News live: honours council ‘concerned’ by its own list that saw three-quarters of Australia Day awards go to men
Nearly three-quarters of Order of Australia awards go to men, reflecting imbalance in nominations
Some 680 Australians were recognised with Order of Australia awards, made up of 496 men and 184 women.
The differential didn’t go unnoticed by the Council of the Order of Australia.
“The gender balance of this year’s honours list more broadly is both a cause for concern and, the council hopes, a prompt for community action,” it said in a statementgoing on:
There is no doubt there are as many outstanding women contributing to our communities as there are men … the council would like to see this balance reflected across all nominations and, therefore, outcomes at all levels of award.
Honours are the result of nominations, and anyone can nominate a worthy Australian for recognition. The council noted that “many more” nominations for men are being received than for women, and the body “must consider the nominations for Australians that are in the system”.
We encourage all Australians to look around their community, their workplaces and the whole of our society, identify the women, as well as the men, who make a difference and whose impact is profound and nominate them so they can be celebrated through the Order of Australia.
Key events
NSW police focusing on specific location in hunt for Julian Ingram
Andrew Hollandthe assistant commissioner for NSW police, spoke with media this morning amid the ongoing hunt for alleged shooter Julian Ingram after three people were fatally shot in Lake Cargelligo.
Holland said police are focusing on a specific location in the area, but would not disclose where exactly authorities were searching. Their attention is on the Mount Hope district, where public reports of assistance in the ongoing manhunt have come in.
Ingram is still considered armed and dangerous, and tactical teams are in the area to assist with the search. Holland said earlier:
The search will continue as is in it current intensity for a number of days yet. We will act on all information coming forward.
Surf life savers say coastal conditions too hazardous for beachside activities and plead with public not to enter water
Surf Life Saving NSW said coastal conditions for much of the state, from the north down to the Illawarra, will be too dangerous for many beachside activities over the coming days, including swimming, rock fishing and boating.
Officials said a hazardous surf warning is in place for today as life savers and lifeguards are “pleading” with the public to understand their limitations “and, in particular, if the beach is closed or conditions appear treacherous, to not enter the water”.
Brent Mannierithe GM of public safety for the agency, said in a statement:
After the week we have had with several shark incidents and some hot weather, to now have hazardous surf along the coastline on a public holiday – lifesavers are well and truly on high alert.
The conditions are not isolated, this is the entire coastline from the north of the state down to the Illawarra that will be impacted. It’s expected to be hazardous for swimming, boating and rock platform-related activities over the coming days.
Nearly three-quarters of Order of Australia awards go to men, reflecting imbalance in nominations
Some 680 Australians were recognised with Order of Australia awards, made up of 496 men and 184 women.
The differential didn’t go unnoticed by the Council of the Order of Australia.
“The gender balance of this year’s honours list more broadly is both a cause for concern and, the council hopes, a prompt for community action,” it said in a statementgoing on:
There is no doubt there are as many outstanding women contributing to our communities as there are men … the council would like to see this balance reflected across all nominations and, therefore, outcomes at all levels of award.
Honours are the result of nominations, and anyone can nominate a worthy Australian for recognition. The council noted that “many more” nominations for men are being received than for women, and the body “must consider the nominations for Australians that are in the system”.
We encourage all Australians to look around their community, their workplaces and the whole of our society, identify the women, as well as the men, who make a difference and whose impact is profound and nominate them so they can be celebrated through the Order of Australia.
Daisy Dumas
Cathy Freeman leads Australia Day honours alongside enforcer of world-first social media ban
Australia’s beloved Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours list alongside a driving force of one of the Games’ youngest sports, skateboarding, a world-leading quantum scientist, a children’s book illustrator, rock royalty and the enforcer of Australia’s world-first social media ban.
Freeman was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, the country’s highest civilian honour. Her sensational athletic achievements were applauded by the honours committee, which also acknowledged her social impact across the community, her work on the reconciliation movement in the spirit of unity and inclusion, and as a role model to young people.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, received a Public Service Medal in recognition of her work shepherding Australia’s social media ban, with her “exceptional leadership, courage and resolve in protecting Australians online” praised by the committee.
Read more here:
Lake Cargelligo shooting survivor recounts moment suspect opened fire
Kaleb Macqueena man who survived a shooting in regional New South Wales that left three others dead, recounted the moment an alleged gunman opened fire in Lake Cargelligo last week.
Macqueen spoke to Nine News as police continue to search for Julian Ingram37, who has been described as “armed and dangerous” after the alleged attack. Macqueen, who is 19, said he was outside a home of his friend’s mother in the area when a suspect opened fire, killing her.
She’s obviously went towards the ute, I heard boom, boom … She was holding her neck.
He was laughing, and gave her one good shot to the head and she was gone.
I seen him point a gun out the window, and within seconds it was just too late. It was just fight or flight …
Macqueen said he has “terrible nightmares” after the shooting.
Police to resume search for missing 12-year-old swimmer in Victoria
A search will resume for a 12-year-old boy who went missing while swimming off a beach over the weekend, AAP reports.
Danny, a boy from Taylors Hill, was last seen about 11.30am on Sunday in the water at No 4 beach in Venus Bay in Victoria’s south-east.
His family lost sight of him and commenced a search with beach-goers before emergency services were notified shortly after 1pm, triggering a large-scale search. Local, air and water police’s efforts were aided by members of the Coast Guard, State Emergency Service and Life Saving Victoria.
A Parks Victoria description of the South Gippsland beach notes conditions include rough surf and strong currents.
O’Brien says Albanese known for being ‘soft and weak’ on representing Australian interests
O’Brien was asked about some of US president Donald Trump’s recent comments targeting Nato, and if the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, had pushed back hard enough against such remarks.
The deputy opposition leader had harsh words for the PM, telling RN:
The prime minister is renowned for being particularly soft and weak when it comes to representing Australia’s interests internationally. I think he’s know well known for being such. …
While nothing he said was wrong necessarily, I think that those people who have had their loved ones serve and die would have expected something a little bit more strong.
O’Brien was asked how he would have responded to Trump himself:
I believe those comments were wrong. I believe they were out of line. I believe Australia deserves better from our closest ally, and especially the family and the loved ones of the 47 Australians who were killed in Afghanistan.
Liberal deputy says Sussan Ley won’t face leadership challenge
Ted O’Brien, the deputy leader of the opposition, said while it’s been a “tough week” for the Liberal party following another split with the Nationals, he doesn’t believe there will be a leadership spill.
He told RN Breakfast:
At the end of the day, the country is best served by a Liberal-National coalition … I don’t believe there will be any change. I think what we’ve seen is Sussan Ley displaying an enormous amount of dignity and strength over recent times, and that is recognised by my colleagues.
And so I don’t believe there will be a challenge.
O’Brien added he was “very disappointed” by the Nationals’ decision, “but we are where we are”.
Good morning
Good morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to get the blog started. Here’s what’s on deck:
An extreme heat warning is in place for the state of Victoria, with severe to extreme intensity heat forecast to settle over the state and peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. Back-to-back days of extreme heat with high temperatures overnight can interfere with the body’s ability to cool down, causing heat illness.
Severe heatwave warnings are also in place in New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
There are multiple bushfires burning across Victoria, with watch and act warnings in place for many regions. At least six major bushfires were burning on Sunday after fire officials warned of hot, dry and dangerous conditions during the long weekend.
Stick with us.
