liveThe Loop: Minister says army helicopter crash was 'a catastrophic incident', and Wally Lewis reveals probable CTE diagnosis
It's Monday, July 31 and this is The Loop. Here is today's latest news, as it happens.
Key events
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Live updates
NSW presenter Juanita Phillips to leave ABC after 20 years
By Georgie Hewson
New South Wales 7pm News presenter Juanita Philips has announced she will be leaving the ABC after 20 years.
Juanita has presented over 4500 news bulletins and has worked with ABC since 2002.
Her last bulletin will be on Sunday September 10.
You can read more from her about the decision here:
Australian Space Agency reveals origin of space junk found on WA beach
By Georgie Hewson
Locals were left scratching their heads earlier this month when a mysterious object washed up on a Western Australian beach.
And no, it doesn't have anything to do with aliens.
In a statement, the Australian Space Agency said investigators believe the object is most likely debris from an expended third-stage of a polar satellite launch vehicle operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
You can read more about this story here:
The UK's PM is set to confirm Scotland's first carbon capture facility
By Tom Williams
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will today give the go-ahead for Scotland's first carbon capture and storage facility, which will see harmful greenhouse gas emissions piped under the North Sea and stored in depleted gas reservoirs.
The Acorn Project in Aberdeenshire — a joint venture between Shell UK and other companies — will prevent the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by capturing it at the point where the fossil fuel is being burnt.
However, some climate campaigners say carbon capture is a green-washing tactic designed to keep the fossil fuel industry in business.
Lady Gaga shares a tribute to her late collaborator and friend Tony Bennett
By Tom Williams
Lady Gaga has shared a lengthy tribute to late crooner Tony Bennett, who died earlier this month at the age of 96.
Here's part of her statement:
"I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together," Gaga writes.
"… I've been grieving the loss of Tony for a long time. We had a very long and powerful goodbye.
"I'll never forget Tony Bennett. If I could say anything to the world about this I would say don't discount your elders, don't leave them behind when things change.
"Don't flinch when you feel sad, just keep going straight ahead, sadness is part of it. Take care of your elders and I promise you will learn something special. Maybe even magical. And pay attention to silence—some of my musical partner and I's most meaningful exchanges were with no melody at all."
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Sydney Swans have shared a statement confirming Lance Franklin's immediate retirement
By Tom Williams
Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley says Franklin will go down as an all-time great.
"Lance is an icon of the AFL and will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play this game," he says.
"Lance has that rare ability to transcend footy and has brought so much joy to fans for more than a decade now.
"He is a champion and will leave a lasting legacy, not only at the Sydney Swans, but within the AFL and broader community.
"We wish him, Jesinta, Tallulah and Rocky all the very best for the future. They will always hold a close place in the heart of our club."
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says it has been a privilege to coach Franklin.
"Lance Franklin has been a wonderful player with this football club and in my opinion is the greatest forward of his generation," he says.
"He is an absolute freak of nature and we have been lucky enough to have front row seats to one of the best ever to play.
"He is a massive competitor and a wonderful teammate. Lance is also an extremely private and humble champion, which makes him even more endearing to those who know him.
"After coming to the Swans as a 26-year-old in the prime of his life, he leaves as one of our most loved players to run out in the red and white. He is an out and out champion and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future."
Sydney Swans legend Lance Franklin to announce retirement
By Georgie Hewson
Lance "Buddy" Franklin, who last season became one of only six players to kick 1,000 VFL/AFL goals, is set to announce his retirement today.
The 36-year-old is believed to have told his teammates of his retirement this morning, with the Sydney Swans scheduling a press conference for 3pm today.
You can read more about this story here:
Jacqui Lambie says the oppostion should team up with Labor on housing
By Liana Walker
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticised the prime minister for trying to push Labor's centrepiece housing legislation through parliament.
The government is re-introducing its legislation this week, after it stalled in the Senate.
If the legislation continues to be blocked, the government could gain a trigger to dissolve both houses of parliament and call an election.
