Tom Silvagni files appeal against conviction
Benita Kolovos
Tom Silvagni, the son of AFL great Stephen Silvagni, has filed an appeal against his rape conviction.
The 23-year-old was sentenced on 17 December to six years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and three months, after he was convicted of two counts of rape earlier that month.
A supreme court spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed Silvagni filed an appeal against conviction, though a hearing date was yet to be listed for the matter.
Key events
Century-old footbridge used in Bondi attack faces uncertain future
The 100-year-old Bondi beach footbridge two gunmen used in aterror attack may be removed for a permanent memorial commemorating the victims, AAP reports.
Some residents want the bridge to stay, but a local council report has found the structure is coming to the end of its life and will need to be taken down regardless of memorial plans.
Waverley council is set to determine the immediate future of the north pedestrian footbridge where the gunmen allegedly killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December, as well as its sister bridge at the south end of the beach.
The mayor, Will Nemesh, will raise a motion to begin the process of investigating the feasibility of a memorial on the bridge site at an extraordinary general council meeting on Thursday night.
Waverley council says any changes will only occur after consultation with the Jewish community and local residents.
Heather Stewart
More on central banks’ response of ‘full solidarity’ with Jerome Powell
Global central banks have issued an extraordinary joint statement offering “full solidarity” to the US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, in the face of the latest threat to his independence from Donald Trump’s White House.
“The independence of central banks is a cornerstone of price, financial and economic stability in the interest of the citizens that we serve. It is therefore critical to preserve that independence, with full respect for the rule of law and democratic accountability,” the statement said.
It was signed by 10 central bank governors including the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, and the chair of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde. It was coordinated by the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements, which added its chair and general manager to the signatories.
Other signatories to the unprecedented statement include the central bank governors of Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Brazil, South Korea, Norway and Canada.
Read more here:
Trump playing ‘very dangerous game’ with attacks on Jerome Powell, former RBA board member says
Warwick McKibbin, a former board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said the Trump administration’s opening of a criminal investigation into the US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, is a “very dangerous game to play”.
McKibbin spoke to RN Breakfast earlier, saying all countries who have independent central banks know “how important it is” to have the bodies be independent, saying Australia had done a review of the RBA recently that “led to restructuring and an improvement in the capacity of the bank to implement policy”.
So we’ve been through the review, we’ve seen what’s important, and I think that adds a bit of weight. All central banks understand this, as do all of the economic and finance officials in the US. So it’s a very dangerous game to play, and it’s surprising that it’s gone as far as it has.
He went on to say the volatility in the US could ultimately be good for Australia as capital is reallocated around the world, with a caveat that “this experiment hasn’t been done before”:
The problem is the US is the centre of the global financial system. This experiment hasn’t been done before, and this in the short term could induce a lot of volatility in the global economy.
But again, over time it could well be if Australia is seen as a well-managed economy, we could benefit from the reallocation of global capital.
Donna Lu
Ten Sydney Harbours’ worth of threatened species habitat approved for destruction in 2025, report finds
More than 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was approved for destruction by the Australian government in 2025 – the most in 15 years, according to analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation.
The ACF’s latest annual “extinction wrapped” report has revealed that the threatened species habitat greenlit for land clearing was about 10 times the size of Sydney Harbour – more than double the 2024 figure, and over five times the 10,426 hectares approved for razing in 2023.
Former Greens leader Adam Bandt, the ACF’s new chief executive, described the year-on-year doubling as “really distressing”.
A lot of people don’t know that Australia is a global deforestation hotspot … every year, we lose more forest than the loss from the entire palm oil industry in Indonesia. The nature that we love is under threat like never before.
The ACF report also noted that 42 new plants and animals were added to Australia’s list of species facing extinction.
Read more here:
NSW man to face court on allegations of threatening federal parliamentarian
A NSW man will face court on allegations he threatened a federal parliamentarian in December.
The Australian federal police (AFP) said today it received a report on 16 December from the parliamentarian’s office regarding threatening phone calls in which a person allegedly made multiple threats to kill the parliamentarian.
The AFP allegedly linked a man, 43, from the Sydney suburb of Greystanes to the calls and a search warrant was executed at a home in the area, with police seizing electronic devices.
The man has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He will face court today.
NSW appoints two coordinators general in wake of Bondi terror attack
The NSW government has appointed two coordinators general in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, saying the pair will work to lead “ongoing community support and ensure people continue to receive coordinated assistance”.
Joseph La Posta, the CEO of Multicultural NSW, and Michele Goldman, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO, will work together to ensure services are delivered “at the right time” for victims’ families, survivors and the eastern suburbs and Jewish communities.
“A key priority will be active engagement with community leaders and organisations to help rebuild wellbeing, strengthen social cohesion and support long-term recovery,” a statement announcing the move said.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said in a statement:
Our message to everyone effected by the horrific antisemitic terror attack at Bondi one month ago is clear – we are with you for the long haul.
