Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes PM Albanese backing transport minister King’s decision to block Qatar’s bid for additional Australian flights, ‘Yes’ campaign events heating as the Voice poll approaches, Pilots’ strike cancelling Qantas flights from Perth airport, and Darwin residents being fed up with high crime rate.
Nation
‘Yes’ campaign events heat as the Voice poll approaches
Yes campaign events are being held across the country, 10 days out from the Voice to Parliament referendum. Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, has been campaigning for the Yes vote in Western Sydney. Ms McCarthy spent the morning outside a pre-polling booth in Parramatta, encouraging voters to vote Yes. She was joined by Labor MP Andrew Charlton and Director of the Literacy for Life Foundation, Jack Beetson. Yes volunteers are ramping up their efforts; they have made more than 500,000 calls to undecided voters around the country, Sky News reported.
Politics
PM Albanese backs Transport Minister King’s decision to block Qatar’s bid for additional Australian flights
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit out at the Coalition’s attempt to drag one of his ministers before a senate inquiry, labelling it a “political stunt”. The Coalition-led Bilateral Air Services inquiry has called for Minister Catherine King to appear before the committee regarding her decision to reject Qatar Airways’ bid to expand its offerings into Australia. Ms King has rebuffed the invitation to appear before the committee, saying it would be a “waste of time”. The Prime Minister backed her in on her decision, labelling the inquiry a “stunt”, News.com reported.
Companies
Pilot strike cancels Qantas flights from Perth airport
Dozens of regional Qantas flights departing Perth Airport have been cancelled as pilots strike in an attempt to address what they say are substandard wages, 9News has reported. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots members at Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation announced 24-hour industrial action, leading to significant cancellations. Qantas says it has rebooked 75 per cent of affected customers onto different flights today and is offering refunds to people who no longer wish to fly due to the disruptions, and is covering accommodation fees for passengers who are not able to travel because of the strike.
Regions
Darwin residents fed up with high crime rate
Darwin residents and business owners reveal they are fed up with rising rates of crime that have left them feeling unsafe in their community, but the NT Government says the rising crime rates are a national issue, Sky News has reported. Shop windows being smashed is an occurrence that has become far too common, according to residents and small business owners. House break-ins are up 28 per cent in Darwin in the past 12 months. Commercial break-ins have risen almost nine per cent.
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