Dutton says Anthony Albanese has his priorities wrong.
"If the PM is looking at some political opportunity in some tricky, underhanded way, to go to an early election so that he can try and belt the Greens around, because he is obsessed with the Greens, well I don't think the Australian public will reward that," he says.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie earlier today told ABC News Breakfast the Liberals were not off the case either.
"Especially you Tasmanian ones, I can tell you if you're going to a state election, the first thing that's going to come back and bite you is, 'Hey, the Liberals won't sign off on more houses for Tasmanians.'
"So you know if you were smart politically, I say this to the Libs, maybe you should undercut the Greens and come through and do the deal with Labor so we can get on with it."
Defence officials say missing airmen involved in helicopter crash are presumed dead
By Tom Williams
Defence Minister Richard Marles says evidence in the search for the MRH90 helicopter which crashed in Queensland on Friday shows there was a "catastrophic incident" and there is no hope four missing airmen will be found alive.
The minister spoke with families of Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs this morning.
"The tragedies that have taken place in the Whitsundays have transferred from those being of search and rescue to an activity of recovery," he says.
"We are all obviously left wondering naturally what happened.
"For most, in our minds, in this moment, foremost, is the families of these four men and their teammates."
Marles says the search and rescue mission has now shifted to a "an activity of recovery".
Wally Lewis has shared more details of his probable CTE diagnosis
By Tom Williams
Speaking with ABC Radio Brisbane about his diagnosis of probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), rugby league legend Wally Lewis says scans of his brain even made his doctor tear up.
"She just said, 'I don't think I've seen one like this,' and just kept talking and saying that there had been other ones of concern," he says.
"But she just said, 'We're not here to be negative, we're going to be positive, and we will go on from here and deal with it in the best way that we can.'"
Lewis says he will soon discuss his future plans and options with his doctor.
You can read more on this story here:
The search for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer has been suspended again
By Georgie Hewson
A weekend search of dense bushland in Tasmania's north-west using a cadaver dog on loan from NSW Police has failed to find any sign of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.
Celine Cremer, 31, was reported missing on June 26 when she failed to get on the Spirit of Tasmania as planned.
It's believed she went missing on a bushwalk.
You can keep reading this story here:
The NSW premier has ruled out a gas ban for new households
By Tom Williams
New South Wales won't follow Victoria's lead in banning gas connections in new households despite NSW Premier Chris Minns conceding electricity is far cheaper.
Victoria announced last week that all new residential properties and subdivisions which require a planning permit will only be powered by electricity from January 1.
While NSW had been on the fence over the weekend, the premier has drawn a line through a similar gas ban this morning, AAP reports.
"We're not pursuing that," he tells 2GB.
The premier's call came a day after NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said her office was still contemplating a gas ban.
"We're not ruling it out all together but I've got to say it's not a priority," she told reporters on Sunday.
Four people to stand trial in 2025 over Indigenous teen Cassius Turvey's death
By Georgie Hewson
Four people charged with murdering Perth schoolboy Cassius Turvey are set to go to trial in the Western Australia Supreme Court in 2025.
It's likely to run for eight weeks.
Cassius who was 15, was allegedly attacked as he walked in Perth suburb of Middle Swan in October last year.
He died 10 days later.
You can read more about this story here. WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the full article contains an image of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family.
Erratic winds challenge firefighters battling two major California blazes
By Liana Walker
A massive wildfire burning out of control in California's Mojave National Preserve has been spreading rapidly amid erratic winds, while firefighters have reported progress against another major blaze to the south-west.
The York Fire that erupted on Friday (local time) near the remote Caruthers Canyon area of the vast wildland preserve crossed the state line into Nevada on Sunday and sent smoke further east into the Las Vegas Valley.
Wind-driven flames six metres high in some spots charred more than 284 square kilometres of desert scrub, juniper and Joshua tree woodland, according to an incident update.
“The dry fuel acts as a ready ignition source, and when paired with those weather conditions it resulted in long-distance fire run and high flames, leading to extreme fire behaviour,” the update said. No structures were threatened.
