Emmanuel Macron barracking for Matildas
A few years ago Emmanuel Macron may not have been Australia’s biggest fan but it seems that when it comes to the English, the Matildas have turned things around. Ahead of Wednesday’s match, the French president has declared his allegiance:
Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet… Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 12, 2023
And Anthony Albanese has accepted the olive branch gracefully:
An incredible game – well played by both teams. Happy to have you cheering on @TheMatildas in the semis.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 12, 2023
Key events
No support for Matildas public holiday from Littleproud
Littleproud also says he watched the Matildas and does not want to be “captain killjoy” but does not support a public holiday being called if the Matildas win the World Cup, saying “business has a point”.
I think we’ve just got to understand that someone’s got to foot the bill and businesses are doing it tough. We live in a great nation but we have to pay our bills and make sure the country keeps going.
‘Mistakes of the past’: David Littleproud compares voice to ATSIC advisory body
Littleproud says the proposal for the voice to parliament will “repeat the mistakes of the past”, comparing the proposal to ATSIC.
However, ABC Insiders host David Speers has pointed out the ATSIC was an advisory body with the power to allocate funding and run programs – the voice does not.
Littleproud:
No, again, David, the problem comes from the lived experience we have. And it might work in suburbs in capital cities but when you’re talking about representative bodies in rural and remote Australia, you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of square kilometres, hundreds of different diverse communities that have different challenges and needs.
Nationals leader says ‘reckless race’ on renewables not ‘common sense’
Littleproud says he does not oppose the net zero by 2050 target, and that he does not want a pause on renewable energy projects “for years or generations”.
We were saying let’s have common sense.
Littleproud says he wants a summer to look at solutions from emerging technologies like “net zero small-scale modular and nuclear power”
Why not let the market decide but let’s educate Australians. This won’t happen overnight. This is something we need to bring them on that journey. That’s why I wanted to have some political leadership but from across the aisle, and say let’s have a national energy summit, bring Australians into our trust and let them decide what the energy mix should look like and live town our international commitments.
He also repeats the suggestion these developments are part of a “reckless race” – I think we’ve identified the talking point.
Time needed to ‘pause and plan’ renewable projects: Littleproud
Littleproud says he would like to see new renewable projects given time to “pause and plan” rather than engage in a “reckless race to 83% renewables by 2030” and that the government is trying to “slash and burn” achieve it.
There’s an opportunity to pause and plan to get this right and to look at other alternatives. You know, only the national commitment we have to meet is that of net zero by 2050. It’s not by 2030, which this government is taking us down, so we have the opportunity to look at alternatives.
Nationals leader wants government to ‘sit down’ with pharmacists guild on changes
Littleproud hints that the Coalition may consider repealing Labor’s pricing changes on medicines if the government doesn’t “sit down” with the pharmacists guild.
We would rather not have to go back to the parliament but unfortunately the government hasn’t sat down with the guild in a constructive way in which they’ve tried to engage. We’re saying to them please – this is above politics. This is about the wellbeing of people, particularly in rural and remote Australia, that may have nothing.
Littleproud says ‘unintended consequences’ to pharmacy dispensing reforms
David Littleproud says the government’s reforms to pharmacies represents a “fundamental change to the way medicines are paid for”.
In this country, the type of medicines and price of those medicines is regulated and to make sure there is a business model that mum-and-dad chemists and pharmacists around the country are paid an $8 dispensing fee. If you change that business model by going from 30 to 60 days, that’s a fundamental change on those small businesses.
Littleproud says there will “unintended consequences” about these changes that may negatively affect people in rural and regional Australia.
Emmanuel Macron barracking for Matildas
A few years ago Emmanuel Macron may not have been Australia’s biggest fan but it seems that when it comes to the English, the Matildas have turned things around. Ahead of Wednesday’s match, the French president has declared his allegiance:
Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet… Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 12, 2023
And Anthony Albanese has accepted the olive branch gracefully:
An incredible game – well played by both teams. Happy to have you cheering on @TheMatildas in the semis.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 12, 2023
Tony Gustavsson reacts to the Matildas’ win against France
The Matildas stood on the shoulders of giants, then took Australian football to new heights.
That’s how coach Tony Gustavsson feels after leading his charges into Australia’s first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance with victory over France on penalties.
Gustavsson’s tenure has been questioned at many difficult forks in the road, especially after last year’s disastrous Asian Cup quarter-final exit.
He would have been entitled to feel vindicated after Saturday night’s triumph, but instead of taking a victory lap, turned the focus elsewhere, giving credit to those who have walked before him.
It’s obviously difficult when you’re emotional now to distance yourself and see it that way.
But I think that’s why I teared up a lot on the field after the game. Because I know how much this means to so many people.
When you want to achieve something great and when the ‘why’ is bigger than 90-minute football and bigger than sport, we need to remember all the hard work that all of you and all of the alumnis, all of the brave woman that walked this path way, did way before my time.
And then I’m just a small part of this.
It’s difficult to put in words now but I’m just so happy for so many other people than myself right now and that’s why I tear up because I know how much it means for so many.
Days out from a final-four clash with England at Stadium Australia, Gustavsson again stressed his charges had embraced a bigger picture.
The players represent so much more than 90 minutes of football. All 224 alumnis were with us out there.
All the little kids that this team will inspire, the next generation. And seeing the nation unite.
The way we were sent off at the hotel today going to the stadium, the support we got when we arrived to the stadium, the support we got during the game.
Everyone united around these players. I am probably one of the proudest and happiest coaches right now because I am so happy for other people.
– AAP
Nationals leader appearing on ABC Insiders today
David Littleproud will be speaking to ABC Insiders this morning.
We’ll bring you all the latest as it happens.
City2Surf Sydney run begins in Sydney
The City2Surf fun is getting underway in Sydney with 80,000 runners taking part in this years event with a staggered start.
John Tisdale, who helped start the event over 50 years ago, will be among those tackling the 14km route.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, he said he was “naive back them”.
No idea of time or kilometres or whatever.
Good morning
And welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
The Matildas have become the first Australian team to ever make it to a World Cup semi-final, after a nailbiting finish against France. The teams were matched, tying nil-all when the game was forced into extra time and a tense penalty shootout. In what would become the longest shootout in World Cup history, Australia edged out France seven penalties to six.
NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman yesterday announced he would vote yes in the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum, even as his WA counterpart Libby Mettam has withdrawn her support. Speakman’s declaration has been welcomed by the yes campaign, while divisions within the Liberal party continue to play out across the country.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs, taking the blog through the day. With so much going on out there, it’s easy to miss stuff, so if you spot something happening in Australia and think it should be on the blog, you can find me for now on Twitter at @RoyceRk2 where my DMs are open.
With that, let’s get started …