The latest national news update from the National Indigenous Radio Service.
Coroner to consider Lindt siege evidence
A New South Wales coroner will piece together the circumstances surrounding the Lindt cafe siege after public hearings wrapped up in Sydney.
Michael Barnes, who has presided over the long-running inquest into the deadly 2014 siege called its final witness yesterday.
The inquest heard 123 witness accounts over 109 sitting days between January 2015 and August this year.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, his deputy Cath Burn and acting Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy all denied having operational or decision-making roles and insisted they gave no orders to their subordinates.
While it’s not clear how long Mr Barnes will take to consider the evidence, a catch-up hearing will be held on September 7.
Labor won’t release costings until Aug 25
Northern Territory Labor will not release its policy costings until two days before the election on August 27, the party has announced during a debate in the Top End overnight. It was the last of three leader debates before the election, which will be held in 10 days’ time.
A spokesman for Chief Minister Adam Giles said the Country Liberals government’s costings would be provided to Treasury within a few days and published on the CLP’s website by Monday night.
Panellists from four NT media organisations agreed that Mr Giles came out on top during the hour-long debate, which covered issues from the collapse of the housing market, understaffing at the hospital, the sale of the Territory Insurance Office, tourism, and law and order.
Neither leader landed a killer blow and both followed their policy scripts closely, with Mr Giles emphasising the CLP’s focus on job creation and diversifying the economy, while Mr Gunner stressed the importance of trust and integrity in government.
Aust, PNG toss up Manus refugees’ fate
The federal government is under growing pressure to resolve the fate of more than 800 asylum seekers on Manus Island, with the closure of the offshore immigration detention centre.
Federal Labor is demanding the government find third-party settlement options, and if refugees were to be settled in PNG, to detail which services like education and housing they’d get.
But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is adamant the 854 men detained there will never make their way to Australia – so should settle in PNG or return to their country of origin. PNG is also set to get a substantial payment to wind the centre down.
Black lung victims group to be formed
Several black lung victims will announce today the formation of a victims group in an attempt to make the Queensland government more proactive in the prevention and reporting of the disease.
The group will also call on the government to do more to support and assist victims, including the establishment of a fund through a levy on coal production.
Black lung is caused by long-term exposure to fine airborne coal dust in areas with poor ventilation. A spokesman for the victims group says there needs to be independent studies of dust level on mine sites.
Illegal gun suspect to face Vic court
A man accused of manufacturing firearms at a Melbourne warehouse is expected to face court today after a cache of weapons and drugs were seized during police raids.
The Kings Park man was remanded in custody last night after detectives seized weapons and drugs during raids at his home and a factory early yesterday.
The haul included 14 guns, ammunition, eight cannabis plants, cocaine, steroids, two hunting knives, knuckledusters, pepper spray and two Tasers.
The 31-year-old faces numerous charges including possessing a traffickable amount of firearms and 11 counts of possessing a handgun.