The appointment of these Coordinators General is a key way that we’ll ensure the support efforts for the Bondi community are organised, appropriate and effective.
Adelaide arts leader says he understands ‘kneejerk’ reaction to disinvite Abdel-Fattah, but said it was the wrong call
Greg Mackie, a former Adelaide city councillor and the founder of the Adelaide festival of ideas, said he understands the decision taken by the board of the Adelaide festival and Adelaide writers’ week to disinvite Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, but said it was an “ill-judged”, “kneejerk decision” that resulted in fierce criticism.
Mackie spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying:
I feel I understand the decision taken by management of the Adelaide Festival Corporation to pull the plug this year, given the heat in the room. … I can absolutely understand the massive amount of internal and external heat that has been generated as a result of this decision.
He went on to say that despite that understanding, the decision to disinvite Abdel-Fattah was taken “too late”. He also said it seemed to him to be a desire to “play ball” with the SA premier, Peter Malinauskas.
It is therefore understandable, I think – ill-judged, but understandable – that the former, now former, board took the kneejerk decision that they did, but it was the wrong decision.
Bridget McKenzie says taking guns from ‘law-abiding citizens’ not the ‘appropriate response’ to Bondi tragedy
McKenzie was asked if there were any changes to gun laws that she would support. She told RN:
State ministers met with the federal government last week. And, you know, I don’t think there’s unanimity amongst them about their response to the gun buy-back at all. …
This was an attack on our Australian Jewish community. Taking guns off law-abiding citizens is not the appropriate response.
She went on to claim Anthony Albanese was leaning into politics, rather than action.
His refusal to even acknowledge or speak honestly about the reality of how this came to occur is why he’s got his response wrong. This is pure deflection. And by lumping it all in together, it makes it clear. If he was really serious, he would take on his own constituency in western Sydney and deal with the actual problem at its source.
Bridget McKenzie concerned there’s not enough time to work through hate speech and gun reform legislation
Bridget McKenzie, the shadow minister for infrastructure, said she is concerned there is not enough time to work through upcoming legislation on hate speech and gun reforms after the Bondi terror attack.
McKenzie said the timeline, with parliament coming back early next week, meant a “very short inquiry for a piece of legislation of this significance [compared with] when we had the marriage equality debate in this country, when we looked at the voice as a country”. She told RN Breakfast this morning:
Those pieces of legislation were subjected to long and lengthy and appropriate scrutiny by the parliament, by the broader community, by the experts, so that we, as a parliament, could get it right …
Unfortunately, the prime minister has chosen to play politics with this bill. He’s lumped migration changes in with the management of firearms and obviously in with hate speech laws. So there’s a lot to unpack and not enough time before we debate it to actually get those opinions from the experts.
McKenzie was asked if it was “fair” to criticise the government when many in the opposition called for Anthony Albanese to move quickly to make changes after Bondi. She said:
It was right and appropriate that we as an opposition seek to work with the government to call a royal commission to actually bring parliament back to move motions of condolence and support for our, particularly our Jewish community …
But when it comes to a piece of legislation, that should go through the appropriate processes of parliament so that we can get it right.
Victorian officials working to see residents return home as 11 bushfires remain active
Victoria fire officials are warning residents to stay focused on safety efforts even though all fires in the state have been downgraded to watch and act warnings or lower. 11 are still active.
Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, said it was still “incredible dangerous” in many areas where fire has moved through, pointing to the danger of unsound trees. He said crews were working to provide access to those who have evacuated and have not yet been able to return home.
Hardman told ABC News this morning:
The priority for us at the moment is clearing roadsides and getting community back in to properties as quick as possible, and doing everything we can to help farmers get fodder and other critical care to their stock.
… The last thing we [want] is more people being killed and injured by going into areas that have not been made safe. But crews will be making those areas safe as a priority.
Hardman noted that it was still early in the summer and the threat of lighting or new fires would remain in an extremely challenging fire season.
Publisher to pause promotion of books by Craig Silvey after charges laid
Craig Silvey’s publisher, Allen & Unwin, is putting promotional work for the 43-year-old author on hold while he faces allegations of possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
Police carried out a search warrant at Silvey’s WA home on Monday where detectives allegedly found him “actively engaging with other child exploitation offenders online”.
He appeared before the Fremantle magistrates court yesterday charged with distribution of child exploitation material and possession of child exploitation material and is due to appear in court again next month.
Last night Allen & Unwin said in a statement that the allegations were “deeply distressing”.
The publisher said it would not promote Silvey’s work while the case was ongoing.
We acknowledge this is an active police matter, and that Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and a presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court.
Given the gravity of the charges, Allen & Unwin will pause promotional activity of Mr Silvey’s work while the legal process takes its course.
We are unable to provide further comment while this matter is before the courts.
