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Former governor general Peter Hollingworth dies at 91
Josh Taylor
The former governor general and Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, Peter Hollingworth, has died at the age of 91.
Hollingworth was appointed Australia’s 23rd governor general by the Howard government in June 2001. He stood down less than two years later following controversy around his handling of church sexual abuse reports.
Hollingworth had been Anglican archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1990, and in 2003 a board of inquiry into the handling of complaints of sexual abuse found that Hollingworth failed to act on knowledge of sexual abuse and allowed two clergy to remain in the church despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children.
In a statement, the current Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves said:
Anglican Church of Southern Queensland acknowledges with deep regret the past failings of the church.
Anglican Church of Southern Queensland apologises unreservedly to those who have suffered abuse, distress, isolation, and harm caused by the Church’s failure to respond with integrity and care when it was needed most.
Hollingworth himself was not accused of abuse. He previously acknowledged he made mistakes, and apologised.
Hollingworth said previously he considered his failings almost every day but his actions were influenced by the advice of church lawyers and insurance companies at the time.
Key events
Penry Buckley
Planning under way to implement safe nursing levels in NSW general wards
The New South Wales government says planning is under way for the next stage of its commitment to introduce safe staffing levels in all public hospitals.
In the coming months, the next phase of the Safe Staffing Levels rollout will begin to ensure a minimum of one nurse to four patients for morning and afternoon shifts in general medical, surgical and specialty wards.
It comes after the recruitment of more than 900 full-time equivalent staff to 78 emergency departments as part of a minimum commitment of at least one nurse for every three patients in emergency wards. The health minister, Ryan Park, says:
Increasing staffing levels is crucial to supporting our health workforce and relieving pressure on our hospitals. Safe Staffing Levels is an historic reform to strengthen care for patients right across NSW.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has frequently raised concerns about understaffing under Coalition and Labor governments, including in regional communities and on maternity wards, as well as following two escapes by mental health patients from a western Sydney hospital earlier this year.
The government is working with the NSWNMA to finalise the first hospitals to benefit from the rollout. NSWNMA general secretary, Michael Whaites, says the reform is crucial “for nurses and midwives who have been dealing with chronic staffing shortages in the health system for years”.
Good morning, and happy Wednesday. Nick Visser here to step up to the plate. Let’s see what’s in store.
Krishani Dhanji
Wilson launches ‘stand with small’ campaign for small businesses
Following Angus Taylor’s proposal to index income tax brackets and remove non-citizens from receiving social welfare, Tim Wilson will announce a campaign to support small businesses called … “stand with small”.
The shadow treasurer is promising a dedicated federal small business act with a single national definition for the sector and to set up legal maximum payment terms to small businesses from government and big business.
The Coalition will also consult on new minimum requirements for government procurement that must come from small business.
Wilson will tell the National Press Club that the Albanese government has “declared war on the self-starters and small businesses of the nation”, but the Coalition will fight for them.
Over the past year I have been speaking with small businesses across the country, and particularly about how the rules of the economy increasingly feel rigged against them.
And I have reached a conclusion: we have an economy designed for the 20th century, and I am no longer convinced tinkering at the margins will fix it. We need new economic structures for the 21st century.”
Treasurer an ‘inflation arsonist’, says opposition
Krishani Dhanji
Tim Wilson will accuse Labor of a “bad faith budget” written by a “paper tiger treasurer” in his post-budget address to the National Press Club today. Typically after the opposition leader does the budget reply, the shadow treasurer gets to have their say at the club the following week.
The shadow treasurer will say the budget, handed down last Tuesday, continues to inflate costs for households and small businesses and punishes entrepreneurs.
Wilson will take aim at the impact of capital gains tax changes on businesses and startups – which have this week started a social media campaign with doctored AI generated images of the prime minister, calling him an extra partner with 47% equity.
The innovators, disruptors, risk takers and builders of this country have worked this prime minister out: he’s the guy in that group assignment that does none of the work, but still takes the grade.
This was a budget of narrative, over numbers. Revenue, without reform. A budget crafted by a paper tiger treasurer … The treasurer is the inflation arsonist cosplaying as the firefighter. He says he has the habit under control, but he keeps reaching for the fiscal jerry can.
Man dies, four others in serious condition after alleged Sydney shooting
Imogen Dewey
A man has died in hospital and four other men are in serious condition following an alleged shooting in Sydney’s south-west, NSW police said in a statement overnight.
Police were called to Liverpool hospital at around 8.30pm last night after reports two men believed to be in their 20s had shown up with multiple wounds.
One of the men died despite treatment, and is yet to be identified. The other man remains in hospital in a stable condition, police said.
Soon after, at 8.40pm, two men presented to Fairfield Hospital in a critical condition, and are still being treated.
Another man, believed to be aged 19, is in a stable condition and being treated at Liverpool hospital, where he appeared at 9.50pm last night, according to police.
Police established a crime scene at a home in Canley Heights, and investigations are ongoing.
Former governor general Peter Hollingworth dies at 91
Josh Taylor
The former governor general and Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, Peter Hollingworth, has died at the age of 91.
Hollingworth was appointed Australia’s 23rd governor general by the Howard government in June 2001. He stood down less than two years later following controversy around his handling of church sexual abuse reports.
Hollingworth had been Anglican archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1990, and in 2003 a board of inquiry into the handling of complaints of sexual abuse found that Hollingworth failed to act on knowledge of sexual abuse and allowed two clergy to remain in the church despite knowing they had sexually assaulted children.
In a statement, the current Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves said:
Anglican Church of Southern Queensland acknowledges with deep regret the past failings of the church.
Anglican Church of Southern Queensland apologises unreservedly to those who have suffered abuse, distress, isolation, and harm caused by the Church’s failure to respond with integrity and care when it was needed most.
Hollingworth himself was not accused of abuse. He previously acknowledged he made mistakes, and apologised.
Hollingworth said previously he considered his failings almost every day but his actions were influenced by the advice of church lawyers and insurance companies at the time.
Good morning
Hi all, and welcome to another Guardian Australia live blog. Nick Visser will be with you shortly to steer you through the day’s news as it unfolds.
Former governor general Peter Hollingworth, who resigned over his handling of child sexual abuse in the Anglican church, has died at the age of 91.
Overnight in Sydney, one person has been killed and four more wounded in a shooting at Canley Heights in Sydney’s south-west.
And the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, is due to deliver his budget reply speech at the National Press Club later today.
We’ll have more on all this for you soon.
