“,”elementId”:”efacd6e0-afe6-47f5-9ed0-85745f1628ba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Recent cyber-attacks on healthcare organisations, including health funds and hospitals, have led the federal government to award $6.4m to CI-ISAC, a not-for-profit organisation providing cyber threat intelligence, to create a health-specific, information-sharing and analysis centre.
“,”elementId”:”56b95c0f-11b5-485a-8b24-e625b24e2f95″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The new health cyber sharing network will enable organisations across the sector – including public and private hospitals, health insurance providers, medical clinics, as well as a large number of health and medical-related third-party suppliers and vendors – to exchange cyber security threat information more quickly, within a secure and confidential environment.
“,”elementId”:”e96f37f5-efaa-4222-86e7-e59e517f3ec8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
David Sandell, the CEO of CI-ISAC Australia, said:
“,”elementId”:”c3f85bd4-e932-405a-aa7a-f7153da9019b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
The health and medical sector holds a large amount of incredibly private and personal medical and financial information. We have already seen several high-profile data breaches in the health sector, and the new network can help members reduce their cyber risks. Cyber-attacks can also greatly disrupt important health services, and this industry cannot afford interruptions with patients’ wellbeing at stake.
\n
“,”elementId”:”6cb3a092-fc33-4bf6-bc3b-ed118b729d8d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The national cyber security coordinator, Lt Gen Michelle McGuinness, said:
“,”elementId”:”adb21498-5580-4f82-8b77-14000e3d8a89″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Many in the healthcare sector would know well the philosophy that prevention is better than a cure. This also applies to cyber security and is the driving concept behind this grant.
\n
Strong industry collaboration and enhanced threat detection through the work of CI-ISAC will increase the protection of Australians’ sensitive health data.
\n
“,”elementId”:”7f4ae1c6-90b3-477d-98df-5e96915877c5″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1738092546000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1738095045000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.10 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1738094952000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.09 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.09″,”title”:”New health cyber sharing network aims to improve data protection”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Natasha May”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2021/09/07/Natasha_May.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bef00e6cc039979168d26adb030c4d51″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2024/11/22/Natasha_May.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ce7ce60b255b34d4f6ea793665a9637″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 28 Jan 2025 15.20 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 28 Jan 2025 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”6798d67b8f0865141995373d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Thousands of families with school children will be eligible for free internet, with the government announcing $4.9m to extend the free school student broadband initiative to June 2028.
“,”elementId”:”20317807-47f2-40ad-a97f-b47d6d74d19e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The program was due to end in 2025, which the government says is currently accessed by more than 23,000 families.
“,”elementId”:”9b0e2ba5-75ce-4446-bffe-9bd347c8bf33″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Under the extension up to 30,000 places will be available for eligible families who have difficulty accessing internet connections.
“,”elementId”:”744299d5-a012-4d71-9475-a0bd6aca046d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Communications minister Michelle Rowland said it would ensure more families didn’t have to deal with the “burden and uncertainty of mobile internet usage and data cost” so their children could do their homework.
“,”elementId”:”bf40e92e-73ae-40ba-aac0-1967800dc3ee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
The school student broadband initiative is making a serious difference for thousands of families who now are able to enjoy the benefits of having reliable internet at home – a must in our increasingly digital world.