Michele Bullock defends besieged US Fed chair
The Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock, has joined 10 other leading central bankers from around the world to defend the embattled US Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, amid a concerted attack from the Trump administration.
Bullock, along with the heads of the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Canada and others, signed a statement last night saying that they stood in “full solidarity” with Powell after the after the US Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into him.
The legal action relates to alleged corruption in the refurbishment of the Fed’s Washington headquarters but has been denounced by Powell as punishment for his resistance to Donald Trump’s calls for more interest rate cuts.
The statement said:
We stand in full solidarity with the Federal Reserve system and its chair Jerome H. Powell.
The independence of central banks is a cornerstone of price, financial and economic stability in the interest of the citizens that we serve. It is therefore critical to preserve that independence, with full respect for the rule of law and democratic accountability.
Chair Powell has served with integrity, focused on his mandate and an unwavering commitment to the public interest. To us, he is a respected colleague who is held in the highest regard by all who have worked with him.
Read our full story here:
Good morning
And happy Wednesday. Nick Visser here to take the blog reins today. Let’s see what the news holds.
UK may adopt Australia’s social media ban
Australia’s ban on under-16s using a range of social media apps could be copied by the UK after the nation’s prime minister told MPs that he was considering a similar scheme after becoming concerned about the amount of time children and teenagers are spending on their phones.
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer has previously opposed banning social media for children, believing such a move would be difficult to police and could push teenagers towards the dark web.
However, with cross-party political support growing for such a ban, Starmer told a meeting of the parliamentary Labour party that he had shifted his position.
“We are looking at Australia, there are different ways you can enforce it,” he told the meeting.
Read our full story here:
Xavier Maher was one of the local people who waited for Jacinta Allan outside the hospital in Alexandra and told AAP those in fire-affected communities just wanted to be heard.
He said having the NBN down was a real blow for morale in a town already cut off from the rest of Victoria due to numerous road closures.
Since the weekend, Maher has held dinner parties to bring people together.
“The best medicine for everyone is humour,” he said. “It’s a tight community and we all look after each other.”
Victoria premier heckled by angry residents on visit to fire-affected communities
A group of angry residents greeted the state premier, Jacinta Allan, when she visited fire-hit communities in central Victoria yesterday amid accusations that her government had not been prepared for the catastrophe that has seen hundreds of homes destroyed, Australian Associated Press reports.
Allan was at Alexandra district health offices to celebrate the efforts of staff who opened the centre to vulnerable and scared residents as a blaze bore down on them on Friday.
After the tour Allan briefed the media about disaster funding available to those affected by bushfires raging across the state.
But she avoided questions about the government’s preparedness failures for the 2026 fire season, stating the focus should be on supporting those affected, not spreading misinformation.
Outside, angry locals gathered after hearing of her arrival on a television news bulletin.
They demanded the premier meet them and answer questions about her support for the Country Fire Authority and rumours the town’s NBN had been cut-off on purpose.
Allan left the health service via the back door as locals spread out across the car park hoping to stop her in her tracks.
When they realised she had left, they yelled “shame” at her staffers.
Louise Adler says Adelaide festival turmoil a ‘masterclass in poor governance‘
Caitlin Cassidy
Louise Adler, the former director of Adelaide writers’ week, has told the ABC’s 7.30 program the turmoil surrounding the festival will be looked back on as a “masterclass in poor governance” and an “act of cultural vandalism”.
Adler said it would have been “untenable” for the event to go ahead this month after 180 writers pulled out.
I think this is a landmark, a watershed moment in the history of Adelaide writers’ week … We’ve had a succession of dramas of this sort, where political interference and donors and lobby groups have been able to come in and have an influence and an effect on what is programmed and what is not programmed.
Asked if the board was under pressure to remove Randa Abdel-Fattah from the lineup before the Bondi terror attack, Adler said she “wouldn’t know” if there was pressure exerted from the premier’s office or outside influences but there had been a “long story” of pro-Israel lobbyists arguing against the inclusion of Palestinian writers in festivals she had directed.
Adler said she was “quite confident” Adelaide writers’ week would be resurrected from 2027 and “rise from the ashes”.
From my point of view, there’s a very important lesson in here for the arts community, and those people who feel committed to a practice of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and inclusivity and civil discussion.
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer, bringing you the top local stories this morning before I hand over to Nick Visser.
The former director of Adelaide writers’ week Louise Adler has told the ABC’s 7.30 program the turmoil surrounding the festival will be looked back on as a “masterclass in poor governance” and an “act of cultural vandalism”. We’ll have more on her comments in a moment.
Craig Silvey’s publisher Allen & Unwin is putting promotional work for the author on hold while he faces charges of possessing and distributing child exploitation material. More coming up.
And an angry mob greeted the state premier, Jacinta Allan, when she visited fire-hit communities in central Victoria yesterday, amid accusations that her government had not been prepared for the catastrophe that has seen hundreds of homes destroyed.
Let’s get started.
