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Attorney-general praises former high court chief justice for ‘enduring’ legacy
Michelle Rowland, the attorney-general, released a note celebrating the life of former high court chief justice Anthony Mason, who died at the age of 100.
Rowland wrote that Mason was guided by “a deep respect for fairness and for the rights of all Australians” and had “devoted his life to the law and to serving our nation”. She added:
double quotation markAs a Justice, and later Chief Justice of the High Court, he helped shape modern Australia through some of our nation’s most significant judgments, including presiding over the landmark Mabo decision.
He will be remembered for his wisdom and intellect, and his enduring contribution to our legal system, academia and public life.
ShareDiDi rideshare prices rise and Uber watching as petrol costs surge
Luca Ittimani
Rideshare company DiDi has started charging customers extra to cover the cost of fuel, while Uber says it is weighing its options.
DiDi customers across Australia from today will start paying an extra 5c per kilometre, which the company says will be passed on in full to drivers. The surcharge covers the near-50c per litre rise in petrol prices since the US went to war on Iran, assuming the typical trip has a fuel economy of 10 litres per 100km.
DiDi has introduced a fuel surcharge before, of 3c per kilometre back in 2022 when the pause on the fuel excise was lifted.
DiDi Australia’s head of external affairs, Dan Jordan, said:
double quotation markAt DiDi, we recognise the ongoing pressure that rising fuel prices are placing on our drivers across Australia, with higher costs at the pump directly affecting their ability to earn on the platform.
Uber is yet to announce a surcharge, meaning drivers for Uber and Uber Eats delivery are copping higher fuel costs. An Uber spokesperson said the company recognised the costs on workers:
double quotation markUber is actively monitoring conditions as they evolve and regularly reviews ways to support driver partners and delivery people as circumstances change. We are always looking for ways we can continue to support them.
Updated at 23.14 EDT
Penry Buckley
Unanimous support for inquiry into Human Rights Act in NSW
An inquiry into whether NSW should introduce its own Human Rights Act will go ahead after receiving unanimous support from the state’s lower house.
As we reported yesterday, three Greens MPs, including MP for Newtown and human rights spokesperson, Jenny Leong, and five key crossbenchers wrote a letter to the NSW premier, Chris Minns, asking for an inquiry into a bill for a Human Rights Act introduced by Leong in October last year.
As Australia does not have its own bill of rights, individual states have moved to legislate their own human rights acts or charters, including Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. The push for an inquiry into the possibility in NSW had the support of 120 organisations including Amnesty International, the Human Rights Law Centre and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties.
This afternoon, the legislative assembly voted the inquiry would go ahead with support from both the Minns government and the Coalition.
NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
In a statement welcoming the decision, Leong, who will chair the inquiry, says:
double quotation markAt a time when fractures in our community run wide and deep, and so many are feeling the pressures of everyday life, NSW parliament is at a critical inflection point: we can choose to offer hope, or we can choose to fuel hate.
A NSW Human Rights Act would give people from across the community a valuable tool to use to ensure their basic human rights and dignity are respected – and to take action when they are not. It would completely transform the public sector from one in which human rights are an afterthought to one that truly has the community’s best interests at heart.
Updated at 22.48 EDT
Amanda Meade
Greens senator says Sandilands’ behaviour has ‘finally caught up with him’
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Kyle Sandilands’ statement today reads like “a three-year-old’s tantrum” as she took aim at the broadcasting regulator, saying it “took far too long to act on this vile and dangerous content”:
double quotation markKyle Sandilands built a career pushing the limits. Today, that finally caught up with him. …
This vile show trashed our airwaves for long enough so it’s good to see ARN finally kick it to the curb.
People afforded platforms in this country, like Kyle Sandilands, have enormous influence in shaping public attitudes. When harmful or degrading commentary is normalised, it sends the wrong message.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 22.28 EDT
Sarah Basford Canales
Albanese government suffers blow over ankle monitoring and curfew regime
The Albanese government has suffered a major legal blow against its monitoring of NZYQ-affected noncitizens after the high court ruled this morning its ankle monitoring and curfew regime were invalid.
The high court’s chief justice, Stephen Gageler AC, ruled the monitoring conditions imposed on the group of 300-plus noncitizens, often referred to as the NZYQ cohort, who were released from indefinite detention following an earlier ruling in November 2023 were invalid.
Following the release of more than 300 people from detention centres, the government passed laws to impose ankle bracelets and curfew on anyone risking community safety. Those laws were struck down by the high court in November 2024 before the government passed amendments to put them back in place until now.
This latest development means those in the community currently subject to ankle monitoring conditions will have their ankle bracelets removed and instead have to regularly report to officials. It also means the government can no longer impose curfews on them.
