TRANSCRIPT
- New South Wales Premier Chris Minns defends his conduct after reports of a possible referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption
- An upcoming vote to decide the future of police participation in the Sydney Mardi Gras
- In sports, Cricket Australia defends its stance on Afghanistan
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says a reported vote to refer him to the state's corruption body is disgraceful and cynical.
An inquiry into a plan to sell the Australian Turf Club's Rosehill Racecourse and turn it into tens of thousands of homes will deliver its report tomorrow.
But a member of that committee of inquiry and of the turf club, independent MP Mark Latham, has posted on social media there's evidence to justify a referal to the Independent Commission Against Corruption based on a meeting the premier had in October 2023.
Mr Minns has described the turf club's head of membership and corporate affairs Steve McMahon as a friend of more than 20 years in August, after Mr McMahon appeared at the committee inquiry earlier that month.
The committee was told Mr McMahon pitched the idea to the turf club's chairman Peter McGauran on October 26, 2023.
The premier had a "meet and greet" with the turf club four days later according to ministerial diaries.
Chris Minns says it's disgraceful to politicise the Independent Commission Against Corruption with unsubstaniated rumours.
"If you put your head about the parapet, someone like Mark Latham's likely to come along, besmirch your character, accuse you of corruption and, most importantly, stop you from advancing what could be a great idea for Sydney. I want to make it absolutely clear. We think this would be a game changer for Sydney. I'm not walking away from this proposal. Yes, there are many hurdles for it to jump through but it's too crucial when it comes to new housing for young people in this expensive city to walk away frrom today."
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A meeting held this week will consider a total ban on police participation in the Sydney Mardi Gras parade.
Three resolutions on the issue will be consided at the event's annual general meeting on Saturday.
Uniformed members of the force have previously participated in the parade, but the invitation was withdrawn in 2024 after an officer was charged with the murder of couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Officers were eventually permitted to march in plain clothes and the board's resolution does not exclude them from marching in future events as long as they are not representing New South Wales Police as an organisation.
One of the three resolutions calls for New South Wales Police Force to be barred from marching until they "demonstrate a commitment to improving relationships with LGBTQIA+ communities".
Repairing and rebuilding the relationship between the LGBTIQ+ community and police has been a work in progress over the last 46 years.
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New data shows hearing loss is the main ear and hearing-related condition among Indigenous adults, while middle ear infections are still high among Indigenous children.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released the data, which shows more than 40 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Islander people aged over seven years old have hearing loss.
In remote areas, four in 10 children in the same age group had measured hearing loss.
The report says access to hearing health services is impacted by limited availability and accessibility of culturally appropriate health services, a lack of continuity of care, or racism or discrimination from healthcare providers.
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In sports, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird has rejected criticism of the organisation's position on Afghanistan.
Australia has refused to play Afghanistan in a bilateral series since the 2021 Taliban takeover of the country and a ban on women in sport.
But it does compete against the nation in International Cricket Council World Cups.
Outgoing chair of the ICC, Greg Barclay, told the London Telegraph, he sees Australia's position as a form of virtue signalling, adding that Australia should apply principles consistently - and also refuse to play against Afghanistan in a World Cup.
Mr Baird says Cricket Australia stands by its approach.
"We're very proud of the position we've taken - and we're supporting the Afghan women's cricket team and those members that are still here. We'll be doing that at the end of the summer. We look forward to that. I think it is important. Any game, that has women as a key driver - key strategic driver of opportunities. They need to actually walk them (the talk). So from our point of view, that's the positive we've taken. People have different views, of course. But we're very comfortable with the position we've taken."
