Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Australian may give ‘Voice’ to Indigenous communities, Prime Minister Albanese visits Manila, strikes begin at Chevron Australia LNG projects, tuberculosis outbreak reported in remote SA communities, and Australia backs the Philippines over claims in South China Sea.
Nation
Australian Vote Could Give ‘Voice’ to Indigenous Communities
Some of Australia’s Indigenous communities are hoping a national vote that would change the country’s constitution could give native people more of a voice in the government. The vote, known as a referendum, would put in the nation’s constitution a way for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that affect their lives. The vote, officially called “Voice to Parliament,” will be held on October 14. Leaders of some Indigenous groups are looking to the process to help save their cultures and languages. Clark Webb is seeking to do that for his native, or Aboriginal, community, the Gumbaynggirr people, Voice of America reported.
Politics
Prime Minister Albanese visits Manila
The Philippines and Australia will formalize their “strategic partnership” in security, counterterrorism, law enforcement, education and climate change when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila, The Philippine Star has reported. Mr Albanese’s visit was the first by an Australian prime minister since 2003. In May, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong was in the Philippines for a four-day official visit.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/08/2294639/australian-pm-arrives-manila-
South China Sea
Australia backs Philippines over claims in South China Sea
Canberra and Manila agree on the need to uphold international law on important security issues, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday during his official trip to the Philippines, The Anadolu Agency reported. “We have collective responsibility for security, including support for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. UNCLOS, that’s very important,” Mr Albanese said. “Australia does support… the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. That is final and it’s binding and it’s important that that be upheld going forward,” the prime minister said.
Companies
Strikes begin at Chevron Australia LNG projects
Workers at Chevron’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia are scheduled to start their strike action today (Friday), and may last until September 14, after mediation talks between unions and the energy major ended without a deal, potentially disrupting output from facilities that account for over 5 per cent of global supply. A two-week total strike could then follow if an ongoing dispute over wages and conditions remained unresolved, Reuters reported.
Health
Tuberculosis outbreak reported in remote SA communities
More than 700 people have been screened and 13 cases confirmed in a tuberculosis outbreak on South Australia’s northern Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands, The Guardian has reported. The state government says one person has died and 11 infections remain active after the outbreak emerged in March. In June, the government allocated $1.9m to combat the outbreak, including work to upskill local doctors. Health teams have been deployed to the region five times to meet community members, conduct screening, coordinate healthcare, and provide information.
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