Guardian Australia understands the ruling means the ankle bracelets will come off 43 noncitizens in the community.
After striking a $2.5bn deal with Nauru last year, the federal government has begun applying for 30-year Nauruan visas on behalf of the cohort in an effort to remove them from the country. Guardian Australia has confirmed at least six NZYQ-affected citizens have been removed to Nauru.
In a statement, the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said:
double quotation markFortunately we now have the agreement with Nauru, because the best thing for people who have had their visa cancelled is to not be in this country.
Former high court chief justice Anthony Mason dies at 100
Anthony Mason, who served as the chief justice of the high court, has died. He was 100.
The high court issued a statement saying the longtime justice would be honoured with a ceremonial sitting of the court in June.
Mason served on the court beginning in 1972, and was later chief justice from 1987 to 1995. He was made a knight commander of the order of the British empire in 1972.
The high court said in a statement:
double quotation markSir Anthony’s contribution to the jurisprudence of the High Court, and to the legal system and profession more broadly, was profound and is enduring. He was a jurist who was and continues to be regarded with deep respect and admiration, and a man who is remembered with affection and appreciation by those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.
Former chief justice of the high court, Sir Anthony Mason, pictured in March 2002. Photograph: AAPShare
Updated at 22.00 EDT
Cyclone Narelle projected to make landfall as category 4 system
Graham Readfearn
The Bureau of Meteorology just provided the latest track map for Tropical Cyclone Narelle, including an update that the system could reach category 5 status on its approach to the coastline.
One official suggested the cyclone would make landfall as a category 5 system – the most intense cyclone category available.
But the track map from the bureau issued a few minutes ago suggests the system could drop down to a still very destructive category 4 system just before it makes landfall on Friday morning.
The difference between the two categories is essentially wind speed. A cat 4 system has maximum wind speeds between 160 and 199km/h. A cat 5 has wind speeds at 200km/h or greater.
The location of landfall is currently forecast just south of Lockhart River, but that could change as further updates are provided.
A track map of Tropical Cyclone Narelle issued by the Bureau of Meterology at 10.40am. Illustration: Bureau of MeteorologyShare
Updated at 21.53 EDT
Penry Buckley
NSW police investigating Sydney Biennale DJ set following complaint
NSW police are investigating language used by a US electronic music producer at an opening night event for the Sydney biennale last week.
During the set at White Bay Power Station on Friday, Zubeyda Muzeyyen, who uses the stage name DJ Haram, allegedly claimed that a “Zio-Australian-Epstein empire” was responsible for silencing dissenters. Critics said the phrase, referencing financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, fed into antisemitic tropes.
The comments were part of an extended performance that expressed solidarity with Palestinian resistance, referenced “martyrs” and condemned “global complicity” in an ongoing genocide against the people of Gaza.
DJ Haram. Photograph: Ebru Yildiz
Earlier this week, the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, said the organisation would refer comments made during the set to the police. He said he was concerned that expressing support for the “resistance” and praising “martyrs” could amount to a commonwealth criminal offence.
The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, confirmed on ABC radio this morning that Leichardt police area command was investigating after a complaint. He said:
double quotation markWe’ll review what was said, the context of what was said, and line that up against the legislation to determine whether any offences were committed. It’s important to know that hate crimes, hate speech, has a high bar, and there is a reason for that high bar. Obviously, free speech is something that we value in this country. We need to make sure that an offence has been committed. If so, we’ll take action.
Guardian Australia has previously sought comment from DJ Haram, who has left the country.
Updated at 21.45 EDT
Recap: what we learned about the Iranian strike on Al Minhad airbase
Albanese has finished his press conference – let’s circle back to his comments regarding an Iranian strike on an airbase near Dubai in the UAE, where ADF personnel are stationed.
The PM said the strike from an Iranian projectile took place about 9.50am on Wednesday at the Al Minhad base. It caused a small fire at the base, but no Australians were injured.
He said there was no indication Iran deliberately targeted Australia, but would not be drawn on how many Australians were on base at the time.
Updated at 21.29 EDT
Albanese won’t comment on remarks from Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who has called US president Donald Trump petulant.
He says he is engaging with Trump diplomatically, and had a constructive conversation with him last week.
Al Minhad airbase near Dubai was also struck earlier this month
The attack occurred earlier this morning at Al Minhad, a base near Dubai which was also targeted by Iran in a drone strike earlier this month:
Updated at 21.16 EDT
Albanese says Australia is not at war. He says there’s no need to elaborate on that, saying he is speaking with clarity about the attack only hours after it occurred.
Updated at 21.15 EDT