Labor’s Steven Miles congratulates David Crisafulli on victory
Andrew Messenger
The Labor leader, Steven Miles, has called David Crisafulli to congratulate him on becoming premier.
Miles made the call about 7.30am this morning.
The LNP leader looks certain to win majority government and become premier, winning several seats in regional Queensland.
Miles has been leader since December last year. In a concession speech last night he implied a desire to continue on in the role.
The counting continues.
Key events
Jonathan Barrett
Why is K-mart thriving and other questions about retailers in a cost-of-living crisis
The last full-sized Kmart in the US closed this week – yet another casualty of online buying habits proving to be an existential threat to department stores around the world.
But in Australia the discount retailer that shares the same branding is bucking the global trend after engaging in a years-long transformation to shed its daggy image. The result? Supercharged profits for its owner.
Revenue at the Wesfarmers-owned Kmart Group jumped almost 5% last financial year to $11.1bn, even as cost-of-living pressures dampened the mood of many shoppers. Meanwhile, revenues have been sliding at rival Big W.
Read more:
Ben Raue
What does the Queensland election show about the state’s new political realities?
The Queensland electorate has delivered a change of government, but it was not the overwhelming Labor defeat expected at the start of the campaign and has left the ALP with a sizeable opposition.
Labor clawed back support during the campaign and only suffered modest losses in the south-east of the state.
But it was hit hard in the regions, bringing Queensland Labor in line with the federal party and other state branches who have found their support increasingly concentrated in the big cities.
It now looks like the Liberal National party will end up with a majority similar to the modest majorities Labor has governed with since 2017.
Read more:
Whales spotted in Sydney Harbour
Two whales have been spotted in Sydney Harbour, according to scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta.
Tony Burke cancels visa of US conservative Candace Owens ahead of scheduled tour
Immigration minister Tony Burke has cancelled the visa of controversial US conservative commentator Candace Owens, according to the SMH.
Burke said Owens had the capacity “to incite discord in almost every direction”:
Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.
Owens has shows scheduled in November in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Dutton: ‘Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it’
Josh Butler
The federal opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has congratulated his party mate David Crisafulli for his win in the Queensland state election overnight.
Dutton tweeted this morning:
Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it. They wanted action on crime, cost of living, health and housing, and they’ve voted for it.
The federal Coalition leader and fellow Queenslander had campaigned for Crisafulli’s election in the campaign’s final days, but questions remain over the disconnect between the two men on the Coalition’s signature nuclear policy.
Crisafulli had said he wasn’t planning on nuclear in Queensland’s power grid – but Dutton has indicated the federal Coalition, if elected to government, would stick with that policy even if state leaders didn’t back it.
Upon Crisafulli’s election win, there will be further questions about how the nuclear issue will be addressed.
Dutton continued:
I wish David and his new LNP Government all the best on delivering a fresh start for Queenslanders.
Congratulations to @DavidCrisafulli and his @LNPQLD Team.
Queenslanders wanted change, and they’ve voted for it.
They wanted action on crime, cost of living, health and housing, and they’ve voted for it.
I wish David and his new LNP Government all the best on delivering a…
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) October 26, 2024
Abortion cost LNP votes in Queensland poll – Littleproud
The federal Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has conceded that the incoming Queensland premier David Crisafulli’s handling of the pregnancy termination debate cost the LNP votes.
Speaking on Sky News, he said:
David, on reflection, would probably prefer to have been stronger in his language – in being certain that there won’t be any changes to the laws.
Abortion emerged as one of the biggest issues in the Queensland election after crossbencher Robbie Katter announced he would introduce a bill to repeal abortion laws before walking back his proposal to “born alive” legislation.
Though signs are pointing to a majority government for the LNP, the win was not the landslide predicted by opinion polls leading up to the vote.
As the polling date drew nearer, the LNP leader was asked more than 100 times about his stance on abortion before finally clarifying he was pro-choice.
– AAP
Telstra and Optus begin switching off 3G networks
Telstra and Optus will begin switching off their 3G networks from tomorrow.
Customers still using 3G are urged to check their devices, especially phones, medical monitors and Eftpos machines, for compatibility with 4G and 5G networks.
The telecommunications companies say the closure will improve the speed and reliability of 4G and 5G networks.
