Kerry O’Brien attacked no campaign ‘lies’
Australians will be asked later this year whether they support an Indigenous advisory body enshrined in the constitution.
“I’ve seen lies told and improperly challenged,” O’Brien said Wednesday night, AAP reports.
“I ask myself if there is a strong ‘no’ campaign against this referendum, why do the people behind that campaign feel the need to lie?
“What does that tell us about the authenticity of what drives them?
“These are questions that I believe should be dealt with in a transparent and robust way in the media and I have not seen it yet.”
O’Brien did not name individuals but called out the actions of the conservative political lobby Advance Australia.
Main events

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.
Many people are being forced to use buy now pay later services to pay for basics like food and fuel, as the cost of living and inflation continue to rise, AAP reports.
The survey conducted by Financial Counseling Australia found that more than 80% of advisers said that clients use buy now pay later for general retail.
71% say clients use buy now to pay later for food, and 41% say they use it for fuel. Almost one-third said that clients use the services for utility bills.
And 93% say more clients use buy now pay later in general.
Chief executive of Financial Counseling Australia Fiona Guthrie said he was concerned about the findings.
BNPL was never intended as a means of paying daily living expenses.
But the ease of access to BNPL loans, coupled with rising cost-of-living pressures, means many people are turning to it just to survive.
Alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs have been extended
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.
Matildas official jersey sales are running hot
Will PNG field an NRL team?
Minister of defense industry, international development and the Pacific Pat Conroy hinted at the possible introduction of a team in Papua New Guinea to the NRL.
“Many Australians and Papua New Guineans are passionate about rugby league,” he tweeted. “It’s good to talk to the Prime Minister James Marape and Papua New Guinea Bid Chairman Brave Sonk about getting a talented PNG team into the NRL.
“Such potential support to bring us closer though.”
Many Australians and Papua New Guineans are passionate about rugby league.
Good to talk to Prime Minister Marape and Papua New Guinea Bid Chairman Wapu Sonk about getting a talented PNG team into the NRL.
Such potential for sport to bring us even closer. pic.twitter.com/hnMHaan6Va
– Pat Conroy MP (@PatConroy1) July 19, 2023

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
Sold out crowd to watch the Matildas tonight
Support is pouring in for Australia’s Matildas ahead of their Fifa Womens World Cup opener against Ireland tonight.
History was made tonight.
A record sold to the crowd to watch @TheMatildas GRAB @FAIreland.
80,000 people cheered on the amazing female athletes.
It’s not just a precious moment for the Matildas and football – it’s a statement for women’s sport.
A major statement… pic.twitter.com/2XXKa7oShe
– Anika Wells MP (@AnikaWells) July 19, 2023
Good luck to the Matildas as they prepare to start their World Cup campaign tonight.
They represent the best of us, champions of inclusivity and fairness, role models for all young Australians. #FIFA23 pic.twitter.com/ijqv3VP8cm– Kate Chaney (@ChaneyforCurtin) July 19, 2023
Glebe man shot dead by Sydney police
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.
For more updates on this morning’s deadly shooting in Auckland, follow the others Helen Sullivan here:
Shooting in NZ is on a construction site
New Zealand Police said the serious incident in Auckland’s CBD involving a gunman happened after receiving reports of a man discharging a firearm inside a building under construction on lower Queen Street at around 7:00 a.m. 22 in the morning.
Police responded and cordoned off the area, and the Police Eagle helicopter was deployed.
The offender walked through the building, continuing to unload his weapon. On the upper level of the building, the offender remained inside an elevator shaft where police personnel said they tried to join.
“More shots were fired from the man and he was found dead a short time later,” police said. “Details about exactly what happened are still ongoing and police will continue to provide updates about the injuries and circumstances.”
The incident happened on the eve of the FIFA World Cup, where Australia’s Matildas will face Ireland on the opening night.
What happened is clearly alarming and we assure the public that this incident was contained and an isolated incident.
We can also advise that it is not a national security risk.
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) July 19, 2023
NZ shooter and two others killed in Auckland, police say
New Zealand Police have confirmed that the offender who opened fire in Auckland’s CBD has died. They also confirmed the death of two people, and several injuries.
The incident that took place in a building under construction this morning was contained, police said.
Police have a serious incident that occurred at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
Several injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm that two people have died. The guilty man is dead again. pic.twitter.com/bC0EWR7Tzr
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) July 19, 2023
Auckland is on lockdown
Here are more visuals of the cordoned off streets guarded by armed police in Auckland’s CBD, on the eve of the opening of the FIFA World Cup in New Zealand.
Auckland city center on lockdown just hours before the start of the @FIFAWWC Armed police on the streets after reports of a shooting. Incident not far from where the fan park is due to open in about 2 hours. The incident is not thought to be World Cup-related at this stage pic.twitter.com/TpUfazAKVL
— Neil Johnston (@ndjohnston) July 19, 2023
US players are safe
US Soccer has confirmed its New Zealand players for the Fifa World Cup are “accounted for and safe” amid shootings in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
Regarding the incident in downtown Auckland, all of our USWNT players and staff are considered safe. Our security team is communicating with local authorities and we are continuing our daily schedule. https://t.co/m1ziO6j8c5
– US Soccer Comms (@ussoccer_comms) July 19, 2023
They continue with their daily schedule.