli politician slated to speak virtually
The right-leaning Australian Jewish Association says it will host an online event with far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman, saying the “Jewish community won’t bow down to Tony Burke or Penny Wong”.
Rothman, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, was scheduled to appear in person as part of a “solidarity tour” later this week before his visa was cancelled on Monday because of fears his visit would ignite tensions in the community.
Rothman, a member of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, is a vocal critic of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and has called for Israel’s total annexation of the occupied West Bank territories.
The AJA today said the group intended to host an online event with Rothman in defiance of the visa cancellation.
The show will go on. The Jew-haters will not win … The Jewish community won’t bow down to Tony Burke or Penny Wong.
A date has not yet been set for the online event.
Marles: Israel’s visa decision ‘disappointing and unjustified’
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, says Israel’s decision to revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority is “disappointing and unjustified”.
In a post to X on Monday night, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made after the Albanese government’s cancellation of Simcha Rothman’s visa on Monday before his speaking tour, this month.
The Israeli foreign minister said he had also instructed the embassy in Canberra to “carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel”.
Marles addressed the issue during a press conference:
This is a disappointing and unjustified reaction to Australia and our decision around the recognition of a Palestinian state.
This is a moment where we need to be promoting dialogue between our countries, and this is a very disappointing and unjustified step, which has been taken by Israel.
Australia leading international action to protect humanitarian aid workers
Australia has pledged tangible action to protect humanitarian aid workers, at a time when people who dedicate themselves to helping others in war are killed in record numbers.
More than 380 humanitarian workers were killed in conflict zones in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record and a 31%rise from the previous year, according to Aid Worker Security Database statistics released on today.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is spearheading a pledge to protect humanitarian personnel after convening a ministerial group with several other nations at a United Nations conference in September 2024.
The international development minister, Anne Aly, has confirmed it will be launched on the margins of the United Nations meeting in New York during the final week of September:
The declaration will be an important demonstration of our collective commitment to upholding international humanitarian law. It will also include practical steps that will increase aid worker safety.
– AAP
Sydney train travellers face delays to afternoon commute because of unscheduled track repairs
Penry Buckley
Sydney commuters are being advised to allow for extra time before this afternoon’s peak hour, as a train track fault this morning has continued to cause delays on some of the city’s busiest lines.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said urgent track repairs were finished at 11.30am today after a fault between Town Hall and Central stations caused trains to stop running on the city circle via Museum station.
Trains resumed running at 12.00pm, but passengers on the T2, T3 and T8 lines are being warned of knock-on delays this afternoon. Train crew were displaced by this morning’s incident, which also led to a temporary speed restriction on other lines.
“It is easing as we get closer to the peak, but obviously we’re getting very close to the peak now,” said a spokesperson for Sydney Trains, advising commuters to allow plenty of time and check service updates.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Henry Belot will take over from here to guide you through the afternoon’s news. Take care.
Patrick Commins
EV popularity prompts consideration of broader road-user charges
Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers have all but confirmed an EV road user charge is in the works.
But Guardian Australia understands the government is considering phasing in the charge over a number of years, and that it could start with the country’s small fleet of electric trucks.
While the vast majority of vehicles on the road remain petrol- and diesel-powered, that is expected to change in coming decades.
As combustion engines disappear, so will the revenue from the fuel excise – which is worth about $17bn a year and is ostensibly paid to the states to help them pay for road maintenance.
In fact, the money just pours into the federal government’s coffers like any other tax.
You can read more about the plan here:
Patrick Commins
NSW treasurer says its a ‘good time’ to figure out future of road user charges as EVs grow in popularity
Daniel Mookhey, the NSW treasurer, says as more electric vehicles hit the roads, “it’s a good time for us to be figuring out what is the future of the road user charging system”. He told the ABC earlier today:
I think it’s fair and reasonable that everybody who uses our roads should be making a contribution.
NSW has legislated a road user charge for EVs from mid-2027, starting at 2.9c per kilometre for battery and hydrogen fuel cell EVs, or 2.4c for a plug-in hybrid EV. Mookhey, who is representing the states and territories at this week’s economic reform roundtable, says:
We do think that shows one example of how the nation could make some quick progress here.
The NSW charge would not start if a national scheme is adopted beforehand.
Queensland legal challenge against Gaza protest to be heard Thursday
Andrew Messenger
A legal challenge against a planned pro-Palestine protest on the Brisbane Story Bridge will be heard on Thursday.
The Queensland Police Service is seeking to halt a march by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin planned for 1pm this Sunday. Brisbane magistrates court will hear the application at 9am.
Organisers say they expect about 7,000 people to attend.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the bridge will be closed to traffic for the protest if the march is approved, but he says he is concerned about people’s safety. He says some marchers might use closed footpaths attached to the main deck of the bridge, which are currently closed for safety reasons. Schrinner says:
We’re also concerned about the safety of the wider community as well, and the harmony of the wider community.
Peaceful protests, they’re great, you know, it’s a right of every Australian. But there have been some points where it’s gone too far. And terrorist chants, waving around photos of terrorist leaders, [it’s] not something that contributes to a harmonious community.