In August, the Telstra CEO, Vicki Brady, said:
We have been communicating to customers about the need to prepare and make the move for almost five years. This has included multiple letters, bill messages, SMS, public awareness campaigns, advertising – even door knocking and sending free phones to people in vulnerable circumstances, and our support for customers won’t end the day the network closes.
TPG Telecom (formerly Vodafone) switched off its 3G network in December 2023.
Kathryn Bromwich
A look at ‘incredibly expressive and very flirtatious’ Maratus spiders
Australian Maratus spiders, which measure 3-5mm, are known as “peacock spiders” because of the extravagant colourings they display during courtship rituals and combat.
Sydney-based artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso became fascinated with the tiny spiders, which she has depicted in the series Spiders of Paradise, in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Cardoso said of the spiders:
They’re incredibly expressive and very flirtatious. The male wants to get all the attention of the female, like birds of paradise.
Read more:
Crisafulli’s emissions reduction goal ‘challenging’ – Pitt
On ABC Insiders, National party MP Keith Pitt describes incoming the Queensland premier David Crisafulli’s support for 75% emissions reduction by 2035 as “quite challenging in terms of the practicalities”.
That’s not talking about net zero. That’s talking about actual emissions reductions as a total.
So what’s the proposal? Are you intending to wipe out the cattle herd, are you going to reduce traffic by 75%?
Keith Pitt: abortion should be ‘legal, safe and rare’
On abortion, the National party MP, Keith Pitt, says he supports people’s freedom of choice.
It’s entirely a state piece of legislation.
I’ll quote others: legal, safe and rare.
He describes Queensland Labor’s tactics on the issue “distasteful and disgraceful” on ABC Insiders.
Labor’s Steven Miles congratulates David Crisafulli on victory
Andrew Messenger
The Labor leader, Steven Miles, has called David Crisafulli to congratulate him on becoming premier.
Miles made the call about 7.30am this morning.
The LNP leader looks certain to win majority government and become premier, winning several seats in regional Queensland.
Miles has been leader since December last year. In a concession speech last night he implied a desire to continue on in the role.
The counting continues.
Cameron Dick: crime a big factor in Labor’s Queensland loss
On ABC Insiders, the outgoing Queensland treasurer, Cameron Dick, acknowledges crime was a big factor in the state’s election.
It became an issue, particularly in regional Queensland, around trust.
I think in the end, regional Queenslanders did not trust us to address that issue.
The Labor leadership automatically becomes vacant, following the election results. Dick says whoever becomes the leader will need to focus on rebuilding trust.
Man, 20, dies from stabbing in Geelong
Benita Kolovos
A man has died after he was found with a stab wound this morning on Geelong’s main hospitality strip.
Police say the 20-year-old man was found on Little Malop Street about 5.30am with a stab wound, which they believe he sustained during an altercation nearby.
He was taken to hospital, where he later died.
Two other men police believe were involved in the altercation self-presented at a hospital and are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Homicide squad detectives are now investigating the incident. They’ve urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Greens go backwards in Queensland election, says ABC analyst
ABC election analyst Casey Briggs tells ABC Insiders that while there are still seats in doubt in the Queensland election, the Greens have not claimed any at this point.
There are a couple of seats in doubt, but the Greens have certainly not gone forwards. They may well have gone backwards at the end of the night.
A warm and sunny Sunday ahead for much of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Lisa Cox
Australian sandalwood at risk of extinction
Consumers and celebrities around the world covet it for its warm, earthy and musky scent, but Australian sandalwood’s popularity has come at more than just a hefty cost to the wallet, with some scientists warning the species is at risk of extinction in the wild.
Richard McLellan, an adjunct research fellow at Charles Sturt University, said:
Australian sandalwood’s downfall is that it’s one of the most fragrant species of sandalwood in the world.
A lot of people know sandalwood very well but very few people know it’s declining in the wild and it’s been over-harvested for decades.
Read more:
Good morning
Welcome to another Sunday Guardian live blog.
David Crisafulli has claimed an LNP victory in the Queensland state election, marking an end to a decade of Labor government. Eleven seats remain in doubt according to the ABC.
The Commonwealth leaders summit wrapped up in Samoa with Pacific leaders reminding Australia, Canada and the UK of the existential threat they face from rising sea levels due to global heating.
The National party MP Keith Pitt will speak to ABC Insiders host David Speers shortly.
I’m Petra Stock and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