\n
“,”elementId”:”a667c286-71c1-4579-b895-eeec14aa251a”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2412″,”width”:”4019″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/4019.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2412″,”width”:”4019″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1200″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”600″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”300″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”84″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”76884b22-ccb3-4898-a6f8-e9b6767afaf5″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f5ef33a072af41f97cf9a6152886464f”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2fcf76a6e5bc7f84af773dc9bb7d1ea9″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bb0b52ea927c9a5278f6181ff5615732″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e4eda45f73fa51292562332fe8410d31″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20faa1d6e16a62d1cb255b83fcda8183″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3307653e22e25bde73c3cf6381a8edf4″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=382f4cf16f5f8385e02fcff3a201c315″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ca2cfb8342bbfb368b08b9f09d61ef53″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6566defc9989b1a214b878306f905b5b”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8c3da81f322005f4976407541eddd315″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f6d57b4eebb2e33f6664c9742dc9d8ee”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9ec8c74e2ba53299c2ed4369b670e418″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1fbec111230138e5c2c4336b7715a5dc”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4ac41498d40bc303f8e42b84ba0bdb6e”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f5ef33a072af41f97cf9a6152886464f”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2fcf76a6e5bc7f84af773dc9bb7d1ea9″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bb0b52ea927c9a5278f6181ff5615732″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e4eda45f73fa51292562332fe8410d31″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20faa1d6e16a62d1cb255b83fcda8183″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3307653e22e25bde73c3cf6381a8edf4″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a352badaf03e2f4459cd232b6b8323d6″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d9a7531f10d060aa8f80460a21b2f714″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ff5353d59570eabf74d0a306ab8dc7b0″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=39842dd709a126c25725e0b094361ab4″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f5ef33a072af41f97cf9a6152886464f”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2fcf76a6e5bc7f84af773dc9bb7d1ea9″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bb0b52ea927c9a5278f6181ff5615732″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e4eda45f73fa51292562332fe8410d31″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20faa1d6e16a62d1cb255b83fcda8183″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3307653e22e25bde73c3cf6381a8edf4″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f5ef33a072af41f97cf9a6152886464f”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2fcf76a6e5bc7f84af773dc9bb7d1ea9″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bb0b52ea927c9a5278f6181ff5615732″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e4eda45f73fa51292562332fe8410d31″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20faa1d6e16a62d1cb255b83fcda8183″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3307653e22e25bde73c3cf6381a8edf4″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cba026f4ea1116b42e638cd2df335eac”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b2a021d25dd9a6c14b77ed25de9f6442″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b0867e345f44f4fdc3b54fae675bfbe6″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6c80b74d15ff2cdbea91dbc7c2a548a5″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=38e482aa6c406d996bacadd6dd8a4411″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=481d8169dd9eec94087a53f03274bdf3″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fa895cd4f1e56b9d6cb6e864329b1cf3″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b474d7bb2f6d8cf91d210eaf0c3109b4″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=de8f1ab77a4147695163476bec657faf”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=020c4eea772e3b9f5ef809ead46436ff”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6cf49c184852c17ebad62980a88a2285″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ec5361a37e5d54838dfb0745e5294eb3″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=00540b30890ac1f03cf9b6aeecaea978″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/11777dc8632701d75d425909463553248f0a8f28/2335_419_4019_2412/master/4019.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=740e68bd21710bd93f6ccbec6579e907″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”A student with screens “,”caption”:”Labor is extending the free student internet program until 2028. “,”credit”:”Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1738092546000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1738095515000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.18 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1738094347000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.59 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.59″,”title”:”Federal funding for free internet extended”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Krishani Dhanji”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/08/Krishani_Dhanji.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bdf5a04a6ecde71861bca41ae4119e02″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/08/Krishani_Dhanji.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=88e85a466dde81302ee6274d3af35cd6″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 28 Jan 2025 15.20 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 28 Jan 2025 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”67990a748f086189f840dc47″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The Coalition holds a narrow lead over Labor ahead of a federal election that must be held by mid-May, a Roy Morgan poll suggests, Australian Associated Press reports.
“,”elementId”:”91d30047-9377-4323-9ff1-03fc57bd6622″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The survey puts the coalition on 52% to Labor’s 48% on a two-party-preferred basis, unchanged from the pollster’s reading of support in the previous week.
“,”elementId”:”cccb46a9-b83f-4ea0-991b-45e32cf50e13″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton both visited Western Australia this week in what is seen as unofficial election campaigning.
“,”elementId”:”f13bc5be-24c8-462e-999e-6c893b367ece”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
On primary votes, Roy Morgan said the coalition was down 1.5 points to 40.5% while Labor’s support was up one point to 29.5%.
“,”elementId”:”fc2be471-58be-4962-bb03-a8f5a2162881″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Support for the Greens fell 1.5 points to 11.5% while backing for the other minor parties category slipped 0.5 points to 3.5%.
“,”elementId”:”94199a77-21af-4038-a4d3-eb15ad35beb1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
One Nation gained two points to 6% and support for independent candidates rose 0.5% to 9%.
“,”elementId”:”63bc9c84-63e6-4e22-8093-a7d24185602b”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1738092546000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1738094705000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.05 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1738093990000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.53 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.53″,”title”:”Coalition has narrow lead over Labor, poll suggests”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 28 Jan 2025 15.20 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 28 Jan 2025 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”6798d33c8f081e5030bcbf21″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Caitlin Cassidy for the bulk of the day.
“,”elementId”:”42ce222d-62e6-4e38-86ab-cab32289987a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It’s not often that the release of economic statistics can be described as highly anticipated. But it holds true for millions of Australians about today’s inflation numbers and their potential impact of interest rates. And that’s not to mention Anthony Albanese, who is trailing Peter Dutton in the polls and could do with a better story to tell about the economy. More coming up and the figures are out at 11.30am.
