Key events
eSafety commissioner and family subjected to ‘onslaught of online abuse and threats’
Josh Taylor
Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said she and her family had been subjected to an onslaught of online abuse and threats in the ۱۰ years she has been in the role.
In her final appearance before Senate estimates last night, Inman Grant it was a “sensitive and pivotal moment” for the parliament in the wake of the alleged attack on Helen Haines, and the environment was “dangerously febrile for women in senior government roles.”
When public officials are used for political point scoring, a target goes on our backs and we are subjected to an onslaught of online abuse and threats.
As many of you know, this has been the normal state of affairs for me and my family for years, yet somehow this is meant to be accepted as part of public service.
Inman Grant did not name any people who have targeted her personally, but her work in the role has seen her labelled as a “censorship commissar” by the world’s richest person, Elon Musk. US Republican congressman Jim Jordan labelled Inman Grant as a “zealot for global takedowns”.
Inman Grant said more needs to be done for the next generation of leaders to feel safe in online spaces or public-facing roles.
Social media is no longer the once envisioned digital town square – it has become more like a gladiatorial arena.
Meanwhile, platforms continue to roll back abuse and violent speech policies that let some of the most egregious offenders out of digital jail.
Read our story here:
Shoebridge to pitch increased welfare spending, hike in tax-free threshold
Tom McIlroy
The Greens leader, David Shoebridge, will address the National Press Club in Canberra today, promising to help Australians struggling with cost-of-living and answering questions about allegations against senator Jordon Steele-John.
He will propose lifting the tax-free threshold from $۱۸,۲۰۰ to $۲۶,۰۰۰, meaning people earning a wage won’t pay tax on their first $۲۶,۰۰۰. He says that will save the average working Australian more than $۱,۰۰۰.
The Greens are also proposing a $۱,۰۰۰ annual boost for people on income support, including pensioners, carers, students, and job seekers.
No matter who you are, whether you’re working, studying, looking for work or on a pension, you’ll get more than $۱,۰۰۰.
Costings for the Greens from the Parliamentary Budget Office show the plan would cost about $۲۲bn a year, with Shoebridge proposing to pay for it through higher taxes on gas exports and a market-based tax on resources companies.
Steele-John is on leave from parliament amid an investigation into allegations about his conduct towards women. He has denied the allegations.
Inflation expected to rise to ۴.۲%
Patrick Commins
Official data released at ۱۱:۳۰am are expected to show inflation accelerated to ۴.۲% in the year to September, from ۴% in the month before, as rising fuel costs amid a worsening Middle East conflict compound cost of living pressures.
Look out for the Reserve Bank’s preferred gauge of underlying inflation, which removes the most volatile prices. That measure is predicted to hold at ۳.۶% in the year to the September quarter, economists say, but anything higher will virtually guarantee a fifth interest rate hike next Tuesday.
The RBA may feel the need to hike regardless, as recent comments from top central bank officials suggest they are more worried about high inflation becoming entrenched in the system than the rising rate of unemployment.
Financial markets are pricing in about a ۶۵% chance of a Melbourne Cup day rate rise.
The latest inflation report also lands in the middle of a parliamentary sitting week, and the opposition will be quick to use the figures to attack Labor for its management of the economy.
Rising unemployment and accelerating inflation is not a situation anyone is comfortable with. But a more benign set of numbers today will take the heat off mortgaged households, the Reserve Bank and the Albanese government.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Kat Wong with the main action.
Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant told Senate estimates last night that she and her family had been subjected to an onslaught of online abuse and threats in the ۱۰ years she has been in the role. More details in a minute.
The latest inflation figures will be released at ۱۱.۳۰ this morning and are expected to show an increase in prices of ۴.۲% in the year to September. That means the chances of a rate hike on Melbourne Cup day next week will also rise. More coming up.