To the south-west, the Bonny Fire was holding steady at about 8.8 square kilometres in rugged hills of Riverside County. One firefighter was injured in the blaze.
Gusty winds and the chance of thunderstorms into Monday will heighten the risk of renewed growth, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.
Reporting by AP
Peter Dutton says he's in the 'crossfire' of attacks within the Home Affairs Department
By Liana Walker
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told reporters he has no recollection or record of being briefed by the Australian Federal Police before the former government entered into contracts with a man suspected of bribing Nauruan officials.
Dutton has told reporters in Canberra this morning that he would happily co-sign a letter with the prime minister referring the matters to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
He says he is "in the crossfire" of attacks between Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and her department secretary, Michael Pezzullo.
You can read more about this story here:
Denmark considers banning burnings of the Koran and other religious texts
By Tom Williams
The country is considering banning protests involving such burnings, over security and diplomatic concerns.
Both Denmark and Sweden have been criticised by several Muslim-majority nations, after authorities gave permission for a series of protests where Islam's holy book was destroyed.
The Danish foreign ministry says protecting freedom of expression is crucial, but such protests benefit extremists and pose a security threat.
"The Danish government has clearly distanced itself from and condemned the burnings of the holy Koran," it says.
"The burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals. These few individuals do not represent the values the Danish society is built on."
Sweden's prime minister also says work on a similar process has begun there.
You can read the Danish government's statement at the link below:
Data suggests more homes are being sold after only being owned for a short time
By Tom Williams
New CoreLogic data shows there's been a sharp increase in the number of homes being resold within a couple of years.
According to the company, properties being sold after being owned for fewer than two years is at the highest level since 2014.
Head of Australian Research, Eliza Owen, says the impact of rising interest rates could be playing a role.
"In the context of that sharp downturn it's unusual to see quick resells because it means people are less likely to be making a profit.
"So if they're not selling for profit, one might infer they're selling because mortgage costs have increased so greatly in a short period of time."
Barbie and Oppenheimer's huge numbers have bucked second-weekend trends
By Tom Williams
Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer have already set box office records, and now the two films have remained unusually strongly in theatres on their second weekends in the US and Canada.
- Barbie took in a massive $US93 million ($140 million) in its second weekend, according to studio estimates.
- Oppenheimer stayed in second with $US46.2 million ($69 million).
Sales for the two movies dipped 43 per cent and 44 per cent, respectably in the second weekend, but that was well shy of the usual week-two drops.
Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, says there's little precedent for two films boosting each other's fortunes so much.
"Having two movies from rival studios linked in this way and both boosting each other's fortunes — both box-office wise and it terms of their profile — I don't know if there's a comp for this in the annals of box-office history," he says.
African nations threaten force as Niger protests against coup intervention
By Liana Walker
West African nations have threatened sanctions and force if Niger's coup leaders fail to reinstate ousted President Mohammed Bazoum.
The 15 surrounding nations which form the Economic Community of West African States say the coup leaders have a week to reinstate constitutional order.
The emergency Nigerian summit said defence officials would meet immediately to discuss options if Mr Bazoum was not returned to power.
Read more here:
Report finds EV sales have more than doubled in Australia in the past year
By Tom Williams
A report by the Electric Vehicle Council has found that sales of battery-powered cars soared by 121 per cent over the past year, with more EVs sold in the first six months of 2023 than throughout all of 2022.
But, as AAP reports, some states and territories are performing better than others.
- The ACT and NSW lead the nation, scoring nine out of 10 in the report for their electric vehicle policies
- The Northern Territory and Tasmania tied for last place, with low marks for vehicle sales, data and industry initiatives
- Victoria scored only a little better, with five out of 10 after cancelling its vehicle rebate early and charging EV drivers to use roads
The Electric Vehicle Council wants the federal government to set a strong standard to encourage automakers to bring more car options to Australia.
The council's report card arrives months after the government released the National Electric Vehicle Strategy and pledged to unveil a fuel-efficiency standard before the end of the year.