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Sarah Basford Canales
Lidia Thorpe says the parliamentary watchdog is powerless to make a real difference against racism and the treatment of women after it released its first public statement last week.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission named Victorian senator Ralph Babet as having made “offensive, disrespectful and harmful” remarks in a social media post published in November 2024. The watchdog said it had sanctioned him to attend one-on-one behaviour training and agree to refrain from further similar comments but Babet had failed to comply, resulting in a public statement.
Thorpe, who was censured on the same day as Babet in the Senate for earlier protesting King Charles’ visit to Canberra, said the body’s investigation was vague and showed it “still does not have the power to make a real difference”.
Under the law, the standards umpire is able to make a public statement about an investigation if a parliamentarian fails to comply with a sanction. Where a more serious breach of the code has been committed, an IPSC decision maker can refer the incident to a parliamentary privileges committee. That committee can impose salary fines and suspend politicians.
In a statement, Thorpe said:
double quotation markThis outcome is confusing, and the public has no real insight into how it was decided. With the way the major parties set up the IPSC to conceal deliberations, we may never know …
In this first case that has been made public, it seems the only outcome was naming the senator involved. We have no way of knowing whether stronger sanctions were considered by the IPSC or the Privileges Committee, or even if the committee discussed the matter at all …
The public deserve to know how this decision was made, what role the IPSC played, what role politicians played, and why the outcome looks like this.
We warned that a closed-door process dominated by Labor and the Coalition would compromise transparency, accountability, and public confidence …
Everyone should be safe at work, and we need strong accountability processes around bad behaviour.
But this workplace still has deep problems, especially when it comes to racism and the treatment of women.
Much more needs to be done, and unfortunately the IPSC still does not have the power to make a real difference.
READ MORE:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/04/ralph-babet-refuses-to-accept-sanction-over-offensive-and-disrespectful-comments-on-social-media-ntwnfb
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Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.
We’ve got another very busy day today so let’s get straight into it!
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NSW investment body backs renewable projects, two hotels, and gas pipeline
Penry Buckley
The NSW government has announced the first round of projects it is endorsing through its Investment Delivery Authority (IDA), including more than a dozen clean energy and battery storage projects, two hotels, and one gas pipeline.
The endorsements by the IDA, a body created at this year’s state budget, are not a direct investment, but provide companies with a “concierge service” to cut through red tape, including dedicated government support with planning approvals and infrastructure delivery.
The NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, who is appearing before budget estimates today, says the IDA “is helping ensure major investment proposals that matter to our economy receive the attention they require”.
The 16 projects, worth a combined $34.4bn, include 13 renewable energy or battery storage sites, such as electricity and gas giant AGL’s Hunter energy hub, and wind and solar farms. They also include Hunter Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd, acquired by Santos in 2022, which owns an approved gas pipeline route from Wallumbilla in Queensland to Newcastle, passing close to Santos’ controversial Narrabri gas project.
The other endorsements are two hotel projects worth a combined $482m. One, the Vuez Eco Resort, describes itself on its website as a “future-focused eco-tourism destination on the shores of Lake Jindabyne, bringing together sustainable design, nature, and year-round alpine experiences”.
The other is a redevelopment of a heritage-listed warehouse near Sydney’s Central station that was gutted during an “apocalyptic” blaze in May 2023. The state government expects to announce data centre proposals to the IDA at a later date because of the scale of energy and water infrastructure required by the sector.
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Updated at 20.58 CET
Victorian premier reveals start date for legal right to work from home
Benita Kolovos
The right to work from home two days a week will be enshrined in Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act, the premier, Jacinta Allan, will announce today, with plans for the laws to take effect before the state election.
After announcing yesterday that the right to work from home would apply to all businesses, Allan will today confirm the government will introduce legislation to the Victorian government in July. If passed, it would take effect on 1 September.
Last year, the premier announced that her government would legislate the right to work from home two days a week for those who can “reasonably” do so. It has since become a key pillar of Labor’s re-election pitch ahead of the November poll.
At the time, she said the legal right would apply to both public and private sector workers but it was unclear how it would be enforced. This is because Victoria, like other states, transferred its industrial relations powers for private sector workers to the federal government years ago.
Allan will say today that the right to work from home will be enshrined in the Equal Opportunity Act. The act, introduced in 2010, makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on individual attributes such as age, race, sex and disability.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan during question time in the Victorian Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
It is understood the government will seek to make it unlawful to discriminate against people who work from home two days a week. It would not apply to people whose roles prevent them from working from home.
Allan said in a statement:
double quotation markOnly Labor has new solutions to make life easier, safer and more affordable. That’s why we will protect work from home in law from 1 September.
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Albanese talks to UAE leader about stranded Australians
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese spoke last night with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.
They discussed the situation facing stranded Australians in the Middle East.
There are about 24,000 Australians in the UAE, many stranded due to flight disruptions caused by bombings by the Iranian regime, in retaliation to weekend strikes by the US and Israel.
The two leaders were able to exchange views on the current situation in the Middle East, and Albanese thanked the president for support for Australians stranded by the conflict.
The pair also discussed the importance of the resumption of commercial flights as soon as possible.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Photograph: Reuters
Albanese also spoke with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon yesterday.
They exchanged views on the Middle East and discussed the consular challenges brought about by the conflict.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
Anthony Albanese has discussed the situation facing stranded Australians in the Middle East with the president of the United Arab Emirates as many continue to seek an exit from the region engulfed in the US-Israeli war on Iran. More coming.
The government is being urged to limit the “relentless” advertising of alcohol, gambling and unhealthy food by a new national public health campaign launched today. We have more details shortly.
And the Victorian premier has announced her intention to give Victorians the legal right to two days a week of working from home by the first of September this year.
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