Welcome to the 9News.com.au live blog for Monday, August 1, 2022. The NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has defended his decision to sack Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos. If the Reserve Bank lift interest rates by 50 basis points tomorrow, the average mortgage borrower could see a $500 monthly hike. A man who was a teenager when he murdered a 15-year-old girl as she was walking home from school has walked free from jail today. Swimmer Emma McKeon has entered the history books, becoming the most decorated athlete at the Commonwealth Games.
– Killer who stabbed Tania Burgess as teen walked home from school released from jail
– Mortgage borrowers facing reality of $500 monthly hike ahead of RBA's interest rate decision
– Emma McKeon powers into Commonwealth Games history
We're going to close off the 9News live blog for today there.
Here's what made news throughout the day:
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet spoke about his decision to sack Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading Eleni Petinos. The premier said he "made the judgement call" so that every single workplace from a ministerial perspective is safe.
South Australian police are investigating a second case of suspected serious criminal neglect following the death of a seven-year-old boy in February.
The Reserve Bank could lift interest rates by 50 basis points tomorrow, meaning the average mortgage borrower could see a $500 monthly hike.
A man who was a teenager when he murdered a 15-year-old girl as she was walking home from school has walked free from jail.
And Australian swimmer Emma McKeon has entered the history books, becoming the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history.
Our breaking news live blog will return tomorrow morning.
Until then, stay up to date with all the latest news at nine.com.au and 9News.com.au.
South Australian police are investigating a second case of suspected serious criminal neglect following the death of a seven-year-old boy in February.
According to police, the "very sick" boy, whose name was Makai, was taken to hospital by his father on February 10. He died later that day.
The death was not initially deemed suspicious, however that changed following evidence obtained from various child protection agencies as part of a standard coronial investigation, as well as the opinion of a paediatric expert.
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Victoria's flu season and latest COVID-19 wave appear to have passed their peak, according to Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
Sutton said there has been a 10 per cent reduction in case numbers compared to last week.
"That's good news and, as well, we would expect hospitalisation numbers to also appear to be plateauing," he said.
Sutton said he will likely be recommending masks indoors for "years" unless a vaccine is developed that works on all variants.
"We are facing a new variant and new wave every four to five months," he said."Mask wearing makes a difference."
He said health authorities estimate just 45 per cent of Victorians infected with COVID-19 are reporting their results.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has found that pork barrelling – allocating public funds to specific electorates for political gain – could be corrupt in certain circumstances.
The anti-corruption body recommended that guidelines concerning grants funding should be issued under a statutory regulation.
The report released by the anti-corruption body advises ministers and their advisors that they "do not have an unfettered discretion to distribute public funds".
"The exercise of ministerial discretion is subject to the rule of law, which ensures that it must accord with public trust and accountability principles," the report states.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney has weighed in on the importance of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament during today's Question Time.
"Traditional owners from right across Australia are looking forward with a sense of hope about the future because they understand that a voice to the parliament is about both symbolism and practical outcomes," she said.
Burney said that a Voice to Parliament will mean that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be consulted and heard on policies that affect them like education, housing and family violence.
"Practical outcomes that will make a real difference to people's lives."
"Fairness, respect."
"That is what this is all about.
"Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said it's been five years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and that "we should not wait another five years" for action.
"If not now, when?" he asked.
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