Major disturbance at Don Dale youth detention facility

DON DALE BURNS

Fires have broken out at Darwin’s Don Dale youth detention centre overnight after a major disturbance in which police, ambulance officers, firefighters, and a Northern Territory hazardous chemicals vehicle were called.

The ABC reports that officials were called around 7pm to the centre after a number of detainees were seen earlier in the evening on a roof, with smoke visible near the entryway. By 10pm, two buildings appeared to be on fire.

Multiple detainees were seen being escorted from the facility, and an announcement could be heard warning detainees, “Your actions are being monitored. There will be consequences. Stop putting yourself and others at risk. Surrender yourself to the police.”

Don Dale remains operational despite last year’s royal commission into systemic abuse recommending its closure.

COAL PROPOSAL SLAMMED

A former chief executive of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation has slammed potential plans to indemnify new coal-fired power projects against future carbon prices ahead of today’s crucial meeting between Energy Minister Angus Taylor and energy companies on bringing down prices.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that veteran Liberal member and former CEFC boss Oliver Yates has warned that shielding new coal projects from the cost of their future carbon emissions would amount to “subsidising a coal-fired power station” and would expose the government to risks the private sector would not take. The energy minister, who floated the idea last month, will today meet with heads of energy companies including Origin, AGL and EnergyAustralia.

Taylor has told The Australian ($) he plans to deliver an ultimatum to either bring down prices by January 1 or face more aggressive legislation around a default market price, and has written an op-ed ($) in which, amongst other claims, he appears to conflate Australia’s 26% whole-of-economy Paris emissions target with a 26% energy target.

LATHAM JOINS ONE NATION

Former Labor leader and Outsiders co-host Mark Latham has reportedly joined Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.

A mere 14 years after Latham preferenced One Nation last, The Daily Telegraph ($) reports that both Latham and Pauline Hanson will make a joint announcement on both of their party roles this morning. A spokesperson confirmed Latham will not be on PHON’s Senate ticket, and, while there has not been a confirmation, he is understood to be taking on the position of NSW branch head.

[free_worm]

THEY REALLY SAID THAT?

You’re not allowed to use the word ‘beautiful’ anymore when you talk about women, you’re not allowed, no, no, it’s politically incorrect. I will never call a woman beautiful again, and every man here, every man here, raise your hand, you will never say your wife, your girlfriend, anybody is beautiful, right?

Donald Trump

The US President, accused of sexual misconduct by 22 separate women, who once bragged about sexual assault, makes an election-eve plea for his right to call his daughter beautiful.

CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY

An election analyst’s guide to the US midterms
Charles Richardson

“Even in a year when the presidency isn’t being decided, election day in the US is massive. There is voting for state legislatures, local councils, referendum initiatives, and more. But most of the interest is in three things: the two houses of Congress, and state governors. Let’s take them in turn.”

‘Heart-sick’ Andrew Bolt defends Ross Cameron’s racist comments
Emily Watkins

“News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt — who has previously been found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act — has defended his former Sky News colleague Ross Cameron’s racist comments about Chinese people visiting Disneyland. Cameron was sacked three days after he made the comments on Outsiders, following a boycott campaign from advertising activist group Sleeping Giants Oz.”

The Liberals should stop pretending to enjoy beer and leave it to the ALP
Helen Razer

“Beer. Long as you don’t sink much, it’s safer than babies. This is the bad bet made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who continues to appear as comfortable with beer as I’d be with babies at his Pentecostal megachurch. Kiss a Christian baby, Scott, and leave beer to its better preachers: the ALP.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Australia Indonesia free trade deal to be signed next week

Investor hit: Labor seats in negative gearing crossfire ($)

Most Australians will retire with enough savings except older women renting, says Grattan Institute

Flow Hive pest free after parasite brand folds

Health Minister Greg Hunt to announce My Health Record changes

ALP slams Daniel Andrews’ ‘secret’ China deal ($)

Labor wants to name and shame dodgy phoenix directors

Time running out for religious freedom as ‘dual election’ option dismissed

Greens call for National Institutions Council to end funding fight

US midterms officially underway as Americans begin to cast their votes in divisive elections

THE COMMENTARIAT

Renewables are coming, but we need to secure supply ($) — Angus Taylor (The Australian): “Others say leaving the Paris Agreement will lead to a miraculous drop in prices. Wrong. Like it or not, we will reach a 26 per cent reduction in emissions in the NEM well ahead of time based on investment commitments already made. Paris won’t require new interventions and won’t create new price pressures.”

Melbourne Cup: Godolphin’s success in this year’s race proves everything has a price — Richard Hinds (ABC): “The animal rights protesters who appear at major race meetings are often mocked by racegoers bemused by their passion and their cause, while TV coverage routinely downplays the tragedy that follows a race fall in order to protect the sensitivities of ‘broadcast partners’.”

Backpacker work plan creates more problems than it solves — Joanna Howe, Alex Reilly, Stephen Clibborn, Diane van den Broek and Chris F Wright (Sydney Morning Herald): “The government’s proposed changes to working holiday visa arrangements enabling backpackers to work for an additional third year on Australian farms may create more problems than it solves. These significant reforms effectively create an agriculture visa without necessary checks and balances.”

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Canberra

• European Union Ambassador to Australia Michael Pulch and ambassadors and high commissioners representing EU member states will mark the Armistice centenary at Parliament House.

• Two federal senate inquiries will examine the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers; and charity fundraising in the 21st century.

• Assistant Defence Minister David Fawcett will open the two-day Biennial Submarine Institute of Australia Conference 2018.

• Australian comedian Tim Ross will present “Pick a town and break it down” at the National Press Club.

Sydney

• Energy Minister Angus Taylor will hold a roundtable discussion with chiefs of major electricity companies.

• PFAS investigation assistant secretary Luke McLeod will hold a community information session on the environmental investigation into per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances at/surrounding the RAAF Base Richmond.

• Canadian science journalist Dan Falk will present “The Science of Shakespeare: a new look at the playwright’s universe” at UNSW.

• Day one of the two-day Urban Resilience Asia Pacific Conference 2018.

Darwin

• The 2018 Northern Territorian of the Year will be announced.

Perth

• Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will speak at a Perth Town Hall meeting.

• Former WA Premier Colin Barnett will present the 2018 Curtin Family Home lecture, to compare his political experiences with those of former prime minister John Curtin, at The Grove Library.

Melbourne

• School students will protest outside Victorian Parliament to launch a nationwide school strike calling on federal politicians to take action to stop climate change and the Adani coal mine.

Brisbane

• Brisbane City Council will host annual open innovation event Brisbane Innovate 2018.

Adelaide

• SA Water’s energy portfolio manager Ashley Nicholls will present plans to achieve zero net electricity costs by 2020 at the UniSA Research Node for Low Carbon Living’s forum series.

• Day one of the three-day national Justice for Young People Conference.

Hobart

• Tasmanian Labor MP David O’Byrne will launch a GoFundMe page for firefighter Robert Boost.

Townsville, Queensland

• A federal senate inquiry will examine regional inequality in Australia.

Australia

• Virgin Australia and Commonwealth Bank will hold their AGMs.

• Health Minister Greg Hunt is expected to announce changes to My Health Record over privacy concerns.

USA

• East coast polls will close for the US midterm election at 10am AEDT today, with California due by 3pm and the final state, Alaska, by 4pm.