Australia news live: senior public servant Kathryn Campbell suspended after damning Robodebt inquiry findings | Australian politics

Daniel Hurst

Senior official of the Department of Defense Kathryn Campbell suspended without pay due to the report of the royal commission into robodebt.

Guardian Australia has confirmed Campbell has been suspended without pay, effective Monday 10 July – three days after the royal commission’s report was presented.

The Canberra Times was the first to report the suspension.

The royal commission’s report tabled in parliament said Campbell, a former head of the Department of Human Services, was “responsible for a department that established, implemented and maintained an unlawful program” .

But Campbell “did nothing” when exposed to information that brought to light the illegality of the average income, the report said, and “failed to act” when presented with opportunities to obtain legal advice.

The Defense Department previously declined to comment on Campbell’s future as a senior adviser on Aukus projects. But when the report of the royal commission was released, the prime minister, Anthony Albanesesaid:

Agency heads are of course empowered to take immediate action, pending further investigations, and I am confident they will do so. [END QUOTE]

Campbell did not respond to media requests for comment following the royal commission’s report, but at the hearings Campbell defended his handling of the matter and said he thought the scheme was lawful despite earlier advice that raises serious questions.

During the royal commission’s inquiry, Campbell said:

I have never been to a department that sought to mislead. And I was never involved in an operation that sought to mislead the government.

Hief minister of the Northern Territory Natasha Files says the government has extended restrictions on taking alcohol to Alice Springs.

Alcohol-related emergency department presentations at Alice Springs hospital have fallen by a third, alcohol-related assaults have fallen, and domestic violence has halved since the bans were introduced, according to evidence as pointed out in a government statement.

Phyles says:

Alcohol-related harm is one of the biggest social challenges in the Territory.

From risk-based licensing to the Banned Drinkers Register, from minimum price floors to our Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, and with record funding for alcohol treatment services and home, family and sexual violence, we continue to do more than any previous government to address. this problem. But we know we still have a lot of work to do.

Our police officers, our hospital staff and our social sector, who worked in Alice loud and clear – they all told us that these restrictions must remain in place. We listen to them.

I know some retailers may not like this approach. It was a difficult decision, but it was the right one. It must be done. And I thank retailers and other businesses for continuing to work with us.

Amy Remeikis

Simon Crean will be buried today

Good morning from Canberra where it is still below freezing.

The state funeral for former Labor leader Simon Crean will be held in Melbourne today. The prime minister was obviously there, along with Labor MPs past and present.

It takes place from 11am

Police say a knife-wielding man has been shot dead by police in Sydney, AAP reports.

Officers were called to a house in inner-western Glebe just before midnight due to concerns for a man’s welfare.

When the police arrived, they were met by a 43-year-old man armed with a knife.

One officer fired a Taser before another officer shot the man who was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

A critical incident team from the State Crime Command’s homicide quad will investigate.

The investigation will be subject to an independent review and oversight by the Coroner and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.