“,”elementId”:”0796e395-fae9-4960-a513-48a2de5d25c8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Verdicts are expected later this morning in the trial of Jason Struhs and 13 other members of the religious group he belonged to over the death of his eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who suffered from diabetes.
“,”elementId”:”8613905e-d65a-4a41-a120-1c5e9d3daf80″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
One of the people attending the commemoration at Auschwitz was Australia’s attorney general, Mark Dreyfus. Three of his grandparents died at the hands of the Nazis and today he writes a moving piece about the “shocking rise in antisemitism in Australia” and how attempts to politicise the issue must be rejected. He simply says: “Today I say never again.”
“,”elementId”:”f0201536-4968-4552-a43d-5c9bc67cc9db”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1738092546000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1738094891000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.08 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1738092546000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.29″,”title”:”Welcome”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Martin Farrer”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/06/10/Martin_Farrer.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a491d63a001c65f468c602e5bbcb494a”,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/06/06/Martin_Farrer,_L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f706e98cb1db7a0312c04c2836c71178″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 28 Jan 2025 15.20 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 28 Jan 2025 14.29 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false,”renderingTarget”:”Web”}”>
Key events
Four universities have received $1m in funding to run agriculture pilot programs in a bid to attract students to the profession.
The funding, allocated in the federal budget, will go to Charles Sturt University, the University of Queensland, Australian National University and Charles Darwin University, to run over 2025 and 2026.
Assistant minister for education and agriculture, fisheries and forestry, Anthony Chisholm, said the work liaison pilot program aimed to undo “preconceived stereotypes” about working in the agricultural sector.
Some students, especially those in our cities, can see a career in agriculture as something that’s only for those who live in the regions or for those whose family own land that can be used to operate an agribusiness.
AgConnections aims to break down these misconceptions and build on the diversity of the industry, by highlighting and encouraging women and Indigenous Australians wanting to pursue a career in agriculture.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Sarah Scully appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning to run through the severe weather that has been hitting Australia this week – from heavy rainfall to extreme heat and fire danger.
Scully said the focus of the heat moved out of Melbourne on Monday to New South Wales, with widespread temperatures reaching 40 degrees on Tuesday.
Really gusty southerly changes pushed through the Sydney area around 4pm … the mean wind with that buster just to the south of Sydney was 80km/h gusting to 90km/h so it really packed a punch and dropped temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees as it moved through within the hour.
Meanwhile, further north, Queensland was hit with 200mm of rain in some parts on Monday and Tuesday, particularly the far north. Scully said the BoM was monitoring five different tropical low developments across the waters of northern Australia.
Scully:
There’s a few that we’re keeping a particular eye on. One of those is the low sitting off Cairns. From tomorrow there’s a low chance of it developing into a tropical cyclone and that risk increases towards the weekend to moderate but there’s also tropical lows set to develop through the Gulf of Carpentaria and another one in the Coral Sea and as well two off the north-west coast of WA.
New health cyber sharing network aims to improve data protection
Natasha May
A cyber “neighbourhood watch” for healthcare providers and industry is being set up to help protect Australians’ most sensitive information from cyber threats.
Recent cyber-attacks on healthcare organisations, including health funds and hospitals, have led the federal government to award $6.4m to CI-ISAC, a not-for-profit organisation providing cyber threat intelligence, to create a health-specific, information-sharing and analysis centre.
The new health cyber sharing network will enable organisations across the sector – including public and private hospitals, health insurance providers, medical clinics, as well as a large number of health and medical-related third-party suppliers and vendors – to exchange cyber security threat information more quickly, within a secure and confidential environment.
David Sandell, the CEO of CI-ISAC Australia, said:
The health and medical sector holds a large amount of incredibly private and personal medical and financial information. We have already seen several high-profile data breaches in the health sector, and the new network can help members reduce their cyber risks. Cyber-attacks can also greatly disrupt important health services, and this industry cannot afford interruptions with patients’ wellbeing at stake.
The national cyber security coordinator, Lt Gen Michelle McGuinness, said:
Many in the healthcare sector would know well the philosophy that prevention is better than a cure. This also applies to cyber security and is the driving concept behind this grant.
Strong industry collaboration and enhanced threat detection through the work of CI-ISAC will increase the protection of Australians’ sensitive health data.
Good morning readers. It’s Caitlin Cassidy here to take you through the news of the day. Thank you as ever to Martin Farrer for kicking us off this morning.
