Australia news live: Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue ACT government over alleged flaws in his prosecution | Australian politics – Beragampengetahuan

Sarah Basford Canales

Greens senator David Shoebridge is up at the AFP’s estimates appearance, where he is asking senior officials about their ties to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

It’s revealed chief operating officer Charlotte Tressler worked at the firm for 13 years more than a decade ago, rising to the role of director.

Tressler was the decision-maker in granting a $794,000 contract to PwC looking into ACT Policing, led by former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller.

Shoebridge asks why the chief operating officer didn’t publicly declare her historical ties to the firm at earlier estimates hearings.

She responds she’s “always been open and transparent” about her employment with PwC.

I’ve never tried to hide my relationship with PwC. I’ve openly included it on my LinkedIn account where clearly you have found that information.

Chief financial officer Paul Wood confirmed Tressler had put in a conflict of interest declaration and followed the guidelines.

Lorena Allam

The Garma festival has begun at Gulkula in north east Arnhem Land with a solemn and loving tribute to the beloved Gumatj leader Yunupingu, whose vision over decades helped consolidate the festival as the premier national Indigenous gathering.

Gumatj clan dancers with bilma (clap sticks) and yidaki (didgeridu) sang family members, wearing bright yellow – the Gumatj clan colours – into the forum. His daughter Binmila carried a photograph of Yunupingu which they placed at the podium.

This is the first festival without him, but organisers said they will carry his legacy – to keep working to a better future for Yolngu while holding on to the knowledge of the past.

“Whilst he was cajoling pms and monster s his real Job was the family and the future,” Sean Bowden said, in introducing the children of Dhupuma Barker school.

The school helped realise a long held vision of Yunupingu – that children could receive a two way quality education on country.

Garma began in 1999 to elevate Yolngu voices, culture and worldview to the world.

This years theme is Djambatj (a Yolngu word meaning excellence).

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney are due to arrive later today.

Sarah Basford Canales

AFP ends all contracts with PwC after ‘perceived’ conflict of interest

The Australian federal police have ended all contracts with consulting firm PwC after an internal warning about a “perceived” conflict of interest.

Chief financial officer Paul Wood said he provided advice to end all contracts with PwC while an investigation into the firm is under way, owing to a potential conflict of interest perception.

Wood said a “clean break” was needed in estimates on Friday, with the message being communicated to the firm on 16 June and effective from 30 June.

Nine contracts have now ended, seven of them internal audits. Wood said all passes from PwC employees had been returned and a settlement sum had been arranged for contracts yet to be completed.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has denied authorisation to ANZ Group Holdings Ltd to acquire Suncorp Bank, because it would “further entrench an oligopoly market structure” the commission’s deputy chair said.

“We are not satisfied that the acquisition is not likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of home loans nationally, small to medium enterprise banking in Queensland, and agribusiness banking in Queensland,” the ACCC deputy chair, Mick Keogh, said.

These banking markets are critical for many homeowners and for Queensland businesses and farmers in particular. Competition being lessened in these markets will lead to customers getting a worse deal.

Second-tier banks such as Suncorp Bank are important competitors against the major banks, especially because barriers to new entry at scale into banking are very high. Evidence we obtained strongly indicates that the major banks consider the second-tier banks to be a competitive threat.

The proposed acquisition of Suncorp Bank by ANZ would further entrench an oligopoly market structure that is concentrated, with the four major banks dominating. It also limits the options for second-tier banks to combine and strengthen in a way that would create a greater competitive threat to the major banks.

In a media release, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the government respects the independence of the ACCC and does not intend to comment further on the decision or the future of the proposal.

Sarah Basford Canales

‘We do not play golf together’: AFP commissioner says Mick Fuller was hired to lead PwC review of police on merit

The Australian federal police are fronting senators this morning in a spillover senate estimates hearing.

The AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, kicked off the hearing with a statement to clarify recent reporting regarding a few matters relating to embattled consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

During the May estimates hearing, Kershaw was asked about his personal relationship with the former NSW police commissioner, now PwC partner, Mick Fuller.

The federal police entered into a contract with PwC to review ACT policing arrangements with Fuller as the lead.

Kershaw did not put in a conflict of interest but this morning said he did not want the relationship to be mischaracterised.

Mr Fuller and I do not have dinner at each other’s homes. We do not play golf together and I don’t know the personal details of his life.

I want to be clear about that because it is important that our professional relationship is not mischaracterised.

The bottom line is that Mr Fuller was the best person for the job and in the AFP, we aim to hire the best people for the job.

Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue ACT government over alleged flaws in his prosecution

Christopher Knaus

Bruce Lehrmann says he intends to sue the ACT government over flaws in his prosecution over allegations he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins.

The beragampengetahuan quoted Lehrmann saying he had “instructed my solicitors to prepare a statement of claim against the state”.

I’ve got lawyers that need to be paid, people who have supported me, like my mum and uncle, who need to be supported.

I’m not interested in becoming a millionaire, but I do want to perhaps get on with my life and maybe buy a house.

Given what the prosecution has done to me, I may never work again.

The inquiry findings were published on Wednesday night by the Australian. The inquiry head, Walter Sofronoff, found that there were serious flaws in the way the case was handled by Shane Drumgold SC, the ACT’s DPP. Drumgold said he hadn’t seen the report and wasn’t in a position to respond.

The report also found that there was enough evidence to charge Lehrmann and that the prosecution was properly brought. That is no indication of the guilt or innocence of Lehrmann. Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied the allegation that he raped Higgins. His first trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and a planned re-trial was abandoned due to fears for Higgins’ mental health.

NSW teachers’ unions slam ‘insulting’ pay offer from government

Caitlin Cassidy

The NSW beragampengetahuan Education Union has lashed out at the state government for offering an “insulting” pay offer yesterday after stalled negotiations to improve teachers’ conditions.

Its state president, Tina Ruello, urged Labor to reconsider its offer for 2.5% pay increases over four years and stood with the NSW Teachers Federation as it continued discussions with the government.

The NSWTF publicly condemned the state government on Thursday, alleging it had revoked a previously negotiated agreement and “betrayed” the state. Ruello said:

We thought the Minns government was listening. It seems they weren’t. Attracting and retaining the existing workforce in NSW hinges on achieving pay outcomes which are comparable to the outcomes in ACT and QLD. This offer is not that.

Teacher vacancy statistics across NSW tell the story. Schools have been splitting, sharing, and supervising multiple classes, and education and learning outcomes have been weakened as a result. Schools have been running on goodwill. That goodwill has now expired.

Asked whether she had reneged a deal, the education minister, Prue Car, told reporters yesterday there had been “many meetings” and “many conversations”, adding she was still committed to achieving better conditions.

The IEU executive is meeting today and will consider a formal response.