Federal funding for free internet extended
Krishani Dhanji
Thousands of families with school children will be eligible for free internet, with the government announcing $4.9m to extend the free school student broadband initiative to June 2028.
The program was due to end in 2025, which the government says is currently accessed by more than 23,000 families.
Under the extension up to 30,000 places will be available for eligible families who have difficulty accessing internet connections.
Communications minister Michelle Rowland said it would ensure more families didn’t have to deal with the “burden and uncertainty of mobile internet usage and data cost” so their children could do their homework.
The school student broadband initiative is making a serious difference for thousands of families who now are able to enjoy the benefits of having reliable internet at home – a must in our increasingly digital world.
Coalition has narrow lead over Labor, poll suggests
The Coalition holds a narrow lead over Labor ahead of a federal election that must be held by mid-May, a Roy Morgan poll suggests, Australian Associated Press reports.
The survey puts the coalition on 52% to Labor’s 48% on a two-party-preferred basis, unchanged from the pollster’s reading of support in the previous week.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton both visited Western Australia this week in what is seen as unofficial election campaigning.
On primary votes, Roy Morgan said the coalition was down 1.5 points to 40.5% while Labor’s support was up one point to 29.5%.
Support for the Greens fell 1.5 points to 11.5% while backing for the other minor parties category slipped 0.5 points to 3.5%.
One Nation gained two points to 6% and support for independent candidates rose 0.5% to 9%.
Mortgage-holders will be about $8000 better off on average if a slowdown in inflation paves the way for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut rates as expected, AAP reports.
Data to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday is widely tipped to show core inflation for the December quarter was substantially lower than the RBA’s forecasts.
With underlying inflation moving sustainably back to target and Australia’s economy growing at its slowest rate since the 1990s – outside the pandemic – the door should be opened to an interest rate cut in February, Deloitte Access Economics Partner Stephen Smith said.
On the other hand, tightness in the labour market, elevated government spending and a falling Australian dollar were militating against a cut.
But Mr Smith still expects 75 basis points of cuts in 2025 followed by a further 75 basis points in 2026.
“By the end of the rate-cutting cycle, a household with an average-sized mortgage and a variable mortgage rate would be around $8000 better off in today’s dollars,” he said.
Read more in our preview story
Andrew Messenger
The verdict in a mammoth trial of 14 members of a Toowoomba religious sect accused of causing the death of an eight-year-old member with diabetes is expected to be handed down in Queensland today.
Elizabeth Struhs died on 6 or 7 January 2022, allegedly of diabetic ketoacidocis due to not being provided insulin.
Her father, Jason, is on trial for murder, as is Brendan Stevens, the head of the Toowoomba order, known as the Saints.
Elizabeth’s mother Kerrie and brother Zachary are charged with manslaughter, alongside 10 other members of the Saints.
The Queensland supreme court sat for nine weeks last year before Justice Martin Burns adjourned the case to consider his verdict in September.
The Saints, who repeatedly told the court that they believe Elizabeth will be raised from the dead, refused legal counsel and did not enter pleas. Pleas of not guilty were entered on their behalf.
Jason Struhs allegedly withdrew some of his daughter’s insulin on 1 January and all of it on 3 January 2022. As her health deteriorated, the Saints are alleged to have sung and prayed for her healing or resurrection – and accused of not calling an ambulance.
If Jason Struhs and/or Brendan Stevens are convicted it would be the first time a person has been convicted of murder in Queensland “by reckless indifference”.
Justice Burns will begin handing down his judgment, which is expected to be lengthy, at 11.30am Brisbane time.
In a separate case, Kerrie Struhs was convicted of failing to provide the necessaries of life when Elizabeth fell into a coma in 2019, also as a result of her type 1 diabetes.
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Caitlin Cassidy for the bulk of the day.
It’s not often that the release of economic statistics can be described as highly anticipated. But it holds true for millions of Australians about today’s inflation numbers and their potential impact of interest rates. And that’s not to mention Anthony Albanese, who is trailing Peter Dutton in the polls and could do with a better story to tell about the economy. More coming up and the figures are out at 11.30am.
Verdicts are expected later this morning in the trial of Jason Struhs and 13 other members of the religious group he belonged to over the death of his eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who suffered from diabetes.
One of the people attending the commemoration at Auschwitz was Australia’s attorney general, Mark Dreyfus. Three of his grandparents died at the hands of the Nazis and today he writes a moving piece about the “shocking rise in antisemitism in Australia” and how attempts to politicise the issue must be rejected. He simply says: “Today I say never again.”
